草地贪夜蛾Sf9细胞系Arp2/3-p40/ARPC1亚基基因的克隆与功能研究

杆状病毒感染诱导的昆虫宿主细胞肌动蛋白聚合主要由病毒编码的Wiskott Aldrich综合征蛋白(Wiskott Aldrichsyndrome Protein,WASP)同源蛋白P78/83激活宿主细胞内的Arp2/3复合物,进而引起肌动蛋白单体(G-actin)聚合成为纤维状肌动蛋白(F-actin)。为了研究Arp2/3复合物在病毒感染过程中所发挥的作用,我们克隆了昆虫Sf9细胞的Arp2/3复合体P40亚基基因,并对其预期产物进行了生物信息学与功能分析。我们发现在病毒感染过程中,P40亚基由细胞质转移到核膜的内缘,与本实验室过去报道的病毒感染后期核内F-actin的分布相吻合,提示P40可以很好地用于研究Arp2/3复合体的亚细胞定位情况;通过免疫共沉淀(Co-IP)实验,还证实病毒感染可以促进P40和P78/83的相互作用,提示某些未知病毒因素参与调控了由P78/83和Arp2/3复合体介导的肌动蛋白聚合过程。     

皮动蛋白及微丝相关蛋白2/3复合物介导的细胞运动的分子机制

皮动蛋白(cortactin)是一种含有特殊重复序列结构域的微丝肌动蛋白结合蛋白,它直接参与了细胞皮层(cortex)微丝细胞骨架的组建。它又是细胞内Src类酪氨酸蛋白激酶的主要底物之一,代表了一类高度保守的胞内皮层信号蛋白质家族。近几年来,对于细胞运动分子机制的研究取得很大进展,利用组织培养细胞进行的体外实验证明。皮动蛋白能够活化微丝相关蛋白2／3复合物(actin related protein 2／3 complex,Arp2／3 complex),调控皮层微丝细胞骨架的组装,在细胞运动过程中具有重要作用。     

肌动蛋白解聚因子在动物生殖和胚胎发育中的作用

肌动蛋白解聚因子家族Cofilin/ADF(AC蛋白家族)属于肌动蛋白结合蛋白,是微丝骨架的一个重要调节者。AC蛋白家族能够截断微丝,促进肌动蛋白单体的解离和循环以及微丝解聚,调控微丝骨架的重建,进而影响与微丝骨架相关的一些生理功能如细胞增殖、迁移、凋亡及胚胎发育等。本文将着重介绍AC蛋白家族在动物生殖诸如精子发生、卵巢发育、卵子发生、卵裂,以及胚胎发育等过程中的调节与功能。     

皮层蛋白介导斑马鱼(Danio rerio)原肠化细胞运动

在胚胎发育过程中, 细胞运动对指导原肠期胚胎细胞的时空定位并决定其发育命运具有核心作用, 然而活体状态下原肠化过程中细胞运动的调控机制目前并不清楚. 微丝结合蛋白皮层蛋白(cortactin)是微丝核化过程的重要调控分子, 它通过激活微丝相关蛋白2/3复合物(Arp2/3 complex)促进微丝在细胞前导缘区域迅速组装, 从而直接作用于细胞运动. 为阐明斑马鱼(Danio rerio)原肠化细胞运动的分子调控机制, 本研究首先检测了皮层蛋白在斑马鱼胚胎发育过程的表达水平. Western blotting分析证明皮层蛋白在斑马鱼原肠期胚胎中大量表达; 整装胚胎抗体染色结果表明在斑马鱼原肠化过程中, 皮层蛋白主要分布于胚胎背侧胚盾区域的细胞中, 在发生活跃运动的上皮层细胞和下皮层细胞中含量较高;在亚细胞水平, 皮层蛋白和Arp2/3复合物共同定位于运动的皮层区域, 并在细胞连接处也有大量分布. 此外, 研究还发现皮层蛋白在发育中的中枢神经系统中表达量较高. 本研究结果首次表明皮层蛋白和Arp2/3复合物介导的微丝聚合参予了斑马鱼原肠化细胞运动, 并在中枢神经系统发育中扮演重要角色.     

植物微丝骨架动态变化的调节

由球形肌动蛋白聚合而成的微丝骨架,又称肌动蛋白纤维,它在细胞运动、细胞形态建成以及物质运输等诸多生命活动中发挥重要作用。细胞内微丝的解聚和聚合动态特性是微丝骨架行使功能的重要基础,并受到如微丝结合蛋白、金属离子、小G蛋白等各种因素的严格控制。植物细胞微丝骨架的研究虽然晚于动物细胞,但也取得了飞速发展。本文对植物细胞内微丝骨架动态变化的作用机制及一些主要调节因子的最新研究进展做一介绍。     

黄芩苷通过降低活性氧生成抑制血管平滑肌细胞伪足形成和迁移北大核心CSCD

已知黄芩苷(baicalin)通过削弱肌动蛋白相关蛋白(actin-related protein,Arp)2/3复合物的活性抑制血管平滑肌细胞(vascular smooth muscle cell,VSMC)伪足形成和迁移,然而,其抑制该信号途径的机制尚不明确。本研究证明,黄芩苷通过抑制VSMC活性氧(reactive oxygen species,ROS)生成降低Arp2/3活性,发挥阻止细胞伪足形成和迁移的功能。分别利用TRITC-鬼笔环肽和ROS荧光探针标记VSMCs,结果显示,黄芩苷能显著抑制血小板源性生长因子(platelet-derived growth factor,PDGF)-BB诱导的VSMC伪足形成和迁移,伴有ROS生成减少。用超氧物歧化酶(superoxide dismutase,SOD)清除胞内过氧化物后,PDGF-BB引发的VSMC伪足形成被逆转,且该过程与降低皮层肌动蛋白微丝(F-actin)成核蛋白Arp2/3活性有关。免疫沉淀分析结果进一步表明,黄芩苷降低p47phox磷酸化水平,与ROS生成减少相一致。体内的实验也表明,黄芩苷(70 mg/kg/d)能有效抑制球囊损伤诱导的大鼠颈总动脉ROS生成。以上结果表明,黄芩苷通过抑制NADPH氧化酶介导的ROS生成,降低细胞皮质区F-actin成核活性,阻止细胞伪足形成、迁移,进而发挥血管保护作用。     

黄芩苷通过降低活性氧生成抑制血管平滑肌细胞伪足形成和迁移

已知黄芩苷（baicalin）通过削弱肌动蛋白相关蛋白（actin-related protein, Arp）2/3复合物的活性抑制血管平滑肌细胞（vascular smooth muscle cell, VSMC）伪足形成和迁移,然而,其抑制该信号途径的机制尚不明确。本研究证明,黄芩苷通过抑制VSMC活性氧（reactive oxygen species,ROS）生成降低Arp2/3活性,发挥阻止细胞伪足形成和迁移的功能。分别利用TRITC 鬼笔环肽和ROS荧光探针标记VSMCs,结果显示,黄芩苷能显著抑制血小板源性生长因子（platelet derived growth factor, PDGF）-BB诱导的VSMC伪足形成和迁移,伴有ROS生成减少。用超氧物歧化酶（superoxide dismutase, SOD）清除胞内过氧化物后,PDGF-BB引发的VSMC伪足形成被逆转,且该过程与降低皮层肌动蛋白微丝（F-actin）成核蛋白Arp2/3活性有关。免疫沉淀分析结果进一步表明,黄芩苷降低p47phox磷酸化水平,与ROS生成减少相一致。体内的实验也表明,黄芩苷（70 mg/kg/d）能有效抑制球囊损伤诱导的大鼠颈总动脉ROS生成。以上结果表明,黄芩苷通过抑制NADPH氧化酶介导的ROS生成,降低细胞皮质区F-actin成核活性,阻止细胞伪足形成、迁移,进而发挥血管保护作用。     

肌动蛋白集束调控因子及G蛋白信号转导通路

细胞骨架由微丝、微管及中等纤维组成受不同蛋白因子调控以不同方式组装成不同直径的纤维 ,遍布于一切细胞 ,决定细胞的形状 ,赋予其抗压强度 ,对细胞器及大分子进行空间组织 ,实现胞内的能量转换。在肌动蛋白 (ａｃｔｉｎ)组装成张力纤维和张力纤维解离成肌动蛋白单体过程中有多种蛋白因子参与调控 ,从而使细胞骨架处于一个生理的动态平衡中 ,执行和完成不同的生化反应。在众多的调控蛋白中 ,肌动蛋白集束调控蛋白因子 (ａｃｔｉｎｂｕｎｄｌｉｎｇｐｒｏｔｅｉｎ)不仅参与肌动蛋白结构调节 ,还与细胞内信号传导有密切关系。已发现的肌动蛋…     

荧光标记法检测不同毒物对细胞骨架的影响

细胞骨架(Cytoskeleton)主要由微管(Microtubule,MT)、微丝(Microfilament,MF)以及中间丝(Intermediate filament,IF)这三种类型组成。它们在细胞的形态维持、物质运输、信号转导、能量转换及细胞的运动和分裂等多个过程中发挥着重要的作用。其中,由肌动蛋白组成的微丝是真核细胞中含量最丰富的一种蛋白复合体,以解聚时的球状肌动蛋白G-actin(Globular actin)或聚合时的纤丝状肌动蛋白F-actin(Filamen-tous actin)形式存在。正常细胞中肌动蛋白两种形态的转换处于动态平衡,共同行使细胞的变形运动、胞质分裂、基质附着和胞间连接等多…     

Cofilin在疾病中的研究进展

Cofilin是一种肌动蛋白结合蛋白,属于肌动蛋白解聚因子家族成员,普遍存在于真核细胞。它与肌动蛋白微丝(F-actin)结合,调节F-actin的解聚和重构。Cofilin具有多种生物学功能,如参与肌动蛋白骨架重组、核转运、胞质分裂以及心血管生成等。在应激条件下,cofilin可通过相应作用通路进行调节,改变细胞的功能。Cofilin在多种疾病如肿瘤、神经系统性疾病、血管性疾病、感染性疾病等的发生与发展中都起到了非常重要的作用。     

The Arp2/3 complex nucleates actin arrays during zygote polarity establishment and growth

Previous work has demonstrated that dynamic actin arrays are important for axis establishment and polar growth in the fucoid zygote, Silvetia compressa. Transitions between these arrays are mediated by depolymerization of an existing array and polymerization of a new array. To begin to understand how polymerization of new arrays might be regulated, we investigated the role of the highly conserved, actin-nucleating, Actin-related protein 2/3 (Arp2/3) complex. Arp2, a subunit of the complex, was cloned and peptide antibodies were raised to the C-terminal domain. In immunolocalization studies of polarizing zygotes, actin and Arp2 colocalized around the nucleus and in a patch at the rhizoid pole. In germinated zygotes, a cone of Arp2 and actin extended from the nucleus to the subapex. Within the rhizoid tip, three structural zones were observed in the majority of zygotes: the extreme apex was devoid of label, the subapex was enriched for Arp2, and further back both actin and Arp2 were present. This zonation suggests that actin nucleation occurs at the leading edge of the cone, in the Arp2-enriched region. In two sets of experiments, we showed that tip zonation is important for growth. First, pharmacological treatments that disrupted Arp2/actin zonation arrested tip growth. Second, changes in the direction of tip growth during negative phototropism were preceded by a reorientation of the zonation in accordance with the new growth direction. This work represents the first investigation of Arp2/3 complex localization in tip-growing algal cells.     

Effects of Arp2 and Arp3 nucleotide-binding pocket mutations on Arp2/3 complex function

Contributions of actin-related proteins (Arp) 2 and 3 nucleotide state to Arp2/3 complex function were tested using nucleotide-binding pocket (NBP) mutants in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. ATP binding by Arp2 and Arp3 was required for full Arp2/3 complex nucleation activity in vitro. Analysis of actin dynamics and endocytosis in mutants demonstrated that nucleotide-bound Arp3 is particularly important for Arp2/3 complex function in vivo. Severity of endocytic defects did not correlate with effects on in vitro nucleation activity, suggesting that a critical Arp2/3 complex function during endocytosis may be structural rather than catalytic. A separate class of Arp2 and Arp3 NBP mutants suppressed phenotypes of mutants defective for actin nucleation. An Arp2 suppressor mutant increased Arp2/3 nucleation activity. Electron microscopy of Arp2/3 complex containing this Arp2 suppressor identified a structural change that also occurs upon Arp2/3 activation by nucleation promoting factors. These data demonstrate the importance of Arp2 and Arp3 nucleotide binding for nucleating activity, and Arp3 nucleotide binding for maintenance of cortical actin cytoskeleton cytoarchitecture.     

Structure and biochemical properties of fission yeast Arp2/3 complex lacking the Arp2 subunit

Arp2/3 (actin-related protein 2/3) complex is a seven-subunit complex that nucleates branched actin filaments in response to cellular signals. Nucleation-promoting factors such as WASp/Scar family proteins activate the complex by facilitating the activating conformational change and recruiting the first actin monomer for the daughter branch. Here we address the role of the Arp2 subunit in the function of Arp2/3 complex by isolating a version of the complex lacking Arp2 (Arp2Delta Arp2/3 complex) from fission yeast. An x-ray crystal structure of the DeltaArp2 Arp2/3 complex showed that the rest of the complex is unperturbed by the loss of Arp2. However, the Arp2Delta Arp2/3 complex was inactive in actin nucleation assays, indicating that Arp2 is essential to form a branch. A fluorescence anisotropy assay showed that Arp2 does not contribute to the affinity of the complex for Wsp1-VCA, a Schizosaccharomyces pombe nucleation-promoting factor protein. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer experiments showed that the loss of Arp2 does not prevent VCA from recruiting an actin monomer to the complex. Truncation of the N terminus of ARPC5, the smallest subunit in the complex, increased the yield of Arp2Delta Arp2/3 complex during purification but did not compromise nucleation activity of the full Arp2/3 complex.     

Activation of the yeast Arp2/3 complex by Bee1p, a WASP-family protein.

The Arp2/3 complex is a highly conserved cytoskeletal component that has been implicated in the nucleation of actin filament assembly. Purified Arp2/3 complex has a low intrinsic actin nucleation activity, leading to the hypothesis that an unidentified cellular activator is required for the function of this complex. We showed previously that mutations in the Arp2/3 complex and in Bee1p/Las17p, a member of the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein(WASP) family, lead to a loss of cortical actin structures (patches) in yeast. Bee1p has also been identified as an essential nucleation factor in the reconstitution of actin patches in vitro. Recently, it was reported that WASP-like proteins might interact directly with the Arp2/3 complex through a conserved carboxy-terminal domain. Here, we have shown that Bee1p and the Arp2/3 complex co-immunoprecipitate when expressed at endogenous levels, and that this interaction requires both the Arc15p and Arc19p subunits of the Arp2/3 complex. Furthermore, the carboxy-terminal domain of Bee1p greatly stimulated the nucleation activity of purified Arp2/3 complex in vitro, suggesting a direct role for WASP-family proteins in the activation of the Arp2/3 complex. Interestingly, deletion of the carboxy-terminal domain of Bee1p neither abolished the localization of the Arp2/3 complex, as had been suggested, nor resulted in a severe defect in cortical actin assembly. These results indicate that the function of Bee1p is not mediated entirely through its interaction with the Arp2/3 complex, and that factors redundant with Bee1p might exist to activate the nucleation activity of the Arp2/3 complex.     

WASH, WHAMM and JMY: regulation of Arp2/3 complex and beyond

Arp2/3 complex mediates the nucleation of actin filaments in multiple subcellular processes, and is activated by nucleation-promoting factors (NPFs) from the Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome family. In exciting new developments, this family has grown by three members: WASH, WHAMM and JMY, which extend the repertoire of dynamic membrane structures that are remodeled following Arp2/3 activation in vivo. These novel NPFs share an actin- and Arp2/3-interacting WCA module, and combine Arp2/3 activation with additional biochemical functions, including capping protein inhibition, microtubule engagement or Arp2/3-independent actin nucleation, none of which had been previously associated with canonical WCA-harboring proteins. Uncovering the physiological relevance of these unique activities will require concerted efforts from multiple disciplines, and is sure to impact our understanding of how the cytoskeleton controls so many dynamic subcellular events.     

Critical conformational changes in the Arp2/3 complex are induced by nucleotide and nucleation promoting factor

Actin nucleation and branching by the Arp2/3 complex is tightly regulated by activating factors. However, the mechanism of Arp2/3 complex activation remains unclear. We used fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) to probe the conformational dynamics of the Arp2/3 complex accompanying its activation. We demonstrate that nucleotide binding promotes a substantial conformational change in the complex, with distinct conformations depending on the bound nucleotide. Nucleotide binding to each Arp is critical for activity and is coupled to nucleation promoting factor (NPF) binding. The binding of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) family NPFs induces further conformational reorganization of the Arp2/3 complex, and the ability to promote this conformational reorganization correlates with activation efficiency. Using an Arp2/3 complex that is fused to the actin binding domain of WASP, we confirm that the NPF-induced conformational change is critical for activation, and that the actin and Arp2/3 binding activities of WASP are separable, but are independently essential for activity.     

Influence of the C terminus of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASp) and the Arp2/3 complex on actin polymerization

The 70 C-terminal amino acids of Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASp WA) activate the actin nucleation activity of the Arp2/3 complex. WASp WA binds both the Arp2/3 complex and actin monomers, but the mechanism by which it activates the Arp2/3 complex is not known. We characterized the effect of WASp WA on actin polymerization in the absence and presence of the human Arp2/3 complex. WASp WA binds actin monomers with an apparent K(d) of 0.4 microM, inhibiting spontaneous nucleation and subunit addition to pointed ends, but not addition to barbed ends. A peptide containing only the WASp homology 2 motif behaves similarly but with a 10-fold lower affinity. In contrast to previously published results, neither WASp WA nor a similar region of the protein Scar1 significantly depolymerizes actin filaments under a variety of conditions. WASp WA and the Arp2/3 complex nucleate actin filaments, and the rate of this nucleation is a function of the concentrations of both WASp WA and the Arp2/3 complex. With excess WASp WA and <10 nM Arp2/3 complex, there is a 1:1 correspondence between the Arp2/3 complex and the concentration of filaments produced, but the filament concentration plateaus at an Arp2/3 complex concentration far below the cellular concentration determined to be 9.7 microM in human neutrophils. Preformed filaments increase the rate of nucleation by WASp WA and the Arp2/3 complex but not the number of filaments that are generated. We propose that filament side binding by the Arp2/3 complex enhances its activation by WASp WA.     

Methamphetamine-induced Occludin Endocytosis Is Mediated by the Arp2/3 Complex-regulated Actin Rearrangement

Methamphetamine (METH) is a drug of abuse with neurotoxic and neuroinflammatory effects, which include disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and alterations of tight junction protein expression. This study focused on the actin cytoskeletal rearrangement as a modulator of METH-induced redistribution of tight junction protein occludin in brain endothelial cells. Exposure to METH resulted in a shift of occludin localization from plasma membranes to endosomes. These changes were accompanied by activation of the actin-related protein 2/3 (Arp2/3) complex, which stimulates actin polymerization by promoting actin nucleation. In addition, METH-induced coronin-1b phosphorylation diminishes the inhibitory effect of nonphosphorylated coronin-1b on actin nucleation. Blocking actin nucleation with CK-666, a specific inhibitor of the Arp2/3 complex, protected against METH-induced occludin internalization and increased transendothelial monocyte migration. Importantly, treatment with CK-666 attenuated a decrease in occludin levels in brain microvessels and BBB permeability of METH-injected mice. These findings indicate that actin cytoskeletal dynamics is detrimental to METH-induced BBB dysfunction by increasing internalization of occludin.     

Making muscles- Arp,two, three

In Drosophila embryos, muscle fiber formation via myoblast fusion relies on essential contributions made by the conserved Arp2/3 microfilament nucleation machinery. Two key nucleation promoting factors (NPFs), SCAR and WASp, have been shown to mediate this aspect of Arp2/3 function. We have used these unique circumstances, to study the requirements and coordination of distinct NPF activities, within a common developmental setting. Our results suggest that, although operating within close spatial and temporal proximity, the two regulators of actin polymerization are used in a step-wise manner and perform separate functional roles. Our approach also allows us to assess the involvement of the Arp2/3 machinery in formation of a distinct, fusion-associated actin structure.     

Direct regulation of Arp2/3 complex activity and function by the actin binding protein coronin

Mechanisms for activating the actin-related protein 2/3 (Arp2/3) complex have been the focus of many recent studies. Here, we identify a novel mode of Arp2/3 complex regulation mediated by the highly conserved actin binding protein coronin. Yeast coronin (Crn1) physically associates with the Arp2/3 complex and inhibits WA- and Abp1-activated actin nucleation in vitro. The inhibition occurs specifically in the absence of preformed actin filaments, suggesting that Crn1 may restrict Arp2/3 complex activity to the sides of filaments. The inhibitory activity of Crn1 resides in its coiled coil domain. Localization of Crn1 to actin patches in vivo and association of Crn1 with the Arp2/3 complex also require its coiled coil domain. Genetic studies provide in vivo evidence for these interactions and activities. Overexpression of CRN1 causes growth arrest and redistribution of Arp2 and Crn1p into aberrant actin loops. These defects are suppressed by deletion of the Crn1 coiled coil domain and by arc35-26, an allele of the p35 subunit of the Arp2/3 complex. Further in vivo evidence that coronin regulates the Arp2/3 complex comes from the observation that crn1 and arp2 mutants display an allele-specific synthetic interaction. This work identifies a new form of regulation of the Arp2/3 complex and an important cellular function for coronin.