dbcAMP通过Cdc25B蛋白调控小鼠1-细胞期受精卵发育

为了研究PKA激活剂dbcAMP通过调控小鼠Cdc25B蛋白S149和S321位点磷酸化状态影响 小鼠1-细胞期受精卵的发育,将质粒pBSK-Cdc25B-WT、pBSK-Cdc25B-S149A、pBSK- Cdc25B-S321A和pBSK-Cdc25B-S149A/S321A体外转录成mRNA;显微注射入S期受精卵中 ,在2 mmol/L dbcAMP的M16培养基中培养,观察其对受精卵发育、MPF活性及CDC2- pTyr15磷酸化状态的影响. 结果显示,在有dbcAMP存在时,各组受精卵卵裂时间延迟 ,但Cdc25B-S/A mRNAs注射组受精卵卵裂率明显高于Cdc25B-WT mRNA注射组,MPF 活性提前达到高峰;CDC2-pTyr15磷酸化状态和MPF活性变化相一致. 因此,在小鼠1- 细胞期受精卵有丝分裂过程中,PKA对小鼠Cdc25B蛋白S149位点与S321位点的磷酸化 修饰是控制受精卵G2/M转换的重要方式.     

Wee1B蛋白S15位点突变抑制小鼠1-细胞期受精卵的发育

为研究小鼠Wee1B蛋白S15位点磷酸化状态对小鼠1-细胞期受精卵发育的影响,构建pcDNA3.1/V5-His-TOPO-Wee1B-S15A（Ser突变成Ala）/D（Ser突变成Asp）突变体,体外转录成mRNAs. 对小鼠进行超排卵后当晚与雄鼠1∶1合笼,第2 d早取受精卵后培养至S期,显微注射Wee1B-WT(野生型)/KD（激酶失活型)-mRNAs和突变体Wee1B-S15A/D-mRNAs,观察其对受精卵发育、有丝分裂促进因子（MPF）活性及CDC2-pTyr15磷酸化状态的影响.结果表明,过表达Wee1B -WT和Wee1B-S15A/D可有效抑制受精卵有丝分裂进程,明显降低卵裂率. 过表达模拟磷酸化的突变明显抑制MPF的活性,CDC2-pTyr15磷酸化状态和MPF活性变化相一致. 因此,在小鼠1-细胞期受精卵有丝分裂过程中,PKA对小鼠Wee1B蛋白S15位点的磷酸化修饰是控制受精卵G2/M转换的重要方式.     

Cdc25B在小鼠受精卵的表达和定位

为阐明细胞分裂周期(Cdc)25B调控小鼠受精卵发育的机制,利用Western印迹检测小鼠受精卵各时期Cdc25B的表达及Cdc2-Tyr15的磷酸化状态。利用间接免疫荧光技术观察Cdc25B在小鼠受精卵的定位。构建pEGFP-Cdc25B融合表达载体并显微注射到受精卵中,观察Cdc25B在受精卵M期的定位变化。结果表明Cdc25B在G1和S期被磷酸化,在G2和M期去磷酸化。Cdc2-Tyr15在G1和S期处于磷酸化状态,G2期只检测到Cdc2-Tyr15轻微的磷酸化信号,M期未检测到任何Cdc2-Tyr15的磷酸化信号。Cdc25B在G1期定位于细胞质和细胞核中,S和G2期定位于细胞质的皮质部分,M期由细胞质转向核区。证明Cdc25B核输出后激活有丝分裂促进因子,从而启动小鼠受精卵的有丝分裂。     

小鼠Cdc25B核输出序列

为探讨小鼠卵母细胞中Cdc25B(cell division cycle 25 homolog B)核输出序列在卵母细胞G2/M转换过程中的调控机制,应用显微注射方法将Cdc25B的野生型、N末端缺失1～51位氨基酸片段(Cdc25B-Δ51)、1～65位氨基酸片段(Cdc25B-Δ65)突变体的mRNA和pEGFP-Cdc25B-WT、pEGFP-Cdc25B-Δ51、pEGFP-Cdc25B-Δ65的融合质粒显微注射到含有完整生发泡的小鼠卵母细胞中,观察不同注射组小鼠卵母细胞发生生发泡破裂的情况及蛋白质亚细胞定位。结果显示Cdc25B-Δ51及Cdc25B-Δ65都丧失了诱导小鼠卵母细胞减数分裂的能力;同时亚细胞定位研究表明在G2期野生型Cdc25B主要分布在细胞浆中,Cdc25B-Δ51在核浆均有分布,Cdc25B-Δ65则主要分布于细胞核中。研究结果表明Cdc25B在52～65位氨基酸之间存在核输出序列(nuclear export sequence,NES),NES参与的核转运机制作为一种重要的调控机制控制着细胞的生理进程;N末端的氨基酸对减数分裂的重启动起促进作用。     

小鼠受精卵微注射Cdc25b mRNA可提高卵裂率并促进受精卵发育

为了观察Cdc25B蛋白及PKA/Cdc25B 信号途径在小鼠受精卵发育中的作用,将突变型和野生型Cdc25b转录成 mRNA,显微注射到小鼠受精卵中,放入含有或不含有dbcAMP的M16中,相差显微镜下观察受精卵卵裂情况;用蛋白激酶活性测定方法检测MPF的活性;利用Western 印迹检测Cdc2-Tyr15的磷酸化状态.结果显示,未加dbcAMP的Cdc25b- S321A mRNA注射组与Cdc25b-WT组相比,能够提前使受精卵发生G ₂/M期转变,导致卵裂,并明显提高卵裂率;MPF的活性测定和Cdc2-Tyr15磷酸化状态的检测结果也显示,Cdc25b-S321A组先于Cdc25b-WT组提前激活MPF.此外, Cdc25b-S321A mRNA注射组可以有效恢复由PKA引起的受精卵G ₂期阻滞,显著增加卵裂率;MPF的活性测定和Cdc2-Tyr15磷酸化状态的检测结果也显示,在PKA持续激活的情况下,对比于Cdc25b-WT组,Cdc25b-S321A组提前激活MPF.因此,在小鼠受精卵发育过程中PKA主要通过磷酸化Cdc25B的321位丝氨酸,从而调控MPF的激活与失活来控制有丝分裂进程.     

Cdc25B蛋白过表达可使小鼠胚胎突破2-细胞期阻滞

目的：探讨Cdc25B蛋白过表达对小鼠2-细胞期胚胎发育的影响。方法：利用体外转录试剂盒将Cdc25B转录成mRNA,将mRNA显微注射入小鼠2-细胞期胚胎中,观察胚胎发育情况和卵裂率。用蛋白激酶活性测定方法和Western印迹分别检测Cdc25B蛋白过表达小鼠胚胎MPF的活性及Cdc2-Tyr15的磷酸化状态。结果：hCG后48 h,mRNA注射组有超过40%的2-细胞期胚胎分裂到4-细胞期而对照组仍停留在2-细胞期;激酶活性测定显示注射Cdc25B mRNA后,MPF的活性显著升高;Cdc2-Tyr15的磷酸化状态变化与激酶活性测定结果一致。结论：Cdc25B蛋白过表达可以激活有丝分裂促进因子（MPF）,从而使小鼠2-细胞期胚胎突破2-细胞期阻滞,发育到4-细胞期。     

Dnd1的蛋白亚细胞定位及其对HeLa细胞增殖的抑制作用

小鼠睾丸生殖细胞瘤易感基因Dnd1编码的蛋白是一个在进化中保守的RNA结合蛋白.为探讨小鼠Dnd1的蛋白亚细胞定位和对细胞增殖的影响及其机制, 利用生物信息学技术, 采用组合的亚细胞定位分析软件对Dnd1进行真核生物亚细胞定位预测; 利用融合绿色荧光蛋白(green fluorescent protein, GFP)定位的方法, 通过构建pEGFP-Dnd1重组质粒, 将重组质粒pEGFP-Dnd1转染HeLa细胞和GC-1细胞, 在荧光显微镜下观察Dnd1的蛋白亚细胞定位; 用MTT法和流式细胞技术测定Dnd1过表达对HeLa细胞的增殖能力的影响和细胞周期的改变; 在HeLa细胞系中检测Dnd1对AP-1转录活性的影响. 结果表明: ① 生物信息学预测Dnd1主要在细胞核表达, 在细胞质中也有少量表达; 荧光显微镜下观察发现,Dnd1蛋白主要定位在细胞核, 在细胞质中也有少量分布; ② Dnd1基因在HeLa细胞系中的过表达抑制细胞增殖和诱导细胞周期G1期阻滞;③ Dnd1抑制AP-1的转录活性,从而抑制AP-1介导的转录是Dnd1抑制细胞增殖的可能机制.本研究初步明确了Dnd1的蛋白亚细胞定位及其对HeLa细胞的生长抑制作用, 这为进一步研究Dnd1基因的功能建立基础.     

小鼠受精卵早期发育过程中PKA在M/G1期进程中的作用

为研究小鼠体内l-细胞期受精卵蛋白激酶A(PKA)对M/G1期进程的影响,应用热稳定性抑制剂PKI显微注射入l-细胞期受精卵内,观察M期促进因子(MPF)及PKA活性变化以及MPF调节亚基Cyclin B含量情况。发现PKI显微注射后PKA活性低,而MPF活性在hCG后27．5h即达高峰,较对照组提前30分钟。PKI达一定浓度则MPF活性不下降,出现M/G1阻滞;与此同时Western blotting法显示PKI注射后Cyclin B含量在M末期相当于M中期水平。结果表明,PKI显微注射抑制PKA活性后MPF活性呈高峰值,高浓度PKI显微注射可引起M/Gl阻滞,其机制与PKI干扰了Cyclin B降解有关。     

AURKB与MAPK参与调控小鼠受精卵早期发育

Aurora 激酶是肿瘤研究领域的热点, 近年来有研究表明该激酶家族在卵母细胞减数分裂中也起着重要的调节作用, 但对于其在哺乳动物早期胚胎发育中的研究鲜有报道. 本研究通过实时荧光定量PCR、免疫印迹、免疫荧光检测了Aurora 激酶 B(Aurora kinase B, AURKB)在小鼠受精卵中的表达和定位, 运用RNA 干扰技术观察了AURKB 功能缺失后对小鼠受精卵发育早期的影响, 并检测丝裂原激活蛋白激酶 (mitogen-activated protein kinase, MAPK)通路抑制后小鼠受精卵卵裂及AURKB 表达、 活性变化. 结果表明, 在小鼠受精卵第一次卵裂进程中, G2/M 期为AURKB 的稳定表达时相, 其蛋白在G1/S 期少量分布于细胞浆, G2 期聚集于染色质周围, 进入有丝分裂后分布于全细胞. AURKB 的功能缺失可导致受精卵发生异常分裂. MAPK 通路的抑制亦可破坏受精卵的正常卵裂, 并下调AURKB的蛋白表达及活性. 结果提示, Aurora 激酶B 是小鼠受精卵早期发育所必需的, 并与MAPK 通路的激活相关.     

蛋白激酶C_ζ对小鼠受精卵发育早期基因组转录活化的影响

为研究蛋白激酶Cζ (proteinkinaseCζ ,PKCζ)在小鼠受精卵细胞早期发育过程中对胚胎基因组活化影响 ,采用免疫印迹和细胞免疫荧光的方法 ,观察PKCζ的抑制剂对小鼠受精卵 1 细胞期G1和G2 不同时期小鼠受精卵基因组活化的影响 .小鼠 1 细胞期受精卵蛋白激酶C (PKC)的活性不断增加 ,并在G2 期达到最高 .PKC的抑制剂calphostinC可以明显抑制PKC的活性达 4 7% .同时calphostinC对受精卵 1 细胞期基因组的早期活化具有显著的抑制作用 (P <0 0 1) .在小鼠 1 细胞期受精卵的G2 期 ,具有活性的磷酸化PKCζ的含量明显多于G1期和卵母细胞MⅡ期 ,分别比它们高2 7%和 110 % .PKCζ的特异性抑制剂可以抑制受精卵 1 细胞期基因的转录和活化 (P <0 0 5 ) .实验结果表明 ,PKCζ参与了小鼠受精卵基因组早期转录的调控     

PKA-regulated phosphorylation status of S149 and S321 sites of CDC25B inhibits mitosis of fertilized mouse eggs

To further test whether protein kinase A (PKA) can affect the mitotic cell cycle, one-cell stage mouse embryos at S phase (22 h after hCG injection) were incubated in M16 medium containing various concentrations of H-89, a PKA inhibitor. With increasing concentrations of H-89 (0-50 μmol/L), the G(2) phase of eggs was decreased and the cleavage rate was accelerated. A concentration of 40 μmol/L H-89 led to all of the mouse eggs entering the M phase of mitosis. Furthermore, to study the role of PKA in regulating the phosphorylation status of S149 and S321 sites of cell division cycle 25B (CDC25B) on one-cell stage fertilized mouse eggs, pBSK-CDC25B-WT, pBSK-CDC25B-S149A, pBSK-CDC25B-S321A and pBSK-CDC25B-S149A/S321A were transcribed into mRNAs in vitro, then mRNAs were microinjected into S phase of mouse fertilized eggs and cultured in M16 medium pretreated with H-89. Then, the cleavage of fertilized eggs, maturation promoting factor (MPF) activity and phosphorylation status of CDC2-Tyr15 were observed. In the presence of 40 μmol/L H-89, the cleavage rate of fertilized eggs in CDC25B-S/A-mRNAs and CDC25B-WT-mRNA injected groups was significantly higher than that in the control groups, and the peak of MPF activity appeared in the CDC25B-S/A-mRNAs and CDC25B-WT-mRNA injected groups earlier than that in the control groups. CDC2-Tyr15 phosphorylation state was consistent with MPF activity. In conclusion, the present study suggests that PKA regulates the early development of mouse embryos by phosphorylation of S149 and S321 of CDC25B, which plays an important role in the regulation of G(2)/M transition in the mitotic cell cycle of fertilized mouse eggs.     

Ser149 is another potential PKA phosphorylation target of Cdc25B in G2/M transition of fertilized mouse eggs

It is well documented that protein kinase A (PKA) acts as a negative regulator of M phase promoting factor (MPF) by phosphorylating cell division cycle 25 homolog B (Cdc25B) in mammals. However, the molecular mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we identified PKA phosphorylation sites in vitro by LC-MS/MS analysis, including Ser(149), Ser(229), and Ser(321) of Cdc25B, and explored the role of Ser(149) in G(2)/M transition of fertilized mouse eggs. The results showed that the overexpressed Cdc25B-S149A mutant initiated efficient MPF activation by direct dephosphorylation of Cdc2-Tyr(15), resulting in triggering mitosis prior to Cdc25B-WT. Conversely, overexpression of the phosphomimic Cdc25B-S149D mutant showed no significant difference in comparison with the control groups. Furthermore, we found that Cdc25B-Ser(149) was phosphorylated at G(1) and S phases, whereas dephosphorylated at G(2) and M phases, and the phosphorylation of Cdc25B-Ser(149) was modulated by PKA in vivo. In addition, we examined endogenous and exogenous Cdc25B, which were expressed mostly in the cytoplasm at the G(1) and S phases and translocated to the nucleus at the G(2) phase. Collectively, our findings provide evidence that Ser(149) may be another potential PKA phosphorylation target of Cdc25B in G(2)/M transition of fertilized mouse eggs and Cdc25B as a direct downstream substrate of PKA in mammals, which plays important roles in the regulation of early development of mouse embryos.     

Involvement of insulin in early development of mouse one-cell stage embryos

Recent studies have suggested that growth factors and hormones play important roles in cell prolif-eration and differentiation during early embryonic development. In the present study, we examined the expression and localization of insulin in the mouse oocytes and one-cell stage embryos by quantitative ELISA, RT-PCR, Western blot and immunofluorescence. In the mouse oocytes and one-cell stage em-bryos, expression of insulin was uniformly distributed in the cytoplasm. We also examined the expres-sion, activity and localization of mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) and p70S6K. The expression of mTOR and p70S6K was not significantly different at the cell cycle of mouse one-cell stage embryos. mTOR and S6K were distributed evenly in the cytoplasm at G1, G2 and M phase phase, but at S phase, the distribution of mTOR and S6K was around the pronucleus. At different phases, the activity of mTOR fluctuated. We also used the PI3K specific inhibitor-Wortmannin to investigate the cleavage rate of eggs. The result showed that the rate obviously decreased. When the mTOR specific inhibitor Rapa-mycin was used, the first mitotic division of the mouse one-cell stage embryo was delayed. These re-sults suggested that insulin was expressed both in mouse oocytes and one-cell stage embryos, and may play functional roles in regulation of mouse early embryogenesis by activating the signal pathway of PI3K/PKB/mTOR/S6K.     

CDC25B acts as a potential target of PRKACA in fertilized mouse eggs

Protein kinase A (PRKACA) has been documented as a pivotal regulator in meiosis and mitosis arrest. Although our previous work has established that PRKACA regulates cell cycle progression of mouse fertilized eggs by inhibiting M-phase promoting factor (MPF), little is known about the intermediate factor between PRKACA and MPF in the mitotic cell cycle. In this study, we investigated the role of the PRKACA/CDC25B pathway on the early development of mouse fertilized eggs. Overexpression of unphosphorylatable CDC25B mutant (Cdc25b-S321A or Cdc25b-S229A/S321A) rapidly caused G2-phase eggs to enter mitosis. Microinjection of either Cdc25b-WT or Cdc25b-S229A mRNA also promoted G2/M transition, but much less efficiently than Cdc25b-S321A and Cdc25b-S229A/S321A. Moreover, mouse fertilized eggs overrode the G2 arrest by microinjection of either Cdc25b-S321A or Cdc25b-S229A/S321A mRNA, which efficiently resulted in MPF activation by directly dephosphorylating CDC2A-Tyr15, despite culture under conditions that maintained exogenous dibutyryl cAMP. Using a highly specific antibody against phospho-Ser321 of CDC25B in Western blotting, we showed that CDC25B-Ser321 was phosphorylated at the G1 and S phases, whereas Ser321 was dephosphorylated at the G2 and M phases in vivo. Our findings identify CDC25B as a potential target of PRKACA and show that PRKACA regulates G2/M transition by phosphorylating CDC25B-Ser321 but not CDC25B-Ser229 on the first mitotic division of mouse fertilized eggs.     

Multiple mechanisms regulate subcellular localization of human CDC6

CDC6 is a protein essential for DNA replication, the expression and abundance of which are cell cycle-regulated in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We have demonstrated previously that the subcellular localization of the human CDC6 homolog, HsCDC6, is cell cycle-dependent: nuclear during G(1) phase and cytoplasmic during S phase. Here we demonstrate that endogenous HsCDC6 is phosphorylated during the G(1)/S transition. The N-terminal region contains putative cyclin-dependent kinase phosphorylation sites adjoining nuclear localization sequences (NLSs) and a cyclin-docking motif, whereas the C-terminal region contains a nuclear export signal (NES). In addition, we show that the observed regulated subcellular localization depends on phosphorylation status, NLS, and NES. When the four putative substrate sites (serines 45, 54, 74, and 106) for cyclin-dependent kinases are mutated to alanines, the resulting HsCDC6A4 protein is localized predominantly to the nucleus. This localization depends upon two functional NLSs, because expression of HsCDC6 containing mutations in the two putative NLSs results in predominantly cytoplasmic distribution. Furthermore, mutation of the four serines to phosphate-mimicking aspartates (HsCDC6D4) results in strictly cytoplasmic localization. This cytoplasmic localization depends upon the C-terminal NES. Together these results demonstrate that HsCDC6 is phosphorylated at the G(1)/S phase of the cell cycle and that the phosphorylation status determines the subcellular localization.     

Phosphorylation of mammalian CDC6 by cyclin A/CDK2 regulates its subcellular localization.

Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) are essential for regulating key transitions in the cell cycle, including initiation of DNA replication, mitosis and prevention of re-replication. Here we demonstrate that mammalian CDC6, an essential regulator of initiation of DNA replication, is phosphorylated by CDKs. CDC6 interacts specifically with the active Cyclin A/CDK2 complex in vitro and in vivo, but not with Cyclin E or Cyclin B kinase complexes. The cyclin binding domain of CDC6 was mapped to an N-terminal Cy-motif that is similar to the cyclin binding regions in p21(WAF1/SDI1) and E2F-1. The in vivo phosphorylation of CDC6 was dependent on three N-terminal CDK consensus sites, and the phosphorylation of these sites was shown to regulate the subcellular localization of CDC6. Consistent with this notion, we found that the subcellular localization of CDC6 is cell cycle regulated. In G1, CDC6 is nuclear and it relocalizes to the cytoplasm when Cyclin A/CDK2 is activated. In agreement with CDC6 phosphorylation being specifically mediated by Cyclin A/CDK2, we show that ectopic expression of Cyclin A, but not of Cyclin E, leads to rapid relocalization of CDC6 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. Based on our data we suggest that the phosphorylation of CDC6 by Cyclin A/CDK2 is a negative regulatory event that could be implicated in preventing re-replication during S phase and G2.     

Involvement of protein kinase B/AKT in early development of mouse fertilized eggs

The activation of AKT (also called protein kinase B) is thought to be a critical step in the phosphoinositide 3-kinase pathway that regulates cell growth and differentiation. In this report, we investigated the role of AKT in the regulation of mouse early embryo development. Injection of mRNA coding for a constitutively active myristoylated AKT (myr-Akt1) into one-cell stage fertilized eggs induced cell division more effectively than injection of wild-type AKT (Akt1-WT) mRNA, whereas microinjection of mRNA of kinase-deficient AKT (Akt1-KD) delayed the first mitotic division. Meanwhile, microinjection of different kinds of mRNA of AKT affected the phosphorylation status of CDC2A-Tyr15 and the activation of M-phase promoting factor (MPF). To investigate the intermediate factor between AKT and MPF, we then injected one-cell stage eggs first with Akt1-WT mRNA or myr-Akt1 mRNA and then with mRNA encoding either wild-type CDC25B (Cdc25b-WT) or a AKT-nonphosphorylatable Ser351 to Ala CDC25B mutant (Cdc25b-S351A). Cdc25b-S351A strongly inhibited the effect of AKT. Therefore, AKT causes the activation of MPF and strongly promotes the development of one-cell stage mouse fertilized eggs by inducing AKT-dependent phosphorylation of CDC25B, a member of the CDC25 phosphatase family. Our finding that CDC25B acts as a potential target of AKT provides new insight into the effect of AKT in the regulation of early development of mouse embryos.