Calpain对细胞骨架蛋白tau降解作用的研究(英)

Calpain是钙依赖性中性蛋白酶,根据其对钙敏感性的不同,可分为m-和μ-calpain两型.分别用不同浓度CaCl₂溶液孵育Wistar大鼠脑皮质匀浆液,并用蛋白质印迹和定量图像分析技术检测不同亚型calpain对tau蛋白的降解作用.研究发现：在37℃用1 mmol/L Ca²⁺孵育底物15 min,可见tau蛋白明显降解,并在分子质量为29 ku处出现tau蛋白降解片段;当Ca²⁺浓度为5 mmol/L时,tau蛋白几乎全部被降解;这种tau蛋白降解可被calpain特异性抑制剂完全逆转.进一步的研究发现,分别用μ-calpain抑制剂（0.05 μmol/L calpastatin）,m-calpain抑制剂（100 μmol/L calpain inhibitor Ⅳ）或总calpain抑制剂（552 μmol/L calpeptin）与1 mmol/L Ca²⁺共同孵育Wistar大鼠脑皮质匀浆液,Ca²⁺激活的tau蛋白降解分别被抑制8.6%,92.5%和97.8%.结果表明一定浓度的Ca²⁺可同时激活μ-calpain和m-calpain,这两种亚型calpain均参与降解tau蛋白,但m-calpain的作用比μ-calpain更强.     

猪脑突触体质膜(Ca2+-Mg2+)-ATPase的分离纯化与性质

以猪脑为材料,经匀浆、差速离心、蔗糖密度梯度离心分离突触体. 低渗破膜得到突触体膜. Triton X-100增溶后,经钙调蛋白亲和层析可得去脂的质膜Ca²⁺-ATPase. 用大体积亲和柱和大体积低Ca²⁺淋洗液淋洗,可得产率、纯度和活性均较高的质膜Ca²⁺-ATPase. 与大豆磷脂保温后,去脂的Ca²⁺-ATPase的水解活力可恢复达3.32 μmol/(mg·min).SDS-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳银染显示单一蛋白质带,分子质量约为140 ku,纯度在90%以上. 不同Ca²⁺浓度明显影响酶的活力.     

钙离子通道A23187对血小板聚集和蛋白质磷酸化的影响

以 ³²P-Na₂HPO₄标记猪血小板,在阿斯匹林阻断花生四烯酸代谢,Apyrase去除分泌的ADP情况下,以A23187和PMA为血小板激动剂,staurosporine为PKC抑制剂,研究Ca²⁺和蛋白激酶C在血小板聚集中的作用.结果表明,a.A23187在1～20 μmol/L引起血小板聚集,相应地,明显地引起40 ku、20 ku蛋白质磷酸化,且存在剂量和时间效应关系.b.A23187和PMA在血小板聚集和蛋白质磷酸化上都存在着协同效应.c.1 μmol/L staurosporine可大部分抑制20 μmol/L A23187诱导的血小板聚集和20 ku、40 ku蛋白质磷酸化.结果提示,Ca²⁺激活血小板是建立在激活PKC的基础上,Ca²⁺通过激活PKC诱导血小板聚集,这是Ca²⁺激活血小板的主要途径.     

伪结核棒状杆菌感染影响巨噬细胞IL-1α表达、成熟及分泌的机制研究

【目的】伪结核棒状杆菌(Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis,Cp)感染动物常引起内脏和体表淋巴结脓肿,以被感染部位炎性细胞因子大量增加为特征。研究Cp感染小鼠巨噬细胞对IL-1α成熟分泌的影响及机制。【方法】采用荧光定量PCR、ELISA和Western blotting等方法,首先检测Cp(ATCC19410、XH02)及其磷脂酶D基因(pld)缺失株(ATCC19410Δpld、XH02Δpld)感染巨噬细胞对IL-1α表达及成熟分泌的影响,进而以Ca²⁺螯合剂(EDTA、EGTA+Mg²⁺和BAPTA-AM)、calpain抑制剂(calpain inhibitor Ⅲ、calpain inhibitor Ⅳ和EST)处理巨噬细胞,观察对Cp感染介导IL-1α成熟分泌的影响。【结果】Cp感染巨噬细胞后,IL-1α mRNA表达及分泌显著增加,与ATCC19410、XH02感染巨噬细胞相比,ATCC19410Δpld、XH02Δpld感染细胞IL-1α表达及分泌显著下降。Cp感染引起巨噬细胞内Ca²⁺浓度显著增加,calpain活性增强,而缺失pld的Cp感染巨噬细胞内Ca²⁺浓度显著下降,calpain活性降低。EDTA、EGTA+Mg²⁺、BAPTA-AM、calpain inhibitor Ⅲ、calpain inhibitor Ⅳ处理Cp感染的巨噬细胞,巨噬细胞的IL-1α表达及分泌显著下降。【结论】Cp感染可激活巨噬细胞IL-1α表达和成熟分泌,磷脂酶D参与Cp感染巨噬细胞介导的IL-1α成熟分泌。Cp感染巨噬细胞介导IL-1α成熟与分泌与胞内Ca²⁺浓度增加、激活钙蛋白酶有关。     

拟南芥钙调素定点突变基因分离及其在钙不依赖钙调素结合蛋白检测中的应用

动植物系统研究表明,钙调素不仅在结合钙离子时调节多种靶酶或靶蛋白的活性,而且没有钙离子结合时,还可以通过结合钙不依赖的钙调素结合蛋白,发挥多种生物学作用．然而,目前却没有体内分析钙调素与钙不依赖钙调素结合蛋白相互作用的方法．首先,采用定点突变的方式,得到了拟南芥钙调素亚型2的多个突变基因mCaM2,随后,大肠杆菌重组表达突变蛋白的电泳迁移率及⁴⁵Ca²⁺覆盖分析表明,得到了编码失去钙结合能力的钙调素的突变基因mCaM2₁₂₃₄, mCaM2₁₂₃₄突变钙调素中所有4个钙结合EF-hand结构域中的关键氨基酸谷氨酸均突变为谷氨酰胺．在酵母双杂交体系中,作为诱饵蛋白的突变钙调素mCaM2₁₂₃₄与我们前期体外方法报道的钙不依赖性钙调素结合蛋白AtIQD26存在相互作用．这将为钙不依赖性钙调素结合蛋白提供有用的体内研究工具,有利于我们全面认识钙-钙调素-钙调素结合蛋白信号途径．     

磷酸化和脱磷酸化对牛脑63kD环核苷酸磷酸二酯酶同工酶活性的调节

本文报道了CaM依赖性磷酸化和脱磷酸化对牛脑63kD PDE同工酶活性的调节作用。实验结果如下:(1)在存在Ca²⁺和CaM时,提纯的牛脑Ca²⁺/CaM-PK Ⅱ能催化牛脑63kD PDE同工酶磷酸化。最大磷酸参入量是1mol/mo1亚基;(2)在Ni²⁺和CaM存在时,提纯的牛脑钙调神经磷酸酶能催化磷酸化型63kDPDE同工酶脱磷酸化;(3)CaH²⁺对磷酸化型63kD PDE同工酶的半激活浓度(AC₅₀)高于非磷酸化型。     

钙调神经磷酸酶的研究进展

钙调神经磷酸酶(CaN)是一种受Ca²⁺/钙调素调节的丝/苏氨酸蛋白磷酸酶,广泛存在于哺乳动物的组织细胞中,作为Ca²⁺信号下游的一种效应分子,参与多种细胞功能的调节.在T细胞活化的信号传导中起到调节枢纽的作用;在神经递质的释放、突触可塑性方面亦有重要的调节作用.新近的研究表明,CaN在心肌肥厚的发生发展中起到中心作用.对CaN的分子结构、酶学特性、组织分布、信号传导及生物学功能方面的研究进展进行了介绍.     

脱硫废弃物对碱胁迫下油葵幼叶细胞钙分布及Ca2+-ATPase活性的影响

利用脱硫废弃物改良盐碱地对于确保国家粮食安全和生态安全,发展循环经济具有重要意义。为了探索脱硫废弃物提高植物抗盐碱机理,采用盆栽试验法, 研究了施入不同量脱硫废弃物和CaSO₄对碱胁迫下油葵叶片细胞钙分布、总钙含量以及质膜和液泡膜Ca²⁺-ATPase活性的影响。结果表明:在碱胁迫下(CK),Ca²⁺与焦锑酸钾结合成黑色颗粒成团零星分布于叶绿体和液泡中,叶绿体超微结构受到不同程度的破坏。施入脱硫废弃物和CaSO₄,叶绿体结构完整,细胞间隙、细胞壁和液泡中的钙颗粒逐渐增多,同时,质膜和液泡膜Ca²⁺-ATPase活性随脱硫废弃物和纯品硫酸钙施量的增加而增加,其中液泡膜Ca²⁺-ATPase活性无论是对照(CK)还是处理的活性均高于质膜Ca²⁺-ATPase活性。叶片细胞内总钙含量也随脱硫废弃物和CaSO₄施用量的增加呈升高趋势。说明脱硫废弃物和CaSO₄通过增加Ca²⁺-ATPase活性,有利于钙通过质膜和液泡膜进入细胞内,维持膜结构的稳定性,缓解碱对油葵的胁迫。     

钙调蛋白研究的新进展

最近对钙调蛋白(CaM)的研究,揭示了它的三维结构及其两个结构域的功能。肯定了CaM的Ⅲ、Ⅳ位是Ca²⁺结合的高亲和位,并据此提出了CaM活化靶酶的新模型。发现神经钙蛋白(CaN)为一种依赖CaM的磷酸酶和两种最强的CaM桔抗剂多肽Mastoparan和药物EBB。证明一些疾病同Ca²⁺、CaM有关。     

豚鼠精子质膜Ca2+ -ATPase活性与精子顶体反应关系的研究

用生化测定法首次证实豚鼠精子质膜Ca²⁺-ATPase活性在精子获能和顶体反应过程中显著下降.Ca²⁺-ATPase抑制剂利尿酸(ethacrynic acid)抑制质膜Ca²⁺-ATPase活性,但钙调素(50μg/mL)的拮抗剂三氟拉嗪(TFP,200～500μmol/L)对该酶活性没有影响,说明钙调素不直接参与精子依赖于ATP的Ca²⁺的主动泵出.但钙调素与精子的Ca²⁺内流有关,钙调素拮抗剂TFP显著促进精子顶体反应和精子对Ca²⁺的摄入.Ca²⁺-ATPase抑制剂栎皮酮(quercetin)、原钒酸钠(sodiumorthovandate)、利尿磺胺(furosemide)和利尿酸均显著促进豚鼠精子的顶体反应,但却抑制精子对Ca²⁺的摄入,这无法用它们对质膜Ca²⁺-ATPase活性的抑制作用解释.推测这可能是由于Ca²⁺-ATPase抑制剂在抑制质膜Ca²⁺-ATPase活性的同时也抑制了顶体外膜或线粒体外膜上的该酶的活性,导致Ca²⁺在细胞质内的积累,进而通过负反馈机制抑制Ca²⁺进一步内流所致.另外,Ca²⁺-ATPase抑制剂对糖酵解的抑制作用也可能是Ca²⁺在细胞质中积累和抑制精子Ca²⁺摄入的原因.     

Recent advances in the study of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus replication and pathogenesis

It has now been over twenty years since a novel herpesviral genome was identified in Kaposi's sarcoma biopsies. Since then, the cumulative research effort by molecular biologists, virologists, clinicians, and epidemiologists alike has led to the extensive characterization of this tumor virus, Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus(KSHV; also known as human herpesvirus 8(HHV-8)), and its associated diseases. Here we review the current knowledge of KSHV biology and pathogenesis, with a particular emphasis on new and exciting advances in the field of epigenetics. We also discuss the development and practicality of various cell culture and animal model systems to study KSHV replication and pathogenesis.     

A Unique Protease Cleavage Site Predicted in the Spike Protein of the Novel Pneumonia Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Potentially Related to Viral Transmissibility

正Dear Editor,In December 2019, a novel human coronavirus caused an epidemic of severe pneumonia(Coronavirus Disease 2019,COVID-19) in Wuhan, Hubei, China(Wu et al. 2020; Zhu et al. 2020). So far, this virus has spread to all areas of China and even to other countries. The epidemic has caused 67,102 confirmed infections with 1526 fatal cases     

Curcuminoids as inhibitors of thioredoxin reductase: A receptor based pharmacophore study with distance mapping of the active site

Curcumin is the yellow pigment of turmeric that interacts irreversibly forming an adduct with thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), an enzyme responsible for redox control of cell and defence against oxidative stress. Docking at both the active sites of TrxR was performed to compare the potency of three naturally occurring curcuminoids, namely curcumin, demethoxy curcumin and bis-demethoxy curcumin. Results show that active sites of TrxR occur at the junction of E and F chains. Volume and area of both cavities is predicted. It has been concluded by distance mapping of the most active conformations that Se atom of catalytic residue SeCYS498, is at a distance of 3.56 from C13 of demethoxy curcumin at the E chain active site, whereas C13 carbon atom forms adduct with Se atom of SeCys 498. We report that at least one methoxy group in curcuminoids is necessary for interation with catalytic residues of thioredoxin. Pharmacophore of both active sites of the TrxR receptor for curcumin and demethoxy curcumin molecules has been drawn and proposed for design and synthesis of most probable potent antiproliferative synthetic drugs.     

The structure, reproduction and taxonomy of Vidalia and Osmundaria (Rhodophyta, Rhodomelaceae)

Comprises species occurring mostly in subtidal habitats in tropical, subtropical and warm-temperate areas of the world. An analysis of the type species, V. spiralis (Sonder) Lamouroux ex J. Agardh, a species from Australia, establishes basic characters for distinguishing species in the genus. These characters are (1) branching patterns of thalli, (2) flat blades that may be spiralled on their axis, (3) width of the blade, (4) primary or secondary derivation of sterile and fertile branchlets and (5) position of sterile and fertile branchlets on the thalli. Application of the latter two characters provides an important basic method for separation of species into three major groups. Osmundaria , a genus known only in southern Australia, was studied in relation to Vidalia , and its separation from the Vidalia assemblage is not accepted. Species of Vidalia therefore are transferred to the older genus name, Osmundaria. Two new species, Osmundaria papenfussii and Osmundaria oliveae are described from Natal. Confusion in the usage of the epithet, Vidalia fimbriala Brown ex Turner has been clarified, and Vidalia gregaria Falkenberg, described as an epiphyte on Osmundaria pro/ifera Lamouroux, is revealed to be young branches of the host, Osmundaria prolifera.     

New or rare chromosome counts in Artemisia L. (Asteraceae, Anthemideae) and related genera from Kazakhstan

Fifteen chromosome counts of six Artemisia taxa and one species of each of the genera Brachanthemum, Hippolytia, Kaschgaria, Lepidolopsis and Turaniphytum are reported from Kazakhstan. Three of them are new reports, two are not consistent with previous counts and the remainder are confirmations of very scarce (one to four) earlier records. All the populations studied have the same basic chromosome number, x = 9, with ploidy levels ranging from 2x to 6x. Some correlations between ploidy level, morphological characters and distribution are noted.