SMC蛋白的结构和功能

近年来新发现的一类蛋白――染色体结构维持蛋白(SMC蛋白,structural maintenance of chromosome proteins)与染色体结构细胞周期性的动态变化紧密相关,它们参与有丝分裂染色体的集缩和分离、性染色体的剂量补偿效应、姐妹染色单体的内聚作用(cohesion)、遗传重组和DNA修复等过程。本文从生化特性和生物学功能两方面叙述了对SMC蛋白的研究。 Abstract：The newly discovered proteins, SMC (structural maintenance of chromosome) proteins, are associated with chromosome dynamics change in the cell cycle. They are involved in chromosome condensation, sister-chromatid cohesion, sex-chromosome dosage compensation, genetic recombination and DNA repair,etc. The current understanding of the biochemical properties and biological functions of SMC proteins is summarized in this paper.     

SMC蛋白复合体的结构、功能和作用机制

染色体结构维持(SMC)蛋白是一类染色体ATP酶.以这类蛋白质为核心可形成三种多蛋白复合体:凝聚蛋白(condensin)、黏结蛋白(cohesin)和SMC5-SMC6复合体.这些复合体直接参与了染色质结构的组织、细胞分裂过程中遗传物质的准确分离和忠实遗传等重要功能活动,自发现至今,对该类复合体的结构、功能及作用机制等方面已有较多研究并取得一些重要进展.     

真核生物集缩素SMC2/SMC4异二聚体的结构解析研究进展

真核生物集缩素(condensin)的主要作用是在细胞周期过程中调控染色体的动态变化。它是一种含5个亚基的蛋白质,由1个起核心催化作用的SMC2(structure maintenance of chromosomes 2)/SMC4异二聚体和3个起调节作用的非SMC亚基组成。目前,关于集缩素中SMC2/SMC4异二聚体的体内构象和分子作用机制仍不清楚。最近,对SMC2/SMC4异二聚体的结构解析取得许多新进展。该文在简要介绍SMC蛋白的基本结构、真核生物集缩素的发现、真核生物集缩素的结构组成的基础上,对近年来SMC2/SMC4异二聚体的结构解析的研究进展作一综述,以期为相关研究提供参考。     

原甲藻染色体中核糖核蛋白和银染蛋白的研究

关于染色体的研究到目前为止已经过去了一个多世纪,就染色体的高级结构已提出了许多不同的模型,尽管目前尚未达成统一认识,但染色体骨架的研究已引起人们的普遍关注,许多学者都认为在染色体中存在一个由非组蛋白或核糖核蛋白(RNP)组成的骨架结构,进一步研究染色体骨架的组成、结构特点对于认识染色体的高级结构无疑是十分必要的。蔡树涛等在甲藻染色体中观察到骨架结构并证明其主要成分是酸性蛋白,他们认为这些成分在甲藻染色体高级结构的组建和维持上可能起支架作用。本文用RNP优先染色和银染的方法对甲藻染色体中的RNP和银染蛋白进行初步研究,这对于进一步研究甲藻染色体的结构和组成以及真核生物染色体的高级结构具有一定的理论意义。     

Tau蛋白基因突变与神经退行性疾病

Ｔａｕ蛋白是神经细胞中含量最高的微管相关蛋白,其正常功能是促进微管蛋白（ｔｕｂｕｌｉｎ）组装成微管（ｍｉｃｒｏｔｕｂｕｌｅ）,并维持已形成微管的稳定性。Ｔａｕ蛋白的翻译后异常修饰与阿尔茨海默病（Ａｌｚｈｅｉｍｅｒｄｉｓｅａｓｅ,ＡＤ）的神经原纤维退化有关［１］。本文综述最近有关Ｔａｕ蛋白基因突变,ＴａｕｍＲＮＡ剪接改变导致Ｔａｕ蛋白组成、结构和功能异常的机制,及其与几种神经退行性疾病的关系的研究。１．Ｔａｕ蛋白基因结构及其表达产物Ｔａｕ蛋白基因位于１７号染色体（１７ｐ２１．１１）,由１７个外显子…     

植物的应激反应和应激蛋白

植物的应激反应和应激蛋白王三根（西南农业大学植物生理生化教研室,重庆６３０７１６）关键词应激反应,应激蛋白,热休克蛋白自从１９６２年Ｒｉｔｏｓｓａ发现果蝇在热击下引起唾液腺染色体发生蓬松现象,并有转录活性以来,关于热休克蛋白（Ｈｅａｔｓｈｏｃｋｐｒｏ...     

染色体移动复合物的结构、定位与功能

染色体移动复合物主要由蛋白激酶Aurora B、内层着丝粒蛋白、存活蛋白及蛋白Borealin组成。它在细胞分裂的不同阶段,能及时精确地定位到相关部位并作用于相应底物;具有调节染色质组蛋白磷酸化,控制姐妹染色单体的粘着、分离,参与分裂纺锤体组装及其对染色体的捕捉,纠正动粒与微管间不适当附着,将染色体精确分配到子细胞及促进胞浆分离等重要功能。文章简要介绍了染色体移动复合物的结构成分,在染色体臂部、内层着丝粒及纺锤体中区的定位过程,及其定位在不同部位的相应功能。     

人类染色体着丝粒蛋白研究进展

人类染色体着丝粒蛋白研究进展朱学良（中国科学技术大学生物系合肥２３００２６）１着丝粒、动植和着丝粒一动粒复合体细胞分裂过程中姐妹染色体的均等分离是一切生物赖以生长和繁殖的基础之一。着丝粒（ｃｅｎｔｒｏｍｅｒｅ）是染色体位于初缢痕的部分,在光学显微镜下...     

BRCA2 蛋白的研究

BRCA2蛋白是一种与由染色体不稳定诱发的癌症相关的蛋白质。通过近年来对BRCA2蛋白结构的研究,介绍BRCA2蛋白在肿瘤抑制中的功能及机制。     

SMC3对肺癌A549细胞增殖、迁移和成球能力的影响

该文通过RNA干扰方法下调染色体结构维持蛋白3(structural maintenance of chromosomes protein 3,SMC3)的表达,探究其对人肺癌细胞A549的影响。用Western blot验证SMC3敲低的效果,用CCK-8实验、Transwell实验检测SMC3敲低对A549细胞的增殖和迁移能力的影响,用细胞成球等实验检测SMC3敲低对A549细胞干性的影响。结果显示,该研究成功地构建了p SUPERSMC3干扰质粒,将其转染A549细胞后SMC3蛋白质水平明显降低。实验组(p SUPER-SMC3)与正常对照组(control)及阴性对照组(p SUPER)相比,细胞增殖和迁移能力明显下降(P0.01),细胞成球数减少,干性减弱。该实验结果表明,下调SMC3蛋白质水平可以抑制A549细胞的增殖和迁移能力,减弱细胞干性,提示SMC3对肺癌的发生和发展可能具有促进作用。该实验为寻找潜在的抗肺癌方法提供了新的实验依据。     

ATP-dependent aggregation of single-stranded DNA by a bacterial SMC homodimer.

SMC (structural maintenance of chromosomes) proteins are putative ATPases that are highly conserved among Bacteria, Archaea and Eucarya. Eukaryotic SMC proteins are implicated in a diverse range of chromosome dynamics including chromosome condensation, dosage compensation and recombinational repair. In eukaryotes, two different SMC proteins form a heterodimer, which in turn acts as the core component of a large protein complex. Despite recent progress, no ATP-dependent activity has been found in individual SMC subunits. We report here the first biochemical characterization of a bacterial SMC protein from Bacillus subtilis. Unlike eukaryotic versions, the B.subtilis SMC protein (BsSMC) is a simple homodimer with no associated subunits. It binds preferentially to single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and has a ssDNA-stimulated ATPase activity. In the presence of ATP, BsSMC forms large nucleoprotein aggregates in a ssDNA-specific manner. Proteolytic cleavage of BsSMC is changed upon binding to ATP and ssDNA. The energy-dependent aggregation of ssDNA might represent a primitive type of chromosome condensation that occurs during segregation of bacterial chromosomes.     

SMC (structural maintenance of chromosomes) structural protein family and their role in chromatin reorganization

Structural chromatin proteins of the SMC (Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes) family play an important role in structural DNA reorganization in pro- and eukaryotes. Eukaryotic SMC proteins are the core components of the cohesin and condensin complexes. The cohesin complex is responsible for sister chromatid and homolog cohesion in mitosis and meiosis. The condensin complex uses ATP energy to induce positive coiled-coils in DNA, which results in compaction of the latter and formation of mitotic chromosome scaffold. In addition, the SMC proteins constitute recombination and recombination repair complexes. In hermaphrodites of nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, the SMC protein-containing complex controls dosage compensation and inactivation of the X chromosome genes.     

Structural Proteins of the SMC (Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes) Family and Their Role in Chromatin Reorganization

Structural chromatin proteins of the SMC (Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes) family play an important role in structural DNA reorganization in pro- and eukaryotes. Eukaryotic SMC proteins are the core components of the cohesin and condensin complexes. The cohesin complex is responsible for sister chromatid and homolog cohesion in mitosis and meiosis. The condensin complex uses ATP energy to induce positive coiled-coils in DNA, which results in compaction of the latter and formation of mitotic chromosome scaffold. In addition, the SMC proteins constitute recombination and recombination repair complexes. In hermaphrodites of nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, the SMC protein-containing complex controls dosage compensation and inactivation of the X chromosome genes.     

Cloning and characterization of mammalian SMC1 and SMC3 genes and proteins, components of the DNA recombination complexes RC-1

Members of the evolutionary conserved Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes (SMC) protein family are involved in chromosome condensation and gene dosage compensation with the SMC2 and SMC4 subtypes, and sister chromatid cohesion with the SMC1 and SMC3 subtypes. The bovine recombination protein complex RC-1, which catalyzes DNA transfer reactions, contains two heterodimeric SMC polypeptides, the genes of which have now been cloned, sequenced, and classified as bovine (b)SMC1 and bSMC3. Both proteins display all the characteristic features of the SMC family. FISH analysis localized the mouse SMC3 gene to chromosome 19D2-D3. Mono- and polyclonal antibodies specific for either subtype detected high levels of protein expression in lymphoid tissues, lung, testis and ovary. No change in levels of bSMC1 and bSMC3 proteins occurred after X-ray or UV-light irradiation of various cell lines or primary cells, and the amounts of individual proteins and the heterodimer are roughly constant throughout the cell cycle. Immunofluorescence of mouse cells detected the SMC1 protein in foci associated with the chromatin. These foci dissolve and the SMC protein dissociates from the chromatin during M phase.     

Differential arrangements of conserved building blocks among homologs of the Rad50/Mre11 DNA repair protein complex

Structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMC) proteins have diverse cellular functions including chromosome segregation, condensation and DNA repair. They are grouped based on a conserved set of distinct structural motifs. All SMC proteins are predicted to have a bipartite ATPase domain that is separated by a long region predicted to form a coiled coil. Recent structural data on a variety of SMC proteins shows them to be arranged as long intramolecular coiled coils with a globular ATPase at one end. SMC proteins function in pairs as heterodimers or as homodimers often in complexes with other proteins. We expect the arrangement of the SMC protein domains in complex assemblies to have important implications for their diverse functions. We used scanning force microscopy imaging to determine the architecture of human, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Pyrococcus furiosus Rad50/Mre11, Escherichia coli SbcCD, and S.cerevisiae SMC1/SMC3 cohesin SMC complexes. Two distinct architectural arrangements are described, based on the way their components were connected. The eukaryotic complexes were similar to each other and differed from their prokaryotic and archaeal homologs. These similarities and differences are discussed with respect to their diverse mechanistic roles in chromosome metabolism.     

SMC proteins in bacteria: condensation motors for chromosome segregation?

SMC proteins are a ubiquitous protein family, present in almost all organisms so far analysed except for a few bacteria. They function in chromosome condensation, segregation, cohesion, and DNA recombination repair in eukaryotes, and can introduce positive writhe into DNA in vitro. SMC proteins and the structurally homologous MukB protein are unusual ATPases that form antiparallel dimers, with long coiled coil segments separating globular ends capable of binding DNA. Recently, SMC proteins have been shown to be essential for chromosome condensation, segregation and cell cycle progression in bacteria. Identification of a suppressor mutation for MukB in topoisomerase I in Escherichia coli suggests that SMC proteins are involved in negative DNA supercoiling in vivo, and by this means organize and compact chromosomes. A model is discussed in which bacterial SMC proteins act after an initial separation of replicated chromosome origins into the future daughter cell, separating sister chromatids by condensing replicated DNA strands within both cell halves. This would be analogous to a pulling of DNA strands into opposite cell halves by a condensation mechanism exerted at two specialised subregions in the cell.     

A prokaryotic condensin/cohesin-like complex can actively compact chromosomes from a single position on the nucleoid and binds to DNA as a ring-like structure

We show that Bacillus subtilis SMC (structural maintenance of chromosome protein) localizes to discrete foci in a cell cycle-dependent manner. Early in the cell cycle, SMC moves from the middle of the cell toward opposite cell poles in a rapid and dynamic manner and appears to interact with different regions on the chromosomes during the cell cycle. SMC colocalizes with its interacting partners, ScpA and ScpB, and the specific localization of SMC depends on both Scp proteins, showing that all three components of the SMC complex are required for proper localization. Cytological and biochemical experiments showed that dimeric ScpB stabilized the binding of ScpA to the SMC head domains. Purified SMC showed nonspecific binding to double-stranded DNA, independent of Scp proteins or ATP, and was retained on DNA after binding to closed DNA but not to linear DNA. The SMC head domains and hinge region did not show strong DNA binding activity, suggesting that the coiled-coil regions in SMC mediate an association with DNA and that SMC binds to DNA as a ring-like structure. The overproduction of SMC resulted in global chromosome compaction, while SMC was largely retained in bipolar foci, suggesting that the SMC complex forms condensation centers that actively affect global chromosome compaction from a defined position on the nucleoid.     

Structure and DNA-binding activity of the Pyrococcus furiosus SMC protein hinge domain

Structural Maintenance of Chromosomes (SMC) proteins are essential for a wide range of processes including chromosome structure and dynamics, gene regulation, and DNA repair. While bacteria and archaea have one SMC protein that forms a homodimer, eukaryotes possess three distinct SMC complexes, consisting of heterodimeric pairs of six different SMC proteins. SMC holocomplexes additionally contain several specific regulatory subunits. The bacterial SMC complex is required for chromosome condensation and segregation. In eukaryotes, this function is carried out by the condensin (SMC2-SMC4) complex. SMC proteins consist of N-terminal and C-terminal domains that fold back onto each other to create an ATPase "head" domain, connected to a central "hinge" domain via a long coiled-coil region. The hinge domain mediates dimerization of SMC proteins and binds DNA. This activity implicates a direct involvement of the hinge domain in the action of SMC proteins on DNA. We studied the SMC hinge domain from the thermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus. Its crystal structure shows that the SMC hinge domain fold is largely conserved between archaea and bacteria as well as eukarya. Like the eukaryotic condensin hinge domain, the P. furiosus SMC hinge domain preferentially binds single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), but its affinity for DNA is weaker than that of its eukaryotic counterpart, and point mutations reveal that its DNA-binding surface is more confined. The ssDNA-binding activity of its hinge domain might play a role in the DNA-loading process of the prokaryotic SMC complex during replication.     

Structural biochemistry of ATP-driven dimerization and DNA-stimulated activation of SMC ATPases

Structural maintenance of chromosome (SMC) proteins play a central role in higher-order chromosome structure in all kingdoms of life. SMC proteins consist of a long coiled-coil domain that joins an ATP binding cassette (ABC) ATPase domain on one side and a dimerization domain on the other side. SMC proteins require ATP binding or hydrolysis to promote cohesion and condensation, which is suggested to proceed via formation of SMC rings or assemblies. To learn more about the role of ATP in the architecture of SMC proteins, we report crystal structures of nucleotide-free and ATP bound P. furiosus SMC ATPase domains. ATP dimerizes two SMC ATPase domains by binding to opposing Walker A and signature motifs, indicating that ATP binding can directly assemble SMC proteins. DNA stimulates ATP hydrolysis in the engaged SMC ABC domains, suggesting that ATP hydrolysis can be allosterically regulated. Structural and mutagenesis data identify an SMC protein conserved-arginine finger that is required for DNA stimulation of the ATPase activity and directly connects a putative DNA interaction site to ATP. Our results suggest that stimulation of the SMC ATPase activity may be a specific feature to regulate the ATP-driven assembly and disassembly of SMC proteins.     

The SMC proteins and the coming of age of the chromosome scaffold hypothesis

The mechanism of chromosome condensation is one of the classic mysteries of mitosis. A number of years ago, it was suggested that nonhistone proteins of the chromosome scaffold fraction might help chromosomes to condense, possibly by constructing a framework for the condensed structure. Recent results have shown that topoisomerase II and the SMC proteins, two abundant members of the scaffold fraction, are required for chromosome condensation and segregation during mitosis. Topoisomerase II is a well-characterized enzyme. In contrast, nothing is yet known about the function of the SMC proteins. We summarize evidence suggesting that these proteins may be enzymes whose activity is somehow involved in the establishment and maintenance of mitotic chromosome morphology.