EoRab43参与游仆虫细胞内大核周围的物质运输

Rab家族蛋白是真核细胞内膜泡运输途径中重要的调节因子。EoRab43是八肋游仆虫中一种编码非典型Rab蛋白的基因。本研究依据已获得的EoRab43基因序列设计引物．从八肋游仆虫大核DNA中扩增了EoRab43基因的3’端153bp片段,即EoRab43 153bp（对应于EoRab43蛋白的C末端50个氨基酸,EoRab43C）,构建重组表达质粒pGEX—EoRab43,53bp转化大肠杆菌BL21（DE3）进行表达．纯化后的融合蛋白GST—EoRab43C免疫BALB／c小鼠制备多克隆抗体。经检测,制备的抗体具有较高的效价及良好的特异性。利用制备的抗体对EoRab43在游仆虫细胞内进行免疫荧光定位．结果显示该蛋白主要定位于该生物细胞内大核染色体的周围。     

八肋游仆虫Rab家族基因克隆和多样性分析

Rab蛋白是在真核细胞内膜泡运输过程中起重要调节作用的一类小分子Ras-like蛋白,为Ras超家族中最大的家族。Rab家族成员在不同的生物中表现出数量的多样性和功能上的分化。为进一步了解Rab蛋白的多样性及其在真核细胞内膜泡运输网络中的功能,本研究利用游仆虫大核染色体特异的端粒结构和基因大小的染色体结构特征,通过简并引物PCR方法从八肋游仆虫(Euplotes octocarinatus)中克隆到9种新的Rab基因,分别为EoRab1A、EoRab2b、EoRab2c、EoRab2d、EoRab6、EoRab7、EoRab2-like、EoRabL2和EoRan(GenBank登陆号为HM371131～HM371139)。序列分析表明,游仆虫中Rab基因家族成员既包括具有维持细胞结构核心功能保守基因,又包括为适应环境而进化出的特殊功能的新基因。     

游仆虫EoRab2a蛋白的表达、纯化及定位分析

Rab GTPase家族蛋白是真核细胞内膜系统转运途径中重要的调控因子,不同的Rab家族成员在细胞具有功能多样性。为了解Rab2的功能,八肋游仆虫EoRab2a基因连接入原核表达质粒pGEX-6P-1中,获得重组表达质粒pGEX-6P-1-EoRab2a。质粒pGEX-6P-1-EoRab2a转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3),经IPTG诱导,大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)/pGEX-6P-1-EoRab2a高效表达了可溶性GST-EoRab2a蛋白。融合蛋白GST-EoRab2a经亲和层析获得电泳纯蛋白。纯化后的GST-EoRab2a免疫BALB/c小鼠制备多克隆抗体。ELISA和Western blotting检测显示制备的抗体效价1∶25600,特异性良好。免疫荧光定位表明EoRab2a在游仆虫细胞质中点状分布,推测参与内质网与高尔基体间膜泡转运。       

EoRab43为八肋游仆虫中编码非典型Rab的基因

Rab蛋白是与真核细胞内的膜泡运输密切相关的调节分子。本研究运用简并引物PCR技术从原生动物八肋游仆虫大核基因组中克隆获得了一个全新的Rab基因,EoRab43 (GenBank登陆号为EU365391) ,该基因拟编码蛋白的氨基酸序列基本包括Rab蛋白保守的GTP结合区以及RabF模序。Blast结果显示,EoRab43序列与其它生物中Rab5A、Rab6和Rab13的一致性相对较高,但也仅为36·4 %-38·5 %,无法将其归类于任何现有的Rab蛋白亚家族。序列分析显示该基因拟编码的蛋白质属于非典型Rab,这是首次在游仆虫中发现的编码非典型Rab蛋白的基因,推测其在原生动物八肋游仆虫细胞内可能执行某些特殊的生理功能。     

游仆虫Rab蛋白基因的克隆表达与纯化

为对单细胞原生动物纤毛虫中Rab蛋白的功能进行研究 ,进而探讨以胞吞和胞吐为主要物质交换途径的纤毛虫中囊泡定向运输的机理 .利用PCR技术从游仆虫大核DNA及cDNA中扩增出rab基因 ,并进行了序列分析 ,该基因全长为 783bp ,两端为端粒序列 ,编码框为 6 2 4bp ,编码 2 0 7个氨基酸 ,开放读框中有 3个TGA ,在此编码半胱氨酸 .利用定点突变将rab基因中 3个TGA突变为通用半胱氨酸密码子TGC .将游仆虫Rab蛋白基因构建于原核表达载体pGEX 4T 2中 ,得到的重组质粒pGEX Eorab1转化至大肠杆菌BL2 1(DE3)中 ,IPTG诱导表达 .表达产物与抗GST抗体在 4 9kD处有很强的交叉反应 .融合蛋白GST EoRab1通过亲和层析柱纯化和凝血酶的切割 ,再经两步纯化得到电泳纯的游仆虫Rab蛋白 .     

过表达EoRPL11下调HEK293T细胞中蛋白质的翻译活性(英文)

核糖体蛋白L11(RPL11)是真核生物核糖体的重要组成部分.RPL11参与核糖体的生物发生及其它的一些细胞调控过程.本研究在人细胞中研究了游仆虫RPL11(EoRPL11)的亚细胞定位及对蛋白质合成的调控功能.通过激光共聚焦显微镜观察发现,融合绿色荧光蛋白的EoRPL11分布于细胞核中,并集中于核仁上;将EoRPL11和海肾荧光素酶报告基因共转染HEK293T细胞后发现,细胞内海肾荧光素酶的酶活性明显下降,并呈现一种剂量依赖性关系;实时定量PCR分析则表明,海肾荧光素酶的mRNA水平并没有明显改变;同时,细胞的增殖也受到了一定的抑制.以上结果表明,EoRPL11是核蛋白,并且其过表达可能在翻译水平上抑制细胞内总蛋白质的合成.     

esiRNA分析人源驱动蛋白MKLP1在胞质分裂中的功能

为探讨人源驱动蛋白MKLP1在有丝分裂和胞质分裂中的作用,以E.coliRNaseⅢ制备MKLP1的3′UTResiRNA转染HeLa细胞,通过定量RTPCR、Western印迹检测MKLP1esiRNA对MKLP1基因的沉默效率.再利用FACS分析、免疫荧光染色和活细胞成像分析检测MKLP1表达缺失后在有丝分裂和胞质分裂不同时期的细胞形态学、细胞分裂指数、细胞百分数,动态观察有丝分裂和胞质分裂期间的表型改变,以系统分析MKLP1的功能.最后通过挽救实验验证MKLP1esiRNA的作用特异性.实验显示MKLP1esiRNA转染HeLa细胞能够有效地特异性消除MKLP1的表达,并被异位表达的MKLP1所挽救.MKLP1蛋白在有丝分裂后期和末期前期位于纺锤体中间带,在末期后期和胞质分裂的最后阶段集中于中间体的中心处.MKLP1表达缺失使中间体正确形成和胞质分裂的完成受到严重抑制,造成大量双多核细胞堆积.结果表明,MKLP1在胞质分裂中间体形成和有丝分裂末期前期向后期过渡过程中起关键作用,是纺锤体中间体中间带相关蛋白,为胞质分裂所必需.     

SCG10基因重组质粒的构建及蛋白表达和定位

目的构建SCG10真核表达载体并证实融合蛋白在细胞内表达及定位。方法以人胎脑cDNA文库为模板,PCR扩增SCG10全长编码基因,亚克隆至pEGFP-C1表达载体中。将构建的重组质粒测序并转染到人胚肾HEK293中,提取细胞蛋白进行Western blot检测。利用共聚焦激光扫描显微镜观察pEGFP-SCG10在HEK293细胞内定位。结果 SCG10全长基因序列克隆到了真核表达载体pEGFP-C1中,酶切鉴定片段大小540bp。Western blot检测到了融合蛋白表达,分子量约为48kD。pEGFP-SCG10在细胞内定位以细胞浆为主,在细胞核少量表达。结论成功构建了SCG10全长基因真核表达载体,pEGFP-SCG10蛋白主要定位于HEK293细胞浆内。     

八肋游仆虫胞质核糖体蛋白基因序列特征分析

为了探讨八肋游仆虫(Euplotes octocarinatus)核糖体蛋白基因的数目及其结构的特殊性, 研究通过生物信息学方法, 对八肋游仆虫胞质核糖体蛋白进行了系统的分析。共鉴定得到98个基因编码78种不同的胞质核糖体蛋白。其中19种胞质核糖体蛋白基因发生了复制, 尽管都是有功能的, 但其中一个基因的表达受到限制。通过与高等真核生物比较, 我们发现: 八肋游仆虫核糖体蛋白eS30缺失了N端的类泛素结构域, eL6缺失了N端的Ribosomal_L6e_N结构域。另外, 不同于其他高等真核生物, 八肋游仆虫酸性核糖体磷酸化蛋白uL10为碱性蛋白。研究为进一步探讨低等真核生物核糖体的组装及功能奠定了基础。     

PS1/GFP融合蛋白对PS1的亚细胞定位的初步研究

PS1基因突变与早发家族性老年痴呆有密切联系.构建pEGFP-C1-PS1以及pEGFP-N2-PS1融合基因表达载体,于HEK293和CHO细胞系中表达PS1/GFP融合蛋白,以GFP绿色荧光作为PS1的亚细胞定位信号,通过SPOTII以及CONFOCAL显微镜进行观察,初步获得PS1全长蛋白在细胞中定位的部分信息,即PS1定位于细胞核膜,细胞质内有不均匀的分布,少量存在于细胞-细胞接触处的细胞膜上.     

Characterization of a Rab11 homologue, EoRab11a, in Euplotes octocarinatus

Rab GTPases are crucial in the regulation of intracellular vesicular trafficking. A novel Rab GTPase gene, EoRab11a (GenBank accession no. EF061065 ), was isolated and identified from Euplotes octocarinatus cells in this study. It contains an ORF of 696-bp nucleotides, encoding 231 amino acids with a calculated molecular weight of 26.8 kDa. Alignment of EoRab11a with other Rab11 proteins from other eukaryotes demonstrated that these proteins shared 53–61% identity at the amino acid level. The recombinant EoRab11a was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified by immobilized metal chelate affinity chromatography and iron chromatography. The GTPase activity of EoRab11a was 0.0024 min⁻¹ detected by HPLC at 30 °C. Three mutations were generated at amino acids Ser21 and Gly22 positions in the G1 domain of EoRab11a. All three mutants, S21P, S21G and G22R, increased the GTPase activity in vitro . Immunofluorescence microscopy results indicated that EoRab11a was localized on the phagosomal membrane during phagocytosis of E. octocarinatus . These data show that EoRab11a possesses GTP hydrolysis activity and may participate in vesicle transport events during phagocytosis of E. octocarinatus .     

Recycling of the human prostacyclin receptor is regulated through a direct interaction with Rab11a GTPase

The human prostacyclin receptor (hIP) undergoes agonist-induced internalization but the mechanisms regulating its intracellular trafficking and/or recycling to the plasma membrane are poorly understood. Herein, we conducted a yeast-two-hybrid screen to identify proteins interacting with the carboxyl-terminal (C)-tail domain of the hIP and discovered a novel interaction with Rab11a. This interaction was confirmed by co-immunoprecipitations in mammalian HEK293 and was augmented by cicaprost stimulation. The hIP co-localized to Rab11-containing recycling endosomes in both HEK293 and endothelial EA.hy 926 cells in a time-dependent manner following cicaprost stimulation. Moreover, over-expression of Rab11a significantly increased recycling of the hIP, while the dominant negative Rab11^S25N impaired that recycling. Conversely, while the hIP co-localized to Rab4-positive endosomes in response to cicaprost, ectopic expression of Rab4a did not substantially affect overall recycling nor did Rab4a directly interact with the hIP. The specific interaction between the hIP and Rab11a was dependent on a 22 amino acid (Val²⁹⁹–Gln³²⁰) sequence within its C-tail domain and was independent of isoprenylation of the hIP. This study elucidates a critical role for Rab11a in regulating trafficking of the hIP and has identified a novel Rab11 binding domain (RBD) within its C-tail domain that is both necessary and sufficient to mediate interaction with Rab11a.     

Small GTPase Rab11b regulates degradation of surface membrane L-type Cav1.2 channels

L-type Ca(2+) channels (LTCCs) play a critical role in Ca(2+)-dependent signaling processes in a variety of cell types. The number of functional LTCCs at the plasma membrane strongly influences the strength and duration of Ca(2+) signals. Recent studies demonstrated that endosomal trafficking provides a mechanism for dynamic changes in LTCC surface membrane density. The purpose of the current study was to determine whether the small GTPase Rab11b, a known regulator of endosomal recycling, impacts plasmalemmal expression of Ca(v)1.2 LTCCs. Disruption of endogenous Rab11b function with a dominant negative Rab11b S25N mutant led to a significant 64% increase in peak L-type Ba(2+) current (I(Ba,L)) in human embryonic kidney (HEK)293 cells. Short-hairpin RNA (shRNA)-mediated knockdown of Rab11b also significantly increased peak I(Ba,L) by 66% compared when with cells transfected with control shRNA, whereas knockdown of Rab11a did not impact I(Ba,L). Rab11b S25N led to a 1.7-fold increase in plasma membrane density of hemagglutinin epitope-tagged Ca(v)1.2 expressed in HEK293 cells. Cell surface biotinylation experiments demonstrated that Rab11b S25N does not significantly impact anterograde trafficking of LTCCs to the surface membrane but rather slows degradation of plasmalemmal Ca(v)1.2 channels. We further demonstrated Rab11b expression in ventricular myocardium and showed that Rab11b S25N significantly increases peak I(Ba,L) by 98% in neonatal mouse cardiac myocytes. These findings reveal a novel role for Rab11b in limiting, rather than promoting, the plasma membrane expression of Ca(v)1.2 LTCCs in contrast to its effects on other ion channels including human ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG) K(+) channels and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator. This suggests Rab11b differentially regulates the trafficking of distinct cargo and extends our understanding of how endosomal transport impacts the functional expression of LTCCs.     

Differential regulation of corticotropin releasing factor 1alpha receptor endocytosis and trafficking by beta-arrestins and Rab GTPases

The corticotropin releasing factor (CRF) type 1alpha receptor, a member of the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) subfamily B, is involved in the aetiology of anxiety and depressive disorders. In the present study, we examined the internalization and trafficking of the CRF1alpha receptor in both human embryonic kidney (HEK)293 cells and primary cortical neurons. We found that CRF1alpha receptor activation leads to the selective recruitment of beta-arrestin2 in both HEK293 cells and neurons. We observed distinct distribution patterns of CRF1alpha receptor and beta-arrestin2 in HEK293 cells and cortical neurons. In HEK293 cells, beta-arrestin2-green fluorescent protein (GFP) co-localized with CRF1alpha receptor in vesicles at the plasma membrane but was dissociated from the receptor in endosomes. In contrast, in primary cortical neurons, beta-arrestin2 and CRF1alpha receptor were internalized in distinct endocytic vesicles. By bioluminescence resonance energy transfer, we demonstrated that beta-arrestin2 association with CRF1alpha receptor was increased in cells transfected with G protein-coupled receptor kinase (GRK)3 and GRK6 and decreased in cells transfected with GRK2 and GRK5. In both HEK293 cells and cortical neurons, internalized CRF1alpha receptor transited from Rab5-positive early endosomes to Rab4-positive recycling endosomes and was not targeted to lysosomes. However, CRF1alpha receptor resensitization was blocked by the overexpression of wild-type, but not dominant-negative, Rab5 and Rab4 GTPases. Taken together, our results suggest that beta-arrestin trafficking differs between HEK293 cells and neurons, and that CRF1alpha receptor resensitization is regulated in an atypical manner by Rab GTPases.     

Tyrosine phosphorylation of the Rab24 GTPase in cultured mammalian cells

Several members of the large family of Rab GTPases have been shown to function in vesicular trafficking in mammalian cells. However, the exact role of Rab24 remains poorly defined. Rab24 differs from other Rab proteins in that it has a low intrinsic GTPase activity and is not efficiently prenylated. Here we report an additional unique property of Rab24; i.e., the protein can undergo tyrosine phosphorylation when overexpressed in cultured cells. Immunoblot analyses with specific anti-phosphotyrosine monoclonal antibodies revealed the presence of phosphotyrosine (pTyr) on myc-Rab24 in whole cell lysates and immunoprecipitated samples. No pTyr was detected on other overexpressed myc-tagged GTPases (H-Ras, Rab1b, Rab6, Rab11 or Rab13). Comparisons of myc-Rab24 in the soluble and particulate fractions from HEK293 and HEp-2 cells indicated that the cytosolic pool of Rab24 was more heavily phosphorylated than the membrane pool. Treatment of transfected cells with the broad-spectrum tyrosine kinase inhibitor, genistein, as well as the specific Src-family kinase inhibitor, PP2, eliminated the pTyr signal from Rab24. In contrast the receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor, tyrphostin A25, had no effect. Tyrosine phosphorylation of Rab24 was reduced by alanine substitution of two unique tyrosines, one found in a strong consensus phosphorylation motif (Y [Formula: see text] ) in the hypervariable domain (Y172) and the other falling within the GXXXGK(S/T) motif known as the P-loop (Y17). The latter region is known to influence GTP hydrolysis in Rab proteins, so the phosphorylation of Y17 could contribute to the low intrinsic GTPase activity of Rab24. This is the first report of tyrosine phosphorylation in any member of the Ras superfamily and it raises the possibility that this type of modification could influence Rab24 targeting and interactions with effector protein complexes.     

Overexpression of Rab11 or constitutively active Rab11 does not affect sAPPalpha and Abeta secretions by wild-type and Swedish mutated betaAPP-expressing HEK293 cells

Presenilins 1 and 2 are two homologous proteins which, when mutated, appear responsible for most of the early-onset familial forms of Alzheimer's disease. Among various functional aspects, presenilins appear to behave as chaperoning partners of a series of proteins including the beta-amyloid precursor protein. Recently, presenilins were shown to interact with Rab11, a GTPase involved in intracellular transport. This suggested that Rab11-presenilin interaction could influence the routing of betaAPP and thereby modulate its maturation. In this context, we examined whether overexpression of Rab11 or its constitutively active mutant Rab11Q70L could affect betaAPP maturation in human HEK293 cells. We show here that the overexpression of both Rab11-related proteins does not modify the recovery of secreted sAPPalpha or Abeta in HEK293 cells expressing wild-type betaAPP or betaAPP harboring the Swedish double mutation. These data indicate that Rab11 does not influence betaAPP processing in HEK293 cells. However, it does not preclude the possibility for Rab11 to modulate other presenilin-mediated functions in human cells.