Signal transduction pathways in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 and biotechnological implications under abiotic stress

Cyanobacteria have developed various response mechanisms in long evolution to sense and adapt to external or internal changes under abiotic stresses. The signal transduction system of a model cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 includes mainly two-component signal transduction systems of eukaryotic-type serine/threonine kinases (STKs), on which most have been investigated at present. These two-component systems play a major role in regulating cell activities in cyanobacteria. More and more co-regulation and crosstalk regulations among signal transduction systems had been discovered due to increasing experimental data, and they are of great importance in corresponding to abiotic stresses. However, mechanisms of their functions remain unknown. Nevertheless, the two signal transduction systems function as an integral network for adaption in different abiotic stresses. This review summarizes available knowledge on the signal transduction network in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 and biotechnological implications under various stresses, with focuses on the co-regulation and crosstalk regulations among various stress-responding signal transduction systems.     

拟南芥乙烯信号传递途径

植物激素乙烯早在一百多年前就已经被确认,相关的研究使得乙烯广泛地被应用于农业上.一直到十年前第一个植物激素乙烯受体拟南芥ETR1基因被发现之后,人们对于乙烯信号传递的研究并才真正开始有所突破.以遗传学为基础对乙烯反应突变体所做的分析,使得乙烯信号传递已经成为目前植物信号传递领域中被研究得最清楚的信号传递途径之一.该文着重于回顾乙烯信号传递途径上各个元件的发现和确认,以及如何利用遗传学的方法将现有的突变体相关基因构建出目前广为接受的信号传递的遗传模式.最后,该文就目前所知的乙烯信号传递理论及相关研究,做了总结和深入的讨论.     

Role of the JAK/STAT signal transduction pathway in the regulation of gene expression in CNS

Over the last 20 years the JAK/STAT signal transduction pathway has been extensively studied. An enormous amount of data on different cell signal transduction pathways is now available. The JAK/STAT signal transduction pathway is one of the intracellular signaling pathways activated by cytokines and growth factors that was first studied in the hematopoietic system, but recent data demonstrate that this signal transduction is also greatly utilized by other systems. The JAK/STAT pathway is a signaling cascade that links the activation of specific cell membrane receptors to nuclear gene expression. This review is focused on the role of JAK/STAT signal transduction pathway activation in the central nervous system (CNS).     

赤霉素信号转导与植物的矮化

论述近年来在拟南芥、水稻等模式植物中赤霉素信号转导的研究进展。通过对赤霉素相关突变体的生理研究 ,鉴定出几个介入赤霉素信号转导过程的重要基因 ,并对这些基因的产物进行分析 ,根据相应的蛋白特征结构域 ,推导了它们可能具有的功能。利用双突变体 ,分析了这些基因的上下游关系 ,确定了在植物中 ,GA信号转导的几个途径。在此基础上提出了赤霉素信号转导的基本模式 :阻遏是GA信号转导过程中最基本的方式 ,GA信号通过去除阻遏作用来激活转导途径 ,从而调节GA相关的生长与发育。     

Toll样受体4信号转导通路的干预

Toll样受体4(Toll like receptor 4,TLR4)是广泛表达于哺乳动物的跨膜受体,由于TLR4在人体的高表达与各种炎症反应相关联,抑制过高的TLR4表达可能是控制机体炎症损伤的新途径.目前的研究主要是针对TLR4的直接阻断与对TLR4的信号转导通路的抑制.由于TLR4的信号转导通路已经较为明确,从而研究对TLR4信号转导通路的抑制可能会对机体过强的炎症反应及损伤的控制产生有益作用.本文就当前针对抑制TLR4信号转导通路的研究作一综述.     

植物对盐胁迫响应的信号转导途径

植物通过调控复杂的信号网络来应对盐胁迫。近年来,随着植物基因工程技术的发展,对植物在盐胁迫下信号转导系统的研究取得了一定进展。本文以拟南芥为代表,对盐胁迫下参与调控植物耐盐生理响应的两大类主要信号转导途径——Ca2＋依赖型信号转导通路和丝裂原活化蛋白激酶（MAPK）级联反应途径的研究进展进行综述,主要介绍参与各信号转导通路的组件及诱发的耐盐生理响应等方面,并对该研究领域存在的问题及今后可能的研究方向进行展望。     

Motility in Myxococcus xanthus and its role in developmental aggregation

The Frz signal transduction system of Myxococcus xanthus was originally thought to be a simple variation of the well-characterized Che system of the enteric bacteria. Recently, however, many additional Frz proteins, along with alternative signal transduction systems, have been discovered. Together these signal transduction pathways coordinate cell-cell behavior, permitting the complex interactions required for developmental aggregation and fruiting body formation.     

Tyrosine kinases and their interactions with signalling proteins.

Recent progress has been made in identifying signal transduction pathways controlled by receptor protein-tyrosine kinases. The receptors for nerve growth factor and hepatocyte growth factor have been identified as the Trk and Met tyrosine kinases. The stimulation of intracellular signal transduction pathways by activated receptors appears to involve the association of SH2-containing cytoplasmic signalling proteins with autophosphorylated receptors.     

Endosomes,receptor tyrosine kinase internalization and signal transduction

Upon the binding of insulin or epidermal growth factor to their cognate receptors on the liver parenchymal plasmalemma, signal transduction and receptor internalization are near co-incident. Indeed, the rapidity and extent; of ligand mediated receptor internalization into endosomes in liver as well as other organs predicts that signal transduction is regulated at this intracellular locus. Although internalization has been thought as a mechanism to attenuate ligand mediated signal transduction responses, detailed studies of internalized receptors in isolated liver endosomes suggest an alternative scenario whereby selective signal transduction pathways can be accessed at this locus.     

白介素6的信号转导及其相关疾病的治疗策略

IL-6是一种多功能的细胞因子, 同时IL-6的过度表达与一些疾病的发生和发展有密切关系.IL-6通过一个双链受体系统作用于靶细胞.实验结果表明,IL-6与80 ku的配基结合链IL-6R和信号转导子gp130构成一个相互作用的异六聚体模式,通过gp130的二聚体化引发胞内的信号转导.IL-6胞内的信号转导途径有两种:Jak-STATs路径和Ras-MAPK级联反应路径.靶向IL-6信号转导的药物设计和筛选研究将为IL-6相关疾病的治疗奠定坚实的基础.     

G-proteins in etiolated Avena seedlings. Possible phytochrome regulation

The molecular mechanism of light signal transduction in plants mediated by the photosensor phytochrome is not well understood. The possibility that phytochrome initiates the signal transduction chain by modulating a G-protein-like receptor is examined in the present work. Etiolated Avena seedlings contain G-proteins as examined in terms of the binding of GTP as well as by cross-reaction with mammalian G-protein antibodies. The binding of GTP was regulated in vivo by red/far-red light. The possible involvement of G-proteins in the phytochrome-mediated signal transduction in etiolated Avena seedlings has been implicated from the study of the light regulated expression of the Cab and phy genes.     

细菌趋化性的信号传导及调节机制研究进展

近年来,人们对细菌趋化性系统中的蛋白质生化和结构方面的认识逐渐加深,其调节趋化反应的信号传导系统在原核生物中较为保守,其中对大肠杆菌的趋化性研究得最透彻,为理解其他信号传导机制提供了有力的参考依据.详细介绍细菌趋化性的信号传导机制,并对包括趋化反应调节蛋白CheY的蛋白质结构以及两种修饰方式的趋化性调节机制最新进展进行了综述.     

Therapeutic potential of natural product signal transduction agents

Modern drug discovery embraces a strategy of targeting cellular signal transduction pathways as a means of finding new therapeutic agents. Historically, natural products derived from microorganisms have played an important role as drug leads and clinical candidates under this paradigm. The future drug potential of natural products as signal transduction agents looks promising, as illustrated by two key examples. First, substantial advances have been made in the development of inhibitors based on immunophilin ligand polyketides, which target the TOR-mediated pathways and can modulate processes including cell proliferation and cell-cycle arrest. Second, the discovery of natural product inhibitors of the ubiquitin-proteasome proteolytic signal transduction pathway represents an emerging field. Given these examples, together with the diversity of as yet undiscovered agents, natural product signal transduction agents offer great potential for future drug discovery efforts.     

How do cyanobacteria sense and respond to light?

Cyanobacteria exhibit numerous responses to changes in the intensity and spectral quality of light. What sensors do cyanobacteria use to detect light and what are the mechanisms of signal transduction? The publication in 1996 of the complete genome sequence of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis 6803 provided a tremendous stimulus for research in this field, and many light‐sensors and signal transducers have now been identified. However, our knowledge of cyanobacterial light‐signal transduction remains fragmentary. This review summarizes what we know about the ways in which cyanobacteria perceive light, some of the ways which they respond to light signals and some recent achievements in elucidating the signal transduction mechanisms. Some problems in characterizing cyanobacterial signal transduction pathways are outlined and alternative experimental strategies are discussed.     

运动对线粒体介导骨骼肌细胞凋亡信号通路的影响

细胞凋亡是一种程序化的细胞死亡方式,其信号传导通路分为外源性和内源性两条主要途径,线粒体在内源性细胞凋亡途径中扮演着重要的角色。研究表明,运动可通过调节线粒体介导骨骼肌细胞凋亡的进程,而运动调节线粒体介导骨骼肌细胞凋亡信号通路影响机体细胞生物进程的机制仍有待研究。该文主要阐述了线粒体介导细胞凋亡信号传导通路及运动对其的调控作用机制,旨在为线粒体相关代谢性疾病的防治提供运动干预理论基础。     

The epidermal growth factor.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a single polypeptide of 53 amino acid residues which is involved in the regulation of cell proliferation. Egf exerts its effects in the target cells by binding to the plasma membrane located EGF receptor. The EGF receptor is a transmembrane protein tyrosine kinase. Binding of EGF to the receptor causes activation of the kinase and subsequently receptor autophosphorylation. The autophosphorylation is essential for the interaction of the receptor with its substrates. These bind to the receptor by the so-called SH2 domains. The signal transduction pathways activated by EGF include the phosphatidylinositol pathway, leading to activation of protein kinase C and to increase in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration, and to the ras pathway leading to MAP kinase activation. Recently the cytoplasm has been implicated as playing an important role in EGF induced signal transduction. The EGF receptor has been demonstrated to be an actin-binding protein. In addition EGF causes a rapid actin depolymerisation and the formation of membrane ruffles. In particular these membrane ruffles have been shown to act as the first site of signal transduction after EGF binding, and thus may be considered as signal transduction structures. Finally evidence has been presented suggesting a positive role for EGF and/or the receptor in the nucleus.     

Expression of taste signal transduction molecules in the caecum of common marmosets

The extraoral presence of taste signal transduction proteins has recently been reported in rodents and humans. Here, we report for the first time the presence of these signal transduction proteins in the caecum of a non-human primate, the common marmoset. Quantitative RT-PCR data on the gene expression of taste signal transduction molecules (gustducin and TRPM5) in common marmosets suggested high expression in the caecum, which was not observed in other non-human primates. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed the specific presence of gustducin and taste receptors in marmoset caecal cells. These results may relate to the specific feeding behaviour of marmosets, which consume plant exudates, primarily gums.     

The membrane and lipids as integral participants in signal transduction: lipid signal transduction for the non-lipid biochemist

Reviews of signal transduction have often focused on the cascades of protein kinases and protein phosphatases and their cytoplasmic substrates that become activated in response to extracellular signals. Lipids, lipid kinases, and lipid phosphatases have not received the same amount of attention as proteins in studies of signal transduction. However, lipids serve a variety of roles in signal transduction. They act as ligands that activate signal transduction pathways as well as mediators of signaling pathways, and lipids are the substrates of lipid kinases and lipid phosphatases. Cell membranes are the source of the lipids involved in signal transduction, but membranes also constitute lipid barriers that must be traversed by signal transduction pathways. The purpose of this review is to explore the magnitude and diversity of the roles of the cell membrane and lipids in signal transduction and to highlight the interrelatedness of families of lipid mediators in signal transduction.     

Eph-ephrin介导反向信号传递的研究进展

双向信号传递是细胞间通讯领域中新近阐明的机制,酪氨酸激酶受体-配体(Eph-ephrin)介导的双向信号传递是此机制中的一个重要代表.Eph酪氨酸激酶家族受体及其配体ephrin家族成员是在神经发育、血管新生等方面起重要作用的分子,通过Eph向细胞内传递的信号称为正向信号,通过其配体ephrin的信号称为反向信号.Ephrin家族又可根据分子结构分为2个亚家族,其中ephrinB为跨膜蛋白,可通过酪氨酸磷酸化依赖和PDZ结合结构域介导2种方式向胞内传递反向信号,活化FAK、JNK、Wnt等信号通路,ephrinA为糖基磷脂酰肌醇锚定蛋白,也具有反向信号传递功能.