干扰素调控因子3：细胞抗病毒反应的核心转录因子

固有免疫系统是宿主抵御病毒入侵的第一道防线．Ⅰ型干扰素是关键的抗病毒细胞因子,它在细胞建立抗病毒状态的过程中发挥了核心的作用．Ⅰ型干扰素的诱导表达是固有免疫的重要调节与效应机制．已有的研究表明：多种转录因子(NF-kappa B、ATF-2/c-Jun、IRF3、IRF7)通过在Ⅰ型干扰素的转录调控区形成稳定的转录增强复合物(enhanceosome),迅速并大量地诱导Ⅰ型干扰素表达．体内与体外的生物学分析已确立,干扰素调控因子3 (IRF3)是介导细胞表达Ⅰ型干扰素最关键的转录因子,其转录活力与生物学功能直接影响细胞的抗病毒的能力．近年来,IRF3相关的细胞信号转导与调控机制等研究取得重大进展．围绕IRF3的结构、功能以及分子调控机制等方面,概述相关的研究进展,并做前沿展望．     

人热休克蛋白转录因子1 DNA结合结构域的表达、纯化和晶体生长

目的:获得大量热休克转录因子1(HSF1)DNA结合结构域(DBD)蛋白,用于晶体生长的三维结构解析。方法:将DBD基因片段克隆至原核表达载体pGEX-6P-1中并获得高效表达,经过Glutathione SepharoseTM 4B亲和层析、ResourceQ纯化后,蛋白纯度达到95%以上。结果:圆二色谱仪分析蛋白质的二级结构结果显示α螺旋占33%,β折叠占15%;采用悬滴气相扩散法得到了针状DBD晶体。结论:纯化的蛋白质与同源性达68%的Kluyveromyceslactis的DBD有相似的空间构象。获得的蛋白质晶体为进一步的三维结构解析奠定了基础。     

转录调控因子Rex的功能及调节机制研究进展

转录因子Rex是一种广泛存在于革兰氏阳性菌,能够与NADH或者NAD⁺直接结合响应胞内NADH/NAD⁺的氧化还原传感器,与靶基因的结合可调节细胞内的多种生理代谢。NAD（H）是调节细胞能量代谢的必需辅酶,显示微生物细胞内的氧化还原状态。研究发现Rex的调节活性与细胞内NADH/NAD⁺比率相关。需氧和厌氧菌属中Rex单体和复合物晶体结构的解析揭示了Rex、NADH/NAD⁺和靶基因间的作用关系及调控机制。通过比较分析了不同菌株中Rex单体和复合物的晶体蛋白结构,并揭示了NADH/NAD⁺对Rex调控活性的影响,进一步解析了Rex与碳和能量代谢、厌氧代谢、发酵、生物膜等之间的联系,并展望了Rex的研究和应用方向。     

Expression and Purification of the Extracellular Domain of Human Myelin Protein Zero

Myelin protein zero (P0), an adhesion protein of the immunoglobulin superfamily, is the major protein of peripheral nervous system myelin in higher vertebrates. Protein zero is required for the formation and maintenance of myelin structure in the internode, likely through homophilic interactions at both the extracellular and the intracellular domains. Mutations and deletions in the P0 gene correlate with hereditary peripheral neuropathies of varying severity. Comparisons between the human and rat isoforms, whose three-dimensional structure has been determined by X-ray crystallography, suggest that these disease-associated genetic alterations lead to structural changes in the protein that alter P0-P0 interactions and hence affect myelin functionality. Knowing the crystal structures of native and altered human P0 isoforms could help to elucidate the structural changes in myelin membrane packing that underlie the altered functionality. Alterations of P0 extracellular domain (P0-ED) are of additional interest as previous X-ray diffraction studies on myelin membrane packing suggest that P0-ED molecules can assume distinct adhesive arrangements. Here, we describe an improved method to express and purify human P0-ED (hP0-ED) suitable for crystallographic analysis. A fusion protein consisting of maltose binding protein fused to hP0-ED was secreted to the periplasm of Escherichia coli to allow an appropriate folding pathway. The fusion protein was extracted via osmotic shock and purified by affinity chromatography. Factor Xa was used to cleave the fusion protein, and a combination of affinity and ion-exchange chromatography was used to further purify hP0-ED. We document several significant improvements to previous protocols, including bacterial growth to approximately 15 OD using orbital shakers and the use of diafiltration, which result in yields of approximately 150 mg highly pure protein per liter of medium.