荒漠昆虫小胸鳖甲Ras GTP酶激活蛋白基因 MpRasGAP 的克隆及低温表达分析

【目的】丝裂原活化蛋白激酶 (mitogen activated protein kinase, MAPK)级联是细胞的重要信息传递系统之一,Ras GTP酶激活蛋白（Ras GTPase-activating protein, RasGAP）基因 RasGAP 和c-Jun氨基末端激酶（c-Jun N-terminal kinase, JNK）基因 JNK 分别是MAPK信号转导途径的上、下游基因。本研究旨在确定荒漠昆虫小胸鳖甲 Microdera punctipennis RasGAP 及 JNK 基因对低温的响应情况。【方法】从荒漠甲虫小胸鳖甲中克隆获得 RasGAP 基因的cDNA序列,利用生物信息学分析软件分析其氨基酸序列并构建进化树,利用实时荧光定量PCR检测低温胁迫条件下 RasGAP 和 JNK 基因的表达情况。【结果】小胸鳖甲RasGAP cDNA的开放阅读框2 523 bp,命名为 MpRasGAP （GenBank登录号：KM677930）,编码840个氨基酸,分子量96.594 kDa,编码蛋白MpRasGAP属于RasGAP超家族。MpRasGAP与赤拟谷盗 Tribolium castaneum RasGAP的氨基酸序列一致性达89%。小胸鳖甲在4℃和-4℃低温胁迫1 h后,MpRasGAP 的mRNA水平都显著高于室温对照（25℃）。小胸鳖甲在4℃处理3 h或-4℃处理1 h后, MpJNK 的mRNA水平也显著升高。【结论】本研究结果表明小胸鳖甲MpRasGAP 和 MpJNK 的mRNA水平受低温诱导。研究结果有助于深入研究荒漠昆虫在低温下MAPK信号转导途径的作用机制。     

真核生物起始因子5

真核生物起始因子5(eIF-5)是一种重要的翻译起始因子,过去人们认为它只是GTP酶活化因子,催化eIF-2上的GTP水解,促进80 S起始复合体的形成.近年来人们发现它不仅可以催化eIF-2上的GTP水解,还参与eIF-3功能的发挥,与eIF-2、eIF-3同时结合,促进起始因子复合体的形成.     

PCR法检测水稻中存在Ras类蛋白基因家族(简报)

Ras类蛋白家族是普遍存在于动物及低等真核生物细胞中的一类单亚基GTP结合蛋白(20—29kDa),它们在一系列细胞过程中起重要作用。它们有GTP结合蛋白共有的作用机制。在刺激物诱导下,结合GTP成为活化状态,与效应子作用产生一定效应;GTP水解成GDP后恢复GDP结合状态,即非活化状态。它们通过GTPase驱动的构象变化的循环,作为“分子开关”起调控作用。目前已有40多种Ras类蛋白被发现,按结构可分为Ras、     

Rap信号在神经系统中的功能研究进展

小分子G蛋白Rap属于Ras家族,其结构类似于Ras,结合GTP后处于活性状态(RapGTP),结合GDP后则处于非活性状态(RapGDP)。在细胞内,Rap通过RapGTP与RapGDP之间的动态转换起到分子开关的作用,调控细胞增殖、分化、存活、粘附、迁移等生理过程。胞外信号通过特异性鸟嘌呤核苷酸交换因子(guanine nucleotide exchange factors,GEFs)调控Rap与GTP的结合,激活Rap;胞内特异性GTP酶激活蛋白(GTPase activating proteins,GAPs)促进GTP的水解,使Rap失活。活化的Rap信号通过其下游不同的信号分子调控不同的生物学功能。在神经系统中,Rap信号具有多样的生物学功能,Rap信号能促进神经元极性的建立和轴突生长,还能调节神经突生长。Rap信号能够调控神经突触结构和功能的可塑性变化。此外,也有研究报道Rap信号和神经元的迁移具有相关性。本文主要针对Rap信号在神经系统中的功能研究进展进行综述。     

Gαq介导的信号通路增强RGS4蛋白表达

RGS(regulators of G protein signaling)是G蛋白偶联信号通路中一类重要的调节蛋白,通过加速Gα结合的GTP水解,即GAP(GTPase activating protein)活性,来中止G蛋白信号通路。RGS4是RGS蛋白家族中的重要成员之一,它能有效中止Gαq介导的信号通路。作者研究了Gαq蛋白对RGS4蛋白的表达调控。当在HEK293细胞中共转染这两个蛋白时,持续性激活的Gαq能特异性地显著增加RGS4蛋白的表达。蛋白降解实验结果证明这种增强作用与RGS4的降解被抑制无关,而与RGS4 mRNA表达增强有关。进一步克隆RGS4蛋白的启动子区域并研究其与RGS4表达相互关系的实验结果又表明,持续性激活的Gαq能够显著增强RGS4启动子区的转录活性,且具有时间和浓度效应。同时,转录因子结合区突变体实验证明,ICE(inverted CCAAT box element)转录因子结合区的突变显著影响RGS4基因的转录活性。以上结果表明Gαq可能通过RGS4的启动子区调控其基因的表达,促进RGS4蛋白表达。     

水稻osRACB基因的原核表达及其蛋白质产物的生化特性鉴定

Rac蛋白作为高等植物中已知的惟一一类分布广泛的信号GTP结合蛋白 ,在植物体众多生命活动调节中起着分子开关的作用。实验将水稻Rac家族新成员osRACB基因克隆于原核表达载体pET 2 8a中 ,转化大肠杆菌BL2 1(DE3)宿主菌 ,经IPTG诱导实现了目标融合蛋白质的高效表达。通过Ni2 NTA柱纯化 ,获得纯化的目标融合蛋白质 ,经凝血酶作用后得到osRACB非融合蛋白质。该蛋白质经谷胱甘肽氧化还原体系复性和超滤浓缩后 ,用于体外功能鉴定。结果显示 ,osRACB蛋白具有与GTP特异性结合的活性以及水解GTP的功能。与另一Rac蛋白osRACD相比较 ,osRACB具有更强的GTP结合活性和较弱的GTP水解活性。     

TANK结合激酶1在PINK1/Parkin依赖性和非依赖性线粒体自噬中的作用研究进展

线粒体自噬是一种清除受损或多余线粒体的过程,在调节细胞内线粒体质量和维持线粒体能量代谢等方面发挥重要作用。TANK结合激酶1 (TANK-binding kinase 1, TBK1)是一种多功能的丝氨酸/苏氨酸蛋白激酶,同时参与调控PTEN诱导假定激酶1 (PTEN-induced putative kinase 1, PINK1)/Parkin依赖性和非依赖性线粒体自噬过程。近期研究表明,TBK1可磷酸化视神经蛋白(optineurin, OPTN)、p62/sequestosome-1、Ras相关GTP结合蛋白7 (Ras-related GTP binding protein 7, Rab7)等自噬相关蛋白,并介导核点蛋白52 (nuclear dot protein 52, NDP52)与UNC-51样自噬激活激酶1 (UNC-51 like autophagy activating kinase 1, ULK1)复合物相结合,以及TAX1结合蛋白1 (TAX1-binding protein 1, TAX1BP1)与微管相关蛋白1轻链3 (microtubule-assoc...     

绿茶多酚对兔主动脉粥样硬化斑块中磷酸化p38MAPK的影响

探讨绿茶多酚(GTP)对动脉粥样硬化(AS)兔主动脉粥样硬化斑块中磷酸化p38MAPK的影响。将雄性纯种新西兰大白兔随机分为3组:对照组、AS组和GTP+AS组。用组织病理学和血管超声检查评价建模情况,Western blot检测p38 MAPK磷酸化水平,应用酶联免疫法检测TNF-α的水平。与对照组比较,AS组TNF-α水平和p38MAPK磷酸化水平增高(P0.01),给予GTP干预后,TNF-α水平和p38MAPK磷酸化水平降低(P0.01)。GTP有延缓AS斑块进展,抑制炎症反应的作用,其机制与阻断p38 MAPK通路的活化有关。     

10个园林绿化树苗对SO2的反应特性

用开顶式熏气装置对10种2年生园林绿化树苗进行不同浓度的SO2胁迫,并对其叶片气体交换特征参数进行了测定,研究了参试树种对SO2的生理反应及其在绿化中的应用.结果表明:在SO2胁迫条件下,大多数树种的净光合速率(P n)、蒸腾速率(T r)和气孔导度(G s)均出现下降趋势,下降幅度因树种和SO2浓度不同而有较大差异.树种P n与G s、T r与G s之间存在显著线性正相关关系,但是随SO2浓度增加,P n与G s以及T r与G s线性相关的显著程度被削弱,表现出SO2胁迫下不同树种P n变化与G s变化、T r变化与G s变化的复杂性.根据P n下降幅度将树种分为3种类型:轻度敏感(3种)、中度敏感(4种)和高度敏感树种(3种).     

翻译延伸因子1A的研究进展

翻译延伸因子1A(EF1α)是一个主要的翻译因子,EF1α.GTP催化氨酰tRNA结合到核糖体的A位点。EF1α不仅仅是翻译必须的蛋白,而且是一个重要的多功能蛋白。EF1α参与许多重要的细胞过程和疾病,包括信号传导、翻译控制、凋亡、细胞骨架组成、病毒复制及癌基因转化等。     

GTP hydrolysis mechanisms in ras p21 and in the ras-GAP complex studied by fluorescence measurements on tryptophan mutants

We have substituted leucine 56 or tyrosine 64 of p21 ras with a tryptophan. The intrinsic fluorescence of this tryptophan was used as an internal conformational probe for time-resolved biochemical studies of the ras protein. The slow intrinsic GTPase, GDP/GTP exchange induced by the SDC25 "exchange factor", and the fast GTP hydrolysis induced by GAP were studied. Tryptophan fluorescence of mutated ras is very sensitive to magnesium binding, GDP/GTP exchange, and GTP hydrolysis (changes in tyrosine fluorescence of wild-type ras are also observed but with a lower sensitivity). Nucleotide affinities, exchange kinetics, and intrinsic GTPase rates of the mutated ras could be measured by this method and were found to be close to those of wild-type ras. The SDC25 gene product enhances GDP/GTP exchange in both mutants. In both mutants, a slow fluorescence change follows the binding of GTP gamma S; its kinetics are close to those of the intrinsic GTPase, suggesting that a slow conformational change precedes the GTPase and is the rate-limiting step, as proposed by Neal et al. (1990) (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 87, 3562-3565). GAP interacts with both mutant ras proteins and accelerates the GTPase of (L56W)ras but not that of (Y64W)ras, suggesting a role for tyrosine 64 in GAP-induced GTP hydrolysis. However, GAP does not accelerate the slow conformational change following GTP gamma S binding in either of the mutated ras proteins. This suggests that the fast GAP-induced catalysis of GTP hydrolysis that is observed with (L56W)ras bypasses the slow conformational change associated with the intrinsic GTPase and therefore might proceed by a different mechanism.     

Hydrolysis of GTP by the alpha-chain of Gs and other GTP binding proteins

The functions of G proteins--like those of bacterial elongation factor (EF) Tu and the 21 kDa ras proteins (p21ras)--depend upon their abilities to bind and hydrolyze GTP and to assume different conformations in GTP- and GDP-bound states. Similarities in function and amino acid sequence indicate that EF-Tu, p21ras, and G protein alpha-chains evolved from a primordial GTP-binding protein. Proteins in all three families appear to share common mechanisms for GTP-dependent conformational change and hydrolysis of bound GTP. Biochemical and molecular genetic studies of the alpha-chain of Gs (alpha s) point to key regions that are involved in GTP-dependent conformational change and in hydrolysis of GTP. Tumorigenic mutations of alpha s in human pituitary tumors inhibit the protein's GTPase activity and cause constitutive elevation of adenylyl cyclase activity. One such mutation replaces a Gln residue in alpha s that corresponds to Gln-61 of p21ras; mutational replacements of this residue in both proteins inhibit their GTPase activities. A second class of GTPase inhibiting mutations in alpha s occurs in the codon for an Arg residue whose covalent modification by cholera toxin also inhibits GTP hydrolysis by alpha s. This Arg residue is located in a domain of alpha s not represented in EF-Tu or p21ras. We propose that this domain constitutes an intrinsic activator of GTP hydrolysis, and that it performs a function analogous to that performed for EF-Tu by the programmed ribosome and for p21ras by the recently discovered GTPase-activating protein.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Regulation of p21ras activity.

The ras genes encode GTP/GDP-binding proteins that participate in mediating mitogenic signals from membrane tyrosine kinases to downstream targets. The activity of p21ras is determined by the concentration of GTP-p21ras, which is tightly regulated by a complex array of positive and negative control mechanisms. GAP and NF1 can negatively regulate p21ras activity by stimulating hydrolysis of GTP bound to p21ras. Other cellular factors can positively regulate p21ras by stimulating GDP/GTP exchange.     

Dissection of the GTPase mechanism of Ras protein by MD analysis of Ras mutants

Controlling the hydrolysis rate of GTP bound to the p21ras protein is crucial for the delicate timing of many biological processes. A few mechanisms were suggested for the hydrolysis of GTP. To gain more insight into the individual elementary events of GTP hydrolysis, we carried out molecular dynamic analysis of wild-type p21ras and some of its mutants. It was recently shown that Ras-related proteins and mutants generally follow a linear free energy relationship (LFER) relating the rate of reaction to the pK(a) of the gamma-phosphate group of the bound GTP, indicating that proton transfer from the attacking water to the GTP is the first elementary event in the GTPase mechanism. However, some exceptions were observed. Thus, the Gly12 --> Aspartic p21ras (G12D) mutant had a very low GTPase activity although its pK(a) was very close to that of the wild-type ras. Here we compared the molecular dynamics (MD) of wild-type Ras and G12D, showing that in the mutant the catalytic water molecule is displaced to a position where proton transfer to GTP is unfavorable. These results suggest that the mechanism of GTPase is indeed composed of an initial proton abstraction from water by the GTP, followed by a nucleophilic attack of the hydroxide ion on the gamma-phosphorus of GTP.     

Mutations in the GTP-binding site of GS alpha alter stimulation of adenylyl cyclase

Mutational replacements of specific residues in the GTP-binding pocket of the 21-kDa ras proteins (p21ras) reduce their GTPase activity. To test the possibility that the cognate regions of G protein alpha chains participate in GTP binding and hydrolysis, we compared signaling functions of normal and mutated alpha chains (termed alpha s) of Gs, the stimulatory regulator of adenylyl cyclase. alpha s chains were expressed in an alpha s-deficient S49 mouse lymphoma cell line, cyc-. alpha s in which leucine replaces glutamine 227 (corresponding to glutamine 61 of p21ras) constitutively activates adenylyl cyclase and reduces the kcat for GTP hydrolysis more than 100-fold. There is a smaller reduction in GTPase activity in another mutant in which valine replaces glycine 49 (corresponding to glycine 12 of p21ras). This mutant alpha s is a poor activator of adenylyl cyclase. Moreover, the glycine 49 protein, unlike normal alpha s, is not protected against tryptic cleavage by hydrolysis resistant GTP analogs; this finding suggests impairment of the mutant protein's ability to attain the active (GTP-bound) conformation. We conclude that alpha s residues near glutamine 227 and glycine 49 participate in binding and hydrolysis of GTP, although the GTP binding regions of alpha s and p21ras are not identical.     

An affinity labeling of ras p21 protein and its use in the identification of ras p21 in cellular and tissue extracts

We have carried out photoaffinity labeling of the ras p21 protein, a ras oncogene product, with [alpha-32P]GTP. Based on our studies, a sensitive, rapid, and specific assay for the detection of multiple forms of ras p21 has been developed. The specificity of this protocol is shown by (a) sensitivity of affinity labeling of ras p21 to known inhibitors of GTP binding and (b) immunoprecipitation of affinity labeled protein with anti-ras p21 serum. Detection and semiquantitation of ras p21 by this method is accomplished in less than 24 h and requires as little as 100,000 cells or about 5 mg of tissue sample from skin tumor, liver, and mammary tumor tissues. Furthermore, using this approach, we were able to detect the selective loss of one species of ras p21 in transplanted Morris hepatoma cells.     

The GTP-binding domain of McrB: more than just a variation on a common theme?

The methylation-dependent restriction endonuclease McrBC from Escherichia coli K12 cleaves DNA containing two R(m)C dinucleotides separated by about 40 to 2000 base-pairs. McrBC is unique in that cleavage is totally dependent on GTP hydrolysis. McrB is the GTP binding and hydrolyzing subunit, whereas MrC stimulates its GTP hydrolysis. The C-terminal part of McrB contains the sequences characteristic for GTP-binding proteins, consisting of the GxxxxGK(S/T) motif (position 201-208), followed by the DxxG motif (position 300-303). The third motif (NKxD) is present only in a non-canonical form (NTAD 333-336). Here we report a mutational analysis of the putative GTP-binding domain of McrB. Amino acid substitutions were initially performed in the three proposed GTP-binding motifs. Whereas substitutions in motif 1 (P203V) and 2 (D300N) show the expected, albeit modest effects, mutation in the motif 3 is at variance with the expectations. Unlike the corresponding EF-Tu and ras -p21 variants, the D336N mutation in McrB does not change the nucleotide specificity from GTP to XTP, but results in a lack of GTPase stimulation by McrC. The finding that McrB is not a typical G protein motivated us to perform a search for similar sequences in DNA databases. Eight microbial sequences were found, mainly from unfinished sequencing projects, with highly conserved sequence blocks within a presumptive GTP-binding domain. From the five sequences showing the highest homology, 17 invariant charged or polar residues outside the classical three GTP-binding motifs were identified and subsequently exchanged to alanine. Several mutations specifically affect GTP affinity and/or GTPase activity. Our data allow us to conclude that McrB is not a typical member of the superfamily of GTP-binding proteins, but defines a new subfamily within the superfamily of GTP-binding proteins, together with similar prokaryotic proteins of as yet unidentified function.     

Crystal structures at 2.2 A resolution of the catalytic domains of normal ras protein and an oncogenic mutant complexed with GDP

The biological functions of ras proteins are controlled by the bound guanine nucleotide GDP or GTP. The GTP-bound conformation is biologically active, and is rapidly deactivated to the GDP-bound conformation through interaction with GAP (GTPase Activating Protein). Most transforming mutants of ras proteins have drastically reduced GTP hydrolysis rates even in the presence of GAP. The crystal structures of the GDP complexes of ras proteins at 2.2 A resolution reveal the detailed interaction between the ras proteins and the GDP molecule. All the currently known transforming mutation positions are clustered around the bound guanine nucleotide molecule. The presumed "effector" region and the GAP recognition region are both highly exposed. No significant structural differences were found between the GDP complexes of normal ras protein and the oncogenic mutant with valine at position 12, except the side-chain of the valine residue. However, comparison with GTP-analog complexes of ras proteins suggests that the valine side-chain may inhibit GTP hydrolysis in two possible ways: (1) interacting directly with the gamma-phosphate and altering its orientation or the conformation of protein residues around the phosphates; and/or (2) preventing either the departure of gamma-phosphate on GTP hydrolysis or the entrance of a nucleophilic group to attack the gamma-phosphate. The structural similarity between ras protein and the bacterial elongation factor Tu suggests that their common structural motif might be conserved for other guanine nucleotide binding proteins.     

Erythropoietin induces p21ras activation and p120GAP tyrosine phosphorylation in human erythroleukemia cells.

Erythropoietin is the major regulator of the proliferation and differentiation of erythroid precursors, but little is known about its molecular mechanism of action. Using a human erythroleukemic cell line (HEL), we investigated whether p21ras is involved in erythropoietin signal transduction. We found that stimulation of HEL cells with erythropoietin induces a 5-fold increase in the amount of GTP bound to the endogenous p21ras. This effect is dose-dependent and occurs very rapidly. We also observed that erythropoietin causes tyrosine phosphorylation of several proteins in a time-dependent manner that correlates with the p21ras activation. Moreover, inhibition of tyrosine kinases by genistein totally prevents the erythropoietin-induced accumulation of a p21ras.GTP complex. By using an antiserum against the GTPase-activating protein, we found that p120GAP is rapidly phosphorylated in tyrosine in response to erythropoietin. Furthermore, the ability of a lysate from erythropoietin-stimulated HEL cells to induce in vitro hydrolysis of GTP bound to p21ras was strongly reduced. These results demonstrate that activation of p21ras is an early event in the erythropoietin signal transduction pathway, and they suggest that accumulation of the p21ras.GTP complex may be triggered by inhibition of GTPase-activating protein activity.     

Low molecular weight GTP-binding proteins in hepatocytes and an assessment of the role of p21ras proteins in the activation of phospholipase D.

A GTP-binding protein with an apparent molecular weight of 25 kDa was detected in hepatocyte extracts using SDS-PAGE and [alpha-32P]GTP. p21ras proteins could only be detected by immunological analysis. The amounts of p21ras proteins present in isolated hepatocytes and in a highly purified preparation of liver plasma membrane vesicles were 0.3 and 4 ng p21ras protein/micrograms membrane protein, respectively. In comparison with the total cell extract, the degree of enrichment of plasma membrane vesicles with p21ras was similar to that of 5'-nucleotidase. The p21ras proteins were tightly associated with the membrane. Treatment of [3H]choline-labelled plasma membranes with an excess concentration of the anti-p21ras antibody Y13-259 failed to inhibit either basal or guanosine 5'-[gamma-thio]triphosphate (GTP[S])-stimulated [3H]choline release. It is concluded that in hepatocytes (a) the majority of p21ras is bound to the plasma membrane and (b) p21ras is not directly involved in the activation by GTP[S] of phospholipase D.