锚蛋白重复序列介导的蛋白质-蛋白质相互作用

锚蛋白重复序列(ANK)是生物体中广泛利用的一种序列模体.ANK模体在ANK结构域中折叠成β₂α₂结构,在空间上则形成L型结构.数目不等的ANK串联起来, 依靠氢键和疏水相互作用,组成紧密、稳定的结构域,并且形成了种类众多但功能各异的ANK蛋白质分子.ANK结构域介导蛋白质与蛋白质的相互作用,它能够和多种配体结合,实现纷繁复杂的生物功能.着重介绍几类结构已知的ANK家族蛋白质分子及复合物的结构特征、生理功能及与疾病的关系.     

番茄中Rpi-blb2同源基因的挖掘与鉴定

番茄晚疫病是番茄生产中的主要病害之一,经常会造成较大的经济损失。晚疫病生理小种的变异和进化常会导致番茄品种原有的遗传抗性丧失,因此不断挖掘新的抗性基因,改良番茄晚疫病抗性是番茄抗病育种的长期任务。该研究采用BLAST同源比对的方法,以马铃薯野生近缘种的晚疫病抗性蛋白序列Rpi-blb2为种子序列,在NCBI蛋白质序列数据库中检索得到11条番茄蛋白质序列,这些序列与种子序列相似性为78%~83%,属于番茄疾病抗性蛋白家族,并对该家族成员进行了基因结构、基因定位、序列保守结构域和进化关系等分析。结果表明:该家族中10条序列分布在第Ⅵ条染色体上,1条分布在第Ⅴ染色体上;6号染色体上的10序列呈现2个抗病基因簇分布,在染色体上分别占据2个和3个基因位点;10条同源蛋白是Rpi-blb2的共同垂直同源蛋白,但不具有平行同源关系,大多数成员定位于细胞质。按照蛋白质保守结构域和基因定位的不同可分为三类,第一类共4条系列,包含有DUF3542和NB-ARC两个保守结构域特征序列;第二类共6条序列,与马铃薯Rpi-blb2蛋白一样,仅包含NB-ARC保守结构域特征序列,在这2类蛋白序列的NB-ARC结构域均位于序列中部;第三类(仅包含XP_004239406.1)虽然也具有与第一类蛋白相似的DUF3542和NB-ARC结构域,但在结构域两端的非保守区序列较短,且位于5号染色体上,因此将其单独归为1类。前两类蛋白成员相应的基因具有1~2个内含子,第3类蛋白不含内含子。该研究结果为利用生物技术选育番茄抗性品种提供了理论基础。     

痘病毒ANK/F-box蛋白的生物学特性及泛素化相关功能

锚蛋白重复序列(ANK)和F-box结构域蛋白是痘病毒编码的大分子蛋白家族之一,大小在400~650个氨基酸之间,其N-末端有5~10个ANK重复序列,C-末端包含与F-box结构域相类似的保守序列,具有将底物募集到细胞SCF泛素连接酶复合物上的功能。研究表明,痘病毒的大多数ANK/F-box蛋白能够与Skp1、Cul1相互作用,靶向细胞的SCF1复合物。抑制NF-κB信号通路是这些蛋白的一个重要功能。此文着重阐述了痘病毒ANK/Fbox蛋白的特征以及泛素化相关功能的研究概况。     

斑点叉尾鮰Cbx基因家族的全基因组鉴定与进化分析

利用Cbx家族基因高度保守的Chromo结构域氨基酸序列作为种子序列,检索斑点叉尾鮰(Ictalurus punetaus)基因组注释的蛋白数据库,共鉴定分离出14个Cbx基因。并在全基因组水平对斑点叉尾鮰Cbx基因家族进行了保守结构域序列、进化、基因结构、染色体定位的系统分析。本研究中鉴定出的斑点叉尾鮰Cbx家族基因蛋白序列与已知的人类、小鼠、鸡、斑马鱼等物种Cbx蛋白序列构建系统进化树。根据系统进化树分析结果,14个斑点叉尾鮰Cbx基因分成两个亚族,5个隶属于Hp1s亚族,9个隶属于PcGs亚族。Cbx基因主要分布于斑点叉尾鮰7条染色体中,且呈不均匀分布。本研究对于后续斑点叉尾鮰Cbx基因家族深入的功能验证及分子作用机制研究具有重要的意义,也为日益丰富的水产基因组资源的挖掘利用提供了参考。     

谷子MYB-CC基因家族的鉴定与表达分析

MYB-CC基因家族是由MYB-DNA结合域和CC(coiled-coil)结构域组成的,其中CC结构域能通过折叠参与蛋白质之间的相互作用,是一个二聚体结构域。这类MYB-CC转录因子是植物特有的,除磷饥饿响应蛋白1(PHR1)外,拟南芥中另外14个蛋白也同样具有这两个结构域。部分MYB-CC基因已经被证明可调控植物中磷酸盐吸收和控制磷饥饿反应。为了探索谷子MYB-CC基因家族的特征和功能,本文通过生物信息学分析来解析谷子MYB-CC基因家族的特征,分析其表达模式及谷子与水稻、玉米基因组中的MYB-CC基因家族的共线性、选择压力。结果表明:通过基因在谷子染色体上的定位情况,共筛选到谷子MYB-CC基因家族基因18个,分布在7条染色体上;基序分析发现存在1个相对保守的基序motif 1;顺式作用元件分析发现,参与防御和胁迫响应相关的MYB-CC基因有6个;基因表达模式分析结果显示,SiMYB-CC6在根和茎秆中特异性表达。该研究结果可为谷子MYB-CC基因家族的进一步研究提供一定的参考依据。     

水稻锚蛋白基因家族分析和锚定膜蛋白的表达模式研究

锚蛋白重复序列模体是生物体内最普遍的蛋白质序列模体之一,在多种细胞活动中主要介导蛋白质与蛋白质的相互作用。采用生物信息学的方法,在基因组水平上搜索和鉴定了水稻锚定重复序列蛋白,通过分析蛋白质二级结构,进行水稻锚蛋白基因家族的聚类分析,并在此基础上,用RT-PCR的方法分析水稻锚定膜蛋白的表达模式,为水稻锚蛋白基因的研究提供了理论依据。     

辣椒查尔酮合成酶基因家族全基因组鉴定及表达特征分析

查尔酮合成酶(chalcone synthase,CHS)是植物色素合成的一个关键酶,对植物的生长发育具有重要作用。本试验依据辣椒的基因组数据,采用生物信息学的方法对辣椒CHS基因家族进行鉴定及分析。结果得出该基因家族含有7个成员,氨基酸序列长度介于213~402 aa之间,基因间序列相似性变化幅度较大,具有高度遗传多样性。基因特性分析发现7个基因含有高度保守的结构域,内含子数较少,为1~2个,它们主要分布于3条染色体上,其中以12号染色体分布最多;此外通过系统进化分析可将CHS基因分为两大类。对辣椒CHS基因的组织表达及果实发育的9个不同时期的表达进行分析,结果表明CHS家族基因具有组织表达特异性和发育时期表达特异性,每个成员都具有不同的调控方式。本研究不仅为今后了解辣椒CHS基因家族的功能和进化奠定基础,而且为遗传性状改良提供候选资源。     

番茄AS2基因家族的系统进化分析

AS2基因家族是一类直接参与转录调控并广泛存在于植物中的转录因子家族,能够调控植物生长发育和抗逆境胁迫过程。本研究通过分析番茄基因组,鉴定了番茄中具有特定结构域的AS2基因,并利用生物信息学手段对番茄AS2基因的系统进化、染色体定位以及基因结构等信息进行了分析。系统进化分析共鉴定了45个番茄AS2基因家族成员,分成5个亚类。亚细胞定位分析表明,该家族基因主要分布在细胞核上。染色体定位揭示了AS2基因分布于10条染色体上,基因主要以片段复制的方式进行扩增。本研究为进一步探究番茄和其他物种中AS2基因功能奠定了基础。     

百脉根TALE转录因子家族的鉴定与生物信息学分析北大核心CSCD

三胺酸环延伸(TALE)蛋白是一类在植物生长发育过程中调控分生组织分化的转录因子。本研究通过生物信息学手段从豆科模式植物百脉根(Lotus japonicus(Regel)K.Larsen)全基因组中筛选出分布于6条染色体上的40条TALE家族基因,并对其保守结构域、基因结构、系统进化、在染色体上的分布、理化性质以及部分典型基因的组织表达差异等进行分析。根据结构域不同可将百脉根TALE家族分为BELL和KNOX两个亚族;百脉根TALE家族在进化上较为保守,分化上与大豆存在较大差异;该家族基因有外显子4～6个,氨基酸序列长度在271～792之间,家族成员蛋白均为弱酸性蛋白。Realtime PCR分析表明该家族基因表达与motif元件数之间存在相关性;BELL亚族主要在顶芽表达,KNOX亚族则主要在根组织中表达。研究结果为进一步克隆百脉根TALE基因和分析其功能奠定基础。     

Autosomal dominant craniometaphyseal dysplasia is caused by mutations in the transmembrane protein ANK

Craniometaphyseal dysplasia (CMD) is a rare skeletal disorder characterized by progressive thickening and increased mineral density of craniofacial bones and abnormally developed metaphyses in long bones. Linkage studies mapped the locus for the autosomal dominant form of CMD to an approximately 5-cM interval on chromosome 5p, which is defined by recombinations between loci D5S810 and D5S1954. Mutational analysis of positional candidate genes was performed, and we describe herein three different mutations, in five different families and in isolated cases, in ANK, a multipass transmembrane protein involved in the transport of intracellular pyrophosphate into extracellular matrix. The mutations are two in-frame deletions and one in-frame insertion caused by a splicing defect. All mutations cluster within seven amino acids in one of the six possible cytosolic domains of ANK. These results suggest that the mutated protein has a dominant negative effect on the function of ANK, since reduced levels of pyrophosphate in bone matrix are known to increase mineralization.     

Genome-wide identification and expression profiling of ankyrin-repeat gene family in maize

Members of the ankyrin repeats (ANK) gene family encode ANK domain that are common in diverse organisms and play important roles in cell growth and development, such as cell-cell signal transduction and cell cycle regulation. Recently, genome-wide identification and evolutionary analyses of the ANK gene family have been carried out in Arabidopsis and rice. However, little is known regarding the ANK genes in the entire maize genome. In this study, we described the identification and structural characterization of 71 ANK genes in maize (ZmANK). Then, comprehensive bioinformatics analyses of ZmANK genes family were performed including phylogenetic, domain and motif analysis, chromosomal localization, intron/exon structural patterns, gene duplications and expression profiling. Domain composition analyses showed that ZmANK genes formed ten subfamilies. Five tandem duplications and 14 segmental duplications were identified in ZmANK genes. Furthermore, we took comparative analysis of the total ANK gene family in Arabidopsis, rice and maize, ZmANKs were more closely paired with OsANKs than with AtANKs. At last, expression profile analyses were performed. Forty-one members of ZmANK genes held EST sequences records. Semi-quantitative expression and microarray data analysis of these 41 ZmANK genes demonstrated that ZmANK genes exhibit a various expression pattern, suggesting that functional diversification of ZmANK genes family. The results will present significant insights to explore ANK genes expression and function in future studies in maize.     

Crystal structure of a 12 ANK repeat stack from human ankyrinR

Ankyrins are multifunctional adaptors that link specific proteins to the membrane-associated, spectrin- actin cytoskeleton. The N-terminal, 'membrane-binding' domain of ankyrins contains 24 ANK repeats and mediates most binding activities. Repeats 13-24 are especially active, with known sites of interaction for the Na/K ATPase, Cl/HCO(3) anion exchanger, voltage-gated sodium channel, clathrin heavy chain and L1 family cell adhesion molecules. Here we report the crystal structure of a human ankyrinR construct containing ANK repeats 13-24 and a portion of the spectrin-binding domain. The ANK repeats are observed to form a contiguous spiral stack with which the spectrin-binding domain fragment associates as an extended strand. The structural information has been used to construct models of all 24 repeats of the membrane-binding domain as well as the interactions of the repeats with the Cl/HCO(3) anion exchanger and clathrin. These models, together with available binding studies, suggest that ion transporters such as the anion exchanger associate in a large central cavity formed by the ANK repeat spiral, while clathrin and cell adhesion molecules associate with specific regions outside this cavity.     

Superfamily of ankyrin repeat proteins in tomato

The ankyrin repeat (ANK) protein family plays a crucial role in plant growth and development and in response to biotic and abiotic stresses. However, no detailed information concerning this family is available for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) due to the limited information on whole genome sequences. In this study, we identified a total of 130 ANK genes in tomato genome (SlANK), and these genes were distributed across all 12 chromosomes at various densities. And chromosomal localizations of SlANK genes indicated 25 SlANK genes were involved in tandem duplications. Based on their domain composition, all of the SlANK proteins were grouped into 13 subgroups. A combined phylogenetic tree was constructed with the aligned SlANK protein sequences. This tree revealed that the SlANK proteins comprise five major groups. An analysis of the expression profiles of SlANK genes in tomato in different tissues and in response to stresses showed that the SlANK proteins play roles in plant growth, development and stress responses. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a genome-wide analysis of the tomato ANK gene family. This study provides valuable information regarding the classification and putative functions of SlANK genes in tomato.     

ANK, a host cytoplasmic receptor for the Tobacco mosaic virus cell-to-cell movement protein, facilitates intercellular transport through plasmodesmata

Plasmodesma (PD) is a channel structure that spans the cell wall and provides symplastic connection between adjacent cells. Various macromolecules are known to be transported through PD in a highly regulated manner, and plant viruses utilize their movement proteins (MPs) to gate the PD to spread cell-to-cell. The mechanism by which MP modifies PD to enable intercelluar traffic remains obscure, due to the lack of knowledge about the host factors that mediate the process. Here, we describe the functional interaction between Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) MP and a plant factor, an ankyrin repeat containing protein (ANK), during the viral cell-to-cell movement. We utilized a reverse genetics approach to gain insight into the possible involvement of ANK in viral movement. To this end, ANK overexpressor and suppressor lines were generated, and the movement of MP was tested. MP movement was facilitated in the ANK-overexpressing plants, and reduced in the ANK-suppressing plants, demonstrating that ANK is a host factor that facilitates MP cell-to-cell movement. Also, the TMV local infection was largely delayed in the ANK-suppressing lines, while enhanced in the ANK-overexpressing lines, showing that ANK is crucially involved in the infection process. Importantly, MP interacted with ANK at PD. Finally, simultaneous expression of MP and ANK markedly decreased the PD levels of callose, β-1,3-glucan, which is known to act as a molecular sphincter for PD. Thus, the MP-ANK interaction results in the downregulation of callose and increased cell-to-cell movement of the viral protein. These findings suggest that ANK represents a host cellular receptor exploited by MP to aid viral movement by gating PD through relaxation of their callose sphincters.