Exendin-4的研究进展

Exendin-4是从希拉毒蜥唾液中分离的一种多肽激素,由39个氨基酸残基组成,与胰高血糖素样肽1（GLP-1）有53%的同源性.Exendin-4具有高度的组织特异性,仅在希拉毒蜥的唾液腺中表达.Exendin-4首先翻洋成N端多余45个氨基酸残基的前体,然后在激素原转化酶催化下分解产生具有生物活性的Exendin-4.Exendin-4的N端是一段不规则卷曲,第7～28氨基酸残基形成α螺旋,C端是不规则亲水片段.Exendin-4的受体是G蛋白,N端是激活受体信号转导途径的关键区域,中间部位和C端是受体结合域.Exendin-4与GLP-1类似,可提高胰岛素基因的转录水平,刺激胰岛素的释放,从而控制血糖浓度,但GLP-1的半衰期2分钟,Exendin-4半衰期却长达9.57小时,因而在治疗Ⅱ型糖尿病方面具有广阔的前景.     

~(21)Ala定点突变胰高血糖素及结构与功能变化

 胰高血糖素是由 2 9个氨基酸组成的多肽激素 ,具有促糖元分解的生理功能 ,其拮抗剂有治疗糖尿病病人的潜在应用价值 .在获得重组胰高血糖素基因工程菌基础上 ,利用定点突变技术改造其第 2 1位氨基酸天冬氨酸为丙氨酸 ,并经DNA测序证明胰高血糖素基因发生了点突变 .用IPTG诱导表达后 ,经亲和层析和反相高效液相层析 ,纯化到突变型重组2 1Ala 胰高血糖素 .质谱测定分子量与理论值相符 .利用园二色谱比较重组胰高血糖素和突变的2 1Ala 胰高血糖素在TFE中的二级结构 ,发现胰高血糖素以α螺旋为主要二级结构 ,2 1Ala 胰高血糖素仍有α螺旋结构特征 ,并且含量有所增大 .利用兔升血糖试验 ,发现2 1Ala 胰高血糖素生物活性比重组胰高血糖素减少 51 % (P <0 .0 1 ) .显示天然胰高血糖素第 2 1位氨基酸天冬氨酸与形成α螺旋结构关系不大 ,但在发挥胰高血糖素的生物功能中有重要作用 ,与其可作为钙离子结合位点 ,参与胰高血糖素和受体结合的潜在功能密切相关 .     

噬菌体展示随机十肽库的构建及抗WSSV单链抗体A1的模拟抗原表位的淘选和鉴定

本实验以pCANTAB5E噬菌粒为载体,成功构建了较高容量的噬菌体展示随机十肽库,并将其应用于抗原模拟表位的淘选和鉴定。将一种特异识别对虾白斑综合症病毒(Whitespotsyndromevirus,WSSV)的单链抗体A1对十肽库和十五肽库分别进行淘选,结果得到一系列能与单链抗体A1特异性结合的阳性克隆。将这些阳性克隆所编码的多肽氨基酸序列与已知的单链抗体A1的抗原WSSV388片段氨基酸序列做比对,发现多数阳性多肽序列都与WSSV388片段序列的C端一处K????R??R?QS的氨基酸片段相似,由此推论单链抗体A1的模拟抗原表位可能是由该不连续氨基酸片段所构成的构象表位,而非线性表位。研究结果表明,噬菌体展示随机肽库技术是一种用于研究抗原表位结构的有效方法,有助于进一步探讨WSSV的结构蛋白的构象及功能,以及相应单链抗体与细胞受体相互作用的机理。     

艾塞那肽长效化的研究进展

艾塞那肽(Exendin-4),一种胰高血糖素样肽(GLP-1)受体激动剂,由39个氨基酸组成,能够刺激机体产生胰岛素,主要用于治疗2型糖尿病。为了延长Exendin-4在机体内的作用时间,国内外已经做了大量研究,本文主要就近年来Exendin-4长效化的研究进行综述。     

利用噬菌体肽库筛选胰凝乳蛋白酶的底物

利用脱水胰凝乳蛋白酶 (保持天然酶的完整结合部位 ,但没有催化活性 )作为靶蛋白 ,在噬菌体肽库中钓取一些有结合活力噬菌体 ,再将得的噬菌体同固定化的天然酶一起保温 ,能够被天然酶水解的那部分噬菌体即为底物噬菌体 .利用 DNA测序技术测出筛得的短肽序列 ,分析序列保守性 ,发现 WR和 YF的组合具有很强的保守性 .合成相应的几个短肽 ,与天然酶作用 ,发现芳香族氨基酸与碱性氨基酸的组合较易被胰凝乳蛋白酶切割 .而且 ,当 P2 、P3 位置为侧链较小的氨基酸或碱性氨基酸时 ,更有利于水解的发生 .精氨酸无论处在任何位置 ,对水解往往都有促进作用     

噬菌体显示技术改造人干扰素α1c/86D的研究

利用噬菌体表面显示技术表达具生物活性的干扰素α1c,并通过构建和筛选突变文库 ,以得到高受体结合能力和高比活性的新α1c干扰素 .利用噬菌粒载体pCANTAB5E表达了人IFNα1c/ 86D基因 ,利用随机 6肽库和干扰素的中和抗体推导干扰素α1c的受体结合区及关键性结合残基 ,运用盒式突变构建了基于AB环的突变库 ,其中氨基酸 2 9,3 1,3 2 ,3 5位完全随机化 ,并直接利用WISH细胞选择出高抗病毒活性的干扰素突变体 .结果获得了 3个重组噬菌体干扰素突变体 ,其抗病毒活性是干扰素母体的 4～ 16倍 .这一结果为国内外首次报道利用噬菌体表面显示技术的筛选表达优势改造干扰素以提高抗病毒活性 ,实验结果说明了其可行性 ,并提示干扰素突变体的比活性有可能较母体高 .     

噬菌体展示随机十肽库的构建及抗WSSV单链抗体A1的模拟抗原表位的淘选和鉴定

本实验以pCANTAB 5 E噬菌粒为载体,成功构建了较高容量的噬菌体展示随机十肽库,并将其应用于抗原模拟表位的淘选和鉴定.将一种特异识别对虾白斑综合症病毒(White spot syndrome virus, WSSV)的单链抗体A1对十肽库和十五肽库分别进行淘选,结果得到一系列能与单链抗体A1特异性结合的阳性克隆.将这些阳性克隆所编码的多肽氨基酸序列与已知的单链抗体A1的抗原WSSV388片段氨基酸序列做比对,发现多数阳性多肽序列都与WSSV388片段序列的C端一处K····R··R·QS的氨基酸片段相似,由此推论单链抗体A1的模拟抗原表位可能是由该不连续氨基酸片段所构成的构象表位,而非线性表位.研究结果表明,噬菌体展示随机肽库技术是一种用于研究抗原表位结构的有效方法,有助于进一步探讨WSSV的结构蛋白的构象及功能,以及相应单链抗体与细胞受体相互作用的机理.     

两种新的候补激素——组异肽和酪酪肽

肽类激素的发现过程,大多是先观察到粗的组织提取物中具有生物学活性,其次,进一步用生物学方法分离提纯粗制品,得到纯品激素,再后,确定激素分子结构。晚近,瑞典生化学家 Mutt 与 Tatemoto 等根据许多肽类激素都含有 C-端酰胺结构这一特性,独具匠心,设计出一种寻找肽类激素的化学新方法。即在组织提取物中先找寻含有 C-端酰胺结构的肽节段,然后用酶学方法测出 C-端及 N-端的氨基酸残基序列,最后,确定激素的分子结构。这种创造性工作,为探寻新的肽类激素开辟了广阔的道路。他们用这种方法,已经在猪的上段小肠中发现了几种以前不为人所知的肽类新激素。其中有两个,即组异肽和酪酪肽,皆是在提纯胰泌素时获得的副产品中找寻到的。组异肽(The peptide with N-terminal histidine and C-terminal isoleucine,简称 PHI),含有27个氨基酸残基。其 C-端序列为亮-异亮-NH_2,N-端序列为组-丙-门冬-甘-缬-苯丙-苏-,与胰泌素、血管活性肠肽(VIP)、胰高血糖素、肠抑胃肽(GIP)相似,属于胰泌素-胰高血糖素家族。初步观察到,它     

重组人胰高血糖素样肽-1突变体的分离纯化及活性分析

对基因工程构建的含人胰高血糖素样肽1(hGLP1)突变体的工程菌株进行诱导表达,分离纯化N末端第二位突变的2GlyhGLP1突变体.IPTG诱导4h,收获的菌体经超声破碎后,裂解液用GlutathioneSepharose4B亲和层析纯化GST2GlyhGLP1融合蛋白,经CNBr裂解、SephadexG25柱脱盐、QAESepharoseFF阴离子交换柱层析和RPC18柱脱盐,得到纯度大于98%的重组2GlyhGLP1.Western印迹分析证实,该突变体可被特异性hGLP1抗体所识别.生物学活性分析表明,2GlyhGLP1具有明显的降血糖活性和促胰岛素分泌活性(P<0.001).     

615小鼠血红蛋白α链的氨基酸组成及个别肽段的氨基酸序列

用CM-Cellulose-23柱层析分离纯化了615小鼠珠蛋白α链,测定其N端氨基酸残基为缬氨酸.615小鼠珠蛋白α链含有141个氨基酸残基,其中19个亮氨酸残基,10个组氨酸残基,9个缬氨酸残基,上述氨基酸残基的数目与文献中其亲本C₅₇BL不同.用胰蛋白酶水解615小鼠珠蛋白α链,发现有不溶性的‘核心’和可溶性的酶解片段.其中一个酶解肽段从N端数第8位氨基酸残基发生了突变,由亲本的缬氨酸变为亮氨酸.     

Crystal structure of the ligand-bound glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor extracellular domain

The glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) belongs to Family B1 of the seven-transmembrane G protein-coupled receptors, and its natural agonist ligand is the peptide hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). GLP-1 is involved in glucose homeostasis, and activation of GLP-1R in the plasma membrane of pancreatic beta-cells potentiates glucose-dependent insulin secretion. The N-terminal extracellular domain (nGLP-1R) is an important ligand binding domain that binds GLP-1 and the homologous peptide Exendin-4 with differential affinity. Exendin-4 has a C-terminal extension of nine amino acid residues known as the "Trp cage", which is absent in GLP-1. The Trp cage was believed to interact with nGLP-1R and thereby explain the superior affinity of Exendin-4. However, the molecular details that govern ligand binding and specificity of nGLP-1R remain undefined. Here we report the crystal structure of human nGLP-1R in complex with the antagonist Exendin-4(9-39) solved by the multiwavelength anomalous dispersion method to 2.2A resolution. The structure reveals that Exendin-4(9-39) is an amphipathic alpha-helix forming both hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions with nGLP-1R. The Trp cage of Exendin-4 is not involved in binding to nGLP-1R. The hydrophobic binding site of nGLP-1R is defined by discontinuous segments including primarily a well defined alpha-helix in the N terminus of nGLP-1R and a loop between two antiparallel beta-strands. The structure provides for the first time detailed molecular insight into ligand binding of the human GLP-1 receptor, an established target for treatment of type 2 diabetes.     

Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Ligand Interactions: Structural Cross Talk between Ligands and the Extracellular Domain

Activation of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) in pancreatic β-cells potentiates insulin production and is a current therapeutic target for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Like other class B G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), the GLP-1R contains an N-terminal extracellular ligand binding domain. N-terminal truncations on the peptide agonist generate antagonists capable of binding to the extracellular domain, but not capable of activating full length receptor. The main objective of this study was to use Hydrogen/deuterium exchange (HDX) to identify how the amide hydrogen bonding network of peptide ligands and the extracellular domain of GLP-1R (nGLP-1R) were altered by binding interactions and to then use this platform to validate direct binding events for putative GLP-1R small molecule ligands. The HDX studies presented here for two glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) peptide ligands indicates that the antagonist exendin-4_[9-39] is significantly destabilized in the presence of nonionic detergents as compared to the agonist exendin-4. Furthermore, HDX can detect stabilization of exendin-4 and exendin-4_[9-39] hydrogen bonding networks at the N-terminal helix [Val19 to Lys27] upon binding to the N-terminal extracellular domain of GLP-1R (nGLP-1R). In addition we show hydrogen bonding network stabilization on nGLP-1R in response to ligand binding, and validate direct binding events with the extracellular domain of the receptor for putative GLP-1R small molecule ligands.     

Differential structural properties of GLP-1 and exendin-4 determine their relative affinity for the GLP-1 receptor N-terminal extracellular domain

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and exendin-4 (Ex4) are homologous peptides with established potential for treatment of type 2 diabetes. They bind and activate the pancreatic GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) with similar affinity and potency and thereby promote insulin secretion in a glucose-dependent manner. GLP-1R belongs to family B of the seven transmembrane G-protein coupled receptors. The N-terminal extracellular domain (nGLP-1R) is a ligand binding domain with differential affinity for Ex4 and GLP-1: low affinity for GLP-1 and high affinity for exendin-4. The superior affinity of nGLP-1R for Ex4 was previously explained by an additional interaction between nGLP-1R and the C-terminal Trp-cage of Ex4. In this study we have combined biophysical and pharmacological approaches thus relating structural properties of the ligands in solution to their relative binding affinity for nGLP-1R. We used both a tracer competition assay and ligand-induced thermal stabilization of nGLP-1R to measure the relative affinity of full length, truncated, and chimeric ligands for soluble refolded nGLP-1R. The ligands in solution and the conformational consequences of ligand binding to nGLP-1R were characterized by circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy. We found a correlation between the helical content of the free ligands and their relative binding affinity for nGLP-1R, supporting the hypothesis that the ligands are helical at least in the segment that binds to nGLP-1R. The Trp-cage of Ex4 was not necessary to maintain a superior helicity of Ex4 compared to GLP-1. The results suggest that the differential affinity of nGLP-1R is explained almost entirely by divergent residues in the central part of the ligands: Leu10-Gly30 of Ex4 and Val16-Arg36 of GLP-1. In view of our results it appears that the Trp-cage plays only a minor role for the interaction between Ex4 and nGLP-1R and for the differential affinity of nGLP-1R for GLP-1 and Ex4.     

Structure-function analysis of the antiangiogenic ATWLPPR peptide inhibiting VEGF(165) binding to neuropilin-1 and molecular dynamics simulations of the ATWLPPR/neuropilin-1 complex

Heptapeptide ATWLPPR (A7R), identified in our laboratory by screening a mutated phage library, was shown to bind specifically to neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) and then to selectively inhibit VEGF₁₆₅ binding to this receptor. In vivo, treatment with A7R resulted in decreasing breast cancer angiogenesis and growth. The present work is focused on structural characterization of A7R. Analogs of the peptide, obtained by substitution of each amino acid with alanine (alanine-scanning) or by amino acid deletion, have been systematically assayed to determine the relative importance of the side chains of each residue with respect to the inhibitory effect of A7R on VEGF₁₆₅ binding to NRP-1. We show here the importance of the C-terminal sequence LPPR and particularly the key role of C-terminal arginine. In solution, A7R displays significant secondary structure of the backbone adopting an extended conformation. However, the functional groups of arginine are very flexible in the absence of NRP-1 pointing to an induced fit upon binding to the receptor. A MD trajectory of the A7R/NRP-1 complex in explicit water, based on the recent tuftsin/NRP-1 crystal structure, has revealed the hydrogen-bonding network that contributes to A7R's binding activity.     

Improvement of binding of Puumala virus neutralization site resembling peptide with a second-generation phage library

We have previously selected a peptide insert FPCDRLSGYWERGIPSPCVR recognizing the Puumala virus (PUUV) G2-glycoprotein-specific neutralizing monoclonal antibody (MAb) 1C9 with Kd of 2.85 x 10(-8) from a random peptide library X2CX14CX2 expressed on the pIII protein of the filamentous phage fd-tet. We have now created a second-generation phage-displayed peptide library in which each amino acid of the peptide was mutated randomly to another with a certain probability. Peptides were selected for higher affinity for MAb 1C9 and for a common binding motif for MAb 4G2 having an overlapping epitope with MAb 1C9 in G2 glycoprotein. The resulting peptides were synthesized as spots on cellulose membrane. Amino acid changes which improved the reactivity of the peptides to MAb 1C9 were combined in the peptide ATCDKLFGYYERGIPLPCAL with Kd of 1.49 x 10(-9) in biosensor measurements. Our results show that the binding properties of peptides, the affinity and the specificity can be improved and the binding specificity determining amino acids and structural factors can be analyzed by combining binding assays with synthetic peptides on membrane with the use of second-generation phage display libraries.     

Identification of the amino acid residues in trichosanthin crucial for IgE response

Trichosanthin (TCS) is the major effective component from Chinese herb Trichosanthes kirilowii. TCS has been approved to be effective in clinical treatment of HIV infection and leukemia, but its allergenicity has limited its clinical usage. To identify amino acid residues in TCS with an important role in IgE induction, TCS-specific IgE mAb (TE1) was used to serve as a probe and TE1 epitope was determined by a random phage-peptide library. Based on phage peptide sequences, TE1 epitope was predicted at amino acid residues 169-174 (QQIGKR) of TCS protein. Based on modeling data, two amino acids (Lys173 and Arg174) on TCS were considered to have a crucial role in binding to TE1. After lysine 173 and arginine 174 were mutated to glycine, the mutant TCS protein specifically lost the binding activity to TE1 mAb and exhibited reduced IgE induction in the immunized mice. The data showed that the IgE epitope of TCS was determined and shown to play a critical role in induction of IgE, and the modification of IgE-epitope may be a useful strategy to reduce the allergenicity of an allergen.     

The polar region consecutive to the HIV fusion peptide participates in membrane fusion

The fusion peptide of HIV-1 gp41 is formed by the 16 N-terminal residues of the protein. This 16-amino acid peptide, in common with several other viral fusion peptides, caused a reduction in the bilayer to hexagonal phase transition temperature of dipalmitoleoylphosphatidylethanolamine (T(H)), suggesting its ability to promote negative curvature in membranes. Surprisingly, an elongated peptide corresponding to the 33 N-terminal amino acids raised T(H), although it was more potent than the 16-amino acid fusion peptide in inducing lipid mixing with large unilamellar liposomes of 1:1:1 dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine/dioleoylphosphatidylcholine/choleste rol. The 17-amino acid C-terminal fragment of the peptide can induce membrane fusion by itself, if it is anchored to a membrane by palmitoylation of the amino terminus, indicating that the additional 17 hydrophilic amino acids contribute to the fusogenic potency of the peptide. This is not solely a consequence of the palmitoylation, as a random peptide with the same amino acid composition with a palmitoyl anchor was less potent in promoting membrane fusion and palmitic acid itself had no fusogenic activity. The 16-amino acid N-terminal fusion peptide and the longer 33-amino acid peptide were labeled with NBD. Fluorescence binding studies indicate that both peptides bind to the membrane with similar affinities, indicating that the increased fusogenic activity of the longer peptide was not a consequence of a greater extent of membrane partitioning. We also determined the secondary structure of the peptides using FTIR spectroscopy. We find that the amino-terminal fusion peptide is inserted into the membrane as a beta-sheet and the 17 C-terminal amino acids lie on the surface of the membrane, adopting an alpha-helical conformation. It was further demonstrated with the use of rhodamine-labeled peptides that the 33-amino acid peptide self-associated in the membrane while the 16-amino acid N-terminal peptide did not. Thus, the 16-amino acid N-terminal fusion peptide of HIV inserts into the membrane and, like other viral fusion peptides, lowers T(H). In addition, the 17 consecutive amino acids enhance the fusogenic activity of the fusion peptide presumably by promoting its self-association.     

A single replacement of histidine to arginine in EGFR-lytic hybrid peptide demonstrates the improved anticancer activity

We previously reported that novel targeted “hybrid peptide” in which epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) binding peptide was conjugated with lytic-type peptide had selective cytotoxic activity to EGFR expressing cancer cell lines, and in vivo analysis revealed that this EGFR-lytic peptide displayed significant antitumor activity in a xenograft model of human breast cancer which was resistant to tyrosine kinase inhibitor drugs. As an attempt to improve the selective anticancer activity of EGFR-lytic peptide, we modified the EGFR-binding peptide through introducing the mutation of amino acid according to biophysical analysis by biomolecular interaction and circular dichroism (CD) spectra. When cytotoxic activity of EGFR-lytic or EGFR(2R)-lytic hybrid peptides was investigated in various human cancer and normal cell lines, it was demonstrated that EGFR(2R)-lytic, in which second histidine (H) of EGFR-binding peptide was replaced to arginine (R) had 1.2–1.9-fold higher cytotoxic activity than that of original EGFR-lytic peptide. In vivo analysis also revealed that this modified peptide displayed significant antitumor activity at as low as 1 mg/kg dosage. These results suggest that mutated arginine on EGFR-lytic peptide produces higher binding ability to EGFR on cancer cells, and thereby the improved anticancer activity.     

Efficient function of signal peptidase 1 of Escherichia coli is partly determined by residues in the mature N-terminus of exported proteins

Exported proteins require an N-terminal signal peptide to direct them from the cytoplasm to the periplasm. Once the protein has been translocated across the cytoplasmic membrane, the signal peptide is cleaved by a signal peptidase, allowing the remainder of the protein to fold into its mature state in the periplasm. Signal peptidase I (LepB) cleaves non-lipoproteins and recognises the sequence Ala-X-Ala. Amino acids present at the N-terminus of mature, exported proteins have been shown to affect the efficiency at which the protein is exported. Here we investigated a bias against aromatic amino acids at the second position in the mature protein (P2′). Maltose binding protein (MBP) was mutated to introduce aromatic amino acids (tryptophan, tyrosine and phenylalanine) at P2′. All mutants with aromatic amino acids at P2′ were exported less efficiently as indicated by a slight increase in precursor protein in vivo. Binding of LepB to peptides that encompass the MBP cleavage site were analysed using surface plasmon resonance. These studies showed peptides with an aromatic amino acid at P2′ had a slower off rate, due to a significantly higher binding affinity for LepB. These data are consistent with the accumulation of small amounts of preMBP in purified protein samples. Hence, the reason for the lack of aromatic amino acids at P2′ in E. coli is likely due to interference with efficient LepB activity. These data and previous bioinformatics strongly suggest that aromatic amino acids are not preferred at P2′ and this should be incorporated into signal peptide prediction algorithms.     

In vivo phosphorylation of a recombinant peptide substrate of CDPK suggests involvement of CDPK in plant stress responses

A phage display library displaying random peptides 15 amino acids in length was screened for peptides that interact with soybean (Glycine max L.) CDPKalpha, an isoform of calcium-dependent protein kinase (EC 2.7.1.37). Interaction of phage displaying the peptide RHPTLTRSPTLRNIQ with CDPKalpha was confirmed in an independent binding assay. A synthetic peptide corresponding to this sequence plus the surrounding amino acids AERHPTLTRSPTLRNIQPPC was synthesized and found to be a substrate of CDPK isoforms alpha, beta, and gamma. A second random peptide phage display library was constructed that displayed the substrate peptide sequence plus an additional 10 random amino acids on its amino-terminal side. Nine new peptides were obtained from the screening, all of which were phosphorylated by CDPKalpha. Sequence VSPRSFWTTWRHPTLTRSPTLRNIQ appeared twice in the screen. Because it agreed well with the consensus phosphorylation site of CDPKs, its coding sequence was cloned and stably transformed into tobacco cells. The substrate peptide expressed in tobacco was phosphorylated by recombinant CDPKalpha in vitro and by endogenous CDPK in vivo. Increased phosphorylation of the peptide substrate in response to hydrogen peroxide treatment was observed in transgenic tobacco cells. These results show that the peptide substrate expressed in tobacco cells can be used as a CDPK activity reporter for in vivo studies.