泛素连接酶和去泛素化酶在帕金森病中的作用

中脑黑质多巴胺能神经元特异性损伤和α突触核蛋白聚集的分子机制是帕金森病（Parkinson’s disease,PD）研究领域亟待解决的问题。蛋白质异常聚集很大程度上是由于泛素-蛋白酶体系统（ubiquitin-proteasome system,UPS）功能障碍引起的。蛋白质泛素化由一系列泛素化酶级联反应促进，并受去泛素化酶（deubiquitylases,DUBs）的反向调节。泛素化和去泛素化过程异常导致蛋白质异常聚集和包涵体形成，进而损伤神经元。近来研究报道，蛋白质的泛素化和去泛素化修饰在PD的发病机制中发挥重要作用。E3泛素连接酶促进蛋白质的泛素化，有利于α突触核蛋白的清除、促进多巴胺能神经元的存活、维持线粒体的功能等。DUBs可以去掉底物蛋白质的泛素化修饰，抑制α突触核蛋白的降解，调控线粒体的功能和神经元内铁的稳态。本文以E3泛素连接酶和DUBs为切入点，综述了蛋白质泛素化和去泛素化修饰参与多巴胺能神经元损伤机制的最新研究进展。     

综述与专论：α突触核蛋白作为帕金森病诊断标志物和治疗靶点

帕金森病(PD)是一种隐匿性和进行性发展的神经退行性疾病,在65岁以上人口中约占2%～3%,是第二大常见的神经退行性疾病。PD的致病因素尚未明确,但α突触核蛋白(α-synuclein)的错误折叠和聚集所形成的路易小体被认为是PD的典型病理学改变。由于缺乏可靠的生物标志物,PD的早期诊断较难。本文总结了PD患者不同样本中检测出的α突触核蛋白的最新进展,包括体液(脑脊液、血液、唾液)和周围组织(皮肤、嗅觉黏膜、唾液腺、肠道黏膜),以期进一步了解PD的生物标志物研究。此外,还综述了针对α突触核蛋白治疗PD的新进展。     

α-突触核蛋白的结构生物学研究

α-突触核蛋白(α-synuclein, α-syn)聚集形成纤维状结构，进而形成路易小体(Lewy bodies, LBs)。LBs是帕金森病(Parkinson’s disease, PD)、多系统萎缩(multiple system atrophy, MSA)和路易小体痴呆(dementia with Lewy bodies, DLB)等神经退行性疾病的典型细胞病变特征，也是发病的一个关键环节。近年来，冷冻电镜技术的进步使解析高分辨率α-突触核蛋白原纤维结构成为可能。对α-突触核蛋白不同聚集形态的深入探究，能为理解神经退行性病变的分子机制、α-突触核蛋白毒性形式的性质以及α-突触核蛋白聚集影响的信号途径等提供帮助。本文综述目前已知的不同形态α-突触核蛋白结构，阐述α-突触核蛋白单体、寡聚体和不同聚集形式原纤维的结构特征。α-突触核蛋白寡聚体由于其结构不稳定，目前尚无明确的结构信息。但目前已有多个α-突触核蛋白原纤维结构被解析，包括重组蛋白体外制备的和多系统萎缩(MSA)患者体内分离的原纤维。这些原纤维直径由5 nm的单股原纤维至10 nm的双股原纤维不等。不同的体外制备条件可生成...     

多巴胺代谢异常在帕金森病相关病理变化中的作用

帕金森病(Parkinson’s disease,PD)是常见的中枢神经系统退行性疾病之一,其主要病理学特征是中脑黑质部的多巴胺(dopamine,DA)能神经元选择性丢失。虽然已发现基因易感性、衰老、环境毒素等因素与PD发病有关,但导致DA能神经元退行性死亡的细胞分子机制仍不明确。DA代谢是DA能神经元中的重要生理过程,其过程与黑质DA能神经元丢失密切相关,DA代谢异常参与了PD神经元变性相关的诸多病理学过程,例如铁代谢异常、α-突触核蛋白异常聚集、内质网应激、蛋白质降解功能障碍、神经炎症反应等。本文就DA代谢异常在PD相关病理学过程中的作用进行综述。     

α-突触核蛋白的结构特点及其功能

神经元胞浆内嗜酸性包涵体——Lewy体的出现是帕金森病(Parkinson’s disease,PD)的典型病理学特征,而α-突触核蛋白(α-synuclein)是纤维样Lewy体的主要成分。随着研究深入,越来越多的证据表明:α-突触核蛋白纤维性聚集体的产生是PD发病的一个关键环节。病理条件下,由于α-突触核蛋白的结构改变,导致错误折叠,继而纤维化,最终形成纤维性聚集体,这一过程在PD研究中日趋展现出其重要性。α-突触核蛋白结构中,N端、C端、NAC(non-amyloid component)区等区域具有各自特定的结构及功能,在其聚集体产生过程中各司其职。本文就近年来对α-突触核蛋白分子结构及其相应功能的研究进行综述,希望通过深入的综合分析,为寻找α-突触核蛋白结构中潜在的疾病治疗靶标提供理论依据。     

蛋白质/多肽片段互补分析法检测alpha-突触核蛋白在细胞中的聚集

Alpha-突触核蛋白（α-synuclein, α-syn）聚集是引起帕金森病（Parkinson’s disease, PD）发生发展主要原因。本文用蛋白质/多肽片段互补分析法（protein-fragment complementation assays, PCAs）检测α-syn在细胞内的聚集。分别构建融合α-syn与人工改造的荧光素酶human Gaussiaprinceps luciferase（hGLuc）蛋白N端或C端蛋白的质粒,共转入人神经母细胞瘤SK-N-SH细胞,通过检测酶活性来确定野生型（wild type,WT）及A53T突变体α-syn在细胞中的聚集情况。结果表明WT和A53T突变α-syn都能使荧光素酶活性增强,而且与野生型α-syn相比,突变体A53T的荧光素酶活性更强,说明二者都能聚集,而且A53T聚集程度高于WT。PCAs法具有高灵敏度,不仅能检测α-syn在细胞内的聚集,而且能反映其聚集的程度,为研究帕金森病提供了研究思路和相应药物筛选的有效工具。     

SH-SY5Y细胞α-突触核蛋白的过表达可部分抵抗鱼藤酮诱导的氧化应激

帕金森病（Parkinson’s disease,PD）的发病机制涉及到遗传和环境因素。环境因素通过线粒休导致氧化应激和α-突触核蛋白（α—synuclein）聚集,但其确切的作用机制尚不明确。本文利用过表达α-突触核蛋白-增强型绿色荧光蛋白（enhanced green fluorescent protein．EGFP）的人多巴胺能神经母细胞瘤细胞株SH—SY5Y为模型,研究α-突触核蛋白对鱼藤酮诱导氧化应激的影响,从而进一步了解α-突触核蛋白和细胞存活之间的关系。（1）用荧光显微镜观察融合绿色荧光蛋白的α-突触核蛋白的表达情况;（2）用实时定量PCR检测α-突触核蛋白基因的表达;（3）用免疫细胞化学测定α-突触核蛋白的分布;（4）用不同浓度的鱼藤酮作用细胞后,以MTT法测细胞的活力、DCF法检测细胞的氧化应激状态、黄嘌呤氧化酶法检测超氧化物歧化酶的活力,并用流式细胞仪分析细胞的凋亡。实时定量PCR结果显示,α-突触核蛋白基因表达量在α-突触核蛋白过表达的细胞要高于SH—SY5Y细胞,在荧光显微镜下可见绿色荧光蛋白和α-突触核蛋白的表达。鱼藤酮可使细胞活力下降、线粒体complex Ⅰ的活性降低,诱导细胞内氧化应激,而过表达α-突触核蛋白的细胞可以部分抵抗鱼藤酮的毒性作用,表现为细胞抗氧化能力迅速增高（P〈0．05）和鱼藤酮诱导的细胞凋亡数目明显降低。本研究证明α-突触核蛋白对鱼藤酮产生的氧化应激有部分抵抗作用,而使过表达α-突触核蛋白的SH—SY5Y细胞对鱼藤酮的毒性作用表现出一定的耐受性。这种耐受性也可能是细胞对外界损害的一种代偿反应,从而促进细胞的存活。     

帕金森病患者血浆alpha-synuclein、Abeta及tau蛋白变化特点

目的：探索帕金森病（Parkinson''s disease,PD）患者血浆中alpha- 突触核蛋白、Abeta及tau 蛋白变化情况。方法：募集2014 年4 月至 2015 年4 月来我院就诊的PD 患者62 例,正常对照人群59 例,采集两组人群的基本临床信息,测定血浆中琢- 突触核蛋白、 Abeta40、Abeta42、pT181-tau 蛋白、pT231-tau 蛋白和总tau 蛋白浓度,比较两组之间的差异,同时进行相关性分析。结果：PD患者血浆 alpha- 突触核蛋白和pT181-tau 蛋白浓度显著高于对照组(P 值分别为0.001,0.019),而两组间Abeta40、Abeta42、pT231-tau 蛋白和总tau 蛋白浓度无明显差异（P>0.05）。相关性分析提示PD 患者血浆alpha-突触核蛋白和pT181-tau 蛋白浓度与患者年龄、性别、教育程度、 病程、高血压、糖尿病、Hoehn/ Yahr 分级及Schwab &England 评分无相关性（P>0.05）。结论：虽然PD患者血浆琢- 突触核蛋白和 pT181-tau 蛋白高于正常对照组,但尚不适宜作为PD 的生物标志物。     

帕金森病患者血浆α-synuclein、Aβ及tau蛋白变化特点

目的:探索帕金森病(Parkinson's disease,PD)患者血浆中α-突触核蛋白、Aβ及tau蛋白变化情况。方法:募集2014年4月至2015年4月来我院就诊的PD患者62例,正常对照人群59例,采集两组人群的基本临床信息,测定血浆中α-突触核蛋白、Aβ40、Aβ42、p T181-tau蛋白、p T231-tau蛋白和总tau蛋白浓度,比较两组之间的差异,同时进行相关性分析。结果:PD患者血浆α-突触核蛋白和p T181-tau蛋白浓度显著高于对照组(P值分别为0.001,0.019),而两组间Aβ40、Aβ42、p T231-tau蛋白和总tau蛋白浓度无明显差异(P0.05)。相关性分析提示PD患者血浆α-突触核蛋白和p T181-tau蛋白浓度与患者年龄、性别、教育程度、病程、高血压、糖尿病、Hoehn/Yahr分级及SchwabEngland评分无相关性(P0.05)。结论:虽然PD患者血浆α-突触核蛋白和p T181-tau蛋白高于正常对照组,但尚不适宜作为PD的生物标志物。     

α突触核蛋白作为帕金森病诊断标志物和治疗靶点

帕金森病(PD)是一种隐匿性和进行性发展的神经退行性疾病,在65岁以上人口中约占2％～3％,是第二大常见的神经退行性疾病.PD的致病因素尚未明确,但α突触核蛋白(α-synuclein)的错误折叠和聚集所形成的路易小体被认为是PD的典型病理学改变.由于缺乏可靠的生物标志物,PD的早期诊断较难.本文总结了PD患者不同样本...     

A Unique Protease Cleavage Site Predicted in the Spike Protein of the Novel Pneumonia Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Potentially Related to Viral Transmissibility

正Dear Editor,In December 2019, a novel human coronavirus caused an epidemic of severe pneumonia(Coronavirus Disease 2019,COVID-19) in Wuhan, Hubei, China(Wu et al. 2020; Zhu et al. 2020). So far, this virus has spread to all areas of China and even to other countries. The epidemic has caused 67,102 confirmed infections with 1526 fatal cases     

Curcuminoids as inhibitors of thioredoxin reductase: A receptor based pharmacophore study with distance mapping of the active site

Curcumin is the yellow pigment of turmeric that interacts irreversibly forming an adduct with thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), an enzyme responsible for redox control of cell and defence against oxidative stress. Docking at both the active sites of TrxR was performed to compare the potency of three naturally occurring curcuminoids, namely curcumin, demethoxy curcumin and bis-demethoxy curcumin. Results show that active sites of TrxR occur at the junction of E and F chains. Volume and area of both cavities is predicted. It has been concluded by distance mapping of the most active conformations that Se atom of catalytic residue SeCYS498, is at a distance of 3.56 from C13 of demethoxy curcumin at the E chain active site, whereas C13 carbon atom forms adduct with Se atom of SeCys 498. We report that at least one methoxy group in curcuminoids is necessary for interation with catalytic residues of thioredoxin. Pharmacophore of both active sites of the TrxR receptor for curcumin and demethoxy curcumin molecules has been drawn and proposed for design and synthesis of most probable potent antiproliferative synthetic drugs.     

Comparative morphology of the carpel in the Liliaceae: Hewardieae, Petrosavieae, and Tricyrteae

The young pistils in the melanthioid tribes, Hewardieae, Petrosavieae and Tricyrteae, are uniformly tricarpellate and syncarpous. They lack raphide idioblasts. All are multiovulate, with bitegmic ovules. The Petrosavieae are marked by the presence of septal glands and incomplete syncarpy. Tepals and stamens adhere to the ovary in the Hewardieae and the Petrosavieae but not in the Tricyrteae. Two vascular bundles occur in the stamens of the Hewartlieae and Tricyrtis latifolia. Ventral bundles in the upper part of the ovary of the Hewardieae are continuous with compound septal bundles and placental bundles in the lower part. Putative ventral bundles occur in the alternate position in the Tricyrteae and putative placental bundles in the opposite. position in the Petrosavieae. The dichtomously branched stigma in each carpel of the Tricyrteae is supplied by a bifurcated dorsal bundle.     

Enterovirus 71 3C proteolytically processes the histone H3 N-terminal tail during infection

Highlights
1. The N-terminal tail of histone H3 is specifically cleaved during EV71 infection.
2. Viral protease 3C is identified as a protease responsible for proteolytically processing the N-terminal H3 tail.
3. Our finding reveals a new epigenetic regulatory mechanism for Enterovirus 71 in virus-host interactions.     

Detection of EBV and HHV6 in the Brain Tissue of Patients with Rasmussen’s Encephalitis

Rasmussen’s encephalitis (RE) is a rare pediatric neurological disorder, and the exact etiology is not clear. Viral infection may be involved in the pathogenesis of RE, but conflicting results have reported. In this study, we evaluated the expression of both Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human herpes virus (HHV) 6 antigens in brain sections from 30 patients with RE and 16 control individuals by immunohistochemistry. In the RE group, EBV and HHV6 antigens were detected in 56.7% (17/30) and 50% (15/30) of individuals, respectively. In contrast, no detectable EBV and HHV6 antigen expression was found in brain tissues of the control group. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in 20.0% (6/30) of individuals. In particular, a 4-year-old boy had a typical clinical course, including a medical history of viral encephalitis, intractable epilepsy, and hemispheric atrophy. The co-expression of EBV and HHV6 was detected in neurons and astrocytes in the brain tissue, accompanied by a high frequency of CD8⁺ T cells. Our results suggest that EBV and HHV6 infection and the activation of CD8⁺ T cells are involved in the pathogenesis of RE.     

Perinatal Vertical Transmission of Chikungunya Virus in Ruili,a Town on the Border between China and Myanmar

正Dear Editor,Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), an arbovirus in the family of Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus, is transmitted by the A.aegyptii or A. albopictus mosquito, and causes disease in humans characterized by fever, rash, and arthralgia (Silva and Dermody 2017; Suhrbier 2019). It was first reported in 1953 in Tanzania, and caused only a few outbreaks and sporadic cases in Africa and Asia in last century. However, in the epidemic in 2004, CHIKV acquired mutations that conferred enhanced transmission by the A. albopictus mosquito(Schuffenecker et al. 2006). Since then, it has successively caused outbreaks in Africa, the Indian Ocean, South East Asia, the South America, and Europe (Zeller et al. 2016).     

Development of a Novel Reverse Transcription Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Method for Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2

In conclusion, the novel visual RT-LAMP assay is a simple, rapid, and sensitive approach for detection of SARS-CoV-2, and it is ready for application in primary care and community hospitals or health care centers, and even patients' own houses in response to the current SARS-CoV-2 epidemic because the assay does not require sophisticated equipment and skilled personnel. Furthermore, it is also ready to be used in fields for screening samples from wild animals and environments to facilitate the identification of potential intermediate hosts that mediate the cross-species transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from bats to humans.