结核分枝杆菌Rv0081基因编码蛋白的生物信息学分析

运用生物信息学分析软件预测结核分枝杆菌（Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mtb）Rv0081蛋白的生物学特征及筛选潜在的优势抗原表位。 从NCBI数据库获取Mtb Rv0081蛋白的氨基酸序列，利用生物信息学分析软件ProtParam、ProtScale及TMPRED分析Rv0081蛋白的理化性质及亲疏水性；TMHMM、SignalP-5.0 Server预测蛋白的跨膜区及信号肽；NetNGlyc-1.0 Server、NetPhos 3.1 Server分别预测蛋白的糖基化位点及磷酸化位点；STRING预测能与Rv0081相互作用的蛋白；分别运用SOPMA、SWISS-MODEL预测蛋白的二、三级结构；综合运用softberry、WoLF PSORT预测蛋白的亚细胞定位；运用DNAStar预测蛋白的B细胞抗原表位；综合运用SYFPEITHI、NetCTL 1.2 Server、Net MHC pan 4.1 server预测蛋白的CTL细胞抗原表位；综合运用SYFPEITHI、Net MHCII pan 4.0 server预测蛋白的Th细胞抗原表位。 结果表明，Rv0081蛋白由114个氨基酸组成，相对分子质量为12 356.32，亚细胞定位于细胞质中，为稳定的疏水性蛋白，无跨膜区和信号肽，含有1个糖基化位点及9个磷酸化位点；二级结构主要由α-螺旋和无规则卷曲构成，结构较松散；与hycE、hycP、Rv0088、Rv0083、hycD、hycQ、Rv0082、devR、Rv0080及Rv0079蛋白存在相互作用关系；综合分析各软件预测结果筛选出6个优势B细胞抗原表位、6个优势CTL细胞抗原表位及7个优势Th细胞抗原表位。Mtb Rv0081蛋白具有较多潜在的候选B、T细胞抗原表位，可作为研发新型结核疫苗的候选抗原。     

2019新型冠状病毒S蛋白的结构和功能分析

运用生物信息学,预测急性呼吸系统综合症冠状病毒2(SARS-CoV-2/2019-nCoV)的基本理化性质、结构、功能和抗原表位等,为新型冠状病毒肺炎(COVID-19)的防治提供思路。应用ExPASy分析S蛋白的消光系数、不稳定系数和半衰期等理化性质;利用SignaIP v5.0分析S蛋白的信号肽;应用TMHMM分析S蛋白的跨膜区;利用NetPhos3.1在线工具预测S蛋白的磷酸化位点;应用Pfam预测S蛋白的结构域;应用PSIPRED分析S蛋白的二级结构特征;利用SWISS-MODEL构建S蛋白的三级结构;利用BLAST分析SARS-CoV-2的S蛋白与其他物种的相似性;利用MEGA软件分析2019-nCoV的S蛋白与其他物种的进化关系。S蛋白由1 273个氨基酸组成,其相对分子质量为141 178.47,等电点为6.24,含有一个跨膜区,是低亲水性分泌蛋白;S蛋白的基本组成单位为纤突蛋白,其二级结构中以无规则卷曲和螺旋结构为主,三级结构中纤突糖蛋白和ACE2复合体具有重要的意义;2019-nCoV与蝙蝠冠状病毒和SARS-CoV同源;S蛋白存在多个潜在的线性T细胞和B细胞表位,1 202～1 210位氨基酸区域的抗原性和应答频率最高。生物信息学技术有利于了解S蛋白的理化性质、结构、功能和潜在的线性T细胞表位等,可为新型冠状肺炎的研究和防治提供参考依据。     

三种隐孢子虫钙依赖蛋白激酶的生物信息学分析

对三种隐孢子虫(C.parvum Iowa II、C.hominis TU502和C.muris RN66)钙依赖蛋白激酶(Calcium-dependent protein kinases,CDPKs)进行生物信息学分析,探索该蛋白的结构并预测其功能,为其基因功能的研究提供一定的理论基础。通过隐孢子虫基因组数据库收集数据,获得三种隐孢子虫CDPKs蛋白的序列信息,通过生物信息学软件进行分析,预测该蛋白的理化性质、翻译后修饰位点、功能域、亚细胞定位、二级结构、亲/疏水性、抗原表位等。隐孢子虫CDPKs的蛋白性质不稳定,理论分子量从59.76 k Da到76.63 k Da,p I值为5.33~6.09,CDPKs不具有跨膜区和信号肽,不是跨膜分泌性蛋白,都具有蛋白激酶C磷酸化位点、酪氨酸激酶Ⅱ磷酸化位点、酪氨酸激酶磷酸化位点、c AMP和c GMP依赖蛋白激酶磷酸化位点、N-端糖基化位点、N-端肉豆蔻酰化位点和EF-hand钙结合域,二级结构主要以α螺旋和无规卷曲为主;CDPKs主要存在虫体细胞内,均有20多个潜在的抗原表位。在隐孢子虫中,CDPKs蛋白不仅可单独发挥作用,而且还能通过相互结合发挥其生物学效应;同时,CDPKs有望成为候选疫苗及潜在药物靶点。     

范可尼贫血互补群E基本特性及抗原表位的生物信息学分析

范可尼贫血互补群E(FANCE)属于FA家族的重要成员之一，参与DNA链间交联损伤修复并在某些肿瘤中起重要作用。本研究运用生物信息学方法对FANCE的同源性、理化性质、亲/疏水性、信号肽、亚细胞定位、跨膜结构、蛋白结构、蛋白质互相作用、B/T细胞优势抗原表位以及肿瘤相关性进行预测。FANCE为无信号肽和跨膜区的疏水性蛋白，主要分布在细胞核和细胞质，具有较高的保守性。其二级结构以α-螺旋和无规则卷曲为主，含有2个N-糖基化、9个O-糖基化以及48个磷酸化位点，与FANCM、FANCD2、FANCC等蛋白发生相互作用。FANCE具有多个潜在的B/T细胞优势抗原表位和17个抗原决定簇，在急性髓性白血病（LAML）和皮肤黑色瘤（SKCM）中低表达，其低表达显著影响患者总生存率。这为深入研究FANCE在肿瘤中的分子机制提供理论依据，使FANCE可能成为新的治疗靶点。     

黄瓜CsEXP 10基因的电子克隆及生物信息学分析

以黄瓜CsEXP10 cDNA片段为信息探针,利用电子克隆和序列拼接方法获得了1191bp的cDNA序列。应用生物信息学软件预测了该蛋白的理化性质、卷曲螺旋、疏水性、信号肽、跨膜结构、糖基位点、活性位点、亚细胞定位及二级和高级结构。结果表明：该蛋白是一个疏水性稳定蛋白,定位于细胞壁,含有4个α-螺旋,11个β-折叠,5个跨膜区域,10个糖基化位点,具有催化域和多糖结合域两个结构域。     

黄瓜CsEXP10蛋白的结构构建和分析

利用一系列生物信息学软件预测了黄瓜CsEXP10蛋白的理化性质、卷曲螺旋、疏水性、信号肽、跨膜结构、糖基位点、活性位点、亚细胞定位及二级和高级结构.结果 表明:该蛋白是一个疏水性稳定蛋白,定位于细胞壁,含有4个α-螺旋,11个β-折叠,5个跨膜区域和10个糖基化位点.     

MAP30蛋白结构功能的生物信息学研究

使用protparam、PHDhtm、PredictProtein等生物信息学在线服务器,对MAP30蛋白进行全面分析预测,研究MAP30蛋白具有的抗HIV活性,为临床应用提供抗科学依据和理论基础。结果表明:MAP30蛋白为稳定的碱性疏水蛋白,序列上存在三段跨膜螺旋结构和一段无序化位区域,肽链上的二硫键可使分子间形成聚集体,是一种分泌蛋白。MAP30蛋白序列包含信号肽、低复杂度区域和RIP样活性区域3个区域,具有细胞外被膜、异构酶、免疫应答三种功能。序列上分布着N-糖基化位点、N-豆蔻酰化位点、Shiga/ricin核糖体失活蛋白活性位点和多段蛋白激酶磷酸化位点。     

SM22-α蛋白结构与功能的生物信息学分析

[目的]通过生物信息学分析手段对SM22-α蛋白结构与作用进行系统性分析。[方法]从NCBI数据库中获取SM22-α蛋白的基本信息,应用NCBI GenBank、ExPAsy、TMHMM Server v.2.0、NetPhos 3.1 Server、IEDB、SIGNALP 5.0 Server等生物信息学分析软件对SM22-α蛋白的氨基酸序列、理化性质、跨膜结构、亲水/疏水性、功能位点、信号肽、序列同源性、糖基化和磷酸化位点、空间结构以及抗原表位进行分析。[结果]SM22-α蛋白编码201个氨基酸,为碱性蛋白,其等电点为8.85,不稳定指数为31.85,并将其归为稳定蛋白。其平均亲水系数为-0.607,为亲水性蛋白。根据IEDB在线软件发现SM22-α蛋白序列的第4-31、39-50、70-89、105-111、116-122、138-197存在B细胞抗原表位。利用HLA-A*0.2:0.1算法预测SM22-α蛋白序列第61和130位序列表面存在2个T细胞抗原表位;若利用HLA-DRBI*0401算法预测则第142位序列存在1个T细胞抗原表位。SM22-α蛋白的二级结构中α螺旋占46.77%,延伸链占6.47%,β-转角占4.48%,无规则卷曲占42.29%。且通过生物信息学分析可知SM22-α蛋白在不同物种之间的同源性为97.0%~68.7%。[结论]SM22-α为碱性、稳定、亲水性胞外蛋白,且蛋白表面含有T、B细胞抗原表位,可为其抗原性药物研究提供理论参考。     

猪胸膜肺炎放线杆菌flic蛋白二级结构与B细胞表位预测

目的:预测和分析猪胸膜肺炎放线杆菌(Actionobacillus pleuropneumoniae,APP)鞭毛蛋白(flic)的二级结构和B细胞表位.方法:利用生物信息学方法对flic基因推导的氨基酸序列进行结构特征和B细胞表位预测分析.结果:flic蛋白为非稳定型脂蛋白,含有2个酪蛋白激酶Ⅱ磷酸化位点(39-42 SirD,164-167 SvkD)和3个蛋白质激酶C磷酸化位点(39-41 SiR,161-163 TsR、164-166 SvK).该蛋白无信号肽,在21Ala～38Ala处存在跨膜区的可能性最大.fljc蛋白的二级结构主要由无规卷曲区域、α-螺旋和β-折叠组成,而形成较少的转角结构.该蛋白的B细胞表位可能位于55～61和152～158区段内或其附近区域.结论:预测结果将有助于确定file蛋白的B细胞表位,为进一步研究flic基因功能及研制APP基因工程疫苗提供参考.     

羊口疮病毒安徽株VIR基因克隆与 生物信息学分析

目的获取并分析ORFV AH-F10株VIR基因序列及预测其编码蛋白的生物信息学特点。方法利用实验室保存的羊口疮AH-F10株,设计VIR基因引物并进行PCR扩增、克隆及序列测定,同时利用生物信息学方法对其编码的蛋白的理化性质、二级结构、三级结构、信号肽、磷酸化位点、跨膜结构域以及线性细胞表位进行预测。结果 AH-F10-VIR基因长552bp,编码183个氨基酸,与Nantou株的VIR基因同源性最高,核苷酸同源性高达99.6%,氨基酸同源性为100.0%。生物信息学分析结果显示编码的蛋白相对分子量为19.88kDa,等电点为4.83,为亲水性蛋白;α-螺旋、β-转角、无规则卷曲和延伸链分别占36.07%、3.83%、43.17%和16.94%;三级结构预测显示VIR蛋白存在较多的α-螺旋与无规则卷曲,同二级结构预测结果相符;含有17个磷酸化位点,无信号肽和跨膜结构区域,有15个潜在的B细胞优势表位,4个CTL细胞表位以及5个Th细胞表位。结论成功克隆了羊口疮安徽株VIR基因并预测了VIR蛋白的生物信息学相关信息,为进一步研究VIR蛋白奠定了基础。     

猴痘病毒CrmB蛋白的结构特征及其抗原表位分析

为深入了解猴痘病毒(Monkeypox virus, MPXV)的CrmB(cytokine response modifier B)蛋白的结构特征和抗原表位，运用ORF Finder、ExPaSy、SignalP 6.0、TMHMM 2.0、Cell-Ploc、Conserved Domains、 SOPMA、SWISS-MODEL、NetNGlyc 1.0、NetPhos 3.1、IEDB、SYFPEITHI、Clustalx、MEGA 11.0、Prankweb、DrugBank等多种生物信息学方法，分析CrmB蛋白的开放阅读框、理化性质、信号肽、跨膜区、亚细胞定位、结构域、糖基化/磷酸化位点、二级/三级结构、B/T细胞抗原表位、抗原决定簇、蛋白同源性、配体结合位点、小分子抑制药物等。CrmB蛋白是由349个氨基酸组成的不稳定蛋白质，相对分子量为38 308.75;理论等电点为6.24,分子式为C₁₆₂₁H₂₅₅₀N₄₆₀O₅₅₀S₃₂;二级结构以不规则卷曲为主，有信号肽...     

Functions of the internal pre-S domain of the large surface protein in hepatitis B virus particle morphogenesis.

The large hepatitis B virus (HBV) surface protein (L) forms two isomers which display their N-terminal pre-S domain at the internal and external side of the viral envelope, respectively. The external pre-S domain has been implicated in binding to a virus receptor. To investigate functions of the internal pre-S domain, a secretion signal sequence was fused to the N terminus of L (sigL), causing exclusive expression of external pre-S domains. A fusion construct with a nonfunctional signal (s25L), which corresponds in its primary sequence to sigL cleaved by signal peptidase, was used as a control. SigL was N glycosylated in transfected COS cells at both potential sites in pre-S in contrast to s25L or wild-type L, confirming the expected transmembrane topologies of sigL and s25L. Phenotypic characterization revealed the following points. (i) SigL lost the inhibitory effect of L or s25L on secretion of subviral hepatitis B surface antigen particles, suggesting that the retention signal mapped to the N terminus of L is recognized in the cytosol and not in the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum. (ii) SigL was secreted into the culture medium even in the absence of the major HBV surface protein (S), while release of an L mutant lacking the retention signal was still dependent on S coexpression. (iii) s25L but not sigL could complement an L-negative HBV genome defective for virion secretion in cotransfections. This suggests that the cytosolic pre-S domain, like a matrix protein, is involved in the interaction of the viral envelope with preformed cytosolic nucleocapsids during virion assembly.     

Mutational analysis of hepatitis B surface antigen particle assembly and secretion.

Cells infected with hepatitis B virus produce both virions and 20-nm subviral (surface antigen or HBsAg) particles; the latter are composed of viral envelope proteins and host-derived lipid. Although hepatitis B virus encodes three envelope proteins (L, M, and S), all of the information required to produce an HBsAg particle resides within the S protein. This polypeptide spans the bilayer at least twice and contains three hydrophobic regions, two of which are known to harbor topogenic signal sequences that direct this transmembrane orientation. We have examined the effects of mutations in these and other regions of the S protein on particle assembly and export. Lesions in the N terminal signal sequence (signal I) can still insert into the endoplasmic reticulum bilayer but do not participate in any of the subsequent steps in assembly. Deletion of the major internal signal (signal II) completely destabilizes the chain. Deletion of the C-terminal hydrophobic domain results in a stable, glycosylated, but nonsecreted chain. However, when coexpressed with wild-type S protein this mutant polypeptide can be incorporated into particles and secreted, indicating that the chain is still competent for some of the distal steps in particle assembly. The correct transmembrane disposition of the N terminus of the molecule is important for particle formation: addition of a heterologous (globin) domain to this region impairs secretion, but the defect can be corrected by provision of an N-terminal signal sequence that restores the proper topology of this region. The resulting chimeric chain is assembled into subviral particles that are secreted with normal efficiency.     

Virus-neutralizing monoclonal antibody to a conserved epitope on the duck hepatitis B virus pre-S protein.

In this study we used duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV)-infected Pekin ducks and heron hepatitis B virus (HHBV)-infected heron tissue to search for epitopes responsible for virus neutralization on pre-S proteins. Monoclonal antibodies were produced by immunizing mice with purified DHBV particles. Of 10 anti-DHBV specific hybridomas obtained, 1 was selected for this study. This monoclonal antibody recognized in both DHBV-infected livers and viremic sera a major (36-kilodalton) protein and several minor pre-S proteins in all seven virus strains used. In contrast, pre-S proteins of HHBV-infected tissue or viremic sera did not react. Thus, the monoclonal antibody recognizes a highly conserved DHBV pre-S epitope. For mapping of the epitope, polypeptides from different regions of the DHBV pre-S/S gene were expressed in Escherichia coli and used as the substrate for immunoblotting. The epitope was delimited to a sequence of approximately 23 amino acids within the pre-S region, which is highly conserved in four cloned DHBV isolates and coincides with the main antigenic domain as predicted by computer algorithms. In in vitro neutralization assays performed with primary duck hepatocyte cultures, the antibody reduced DHBV infectivity by approximately 75%. These data demonstrate a conserved epitope of the DHBV pre-S protein which is located on the surface of the viral envelope and is recognized by virus-neutralizing antibodies.     

The N-terminal (pre-S2) domain of a hepatitis B virus surface glycoprotein is translocated across membranes by downstream signal sequences.

The coding region for the hepatitis B virus surface antigens contains three in-phase ATG codons which direct the synthesis of three related polypeptides. The 24-kilodalton major surface (or S) glycoprotein is initiated at the most distal ATG and is a transmembrane protein whose translocation across the bilayer is mediated by at least two uncleaved signal sequences. The product of the next upstream ATG is the 31-kilodalton pre-S2 protein, which contains 55 additional amino acids attached to the N terminus of the S protein. This pre-S2-specific domain is translocated into the endoplasmic reticulum. Using a coupled in vitro translation-translocation system, we showed that (i) the pre-S2 domain itself lacks functional signal sequence activity, (ii) its translocation across the endoplasmic reticulum membrane is mediated by downstream signals within the S domain, and (iii) the N-terminal signal sequence of the S protein can translocate upstream protein domains in the absence of other signals. The hepatitis B virus pre-S2 protein is an example of a natural protein which displays upstream domain translocation, a phenomenon whose existence was originally inferred from the behavior of synthetic fusion proteins in vitro.     

Computer-based comparison of structural features of envelope protein of Alkhurma hemorrhagic fever virus with the homologous proteins of two closest viruses

The aim of this study was prediction of epitopes and medically important structural properties of protein E of Alkhurma hemorrhagic fever virus (AHFV) and comparing these features with two closely relates viruses, i.e. Kyasanur Forest disease virus (KFDV) and Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) by bioinformatics tools. Prediction of evolutionary distance, localization, sequence of signal peptides, C, N O glycosylation sites, transmembrane helices (TMHs), cysteine bond positions and B cell and T cell epitopes of E proteins were performed. 2D-MH, Virus-PLoc, Signal-CF, EnsembleGly, MemBrain, DiANNA, BCPREDS and MHCPred servers were applied for the prediction. According to the results, the evolutionary distance of E protein of AHFV and two other viruses was almost equal. In all three proteins of study, residues 1-35 were predicted as signal sequences and one asparagine was predicted to be glycosylated. Results of prediction of transmembrane helices showed one TMH at position 444-467 and the other one at position 476-490. Twelve cysteines were potentially involved to form six disulfide bridges in the proteins. Four parts were predicted as B cell epitopes in E protein of AHFV. One epitope was conserved between three proteins of study. The only conserved major histocompatibility complex (MHC) binding epitope between three viruses was for DRB0401 allele. As there are not much experimental data available about AHFV, computer-aided study and comparison of E protein of this virus with two closely related flaviviruses can help in better understanding of medical properties of the virus.     

Hepatitis B virus splice-generated protein induces T-cell responses in HLA-transgenic mice and hepatitis B virus-infected patients

Hepatitis B virus splice-generated protein (HBSP), encoded by a spliced hepatitis B virus RNA, was recently identified in liver biopsy specimens from patients with chronic active hepatitis B. We investigated the possible generation of immunogenic peptides by the processing of this protein in vivo. We identified a panel of potential epitopes in HBSP by using predictive computational algorithms for peptide binding to HLA molecules. We used transgenic mice devoid of murine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules and positive for human MHC class I molecules to characterize immune responses specific for HBSP. Two HLA-A2-restricted peptides and one immunodominant HLA-B7-restricted epitope were identified following the immunization of mice with DNA vectors encoding HBSP. Most importantly, a set of overlapping peptides covering the HBSP sequence induced significant HBSP-specific T-cell responses in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with chronic hepatitis B. The response was multispecific, as several epitopes were recognized by CD8(+) and CD4(+) human T cells. This study provides the first evidence that this protein generated in vivo from an alternative reading frame of the hepatitis B virus genome activates T-cell responses in hepatitis B virus-infected patients. Given that hepatitis B is an immune response-mediated disease, the detection of T-cell responses directed against HBSP in patients with chronic hepatitis B suggests a potential role for this protein in liver disease progression.     

Phosphorylation state-dependent interactions of hepadnavirus core protein with host factors

Dynamic phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of the hepadnavirus core protein C-terminal domain (CTD) are required for multiple steps of the viral life cycle. It remains unknown how the CTD phosphorylation state may modulate core protein functions but phosphorylation state-dependent viral or host interactions may play a role. In an attempt to identify host factors that may interact differentially with the core protein depending on its CTD phosphorylation state, pulldown assays were performed using the CTD of the duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) and human hepatitis B virus (HBV) core protein, either with wild type (WT) sequences or with alanine or aspartic acid substitutions at the phosphorylation sites. Two host proteins, B23 and I2PP2A, were found to interact preferentially with the alanine-substituted CTD. Furthermore, the WT CTD became competent to interact with the host proteins upon dephosphorylation. Intriguingly, the binding site on the DHBV CTD for both B23 and I2PP2A was mapped to a region upstream of the phosphorylation sites even though B23 or I2PP2A binding to this site was clearly modulated by the phosphorylation state of the downstream and non-overlapping sequences. Together, these results demonstrate a novel mode of phosphorylation-regulated protein-protein interaction and provide new insights into virus-host interactions.