肌球蛋白X在细胞运动中的作用

肌球蛋白X(myosin X,Myo X)是一类尾部具有MyTH4(myosin tail homology 4,MyTH4)和FERM(band4.1/ezrin/radixin/moesin,FERM)结构域的非传统型肌球蛋白,广泛分布于脊椎动物细胞中.近几年的研究表明,Myo X尾部结构域能够与众多的信号分子相互作用,参与调节从丝状伪足形成到胞质分裂等多种细胞运动过程,但其具体的调控机制目前尚不完全清楚.Myo X作为一类连接细胞膜与细胞骨架的动力蛋白分子,它的研究越来越受到人们的关注,其功能的揭示将为进一步阐明细胞多种运动机制提供理论依据.     

miR-424对雌激素受体α表达的抑制作用

目的:筛选能够抑制在乳腺癌发生中起关键作用的雌激素受体α(ERα)表达的microRNA(miRNA)分子,并在ERα阳性的乳腺癌细胞株中初步检测其生物学功能。方法:在ERα阳性的乳腺癌细胞ZR75-1中转染多种miRNA的表达载体,Western印迹检测ERα的表达水平,找到可以抑制ERα表达的miRNA分子;将该miRNA的表达载体转染ZR75-1后,在雌激素E2的作用下,检测该miRNA分子对细胞生长的影响。结果:经过筛选,得到能够抑制ERα表达的miRNA分子miR-424;生长曲线结果显示,miR-424能够在不依赖于E2的情况下阻抑ZR75-1的生长。结论:该研究为进一步研究miR-424在ERα信号通路中的生物学功能及研究乳腺癌的发生发展机制奠定了基础。     

沉默ST3Gal III抑制MDA-MB-231细胞黏附和侵袭能力

我们前期研究表明α2,3-唾液酸水平与乳腺癌侵袭转移密切相关。人α2,3-唾液酸转移酶（ST3Gal Ⅲ）可催化合成细胞表面的α2,3-唾液酸,并在乳腺癌组织中高表达,此酶活性与肿瘤转移潜能密切相关,但其机制尚未阐明。本研究中我们将继续探讨ST3Gal Ⅲ在对乳腺癌转移关键步骤粘附和侵袭中的作用。构建特异靶向ST3Gal Ⅲ的短发夹RNA（shRNA）序列的慢病毒载体,采用细胞转染沉默乳腺癌MDA-MB-231细胞的ST3Gal Ⅲ,经实时定量PCR及Western印迹检测转染后细胞ST3Gal Ⅲ mRNA及蛋白表达,验证构建了稳定下调ST3Gal Ⅲ表达的两个细胞克隆,分别记作shRNA-2、shRNA-4。细胞表面α2,3-唾液酸是ST3Gal Ⅲ下游产物,可代表酶活性。流式细胞术分析结果证实,shRNA-2、shRNA-4细胞表面α2,3-唾液酸的含量显著降低（P<0.05）。细胞黏附、细胞迁移及侵袭能力等功能学检测结果表明,shRNA细胞黏附能力及侵袭能力明显降低（P<0.05）。β1整合素表达与肿瘤侵袭能力获取密切相关。本研究中,沉默ST3Gal Ⅲ可抑制β1整合素表达（P<0.05）。这些结果提示,ST3Gal Ⅲ在乳腺癌转移关键步骤黏附和侵袭中具有重要作用,沉默ST3Gal Ⅲ抑制MDA MB-231细胞黏附和侵袭能力,其作用机制可能是通过下调β1整合素表达。此研究从新的视角认识了乳腺癌转移的机制,并可能提供乳腺癌转移治疗的新靶点。     

利用CRISPRi干扰研究MyoG和Myf6基因对牛骨骼肌卫星细胞分化的影响

CRISPR干扰(clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat interference,CRISPRi)技术因高效的基因干扰效率而成为基因功能研究的重要工具。Myo G、Myf6基因是生肌调节因子家族(myogenic regulatory factors,MRFs)的重要成员,是骨骼肌分化所必需的调控因子。该研究以牛骨骼肌卫星细胞为实验材料,探讨Myo G和Myf6基因在骨骼肌卫星细胞分化过程中的相互关系。构建Myo G、Myf6基因CRISPRi载体,分别转染牛骨骼肌卫星细胞,诱导其分化,Real-time PCR检测肌肉分化重要功能基因Myo G、Myf6、MYH2、Myo D的表达情况。结果表明,在牛骨骼肌卫星细胞分化期间,抑制Myo G基因表达将诱导Myf6基因的代偿性升高,但并不能完全弥补Myo G基因的缺少对肌肉分化产生的影响,而抑制Myf6基因表达则不会引起Myo G基因表达升高,这为肌肉分化机制的阐明提供了理论依据。     

siRNA沉默socs3对红系发育的影响

为了研究细胞因子信号转导分子3(suppressor of cytokine signals-3,SOCS-3)对造血发育的影响,构建了SOCS-3慢病毒siRNA干涉载体,并转染人红白血病细胞株K562.根据绿色荧光蛋白的表达进行流式分选后,获得了高表达慢病毒干涉载体的细胞.实时荧光定量PCR和Western-blot检测了转染细胞中SOCS-3基因的干涉效率,结果显示,与对照组相比,siRNA干涉后K562细胞SOCS-3基因的表达量仅为其相对表达量的22.1%,干涉效率77.9%;Western-blot结果显示,SOCS-3在蛋白质水平表达也明显受抑制.进一步对SOCS-3基因沉默后的K562细胞进行了诱导分化,并采用联苯胺染色法检测K562细胞向红系分化比例变化,免疫荧光染色检测细胞表面抗原的变化,RT-PCR检测造血相关基因的变化.结果发现,SOCS-3沉默后K562细胞向红系的发育能力显著提高.研究结果证明,SOCS-3在造血发育中有重要调控作用,而对其表达进行干涉或沉默将在规模化的红细胞诱导研究中发挥重要作用.     

抑制Dicer基因对shRNA功能发挥的影响

本文将Dicer基因的RNA酶III结构域作为靶区,设计并构建了两个抗Dicer基因的小发夹样RNA(shRNA)表达载体,将其转染2215、结肠癌TC细胞和基因组中整合有绿色荧光蛋白基因(GFP)的HepG2A9细胞,通过RT-PCR评价RNA干扰抑制Dicer基因表达的效率;当HepG2A9细胞Dicer基因表达被上述RNA干扰抑制时,再转染抗GFP的shRNA表达载体,通过RT-PCR和荧光显微镜观察GFP表达水平。结果显示,在不同细胞系中,这两个抗Dicer基因shRNA表达载体,均能明显抑制Dicer基因的表达;当Dicer基因受抑时,后续转染抗GFP的shRNA表达载体不能有效抑制GFP的表达。结果表明,抗Dicer基因shRNA表达载体,能够明显抑制Dicer基因的表达;shRNA表达载体的功能发挥需要Dicer酶的直接参与。     

靶向人CHOP基因shRNA真核表达载体的构建

[目的]构建靶向干扰内质网应激标志性因子CHOP的shRNA真核表达载体,并检测其对CHOP的干扰效率。[方法]查询Gen Bank数据库,获取人源CHOP基因mRNA的序列,按照小干扰RNA(siRNA)靶序列的设计原则,设计并构建靶向CHOP基因mRNA的4个特异性shRNA真核表达载体(shRNA-1、shRNA-2、shRNA-3、shRNA-4)和1个无同源性的阴性对照载体(shRNA-NC),经PCR和测序鉴定确认shRNA载体构建成功后,脂质体转染人正常肝细胞系(L-02),Western Blot法检测CHOP蛋白的表达,筛选出干扰效果最好的表达载体。[结果]PCR和测序结果显示,5个shRNA表达载体均构建成功。Western Blot结果显示,0.06 g/L衣霉素损伤24h后,与内质网应激模型组相比,shRNA-1、shRNA-2、shRNA-3、shRNA-4组的CHOP蛋白表达水平均明显降低(P0.01),其中shRNA-1和shRNA-4组CHOP干扰效果最明显。[结论]构建了并成功筛选出靶向干扰CHOP基因的真核表达载体,为深入研究CHOP介导内质网应激所致细胞凋亡的信号通路奠定了实验基础。     

抑制Dicer基因对shRNA功能发挥的影响

本文将Dicer基因的RNA酶Ⅲ结构域作为靶区,设计并构建了两个抗Dicer基因的小发夹样RNA(shRNA)表达载体,将其转染2215、结肠癌TC细胞和基因组中整合有绿色荧光蛋白基因(GFP)的HepG2 A9细胞,通过RT-PCR评价RNA干扰抑制Dicer基因表达的效率;当HepG2 A9细胞Dicer基因表达被上述RNA干扰抑制时,再转染抗GFP的shRNA表达载体,通过RT-PCR和荧光显微镜观察GFP表达水平.结果显示,在不同细胞系中,这两个抗Dicer基因shRNA表达载体,均能明显抑制Dicer基因的表达;当Dicer基因受抑时,后续转染抗GFP的shRNA表达载体不能有效抑制GFP的表达.结果表明,抗Dicer基因shRNA表达载体,能够明显抑制Dicer基因的表达;shRNA表达载体的功能发挥需要Dicer酶的直接参与.     

慢病毒介导CDCA5敲低的三阴乳腺癌细胞的构建及鉴定

目的:利用RNA干扰技术与慢病毒感染体系构建稳定干涉细胞分裂周期相关蛋白5(CDCA5)基因的三阴乳腺癌细胞系,研究CDCA5在三阴乳腺癌细胞增殖过程中发挥的功能。方法:首先通过分子克隆技术构建稳定干涉CDCA5基因的慢病毒短发夹RNA(shRNA)质粒,并用PCR、琼脂糖凝胶电泳和深度测序技术进行验证;在此基础上,利用慢病毒感染体系将干涉质粒进行病毒包装、感染三阴乳腺癌细胞系MDA-MB-231,通过SDS-PAGE、Western印迹检测MDA-MB-231细胞中CDCA5蛋白质的表达水平;通过细胞活力检测实验研究干涉CDCA5对三阴乳腺癌细胞系MDA-MB-231细胞增殖能力的影响。结果:琼脂糖凝胶电泳与DNA测序结果显示稳定干涉CDCA5载体构建成功;SDS-PAGE及Western印迹结果显示稳定干涉CDCA5质粒在MDA-MB-231中获得表达,并能够敲低CDCA5蛋白表达水平,稳定干涉CDCA5的三阴乳腺癌细胞系构建成功;细胞活力检测实验结果表明,与对照组相比,干涉CDCA5蛋白表达水平能有效抑制MDA-MB-231细胞的增殖能力。结论:运用RNA干扰技术与慢病毒感染体系能够构建稳定干涉CDCA5的三阴乳腺癌细胞系,该细胞系的建立为进一步研究CDCA5在三阴乳腺癌发生、发展及转移过程中的作用及分子机制提供了重要的实验材料。     

人Bcl2基因真核表达载体的构建及其抗凋亡功能研究

目的:构建带myc标签的Bcl2真核表达载体,获得myc-Bcl2融合蛋白,并对其生物学功能进行初步检测。方法:以本实验室保存的乳腺文库为模板,采用PCR技术扩增Bcl2编码序列,将其插入p CMV-myc载体,Western印迹检测表达情况;将重组质粒与空载体分别转染乳腺癌MCF-7细胞,通过流式细胞仪检测p CMV-myc-Bcl2重组质粒对细胞凋亡的影响。结果:双酶切和测序结果表明p CMV-myc-Bcl2真核表达质粒构建成功;转染293T细胞后myc-Bcl2蛋白成功表达;流式细胞仪检测结果显示,myc-Bcl2明显抑制乳腺癌细胞系的凋亡。结论:构建了带myc标签的人Bcl2真核表达载体,为进一步研究Bcl2在细胞凋亡中的功能奠定了基础。     

Myosin X regulates netrin receptors and functions in axonal path-finding

Netrins regulate axon path-finding during development, but the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Here, we provide evidence for the involvement of the unconventional myosin X (Myo X) in netrin-1 function. We find that Myo X interacts with the netrin receptor deleted in colorectal cancer (DCC) and neogenin, a DCC-related protein. Expression of Myo X redistributes DCC to the cell periphery or to the tips of neurites, whereas its silencing prevents DCC distribution in neurites. Moreover, expression of DCC, but not neogenin, stimulates Myo X-mediated formation and elongation of filopodia, suggesting that Myo X function may be differentially regulated by DCC and neogenin. The involvement of Myo X in netrin-1 function was further supported by the effects of inhibiting Myo X function in neurons. Cortical explants derived from mouse embryos expressing a motor-less Myo X exhibit reduced neurite outgrowth in response to netrin-1 and chick commissural neurons expressing the motor-less Myo X, or in which Myo X is silenced using microRNA (miRNA), show impaired axon projection in vivo. Taken together, these results identify a novel role for Myo X in regulating netrin-1 function.     

Involvement of headless myosin X in the motility of immortalized gonadotropin-releasing hormone neuronal cells

Myosin X (Myo X), an unconventional myosin with a tail homology 4-band 4.1/ezrin/radixin/moesin (MyTH4-FERM) tail, is expressed ubiquitously in various mammalian tissues. In addition to the full-length Myo X (Myo X FL), a headless form is synthesized in the brain. So far, little is known about the function of this motor-less Myo X. In this study, the role of the headless Myo X was investigated in immortalized gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neuronal cells, NLT. NLT cells overexpressing the headless Myo X formed fewer focal adhesions and spread more slowly than the wild-type NLT cells and GFP-expressing NLT cells. In chemomigration assays, the NLT cells overexpressing the headless Myo X migrated shorter distances and had fewer migratory cells compared with the control NLT cells.     

Myo1c regulates glucose uptake in mouse skeletal muscle

Contraction and insulin promote glucose uptake in skeletal muscle through GLUT4 translocation to cell surface membranes. Although the signaling mechanisms leading to GLUT4 translocation have been extensively studied in muscle, the cellular transport machinery is poorly understood. Myo1c is an actin-based motor protein implicated in GLUT4 translocation in adipocytes; however, the expression profile and role of Myo1c in skeletal muscle have not been investigated. Myo1c protein abundance was higher in more oxidative skeletal muscles and heart. Voluntary wheel exercise (4 weeks, 8.2 ± 0.8 km/day), which increased the oxidative profile of the triceps muscle, significantly increased Myo1c protein levels by ～2-fold versus sedentary controls. In contrast, high fat feeding (9 weeks, 60% fat) significantly reduced Myo1c by 17% in tibialis anterior muscle. To study Myo1c regulation of glucose uptake, we expressed wild-type Myo1c or Myo1c mutated at the ATPase catalytic site (K111A-Myo1c) in mouse tibialis anterior muscles in vivo and assessed glucose uptake in vivo in the basal state, in response to 15 min of in situ contraction, and 15 min following maximal insulin injection (16.6 units/kg of body weight). Expression of wild-type Myo1c or K111A-Myo1c had no effect on basal glucose uptake. However, expression of wild-type Myo1c significantly increased contraction- and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, whereas expression of K111A-Myo1c decreased both contraction-stimulated and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. Neither wild-type nor K111A-Myo1c expression altered GLUT4 expression, and neither affected contraction- or insulin-stimulated signaling proteins. Myo1c is a novel mediator of both insulin-stimulated and contraction-stimulated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle.     

The tail of a yeast class V myosin, myo2p, functions as a localization domain

Myo2p is a yeast class V myosin that functions in membrane trafficking. To investigate the function of the carboxyl-terminal-tail domain of Myo2p, we have overexpressed this domain behind the regulatable GAL1 promoter (MYO2DN). Overexpression of the tail domain of Myo2p results in a dominant-negative phenotype that is phenotypically similar to a temperature-sensitive allele of myo2, myo2-66. The tail domain of Myo2p is sufficient for localization at low- expression levels and causes mislocalization of the endogenous Myo2p from sites of polarized cell growth. Subcellular fractionation of polarized, mechanically lysed yeast cells reveals that Myo2p is present predominantly in a 100,000 x g pellet. The Myo2p in this pellet is not solubilized by Mg++-ATP or Triton X-100, but is solubilized by high salt. Tail overexpression does not disrupt this fractionation pattern, nor do mutations in sec4, sec3, sec9, cdc42, or myo2. These results show that overexpression of the tail domain of Myo2p does not compete with the endogenous Myo2p for assembly into a pelletable structure, but does compete with the endogenous Myo2p for a factor that is necessary for localization to the bud tip.     

Headless Myo10 is a negative regulator of full-length Myo10 and inhibits axon outgrowth in cortical neurons

Myo10 is an unconventional myosin that localizes to and induces filopodia, structures that are critical for growing axons. In addition to the ~240-kDa full-length Myo10, brain expresses a ~165 kDa isoform that lacks a functional motor domain and is known as headless Myo10. We and others have hypothesized that headless Myo10 acts as an endogenous dominant negative of full-length Myo10, but this hypothesis has not been tested, and the function of headless Myo10 remains unknown. We find that cortical neurons express both headless and full-length Myo10 and report the first isoform-specific localization of Myo10 in brain, which shows enrichment of headless Myo10 in regions of proliferating and migrating cells, including the embryonic ventricular zone and the postnatal rostral migratory stream. We also find that headless and full-length Myo10 are expressed in embryonic and neuronal stem cells. To directly test the function of headless and full-length Myo10, we used RNAi specific to each isoform in mouse cortical neuron cultures. Knockdown of full-length Myo10 reduces axon outgrowth, whereas knockdown of headless Myo10 increases axon outgrowth. To test whether headless Myo10 antagonizes full-length Myo10, we coexpressed both isoforms in COS-7 cells, which revealed that headless Myo10 suppresses the filopodia-inducing activity of full-length Myo10. Together, these results demonstrate that headless Myo10 can function as a negative regulator of full-length Myo10 and that the two isoforms of Myo10 have opposing roles in axon outgrowth.     

Proteomics analysis of the ezrin interactome in B cells reveals a novel association with Myo18aα

The molecular regulation of recruitment and assembly of signalosomes near the B cell receptor (BCR) is poorly understood. We have previously demonstrated a role for the ERM family protein ezrin in regulating antigen-dependent lipid raft coalescence in B cells. In this study, we addressed the possibility that ezrin may collaborate with other adaptor proteins to regulate signalosome dynamics at the membrane. Using mass spectrometry-based proteomics analysis, we identified Myo18aα as a novel binding partner of ezrin. Myo18aα is an attractive candidate as it has several protein-protein interaction domains and an intrinsic motor activity. The expression of Myo18aα varied during B cell development in the bone marrow and in mature B cell subsets suggesting functional differences. Interestingly, BCR stimulation increased the association between ezrin and Myo18aα, and induced co-segregation of Myo18aα with the BCR and phosphotyrosine-containing proteins. Our data raise an intriguing possibility that the Myo18aα/ezrin complex may facilitate BCR-mediated signaling by recruiting signaling proteins that are in close proximity of the antigen receptor. Our study is not only significant with respect to understanding the molecular regulation of BCR signaling but also provides a broader basis for understanding the mechanism of action of ezrin in other cellular systems.     

Myosin‐X facilitates Shigella‐induced membrane protrusions and cell‐to‐cell spread

The intracellular pathogen Shigella flexneri forms membrane protrusions to spread from cell to cell. As protrusions form, myosin‐X (Myo10) localizes to Shigella. Electron micrographs of immunogold‐labelled Shigella‐infected HeLa cells reveal that Myo10 concentrates at the bases and along the sides of bacteria within membrane protrusions. Time‐lapse video microscopy shows that a full‐length Myo10 GFP‐construct cycles along the sides of Shigella within the membrane protrusions as these structures progressively lengthen. RNAi knock‐down of Myo10 is associated with shorter protrusions with thicker stalks, and causes a >80% decrease in confluent cell plaque formation. Myo10 also concentrates in membrane protrusions formed by another intracellular bacteria, Listeria, and knock‐down of Myo10 also impairs Listeria plaque formation. In Cos7 cells (contain low concentrations of Myo10), the expression of full‐length Myo10 nearly doubles Shigella‐induced protrusion length, and lengthening requires the head domain, as well as the tail‐PH domain, but not the FERM domain. The GFP‐Myo10‐HMM domain localizes to the sides of Shigella within membrane protrusions and the GFP‐Myo10‐PH domain localizes to host cell membranes. We conclude thatMyo10 generates the force to enhance bacterial‐induced protrusions by binding its head region to actin filaments and its PH tail domain to the peripheral membrane.     

Myosin5a tail associates directly with Rab3A-containing compartments in neurons

Myosin-Va (Myo5a) is a motor protein associated with synaptic vesicles (SVs) but the mechanism by which it interacts has not yet been identified. A potential class of binding partners are Rab GTPases and Rab3A is known to associate with SVs and is involved in SV trafficking. We performed experiments to determine whether Rab3A interacts with Myo5a and whether it is required for transport of neuronal vesicles. In vitro motility assays performed with axoplasm from the squid giant axon showed a requirement for a Rab GTPase in Myo5a-dependent vesicle transport. Furthermore, mouse recombinant Myo5a tail revealed that it associated with Rab3A in rat brain synaptosomal preparations in vitro and the association was confirmed by immunofluorescence imaging of primary neurons isolated from the frontal cortex of mouse brains. Synaptosomal Rab3A was retained on recombinant GST-tagged Myo5a tail affinity columns in a GTP-dependent manner. Finally, the direct interaction of Myo5a and Rab3A was determined by sedimentation velocity analytical ultracentrifugation using recombinant mouse Myo5a tail and human Rab3A. When both proteins were incubated in the presence of 1 mm GTPγS, Myo5a tail and Rab3A formed a complex and a direct interaction was observed. Further analysis revealed that GTP-bound Rab3A interacts with both the monomeric and dimeric species of the Myo5a tail. However, the interaction between Myo5a tail and nucleotide-free Rab3A did not occur. Thus, our results show that Myo5a and Rab3A are direct binding partners and interact on SVs and that the Myo5a/Rab3A complex is involved in transport of neuronal vesicles.