EGFP/SDCT1融合蛋白表达、亚细胞定位信号分析、组织分布及电生理功能研究

从正常人肾中克隆低亲和力钠离子依赖二羧酸共转运蛋白 1(sodium-dependent dicarboxylate co-transporter 1, SDCT1, NADC1)全长基因, 并将其和N端及C端缺失突变的SDCT1基因分别插入增强型绿色荧光蛋白基因(EGFP)表达载体中构建EGFP/SDCT1融合蛋白真核表达载体, 然后将它们转染到人肾小管上皮细胞HKC中表达并用激光共聚焦显微镜观察融合蛋白的亚细胞定位情况以确定其定位信号. 双重PCR分析证实融合基因已整合到细胞基因组中, Western blot显示融合基因已在细胞中得到表达. 共聚焦显微镜分析显示正常人SDCT1蛋白主要定位于细胞膜上, 与生物信息学的预测结果一致, 而C端缺失的SDCT1基因转染的细胞, 其绿色荧光位于细胞质, N端缺失基因转染的细胞, 其绿色荧光主要位于细胞膜上. 将体外转录的融合基因mRNA显微注射到爪蟾卵母细胞中表达并用双电极电压钳技术记录细胞跨膜电流, 结果在卵细胞膜上测定出了Na⁺内向电流. 免疫组化结果显示SDCT1主要表达于人近端肾小管上皮细胞的管腔侧, 而在远端肾小管、集合管、肾间质和肾小球中未见SDCT1的表达. 上述研究表明, 正常人SDCT1蛋白定位于近端肾小管上皮细胞的管腔侧膜上, SDCT1蛋白的C端部分对于其合成后的迁移及靶向定位是必需的, 人SDCT1蛋白的细胞膜定位序列可能位于其C端部分.     

大鼠高亲和力二羧酸转运蛋白的克隆表达及细胞内定位

目的：克隆大鼠高亲和力钠依赖二羧酸转运蛋白（SDCT2）的全长cDNA,并明确其在肾小管上皮细胞内的定位表达情况。方法：从大鼠肾组织中提取总RNA,用带有8肽FLAG标签的PCR引物通过RT-PCR技术扩增出SDCT2全长基因并测序,将其插入真核表达载体中构建SDCT2真核表达载体,然后将它们转染到肾小管上皮细胞LLC-PKl中表达,并用激光共聚焦显微镜观察该蛋白的亚细胞定位情况。结果：扩增出2kb的SDCT2全长基因,Westernblot表明肋CT2基因在LLC-PKl细胞中得到了正确的表达;共聚焦显微镜分析显示正常SDCT2蛋白主要定位于细胞膜上,与生物信息学的预测结果一致;为了比较不同连接温度对重组DNA连接效率的影响,观察了3种连接温度下的转化效率,结果显示温度循环法的连接效率明显比其他2种常规连接温度要高。结论：高亲和力钠依赖二羧酸转运蛋白全长基因被成功克隆,其主要表达于肾小管上皮细胞膜上。     

CDK2蛋白质分子结构与其入核转运过程关系的初步分析

应用重组技术构建野生型及缺失型CDK2基因的真核表达载体,分别使野生型及缺失型(2DK2蛋白与增强型绿色荧光蛋白(Enhanced-green Fluorescent Protein,EGFP)形成融合蛋白。通过脂质体介导的方法将载体转染人宫颈癌细胞系HeLa和中华仓鼠卵巢细胞系CHO,经过细胞周期同步化处理后于荧光显微镜下观察EGFP的亚细胞定位以示踪野生型及缺失型CDK2基因的表达。结果表明,野生型CDK2基因的表达产物定位于细胞核．而两种缺失型CDK2基因分别编码的CDK2蛋白N-端1～201及98～298多肽均主要定位于细胞质。以上结果提示,CDK2蛋白序列中不含有与核定位直接相关的信号,其入核过程可能是由其N-端1～97及202～298多肽范围内的部分氨基酸共同形成高级结构,并依赖此高级结构与其他含有入核信号的蛋白形成复合物,从而被带动进入细胞核的     

杜氏盐藻核基质结合区结合蛋白的细胞定位

为研究核基质结合区结合蛋白的功能及调控机制,PCR扩增杜氏盐藻MBP的cDNA全长序列及N端和C端序列,与绿色荧光蛋白基因融合构建真核表达载体,脂质体转染CHO细胞,Western blotting和荧光显微镜检测基因表达情况和细胞定位。结果显示:MBP及N端和C端融合蛋白成功在CHO细胞表达,MBP和C端部分定位于细胞核且聚集于核仁,N端部分分布整个细胞,说明MBP定位于细胞核且细胞定位信号位于C端,MBP可能与rRNA前体结合发挥作用。     

Kozak序列(+4G)对携带EGFP标签的人淀粉样前体蛋白751在CHO细胞中表达的影响

目的:观察Kozak序列(+4G)对稳定转染的人淀粉样前体蛋白(hAPP751)-EGFP融合真核表达载体在CHO细胞中表达的影响,为APP的水解代谢研究提供细胞模型。方法:分别将含Kozak序列(+4G)和不含Kozak序列的hAPP751全长基因片段亚克隆入pEGFP-N1表达载体,得到pEGFP-hAPP751(+4G)和pEGFP-hAPP751重组质粒,转染CHO细胞,通过G418筛选稳定转染细胞株,再用倒置荧光显微镜挑取绿色荧光强的细胞进行亚克隆,并观察融合蛋白的表达强度和细胞定位,最后用EGFP抗体通过Western印迹检测融合蛋白。结果:PCR、酶切和测序证明将含Kozak序列(+4G)和不含Kozak序列的hAPP751全长基因片段分别连入了真核表达载体pEGFP-N1中;荧光显微镜下观察pEGFP-hAPP751(+4G)稳定转染细胞的细胞膜和细胞质产生较强的绿色荧光,其中在细胞质中成不均匀颗粒状分布,Western印迹检测到相对分子质量约156 000的融合表达蛋白,与预期相符;pEGFP-hAPP751转染细胞,其绿色荧光十分微弱且在整个细胞均匀分布,Western印迹检测到相对分子质量约26 000的EGFP,但检测不到预期的hAPP751-EGFP融合表达蛋白。结论:Kozak序列(+4G)可以明显促进hAPP751的表达,获得稳定转染且高水平融合表达hAPP751-EGFP的细胞株。     

人SDCT2β 3′-非翻译区基因表达负调控序列对mRNA稳定性的影响

为探索人高亲和力钠离子依赖性二羧酸转运蛋白基因（high affinity sodium-dependent dicarboxylate transporter,SDCT2）3′端非翻译区是否在基因表达调控中起作用,首先通过生物信息学分析发现,在SDCT2βmRNA的3′端非翻译区内存在585nt的AU富含区（AU-rich region,AUR）,其中包括3个AU富含元件（AU-rich element,ARE）,然后将SDCT2β的AU富含区DNA片段插入报告基因GFP表达载体pcDNA-GFP的下游,构建pcDNA-GFP-AUR表达载体并转染HEK293、HKC和LLC-PK1细胞系,用Western blot和流式细胞仪检测细胞中GFP的表达水平.结果显示,SDCT2β的AU富含区序列可显著降低GFP的表达水平（P〈0.01）.利用放线菌素D阻断RNA转录后,每隔2h从稳定转染的HEK293细胞中提取总RNA,用RNA印迹分析GFP mRNA的稳定性.结果显示GFP-AURmRNA较GFP mRNA不稳定.这些结果提示,在SDCT2β3′非翻译区的AU富含区内存在基因表达负调控区,该区可降低mRNA的稳定性、促进mRNA的降解,从而在转录后水平调控基因的表达.     

猪流行性腹泻病毒ORF3蛋白40–91 aa是其细胞质定位的关键结构域

ORF3蛋白是猪流行性腹泻病毒(Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus,PEDV)基因组编码的唯一的辅助蛋白,与病毒毒力相关。为确定PEDV ORF3细胞质定位信号,文中构建了系列PEDV DR13wt ORF3蛋白全长或截短肽重组表达载体,转染Vero细胞并利用激光共聚焦显微镜分析与EGFP融合表达的全长ORF3蛋白和其系列截短肽在细胞内的分布。结果表明,全长ORF3蛋白或所有包含2个跨膜域的40–91 aa基序的ORF3截短肽均只定位于细胞质中,而不包含40–91aa基序的ORF3截短肽分布于整个细胞中(细胞质和细胞核均有分布)。这表明40–91 aa是猪流行性腹泻病毒ORF3蛋白细胞质定位的关键结构域。PEDVORF3蛋白细胞质定位结构域的明确为进一步研究其细胞内转运和生物学功能提供了参考。     

人SDCT2β3''-非翻译区基因表达负调控序列对mRNA稳定性的影响

为探索人高亲和力钠离子依赖性二羧酸转运蛋白基因(high affinity sodium-dependent dicarboxylate transporter,SDCT2)3'端非翻译区是否在基因表达调控中起作用,首先通过生物信息学分析发现,在SDCT2β mRNA的3'端非翻译区内存在585 nt的Au富含区(AU-rich region,AUR),其中包括3个AU富含元件(AU-rich element,ARE),然后将SDCT213的AU富含区DNA片段插入报告基因GFP表达载体pcDNA-GFP的下游,构建pcDNA-GFP-AUR表达载体并转染HEK293、HKC和LLC-PK1细胞系,用Western blot和流式细胞仪检测细胞中GFP的表达水平.结果显示,SDCT2β的AU富含区序列可显著降低GFP的表达水平(P＜0.01).利用放线菌素D阻断RNA转录后,每隔2 h从稳定转染的HEK293细胞中提取总RNA,用RNA印迹分析GFP mRNA的稳定性.结果显示GFP-AUR mRNA较GFP mRNA不稳定.这些结果提示,在SDCT2β3'非翻译区的AU富含区内存在基因表达负调控区,该区可降低mRNA的稳定性、促进mRNA的降解,从而在转录后水平调控基因的表达.     

人ob基因克隆及其亚细胞定位的研究

目的:旨在克隆人肥胖(obese,ob)基因的全长cDNA序列,与EGFP重组构建融合蛋白表达载体,并分析其亚细胞水平的定位.方法:提取人脂肪细胞总RNA,采用RT-PCR方法扩增出人ob基因cDNA,并克隆至真核表达载体pEGFP-CI,重组质粒转染NIH-3T3细胞,荧光显微镜分析EGFP-ob融合蛋白的亚细胞定位.结果:克隆的ob基因cDNA为501bp,共编码167个氨基酸,与GenBank公布的人ob基因序列一致,荧光显微镜分析表明,重组的EGFP-ob融合蛋白主要分布于NIT-3T3的细胞质中.结论:成功克隆了人OB基因的cDNA序列,构建人OB基因的真核表达载体pEGFP-CI-ob,融合蛋白EGFP-ob定位于NIH-3T3细胞质中.     

结核分枝杆菌Rv3194c蛋白的亚细胞定位

【目的】Rv3194c基因编码的是结核分枝杆菌的PDZ信号蛋白,本研究探讨该蛋白的亚细胞定位,为其细胞结合蛋白的筛选奠定基础。【方法】从H37Rv基因组中扩增出编码只含有PDZ结构域的tRv3194c (Rv3194c 1–234 aa)的基因片段,在3′端加T2A和EGFP序列,一并插入真核表达载体构建出pcDNA3.1-tRv3194c-T2A-EGFP。将构建好的质粒瞬时转染L929细胞,并共感染重组痘苗病毒vTF7-3,用间接免疫荧光、流式细胞分选以及Western blotting检测融合蛋白的表达以及亚细胞定位。【结果】成功构建出真核表达载体pcDNA3.1-tRv3194c-T2A-EGFP,瞬时转染L929细胞后融合蛋白tRv3194c定位于线粒体膜上,且重组痘苗病毒vTF7-3的感染有助于靶蛋白表达水平的提高。【结论】Rv3194蛋白的PDZ结构域与线粒体外膜相关蛋白结合,为了解该蛋白在细胞内的致病机制提供重要线索。     

Expression of EGFP/SDCT1 fusion protein, subcellular localization signal analysis, tissue distribution and electrophysiological function study

A main pathway for energy ATP production inhuman body is by tricarboxylic acid cycle (Krebs cy-cle). Sodium-dependent dicarboxylate co-transporterprotein (SDCT, NaDC, NaC) is an organic aniontransporter protein family responsible for trans-mem- for 30 s, and extension 72℃ for 2 min; followed bybrane transport of Krebs cycle intermediate metabolite final extension 72℃ for 7 min. PCR products weresuch as succinate and citrate. They predominantly lo- …     

Identification of basolateral membrane targeting signal of human sodium-dependent dicarboxylate transporter 3

Sodium-dependent dicarboxylate transporters (NaDC) include low-affinity NaDC1 and high-affinity NaDC3. Despite high similarities structurally and functionally, both are localized to opposite surfaces of renal tubular cells. The molecular mechanisms and localization signals leading to this polarized distribution remain unknown. In this study, distribution of NaDC3 in human kidney tissue was firstly observed by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. Then, EGFP-fused wild-type, NH2- and COOH-terminal deletion and point mutants of NaDC3, and chimera between NaDC3 and NaDC1, were generated and transfected into polarized renal cells lines, LLC-PK1 and MDCK. Their subcellular localizations were analyzed by laser confocal microscopy. Immunolocalization results revealed that NaDC3 was expressed at basolateral membrane of human renal proximal tubular epithelia. Confocal examinations showed that wild-type NaDC3 was targeted to the basolateral membrane of MDCK and LLC-PK1. Deletion mutations indicated that the basolateral targeting signal of NaDC3 located within a short sequence AKKVWSARR of its amino-terminal cytoplasmic domain. Addition of this sequence could redirect apical NaDC1 to the basolateral membrane of LLC-PK1. Point mutagenesis revealed that mutation of either of two hydrophobic amino acids V and W in this short sequence largely redirected NaDC3 to both apical and basolateral surfaces of LLC-PK, indicating that the two hydrophobic amino acids are critical for the basolateral targeting of NaDC3. Our studies provide direct evidence of the localization of NaDC3 at the basolateral membrane of human renal proximal tubule cells and identify a di-hydrophobic amino acid motif VW as basolateral localization signal in the N-terminal cytoplasmic domain of NaDC3.     

Expression of SLC2A9 Isoforms in the Kidney and Their Localization in Polarized Epithelial Cells

Background

Many genome-wide association studies pointed out that SLC2A9 gene, which encodes a voltage-driven urate transporter, SLC2A9/GLUT9 (a.k.a. URATv1), as one of the most influential genes for serum urate levels. SLC2A9 is reported to encode two splice variants: SLC2A9-S (512 amino acids) and SLC2A9-L (540 amino acids), only difference being at their N-termini. We investigated isoform-specific localization of SLC2A9 in the human kidney and role of N-terminal amino acids in differential sorting in vitro.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Isoform specific antibodies against SLC2A9 were developed and human kidney sections were stained. SLC2A9-S was expressed in the apical side of the collecting duct while SLC2A9-L was expressed in the basolateral side of the proximal tubule. GFP fused SLC2A9s were expressed in MDCK cells and intracellular localization was observed. SLC2A9-S was expressed at both apical and basolateral membranes, whereas SLC2A9-L was expressed only at the basolateral membrane. Although SLC2A9-L has a putative di-leucine motif at 33th and 34th leucine, deletion of the motif or replacement of leucine did not affect its subcellular localization. When up to 16 amino acids were removed from the N-terminal of SLC2A9-S or when up to 25 amino acids were removed from the N-terminal of SLC2A9-L, there was no change in their sorting. Deletion of 20 amino acids from SLC2A9-S was not expressed in the cell. More than 30 amino acids deletion from SLC2A9-L resulted in expression at both apical and basolateral membranes as well as in the lysosome. When amino acids from 25th and 30th were changed to alanine in SLC2A9-L, expression pattern was the same as wild-type.

Conclusions/Significance

SLC2A9-L was expressed in the basolateral membrane of kidney proximal tubules in humans and this isoform is likely to responsible for urate reabsorption. N-terminal amino acids unique to each isoform played an important role in protein stability and trafficking.     

PDZ-binding motifs are unable to ensure correct polarized protein distribution in the absence of additional localization signals

The C-terminal PDZ-binding motifs are required for polarized apical/basolateral localization of many membrane proteins. To determine the specificity of the PDZ-binding motifs in establishing cellular distribution, we utilized a 111-amino acid region from the C-terminus of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) that is able to direct apical localization of fused reporter proteins. Substitution of the C-terminal PDZ-binding motif of CFTR with corresponding motifs necessary for basolateral localization of other membrane proteins did not lead to the redistribution of the fusion protein to the basolateral membrane. Instead, some fusion proteins remained localized to the apical membrane, whereas others showed no specific distribution. The specificity of the PDZ-based interactions was substantially increased when specific amino acids located upstream of the classical PDZ-binding motifs were included. However, even the presence of a longer C-terminal motif from a basolateral protein could not ensure basolateral distribution of the fusion protein. Our results indicate that the C-terminal PDZ-binding motifs are not the primary signals for polarized protein distribution, although they are required for targeting and/or stabilization of protein at the given location.     

Apical membrane segregation of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate influences parathyroid hormone 1 receptor compartmental signaling and localization via direct regulation of ezrin in LLC-PK1 cells

The parathyroid hormone 1 receptor (PTH1R), a primary regulator of mineral ion homeostasis, is expressed on both the apical and basolateral membranes of kidney proximal tubules and in the LLC-PK1 kidney cell line. In LLC-PK1 cells, apical PTH1R subpopulations are far more effective at signaling via phospholipase (PLC) than basolateral counterparts, revealing the presence of compartmental signaling. Apical PTH1R localization is dependent upon direct interactions with ezrin, an actin-membrane cross-linking scaffold protein. Ezrin undergoes an activation process that is dependent upon phosphorylation and binding to phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), a lipid that is selectively concentrated to apical surfaces of polarized epithelia. Consistently, the intracellular probe for PIP2, GFP-PLCδ1-PH, localizes to the apical membranes of LLC-PK1 cells, directly overlapping ezrin and PTH1R expression. Activation of the apical PTH1R shifts the GFP-PLCδ1-PH probe from the apical membrane to the cytosol and basolateral membranes, reflecting domain-specific activation of PLC and hydrolysis of PIP2. This compartmental signaling is likely due to the polarized localization of PIP2, the substrate for PLC. PIP2 degradation using a membrane-directed phosphatase shifts ezrin localization to the cytosol and induces ezrin de-phosphorylation, processes consistent with inactivation. PIP2 degradation also shifts PTH1R expression from brush border microvilli to basolateral membranes and markedly blunts PTH-elicited activation of the MAPK pathway. Transient expression of ezrin in HEK293 cells shifts PTH1R expression from the plasma membrane to microvilli-like surface projections that also contain PIP2. As a result, ezrin enhances PTH mediated activation of the PLC pathway in this cell model with increasing total receptor surface expression. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that the apical segregation of PIP2 to the apical domains not only promotes the activation of ezrin and the subsequent formation of the PTH1R containing scaffold, but also ensures the presence of ample substrate for propagating the PLC pathway.     

An ion-transporting ATPase encodes multiple apical localization signals

Epithelial cells accumulate distinct populations of membrane proteins at their two plasmalemmal domains. We have examined the molecular signals which specify the differential subcellular distributions of two closely related ion pumps. The Na,K-ATPase is normally restricted to the basolateral membranes of numerous epithelial cell types, whereas the H,K-ATPase is a component of the apical surfaces of the parietal cells of the gastric epithelium. We have expressed full length and chimeric H,K-ATPase/Na,K-ATPase cDNAs in polarized renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (LLC-PK1). We find that both the alpha and beta subunits of the H,K-ATPase encode independent signals that specify apical localization. Furthermore, the H,K-ATPase beta-subunit possesses a sequence which mediates its participation in the endocytic pathway. The interrelationship between epithelial sorting and endocytosis signals suggested by these studies supports the redefinition of apical and basolateral as functional, rather than simply topographic domains.     

Structural requirements for the apical sorting of human multidrug resistance protein 2 (ABCC2).

The human multidrug resistance protein 2 (MRP2, symbol ABCC2) is a polytopic membrane glycoprotein of 1545 amino acids which exports anionic conjugates across the apical membrane of polarized cells. A chimeric protein composed of C-proximal MRP2 and N-proximal MRP1 localized to the apical membrane of polarized Madin-Darby canine kidney cells (MDCKII) indicating involvement of the carboxy-proximal part of human MRP2 in apical sorting. When compared to other MRP family members, MRP2 has a seven-amino-acid extension at its C-terminus with the last three amino acids (TKF) comprising a PDZ-interacting motif. In order to analyze whether this extension is required for apical sorting of MRP2, we generated MRP2 constructs mutated and stepwise truncated at their C-termini. These constructs were fused via their N-termini to green fluorescent protein (GFP) and were transiently transfected into polarized, liver-derived human HepG2 cells. Quantitative analysis showed that full-length GFP-MRP2 was localized to the apical membrane in 73% of transfected, polarized cells, whereas it remained on intracellular membranes in 27% of cells. Removal of the C-terminal TKF peptide and stepwise deletion of up to 11 amino acids did not change this predominant apical distribution. However, apical localization was largely impaired when GFP-MRP2 was C-terminally truncated by 15 or more amino acids. Thus, neither the PDZ-interacting TKF motif nor the full seven-amino-acid extension were necessary for apical sorting of MRP2. Instead, our data indicate that a deletion of at least 15 C-terminal amino acids impairs the localization of MRP2 to the apical membrane of polarized cells.