神经递质释放的胞吐过程膜融合机制的新观点

胞吐作用(excocytosis)是与胞吞作用(endo-Cytosis)方向相反的细胞活动过程,前者是细胞将某种要释放或分泌的物质排到细胞外面,后者是物质进入细胞的过程。胞吐作用是真核细胞一种极复杂的机能活动,是某些物质从细胞中释放或分泌的共同途径。例如:胰腺消化酶原的分泌,胰岛素从β-细胞的分泌、多肽激素从垂体细胞的分泌以及神经递质从神经末梢的释     

分泌型溶酶体与疾病

传统意义的溶酶体被认为是细胞内消化途径的终点站,是含有多种水解酶和脂肪酶的细胞器,可以消化蛋白以及膜结构等.某些特殊类型的细胞中存在分泌型溶酶体,它既有胞内消化的功能,又有调节分泌功能.在调节溶酶体胞吐的蛋白质中,Rab27a蛋白起到了核心作用.相关基因特别是控制胞吐的基因突变,可造成各种免疫缺陷综合症.星型胶质细胞溶...     

丝状真菌胞吐体的研究进展

胞吐体(Exocyst)是真核生物细胞内由8个亚基组成的复合体,在后高尔基体产生的分泌囊泡与细胞膜特定位置的定向与拴系过程中发挥重要作用。一些小G蛋白通过直接与胞吐体的亚基相互作用,对极性胞外分泌进行精确的时空调节。丝状真菌的生长是通过菌丝顶端的极性生长来完成的,并且具有极强的分泌蛋白质能力,是研究胞吐体的理想系统。胞吐体对丝状真菌的形态发生和致病性都有极大的影响。本文综述了当前在丝状真菌中胞吐体的研究进展,包括它的组成、亚基定位、相关功能和调控。     

CAPS在钙离子触发的囊泡释放中的作用

钙离子依赖的分泌激活蛋白（Ca^2＋-dependent activator protein for secretion,CAPS）是一类在进化中高度保守的促分泌蛋白,它存在两种异构体：CAPS1和CAPS2,两者在不同发育阶段的表达水平及组织中的分布上均有所差异。以往的研究认为CAPS1作为磷脂酰肌醇二磷酸（phosphatidylinositol diphosphate,PIP2）连接蛋白参与钙离子调节的大的致密核心囊泡（large dense-core vescicle,LDCV）与膜融合过程。最近的研究表明,CAPS1还作用于LDCV与膜融合的上游阶段,在分泌性囊泡的形成以及维持其稳定性方面发挥作用。     

CAPS在囊泡分泌过程中作用的研究进展

钙依赖的分泌激活蛋白(CAPS)是一种可以重组通透化神经内分泌细胞的分泌的蛋白.一般认为CAPS是选择性的在致密核心大囊泡的分泌过程中起作用,而不是在清亮囊泡的分泌过程中起作用.但是至今,我们并没有完全了解CAPS的作用机制,并且CAPS中各个预测的功能结构域的作用也不完全清楚.本文将对CAPS的研究进展做详尽的综述.     

Ca^2＋依赖和Ca^2＋不依赖的囊泡分泌研究进展

Ca^2＋是促发囊泡胞吐的关键调节因子。最近的研究表明,分泌囊泡和通道之间的空间距离调节囊泡分泌的过程和挂质。Ca^2＋通道开口附近形成的Ca^2＋微区和Ca^2＋钠区和囊泡快速递质释放有非常紧密的联系。SNARE蛋白和钙离子传感器synaptotagmins等在触发分泌中起调控作用。同时另有一类不依赖于Ca^2＋的囊泡分泌存在。Latrotoxin和mastoparan等可以激活这一类不依赖于Ca^2＋的信号通路,从而触发囊泡释放。本文主要从Ca^2＋对囊泡胞吐的调控作用着手,综述了Ca^2＋依赖和Ca^2＋不依赖的囊泡分泌过程和可能的调控机制。     

FK506结合蛋白12.6调节小鼠嗜铬细胞分泌

FK506结合蛋白12.6(FKBP12.6)能够结合并调控钙离子释放通道兰尼碱受体2型(RyR2)的开放,可能是儿茶酚胺分泌的重要调控器.利用FKBP12.6敲除小鼠模型,我们研究了FKBP12.6在肾上腺嗜铬细胞胞吐中的作用.结果表明,FKBP12.6在小鼠肾上腺嗜铬细胞中表达,而敲除FKBP12.6小鼠的嗜铬细胞中有正常的去极化引起的钙电流和胞吐作用.然而,FKBP12.6敲除会导致嗜铬细胞中出现增强的咖啡因引起的细胞整体钙瞬变和咖啡因引起的胞吐作用.结果提示,FKBP12.6调控肾上腺嗜铬细胞儿茶酚胺的分泌,这种调控作用是通过调节钙离子的释放而实现的.FKBP12.6是嗜铬细胞分泌的重要蛋白.     

胞内Ca2+和小G-蛋白对人中性粒细胞胞吐的调控作用

中性粒细胞在机体抵抗细菌感染中起着非常重要的作用。本研究应用全细胞膜片钳微电极灌流和膜电容检测技术研究了细胞内钙及GTPγs对中性粒细胞胞吐的调控作用。结果表明,钙引起的细胞膜电容增加呈现两个不同的分泌相。第一相发生在钙浓度为0.2-14μmol/L区间,膜电容增加幅度为1.23 pF,钙的EC50值为1.1μmot/L。这部分膜电容增加可能对应于三级颗粒的释放。第二相发生在钙浓度为20-70μmol/L区间,膜电容增加幅度为6.36 pF,钙的EC50值为33μmol/L。这部分膜电容增加可能对应于一、二级颗粒的释放。细胞内Ca2+浓度可同时影响细胞分泌的平均速率和最终可达到的分泌程度。而用GTγs刺激细胞分泌时,只要作用时间足够长(>20 min),20-100μmot/L的GTPγs均可使中性粒细胞膜电容增加6 pF以上。GTPγs的浓度不影响细胞膜电容的最终可增加的幅度,但细胞分泌的平均速率随着GTPγS的浓度的增加而增加。     

ATP 调控大鼠胰腺β细胞胰岛素分泌的双重作用

实验以大鼠胰腺β细胞为研究对象,采用荧光测钙和全细胞膜片钳膜电容测量技术,研究 ATP 对胞内钙离子信号和细胞分泌的影响,并初步探讨了其作用机制 . 实验表明：胞外 ATP 刺激通过动员细胞内 thapsigargin 敏感的钙库 Ca2+ 释放,使大鼠胰腺β细胞内的游离钙离子浓度显著升高,细胞外的 ATP 信号对β细胞胰岛素分泌有双向调节作用,其一,主要通过降低去极化引起的钙电流而对β细胞胰岛素分泌产生较弱的抑制作用,其二,细胞在静息状态下, ATP 通过动员胞内钙库的 Ca2+ 释放使胞浆中的钙离子浓度显著增加,触发β细胞强烈分泌胰岛素 . ATP 的这种双向调节可能对胰岛素分泌的精确调控具有重要的生理意义 .     

pH敏感型荧光蛋白及其在植物细胞生物学中的应用

pH敏感型荧光蛋白, 即pHluorin, 是荧光强度及光谱特征随环境pH值的变化而改变的一类荧光蛋白。人们通过对密码子使用偏好和特定剪切位点的修饰, 已使pHluorin及其衍生物成功地在动物、植物和真菌细胞中正常表达, 为测量细胞内微环境pH值的变化, 并研究活细胞内依赖或导致pH变化的生理过程提供了有力工具。该文总结了目前已报道的pH敏感型荧光蛋白的种类及特性, 并对其在细胞生物学, 特别是植物细胞生物学中的应用进行了详细介绍。随着报告基因技术及检测方法的不断改进, pHluorin将在植物科学领域发挥更大的作用。     

Role of bacterial components in macrophage activation by the LAC and MW2 strains of community-associated, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

We tested the contribution of four staphylococcal components – PSM-α, PSM-β, δ-toxin, and PVL – in triggering macrophage secretion of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukins 6 (IL-6) and 12 (IL-12) by two prominent, circulating strains of community-associated, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA): LAC, USA300; MW2, USA400. RAW 264.7 murine macrophages were stimulated with live, antibiotic-exposed bacteria, and cytokine secretion was quantitated in supernatants. Deletion of PSM-α expression in LAC led to >50% reduction in macrophage TNF and IL-6 secretion and a 20% reduction in IL-12 secretion, while PSM-α deletion in MW2 did not significantly reduce macrophage TNF secretion but resulted in a 15–20% reduction in IL-6 and IL-12 secretion. Deletion of δ-toxin in either strain led to more than 50% reduction in macrophage IL-6 secretion and smaller reductions in macrophage TNF and IL-12 secretion (8–25%). Our data implicate both PSM-α and δ-toxin in stimulating macrophage cytokine responses to CA-MRSA bacteria.     

Alterations of pancreatic juice amylase by glucocorticoid levels in the rat

By use of isoelectrofocusing, three isoenzymes with pIs of 8.40, 8.55, and 8.65 were characterized in the amylase fraction of rat pancreatic juice. Enzyme secretion in rat exocrine pancreas is affected by glucocorticoid levels; adrenalectomy led to a significant decrease in protein secretion which was more pronounced in the amylase fraction, in which the isoenzymes with pI 8.55 and 8.65 disappeared. Substitution therapy with hydrocortisone (25 mg/kg/day, for 6 days) restored exocrine pancreatic secretion to almost normal levels. Administration of hydrocortisone to control rats led to structural alterations in enzymes secreted, splitting the amylase isoenzymes with pI 8.40; this was confirmed by crossed immunoelectrophoresis. It is concluded that glucocorticoid levels play an important role in the maintenance of function of exocrine pancreas and it is suggested that, although hydrocortisone fulfills the objective of restoring enzyme secretion diminished by adrenalectomy, it is possible that intensive treatment could have undesirable effects on the structure of enzymes and could involve pancreatic disfunctionality.     

Influence of reducing agents on the secretion rate of recombinant erythropoietin from CHO cells

The specific secretion rate of recombinant erythropoietin (EPO) from Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells was increased by reducing agents. Addition of 5 mM cysteamine to serum free medium led to almost 8-fold increase of specific EPO secretion rate although it was not effective in thiol free medium. Each reducing agent has its own optimal concentration for maximizing the EPO secretion from CHO cells.     

Protein secretion in bacteria.

Most secretory proteins are synthesized as precursors with an amino-terminal signal peptide. Genetic identification of proteins essential for signal peptide dependent translocation to the Escherichia coli periplasm has led to the biochemical dissection of the secretion pathway. Additional mechanisms exist in Gram-negative bacteria for protein secretion to the extracellular environment.     

Glucocorticoids effects on exocrine pancreatic secretion in caerulein-induced acute pancreatitis in the rat.

The present work reports on exocrine pancreatic secretion in control rats, adrenalectomized rats and hydrocortisone-treated (10 mg/Kg/d) rats during 7 days, under normal conditions and after induction of acute pancreatitis with caerulein (20 micrograms/Kg) by 4 subcutaneous injections at hourly intervals. Pancreatic secretion was seen to be affected by the procedure of adrenalectomy, which led to a marked reduction in the secretion of proteins and amylase with respect to control values. This was probably due to the decrease occurring in the zymogen granules in the acinar cells of the exocrine pancreas, a phenomenon which also led to a decrease in pancreatic weight observed in these animals. Treatment with hydrocortisone induced a decrease in the secretion of proteins and amylase, as well as an increase in pancreatic weight. This agrees with the accepted hypothesis that large amounts glucocorticoids stimulate the synthesis and storage of proteins in the exocrine pancreas, reducing the secretory phase. The administration of high doses of caerulein under these conditions led to acute pancreatitis in the three groups of animals. This was paralleled by a dramatic decrease in protein and amylase secretion and by severe interstitial edema of the pancreas and by increases in serum amylase values. In the case of the animals treated previously with hydrocortisone, the latter were tripled with respect to the control animals. The conclusion is offered that since the storage of enzyme proteins is governed by glucocorticoids, which furthermore increase the sensitivity of the acinar cells to stimulation by secretagogues, the administration of these substances during the development of pancreatic lesions such as acute pancreatitis is highly compromising to the organism.     

Secretion of extracellular proteins by Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a bacterial species of commercial value secreting numerous extracellular proteins, involved in pathogenesis. Most strains produce at least a lipase, a phospholipase, an alkaline phosphatase, an exotoxin and 2 proteases (elastase and alkaline protease). Various mechanisms for secretion of exoproteins appear to exist in P aeruginosa. Genetic analysis has led to the identification of 2 secretion pathways: i) a "general" secretion pathway, defined by the xcp mutations, which mediates secretion of most extracellular proteins, and; ii) an independent secretion pathway specific for alkaline protease. Our present knowledge on the pathways and components of the secretion machinery in P aeruginosa is reviewed in this article.     

Conditions leading to secretion of a normally periplasmic protein in Escherichia coli.

The phosphate-binding protein (PhoS) is a periplasmic protein which is part of the high-affinity phosphate transport system of Escherichia coli. Hyperproduction of PhoS in strains carrying a multicopy plasmid containing phoS led to partial secretion of the protein. By 6 h after transfer to phosphate-limiting medium, about 13% of the total newly synthesized PhoS was secreted to the medium. Kinetic studies demonstrated that this secretion consists of newly synthesized PhoS. This secretion occurs in PhoS-hyperproducer strains but not in a PhoS-overproducer strain. Another type of secretion concerning periplasmic PhoS was observed in both PhoS-hyperproducer and PhoS-overproducer strains. This mode of secretion depended upon the addition of phosphate to cells previously grown in phosphate-limiting medium.     

Gastrin-releasing peptide stimulates cholecystokinin secretion in perfused rat duodenum

We examined the effect of porcine gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP-27) and other analogous neuropeptides on cholecystokinin (CCK) secretion from the isolated perfused rat duodenum. GRP-27 stimulated CCK secretion in a monophasic pattern and in a dose-dependent manner ranging from 10(-9) M to 10(-6) M, and 10(-7) M of GRP-27 led to an increment of 442 +/- 120.8 fmol/3 min. The stimulatory effect of GRP-27 on CCK was not inhibited by 10(-5) M of atropine. 10(-7) M of neuromedin C and B, analogs of GRP, stimulated CCK secretion to increments of 382 +/- 64.1 and 289 +/- 47.2 fmol/3 min, respectively. Carbachol (10(-9) to 10(-6) M), VIP (10(-9)M), secretin (10(-9)M) and glucose (11 mM) did not stimulate CCK secretion, and the addition of atropine (10(-5)M) to them led to no significant changes. These results suggest that GRP may directly stimulate CCK secretion from the duodenum and work as a non-cholinergic, peptidergic neurotransmitter.     

The trans‐envelope architecture and function of the type 2 secretion system: new insights raising new questions

Nanomachines belonging to the type IV filament (Tff) superfamily serve a variety of cellular functions in prokaryotes, including motility, adhesion, electrical conductance, competence and secretion. The type 2 secretion system (T2SS) Tff member assembles a short filament called pseudopilus that promotes the secretion of folded proteins from the periplasm across the outer membrane of Gram‐negative bacteria. A combination of structural, biochemical, imaging, computational and in vivo approaches had led to a working model for the assembled nanomachine. High‐resolution cryo‐electron microscopy and tomography provided the first view of several homologous Tff nanomachines in the cell envelope and revealed the structure of the outer membrane secretin channel, challenging current models of the overall stoichiometry of the T2SS. In addition, recent insights into exoprotein substrate features and interactions with the T2SS have led to new questions about the dynamics of the system and the role of the plasma membrane in substrate presentation. This micro‐review will highlight recent advances in the field of type 2 secretion and discuss approaches that can be used to reach a mechanistic understanding of exoprotein recognition, integration into the machine and secretion.     

Weak estrogenic activity of phenol red in the pituitary gonadotroph: re-evaluation of estrogen and antiestrogen effects

Phenol Red (Phr) which is widely used as a pH indicator in cell culture media has recently been described to possess estrogenic activity in different cell types. In the present study we investigated if the dye shows such activity on LH secretion of cultivated rat pituitary cells and controlled the established effects of estradiol (E2) and keoxifene (K) in this model in the absence of Phenol Red. 24 h treatment of pituitary cell cultures with Phr led to enhancement of GnRH-stimulated LH secretion whereas 4 h treatment reduced LH secretion. When the cells received E2 instead of Phr for the indicated incubation periods we observed nearly identical results i.e. a short-term inhibitory and a long-term stimulatory effect on LH secretion. 24 h treatment of pituitary cell cultures with increasing concentrations of Phr led to a stimulatory effect on GnRH-stimulated LH secretion an effect that occurred at 10 microM got maximal at 100 microM and was lost at higher concentrations resulting in a bell-shaped dose-response curve. The inhibitory action of Phr was present at concentrations greater than or equal to 10 microM. Both effects could be blocked by the antiestrogen K indicating their specificity. K has recently been described to induce an antigonadotrophic effect in this model. Although high concentrations of the antiestrogen were still able to inhibit LH secretion this effect was not present at lower concentrations when Phr-free culture medium was used in the experiments. Thus Phr showed weak estrogenic activity in the gonadotroph. The established actions of E2 and K on LH secretion were qualitatively reproducible when Phr was excluded from the culture medium.