植物液泡膜阳离子/H+反向转运蛋白结构和功能研究进展

阳离子转运蛋白在调节细胞质阳离子浓度过程中发挥关键作用。液泡是一个储存多种离子的重要细胞器,阳离子 (Ca2+)/H+反向转运蛋白CAXs定位在液泡膜上,主要参与Ca2+向液泡的转运,也参与其他阳离子的转运。近年来,植物中分离鉴定了多个CAX基因,植物CAXs主要有4个功能域：NRR通过自抑制机制调节Ca2+转运活性,CaD和C功能域分别赋予CAXs的Ca2+和Mn2+专一性转运活性,D功能域可调节细胞质pH。拟南芥AtCAXs参与植物的生长发育和胁迫适应过程,AtCAX3主要在盐胁迫下转运Ca2+,At     

植物ABCB亚家族生物学功能研究进展

ABC转运蛋白超家族结构和功能复杂多样, 包含ABCA-ABCH八个亚家族。ABCB是ABC转运蛋白的一个亚家族, 多数定位于质膜, 少数定位于线粒体膜或叶绿体膜。ABCB与其它生长素转运蛋白(AUX1/LAX、PIN)共同参与调控植物生长素的极性运输, 在植物生长发育的各个阶段发挥作用。此外, ABCB转运蛋白还调控植物的向性运动和重金属抗性等过程。近年来, 随着越来越多植物全基因组测序的完成, ABCB亚家族在禾谷类单子叶植物水稻(Oryza sativa)、玉米(Zea mays)和高粱(Sorghum bicolor)中的生物学功能开始有少量报道, 然而多数ABCB转运蛋白的功能尚未得到阐释。该文对拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)和禾谷类作物ABCB转运蛋白的研究进展进行综述, 以期为全面揭示ABCB亚家族生物学功能提供线索。     

植物ABCB亚家族生物学功能研究进展

ABC转运蛋白超家族结构和功能复杂多样, 包含ABCA-ABCH八个亚家族。ABCB是ABC转运蛋白的一个亚家族, 多数定位于质膜, 少数定位于线粒体膜或叶绿体膜。ABCB与其它生长素转运蛋白(AUX1/LAX、PIN)共同参与调控植物生长素的极性运输, 在植物生长发育的各个阶段发挥作用。此外, ABCB转运蛋白还调控植物的向性运动和重金属抗性等过程。近年来, 随着越来越多植物全基因组测序的完成, ABCB亚家族在禾谷类单子叶植物水稻(Oryza sativa)、玉米(Zea mays)和高粱(Sorghum bicolor)中的生物学功能开始有少量报道, 然而多数ABCB转运蛋白的功能尚未得到阐释。该文对拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)和禾谷类作物ABCB转运蛋白的研究进展进行综述, 以期为全面揭示ABCB亚家族生物学功能提供线索。     

植物PDR型ABC转运蛋白的结构及功能

ATP-结合盒(ATP-binding cassette,ABC)转运蛋白是目前已知最大、功能最广泛的蛋白质家族。多向耐药性(pleiotropic drug resistance,PDR)蛋白是该家族中仅存于植物和真菌中的一个亚族,结构域与其他亚族相反,即核苷酸结合域(nucleotide-binding domain,NBD)位于跨膜结构域(trans-membrane domain,TMD)的N端。目前已发现PDR型转运蛋白具有转运次生代谢产物和参与胁迫反应等方面的功能。植物PDR基因分为5个亚族:I族基因涉及多种生物和非生物胁迫反应,II￣V族基因功能研究甚少。植物PDR基因在器官水平、化学及环境因素影响下具有特异性较好的表达谱。本文系统阐述了植物PDR型转运蛋白基因的进化、结构及其功能,为理解植物PDR型转运蛋白在生物分子转运和复杂生理功能方面提供一个基础框架。     

植物锌铁转运蛋白ZIP基因家族的研究进展

金属离子对植物的正常发育至关重要,但过量又会中毒.植物体内的自动调节平衡机制会调节金属离子的吸收和运输,从而控制金属离子的含量.锌铁调控蛋白ZIP( ZRT,IRT-like protein)家族是广泛存在于植物中的转运蛋白,具有Ca2+、Fe2+、Mn2+及Zn2+等多种金属元素的转运功能.了解ZIP转运体在植物中如何发挥离子转运功能,从分子水平认识金属离子缺乏或过量积累的机理有重要意义.综述拟南芥、水稻、大麦、苜蓿和玉米ZIP家族成员及其研究进展.     

蛋白4.1家族在神经系统中的研究进展

蛋白4.1家族是细胞骨架蛋白,包括4.1N、4.1B、4.1G和4.1R四个成员,含有膜结合结构域、血影蛋白-肌动蛋白结合结构域和C端结构域3个高度保守的结构和功能域。蛋白4.1家族在人体包括神经系统等多种组织中表达。对蛋白4.1家族在神经系统Ca2+信号转导、受体通道定位与转运、髓鞘等多种重要结构形成中的重要作用进行综述。近来,蛋白4.1家族发挥抑癌基因作用也引起了广泛关注。     

葡萄中蔗糖转运蛋白家族的序列分析及功能推测

以葡萄中的蔗糖转运蛋白为主要研究对象,结合了功能研究较为深入的拟南芥和水稻蔗糖转运蛋白家族序列,分析讨论了这些基因在启动子区域顺式作用元件的异同,以及这些差异可能对mRNA的转录带来的影响;同时,根据蔗糖转运蛋白氨基酸序列对其家族进行了分类,分析了不同亚类蔗糖转运蛋白基因结构的特点;最后还对蔗糖转运蛋白家族中氨基酸的保守性进行了分析。这些分析将为后续蔗糖转运蛋白功能基因组学的研究以及通过基因工程技术精确调节植物代谢提供一定的依据。     

植物铜转运蛋白的结构和功能

铜(Cu)是植物必需的微量营养元素, 参与植物生长发育过程中的许多生理生化反应。Cu缺乏或过量都会影响植物的正常新陈代谢过程。因此, 植物需要一系列Cu转运蛋白协同作用以保持体内Cu离子的稳态平衡。通常, Cu转运蛋白可分为两类, 即吸收型Cu转运蛋白(如COPT、ZIP和YSL蛋白家族)和排出型Cu转运蛋白(如HMA蛋白家族), 主要负责Cu离子的跨膜转运及调节Cu离子的吸收和排出。然而, 最近有研究表明, 有些Cu伴侣蛋白家族可能是从Cu转运蛋白家族进化而来, 且它们在维持植物细胞Cu离子稳态平衡中也具重要功能。该文对Cu转运蛋白和Cu伴侣蛋白的表达、结构、定位及功能等研究进展进行综述。     

ABC转运蛋白在植物花器官生长发育中的研究进展

ABC转运蛋白(ATP binding cassette transporter) 是目前发现的最大的蛋白家族之一,其广泛存在于真核生物与原核生物之中,近年来在植物研究领域正受到越来越多的关注。ABC转运蛋白的转运底物种类较为多样,该家族成员几乎作用于植物生长发育的各个阶段,并对植物花器官产生较大的影响。该文对ABC转运蛋白的基本特征及亚家族分类情况进行了总结,重点对近年来国内外有关ABC转运蛋白家族在植物花药和花序轴等花器官生长发育,以及花瓣形态、花色、花香等观赏性状方面的调控功能等方面的研究进展进行了综述,并对ABC转运蛋白在改良植物花色、花香等观赏性状方面的应用潜力进行展望,以期为植物观赏性状的改良提供一定的参考。     

DuaJ—like蛋白研究进展

DuaJ-like蛋白由N-端保守的J区域、富含Gly和Phe区域、富含Cys区域和C-端低同源区域组成。J功能域能调节HSP70分子伴侣的ATPase活性,C-端不保守区域能调节与多肽的关系。真核细胞中存在着多种结构不同的DuaJ-like蛋白,但都含有一个J功能域。DuaJ-like蛋白通过J功能域调节HSP70功能而参与蛋白的折叠、装配和运输过程。     

Characterization of Arabidopsis Ca2+/H+ exchanger CAX3

Plant calcium (Ca(2+)) gradients, millimolar levels in the vacuole and micromolar levels in the cytoplasm, are regulated in part by high-capacity vacuolar cation/H(+) exchangers (CAXs). Several CAX transporters, including CAX1, appear to contain an approximately 40-amino acid N-terminal regulatory region (NRR) that modulates transport through N-terminal autoinhibition. Deletion of the NRR from several CAXs (sCAX) enhances function in plant and yeast expression assays; however, to date, there are no functional assays for CAX3 (or sCAX3), which is 77% identical and 91% similar in sequence to CAX1. In this report, we create a series of truncations in the CAX3 NRR and demonstrate activation of CAX3 in both yeast and plants by truncating a large portion (up to 90 amino acids) of the NRR. Experiments with endomembrane-enriched vesicles isolated from yeast expressing activated CAX3 demonstrate that the gene encodes Ca(2+)/H(+) exchange with properties distinct from those of CAX1. The phenotypes produced by activated CAX3-expressing in transgenic tobacco lines are also distinct from those produced by sCAX1-expressing plants. These studies demonstrate shared and unique aspects of CAX1 and CAX3 transport and regulation.     

CAX‐ing a wide net: Cation/H+ transporters in metal remediation and abiotic stress signalling

Cation/proton exchangers (CAXs) are a class of secondary energised ion transporter that are being implicated in an increasing range of cellular and physiological functions. CAXs are primarily Ca²⁺ efflux transporters that mediate the sequestration of Ca²⁺ from the cytosol, usually into the vacuole. Some CAX isoforms have broad substrate specificity, providing the ability to transport trace metal ions such as Mn²⁺ and Cd²⁺, as well as Ca²⁺. In recent years, genomic analyses have begun to uncover the expansion of CAXs within the green lineage and their presence within non‐plant species. Although there appears to be significant conservation in tertiary structure of CAX proteins, there is diversity in function of CAXs between species and individual isoforms. For example, in halophytic plants, CAXs have been recruited to play a role in salt tolerance, while in metal hyperaccumulator plants CAXs are implicated in cadmium transport and tolerance. CAX proteins are involved in various abiotic stress response pathways, in some cases as a modulator of cytosolic Ca²⁺ signalling, but in some situations there is evidence of CAXs acting as a pH regulator. The metal transport and abiotic stress tolerance functions of CAXs make them attractive targets for biotechnology, whether to provide mineral nutrient biofortification or toxic metal bioremediation. The study of non‐plant CAXs may also provide insight into both conserved and novel transport mechanisms and functions.     

Residues in internal repeats of the rice cation/H+ exchanger are involved in the transport and selection of cations

In plants, the cation/H+ exchanger (CAX) translocates Ca2+ and other metal ions into vacuoles using the H+ gradient formed by H+-ATPase and H+-pyrophosphatase. Such exchangers carrying 11 transmembrane domains (TMs) have been isolated from plants, yeast, and bacteria. In this study, multiple sequence alignment of several CAXs revealed the presence of highly conserved 36-residue regions between TM3 and TM4 and between TM8 and TM9. These two repetitive motifs are designated repeats c-1 and c-2. Using site-directed mutagenesis, we generated 31 mutations in the repeats of the Oryza sativa CAX, which translocates Ca2+ and Mn2+. Mutant exchangers were expressed in a Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain that is sensitive to Ca2+ and Mn2+ because of the absence of vacuolar Ca2+-ATPase and the Ca2+/H+ exchanger. Mutant exchangers were classified into six classes according to their tolerance for Ca2+ and Mn2+. For example, the class III mutants had no tolerance for either ion, and the class IV mutants had tolerance only for Ca2+. The biochemical function of each residue was estimated. We investigated the membrane topology of the repeats using a method combining cysteine mutagenesis and sulfhydryl reagents. Our results suggest that repeat c-1 re-enters the membrane from the vacuolar luminal side and forms a solution-accessible region. Furthermore, several residues in repeats c-1 and c-2 were found to be conserved in animal Na+/Ca2+ exchangers. Finally, we suggest that these re-entrant repeats may form a vestibule or filter for cation selection.     

Structural independence of the two EF-hand domains of caltractin

Caltractin (centrin) is a member of the calmodulin subfamily of EF-hand Ca2+-binding proteins that is an essential component of microtubule-organizing centers in many organisms ranging from yeast and algae to humans. The protein contains two homologous EF-hand Ca2+-binding domains linked by a flexible tether; each domain is capable of binding two Ca2+ ions. In an effort to search for domain-specific functional properties of caltractin, the two isolated domains were subcloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. Ca2+ binding affinities and the Ca2+ dependence of biophysical properties of the isolated domains were monitored by UV, CD, and NMR spectroscopy. Comparisons to the corresponding results for the intact protein showed that the two domains function independently of each other in these assays. Titration of a peptide fragment from the yeast Kar1p protein to the isolated domains and intact caltractin shows that the two domains interact in a Ca2+-dependent manner, with the C-terminal domain binding much more strongly than the N-terminal domain. Measurements of the macroscopic Ca2+ binding constants show that only the N-terminal domain has sufficient apparent Ca2+ affinity in vitro (1-10 microm) to be classified as a traditional calcium sensor in signal transduction pathways. However, investigation of the microscopic Ca2+ binding events in the C-terminal domain by NMR spectroscopy revealed that the observed macroscopic binding constant likely results from binding to two sites with very different affinities, one in the micromolar range and the other in the millimolar range. Thus, the C-terminal domain appears to also be capable of sensing Ca2+ signals but is activated by the binding of a single ion.     

Identification of Three Distinct Phylogenetic Groups of CAX Cation/Proton Antiporters

Ca²⁺/cation antiporter (CaCA) proteins are integral membrane proteins that transport Ca²⁺ or other cations using the H⁺ or Na⁺ gradient generated by primary transporters. The CAX (for CAtion eXchanger) family is one of the five families that make up the CaCA superfamily. CAX genes have been found in bacteria, Dictyostelium, fungi, plants, and lower vertebrates, but only a small number of CAXs have been functionally characterized. In this study, we explored the diversity of CAXs and their phylogenetic relationships. The results demonstrate that there are three major types of CAXs: type I (CAXs similar to Arabidopsis thaliana CAX1, found in plants, fungi, and bacteria), type II (CAXs with a long N-terminus hydrophilic region, found in fungi, Dictyostelium, and lower vertebrates), and type III (CAXs similar to Escherichia coli ChaA, found in bacteria). Some CAXs were found to have secondary structures that are different from the canonical six transmembrane (TM) domains–acidic motif-five TM domain structure. Our phylogenetic tree indicated no evidence to support the cyanobacterial origin of plant CAXs or the classification of Arabidopsis exchangers CAX7 to CAX11. For the first time, these results clearly define the CAX exchanger family and its subtypes in phylogenetic terms. The surprising diversity of CAXs demonstrates their potential range of biochemical properties and physiologic relevance. Electronic Supplementary Material Electronic Supplementary material is available for this article at and accessible for authorised users. [Reviewing Editor: David Guttman]     

C2 domains from different Ca2+ signaling pathways display functional and mechanistic diversity

The ubiquitous C2 domain is a conserved Ca2+ triggered membrane-docking module that targets numerous signaling proteins to membrane surfaces where they regulate diverse processes critical for cell signaling. In this study, we quantitatively compared the equilibrium and kinetic parameters of C2 domains isolated from three functionally distinct signaling proteins: cytosolic phospholipase A2-alpha (cPLA2-alpha), protein kinase C-beta (PKC-beta), and synaptotagmin-IA (Syt-IA). The results show that equilibrium C2 domain docking to mixed phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylserine membranes occurs at micromolar Ca2+ concentrations for the cPLA2-alpha C2 domain, but requires 3- and 10-fold higher Ca2+ concentrations for the PKC-beta and Syt-IA C2 domains ([Ca2+](1/2) = 4.7, 16, 48 microM, respectively). The Ca2+ triggered membrane docking reaction proceeds in at least two steps: rapid Ca2+ binding followed by slow membrane association. The greater Ca2+ sensitivity of the cPLA2-alpha domain results from its higher intrinsic Ca2+ affinity in the first step compared to the other domains. Assembly and disassembly of the ternary complex in response to rapid Ca2+ addition and removal, respectively, require greater than 400 ms for the cPLA2-alpha domain, compared to 13 ms for the PKC-beta domain and only 6 ms for the Syt-IA domain. Docking of the cPLA2-alpha domain to zwitterionic lipids is triggered by the binding of two Ca2+ ions and is stabilized via hydrophobic interactions, whereas docking of either the PKC-beta or the Syt-IA domain to anionic lipids is triggered by at least three Ca2+ ions and is maintained by electrostatic interactions. Thus, despite their sequence and architectural similarity, C2 domains are functionally specialized modules exhibiting equilibrium and kinetic parameters optimized for distinct Ca2+ signaling applications. This specialization is provided by the carefully tuned structural and electrostatic parameters of their Ca2+ and membrane-binding loops, which yield distinct patterns of Ca2+ coordination and contrasting mechanisms of membrane docking.     

GhCAX3 Gene,a Novel Ca2+/H+ Exchanger from Cotton,Confers Regulation of Cold Response and ABA Induced Signal Transduction

As a second messenger, Ca²⁺ plays a major role in cold induced transduction via stimulus-specific increases in [Ca²⁺]_cyt, which is called calcium signature. During this process, CAXs (Ca²⁺/H⁺ exchangers) play critical role. For the first time, a putative Ca²⁺/H⁺ exchanger GhCAX3 gene from upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum cv. ‘YZ-1′) was isolated and characterized. It was highly expressed in all tissues of cotton except roots and fibers. This gene may act as a regulator in cotton’s response to abiotic stresses as it could be up-regulated by Ca²⁺, NaCl, ABA and cold stress. Similar to other CAXs, it was proved that GhCAX3 also had Ca²⁺ transport activity and the N-terminal regulatory region (NRR) through yeast complementation assay. Over-expression of GhCAX3 in tobacco showed less sensitivity to ABA during seed germination and seedling stages, and the phenotypic difference between wild type (WT) and transgenic plants was more significant when the NRR was truncated. Furthermore, GhCAX3 conferred cold tolerance in yeast as well as in tobacco seedlings based on physiological and molecular studies. However, transgenic plant seeds showed more sensitivity to cold stress compared to WT during seed germination, especially when expressed in N-terminal truncated version. Finally, the extent of sensitivity in transgenic lines was more severe than that in WT line under sodium tungstate treatment (an ABA repressor), indicating that ABA could alleviate cold sensitivity of GhCAX3 seeds, especially in short of its NRR. Meanwhile, we also found that overexpression of GhCAX3 could enhance some cold and ABA responsive marker genes. Taken together, these results suggested that GhCAX3 plays important roles in the cross-talk of ABA and cold signal transduction, and compared to full-length of GhCAX3, the absence of NRR could enhance the tolerance or sensitivity to cold stress, depending on seedling’s developmental stages.     

Crystal structure of the second LNS/LG domain from neurexin 1alpha: Ca2+ binding and the effects of alternative splicing

Neurexins mediate protein interactions at the synapse, playing an essential role in synaptic function. Extracellular domains of neurexins, and their fragments, bind a distinct profile of different proteins regulated by alternative splicing and Ca2+. The crystal structure of n1alpha_LNS#2 (the second LNS/LG domain of bovine neurexin 1alpha) reveals large structural differences compared with n1alpha_LNS#6 (or n1beta_LNS), the only other LNS/LG domain for which a structure has been determined. The differences overlap the so-called hyper-variable surface, the putative protein interaction surface that is reshaped as a result of alternative splicing. A Ca2+-binding site is revealed at the center of the hyper-variable surface next to splice insertion sites. Isothermal titration calorimetry indicates that the Ca2+-binding site in n1alpha_LNS#2 has low affinity (Kd approximately 400 microm). Ca2+ binding ceases to be measurable when an 8- or 15-residue splice insert is present at the splice site SS#2 indicating that alternative splicing can affect Ca2+-binding sites of neurexin LNS/LG domains. Our studies initiate a framework for the putative protein interaction sites of neurexin LNS/LG domains. This framework is essential to understand how incorporation of alternative splice inserts expands the information from a limited set of neurexin genes to produce a large array of synaptic adhesion molecules with potentially very different synaptic function.