水通道的分子生物学研究

水通道是哺乳动物及植物细胞膜上转运水的特异孔道。第一个水通道蛋白即原型分子水通道（２８ｋＤ通道构成整合膜蛋白）的ｃＤＮＡ序列是在１９９１年完成鉴定的。目前从哺乳动物组织中已鉴定出至少五种水通道蛋白,统称为水蛋白（ａｑｕａｐｏｒｉｎ,ＡＱＰ）,均属于主体内在蛋白（ＭＩＰ）家族的成员。水通道介导水依渗透梯度方向运动。不同的水通道蛋白在组织中的分布不同,但多在肾髓质有表达。原型分子水通道蛋白在膜中以四聚体形式存在,每一单体形成一个功能性的水孔道。     

液泡膜水通道蛋白γ—TIP表达载体的构建及其抗体的制备

利用PCR技术,从拟南芥（Arabidopsisthaliana（L．）Heynh．）液泡膜水通道蛋白γ－TIP的cDNA中扩增了含水通道特异保守区的205bp片段,并将其构入pGEX－KG原核表达载体。酶切、测序分析表明构建的重组质粒pGEX-TIP结构正确。0．4mmol/L的IPTG可诱导表达分子量为32kD融合蛋白GST-TIP,表达蛋白以包涵体形式存在,约占菌体总蛋白的50％。实验用SDS-PAGE制备电泳从菌体的超声裂解液中纯化了GST-TIP融合蛋白,以此融合蛋白为抗原制备了高质量的液泡膜水通道蛋白的抗体,为研究水通道蛋白在组织中的定位及生理功能提供了有用的蛋白探针。     

关于物质跨膜转运方式的分类

国内不少生理学教材（包括有的国家级规划教材）把物质的跨膜转运方式分为单纯扩散、易化扩散、主动转运和出胞与入胞四种，又将易化扩散分为由通道介导的易化扩散和由载体介导的易化扩散两类。虽然笔者早在2000年就指出，把物质通过通道扩散（转运）包括在易化扩散之中不妥，因为易化扩散（转运）需要载体（carder）或转运体（transporter）蛋白（不是通道蛋白）的帮助，因此又称为载体介导的扩散（carrier-mediated diffusion），或载体介导的转运（carrier-mediated transport）。本文再较详细谈谈此问题。     

水孔蛋白1的结构与功能

水通道,又称水孔蛋白（ａｑｕａｐｏｒｉｎ,ＡＱＰ）是动植物细胞膜上转运水的特异孔道。ＡＱＰｓ均属主体内在蛋白（ＭＩＰ）家族的成员。ＡＱＰ１是第一个被鉴定的水通道,又称原型分子水通道。它在体内的分布极广,参与多种生理功能,在膜中以四聚体的形式存在,每一单体形成一个功能性的水通道。ＡＱＰ１的表达可受汞、雌激素等多种因子的调节,并发现它与许多病理生理过程有着直接的关系。     

水通道

水通道邱俭,陈宜张（第二军医大学生理学教研室,上海２００４３３）关键词水通道,水通道蛋白进出细胞的水转运对细胞稳态是重要的。水通过脂质双层的运动很慢,这是一个单纯扩散过程,活化能高（＞１０ｋｃａｌ／ｍｏｌ）,且对汞化合物不敏感。过去曾认为其他一些细胞...     

Ca2+对骨骼肌钙释放通道的调节

钙释放通道（calcium release channel）又称Ryanodine受体（RyR）,是细胞内质网膜上介导细胞内钙信号转导的离子通道。RyR1在骨骼肌细胞的兴奋-收缩偶联过程中起重要作用,是肌质网快速释放Ca^2＋的通道。许多调节因素,如一些内源性蛋白（FK结合蛋白、钙调素、钙结合蛋白）和一些离子（Ca^2＋、Mg^2＋）,通过不同的作用位点与RyR1结合,调控RyR1的结构与功能。研究表明,Ca^2＋是众多调节RyR1因素中的核心成分和前提条件,其对RyR1的结构与功能有重要的调控作用。     

骨组织细胞Cx43形成的间隙连接及半通道研究进展

连接子蛋43（connexin 43,Cx43）是骨组织中主要的间隙连接（gap junction）蛋白和半通道（hemichannel）蛋白,由Cx43形成的间隙连接及半通道实现了骨组织细胞间的直接通讯。连接子蛋白对骨组织的正常发育、骨重建过程的建立与平衡是非常重要的。目前研究指出,Cx43不仅参与了骨组织的力学响应过程,也参与了二磷酸盐、甲状旁腺激素等药物对骨重建的调节过程。该文以骨组织细胞内信号传递途径的关键分子Cx43为对象,就其目前的研究现状作一综述。     

吡那地尔对缺血缺氧PC12细胞凋亡及Bcl-2蛋白表达的影响

目的探讨吡那地尔对缺血缺氧PC12细胞凋亡及对Bcl-2蛋白表达的影响。方法取传代后3d PC12细胞,分为A（对照组）,B（缺血缺氧组）,C（KATP通道开放剂）,D（KATP通道开放剂＋阻断剂组）。采用Annexin—v FITC／PI双染流式细胞分析仪检测凋亡率,应用免疫荧光染色和Western blot检测Bcl-2蛋白表达水平。结果缺血缺氧后B,C,D组细胞凋亡率随时间点增加而增加,24h达高峰。B,C,D组与A组比较均有显著性差异（P〈0．01）,C组和B,D组比较有统计学意义（P〈0．01）,B,C,D组细胞Bcl-2蛋白表达随时间点增加而增加,12h达高峰。B,C,D组均显著高于对照组（P〈0．01或P〈0．05）。C组表达显著高于B和D组（P〈0．01）。B与D组各时间点细胞凋亡及Bcl—2蛋白表达均无显著性差异（P〉0．05）。结论KATP通道开放剂能抑制缺血缺氧PC12细胞凋亡,这一作用机制可能与增加Bcl—2蛋白表达有关。     

水分亏缺下玉米根系ZmPIP1亚族基因的表达

在PEG-6000胁迫条件下,以微管蛋白基因为内参基因、水通道蛋白基因ZmPIP1-1和ZmPIP1-2为检测基因,采用半定量逆转录聚合酶链式反应（RT-PCR）体系检测它们在玉米根系中的表达情况。实验结果是：胁迫条件下,ZmPIP1-1的表达量在杂交F,代‘户单4号’（抗旱）和母本‘天四’（抗旱）根系中增多,它的表达量与品种的抗旱性呈正相关,并且胁迫不同时间段它的表达量有差异;而ZmPIP1-2在3个玉米品种的不同水分处理条件下,表达量均没有明显变化。这提示,水分胁迫条件下根系中某些种类的水通道蛋白基因的表达量增多,并且与品种的抗旱性有关;而另一些水通道蛋白基因的表达不受水分亏缺的影响。     

大电导钙激活钾通道对大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞增殖的影响

为了观察开放和拮抗大电导钙激活钾通道（bigconductanceCa2＋-activated砧channel．BKca）对大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞（bonemarrowmesenchymalstemcells,BMSCs）增殖的影响并探讨其机制,该研究分离培养了大鼠BMSCs,采用BKca通道特异性开放剂msl619）和拮抗剂（IBTX）干预,MTT、平板克隆测定细胞增殖活力及细胞克隆形成能力;流式细胞术分析细胞凋亡及细胞周期分布;Westernblot、定量PCR检测周期蛋白cyclinD1基因和蛋白表达水平;整细胞膜片钳技术分析细胞膜电生理特性。结果显示,NS1619干预组与对照组相比,BMSCs~胞膜科通道外向电流振幅增大,细胞增殖能力和克隆形成能力增强,凋亡减少。此外,开放BKca通道明显促进细胞从G1期向S期过渡,cyclinD1蛋白7LmRNA表达上调,而拮抗BKca通道则相反。推测,BKca通道通过调节细胞周期进程最终影响细胞增殖,该作用可能与其具有调控细胞膜心电流的电生理特性有关。     

Permeation of neutral molecules through calcium channel in sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles.

Permeation of neutral molecules as well as Ca2+ through the Ca2+ channel in sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles has been studied by the tracer and/or by the light scattering methods. In the absence of KCl, the Ca2+ channel was found not to be able to pass neutral molecules such as glucose, xylose, and glycine under the condition that the channel was open, although the channel could pass Ca2+. On the other hand, submolar concentrations of KCl made the channel become permeable to neutral molecules as well as Ca2+. Since the effect of KCl could be replaced by NaCl and KNO3, but not by sucrose and glucose, this effect of KCl is considered to be due to ionic strength and not to osmotic pressure. These results suggest that low ionic strength transforms the Ca2+ channel protein in such a manner as to block the permeation of neutral molecules without modifying the gating mechanism of the channel.     

内质网膜上的转运使者——易位子相关蛋白（TRAP）

内质网膜蛋白在参与信号序列的识别、新生肽链的修饰、转运通道的形成等生理过程中发挥重要作用.易位子相关蛋白（translocon-associated protein, TRAP）是广泛存在于高等真核生物中的一种膜蛋白，其作为信号序列的受体蛋白位于内质网膜上.该蛋白能选择性地识别信号序列，并与Sec61相互作用形成一个以Sec61为核心、TRAP侧向延伸的椭圆状转运通道，从而靶向新生肽链进入内质网腔.近来研究发现，TRAP与蛋白质构象病、神经退行性疾病、肿瘤转移等疾病的发病机制有关.本文将对TRAP各个亚基的最新研究及其功能作一综述.     

TRPM7 reflected in Cryo-EMirror

TRPM7 is an atypical type of ion channel because its pore-forming moiety is covalently linked to a protein kinase domain. The channel-kinase TRPM7 controls a wide range of biological processes such as mineral homeostasis, immune responses, cell motility, proliferation and differentiation. Earlier this year, Duan J & co-workers [1] published three TRPM7 structures resolved by cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). This study tremendously advances our mechanistic understanding of TRPM7 channel function and forms the basis for informed structure-function assessment of this extraordinary protein.     

A conformational switch in bacteriophage p22 portal protein primes genome injection

Double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) viruses such as herpesviruses and bacteriophages infect by delivering their genetic material into cells, a task mediated by a DNA channel called "portal protein." We have used electron cryomicroscopy to determine the structure of bacteriophage P22 portal protein in both the procapsid and mature capsid conformations. We find that, just as the viral capsid undergoes major conformational changes during virus maturation, the portal protein switches conformation from a procapsid to a mature phage state upon binding of gp4, the factor that initiates tail assembly. This dramatic conformational change traverses the entire length of the DNA channel, from the outside of the virus to the inner shell, and erects a large dome domain directly above the DNA channel that binds dsDNA inside the capsid. We hypothesize that this conformational change primes dsDNA for injection and directly couples completion of virus morphogenesis to a new cycle of infection.     

植物耐盐性的分子生物学研究进展

研究证明了植物的耐盐机制十分复杂,安与植物的小分子物质的积累,离子摄入和区域化,以及基因表达和大分子蛋白质的合成有关,如调渗蛋白、通道蛋白、晚期胚胎发生富集蛋白。同时,利用克隆技术分离到了一些盐诱导基因。现将这部分工作做一综述。     

Beta-cell CaV channel regulation in physiology and pathophysiology

The beta-cell is equipped with at least six voltage-gated Ca2+ (CaV) channel alpha1-subunits designated CaV1.2, CaV1.3, CaV2.1, CaV2.2, CaV2.3, and CaV3.1. These principal subunits, together with certain auxiliary subunits, assemble into different types of CaV channels conducting L-, P/Q-, N-, R-, and T-type Ca2+ currents, respectively. The beta-cell shares customary mechanisms of CaV channel regulation with other excitable cells, such as protein phosphorylation, Ca2+-dependent inactivation, and G protein modulation. However, the beta-cell displays some characteristic features to bring these mechanisms into play. In islet beta-cells, CaV channels can be highly phosphorylated under basal conditions and thus marginally respond to further phosphorylation. In beta-cell lines, CaV channels can be surrounded by tonically activated protein phosphatases dominating over protein kinases; thus their activity is dramatically enhanced by inhibition of protein phosphatases. During the last 10 years, we have revealed some novel mechanisms of beta-cell CaV channel regulation under physiological and pathophysiological conditions, including the involvement of exocytotic proteins, inositol hexakisphosphate, and type 1 diabetic serum. This minireview highlights characteristic features of customary mechanisms of CaV channel regulation in beta-cells and also reviews our studies on newly identified mechanisms of beta-cell CaV channel regulation.     

An electrostatic switch controls palmitoylation of the large conductance voltage- and calcium-activated potassium (BK) channel

Protein palmitoylation is a major dynamic posttranslational regulator of protein function. However, mechanisms that control palmitoylation are poorly understood. In many proteins, palmitoylation occurs at cysteine residues juxtaposed to membrane-anchoring domains such as transmembrane helices, sites of irreversible lipid modification, or hydrophobic and/or polybasic domains. In particular, polybasic domains represent an attractive mechanism to dynamically control protein palmitoylation, as the function of these domains can be dramatically influenced by protein phosphorylation. Here we demonstrate that a polybasic domain immediately upstream of palmitoylated cysteine residues within an alternatively spliced insert in the C terminus of the large conductance calcium- and voltage-activated potassium channel is an important determinant of channel palmitoylation and function. Mutation of basic amino acids to acidic residues within the polybasic domain results in inhibition of channel palmitoylation and a significant right-shift in channel half maximal voltage for activation. Importantly, protein kinase A-dependent phosphorylation of a single serine residue within the core of the polybasic domain, which results in channel inhibition, also reduces channel palmitoylation. These data demonstrate the key role of the polybasic domain in controlling stress-regulated exon palmitoylation and suggests that phosphorylation controls the domain by acting as an electrostatic switch.     

Protein kinase A-dependent phosphorylation of aquaporin-1

The molecular mechanisms for regulating water balance in many tissues are unknown. Like the kidney, the eye contains multiple water channel proteins (aquaporins) that transport water through membranes, including two (AQP1 and AQP4) in the ciliary body, the site of aqueous humor production. Previous results from our laboratory demonstrated that water channel activity of AQP1 was significantly increased by protein kinase A (PKA) activators such as cyclic-AMP (cAMP) and forskolin. The purpose of this study is to determine whether PKA-dependent protein phosphorylation is involved in the regulation of water channel activity of AQP1. Results presented here suggest that catalytic subunit of protein kinase A significantly increased the amount of phosphorylated AQP1 protein. In addition, these results indicated that cAMP-responsive redistribution of AQP1 may be regulated by phosphorylation of AQP1. Moreover, they provide new insights on the molecular mechanisms for regulating water balance in several tissues involving rapid water transport such as ciliary epithelium. In addition, they suggest important potential roles for AQP1 in several clinical disorders involving rapid water transport such as glaucoma.     

Atomic structure of a glycerol channel and implications for substrate permeation in aqua(glycero)porins

The structure of a glycerol channel from Escherichia coli at 2.2 A resolution serves as a basis for the understanding of selective transmembrane substrate permeation. In the course of permeation, glycerol molecules diffuse through a tripathic channel with their alkyl backbone wedged against a hydrophobic corner, such that OH groups become acceptors and donors of hydrogen bonds at the same time. The structure of the channel explains the preferential permeability for linear carbohydrates and absolute exclusion of ions and charged solutes. Its gene-duplicated sequence has a structural counterpart in a pseudo two-fold symmetry within the monomeric channel protein.     

ATP binding cassette modulators control abscisic acid-regulated slow anion channels in guard cells

In animal cells, ATP binding cassette (ABC) proteins are a large family of transporters that includes the sulfonylurea receptor and the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). These two ABC proteins possess an ion channel activity and bind specific sulfonylureas, such as glibenclamide, but homologs have not been identified in plant cells. We recently have shown that there is an ABC protein in guard cells that is involved in the control of stomatal movements and guard cell outward K+ current. Because the CFTR, a chloride channel, is sensitive to glibenclamide and able to interact with K+ channels, we investigated its presence in guard cells. Potent CFTR inhibitors, such as glibenclamide and diphenylamine-2-carboxylic acid, triggered stomatal opening in darkness. The guard cell protoplast slow anion current that was recorded using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique was inhibited rapidly by glibenclamide in a dose-dependent manner; the concentration producing half-maximum inhibition was at 3 &mgr;M. Potassium channel openers, which bind to and act through the sulfonylurea receptor in animal cells, completely suppressed the stomatal opening induced by glibenclamide and recovered the glibenclamide-inhibited slow anion current. Abscisic acid is known to regulate slow anion channels and in our study was able to relieve glibenclamide inhibition of slow anion current. Moreover, in epidermal strip bioassays, the stomatal closure triggered by Ca2+ or abscisic acid was reversed by glibenclamide. These results suggest that the slow anion channel is an ABC protein or is tightly controlled by such a protein that interacts with the abscisic acid signal transduction pathway in guard cells.