分选连接蛋白及其相关细胞信号通路

分选连接蛋白（sorting nexins,SNXs）是一类包含PX（phox homology）结构域的高度保守真核生物蛋白,其功能主要是参与负载蛋白的内吞、分选和降解过程,以维持细胞信号的稳态和平衡。SNXs参与调控与肿瘤等疾病相关的重要信号通路,如SNX3介导分泌型糖蛋白Wnt受体Wntless的胞内循环|SNX1、SNX5等众多SNXs介导表皮生长因子受体（epidermal growth factor receptor, EGFR）和转化因子β受体（TGF β）等的内吞、分选和降解等过程。其中,对EGFR降解的调控研究最多,尤其是在肿瘤方面的进展令人鼓舞,可也较为复杂,仍有许多未解之谜。随着SNXs的深入研究,将对疾病的发生机制产生新的认识。     

Src蛋白激酶活性的调节机制

Src蛋白激酶在人类多种肿瘤细胞中被激活并在肿瘤发生、发展过程中起重要作用.Src活性的调节主要包括共价修饰、异构调节,但基因突变和其他一些方式也可以调节其活性.Src共价修饰主要是磷酸化,Tyr530、Tyr419、Thr34、Thr46、Ser72、Tyr138和Tyr213等都是Src的磷酸化位点,其中Tyr530位点和Tyr419位点是Src最重要的磷酸化位点.异构调节包括SH3、SH2等区域结合的调节,分别涉及黏着斑激酶(focal adhesion kinase,FAK)、孕酮受体(progesterone receptor,PR)、雌激素受体(estrogen receptor,ER)、雄激素受体(androgen receptor,AR)、P130Cas、血小板源生长因子(the platelet-derived growth factor,PDGF)、血小板衍生生长因子受体(platelet-derived growth factor receptor,PDGFR)、表皮生长因子受体(epidermal growth factor receptor,EGFR,HER1/erb B1)、人类表皮生长因子受体2(human epidermal growth factor receptor-2,ERBB2/HER2/NEU)、胰岛素样生长因子1受体(insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor,IGF-1R)、纤维母细胞生长因子受体1(fibroblast growth factor receptor,FGFR1)、肝细胞生长因子受体(hepatocyte growth factor receptor c-Met)、人类1型T细胞白血病病毒编码的辅助蛋白p13、HIV-1毒力因子Nef和Sin.本文就Src蛋白激酶的调节机制作一简要综述.     

表皮生长因子受体酪氨酸激酶的克隆表达和酶抑制剂筛选模型的构建

表皮生长因子受体（epidermal growth factor receptor,EGFR）属受体酪氨酸激酶（tyrosine kinase,TK）家族,其胞内的酪氨酸激酶在细胞信号转导通路中具有十分重要的作用。许多肿瘤的发生、发展都与EGFR胞内酪氨酸激酶的异常表达密切相关。因此,EGFR胞内酪氨酸激酶的抑制剂有可能成为治疗肿瘤的有效药物。从人脐静脉内皮细胞（HUVEC）提取总RNA,采用RT-PCR获得EGFR酪氨酸激酶催化域的编码基因。将其克隆至载体pET-30a,在E．coliBL21（DE3）中进行了成功表达,采用Ni-NTA亲和层析对其进行了纯化。通过对酶的活性的测定,证明重组EGFR酪氨酸激酶蛋白具有利用ATP催化底物发生磷酸化反应的激酶活性。以该重组激酶为靶位构建了酶抑制剂筛选模型,拟对微生物代谢产物进行筛选。     

Pin1与肿瘤关系

蛋白质脯氨酸前的丝氨酸／苏氨酸磷酸化修饰在细胞的生命过程中起重要作用,参与多种细胞信号转导通路的调节。Pin1是一种高度保守的、特异的多肽脯氨酰基顺反异构酶（Peptldyl prolyl cistrans isomerase,PPIase）．能特异性地催化磷酸化的丝／苏-脯氨酸基序发生顺反异构,影响磷酸化蛋白的功能。     

Cloning and Expression of EGFR Tyrosine Kinase and Construction of the Screening Model for the Enzymatic Inhibitors

表皮生长因子受体(Epidermal growth factor receptor,EGFR)属受体酪氨酸激酶(Tyrosine kinase,TK)家族,其胞内的酪氨酸激酶在细胞信号转导通路中具有十分重要的作用。许多肿瘤的发生、发展都与EGFR胞内酪氨酸激酶的异常表达密切相关。因此,EGFR胞内酪氨酸激酶的抑制剂有可能成为治疗肿瘤的有效药物。本研究从人脐静脉内皮细胞(HUVEC) 提取总RNA,采用RT-PCR获得EGFR酪氨酸激酶催化域的编码基因。将其克隆至载体pET-30a,在E.coli BL21(DE3)中进行了成功表达,采用Ni-NTA亲和层析对其进行了纯化。通过对酶的活性的测定,证明重组EGFR酪氨酸激酶蛋白具有利用ATP催化底物发生磷酸化反应的激酶活性。以该重组激酶为靶位构建了酶抑制剂筛选模型,拟对微生物代谢产物进行筛选。     

胞内接头蛋白TRAFs家族

肿瘤坏死因子（tumor necrosis factor,TNF）受体相关因子（receptor-associated factor,TRAF）家族是一类胞内接头蛋白,能介导TNF受体和Toll-like／IL-1受体超家族成员与多种下游信号通路包括NF—κB（nuclear factor κB）和JNK（Jun N-terminal kinase）的信号传导。TRAF蛋白家族参与调控细胞增殖、分化乃至凋亡等生理过程。由于其在信号通路中的关键作用,TRAFS蛋白的失调与多种疾病的发生相关。本文结合最新的研究进展对TRAFs蛋白家族在信号传导通路中的地位进行介绍,并探讨了TRAFs及其相关蛋白在临床上可能的应用前景。     

细胞内吞的研究进展

细胞外基质的各种分子经细胞膜进入真核细胞是一个复杂的过程。细胞内吞是通过细胞质膜的变形运动将细胞外物质转运入细胞内的过程。不同的细胞内吞途径需要不同的蛋白质分子参与,引起不同的信号转导通路。目前认为细胞内吞和膜转运是细胞对其信号转导过程的一种精密的组织安排,细胞内吞在细胞信号转导,维持机体动态平衡方面起着重要作用。细胞内吞途径通常可以分为网格蛋白依赖的内吞和非网格蛋白依赖的内吞,其中后者包括陷窝蛋白依赖和非陷窝蛋白依赖的内吞,以及巨胞饮介导的内吞。本文将就这几种主要细胞内吞途径及与细胞信号转导通路关系的研究进展予以介绍。     

植物体内的鞘氨醇-1-磷酸(S1P)

鞘氨醇-1-磷酸（S1P）在植物体内也可作为一种信号分子参与ABA介导的保卫细胞信号转导过程,这一途径和异三聚体G蛋白相耦联。文章对此问题的研究进展作了介绍。     

在笼型蛋白和脂筏介导的两种内吞途径中nephrin的磷酸化修饰动力学不同

研究肾小球裂隙膜的主要成分nephrin分子在细胞内的转运途径及不同转运途径对nephrin磷酸化的影响.分别应用笼型蛋白介导的内吞(clathrin-mediated endocytosis,CME)和脂筏介导的内吞(raft-mediated endocytosis,RME)标记物转铁蛋白和霍乱毒素B亚基对nephrin的内吞过程进行分析,并进一步应用两种内吞途径阻断物EPS15Δ和Dyn2aK44A,研究阻断nephrin的内吞途径对其磷酸化水平的影响.结果显示,nephrin通过笼型蛋白和脂筏介导的两种内吞途径以不同速率进行内吞;与Src酪氨酸激酶家族成员Fyn共表达时,细胞内nephrin酪氨酸磷酸化被增强,而在Src家族激酶抑制剂PP2的作用下,nephrin酪氨酸磷酸化被减弱,表明nephrin的磷酸化过程是Fyn依赖的;内吞20min时,笼型蛋白介导的内吞途径的特异性阻断物EPS15Δ降低了nephrin磷酸化水平、笼型蛋白和脂筏介导的内吞途径的通用抑制剂Dyn2aK44A则增加了nephrin的磷酸化水平,综上结果表明:单独阻断脂筏介导的内吞可引起nephrin的磷酸化水平增加,脂筏介导的内吞对nephrin磷酸化过程起下调作用.     

焦点粘着激酶的研究进展

焦点粘着激酶是依赖于整合素的细胞信号转导通路的基础性信号传递分子.通过磷酸化酪氨酸位点和富脯氨酸序列,活化的焦点粘着激酶与细胞骨架蛋白、Src族激酶、磷酸肌醇-3激酶、Graf以及多种衔接子蛋白相互作用,调节细胞的粘附、迁移、增殖和分化.     

Participation of Tom1L1 in EGF‐stimulated endocytosis of EGF receptor

Although many proteins have been shown to participate in ligand‐stimulated endocytosis of EGF receptor (EGFR), the adaptor protein responsible for interaction of activated EGFR with endocytic machinery remains elusive. We show here that EGF stimulates transient tyrosine phosphorylation of Tom1L1 by the Src family kinases, resulting in transient interaction of Tom1L1 with the activated EGFR bridged by Grb2 and Shc. Cytosolic Tom1L1 is recruited onto the plasma membrane and subsequently redistributes into the early endosome. Mutant forms of Tom1L1 defective in Tyr‐phosphorylation or interaction with Grb2 are incapable of interaction with EGFR. These mutants behave as dominant‐negative mutants to inhibit endocytosis of EGFR. RNAi‐mediated knockdown of Tom1L1 inhibits endocytosis of EGFR. The C‐terminal tail of Tom1L1 contains a novel clathrin‐interacting motif responsible for interaction with the C‐terminal region of clathrin heavy chain, which is important for exogenous Tom1L1 to rescue endocytosis of EGFR in Tom1L1 knocked‐down cells. These results suggest that EGF triggers a transient Grb2/Shc‐mediated association of EGFR with Tyr‐phosphorylated Tom1L1 to engage the endocytic machinery for endocytosis of the ligand–receptor complex.     

Interactions of TOM1L1 with the multivesicular body sorting machinery

Tom1L1 (Tom1-like1) and related proteins Tom1 (Target of Myb1) and Tom1L2 (Tom1-like2) constitute a new protein family characterized by the presence of a VHS (Vps27p/Hrs/Stam) domain in the N-terminal portion followed by a GAT (GGA and Tom) domain. Recently it was demonstrated that the GAT domain of both Tom1 and Tom1L1 binds ubiquitin, suggesting that these proteins might participate in the sorting of ubiquitinated proteins into multivesicular bodies (MVBs). Here we report a novel interaction between Tom1L1 and members of the MVB sorting machinery. Specifically, we found that the VHS domain of Tom1L1 interacts with Hrs (Hepatocyte growth factor-regulated tyrosine kinase substrate), whereas a PTAP motif, located between the VHS and GAT domain of Tom1L1, is responsible for binding to TSG101 (tumor susceptibility gene 101). Myc epitope-tagged Tom1L1 showed a cytosolic distribution but was recruited to endosomes following Hrs expression. In addition, Tom1L1 possesses several tyrosine motifs at the C-terminal region that mediate interactions with members of the Src family kinases and other signaling proteins such as Grb2 and p85. We showed that a fraction of Fyn kinase localizes at endosomes and that this distribution becomes more evident after epidermal growth factor internalization. Moreover, expression of a constitutive active form of Fyn also promoted the recruitment of Tom1L1 to enlarged endosomes. Taken together, we propose that Tom1L1 could act as an intermediary between signaling and degradative pathways.     

Gefitinib-sensitive EGFR lacking residues 746-750 exhibits hypophosphorylation at tyrosine residue 1045, hypoubiquitination, and impaired endocytosis

Gefitinib-sensitive nonsmall cell lung cancers (NSCLC) are characterized by somatic mutations in the kinase domain of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). The mutant EGFR forms are reported to mediate characteristic signal transduction pathways that are different from those mediated by the wild-type EGFR and are involved in transformation in vivo. We have examined signal transduction pathways initiated from a frequently identified gefitinib-sensitizing mutant EGFR lacking residues 746-750 by employing a mouse fibroblast cell line that is free of endogenous EGFR and transiently transfected COS-7 cells. Upon EGF stimulation, the deletion-mutant EGFR mediated prolonged downstream signals. The analysis of the phosphotyrosine patterns of the receptor revealed that the deletion-mutant EGFR lacked phosphorylation at tyrosine residue 1045, which is the major binding site of Cbl. The EGF-induced endocytosis of the deletion-mutant EGFR was impaired. The ubiquitination and downregulation of the deletion-mutant EGFR were also reduced. On the other hand, another mutant, EGFR, possessing a L858R substitution, exhibited phosphorylation at 1045 and its downstream signalings were not prolonged. These data suggest that the signal transduction pathways initiated from these mutant forms are different, and that impaired endocytosis might be responsible for the prolonged signals mediated by the deletion-mutant EGFR.     

The RING finger of c-Cbl mediates desensitization of the epidermal growth factor receptor.

Ligand-induced activation of surface receptors, including the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), is followed by a desensitization process involving endocytosis and receptor degradation. c-Cbl, a tyrosine phosphorylation substrate shared by several signaling pathways, accelerates desensitization by recruiting EGFR and increasing receptor polyubiquitination. Here we demonstrate that the RING type zinc finger of c-Cbl is essential for ubiquitination and subsequent desensitization of EGFR. Mutagenesis of a single cysteine residue impaired the ability of c-Cbl to enhance both down-regulation and ubiquitination of EGFR in living cells, although the mutant retained binding to the activated receptor. Consequently, the mutant form of c-Cbl acquired a dominant inhibitory function and lost the ability to inhibit signaling downstream to EGFR. In vitro reconstitution of EGFR ubiquitination implies that the RING finger plays an essential direct role in ubiquitin ligation. Our results attribute to the RING finger of c-Cbl a causative role in endocytic sorting of EGFR and desensitization of signal transduction.     

Growth factor-induced binding of dynamin to signal transduction proteins involves sorting to distinct and separate proline-rich dynamin sequences.

Dynamin, a 100 kDa GTPase, is critical for endocytosis, synaptic transmission and neurogenesis. Endocytosis accompanies receptor processing and plays an essential role in attenuating receptor tyrosine kinase signal transduction. Dynamin has been demonstrated to be involved in the endocytic processing at the cell surface and may play a general role in coupling receptor activation to endocytosis. Src homology (SH) domain dependent protein-protein interactions are important to tyrosine kinase receptor signal transduction. The C-terminus of dynamin contains two clusters of SH3 domain binding proline motifs; these motifs may interact with known SH3 domain proteins during tyrosine kinase receptor activation. We demonstrate here that SH3 domain-containing signal transduction proteins, such as phospholipase C gamma-1 (PLC gamma-1), do indeed bind to dynamin in a growth factor inducible manner. The induction of PLC gamma-1 binding to dynamin occurs within minutes of the addition of platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) to cells. Binding of these signal transduction proteins to dynamin involves specific sorting to individual proline motif clusters and appears to be responsible for co-immunoprecipitation of tyrosine phosphorylated PDGF receptors with dynamin following PDGF stimulation of mammalian cells. The binding of dynamin to SH3 domain-containing proteins may therefore be important for formation of the protein complex required for the endocytic processing of activated tyrosine kinase receptors.     

Regulation of epidermal growth factor receptor down-regulation by UBPY-mediated deubiquitination at endosomes

Ligand-activated receptor tyrosine kinases undergo endocytosis and are transported via endosomes to lysosomes for degradation. This "receptor down-regulation" process is crucial to terminate the cell proliferation signals produced by activated receptors. During the process, ubiquitination of the receptors serves as a sorting signal for their trafficking from endosomes to lysosomes. Here, we describe the role of a deubiquitinating enzyme UBPY/USP8 in the down-regulation of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (EGFR). Overexpression of UBPY reduced the ubiquitination level of EGFR and delayed its degradation in EGF-stimulated cells. Immunopurified UBPY deubiquitinated EGFR in vitro. In EGF-stimulated cells, UBPY underwent ubiquitination and bound to EGFR. Overexpression of Hrs or a dominant-negative mutant of SKD1, proteins that play roles in the endosomal sorting of ubiquitinated receptors, caused the accumulation of endogenous UBPY on exaggerated endosomes. A catalytically inactive UBPY mutant clearly localized on endosomes, where it overlapped with EGFR when cells were stimulated with EGF. Finally, depletion of endogenous UBPY by RNA interference resulted in elevated ubiquitination and accelerated degradation of EGF-activated EGFR. We conclude that UBPY negatively regulates the rate of EGFR down-regulation by deubiquitinating EGFR on endosomes.     

Adenovirus RIDbeta subunit contains a tyrosine residue that is critical for RID-mediated receptor internalization and inhibition of Fas- and TRAIL-induced apoptosis

The adenovirus-encoded receptor internalization and degradation (RID) protein (previously named E3-10.4K/14.5K), which is composed of RIDalpha and RIDbeta subunits, down-regulates a number of cell surface receptors in the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily, namely Fas, TRAIL receptor 1, and TRAIL receptor 2. Down-regulation of these "death" receptors protects adenovirus-infected cells from apoptosis induced by the death receptor ligands Fas ligand and TRAIL. RID also down-regulates certain tyrosine kinase cell surface receptors, especially the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). RID-mediated Fas and EGFR down-regulation occurs via endocytosis of the receptors into endosomes followed by transport to and degradation within lysosomes. However, the molecular interactions underlying this function of RID are unknown. To investigate the molecular determinants of RIDbeta that are involved in receptor down-regulation, mutations within the cytoplasmic tail of RIDbeta were constructed and the mutant proteins were analyzed for their capacity to internalize and degrade Fas and EGFR and to protect cells from death receptor ligand-induced apoptosis. The results demonstrated the critical nature of a tyrosine residue near the RIDbeta C terminus; mutation of this residue to alanine abolished RID function. Mutating the tyrosine to phenylalanine did not abolish the function of RID, arguing that phosphorylation of the tyrosine is not required for function. These data suggest that this tyrosine residue forms part of a tyrosine-based sorting signal (Yxxphi). Additional mutations that target another potential sorting motif and several possible protein-protein interaction motifs had no discernible effect on RID function. It was also demonstrated that mutation of serine 116 to alanine eliminated phosphorylation of RIDbeta but did not affect any of the functions of RID that were examined. These results suggest a model in which the tyrosine-based sorting signal in RID plays a role in RID's ability to down-regulate receptors.     

Role of N-glycans in growth factor signaling

Secreted proteins and membrane proteins are frequently post-translationally modified by oligosaccharides. Therefore, many glycoproteins are involved in signal transduction. One example is growth factor receptors, which are membrane proteins that often contain oligosaccharides. The oligosaccharides in those growth factor receptors play crucial roles in receptor functions. An analysis of glycosyltransferase-transfectants revealed that the branching structures of oligosaccharide also serve as important determinants. For example, N-glycans of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are involved in receptor sorting, ligand binding and dimerization. The addition of a bisecting GlcNAc to N-glycans increases the endocytosis of EGFR. N-glycans of Trk, a high affinity nerve growth factor receptor, also affect its function. Thus, oligosaccharides play an important role in growth factor signaling.     

Rational bases for the development of EGFR inhibitors for cancer treatment

Growth factor receptors and their ligands not only regulate normal cell processes but have been also identified as key regulators of human cancer formation. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR/ErbB1/HER1) belongs to the ErbB/HER-family of tyrosine kinase receptors (RTKs). These trans-membrane proteins are activated following binding with peptide growth factors of the EGF-family of proteins. Several evidences suggest that cooperation of multiple ErbB receptors and ligands is required for the induction of cell transformation. In this respect, EGFR, upon activation, sustains a complex and redundant network of signal transduction pathways with the contribution of other trans-membrane receptors. EGFR has been found to be expressed and altered in a variety of malignancies and clearly it plays a significant role in tumor development and progression, including cell proliferation, regulation of apoptotic cell death, angiogenesis and metastatic spread. Moreover, amplification of the EGFR gene and mutations in the EGFR tyrosine kinase domain have been recently reported in human carcinomas. As a result, investigators have developed approaches to inhibit the effects of EGFR activation, with the aim of blocking tumor growth and invasion. A number of agents targeting EGFR, including specific antibodies directed against its ligand-binding domain and small molecules inhibiting its tyrosine kinase activity are either in clinical trials or are already approved for clinical treatment. This article reviews the EGFR role in carcinogenesis and tumor progression as rational bases for the development of specific therapeutic inhibitors.