EB病毒潜伏膜蛋白1在鼻咽癌细胞中通过STAT3促进VEGF表达

探讨了EB病毒编码的潜伏膜蛋白1(LMP1)是否通过STAT3调控诱导血管内皮细胞生长因子(VEGF)的表达.利用蛋白质印迹的方法对HNE2、HNE2-LMP1以及瞬时转染STAT3显性负性突变体STAT3β的HNE2-LMP1细胞中VEGF含量进行检测,发现LMP1可以上调VEGF的表达,而STAT3β可以抑制VEGF的上调;利用LMP1可控表达细胞系tet-on-LMP1-HNE2进行LMP1时间和剂量诱导表达研究,发现VEGF可以随LMP1的动态表达而表达;将VEGF野生型报告基因和VEGF潜在的STAT3转录因子突变体报告基因与LMP1表达载体分别共转染研究发现,LMP1可以激活VEGF的转录,这种转录通过VEGF启动子区STAT3转录因子的结合位点发挥作用;电泳迁移率变动分析(EMSA)确证了STAT3的这种DNA位点的特异性活性.结果表明：EB病毒编码的LMP1 在鼻咽癌细胞中可以增加VEGF的转录和表达,并能通过VEGF启动子区STAT3转录因子结合位点发挥作用.     

EB病毒潜伏膜蛋白1调控鼻咽癌中转录因子c-Jun/Ets1间相互作用的实验研究

目的:探讨LMP1对鼻咽癌中转录因子c-Jun和Etsl表达的影响,以及对Etsl和AP-1间相互作用的调控,为LMP1的致瘤机制提供新的依据。方法:选用可调控表达LMP1的鼻咽癌细胞系pTet-on-LMP1 HNE2(L7细胞),通过针对c-Jun、Ets1的硫代反义寡核苷酸进行阻断,观察LMP1对c-Jun、Ets1表达的影响及其相互作用,蛋白质印迹法检测Ets-1、c-Jun蛋白质表达。免疫共沉淀(IP)结合Western blot研究c-Jun和Ets1相互结合的情况。结果:在不同浓度Dox诱导24 h后,Dox为0.6μg/mL时的c-Jun和Ets1表达均最强。随着Dox诱导时间的延长,L7细胞中c-Jun和Ets1的表达上调,至4 h达到最高。阻断c-Jun表达后,Ets1表达显著降低;阻断Ets1表达后,c-Jun表达显著降低。在Dox诱导的L7细胞总蛋白中,在IP沉淀的Ets1中存在c-Jun表达,并且在Dox 0.6μ/mL时最强;在IP沉淀的c-Jun中存在Ets1表达,同样在Dox 0.6μg/mL时最强。结论:EBV-LMP1可以调控转录因子c-Jun和Ets1表达,且在调控过程中可能存在c-Jun和Ets1间的相互作用。     

鼻咽癌中EB病毒LMP1激活TRAFs的初步研究

在EB病毒潜伏膜蛋白LMP1介导的信号传导通路中,TRAFs作为LMP1活化的第一位信号分子,可能扮演着重要的分子开关角色。令人关注的是,在上皮性肿瘤NPC的发生中,EB病毒LMP1能否激活重要的TRAFs信号分子?究竟激活何种TRAFs信号分子,激活的机制何在?将LMP1cDNA导入LMP1表达阴性的HNE2中,建立稳定表达LMP1的鼻咽癌细胞系HNE2-LMP1。以此为材料,应用差异RT-PCR和Western blotting法证实,无论在RNA水平,还是蛋白水平上,TRAF1在HNE2-LMP1中表达较HNE2强,而TRAF2及TRAF3在HNE2-LMP1与HNE2细胞中表达无明显差异;进一步用免疫共沉淀-Western blotting证实LMP1可使TRAF1、TRAF2、TRAF3磷酸化而被活化。这些结果提示在鼻咽癌中,LMP1可能诱导TRAF1表达,而对TRAF2及TRAF3并不影响,但LMP1可磷酸化TRAF1、TRAF2、TRAF3而使其功能性活化。q     

应用cDNA微阵列技术研究EB病毒LMP1介导的鼻咽癌中转移相关基因的表达

探讨EB病毒基因组编码的癌蛋白LMP1对鼻咽癌细胞中转移相关基因表达的影响.采用蛋白质印迹法检测在强力霉素(Dox)诱导下,鼻咽癌细胞系pTet-on-LMP1 HNE2(L7细胞)中LMP1表达的时效和量效关系.应用cDNA微阵列技术建立诱导性LMP1介导鼻咽癌细胞中转移相关基因差异表达谱;运用RT-PCR验证cDNA微阵列筛选差异基因表达的可靠性.与LMP1不表达的L7细胞比较,LMP1高表达的L7细胞中7个基因的表达显著上调,12个基因的表达显著下调.随机选择其中4个基因进行RT-PCR,结果显示,这些基因表达阳性,且与微阵列中的变化趋势一致.LMP1可能通过激活和/或抑制一些转移相关基因的表达而参与鼻咽癌转移过程.     

EB病毒潜伏膜蛋白1通过TRAF/TRADD激活JNK信号途径

为了探讨在鼻咽癌细胞中EB病毒编码的潜伏膜蛋白1(LMP1)激活c-Jun氨基端激酶(JNK)信号途径的分子机制,利用可调控表达LMP1的鼻咽癌细胞系L7,蛋白质印迹检测,发现LMP1能够促进JNK的活化;利用稳定表达LMP1的鼻咽癌细胞系HNE₂-LMP1及其三种突变体HNE₂-LMP1ΔCTAR1、HNE₂-LMP1ΔCTAR2、HNE₂-LMP1ΔCTAR1,2及LMP1阴性的HNE₂为材料,采用蛋白质印迹和报告基因法分析JNK和活化蛋白1(AP1)活化情况,结果显示HNE₂-LMP1和HNE₂-LMP1ΔCTAR1中磷酸化JNK蛋白表达量和AP1活性都无显著差异,而与HNE₂-LMP1ΔCTAR2、HNE₂-LMP1ΔCTAR1,2、阴性对照HNE2及空白载体转染细胞的JNK蛋白表达和AP1活性具有显著差异;进一步比较转染TRAF、TRADD显性负性突变体鼻咽癌细胞系HNE₂-LMP1中磷酸化的JNK量和AP1活性,结果显示：TRAF-DN和TRADD-DN的导入使活化的JNK蛋白和AP-1活性显著降低,二者间无显著差异,提示TRAF和TRADD可能参与了LMP1对JNK和AP-1的活化.以上结果提示在鼻咽癌细胞系中LMP1功能结构域CTAR2通过结合TRAF/TRADD激活JNK从而活化重要的转录因子AP1.     

鼻咽癌中EB病毒LMP1激活TRAFs的初步研究

在EB病毒潜伏膜蛋白LMP1介导的信号传导通路中,TRAFs作为LMP1活化的第一位信号分子,可能扮演着重要的分子开关角色,令人关注的是,在上皮性肿瘤NPC的发生中,EB病毒LMP1能否激活重要的TRAFs信号分子？究竟激活何种TRAFs信号分子,激活的机制何在？将LMP1 cDNA导入LMP1表达阴性的HNE2中,建立稳定表达LMP1的劓咽癌细胞系：HNE2－LMP1。以此为材料,应用差异RT－PCR和Western blotting法证实,无论在RNA水平,还是蛋白水平上,TRAF1在HNE2－LMP1中表达较HNE2强,而TRAF2及TRAF3在HNE2－LMP1与HNE2细胞中表达无明显差异;进一步用免疫共沉淀－Western blotting证实LMP1可使TRAF1、TRAF2、TRAF3磷酸化耐被活化,这些结果提示在鼻咽癌中,LMP1可能诱导TRAF1表达,而对TRAF2及TRAF3并不影响,但LMP1可磷酸化TRAF1、TRAF2、TRAF3面使其功能性活化。     

EB病毒潜伏膜蛋白1通过结合TRAFs调控NF-κB

为了探讨EB病毒潜伏膜蛋白1(LMP1)的致瘤机制,对鼻咽癌中LMP1激活重要的核转录因子NF-κB机制进行了研究.首先,采用免疫共沉淀-蛋白质印迹在稳定表达LMP1的鼻咽癌细胞系HNE2-LMP1中证实LMP1与TRAF1,2,3结合形成免疫共沉淀复合物,进一步以野生型LMP1及其三种突变体的鼻咽癌细胞系LMP1（野生型,wt）、HNE2-LMP1 del187～351(CTAR1缺失型)、HNE2-LMP1(1～231)(CTAR2缺失型)、HNE2-LMP1(1～187)(羧基端胞浆区缺失型)、HNE2-pSG5(空白载体型)为材料,结合NF-κB报道基因质粒（pGL2-NF-κB-luc）的荧光素酶活性表达分析NF-κB的活性,证实:较之母细胞, 野生型LMP1活化NF-κB达13.8倍, LMP1(1～187)几乎不活化NF-κB,LMP1(1～231)活化NF-κB达4.9倍, LMP1(del187～351)活化NF-κB达9.1倍;TRAF1过表达升高LMP1(wt)及LMP1(1～231)介导的NF-κB活性,而对LMP1(del 187～351)活化NF-κB无影响;TRAF3过表达或TRAF3负显性突变体抑制LMP1(wt)及LMP1(1～231)介导的NF-κB活性,而不影响LMP1(del 187～351)活化NF-κB; TRAF2过表达升高LMP1(wt)、LMP1 (1～231)及LMP1(del 187～351)介导的NF-κB活性.这些结果表明：鼻咽癌中LMP1通过TRAF1、TRAF2或TRAF3调控NF-κB,TRAF1和TRAF3主要通过CTAR1发挥作用,TRAF2的作用主要是通过CTAR1和CTAR2介导的.     

EB病毒潜伏膜蛋白1通过结合TRAFs调控NF-κB

为了探讨EB病毒潜伏膜蛋白1（LMP1）的致瘤机制,对鼻咽癌中LMP1激活重要的核转录因子NF－κB机制进行了研究,首先,采用免疫共沉淀－蛋白质印迹在稳定表达LMP1的鼻咽癌细胞系HNE2－LMP1中证实LMP1与TRAF1,2,3结合形成免疫共沉淀复合物,进一步以野生型LMP1及其三种突变体的鼻咽癌细胞系LMP1（野生型, wt),HNE2－LMP1 del187-351(CTAR1缺失型）,HNE2－LMP1（1－231）,（CTAR2缺失型）,HNE2－LMP1（1－187）（羰基端胞浆区缺失型）,HNE2－pSG5(空白载体型）为材料,结合NF－κB报道基因质粒（pG12-NF-B-luc)的荧光素酶活性表达分析NF－κB的活性,证实：较之母细胞,野生型LMP1活化NF－B达13．8倍,LMP1（1－187）几乎不活化NF－kb,LMP1(1-231)活化NF－kB 达4．9倍,LMP1（del187-351)活化NFκB达9．1倍,TRAF1过表达升高LMP1（ wt)及LMP1（1－231）介导的NF－κB活性,而对LMP1（del187-351)活化NFκB无影响,TRAF3过表达或TRAF3负显性突变体抑,制LMP1（wt)及LMP1（1－231）介导的NF－κB活性而不影响LMP1（del187－351）活化NF－κB,TRAF2过表达升高LMP1（wt),LMP1(1-231)及LMP1（del 187-351)介导的NF－kB活性,这些结果表明：鼻咽癌中LMP1通过TRAF1,TRAF2或TRAF3调控NF－kB,TRAF1和TRAF3主要通过CTAR1发挥作用,TRAF2的作用主要是通过CTAR1和CTAR2介导的。     

鼻咽癌细胞中EB病毒编码的潜伏膜蛋白1活化cyclinD1的表达

为了探讨EB病毒编码的潜伏膜蛋白1(EBV-LMP1)促进细胞增殖,参与EBV相关疾病致瘤的分子机制,研究了LMP1在鼻咽癌细胞中调节cyclinD1表达,进而影响细胞周期行进及细胞恶性表型改变,并初步确定了LMP1发挥该功能的结构域.利用已建株的Tet-on-LMP1-HNE2鼻咽癌细胞系,蛋白质印迹实验分析LMP1诱导cyclinD1蛋白质表达的表达动力学,包括时间效应及剂量效应;利用三种LMP1功能区缺失的突变体及野生型LMP1,以载体型细胞为对照,确定LMP1活化cyclinD1表达的结构域.同时结合基因诱导表达及反义寡聚核酸技术阻断基因表达的实验方法,进一步确定LMP1上调的cyclinD1功能,即对细胞周期行进及细胞恶性表型的影响.结果表明LMP1确实可以诱导cyclinD1的表达（2～4倍）,且诱导具有时间依赖性及剂量依赖性;利用三种LMP1功能区缺失的突变体及野生型LMP1,以载体型细胞为对照,结合报道基因分析法,确定与空白载体细胞系比较,野生型LMP1从转录水平可反式激活cyclinD1报道基因活性约11.2倍,其中CTAR1及CTAR2均可活化cyclinD1表达,但以CTAR2为主,与野生型LMP1诱导cyclinD1反式激活活性比较,CTAR1缺失导致cyclinD1报道基因活性下降23.6%,CTAR2缺失导致cyclinD1活性下降约80.7%,C端均缺失时cyclinD1活性只有野生型的17.7%.流式细胞仪分析显示,强力霉素诱导后cyclinD1高表达的细胞停留于G0/G1期明显减少,较未经诱导的细胞,从66.42%减至56.55%,而进入S期及G2/M期的细胞明显增多.在稳定表达LMP1的细胞中,与导入正义LMP1比较,导入反义LMP1 PS-ODNs及反义cylinD1,可以使细胞软琼脂集落形成率明显降低(从30.48%分别降至15.21%,21.76%).EBV-LMP1可以活化cyclinD1的表达,且发挥这种功能的结构域以CTAR2为主,活化的cyclinD1参与细胞周期行进,抑制LMP1及cyclinD1的表达均可导致细胞软琼脂集落形成率降低.     

EB病毒潜伏膜蛋白1在鼻咽癌中结合磷酸化的TRAFs

 对鼻咽癌中潜伏膜蛋白 1 (LMP1 )是否结合磷酸化的肿瘤坏死因子受体相关因子 (tumornecrosis factor receptor- associated factors,TRAFs)信号分子进行探讨 .首先应用 CSA/SP双染色法在 30例鼻咽癌活检组织中发现 1 6例 (52 % ) LMP1与 TRAF1、TRAF2和 TRAF3共表达于癌细胞胞膜及胞浆同一部位 .这提示 EB病毒 LMP1在鼻咽癌中可能结合 TRAF1、TRAF2或TRAF3发挥作用 .进一步以导入载体 p SG5的鼻咽癌细胞系 HNE2 - p SG5为对照 ,建立了稳定表达 LMP1的鼻咽癌细胞系 HNE2 - LMP1 ,利用这两种细胞系 ,以免疫共沉淀 - Western印迹方法 ,证实了 LMP1可与磷酸化的 TRAF1、TRAF2或 TRAF3直接或间接作用形成免疫共沉淀复合物 .     

Symmetric primary and tertiary structure mutations within a symmetric superfold: a solution, not a constraint, to achieve a foldable polypeptide

In previous studies designed to increase the primary structure symmetry within the hydrophobic core of human acidic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-1) a combination of five mutations were accommodated, resulting in structure, stability and folding kinetic properties similar to wild-type (despite the symmetric constraint upon the set of core residues). A sixth mutation in the core, involving a highly conserved Met residue at position 67, appeared intolerant to substitution. Structural analysis suggested that the local packing environment of position 67 involved two regions of apparent insertions that distorted the tertiary structure symmetry inherent in the beta-trefoil architecture. It was postulated that a symmetric constraint upon the primary structure within the core could only be achieved after these insertions had been deleted (concomitantly increasing the tertiary structure symmetry). The deletion of these insertions is now shown to permit mutation of position 67, thereby increasing the primary structure symmetry relationship within the core. Furthermore, despite the imposed symmetric constraint upon both the primary and tertiary structure, the resulting mutant form of FGF-1 is substantially more stable. The apparent inserted regions are shown to be associated with heparin-binding functionality; however, despite a marked reduction in heparin-binding affinity the mutant form of FGF-1 is surprisingly approximately 70 times more potent in 3T3 fibroblast mitogenic assays. The results support the hypothesis that primary structure symmetry within a symmetric protein superfold represents a possible solution, rather than a constraint, to achieving a foldable polypeptide.     

Integrating statistical pair potentials into protein complex prediction

The biophysical study of protein-protein interactions and docking has important implications in our understanding of most complex cellular signaling processes. Most computational approaches to protein docking involve a tradeoff between the level of detail incorporated into the model and computational power required to properly handle that level of detail. In this work, we seek to optimize that balance by showing that we can reduce the complexity of model representation and thus make the computation tractable with minimal loss of predictive performance. We also introduce a pair-wise statistical potential suitable for docking that builds on previous work and show that this potential can be incorporated into our fast fourier transform-based docking algorithm ZDOCK. We use the Protein Docking Benchmark to illustrate the improved performance of this potential compared with less detailed other scoring functions. Furthermore, we show that the new potential performs well on antibody-antigen complexes, with most predictions clustering around the Complementarity Determining Regions of antibodies without any manual intervention.     

The heat capacity of proteins

The heat capacity plays a major role in the determination of the energetics of protein folding and molecular recognition. As such, a better understanding of this thermodynamic parameter and its structural origin will provide new insights for the development of better molecular design strategies. In this paper we have analyzed the absolute heat capacity of proteins in different conformations. The results of these studies indicate that three major terms account for the absolute heat capacity of a protein: (1) one term that depends only on the primary or covalent structure of a protein and contains contributions from vibrational frequencies arising from the stretching and bending modes of each valence bond and internal rotations; (2) a term that contains the contributions of noncovalent interactions arising from secondary and tertiary structure; and (3) a term that contains the contributions of hydration. For a typical globular protein in solution the bulk of the heat capacity at 25°C is given by the covalent structure term (close to 85% of the total). The hydration term contributes about 15 and 40% to the total heat capacity of the native and unfolded states, respectively. The contribution of non-covalent structure to the total heat capacity of the native state is positive but very small and does not amount to more than 3% at 25°C. The change in heat capacity upon unfolding is primarily given by the increase in the hydration term (about 95%) and to a much lesser extent by the loss of noncovalent interactions (up to ～5%). It is demonstrated that a single universal mathematical function can be used to represent the partial molar heat capacity of the native and unfolded states of proteins in solution. This function can be experimentally written in terms of the molecular weight, the polar and apolar solvent accessible surface areas, and the total area buried from the solvent. This unique function accurately predicts the different magnitude and temperature dependences of the heat capacity of both the native and unfolded states, and therefore of the heat capacity changes associated with folding/unfolding transitions. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Protein microarrays as a discovery tool for studying protein–protein interactions

Exploring the function of the genome and the encoded proteins has emerged as a new and exciting challenge in the postgenomic era. Novel technologies come into view that promise to be valuable for the investigation not only of single proteins, but of entire protein networks. Protein microarrays are the innovative assay platform for highly parallel in vitro studies of protein–protein interactions. Due to their flexibility and multiplexing capacity, protein microarrays benefit basic research, diagnosis and biomedicine. This review provides an overview on the basic principles of protein microarrays and their potential to multiplex protein–protein interaction studies.     

Lethal mutations in the major homology region and their suppressors act by modulating the dimerization of the rous sarcoma virus capsid protein C‐terminal domain

An infective retrovirus requires a mature capsid shell around the viral replication complex. This shell is formed by about 1500 capsid protein monomers, organized into hexamer and pentamer rings that are linked to each other by the dimerization of the C‐terminal domain (CTD). The major homology region (MHR), the most highly conserved protein sequence across retroviral genomes, is part of the CTD. Several mutations in the MHR appear to block infectivity by preventing capsid formation. Suppressor mutations have been identified that are distant in sequence and structure from the MHR and restore capsid formation. The effects of two lethal and two suppressor mutations on the stability and function of the CTD were examined. No correlation with infectivity was found for the stability of the lethal mutations (D155Y‐CTD, F167Y‐CTD) and suppressor mutations (R185W‐CTD, I190V‐CTD). The stabilities of three double mutant proteins (D155Y/R185W‐CTD, F167Y/R185W‐CTD, and F167Y/I190V‐CTD) were additive. However, the dimerization affinity of the mutant proteins correlated strongly with biological function. The CTD proteins with lethal mutations did not dimerize, while those with suppressor mutations had greater dimerization affinity than WT‐CTD. The suppressor mutations were able to partially correct the dimerization defect caused by the lethal MHR mutations in double mutant proteins. Despite their dramatic effects on dimerization, none of these residues participate directly in the proposed dimerization interface in a mature capsid. These findings suggest that the conserved sequence of the MHR has critical roles in the conformation(s) of the CTD that are required for dimerization and correct capsid maturation. Proteins 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A large scale test of computational protein design: folding and stability of nine completely redesigned globular proteins

A previously developed computer program for protein design, RosettaDesign, was used to predict low free energy sequences for nine naturally occurring protein backbones. RosettaDesign had no knowledge of the naturally occurring sequences and on average 65% of the residues in the designed sequences differ from wild-type. Synthetic genes for ten completely redesigned proteins were generated, and the proteins were expressed, purified, and then characterized using circular dichroism, chemical and temperature denaturation and NMR experiments. Although high-resolution structures have not yet been determined, eight of these proteins appear to be folded and their circular dichroism spectra are similar to those of their wild-type counterparts. Six of the proteins have stabilities equal to or up to 7kcal/mol greater than their wild-type counterparts, and four of the proteins have NMR spectra consistent with a well-packed, rigid structure. These encouraging results indicate that the computational protein design methods can, with significant reliability, identify amino acid sequences compatible with a target protein backbone.     

蛋白质相互作用研究的新技术与新方法

目前,蛋白质相互作用已成为蛋白质组学研究的热点. 新方法的建立及对已有技术的改进标志着蛋白质相互作用研究的不断发展和完善．在技术改进方面,本文介绍了弥补酵母双杂交的蛋白定位受限等缺陷的细菌双杂交系统;根据目标蛋白特性设计和修饰TAP标签来满足复合体研究要求的串联亲和纯化技术,以及在双分子荧光互补基础上发展的动态检测多个蛋白质间瞬时、弱相互作用的多分子荧光互补技术．还综述了近两年建立的新方法：与免疫共沉淀相比,寡沉淀技术直接研究具有活性的蛋白质复合体;减量式定量免疫沉淀方法排除了蛋白质复合体中非特异性相互作用的干扰;原位操作的多表位－配基绘图法避免了样品间差异的影响,以及利用多点吸附和交联加固研究弱蛋白质相互作用的固相蛋白质组学方法.     

Human dihydrofolate reductase and thymidylate synthase form a complex in vitro and co-localize in normal and cancer cells

Enzymes involved in thymidylate biosynthesis, thymidylate synthase (TS), and dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) are well-known targets in cancer chemotherapy. In this study, we demonstrated for the first time, that human TS and DHFR form a strong complex in vitro and co-localize in human normal and colon cancer cell cytoplasm and nucleus. Treatment of cancer cells with methotrexate or 5-fluorouracil did not affect the distribution of either enzyme within the cells. However, 5-FU, but not MTX, lowered the presence of DHFR-TS complex in the nucleus by 2.5-fold. The results may suggest the sequestering of TS by FdUMP in the cytoplasm and thereby affecting the translocation of DHFR-TS complex to the nucleus. Providing a strong likelihood of DHFR-TS complex formation in vivo, the latter complex is a potential new drug target in cancer therapy. In this paper, known 3D structures of human TS and human DHFR, and some protozoan bifunctional DHFR-TS structures as templates, are used to build an in silico model of human DHFR–TS complex structure, consisting of one TS dimer and two DHFR monomers. This complex structure may serve as an initial 3D drug target model for prospective inhibitors targeting interfaces between the DHFR and TS enzymes.     

Improvement of protein stability in protein microarrays

Protein stability in microarrays was improved using protein stabilizers. PEG 200 at 30% (w/v) was the most efficient stabilizer giving over 4-fold improvement in protein stability compared to without the stabilizer. PEG 200 above 10% (w/v) in the array solution prevented the evaporation of water in the sample and thereby improved protein stability in the microarray. When the streptavidin-biotin binding reaction was performed under optimized conditions, biotin-BSA-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) was detected from 1 ng ml^–1 to 5 g ml^–1 by fluorescence analysis.