人类14—3—3ζ和GCH1蛋白相互作用的初步研究

目的寻找人类14-3-3ζ白的相互作用蛋白,为进一步揭示14-3-3ζ的作用机理提供线索。方法以14-3—3ζ为“诱饵”,利用酵母双杂交系统筛选人脑cDNA文库得到“猎物”蛋白,通过GSTpulldown技术和哺乳动物细胞内免疫共沉淀技术验证14-3-3ζ和“猎物”蛋白的特异性结合。结果首次利用酵母双杂交cDNA文库筛选技术发现了14-3-3ζ能够与GTP环化水解酶I（GTP cyclohydrolase1,GCHl）相互作用,并通过了体内和体外的蛋白质结合实验证实了这两个蛋白质之间的特异性相互作用。结论发现并验证了14-3-3ζ与GCH1之间的蛋白质相互作用,为进一步深入研究这两种蛋白质的功能及所引起的相关疾病的发病机理提供了新的线索。     

ADAM22蛋白与14-3-3β蛋白之间的相互作用

ADAM家族是一类具有去整合域和金属蛋白酶域的跨膜蛋白, 广泛参与各种重要的生理过程, 如精卵结合、神经系统发育、成肌细胞融合以及炎症反应等. 该家族蛋白具备潜在的粘连和蛋白酶活性. adam22在脑部高度表达, 基因剔除小鼠则出现严重的共济失调, 并在断奶前死亡, 但其作用机制不详. 用酵母双杂合系统筛选到与ADAM22相互作用的蛋白质14-3-3b, 离体结合实验、免疫共沉淀进一步证实了ADAM22与14-3-3β蛋白相互作用的专一性. ADAM22胞内部分系列缺失实验表明, C端第864~892氨基酸残基是14-3-3β的结合基序. 14-3-3β在脑部大量表达, 具有介导细胞的扩散、迁移及调节细胞周期等重要功能. 因此, 本实验证实这两种蛋白质之间存在相互作用,为阐明ADAM22在神经系统发育中的功能奠定了基础.     

人NIRF蛋白与HBV核心蛋白相互作用的初步研究

人NIRF蛋白在细胞内是否能与HBV核心蛋白发生相互结合,目前尚不清楚.构建pcDNA3-HBC质粒,采用基因共转染和共表达技术,在真核细胞内进行NIRF与HBc的免疫荧光共定位实验,并通过免疫共沉淀实验进一步验证两种蛋白是否发生相互结合.结果表明在细胞内,NIRF能与HBc发生相互结合.     

α-Synuclein与14-3-3蛋白在体外分子间相互作用的鉴定

帕金森病(Parkinson’s disease, PD)涉及两种蛋白——α-synuclein蛋白(SNCP)与14-3-3蛋白.通过重组,将这两种蛋白在大肠杆菌DH5α中表达, 通过谷胱甘肽- Sepharose 4B亲和层析将其纯化,得到GST-14-3-3蛋白;利用凝血酶对纯化的融合蛋白GST-SNCP切割,再经谷胱甘肽 Sepharose 4B亲和层析获得SNCP.通过免疫共沉淀、GST pull down和ELISA等技术,证明SNCP能够与14-3-3蛋白结合;为了进一步证明SNCP也与在脑组织中的天然14-3-3蛋白发生作用,利用His pull down方法进行实验.结果证明,SNCP能够和脑组织中的14-3-3蛋白发生相互作用.这些结果从分子水平提供了SNCP与14-3-3蛋白相互作用的实验证据,为进一步了解SNCP的结构和功能,及其在中枢神经系统退行性疾病的作用提供了必要的实验基础.     

β-TC3细胞膜与胰岛素受体结合G蛋白的鉴定

目的:用免疫共沉淀的方法检测β-TC3(小鼠胰岛β细胞瘤细胞)细胞膜中与胰岛素受体结合的G蛋白.方法:提取β-TC3细胞膜蛋白,通过免疫共沉淀及蛋白质印迹的方法,检测G蛋白α及β亚基的表达.结果:抗胰岛素受体抗体沉淀胰岛素受体结合的G蛋白复合物后,分别用抗胰岛素受体抗体、抗G蛋白α亚基抗体及抗G蛋白β亚基抗体,检测到胰岛素受体、G蛋白α亚基及G蛋白β亚基的表达.结论:在β-TC3细胞膜中,胰岛素受体与G蛋白共存,G蛋白α亚基及β亚基与胰岛素受体可能存在直接的相互作用.     

结肠腺瘤性息肉病蛋白通过与SMAP/KAP3相互作用与微管结合

结肠腺瘤性息肉病基因(adenomatous polyposis coli,APC)的突变导致家族性结肠息肉腺瘤病和散发性结肠癌,APC基因编码一个具有多个结构域、多种磷酸化状态的大分子蛋白质.APC蛋白可通过C段直接或间接与微管结合,同时还可以通过中段与微管结合,但其结合的机制目前还不清楚.为进一步研究APC与其他蛋白质的相互作用,利用酵母双杂交技术运用APC中段（1 500 bp～4 800 bp）构建诱饵质粒,筛选人胎脑cDNA文库,得到一个与APC相互作用的蛋白SMAP/KAP3,SMAP/KAP3是驱动蛋白KIF3A/3B的相关蛋白.通过免疫共沉淀和双色免疫荧光共定位的方法,证实了APC与SMAP/KAP3在体内的相互作用,提示APC可能通过SMAP/KAP3-KIF3A/B参与沿微管的运动.     

朊蛋白与信号蛋白14-3-3β的相互作用研究

为进一步确定PrP蛋白与14-3-3蛋白是否发生分子间的相互作用并确定PrP蛋白与14-3-3蛋白相互作用的区域,利用免疫共沉淀、pull down和能量共振转移(FRET)实验检测PrP蛋白与人14-3-3蛋白是否发生分子间的相互作用及相互作用的部位。结果证明,PrP蛋白与人14-3-3蛋白在体外、组织水平及细胞水平均可以发生相互作用,且证实作用的部位在PrP蛋白的106-126位氨基酸。该结果为进一步研究14-3-3蛋白在Prion疾病中的影响及Prion疾病的发病机制奠定了一定基础。     

原癌基因LMO3相互作用蛋白的筛选及鉴定

目的 通过筛选LMO3的相互作用蛋白,进一步了解LMO3的作用及可能机制。方法酵母双杂交方法筛选LMO3相瓦作用蛋白,并通过酵母结合试验、免疫共沉淀及荧光共定位等进行验证。结果在初步获得相互作用蛋白：钙-整合素结合蛋白（Calcium—and integrin—binding protein,CIB）的基础上,在酵母中证实了LMO3与CIB的相互作用,并通过酵母结合试验确定了CIB与LMO3的相互作用位点,发现CIB可与LMO3的第一个LIM结构域（LIMI）及全长LMO3结合,免疫共沉淀试验确证了它们可以在真核细胞内结合,荧光共定位表明与CIB的相互作用可使LMO3在C8细胞中的定位由细胞核移到细胞质。结论LMO3可以与CIB在真核细胞中发生相互作用,提示LMO3可能通过与CIB的相互作用参与细胞相关功能的调节。     

SIAH1介导TRB3的泛素化和降解

目的利用酵母回转实验和免疫共沉淀实验验证SIAHI和TRB3之间的相互作用并探讨其功能相关性。方法将全长形式的TRB3基因和SIAH1基因分别克隆入酵母表达载体pDBLeu和pPC86中,共转化至MaV203酵母感受态细胞,验证其相互作用,然后分别构建至真核表达载体pCMV—Myc和pFLAG—CMV-2中,采用免疫共沉淀实验进行进一步验证。通过体内泛素化实验检测SIAH1对TRB3蛋白稳定性及泛素化修饰的影响。结果通过在酵母细胞中的回转实验和HEK293rr细胞中的免疫共沉淀实验证实了TRB3与SIAH1之间的相互作用。通过体内泛素化实验证实了S1AH1介导了TRB3的泛素化修饰和降解。结论证实了TRB3与SIAH1之间的相互作用并发现SIAH1介导了TRB3的泛素化修饰和降解,为TRB3蛋白的功能研究提供了新的线索。     

人SSX2IP与14-3-3η蛋白相互作用研究

人类SSX2IP是SSX2蛋白的相互作用蛋白,它与肿瘤的发生、发展有着密切的相关性。为进一步阐明人类SSX2IP蛋白的潜在功能,以其作为诱饵蛋白对成人肝cDNA文库进行酵母双杂交筛选,结果筛到了SSX2IP的一个新相互作用蛋白14-3-3η。利用GSTPull-down实验和细胞内免疫共沉淀实验在体内外验证了该相互作用的真实性。通过免疫荧光共定位实验发现SSX2IP和14-3-3η共表达于HeLa细胞时,它们共定位于胞质及核周。利用CCK-8法检测SSX2IP和14-3-3η对HEK293T细胞增殖的影响,发现共转染SSX2IP和14-3-3η后,HEK293T细胞的增殖速度有所提高。这些结果为进一步深入研究SSX2IP与14-3-3η的相互作用及其生物学功能提供新的线索。     

Association of galectin-1 and galectin-3 with Gemin4 in complexes containing the SMN protein

In previous studies we showed that galectin-1 and galectin-3 are factors required for the splicing of pre-mRNA, as assayed in a cell-free system. Using a yeast two-hybrid screen with galectin-1 as bait, Gemin4 was identified as a putative interacting protein. Gemin4 is one component of a macromolecular complex containing approximately 15 polypeptides, including SMN (survival of motor neuron) protein. Rabbit anti-galectin-1 co-immunoprecipitated from HeLa cell nuclear extracts, along with galectin-1, polypeptides identified to be in this complex: SMN, Gemin2 and the Sm polypeptides of snRNPs. Direct interaction between Gemin4 and galectin-1 was demonstrated in glutathione S-transferase (GST) pull-down assays. We also found that galectin-3 interacted with Gemin4 and that it constituted one component of the complex co-immunoprecipitated with galectin-1. Indeed, fragments of either Gemin4 or galectin-3 exhibited a dominant negative effect when added to a cell-free splicing assay. For example, a dose-dependent inhibition of splicing was observed in the presence of exogenously added N-terminal domain of galectin-3 polypeptide. In contrast, parallel addition of either the intact galectin-3 polypeptide or the C-terminal domain failed to yield the same effect. Using native gel electrophoresis to detect complexes formed by the splicing extract, we found that with addition of the N-terminal domain the predominant portion of the radiolabeled pre-mRNA was arrested at a position corresponding to the H-complex. Inasmuch as SMN-containing complexes have been implicated in the delivery of snRNPs to the H-complex, these results provide strong evidence that galectin-1 and galectin-3, by interacting with Gemin4, play a role in spliceosome assembly in vivo.     

Drosophila SMN complex proteins Gemin2, Gemin3, and Gemin5 are components of U bodies

Uridine-rich small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (U snRNPs) play key roles in pre-mRNA processing in the nucleus. The assembly of most U snRNPs takes place in the cytoplasm and is facilitated by the survival motor neuron (SMN) complex. Discrete cytoplasmic RNA granules called U bodies have been proposed to be specific sites for snRNP assembly because they contain U snRNPs and SMN. U bodies invariably associate with P bodies, which are involved in mRNA decay and translational control. However, it remains unknown whether other SMN complex proteins also localise to U bodies. In Drosophila there are four SMN complex proteins, namely SMN, Gemin2/CG10419, Gemin3 and Gemin5/Rigor mortis. Drosophila Gemin3 was originally identified as the Drosophila orthologue of human and yeast Dhh1, a component of P bodies. Through an in silico analysis of the DEAD-box RNA helicases we confirmed that Gemin3 is the bona fide Drosophila orthologue of vertebrate Gemin3 whereas the Drosophila orthologue of Dhh1 is Me31B. We then made use of the Drosophila egg chamber as a model system to study the subcellular distribution of the Gemin proteins as well as Me31B. Our cytological investigations show that Gemin2, Gemin3 and Gemin5 colocalise with SMN in U bodies. Although they are excluded from P bodies, as components of U bodies, Gemin2, Gemin3 and Gemin5 are consistently found associated with P bodies, wherein Me31B resides. In addition to a role in snRNP biogenesis, SMN complexes residing in U bodies may also be involved in mRNP assembly and/or transport.     

Caenorhabditis elegans in the study of SMN-interacting proteins: a role for SMI-1, an orthologue of human Gemin2 and the identification of novel components of the SMN complex

Spinal muscular atrophy is a common neuromuscular disorder caused by mutations in the survival motor neuron (SMN) gene. In mammals, SMN is tightly associated with Gemin2. To gain further insight into the functions of SMN and Gemin2, we have cloned and sequenced smi-1 (Survival of Motor neuron-Interacting protein 1), a C. elegans homologue of the human Gemin2 gene. We show that the SMI-1 expression pattern and RNA interference phenotype show considerable overlap with that previously reported for SMN-1. Finally, we demonstrate that the SMN-1 and SMI-1 proteins directly interact. Having demonstrated the utility of the C. elegans genetic model for investigating genes encoding SMN-interacting proteins, we have undertaken a yeast two-hybrid screen of a C. elegans cDNA library to identify novel proteins that interact with SMN-1. We show the direct interaction of SMN-1 with nine novel proteins, several of which may be involved in RNA metabolism.     

A Motor Function for the DEAD-Box RNA Helicase,Gemin3, in Drosophila

The survival motor neuron (SMN) protein, the determining factor for spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), is complexed with a group of proteins in human cells. Gemin3 is the only RNA helicase in the SMN complex. Here, we report the identification of Drosophila melanogaster Gemin3 and investigate its function in vivo. Like in vertebrates, Gemin3 physically interacts with SMN in Drosophila. Loss of function of gemin3 results in lethality at larval and/or prepupal stages. Before they die, gemin3 mutant larvae exhibit declined mobility and expanded neuromuscular junctions. Expression of a dominant-negative transgene and knockdown of Gemin3 in mesoderm cause lethality. A less severe Gemin3 disruption in developing muscles leads to flightless adults and flight muscle degeneration. Our findings suggest that Drosophila Gemin3 is required for larval development and motor function.     

Binding of Avibirnavirus VP3 to the PIK3C3-PDPK1 complex inhibits autophagy by activating the AKT-MTOR pathway

ABSTRACT

Macroautophagy/autophagy is a host natural defense response. Viruses have developed various strategies to subvert autophagy during their life cycle. Recently, we revealed that autophagy was activated by binding of Avibirnavirus to cells. In the present study, we report the inhibition of autophagy initiated by PIK3C3/VPS34 via the PDPK1-dependent AKT-MTOR pathway. Autophagy detection revealed that viral protein VP3 triggered inhibition of autophagy at the early stage of Avibirnavirus replication. Subsequent interaction analysis showed that the CC1 domain of VP3 disassociated PIK3C3-BECN1 complex by direct interaction with BECN1 and blocked autophagosome formation, while the CC3 domain of VP3 disrupted PIK3C3-PDPK1 complex via directly binding to PIK3C3 and inhibited both formation and maturation of autophagosome. Furthermore, we found that PDPK1 activated AKT-MTOR pathway for suppressing autophagy via binding to AKT. Finally, we proved that CC3 domain was critical for role of VP3 in regulating replication of Avibirnavirus through autophagy. Taken together, our study identified that Avibirnavirus VP3 links PIK3C3-PDPK1 complex to AKT-MTOR pathway and inhibits autophagy, a critical step for controlling virus replication.     

EBNA3C Directs Recruitment of RBPJ (CBF1) to Chromatin during the Process of Gene Repression in EBV Infected B Cells

It is well established that Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen 3C (EBNA3C) can act as a potent repressor of gene expression, but little is known about the sequence of events occurring during the repression process. To explore further the role of EBNA3C in gene repression–particularly in relation to histone modifications and cell factors involved–the three host genes previously reported as most robustly repressed by EBNA3C were investigated. COBLL1, a gene of unknown function, is regulated by EBNA3C alone and the two co-regulated disintegrin/metalloproteases, ADAM28 and ADAMDEC1 have been described previously as targets of both EBNA3A and EBNA3C. For the first time, EBNA3C was here shown to be the main regulator of all three genes early after infection of primary B cells. Using various EBV-recombinants, repression over orders of magnitude was seen only when EBNA3C was expressed. Unexpectedly, full repression was not achieved until 30 days after infection. This was accurately reproduced in established LCLs carrying EBV-recombinants conditional for EBNA3C function, demonstrating the utility of the conditional system to replicate events early after infection. Using this system, detailed chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis revealed that the initial repression was associated with loss of activation-associated histone modifications (H3K9ac, H3K27ac and H3K4me3) and was independent of recruitment of polycomb proteins and deposition of the repressive H3K27me3 modification, which were only observed later in repression. Most remarkable, and in contrast to current models of RBPJ in repression, was the observation that this DNA-binding factor accumulated at the EBNA3C-binding sites only when EBNA3C was functional. Transient reporter assays indicated that repression of these genes was dependent on the interaction between EBNA3C and RBPJ. This was confirmed with a novel EBV-recombinant encoding a mutant of EBNA3C unable to bind RBPJ, by showing this virus was incapable of repressing COBLL1 or ADAM28/ADAMDEC1 in newly infected primary B cells.     

A cyclin-binding motif within the amino-terminal homology domain of EBNA3C binds cyclin A and modulates cyclin A-dependent kinase activity in Epstein-Barr virus-infected cells

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) nuclear antigen 3C (EBNA3C) is a virus-encoded latent antigen essential for primary B-cell transformation. In this report we demonstrate that although the carboxy terminus of EBNA3C predominantly regulates cyclin A-dependent kinase activity, the region of greatest affinity for cyclin A lies within the EBNA3 amino-terminal homology domain of EBNA3C. Detailed mapping studies employing both in vitro binding assays and coimmunoprecipitation experiments implicated a small region of EBNA3C, amino acids 130 to 159 within the EBNA3 homology domain, as having the greatest affinity for cyclin A. The EBNA3 homology domain has the highest degree of amino acid similarity (approximately 30%) between the EBNA3 proteins, and, indeed, EBNA3B, but not EBNA3A, showed binding activity with cyclin A. We also show that EBNA3C binds to the alpha1 helix of the highly conserved mammalian cyclin box, with cyclin A amino acids 206 to 226 required for strong binding to EBNA3C amino acids 130 to 159. Interestingly, EBNA3C also bound human cyclins D1 and E in vitro, although the affinity was approximately 30% of that seen for cyclin A. Previously it was demonstrated that full-length EBNA3C rescues p27-mediated suppression of cyclin A-dependent kinase activity (J. S. Knight and E. S. Robertson, J. Virol. 78:1981-1991, 2004). It was also demonstrated that the carboxy terminus of EBNA3C recapitulates this phenotype. Surprisingly, the amino terminus of EBNA3C with the highest affinity for cyclin A was unable to rescue p27 suppression of kinase activity and actually downregulates cyclin A activity when introduced into EBV-infected cells. The data presented here suggests that the amino terminus of EBNA3C may play an important role in recruiting cyclin A complexes, while the carboxy terminus of EBNA3C is necessary for the functional modulation of cyclin A complex kinase activity.     

Dimerization of Sir3 via its C‐terminal winged helix domain is essential for yeast heterochromatin formation

Gene silencing in budding yeast relies on the binding of the Silent Information Regulator (Sir) complex to chromatin, which is mediated by extensive interactions between the Sir proteins and nucleosomes. Sir3, a divergent member of the AAA+ ATPase‐like family, contacts both the histone H4 tail and the nucleosome core. Here, we present the structure and function of the conserved C‐terminal domain of Sir3, comprising 138 amino acids. This module adopts a variant winged helix‐turn‐helix (wH) architecture that exists as a stable homodimer in solution. Mutagenesis shows that the self‐association mediated by this domain is essential for holo‐Sir3 dimerization. Its loss impairs Sir3 loading onto nucleosomes in vitro and eliminates silencing at telomeres and HM loci in vivo. Replacing the Sir3 wH domain with an unrelated bacterial dimerization motif restores both HM and telomeric repression in sir3Δ cells. In contrast, related wH domains of archaeal and human members of the Orc1/Sir3 family are monomeric and have DNA binding activity. We speculate that a dimerization function for the wH evolved with Sir3's ability to facilitate heterochromatin formation.