人防御素HNP-1基因在原核系统中的克隆与表达

通过化学合成法制备人防御素 HNP- 1基因 ,并将其构建于带有 GST基因的表达载体中 ,进行融合表达 ,表达融合蛋白可占菌体蛋白的 70 %左右 ,且主要以包含体形式存在。改变培养条件可适当提高可溶性融合蛋白的比例。融合蛋白通过凝胶色谱进行纯化 ,然后经凝血酶切释放出防御素多肽 ,并通过抑菌试验对其活性进行检测。结果显示 ,可能由于分子间的二硫键错配造成了防御素分子构象改变 ,使制备的防御素分子未显示出活性     

昆虫细胞色素P450研究的一些新进展

报道了有关细胞色素P45 0研究的一些新发现。果蝇和冈比亚按蚊基因组测序的完成 ,使人类对昆虫P45 0的多样性有一完整的概念 ,已查明果蝇和冈比亚按蚊基因组中分别含有 90种和 1 1 1种P45 0基因。P45 0介导的果蝇对DDT的抗性被证明是Cyp6g1基因超量表达的结果。昆虫可以窃听植物分子信号 (水杨酸、茉莉酮酸 ) ,通过P45 0的诱导机制增强自身对植物防御物质的反防御能力。从分子水平上鉴定了 2个参与蜕皮素合成的线粒体P45 0基因。细胞色素P45 0在昆虫信息素降解中的作用得到鉴定。     

厚壳贻贝两种新型防御素的分子鉴定

贻贝是全球范围内具有重要经济价值和生态价值的双壳贝类。贻贝抗菌肽具有极强的分子多样性,也是当前抗菌肽研究的重要对象。防御素是贻贝抗菌肽的重要成员, 从厚壳贻贝中鉴定到2种新型防御素, 但其分子特性和免疫机制尚不清楚。为此, 对厚壳贻贝体内新发现的2种防御素开展研究。序列分析结果表明,2种新型防御素均具有节肢动物防御素结构特征,因而被命名为arthropod like defensin (ALD)。利用荧光定量PCR研究了2种防御素在贻贝不同组织及不同发育阶段的表达量差异。进一步分析了2种防御素在3种不同微生物诱导下的表达量时间曲线。利用固相化学合成技术对2种防御素的成熟肽区进行合成并开展了功能验证。研究结果表明, 2种ALD 主要表达部位在外套膜和消化腺, 且ALD-1具有雄性特异表达特征。此外, ALD-1和ALD-2在贻贝幼虫阶段均未表达; 在不同微生物刺激下, 2种ALD表现出不同的免疫反应模式, 显示出2种防御素具有不同的免疫调节机制。化学合成的2种ALD均具有抑菌活性, 其对不同微生物的抑制率在20%~80%之间。上述研究为深入了解贻贝免疫防御的分子机制,以及贻贝抗菌肽的免疫功能和后续的分子资源开发奠定了基础。     

系统素、茉莉酸在番茄系统伤反应中的作用

当植物受到机械损伤或昆虫伤害时,植物体会在受伤部位产生伤信号分子启动防御基因的系统表达,蛋白酶抑制剂基因是防御基因的一典型代表.番茄是研究植物系统伤信号很好的模式植物,目前,三种类型的番茄系统伤信号突变体被鉴定出来,通过对番茄系统伤信号突变体进行功能分析并在它们之间进行相互嫁接实验,研究结果表明系统素和茉莉酸通过同一信号通路来激活防御基因的系统表达.系统素(或它的前体原系统素)在受伤部位激活茉莉酸的合成,使之达到系统反应的水平,应对外来伤害;茉莉酸或其衍生物是重要的系统伤信号分子,它诱导伤防御基因的系统表达.植物的系统伤反应可比做动物的炎症反应,它们之间有许多相似之处.     

果蝇胰岛素样肽8(Dilp8)的功能及作用机制

果蝇Drosophila作为一种模式生物,具有生长周期短、繁殖能力强和研究成本低等优点。而且果蝇有65%的基因与人类同源,特别是其遗传背景简单的特点,使其在生物生长发育研究、病理机制研究和基因表达调控等研究中发挥重要作用。目前在果蝇中已发现8种胰岛素样肽,即果蝇胰岛素样肽1-8(Drosophila insulin-like peptide 1-8, Dilp1-8),而对于果蝇胰岛素信号通路的研究主要集中在其调控机体生长发育和能量代谢的方面,这些功能主要通过Dilp1-7来发挥作用。对于Dilp8的功能及其发挥作用的分子机制知之甚少。本文总结了自Dilp8被发现以来,人们对于其功能的研究结果。Dilp8主要在幼虫成虫盘和成年雌果蝇的卵巢中表达,其主要作用是调节果蝇的组织生长和发育时间,使果蝇生长为具有相对固定体型和一定对称性的个体。当果蝇幼虫在生长过程中受到损伤时,Dilp8会通过延缓发育时间来缓解异常生长。Dilp8被激活后,在中枢神经系统与其受体富含亮氨酸重复序列的G蛋白偶联受体3(leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 3, Lgr3)特异结合,从而抑制蜕皮激素的合成来控制果蝇生长发育。有研究表明Lgr3与果蝇性别调控有关。在成年雌果蝇中,Dilp8的主要作用是调节排卵能力。此外,肿瘤源性的Dilp8与果蝇的食欲减退有关。Dilp8/Lgr3与人类INSL3/RXFP2高度同源。对于Dilp8发挥作用的分子机制,还需研究者的进一步探索。     

一类新型的抗菌活性肽——生物防御素（Defensin）

生物防御素（ｄｅｆｅｎｓｉｎ）是近年来发现的一组新型抗菌活性肽。它们通常都是由３５～５０个氨基酸残基组成,且分子内富含二硫键。由于其具有牢固的分子骨架、广泛的分布以及生物活性功能,因而对它们的研究已成为当前国际学术界中一个引人关注的研究热点。本文将简述有关生物防御素的分布、分子结构特征、生物活性及其可能的作用机制等方面的研究概括及展望。     

禽类的重要免疫因子--鸡β防御素

防御素是一种阳离子抗菌肽,是先天免疫的重要分子.鸡的防御素有13种,全部属于β防御素.该文介绍鸡β防御素的基因结构、蛋白质结构、组织分布、表达调控及其生物学功能.研究结果提示,鸡β防御素是一种重要的免疫因子,具有广谱抗病作用.对鸡β防御素的开发利用将主要集中在两个方面：一是作为家禽抗病力的指标之一,在培育家禽抗病品种（品系）方面起辅助作用;一是作为抗菌肽的开发利用.     

虫草素对微波辐射黑腹果蝇的保护作用

为了研究虫草素对微波辐射黑腹果蝇Drosophila melanogaster的保护作用,以梯度浓度的虫草素培养基饲养微波辐射的黑腹果蝇,观察统计其生殖力及子代生长发育特征。研究发现,微波辐射后的黑腹果蝇生殖力极显著下降(P0.01),虫草素能提高其生殖力,其中0.4%质量分数的虫草素培养基极显著提高成蛹数和成蝇数(P0.01);微波辐射后黑腹果蝇子代的性比降低、体长减少、飞翔率极显著降低(P0.01)、畸变率极显著升高(P0.01),4个梯度浓度的虫草素均能提高子代的性比,使其接近于1,而且均能降低畸变率,差异具有高度统计学意义(P0.01)。由此可见,虫草素能够修复黑腹果蝇的辐射损伤,对机体起到抗辐射的保护作用。     

烟草损伤信号分子机制及其相关基因表达的研究进展

植物在遭受机械损伤或食草动物伤害时,体内的信号应答防御系统立即被激活,从而激活防御相关基因的表达,达到自我保护的目的。信号分子如系统素、系统素糖肽前体物质,是茄科植物中具有信号传导功能的一类多肽,在损伤信号传导方面起着重要的作用。近年来,对系统素家族以及茉莉酸等信号传导方面的研究有了很大的进展,本文着重对烟草中的主要损伤信号分子进行系统的阐述,并且对损伤后烟草相关基因的表达变化做了简单的归纳与分析,旨在为烟草的抗虫性、烟叶的储存与加工等方面的研究提供参考。     

人防御素的抗病毒免疫作用及其研究进展

人防御素是由中性粒细胞、小肠Paneth细胞以及粘膜上皮细胞等产生的一类内源性阳离子多肽。最早因其具有广谱抗菌作用而被广泛关注。近年来研究发现,防御素对病毒也具有显著抑制作用,其抗病毒效应表现在多个方面。除了能够直接作用于病毒外,此类多肽分子还可以通过介导免疫反应来间接发挥抗病毒作用。本文就人防御素的抗病毒作用机理及其研究进展进行了综述,期望能够加强人们对防御素生物学功能的认识,并为开发相关抗病毒药物提供参考。     

Selection on an antimicrobial peptide defensin in ants

Ants live in crowded nests with interacting individuals, which makes them particularly prone to infectious diseases. The question is, how do ants cope with the increased risk of pathogen transmission due to sociality? We have studied the molecular evolution of defensin, a gene encoding an antimicrobial protein, in ants. Defensin sequences from several ant species were analyzed with maximum likelihood models of codon substitution to infer selection. Positive selection was detected in the mature region of defensin, whereas the signal and pro regions seem to be evolving neutrally. We also found a significantly higher rate of nonsynonymous substitutions in some phylogenetic lineages, as well as dN/dS >1, suggesting varying selection pressures in different lineages. Earlier studies on the molecular evolution of insect antimicrobial peptide genes have focused on termites and dipteran species, and detected positive selection only in duplicated termicin genes in termites. These findings, together with our present results, provide an indication that the immune systems of social insects (ants and termites) and dipteran insects may have responded differently to the selection pressure caused by microbial pathogens.     

Defensin NP-1 in restoration of the injured nerve trunk functions

The effect of Defensin NP-1 on early phase of injured sciatic nerve regeneration was studied in rats. Using the technique of AP compound recording performed within 21 days after the nerve trunk cutting with subsequent microsurgical nerve suture, the rate of fibres growth was shown to increase by 30% following Defensin treatment: the distance to which the nerve impulse conductivity through injured nerve fibres was restored has extended from 7.22 +/- 1.2 mm (control) to 10.5 +/- 0.8 mm (Defensin treatment) from the suture site (p < 0.05). Moreover, the conducting capacity of the regenerating nerve fibres has risen by 20% as compared with control values. The findings suggest a positive effect of Defensin on restoration of injured peripheral nerve in rats.     

Expression of BrD1, a plant defensin from Brassica rapa, confers resistance against brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens) in transgenic rices

Plant defensins are small (5-10 kDa) basic peptides thought to be an important component of the defense pathway against fungal and/or bacterial pathogens. To understand the role of plant defensins in protecting plants against the brown planthopper, a type of insect herbivore, we isolated the Brassica rapa Defensin 1 (BrD1) gene and introduced it into rice (Oryza sativa L.) to produce stable transgenic plants. The BrD1 protein is homologous to other plant defensins and contains both an N-terminal endoplasmic reticulum signal sequence and a defensin domain, which are highly conserved in all plant defensins. Based on a phylogenetic analysis of the defensin domain of various plant defensins, we established that BrD1 belongs to a distinct subgroup of plant defensins. Relative to the wild type, transgenic rices expressing BrD1 exhibit strong resistance to brown planthopper nymphs and female adults. These results suggest that BrD1 exhibits insecticidal activity, and might be useful for developing cereal crop plants resistant to sap-sucking insects, such as the brown planthopper.     

Phosphatidic Acid Regulates Microtubule Organization by Interacting with MAP65-1 in Response to Salt Stress in Arabidopsis

Membrane lipids play fundamental structural and regulatory roles in cell metabolism and signaling. Here, we report that phosphatidic acid (PA), a product of phospholipase D (PLD), regulates MAP65-1, a microtubule-associated protein, in response to salt stress. Knockout of the PLDα1 gene resulted in greater NaCl-induced disorganization of microtubules, which could not be recovered during or after removal of the stress. Salt affected the association of MAP65-1 with microtubules, leading to microtubule disorganization in pldα1cells, which was alleviated by exogenous PA. PA bound to MAP65-1, increasing its activity in enhancing microtubule polymerization and bundling. Overexpression of MAP65-1 improved salt tolerance of Arabidopsis thaliana cells. Mutations of eight amino acids in MAP65-1 led to the loss of its binding to PA, microtubule-bundling activity, and promotion of salt tolerance. The pldα1 map65-1 double mutant showed greater sensitivity to salt stress than did either single mutant. These results suggest that PLDα1-derived PA binds to MAP65-1, thus mediating microtubule stabilization and salt tolerance. The identification of MAP65-1 as a target of PA reveals a functional connection between membrane lipids and the cytoskeleton in environmental stress signaling.     

Two novel defensin-encoding genes of the Chagas disease vector Triatoma brasiliensis (Reduviidae, Triatominae): Gene expression and peptide-structure modeling

Defensins are cysteine-rich peptides involved in the innate immunity of insects and many other organisms. In the present study, two novel defensin-encoding cDNAs and the respective genomic DNAs (def3 and def4) of Triatoma brasiliensis were identified and their tissue-specific and temporal expression was characterized. Both of the deduced mature peptides consisted of 43 amino acid residues and were highly similar to previously identified triatomine defensins (81.4-100%). Semi-quantitative RT-PCR data showed that def3 was constitutively expressed in the fat body and was induced in salivary glands and the small intestine at 5 and 3 days after feeding (daf), respectively. The def4 mRNA level was highly up-regulated in the stomach and fat-body tissues at 5 and 3 daf, respectively. The three-dimensional structures of these defensins were predicted using a homology modeling approach with Def-AAA, the defensin from Anopheles gambiae, as template (62-74% identity). A map of the electrostatic potential of these models revealed that, despite their similar folding patterns, mature Def2 and Def4 have a more cationic structure than is the case for Def1 and Def3. Such differences may orient the antimicrobial profile of these defensins against distinct targets in different organs of the insect.     

Penetration of the insect defensin A into phospholipid monolayers and formation of defensin A-lipid complexes.

Defensin A is an inducible cationic protein secreted in the hemolymph of fleshfly Phormia terranovae larvae in response to bacterial or septic injuries. Defensin A is known to permeabilize the bacteria cell membranes by forming voltage-dependent channels. The penetration of this small protein into lipid monolayers was studied as a function of the polar head and acyl chain length of phospholipids. The extent of penetration by defensin A is higher in monolayers made of anionic phospholipids than in monolayers made of zwitterionic phospholipids (phosphatidylcholines), because of electrostatic interactions. From the analysis of the compression isotherm parameters of mixed defensin A/phospholipid monolayers, it appears that defensin A interacts with phospholipid by forming 1:4 complexes. These complexes are not miscible in the lipid phase and induce microheterogeneity in the lipid membrane. These clusters might be related to the ion-channel structures responsible for the biological activity of defensin A.     

复合抗菌肽PL在毕赤酵母中的分泌表达及其活性研究

为了获得抗菌活性较强的抗菌肽,将几种抗菌肽串联起来在毕赤酵母中表达,并比较其与单独抗菌肽的抑菌活性。以GenBank中的Protegrin-1(PG-1)、ScorpionDefensin(SD)、Metalnikowin-2A和SheepMyeloidAntibacterialPeptide(SMAP-29)(序列号分别为AAB27599,AAAB27538、P80409和P49928)成熟肽段作为模板序列,根据巴斯德毕赤氏酵母(P.pastoris)偏好密码子,设计并人工合成复合抗菌肽pl基因,同时用SOE法获得ScorpionDefensin的基因,分别克隆到pPICZαA载体中,转化P.pastoris受体菌X-33,在醇氧化酶(AOX)启动子调控下,复合抗菌肽PL及SD均获得表达。体外抑菌试验检测复合抗菌肽PL与单独的蝎子防御素SD的热稳定性、酸稳定性、最低抑菌浓度等,结果显示复合抗菌肽PL及SD具有很强的热酸稳定性,而针对不同的细菌,复合抗菌肽则表现出了强于单独的SD的活性,特别是对大肠杆菌。上述结果说明了该复合抗菌肽具有很好的开发前景。     

KONJAC1 and 2 Are Key Factors for GDP-Mannose Generation and Affect l-Ascorbic Acid and Glucomannan Biosynthesis in Arabidopsis

Humans are unable to synthesize l-ascorbic acid (AsA), yet it is required as a cofactor in many critical biochemical reactions. The majority of human dietary AsA is obtained from plants. In Arabidopsis thaliana, a GDP-mannose pyrophosphorylase (GMPP), VITAMIN C DEFECTIVE1 (VTC1), catalyzes a rate-limiting step in AsA synthesis: the formation of GDP-Man. In this study, we identified two nucleotide sugar pyrophosphorylase-like proteins, KONJAC1 (KJC1) and KJC2, which stimulate the activity of VTC1. The kjc1kjc2 double mutant exhibited severe dwarfism, indicating that KJC proteins are important for growth and development. The kjc1 mutation reduced GMPP activity to 10% of wild-type levels, leading to a 60% reduction in AsA levels. On the contrary, overexpression of KJC1 significantly increased GMPP activity. The kjc1 and kjc1kjc2 mutants also exhibited significantly reduced levels of glucomannan, which is also synthesized from GDP-Man. Recombinant KJC1 and KJC2 enhanced the GMPP activity of recombinant VTC1 in vitro, while KJCs did not show GMPP activity. Yeast two-hybrid assays suggested that the stimulation of GMPP activity occurs via interaction of KJCs with VTC1. These results suggest that KJCs are key factors for the generation of GDP-Man and affect AsA level and glucomannan accumulation through the stimulation of VTC1 GMPP activity.