一个东亚钳蝎蝎毒素BmTXKβ基因的克隆及其基因表达调控

从东亚钳蝎 (ButhusmartensiiKarsch ,BmK)毒腺组织cDNA文库中分离的长链钾通道毒素BmTXKβcDNA序列 ,克隆了BmTXKβ基因组序列 .BmTXKβ基因含有一个长度为 886bp的内含子 ,定位于BmTXKβ成熟肽中 ,与其它蝎毒素基因内含子定位于信号肽的基因结构不同 .并且 ,BmTXKβ基因的内含子特征也与其它蝎毒素基因不同 .研究结果从基因水平上证实了BmTXKβ是一个新的蝎毒素样肽 .以BmTXKβcDNA序列为探针与蝎基因组DNASouthern杂交出现 2条特异性杂交带 .杂交结果为蝎毒素基因可能通过DNA重排、多拷贝或多基因家族来调控基因表达提供了证据 .     

东亚钳蝎蝎毒素BmKBT基因组序列的克隆及其分析

东亚钳蝎 (ButhusmartensiiKarsch ,BmK)蝎毒素BmKBT(又名BmKabT)是一个在初级结构上相似于β类哺乳动物毒素和功能接近于α类哺乳动物毒素的Na+ 通道毒素 .基于从毒腺cDNA文库中筛选得到的全长BmKBT前体核苷酸序列设计引物 ,以蝎基因组总DNA为模板进行聚合酶链式反应 (PCR) ,将PCR产物克隆至T载体、测序 .序列分析表明 :在BmKBT信号肽编码区的 3′端的- 4位Gly密码子的第 1位与第 2位碱基中有 1个长 2 2 5nt的内含子 ,插入位点距离该基因的起始密码子 4 6nt ,AT含量为 78 7% ,其内含子可能的剪接分枝位点距离 3′剪接受体位点 4 7nt.内含子的大小及其基因组织结构分析表明 :BmKBT具有与α类哺乳动物毒素类似的基因组织结构 ,进一步说明BmKBT是一个介于α类和β类Na+ 通道毒素之间的中间型蝎毒素 ,可以作为研究蝎毒素分子进化的合适材料     

东亚钳蝎中一个中性哺乳动物神经毒素全长cDNA的克隆和分析

构建了东亚钳蝎毒腺cDNA库,根据东亚钳蝎中性哺乳动物神经毒素BmKM4的氨酸序列设计并合成引物用PCR方法从库中筛选到BmKM4全长cDNA序列。它由5′UTRc、可读框和3′UTR组成。与其他东亚钳蝎哺乳动物神经毒素cDNA的相应区域相比,BmKM4cDNA的5′UTR的高度保守,而其3′UTR则变异较大。AUG的旁侧序列为AAAATGAA,与绝大多数蝎毒素基因一致。在BmKM4mRNApoly(A)属上游17nt处,有一典型的腺苷化信号（AATAAA）。可读框编码84个氨基酸的毒素前体,包括N端19个氨基酸组成的信号肽,中间64个氨基酸残基组成的成熟毒素,以及C末端的额外碱性氨基酸Arg。根据一般规律,尾端Arg在毒素前体的成熟过程中会被切除。     

东亚钳蝎毒素BmKT四个同源基因的克隆及基因组织分析

BmKT是从本室构建的cDNA文库中筛选到的1个α钠通道毒素,根据其全长cDNA序列设计引物,采用PCR法以蝎总基因组DNA为模板,获得4个BmKT的同源基因,分别命名为BmKT′和BmKTa、BmKTb、BmKTb′.序列分析表明：BmKT′和BmKTa基因含有大小分别为509 bp和506 bp的内含子,位于信号肽编码区内,插入信号肽-4位残基Gly密码子的第一个碱基G之后;而BmKTb和BmKTb′ 的内含子大小均为418 bp．这4个BmKT的同源基因内含子符合GT/AG拼接规律,其中BmKT′和BmKTa的内含子A+T含量分别为61.7%和61.9%,低于目前已报导的大多数蝎毒素基因A+T含量,大大低于它们第一外显子A+T含量（71.7%）,略高于第二外显子A+T含量（55.5%）;而BmKTb,BmKTb′的内含子A+T含量分别为75.8%和76.1%,与目前已报导的大多数蝎毒素基因A+T含量相似．BmKT′基因的外显子与BmKT基因cDNA所对应氨基酸序列仅在信号肽中-7位有一个氨基残基的差异（BmKT: Leu→BmKTa: Val）;而BmKTa基因外显子所推断的氨基酸序列与BmKT前体比较,则在成熟肽的+54位发生了突变（BmKT: Lys→BmKTa: Asn）,是与BmKT同源的一个新基因．BmKTb基因和BmKTb′基因所编码的前体肽与BmKT基因对应的前体肽同源性约为65%,显然BmKTb和BmKTb′是不同于BmKT的2个新基因（GenBank登录号: BmKT′, AY786186; BmKTa, AY676142; BmKTb, AY676140; BmKTb′, AY676141）     

东亚钳蝎K+通道阻断肽cDNA的克隆与表达

目的：克隆东亚钳蝎毒素基因,以进一步研究其生物学和药理学功能。方法：利用已知蝎神经毒素基因序列,设计引物,用RT-PCR方法克隆从蝎毒腺组织蝎毒素cDNA。结果：成功地克隆了一个新的东亚钳蝎毒素基因,该基因开放阅读框架编码59个氨基酸残基,其中前22个为信号肽,成熟肽为37个氨基酸残基,经PCR扩增除去信号肽序列,克隆到pTreHisA质粒中,在E．coli中表达了分子质量为7ku左右融合蛋白,表达产物占菌体总蛋白的21％左右。结论：其结构中含有三对二硫链,6个Cys残基组成蝎K^ 通道毒素共同特征序列-CXXXC-、-GXC-、-CXC-,推断其为K^ 通道阻断肽,命名为KChTX1。已被Gene-bank收录,收录号为AY129234。     

蝎毒液肽基因内含子剪接信号分析

从中国蝎Buthus martensii Karsch基因组DNA中分离到两个毒液基因的内含子。在此基础上,通过编辑和分析目前已出版的蝎毒液肽基因内含子序列,确定了这类基因内含子剪接信号的共有序列,并将其与其它其它物种进行了比较。本文的结果对于研究蝎毒液肽前体mRNA的剪接机制以及比较不同物种之间内含子进化和功能的关系具有参考价值。     

斑马鱼神经介素S直系同源基因的克隆、序列分析及组织表达

旨在更深入和广泛了解脊椎动物NMS前体基因的结构、进化和生理功能,利用生物信息学和分子生物学技术从斑马鱼脑组织中克隆得到了NMS前体基因序列,并对其基因和蛋白结构以及组织表达等方面进行了分析。结果表明,斑马鱼NMS前体基因cDNA序列编码110个氨基酸组成的多肽,其中包含22个氨基酸的信号肽。脊椎动物NMS前体蛋白序列比对结果显示,与哺乳动物不同,硬骨鱼类NMS前体蛋白在C端缺失很大一部分序列,不能形成类似哺乳动物的NMS成熟肽,经蛋白酶切割可能形成同源性较高的34个氨基酸的多肽。进化树和基因组分析显示,斑马鱼和青NMS前体蛋白聚类在一起,位于NMS这一分支上。同时,NMS前体基因在斑马鱼、青和人基因组中具有同线性关系。半定量RT-PCR结果显示,NMS前体基因在所检测的斑马鱼各组织中均有表达,其中以脑中表达量为最高。     

肽类毒素(蜘蛛、蝎、芋螺)的三维结构

多肽类毒素研究是目前毒素研究的一个重点,对多肽类毒素的三维结构的研究是了解其结构与功能关系的重要基础.对蜘蛛、蝎以及芋螺这3类代表性的有毒动物的多肽类毒素在结构研究方面的进展及其三维结构的特点进行了介绍.其中,蜘蛛毒素多肽分子的结构主要发现有ICK模体(Inhibitor Cystine Knot motif)和D DH模体(disulfided-irectedh-airpin)两类,蝎毒素中长链肽类毒素分子和短链肽类毒素分子的结构明显不同,前者以CSα/β结构模体(Cyss-tabilizedα/βfold m otif)为主,后者则以α/β脚手架结构模体(α/βscaffoldm otif)为主.相对于蜘蛛和蝎而言,芋螺肽类毒素分子的三维结构则表现得更为复杂多样.     

一种新的蝎毒素BmTXKβ的基因组结构及分析

根据从东亚钳蝎(Buthus Martensii Karsch,BmK)毒腺cDNA文库中筛选得到的长链钾离子通道毒素BmTXKβ基因序列设计引物,采用Vectorette方法克隆其5′及3′侧翼区。结果表明：BmTXKβ在编码信号肽的基因序列中有—大于997bp的内含子,并且其成熟肽中也有一个886bp内含子,而目前已知的其他蝎毒素只在信号肽中有一个内含子或没有内含子。BmTXKβ基因组结构的独特性更进一步证实BmTXKβ是一个新的长链钾离子通道毒素成员。     

两个蛇毒基因克隆及cDNA序列多态性再分析

α-银环蛇毒素(α-bungarotoxin)是一种突触后神经毒素,广泛存在于眼镜蛇科蛇类的毒腺中,对于该基因cDNA多态性是否真实一直存有争议。本研究从银环蛇基因组DNA中克隆到α-银环蛇毒素基因序列,并对其中5个克隆进行测序和序列比对分析。作为参照,从同一次反转录得到的cDNA混合物中,克隆了蛇毒神经生长因子cDNA,并对其进行测序、比对和突变情况分析。综合各研究组报道的α-银环蛇毒素cDNA序列、α-银环蛇毒素基因序列和神经生长因子cDNA序列的突变情况,发现α-银环蛇毒素cDNA的多态性在基因组模板上不存在对应的变化,因此推测这种多态性不是从不同的转录本而来,同时考虑到不同研究小组报道的序列突变位点并没有出现相同的情况,因此其多样性也不是RNA编辑的结果。可见这种cDNA序列上的多样性很可能是由反转录过程以及基因克隆过程中人为引入的错误造成的。     

Molecular cloning and characterization of four scorpion K(+)-toxin-like peptides: a new subfamily of venom peptides (alpha-KTx14) and genomic analysis of a member.

Four full-length cDNAs encoding the precursors of four K(+)-toxin-like peptides (named BmKK(1), BmKK(2), BmKK(3) and BmmKK(4), respectively) were first isolated from a venom gland cDNA library of the Chinese scorpion Buthus martensii Karsch. The deduced precursors of BmKK(1), BmKK(2) and BmKK(3) are all made of 54 amino acid residues including a signal peptide of 23 residues, and a mature toxin of 31 residues with three disulfide bridges. The precursor of BmKK(4) is composed of 55 amino acid residues including a signal peptide of 23 residues, a mature toxin of 30 residues cross-linked by three disulfide bridges, and an extra Gly-Lys tail which should be removed in the processing step. The four peptides displayed 24-97% sequence identity with each other, and less than 27% homology with any other scorpion toxins described. However, they shared a common disulfide bridge pattern, which was consistent with that of most short-chain K(+)-toxins, suggesting they represent a new class of scorpion toxins and their target receptors may be a subfamily of K(+) channels. We classified the BmKK toxin subfamily as alpha-KTx14 according to the classification rules. The genomic sequence of BmKK(2) was also cloned and sequenced. It consisted of two exons, disrupted by an intron of 79 bp inserted in the region encoding the C-terminal part of the signal peptide. This structure was very similar to that of other K(+)-toxins described previously.     

Isolation of scorpion (Androctonus amoreuxi) putative alpha neurotoxins and parallel cloning of their respective cDNAs from a single sample of venom

The venoms of buthid scorpions are known to contain basic, single-chain protein toxins (alpha toxins) consisting of 60-70 amino acid residues that are tightly folded by four disulfide bridges. Here we describe isolation and sequencing of three novel putative alpha toxins (AamH1-3) from the venom of the North African scorpion, Androctonus amoreuxi, and subsequent cloning of their precursor cDNAs from the same sample of venom. This experimental approach can expedite functional genomic analyses of the protein toxins from this group of venomous animals and does not require specimen sacrifice for cloning of protein toxin precursor cDNAs.     

Dynamic Diversification from a Putative Common Ancestor of Scorpion Toxins Affecting Sodium, Potassium, and Chloride Channels

Scorpions have survived successfully over millions of years without detectable changes in their morphology. Instead, they have developed an efficient alomonal machinery and a stinging device supporting their needs for prey and defense. They produce a large variety of polypeptidic toxins that bind and modulate ion channel conductance in excitable tissues. The binding site, mode of action, and chemical properties of many toxins have been studied extensively, but little is known about their genomic organization and diversity. Genes representing each of the major classes of Buthidae scorpion toxins, namely, ``long' toxins, affecting sodium channels (alpha, depressant, and excitatory), and ``short' toxins, affecting potassium and chloride channels, were isolated from a single scorpion segment and analyzed. Each toxin type was found to be encoded by a gene family. Regardless of toxin length, 3-D structure, and site of action, all genes contain A+T-rich introns that split, at a conserved location, an amino acid codon of the signal sequence. The introns vary in length and sequence but display identical boundaries, agree with the GT/AG splice junctions, and contain T-runs downstream of a putative branch point, 5′-TAAT-3′. Despite little sequence similarity among all toxin classes, the conserved gene organization, intron features, and common cysteine-stabilized α-helical (CSH) core connecting an α-helix to a three-stranded β-sheet suggest, that they all evolved from an ancestral common progenitor. Furthermore, the vast diversity found among genomic copies, cDNAs, and their protein products for each toxin suggests an extensive evolutionary process of the scorpion ``pharmaceutical factory,' whose success is due, most likely, to the inherent permissiveness of the toxin exterior to structural alterations. Received: 16 March 1998 / Accepted: 30 July 1998     

Molecular cloning and functional expression of a gene encoding an antiarrhythmia peptide derived from the scorpion toxin.

From a cDNA library of Chinese scorpion Buthus martensii Karsch, full-length cDNAs of 351 nucleotides encoding precursors (named BmKIM) that contain signal peptides of 21 amino acid residues, a mature toxin of 61 residues with four disulfide bridges, and an extra Gly-Lys-Lys tail, were isolated. The genomic sequence of BmKIM was cloned and sequenced; it consisted of two exons disrupted by an intron of 1622 bp, the largest known in scorpion toxin genomes, inserted in the region encoding the signal peptide. The cDNA was expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant BmKIM was toxic to both mammal and insects. This is the first report that a toxin with such high sequence homology with an insect-specific depressant toxin group exhibits toxicity to mammals. Using whole cell patch-clamp recording, it was discovered that the recombinant BmKIM inhibited the sodium current in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons and ventricular myocytes and protected against aconitine- induced cardiac arrhythmia.     

一个新的东亚钳蝎毒素(BmKT_1)全长cDNA的克隆和分析

首先构建了东亚钳蝎毒腺组织 c DNA文库 ;根据已知的东亚钳蝎哺乳动物毒素氨基酸序列保守区设计引物 ,并用 PCR从 c DNA文库中扩增出一个 c DNA片段作为筛选 c DNA文库的探针 ;从 c DNA文库中筛选到二个编码同一个新的蝎毒素多肽的 c DNA,它们除 3′- UTR外 ,其余序列完全一致 .它们均含有 2 55bp长的开放阅读框 ,编码 85肽的前体毒素 ,包括 1 9个氨基酸残基的信号肽 ,66个残基的成熟毒素 (命名为 Bm KT1) ;Bm KT1氨基酸序列与已知的蝎毒素具有较大的同源性 ,与 Bm KM1,Lqq ,Lqhα IT和 Bm K M10 的同源性分别为 77%、67%、67%和 65% .Bm KT1的 C端不存在末端修饰步骤且具有一个与这些毒素不相同的特征结构 ,即在末端延伸了两个氨基酸残基 - P- S,推测 Bm KT1具有新的活性功能特征 .     

Adaptive evolution after gene duplication in alpha-KT x 14 subfamily from Buthus martensii Karsch

A series of isoforms of alpha-KT x 14 (short chain potassium channel scorpion toxins) were isolated from the venom of Buthus martensii Karsch by RACE and screening cDNA library methods. These isoforms adding BmKK1--3 and BmSKTx1--2 together shared high homology (more than 97%) with each other. The result of genomic sequence analysis showed that a length 79 bp intron is inserted Ala codes between the first and the second base at the 17th amino acid of signal peptide. The introns of these isoforms also share high homology with those of BmKK2 and BmSKT x 1 reported previously. Sequence analysis of many clones of cDNA and genomic DNA showed that a species population or individual polymorphism of alpha-KT x 14 genes took place in scorpion Buthus martensii Karsch and accelerated evolution played an important role in the forming process of alpha-KT x 14 scorpion toxins subfamily. The result of southern hybridization indicated that alpha-KT x 14 toxin genes existed in scorpion chromosome with multicopies. All findings maybe provided an important evidence for an extensive evolutionary process of the scorpion "pharmacological factory": at the early course of evolution, the ancestor toxic gene duplicated into a series of multicopy genes integrated at the different chromosome; at the late course of evolution, subsequent functional divergence of duplicate genes was generated by mutations, deletions and insertion.     

Genomic and Structural Characterization of Kunitz-Type Peptide LmKTT-1a Highlights Diversity and Evolution of Scorpion Potassium Channel Toxins

Background

Recently, a new subfamily of long-chain toxins with a Kunitz-type fold was found in scorpion venom glands. Functionally, these toxins inhibit protease activity and block potassium channels. However, the genomic organization and three-dimensional (3-D) structure of this kind of scorpion toxin has not been reported.

Principal Findings

Here, we characterized the genomic organization and 3-D nuclear magnetic resonance structure of the scorpion Kunitz-type toxin, LmKTT-1a, which has a unique cysteine pattern. The LmKTT-1a gene contained three exons, which were interrupted by two introns located in the mature peptide region. Despite little similarity to other Kunitz-type toxins and a unique pattern of disulfide bridges, LmKTT-1a possessed a conserved Kunitz-type structural fold with one α-helix and two β-sheets. Comparison of the genomic organization, 3-D structure, and functional data of known toxins from the α-KTx, β-KTx, γ-KTx, and κ-KTx subfamily suggested that scorpion Kunitz-type potassium channel toxins might have evolved from a new ancestor that is completely different from the common ancestor of scorpion toxins with a CSα/β fold. Thus, these analyses provide evidence of a new scorpion potassium channel toxin subfamily, which we have named δ-KTx.

Conclusions/Significance

Our results highlight the genomic, structural, and evolutionary diversity of scorpion potassium channel toxins. These findings may accelerate the design and development of diagnostic and therapeutic peptide agents for human potassium channelopathies.     

Molecular cloning, genomic organization and functional characterization of a new short-chain potassium channel toxin-like peptide BmTxKS4 from Buthus martensii Karsch(BmK)

Scorpion venom contains many small polypeptide toxins, which can modulate Na(+), K(+), Cl(-), and Ca(2+) ion-channel conductance in the cell membrane. A full-length cDNA sequence encoding a novel type of K(+)-channel toxin (named BmTxKS4) was first isolated and identified from a venom gland cDNA library of Buthus martensii Karsch (BmK). The encoded precursor contains 78 amino acid residues including a putative signal peptide of 21 residues, propeptide of 11 residues, and a mature peptide of 43 residues with three disulfide bridges. BmTxKS4 shares the identical organization of disulfide bridges with all the other short-chain K(+)-channel scorpion toxins. By PCR amplification of the genomic region encoding BmTxKS4, it was shown that BmTxKS4 composed of two exons is disrupted by an intron of 87 bp inserted between the first and the second codes of Phe (F) in the encoding signal peptide region, which is completely identical with that of the characterized scorpion K(+)-channel ligands in the size, position, consensus junctions, putative branch point, and A+T content. The GST-BmTxKS4 fusion protein was successfully expressed in BL21 (DE3) and purified with affinity chromatography. About 2.5 mg purified recombinant BmTxKS4 (rBmTxKS4) protein was obtained by treating GST-BmTxKS4 with enterokinase and sephadex chromatography from 1 L bacterial culture. The electrophysiological activity of 1.0 microM rBmTxKS4 was measured and compared by whole cell patch-clamp technique. The results indicated that rBmTxKS4 reversibly inhibited the transient outward K(+) current (I(to)), delayed inward rectifier K(+) current (I(k1)), and prolonged the action potential duration of ventricular myocyte, but it has no effect on the action potential amplitude. Taken together, BmTxKS4 is a novel subfamily member of short-strain K(+)-channel scorpion toxin.