香蕉中Maasr1基因的生物信息学分析

目的:利用生物信息学方法对香蕉中Maasr1基因的理化性质、结构与功能进行预测,为其基因功能的研究提供线索,为下一步的实验策略提供参考。方法:用Protparam分析Maasr1编码蛋白的氨基酸序列组成、相对分子质量、等电点等理化性质;用InterProScan分析蛋白质结构域;用Scanprosite寻找Motif;用Predictprotein预测二级结构、疏水性;用Psort进行亚细胞定位;用ClustalW进行多序列比对;用Protfun分析蛋白质功能。结果:通过因特网数据库及生物信息学分析工具进行初步分析表明,Maasr1基因编码的蛋白是一种相对分子质量为16263.8、等电点为5.99的不稳定蛋白,富含Glu、Ala、His、Lys;二级结构主要是α螺旋,具有多种蛋白激酶磷酸化位点和1个豆蔻酰化位点,并具有很高的亲水性,定位于细胞核和细胞质。结论:Maasr1基因可能在植物的糖代谢、生长衰老、果实发育及非生物胁迫过程中起重要作用。     

羊流产嗜衣原体ompA基因克隆及生物信息学分析

分析羊流产嗜衣原体ompA基因结构并预测其编码蛋白的结构和功能。采用DNA Star、DNA MAN、vector NTI suite11.5序列分析软件和在线网站ExPASy分析该基因的结构和预测其编码蛋白的理化性质、亚细胞定位、一级结构修饰位点、二级结构特征及三维空间构象、潜在抗原表位等。结果显示,该基因全长1 170 bp,可编码389个氨基酸,编码蛋白理化性质较稳定,无各种亚细胞定位序列,含有多个能被其他酶修饰的位点,该蛋白以无规则卷曲为主,大部分氨基酸残基包埋在分子内部,含5个跨膜区,3个亲水性较强的抗原表位。ompA基因生物信息学分析结果为ompA蛋白功能的深入研究和新型多价疫苗的开发提供了基础数据。     

SARS-CoV-2非结构蛋白NSP14的生物信息学分析

目的:通过生物信息学手段预测新型冠状病毒(SARS-CoV-2)中非结构蛋白NSP14的性质特征。方法:以SARS-CoV-2的NSP14氨基酸序列为研究对象,通过Blastp与SARS-CoV的NSP14进行比对,并利用ProtParam、ProtScale、PredictProtein和SWISS-MODEL等生物信息学软件工具对NSP14的理化性质、结构和活性区域等进行预测。结果:SARS-CoV-2的NSP14由527个氨基酸残基构成,是一种可溶性亲水蛋白,与SARS-CoV中NSP14氨基酸序列的一致率达到95%。NSP14二级结构中无规则卷曲含量最高,该蛋白质包含了N-糖基化位点、cAMP或cGMP依赖蛋白激酶磷酸化位点、蛋白激酶C磷酸化位点、酪蛋白激酶Ⅱ磷酸化位点和N-豆蔻酰化位点等5个保守基序。NSP14同时具备N端核糖核酸外切酶和N7-甲基转移酶2个结构域,其活性区域的总面积和体积分别为1469.712?~2和1708.967?~3。结论:基于SARS-CoV-2中NSP14的氨基酸序列,运用生物信息学相关软件分析和预测了NSP14蛋白的性质和结构,为新型冠状病毒疫苗研制和药物筛选提供理论依据。     

结核分枝杆菌rpoB基因的生物信息学分析

通过生物信息学的方法对rpoB基因及其蛋白质序列的理化性质、亲/疏水性、信号肽、糖基化位点、磷酸化位点、二级结构和三级结构等进行预测分析。结果表明,RNA聚合酶β亚基为富含Val、Glu及Leu的非稳定亲水性蛋白,其中不含信号肽,磷酸化程度较高。α螺旋和无规则卷曲是RNA聚合酶β亚基的主要二级结构元件。用同源建模方法构建三维结构,通过Ramachandran Plot对模型进行评估得到了合理的RNA聚合酶β亚基结构模型。分析rpoB基因及其编码蛋白质的特征对于研究结核杆菌致病及耐利福平药物机理有着重要的意义。     

绵羊Wnt2蛋白生物信息学分析

Wnt2蛋白是Wnts蛋白家族的重要成员,参与卵巢的发育。本研究以NCBI蛋白质数据库中发布的Wnt2蛋白氨基酸序列为研究对象,采用生物信息学软件对Wnt2蛋白的理化性质、信号肽及跨膜结构域、糖基化和磷酸化位点、二级结构和功能结构域、亚细胞定位和功能结构分类、序列相似比对及聚类、三级结构进行预测分析。结果发现,绵羊Wnt2由360个氨基酸组成,其等电点为9.21,有糖基化位点和磷酸化位点,是一个有信号肽的稳定的蛋白;二级结构与三级结构一致,均显示Wnt2由α-螺旋、延伸链、无规则卷曲构成;绵羊Wnt2蛋白是细胞外蛋白,主要参与信号转导和转录调控。研究结果为深入探讨Wnt2基因及其编码蛋白的结构和功能提供相关依据。     

白及MSI1基因的序列分析及SSR多态性分析

通过对白及(Bletilla striata(Thunb.)Rchb.f.)的IRA1多拷贝抑制子(multicopy suppressor of IRA1,MSI1)基因序列进行生物信息学分析,并根据其核苷酸序列设计简单重复序列(simple sequence repeats,SSR)引物,进一步验证其在多个白及地方种中高度的保守性.运用Protparam、SOPMA、SWISS-MODEL等生物信息学软件分析白及MSI1蛋白的理化性质和结构域;DNAMAN、MEGA软件分别进行氨基酸多序列比对与系统进化分析;分析序列中的SSR位点并对多个白及品系进行PAGE检测和验证.结果显示,克隆得到的BSMSI1基因全长为3 700 bp,共编码了 601个氨基酸残基,预测蛋白质分子量为65 309.75 kg/moL,等电点为5.95,表现出高度的保守性,而且发现不同地区的白及BSMSI1基因在遗传上具有多样性.本研究拓展了对BSMSI1序列的认识,新开发标记能有效应用于MSI1基因的检测和育种鉴定,同时也可为其他物种的MSI1基因研究提供参考.     

人线粒体转录延伸因子蛋白结构与功能的生物信息学分析

[目的]基于生物信息学方法分析人线粒体转录延伸因子TEFM蛋白的结构和功能。[方法]检索Uniprot数据库中人线粒体转录终止因子TEFM蛋白的氨基酸序列,利用生物信息学方法对人TEFM的理化性质、物种间的蛋白质同源性、跨膜区、亲水性/疏水性、亚细胞定位、蛋白质二级结构、保守结构域、蛋白质三级结构、蛋白质相互作用进行预测与分析。[结果]人TEFM全长360个氨基酸,理论等电点9.39,属于TEFM蛋白超家族,不含跨膜区,属于亲水蛋白;人TEFM含有一个保守的螺旋-发夹-螺旋(HHH_3)结构域,二级结构以α-螺旋和无规则卷曲为主,三维建模空间结构与二级结构预测结果相符,进一步分析建模结果可靠。与人TEFM相互作用的蛋白质均为线粒体DNA转录因子或线粒体RNA聚合酶。[结论]人TEFM具有线粒体转录延伸因子蛋白超家族的典型结构,生物信息学分析结果对深入研究人TEFM在线粒体基因转录调控中的作用具有一定的理论指导意义。     

SARS-CoV推测N蛋白功能结构的生物信息学研究

目的:利用生物信息学方法理论分析不同地区来源的SARS冠状病毒(SARSCoV)推断N蛋白的基因组与氨基酸序列的差异及分子生物学特征以及基因突变对蛋白结构功能的影响。方法:针对GenBank上发布的来自不同国家地区的15条SARSCoV基因组序列,采用生物信息学软件分析其推测N蛋白的CDS和氨基酸序列,分别找出突变位点并预测其等电点及功能结构域。结果:SARSCoV推测N蛋白基因组序列存在5个变异位点导致蛋白序列有4个位点发生突变。在该蛋白上发现四个有意义的低成分复杂性区域;未发现卷曲螺旋、跨膜螺旋和信号肽序列。基因突变造成4条序列在功能位点数量上减少,但未影响抗原决定簇。预测发现两个保守的Domain和一个丝氨酸富集区。结论:不同地区来源的15条推测N蛋白序列的变异很少。基因突变导致部分序列功能位点数量发生改变,但未影响抗原决定簇的数量。     

鸡Sepp1基因及其蛋白理化性质和分子结构的生物信息学分析

硒是人和动物生命必需的微量元素,硒的生物学功能是通过硒蛋白来实现的,硒蛋白P(Selenoprotein P,Sepp1)是机体含量最多的硒蛋白。利用生物信息学相关分析软件和比较基因组学的方法,对鸡Sepp1基因序列和氨基酸序列进行理化性质和结构特征进行分析和预测,并与猪、人、鼠、羊、狗等物种进行比较。结果显示,鸡Sepp1的CDS序列和编码的蛋白质与禽类动物相似,但和哺乳类动物之间差别较大;Sepp1的功能特性与硒半胱氨酸含量有关,不同物种Sepp1中硒半胱氨酸含量存在着差异;鸡Sepp1蛋白在第170-200位氨基酸残基区域具有特定理化性质和分子结构,推测该序列可作为调控鸡Sepp1功能的靶位点。研究结果为以后深入研究鸡Sepp1的机体功能、开发富集Se的动物功能性食品提供理论参考。     

油菜GDSL脂肪酶基因BnGLIP的生物信息学分析

GDSL脂肪酶能催化酯类水解,在植物生理代谢及胁迫抵抗方面发挥着重要作用。通过生物信息学方法对油菜GDSL脂肪酶基因BnGLIP进行分析,分析了其序列特点及理化性质等,并对其生物学功能进行了预测。结果表明,BnGLIP是一个亲水性蛋白,具有跨膜区域同时含有信号肽,有糖基化位点和磷酸化位点,有4个保守结构框,α-螺旋和无规则卷曲是主要二级结构,进化树分析推断BnGLIP可能在油菜抵抗逆境途径中发挥作用。     

Accurate prediction of the functional significance of single nucleotide polymorphisms and mutations in the ABCA1 gene

The human genome contains an estimated 100,000 to 300,000 DNA variants that alter an amino acid in an encoded protein. However, our ability to predict which of these variants are functionally significant is limited. We used a bioinformatics approach to define the functional significance of genetic variation in the ABCA1 gene, a cholesterol transporter crucial for the metabolism of high density lipoprotein cholesterol. To predict the functional consequence of each coding single nucleotide polymorphism and mutation in this gene, we calculated a substitution position-specific evolutionary conservation score for each variant, which considers site-specific variation among evolutionarily related proteins. To test the bioinformatics predictions experimentally, we evaluated the biochemical consequence of these sequence variants by examining the ability of cell lines stably transfected with the ABCA1 alleles to elicit cholesterol efflux. Our bioinformatics approach correctly predicted the functional impact of greater than 94% of the naturally occurring variants we assessed. The bioinformatics predictions were significantly correlated with the degree of functional impairment of ABCA1 mutations (r² = 0.62, p = 0.0008). These results have allowed us to define the impact of genetic variation on ABCA1 function and to suggest that the in silico evolutionary approach we used may be a useful tool in general for predicting the effects of DNA variation on gene function. In addition, our data suggest that considering patterns of positive selection, along with patterns of negative selection such as evolutionary conservation, may improve our ability to predict the functional effects of amino acid variation.     

WW and SH3 domains, two different scaffolds to recognize proline-rich ligands

WW domains are small protein modules composed of approximately 40 amino acids. These domains fold as a stable, triple stranded beta-sheet and recognize proline-containing ligands. WW domains are found in many different signaling and structural proteins, often localized in the cytoplasm as well as in the cell nucleus. Based on analyses of seven structures of WW domains, we discuss their diverse binding preferences and sequence conservation patterns. While modeling WW domains for which structures have not been determined we uncovered a case of potential molecular and functional convergence between WW and SH3 domains. The binding surface of the modeled WW domain of Npw38 protein shows a remarkable similarity to the SH3 domain of Sem5 protein, confirming biochemical data on similar binding predilections of both domains.     

Cypher, a striated muscle-restricted PDZ and LIM domain-containing protein, binds to alpha-actinin-2 and protein kinase C.

We have cloned and characterized a novel striated muscle-restricted protein (Cypher) that has two mRNA splice variants, designated Cypher1 and Cypher2. Both proteins contain an amino-terminal PDZ domain. Cypher1, but not Cypher2, contains three carboxyl-terminal LIM domains and an amino acid repeat sequence that exhibits homology to a repeat sequence found in the largest subunit of RNA polymerase II. cypher1 and cypher2 mRNAs exhibited identical expression patterns. Both are exclusively expressed in cardiac and striated muscle in embryonic and adult stages. By biochemical assays, we have demonstrated that Cypher1 and Cypher2 bind to alpha-actinin-2 via their PDZ domains. This interaction has been further confirmed by immunohistochemical studies that demonstrated co-localization of Cypher and alpha-actinin at the Z-lines of cardiac muscle. We have also found that Cypher1 binds to protein kinase C through its LIM domains. Phosphorylation of Cypher by protein kinase C has demonstrated the functional significance of this interaction. Together, our data suggest that Cypher1 may function as an adaptor in striated muscle to couple protein kinase C-mediated signaling, via its LIM domains, to the cytoskeleton (alpha-actinin-2) through its PDZ domain.     

Coiled‐coil length: Size does matter

Protein evolution is governed by processes that alter primary sequence but also the length of proteins. Protein length may change in different ways, but insertions, deletions and duplications are the most common. An optimal protein size is a trade‐off between sequence extension, which may change protein stability or lead to acquisition of a new function, and shrinkage that decreases metabolic cost of protein synthesis. Despite the general tendency for length conservation across orthologous proteins, the propensity to accept insertions and deletions is heterogeneous along the sequence. For example, protein regions rich in repetitive peptide motifs are well known to extensively vary their length across species. Here, we analyze length conservation of coiled‐coils, domains formed by an ubiquitous, repetitive peptide motif present in all domains of life, that frequently plays a structural role in the cell. We observed that, despite the repetitive nature, the length of coiled‐coil domains is generally highly conserved throughout the tree of life, even when the remaining parts of the protein change, including globular domains. Length conservation is independent of primary amino acid sequence variation, and represents a conservation of domain physical size. This suggests that the conservation of domain size is due to functional constraints. Proteins 2015; 83:2162–2169. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Analysis of the levels of conservation of the J domain among the various types of DnaJ-like proteins

DnaJ-like proteins are defined by the presence of an approximately 73 amino acid region termed the J domain. This region bears similarity to the initial 73 amino acids of the Escherichia coli protein DnaJ. Although the structures of the J domains of E coli DnaJ and human heat shock protein 40 have been solved using nuclear magnetic resonance, no detailed analysis of the amino acid conservation among the J domains of the various DnaJ-like proteins has yet been attempted. A multiple alignment of 223 J domain sequences was performed, and the levels of amino acid conservation at each position were established. It was found that the levels of sequence conservation were particularly high in 'true' DnaJ homologues (ie, those that share full domain conservation with DnaJ) and decreased substantially in those J domains in DnaJ-like proteins that contained no additional similarity to DnaJ outside their J domain. Residues were also identified that could be important for stabilizing the J domain and for mediating the interaction with heat shock protein 70.     

RNA-binding domain of the key structural protein P7 for the Rice dwarf virus particle assembly

The Rice dwarf virus (RDV) P7 structural protein is the key protein in the RDV particle assembly. The P7 protein was digested partially or completely by Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease and/or Pseudomonasfragi Asp-N protease. The molecular mass and the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the polypeptide fragments of the P7 protein were determined by SDS-PAGE and the Edman degradation method, respectively. Then the polypeptides were located in the deduced amino acid sequence of the RDV P7 protein based on the nucleotide sequence information, with the knowledge of the specific cleavage sites of the Staphylococcus aureus V8 and Pseudomonasfragi Asp-N protease, and the two RNA-binding domains in the P7 protein were identified. Domain 1 was located in the residue 128-249 containing 122 amino acids and domain 2 was located in the residue 325-355 containing 31 amino acids. Thus, these two domains may play an important role in the virus particle assembly by contributing to the packaging of viral dsRNAs inside the particles. The two domains may be novel RNA-binding domains, because no amino acid sequences highly similar to the conservative sequences of known dsRNA-binding domains reported so far. The similarity between the motif of domain 1 and the motif of the DNA-binding protein suggests that the DNA-binding activity of the RDV P7 protein may be due to this sequence. The similarity between the motif of domain 1 and the motif of the RNA polymerase domain suggests that the P7 protein may also play a role in RNA synthesis, besides its function in the assembly and subsequent packaging of viral dsRNA into core particles.     

Identification of two separable modules in the duck hepatitis B virus core protein.

Hepadnavirus replication requires the concerted action of the polymerase and core proteins to ensure packaging of the RNA pregenome and DNA maturation. The arginine-rich C terminus of the core protein plays an essential role in both of these steps while being dispensable for nucleocapsid formation. In an attempt to identify other functional domains of the core protein, we performed a series of trans-complementation experiments analyzing the ability of duck and human hepatitis B virus (DHBV and HBV) core protein subunits to support the replication of a core-defective DHBV genome. Plasmids expressing the N-terminal amino acids 1 to 67 or the remaining C-terminal portion, amino acids 67 to 262, of the DHBV core protein were cotransfected into LMH cells along with a replication-deficient construct coding for the DHBV pregenome and polymerase. Neither the N nor the C terminus alone yielded replication-competent core particles. However, cotransfection of plasmids that separately expressed both regions restored a normal replication pattern. Furthermore, the DHBV C terminus but not the N terminus could be replaced by the corresponding domain of the HBV core protein in this assay. Finally, coexpression of the complete HBV core protein and the N terminus from DHBV resulted in DHBV replication, while the HBV core protein alone was not functional. Taken together, these findings suggest a modular organization of the DHBV core protein in which the C terminus is functionally conserved among different hepadnaviruses.