Diverse peptide presentation of rhesus macaque major histocompatibility complex class I Mamu-A 02 revealed by two peptide complex structures and insights into immune escape of simian immunodeficiency virus

Major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC I)-restricted CD8(+) T-cell responses play a pivotal role in anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) immunity and the control of viremia. The rhesus macaque is an important animal model for HIV-related research. Among the MHC I alleles of the rhesus macaque, Mamu-A 02 is prevalent, presenting in ≥20% of macaques. In this study, we determined the crystal structure of Mamu-A 02, the second structure-determined MHC I from the rhesus macaque after Mamu-A 01. The peptide presentation characteristics of Mamu-A 02 are exhibited in complex structures with two typical Mamu-A 02-restricted CD8(+) T-cell epitopes, YY9 (Nef159 to -167; YTSGPGIRY) and GY9 (Gag71 to -79; GSENLKSLY), derived from simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV). These two peptides utilize similar primary anchor residues (Ser or Thr) at position 2 and Tyr at position 9. However, the central region of YY9 is different from that of GY9, a difference that may correlate with the immunogenic variance of these peptides. Further analysis indicated that the distinct conformations of these two peptides are modulated by four flexible residues in the Mamu-A 02 peptide-binding groove. The rare combination of these four residues in Mamu-A 02 leads to a variant presentation for peptides with different residues in their central regions. Additionally, in the two structures of the Mamu-A 02 complex, we compared the binding of rhesus and human β(2) microglobulin (β(2)m) to Mamu-A 02. We found that the peptide presentation of Mamu-A 02 is not affected by the interspecies interaction with human β(2)m. Our work broadens the understanding of CD8(+) T-cell-specific immunity against SIV in the rhesus macaque.     

Loss of the TOR kinase Tor2 mimics nitrogen starvation and activates the sexual development pathway in fission yeast

Fission yeast has two TOR (target of rapamycin) kinases, namely Tor1 and Tor2. Tor1 is required for survival under stressed conditions, proper G(1) arrest, and sexual development. In contrast, Tor2 is essential for growth. To analyze the functions of Tor2, we constructed two temperature-sensitive tor2 mutants. Interestingly, at the restrictive temperature, these mutants mimicked nitrogen starvation by arresting the cell cycle in G(1) phase and initiating sexual development. Microarray analysis indicated that expression of nitrogen starvation-responsive genes was induced extensively when Tor2 function was suppressed, suggesting that Tor2 normally mediates a signal from the nitrogen source. As with mammalian and budding yeast TOR, we find that fission yeast TOR also forms multiprotein complexes analogous to TORC1 and TORC2. The raptor homologue, Mip1, likely forms a complex predominantly with Tor2, producing TORC1. The rictor/Avo3 homologue, Ste20, and the Avo1 homologue, Sin1, appear to form TORC2 mainly with Tor1 but may also bind Tor2. The Lst8 homologue, Wat1, binds to both Tor1 and Tor2. Our analysis shows, with respect to promotion of G(1) arrest and sexual development, that the loss of Tor1 (TORC2) and the loss of Tor2 (TORC1) exhibit opposite effects. This highlights an intriguing functional relationship among TOR kinase complexes in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe.     

Four distinct trimeric forms of light-harvesting complex II isolated from the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Photosynthesis Research - Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) is a specialized photosynthetic pathway present in a variety of genera including many epiphytic orchids. CAM is under circadian control...     

Production and purification of Clostridium perfringens alpha-toxin using a protein-hyperproducing strain, Bacillus brevis 47

Abstract Clostridium perfringens alpha-toxin was produced in a protein-hyperproducing strain, Bacillus brevis 47, by cloning the gene into the constructed expression-secretion vector which has the multiple promoters and the signal peptide coding region of an outer cell wall protein gene. The amount of alpha-toxin produced by the B. brevis 47 transformant carrying the gene was approximately 10 times greater than that produced by a B. subtilis transformant carrying the toxin gene. Biological activities and the N-terminal amino acid sequence of the toxin secreted by the B. brevis 47 transformant were identical to those of wild-type alpha-toxin.     

厦门港纤小裸甲藻（Takayama pulchellum）的形态、生长及分子特征

在2003年厦门港发生的一次裸甲藻赤潮中分离得到了纤小裸甲藻（Takayama pulchellum）,并对其形态学进行了光镜和电镜的观察,该株藻细胞个体较小,长约20～23μm,宽约14～20μm.藻细胞外表卵圆形,细胞上壳有一条明显的S形顶沟,顶沟是特异性的反S形.与模式种相比,这一株裸甲藻细胞核更靠上部,大部分细胞横沟都没有偏移.纤小裸甲藻在盐度为28时比生长率最大,达到0.42,随着盐度下降,比生长率也跟着下降,当盐度下降到16时,生长率为0.盐度范围在8～16时,超过80%的藻类能存活48h;当盐度低于4时,生长率和存活率都为0.24～27℃是纤小裸甲藻的最适生长温度,比生长率超过0.50,当温度升到30℃时,生长率急剧下降到约0.35.毒素测定结果显示该株裸甲藻不含麻痹性贝毒和神经性贝毒.本株纤小裸甲藻大亚基D1～D2区序列长度为721bp,与基因库中该种的一株相似种同源性超过99%.对18株裸甲藻转录间隔区（ITS）序列建立的系统进化树显示,纤小裸甲藻和Karlodinium micrum的距离最近,通过ITS序列建立的系统发育树大致能够把Akashiwo属、Karenia属、Karlodinium属和Takayama属与Gymnodinium属区分开来.