The dimeric transmembrane domain of prolyl dipeptidase DPP-IV contributes to its quaternary structure and enzymatic activities

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP‐IV) is a drug target in the treatment of human type II diabetes. It is a type II membrane protein with a single transmembrane domain (TMD) anchoring the extracellular catalytic domain to the membrane. DPP‐IV is active as a dimer, with two dimer interacting surfaces located extracellularly. In this study, we demonstrate that the TM of DPP‐IV promotes DPP‐IV dimerization and rescues monomeric DPP‐IV mutants into partial dimers, which is specific and irreplaceable by TMs of other type II membrane proteins. By bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) and peptide electrophoresis, we found that the TM domain of DPP‐IV is dimerized in mammalian cells and in vitro. The TM dimer interaction is very stable, based on our results with TM site‐directed mutagenesis. None of the mutations, including the introduction of two prolines, resulted in their complete disruption to monomers. However, these TM proline mutations result in a significant reduction of DPP‐IV enzymatic activity, comparable to what is found with mutations near the active site. A systematic analysis of TM structures deposited in the Protein Data Bank showed that prolines in the TM generally produce much bigger kinking angles than occur in nonproline‐containing TMs. Thus, the proline‐dependent reduction in enzyme activity may result from propagated conformational changes from the TM to the extracellular active site. Our results demonstrate that TM dimerization and conformation contribute significantly to the structure and activity of DPP‐IV. Optimal enzymatic activity of DPP‐IV requires an optimal interaction of all three dimer interfaces, including its TM.     

共表达SHMT和TPase载体的构建及双酶法合成L-色氨酸

利用重组大肠杆菌表达丝氨酸羟甲基转移酶(SHMT)和色氨酸酶(TPase),并利用双酶法合成L-色氨酸。采用PCR从大肠杆菌K12基因组中扩增上述两种酶的基因,利用pET-28a载体,构建单表达重组质粒pET-SHMT、pET-TPase和共表达重组质粒pET-ST。将上述3种重组质粒转入大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)进行表达。SDS-PAGE结果表明,单表达基因工程菌BL21(DE3)/pET-SHMT和BL21(DE3)/pET-TPase分别在47kDa(SHMT)和50kDa(TPase)处有蛋白表达带;共表达基因工程菌BL21(DE3)/pET-ST在上述两处均有蛋白表达带。与宿主菌相比,单表达SHMT基因工程菌产酶活性提高了6.4倍;单表达TPase基因工程菌产酶活性提高了8.4倍;共表达SHMT和TPase基因工程菌产酶活性分别提高了6.1和6.9倍。利用工程菌所产酶进行双菌双酶法和单菌双酶法合成L-色氨酸。两菌双酶合成L-色氨酸的累积量达到41.5g/L,甘氨酸转化率为83.3%,吲哚转化率为92.5%;单菌双酶合成L-色氨酸的累积量达到28.9g/L,甘氨酸转化率为82.7%,吲哚转化率为82.9%。     

Turbulent-flow chromatography coupled on-line to fast high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry for simultaneous determination of verticine,verticinone and isoverticine in rat plasma

A method based on the on-line turbulent-flow chromatography and fast high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (TFC–LC/MS) was developed for sensitive and high throughput pharmacokinetic study of traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs). In this method, an on-line extraction column (Waters Oasis HLB) and a fast HPLC column with sub-2 μm particle size (Agilent Zorbax StableBond-C₁₈, 4.6 mm × 50 mm, 1.8 μm) in a column-switching set-up were utilized. HLB is a reversed-phase extraction column with hydrophilic–lipophilic balanced copolymer (2.1 mm × 20 mm, 25 μm particle size), which will exhibit some turbulent-flow properties at a high-flow rate. The method combines the speed and robustness of turbulent-flow extraction and the sensitivity and separation efficiency of fast HPLC–MS to analyze multiple and trace constituents of TCMs in plasma matrix. This method was successfully applied for pharmacokinetic study of verticine, verticinone and isoverticine, the chemical markers of Fritillaria thunbergii, after oral administration of total steroidal alkaloids extract of F. thunbergii to rats. Each plasma sample was analyzed within 7 min. The method demonstrated good linearity (R > 0.999) ranged from 0.505 to 96.0 ng/mL with satisfactory accuracy and precision, and the lower limit of quantifications of verticine, verticinone and isoverticine were estimated to be 0.120, 0.595 and 0.505 ng/mL, respectively. These results indicate that the proposed method is fast, sensitive, and feasible for pharmacokinetic study of TCMs.     

Moesin‐dependent cytoskeleton remodelling is associated with an anaplastic phenotype of pancreatic cancer

Cell motility is controlled by the dynamic cytoskeleton and its related proteins, such as members of the ezrin/radixin/moesin (ERM) family, which act as signalling molecules inducing cytoskeleton remodelling. Although ERM proteins have been identified as important factors in various malignancies, functional redundancy between these proteins has hindered the dissection of their individual contribution. The aim of the present study was to analyse the functional role of moesin in pancreatic malignancies. Cancer cells of different malignant lesions of human and transgenic mice pancreata were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. For functional analysis, cell growth, adhesion and invasion assays were carried out after transient and stable knock‐down of moesin expression in pancreatic cancer cells. In vivo tumourigenicity was determined using orthotopic and metastatic mouse tumour models. We now show that moesin knock‐down increases migration, invasion and metastasis and influences extracellular matrix organization of pancreatic cancer. Moesin‐regulated migratory activities of pancreatic cancer cells were in part promoted through cellular translocation of β‐catenin, and re‐distribution and organization of the cytoskeleton. Analysis of human and different transgenic mouse pancreatic cancers demonstrated that moesin is a phenotypic marker for anaplastic carcinoma, suggesting that this ERM protein plays a specific role in pancreatic carcinogenesis.     

Efficient synthesis of the tRNA nucleoside preQ0, 7-cyano-7-deazaguanosine, via microwave-assisted iodo→carbonitrile exchange

The naturally occurring tRNA nucleoside preQ(0), 7-cyano-7-deazaguanosine, which is a central intermediate for other natural occurring 7-deazapurine nucleosides was synthesized via a copper(I)-ion-mediated iodo→carbonitrile exchange. The reaction was performed on the easily accessible 7-iodo-7-deazaguanosine under microwave conditions. The overall reaction yield was 30% starting with the glycosylation reaction of the nucleobase. Corresponding 2'-deoxyribonucleosides were prepared following the same route.     

Synthesis,Structure, DNA‐Binding Properties,and Cytotoxicity of Ruthenium(II) Polypyridyl Complexes

Many ruthenium(II) complexes show high antitumor activities, and the in vitro antitumor activities are usually related to DNA binding. We designed and synthesized two Ru^II polypyridyl complexes, [Ru(dmp)₂(fpp)]²⁺ (dmp=2,9‐dimethyl‐1,10‐phenanthroline; fpp=2‐[3,4‐(difluoromethylenedioxy)phenyl]imidazo[4,5‐f] [1,10]phenanthroline and [Ru(phen)₂(fpp)]²⁺ (phen=1,10‐phenanthroline). The DNA‐binding properties of these complexes have been investigated by spectroscopic titration, DNA melting experiments, viscosity measurements, and photoactivated cleavage. The mechanism studies of photocleavage revealed that singlet oxygen (¹O₂) and superoxide anion radical (O$\rm{{_{2}^{{^\cdot} -}}}$ ) may play an important role in the photocleavage. The cytotoxicity of complexes 1 and 2 have been evaluated by MTT (3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyl‐2H‐tetrazolium bromide) method; complex 2 shows slightly higher anticancer potency than 1 does against all the cell lines screened.     

腺病毒介导的人巨细胞病毒UL49基因小鼠模型的建立

建立表达HCMV UL49 基因的转基因小鼠,为抗病毒药物研究提供有效的实验动物模型。本实验将UL49-GFP基因插入腺病毒穿梭质粒pDC316中,构建重组质粒pDC316-UL49-GFP,与腺病毒骨架质粒pBHGloxΔE1,3Cre 通过脂质体介导共转染293 细胞,重组产生腺病毒Ad-UL49-GFP, 经PCR和Western Blot鉴定正确后,大量扩增、纯化,制备高滴度重组腺病毒。纯化腺病毒经尾静脉注射感染小鼠,通过荧光定量PCR 和Western blot 方法,检测UL49 基因在小鼠体内组织分布和表达时相。结果显示UL49基因在小鼠的心、肝、脾、肺、肾组织均有表达,并且表达量由高到低顺序依次是：肝、脾、肾、心、肺,在腺病毒感染第3天在各靶器官表达水平较高,此后逐渐下降,第14天时仅存在肝和脾中。表明表达UL49基因的小鼠模型构建成功。小鼠模型的成功建立为下一步筛选以UL49基因为靶的抗病毒药物奠定了基础。     

蛋白亚硝基化研究进展及其在植物抗病中的作用

蛋白亚硝基化（S-nitrosylation）是一种在一氧化氮作用下与蛋白半胱氨酸巯基共价结合,使巯基-SH转化为-SNO的反应。作为一种氧化还原依赖的翻译后调控形式,蛋白亚硝基化对多种蛋白的功能具有调节作用,越来越多的证据表明蛋白亚硝基化在植物抗病中发挥重要的作用。简要介绍了蛋白巯基亚硝基化的特点、检测方法、功能研究以及在植物抗病调节方面的最新进展。