拟黑多刺蚁雌激素相关受体基因cDNA的克隆及生物信息学分析

雌激素相关受体（estrogen related receptors, ERRs）能够直接与类固醇激素受体共激活子（steroidhormone receptor coactivator,SRC）结合,激活靶基因的表达,与众多生理和发育过程有关.采用RT-PCR、RACE等方法从拟黑多刺蚁Polyrhachis vicina Roger克隆得到了雌激素相关受体基因的cDNA克隆,命名为pvERR （GenBank 登录号为EF474463）,并采用生物信息学方法对其cDNA和编码的蛋白质的理化性质、蛋白质二级及三级结构、分子系统进化关系等进行了预测和推断.结果表明：pvERR基因cDNA全长1 935 bp,包含一个1 305 bp的开放阅读框、245 bp的5′-UTR 和385 bp的3′-UTR,编码一个由434个氨基酸组成的蛋白质.pvERR的配体结合区（ligand binding domain,LBD）主要由两个β折叠和11个α螺旋（H1, H3～H12, 缺少H2）构成,这与哺乳类动物已知晶体结构的ERR_γ的配体结合区结构非常相似.pvERR氨基酸序列与其他昆虫ERRs氨基酸序列同源性很高,它与西方蜜蜂Apis mellifera雌激素相关受体amERR氨基酸序列相似性达到89.9 %;在进化关系上,pvERR与人类Homo sapiens ERRs的关系比果蝇Drosophila melanogaster雌激素相关受体dERR与人类的更近.本文可为进一步研究pvERR在昆虫发育中的功能提供有价值的信息.     

Estrogen-responsive nitroso-proteome in uterine artery endothelial cells: role of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and estrogen receptor-β

Covalent adduction of a NO moiety to cysteines (S‐nitrosylation or SNO) is a major route for NO to directly regulate protein functions. In uterine artery endothelial cells (UAEC), estradiol‐17β (E2) rapidly stimulated protein SNO that maximized within 10–30 min post‐E2 exposure. E2‐bovine serum albumin stimulated protein SNO similarly. Stimulation of SNO by both was blocked by ICI 182, 780, implicating mechanisms linked to specific estrogen receptors (ERs) localized on the plasma membrane. E2‐induced protein SNO was attenuated by selective ERβ, but not ERα, antagonists. A specific ERβ but not ERα agonist was able to induce protein SNO. Overexpression of ERβ, but not ERα, significantly enhanced E2‐induced SNO. Overexpression of both ERs increased basal SNO, but did not further enhance E2‐stimulated SNO. E2‐induced SNO was inhibited by N‐nitro‐L ‐arginine‐methylester and specific endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) siRNA. Thus, estrogen‐induced SNO is mediated by endogenous NO via eNOS and mainly ERβ in UAEC. We further analyzed the nitroso‐proteomes by CyDye switch technique combined with two‐dimensional (2D) fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis. Numerous nitrosoprotein (spots) were visible on the 2D gel. Sixty spots were chosen and subjected to matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization‐time of flight mass spectrometry. Among the 54 identified, nine were novel SNO‐proteins, 32 were increased, eight were decreased, and the rest were unchanged by E2. Tandom MS identified Cys139 as a specific site for SNO in GAPDH. Pathway analysis of basal and estrogen‐responsive nitroso‐proteomes suggested that SNO regulates diverse protein functions, directly implicating SNO as a novel mechanism for estrogen to regulate uterine endothelial function and thus uterine vasodilatation. J. Cell. Physiol. 227: 146–159, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Plant G proteins interact with endoplasmic reticulum luminal protein receptors to regulate endoplasmic reticulum retrieval

Maintaining endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis is essential for the production of biomolecules. ER retrieval, i.e., the retrograde transport of compounds from the Golgi to the ER, is one of the pathways that ensures ER homeostasis. However, the mechanisms underlying the regulation of ER retrieval in plants remain largely unknown. Plant ERD2‐like proteins (ERD2s) were recently suggested to function as ER luminal protein receptors that mediate ER retrieval. Here, we demonstrate that heterotrimeric G protein signaling is involved in ERD2‐mediated ER retrieval. We show that ERD2s interact with the heterotrimeric G protein Gα and Gγ subunits at the Golgi. Silencing of Gα, Gβ, or Gγ increased the retention of ER luminal proteins. Furthermore, overexpression of Gα, Gβ, or Gγ caused ER luminal proteins to escape from the ER, as did the co‐silencing of ERD2a and ERD2b. These results suggest that G proteins interact with ER luminal protein receptors to regulate ER retrieval.     

Oestrogen regulates proliferation and differentiation of human islet‐derived precursor cells through oestrogen receptor alpha

E2 (oestradiol‐17β) is an important hormone that regulates various cell functions including insulin production. hIPCs (human islet‐derived precursor cells) are capable of proliferating and differentiating into cells that secrete insulin in response to glucose in vivo and in vitro. However, the effect of E2 on hIPCs is currently unclear. In this study, we found that ERα (oestrogen receptor alpha), but not ERβ, was expressed on hIPCs, and E2 promoted the proliferation and inhibited the differentiation of adult hIPCs. Although fetal hIPCs also express ERα, no effect of E2 on the fetal hIPCs was observed, suggesting differing roles of E2 at different stages of pancreatic development. This study indicates that E2 may be one of the key factors that control the turnover of adult pancreatic β cells by regulating the proliferation and differentiation of adult hIPCs through ERα.     

ERRβ splice variants differentially regulate cell cycle progression

Orphan receptors comprise nearly half of all members of the nuclear receptor superfamily. Despite having broad structural similarities to the classical estrogen receptors, estrogen-related receptors (ERRs) have their own unique DNA response elements and functions. In this study, we focus on 2 ERRβ splice variants, short form ERRβ (ERRβsf) and ERRβ2, and identify their differing roles in cell cycle regulation. Using DY131 (a synthetic agonist of ERRβ), splice-variant selective shRNA, and exogenous ERRβsf and ERRβ2 cDNAs, we demonstrate the role of ERRβsf in mediating the G1 checkpoint through p21. We also show ERRβsf is required for DY131-induced cellular senescence. A key novel finding of this study is that ERRβ2 can mediate a G2/M arrest in response to DY131. In the absence of ERRβ2, the DY131-induced G2/M arrest is reversed, and this is accompanied by p21 induction and a G1 arrest. This study illustrates novel functions for ERRβ splice variants and provides evidence for splice variant interaction.     

Primary and tumor mouse Leydig cells exposed to polychlorinated naphthalenes mixture: Effect on estrogen related-receptors expression,intracellular calcium level and sex hormones secretion

We report the effects of polychlorinated napthalanes (PCNs) on the mRNA expression of estrogen-related receptors (ERRs) α, β and γ, calcium (Ca2 + ) concentration, and sex steroid secretion in mouse primary and tumor Leydig cells. The cells were exposed to a mixture of PCNs (10 nM) alone or in combination with one of sex steroid receptor antagonists; 182,780 (ICI; 10 μM); hydroxyflutamide (HF; 10⁻⁴ M) and G-coupled estrogen receptor antagonist (G15; 10 nM) respectively. The expression of mRNAs and protein for ERRα, β, and γ was detected in primary and tumor Leydig cells. The expression of ERRs was always lower in primary Leydig cells. Exposure of Leydig cells to PCNs significantly increased the expression of ERRs mRNA irrespective of the cell type. Concomitantly, an increased concentration of Ca2+ and sex steroids was revealed in exposed cells. After ICI, HF or G15 was added no changes in expression of ERRs was found. In Leydig cells changes in ERRs expression at mRNA level are clearly linked to changes in Ca2+ level and steroid secretion. Estrogen and androgen receptors are not involved in PCNs action in Leydig cells. The effect of PCNs on mouse Leydig cells is independent on the cell of origin (primary or tumor).