盘状结构域受体2胞外区的可溶性表达、纯化和功能鉴定

盘状结构域受体2（discoidin domain receptor 2,DDR2）是一种与肿瘤细胞转移相关的蛋白酷氨酸激酶,其配体为纤维性胶原,胶原对DDR2的活化上调细胞中基质金属蛋白酶1（MMP－1）的表达。为研究DDR2在类风温性关节炎(rteumatoid arthritis,RA）软骨破坏和肿瘤转移中的作用,尝试了在大肠杆菌中表达一段DDR2胞外区（命名DB）,并进行了可溶性部分的纯化和功能鉴定,以备将来用作DDR2的特异性阻断剂。获得了一株表达GST－DB融合蛋白的大肠杆菌克隆;其表达的蛋白质中可溶性部分约占全部融合蛋白的13％;经GST融合蛋白特异性亲和珠纯化后,获得了纯度约86.1%的可溶性GST－DB融合蛋白;竞争结合抑制实验显示,GST－DB具有阻断Ⅱ型胶原和细胞表面天然DDR2受体结合的功能;细胞实验表明,GST－DB有抑制Ⅱ型胶原刺激下的类风湿性关节炎滑膜细胞和NIH3T3细胞分泌MMP－1的作用。以上结果提示,表达的融保蛋白GST－DB具有抑制天然DDR2功能的作用;DDR2在滑膜细胞和NIH3T3细胞中介导Ⅱ型胶原刺激下的MMP－1的分泌。     

蛋白酪氨酸激酶DDRs的结构和功能研究进展

盘状结构域受体酪氨酸激酶（discoidin domain receptor tyrosine kinases,DDRs）是一类受体型蛋白酪氨酸激酶（protein tyrosine kinases,RTKs）,在哺乳类有两种,分别为DDR1和DDR2。它们在多种组织都有表达,DDR1在某些肿瘤组织中表达增高。DDRs在结构上有两大特点：一是胞外区有一盘状结构域（discoidin region,DR）,二是胞外区有一长的邻跨膜区（justatransmembrane region,JR）。多种胶原都是它们的配体。胶原与DDRs的结合可使DDRs发生延迟而持久的磷酸化,其中胶原与DDR2的结合可上调MMP－1表达。     

DDR2结构域与人IgG Fc融合载体的构建、表达与蛋白纯化

目的:构建DDR2与人IgG Fc融合的分泌型真核表达载体,验证其表达,纯化具有生物活性的分泌型蛋白。方法:分析DDR2蛋白质结构功能域,设计载体构建策略;扩增DDR2胞外结构域片段,将其克隆至Psec Tag2B载体(带有人IgG Fc标签)中,在293T细胞验证其表达;用Protein G纯化柱纯化蛋白。结果:DDR2胞外结构域DS/Fc融合载体测序正确,转染293T细胞中后可成功分泌到细胞上清中,进一步用亲和层析法纯化得到高浓度蛋白。结论:重组载体特异性分泌DDR2胞外区蛋白,引入的Link序列是稳定分泌蛋白构象的基础,融合了人IgG Fc序列,可以作为DDR2配体拮抗剂靶向抑制DDR2与其天然配体的相互作用,对临床研究有重要作用。     

类风湿性关节炎成纤维样滑膜(FLS)细胞中DDR2相互作用分子的筛选鉴定及其对FLS细胞侵袭能力的影响

目的:在类风湿性关节炎(RA)成纤维样滑膜(FLS)细胞中筛选并鉴定盘状结构域受体2(DDR2)的相互作用蛋白,并研究其对FLS细胞侵袭能力的影响。方法:首先利用免疫沉淀结合SDS-PAGE分离鉴定DDR2互作蛋白波形蛋白,进而采用免疫沉淀和激光共聚焦实验,进一步验证波形蛋白是DDR2的相互作用蛋白,最后采用Transwell实验考察波形蛋白对RA FLS细胞侵袭能力的影响。结果:Ⅱ型胶原刺激引起RA FLS细胞中DDR2的磷酸化水平升高,DDR2被活化,活化前后共有8个DDR2相互作用蛋白发生变化,经质谱分析,其中变化最大的是波形蛋白和膜联蛋白A2;在HEK293T细胞中,免疫共沉淀结果显示Fc DDR2与波形蛋白存在相互作用;激光共聚焦结果显示在RA FLS细胞中,DDR2和波形蛋白存在共定位;下调RA FLS细胞中波形蛋白的表达后,细胞的侵袭能力较对照组显著下降。结论:波形蛋白是DDR2的相互作用蛋白,Ⅱ型胶原可引起RA FLS细胞的DDR2磷酸化水平升高,并通过波形蛋白促进RA FLS细胞的侵袭。     

基质金属蛋白酶-2和p185HER-2/neu蛋白在卵巢癌中的研究进展

基质金属蛋白酶-2(Matrix Metalloproteinase-2,MMP-2)是基质金属蛋白酶家族的重要成员,能降解明胶蛋白和Ⅳ型、V型胶原,在细胞外基质的降解过程中起着关键作用,能够促进肿瘤细胞发生侵袭和转移。p185HER-2/neu蛋白是一种相对分子质量185×103的跨膜糖蛋白,由HER-2/neu基因编码,属于酪氨酸激酶受体家族,p185HER-2/neu蛋白在人类多种癌症中存在扩增及过量表达,并与肿瘤的侵袭性表型及生存期短密切相关。就基质金属蛋白酶-2和p185HER-2/neu蛋白的生物学特性,与卵巢癌侵袭转移和预后的关系及MMP-2和p185HER-2/neu蛋白的研究情况等予以综述。     

抗α2δ1抗体/NanoLuc融合蛋白的制备及其特性初步验证

肿瘤干细胞的存在被认为是肿瘤耐药和复发转移的根本原因,因此研发肿瘤干细胞的活体标记示踪技术动态监测该类细胞的存在具有重要的科学价值。实验室前期发现电压门控钙离子通道α2δ1亚基是肝细胞癌干细胞的特异表面标志物,文中研究探讨利用针对α2δ1的单克隆抗体1B50-1的单链可变域与新型荧光素酶NanoLuc形成融合蛋白1B50-1scFv-NanoLuc,在体外验证其对α2δ1阳性肝癌细胞结合的特性和荧光素酶活性。1B50-1scFv和NanoLuc序列通过重叠PCR技术扩增获得1B50-1scFv-NanoLuc的融合片段,并在C端添加Flag标签肽 (命名为1B50-1scFv-NanoLucFlag),然后采用常规DNA克隆技术将融合片段克隆到真核表达载体。利用聚乙烯亚胺(Polyethyleneimine,PEI) 将1B50-1scFv-NanoLucFlag真核表达载体转染至悬浮型人胚肾293细胞 (FreeStyle 293F)。蛋白免疫印记实验证明融合蛋白在FreeStyle 293F细胞培养上清中表达,其分子量约为50 kDa。融合蛋白经ANTI-FLAG? M2亲和层析柱纯化后,经流式细胞仪法测定融合蛋白1B50-1scFv-NanoLucFlag对高表达α2δ1的Hep-12肝癌细胞具有高亲和活性。进一步,1B50-1scFv-NanoLucFlag与高表达α2δ1的肝癌细胞结合后显示出强的荧光素酶活性。这些结果表明融合蛋白1B50-1scFv-NanoLucFlag可用于α2δ1阳性肝癌干细胞的标记并可通过荧光素酶化学发光法进行示踪。     

B型肉毒毒素受体结合区C片段在大肠杆菌中的表达及免疫原性研究

目的:在大肠杆菌中表达、纯化B型肉毒毒素受体结合区C片段(BHc-C),研究其免疫原性。方法:将BHc-C基因克隆到原核表达载体pGEX-4T-1中,转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3),经IPTG诱导表达GST-BHc-C融合蛋白并通过亲和纯化;以纯化的融合蛋白免疫BALB/c小鼠制备免疫血清,采用ELISA检测免疫血清的效价并测定其抗B型肉毒毒素中和活性。结果:在大肠杆菌中表达了GST-BHc-C融合蛋白;以该融合蛋白免疫小鼠获得高效价免疫血清,且该免疫血清具有中和活性。结论:获得了GST-BHc-C融合蛋白,并证实其具有免疫原性。     

抗Her-2-scFv-SEC2融合免疫毒素的构建和功能研究

用基因工程方法,将金黄色葡萄球菌肠毒素 C2 与抗人表皮生长因子受体 HER-2 单链抗体 scFv-B1,以一连接短肽连接,构建融合免疫毒素 B-L-SEC2,并用改进的新型表达载体 pASK75-EX,在大肠杆菌 BL21(ED3)中表达. 以不溶性包涵体形式表达的目的蛋白经变性后以镍离子螯和层析纯化,并以透析法进行复性. 流式细胞术和 MTT 实验结果表明,纯化复性的融合免疫毒素 B-L-SEC2,在体外具有与 HER-2 过表达的靶细胞 SK-Br-3 特异性结合的活性,并对该细胞产生显著的特异性生长抑制作用.     

突变型人IL-18的肿瘤靶向性改造及真核表达

为了构建肿瘤靶向性的人突变型IL-18新基因并进行真核表达,以重组PCR技术构建EGF-IL-18融合基因,利用 Bac-to-Bac杆状病毒表达系统和Sf 9昆虫细胞株（来自秋天草地夜蛾）表达融合基因,纯化表达产物,并以IFN-γ诱导实验和EGFR竞争结合实验初步评价融合蛋白的生物活性。测序证明构建的融合基因为原设计EGF-IL-18融合基因。SDS-PAGE和Western blot证明EGF-IL-18融合基因在昆虫细胞中获得表达,表达的融合蛋白的Mr约为20 000,与理论值相符,纯化后融合蛋白具有特异的IL-18单抗结合活性。IFN-γ诱导实验和EGFR竞争结合实验显示,该融合蛋白具有肿瘤导向性和抗肿瘤活性。表明对突变型IL-18成功地进行了肿瘤导向性改造并使其在真核细胞获得表达。     

DDR1在人垂体腺瘤组织中的表达及其临床意义

目的:检测盘状结构域受体1(DDR1)在垂体腺瘤中的蛋白表达水平并探讨其临床意义。方法:收集81例手术切除的垂体腺瘤和5例正常垂体前叶组织标本及其临床资料,应用免疫组化SP法检测和比较其DDR1蛋白的表达情况,并分析垂体腺瘤组织中DDR1蛋白的表达与患者临床及病理特征的相关性。结果:垂体腺瘤组织中DDR1的阳性表达率为64.2%(52/81例);侵袭性垂体腺瘤组织中DDR1蛋白的阳性表达率显著高于非侵袭性垂体腺瘤(x2=16.40,P=0.000);功能性垂体腺瘤组织中DDR1蛋白的阳性表达率显著高于无功能性垂体腺瘤(x2=18.06,P=0.000);直径≥10 mm垂体腺瘤组织中DDR1蛋白的阳性表达率显著高于直径10 mm的垂体腺瘤(x2=11.68,P=0.003)。结论:DDR1的表达与垂体腺瘤的侵袭性、内分泌类型和肿瘤大小有关,可能在垂体腺瘤发病机制中起重要作用。     

Regulation of collagen fibrillogenesis by cell-surface expression of kinase dead DDR2

The assembly of collagen fibers, the major component of the extracellular matrix (ECM), governs a variety of physiological processes. Collagen fibrillogenesis is a tightly controlled process in which several factors, including collagen binding proteins, have a crucial role. Discoidin domain receptors (DDR1 and DDR2) are receptor tyrosine kinases that bind to and are phosphorylated upon collagen binding. The phosphorylation of DDRs is known to activate matrix metalloproteases, which in turn cleave the ECM. In our earlier studies, we established a novel mechanism of collagen regulation by DDRs; that is, the extracellular domain (ECD) of DDR2, when used as a purified, soluble protein, inhibits collagen fibrillogenesis in-vitro. To extend this novel observation, the current study investigates how the DDR2-ECD, when expressed as a membrane-anchored, cell-surface protein, affects collagen fibrillogenesis by cells. We generated a mouse osteoblast cell line that stably expresses a kinase-deficient form of DDR2, termed DDR2/-KD, on its cell surface. Transmission electron microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and hydroxyproline assays demonstrated that the expression of DDR2/-KD reduced the rate and abundance of collagen deposition and induced significant morphological changes in the resulting fibers. Taken together, our observations extend the functional roles that DDR2 and possibly other membrane-anchored, collagen-binding proteins can play in the regulation of cell adhesion, migration, proliferation and in the remodeling of the extracellular matrix.     

Function of discoidin domain receptor I in HGF-induced branching tubulogenesis of MDCK cells in collagen gel

Discoidin domain receptor I (DDR1) is a receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) and serves as the receptor for collagen in addition to integrins. It has been well established that Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells develop branching tubules in three-dimensional collagen gel in the presence of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). MDCK cells normally express DDR1. However, the function of DDR1 in this in vitro model system has not been understood. We established stable-transfected MDCK cells harboring DDR1a, DDR1b, or dominant-negative (DN) DDR1 and cultured these transfectants in collagen gel with HGF (2 ng/ml) for the studies of branching tubule morphogenesis. Whether DDR1 played roles in cell growth, apoptosis, and migration was examined. We found that cells over-expressing DDR1a and DDR1b developed shorter tubules with fewer branches in collagen gel. In contrast, DN DDR1 over-expressed cells could not form tubule structure, but instead developed mostly cell aggregates with multiple long extended processes. Over-expression of DDR1a and 1b in MDCK cells resulted in reduction of cell growth when cells were cultured on collagen gel-coated dishes or collagen gel. On the other hand, DN DDR1 enhanced cell death on collagen gel, suggesting that DDR1 is involved in maintenance of cell survival. Moreover, over-expression of DDR1a and DDR1b markedly reduced collagen-induced migration capability, whereas DN DDR1 enhanced it, suggesting that DDR1a and 1b may serve as a negative regulator for alpha2beta1 integrin during migration on collagen substratum. These results indicate that DDR1 plays important role in regulation of HGF-induced branching tubulogenesis by modulating cell proliferation, survival, and cell migration.     

Collagen type I selectively activates ectodomain shedding of the discoidin domain receptor 1: involvement of Src tyrosine kinase

The discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1) is a receptor tyrosine kinase that is highly expressed in breast carcinoma cells. Upon binding to collagen, DDR1 undergoes autophosphorylation followed by limited proteolysis to generate a tyrosine phosphorylated C-terminal fragment (CTF). Although it was postulated that this fragment is formed as a result of shedding of the N-terminal ectodomain, collagen-dependent release of the DDR1 extracellular domain has not been demonstrated. We now report that, in conjunction with CTF formation, collagen type I stimulates concentration-dependent, saturable shedding of the DDR1 ectodomain from two carcinoma cell lines, and from transfected cells. In contrast, collagen did not promote cleavage of other transmembrane proteins including the amyloid precursor protein (APP), ErbB2, and E-cadherin. Collagen-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation and proteolysis of DDR1 in carcinoma cells were reduced by a pharmacologic Src inhibitor. Moreover, expression of a dominant negative Src mutant protein in human embryonic kidney cells inhibited collagen-dependent phosphorylation and shedding of co-transfected DDR1. The hydroxamate-based metalloproteinase inhibitor TAPI-1 (tumor necrosis factor-alpha protease inhibitor-1), and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-3, also blocked collagen-evoked DDR1 shedding, but did not reduce levels of the phosphorylated CTF. Neither shedding nor CTF formation were affected by the gamma-secretase inhibitor, L-685,458. The results demonstrate that collagen-evoked ectodomain cleavage of DDR1 is mediated in part by Src-dependent activation or recruitment of a matrix- or disintegrin metalloproteinase, and that CTF formation can occur independently of ectodomain shedding. Delayed shedding of the DDR1 ectodomain may represent a mechanism that limits DDR1-dependent cell adhesion and migration on collagen matrices.     

Discoidin Domain Receptor 1 Contributes to Tumorigenesis through Modulation of TGFBI Expression

Discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1) is a member of the receptor tyrosine kinase family. The receptor is activated upon binding to its ligand, collagen, and plays a crucial role in many fundamental processes such as cell differentiation, adhesion, migration and invasion. Although DDR1 is expressed in many normal tissues, upregulated expression of DDR1 in a variety of human cancers such as lung, colon and brain cancers is known to be associated with poor prognosis. Using shRNA silencing, we assessed the oncogenic potential of DDR1. DDR1 knockdown impaired tumor cell proliferation and migration in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. Microarray analysis of tumor cells demonstrated upregulation of TGFBI expression upon DDR1 knockdown, which was subsequently confirmed at the protein level. TGFBI is a TGFβ-induced extracellular matrix protein secreted by the tumor cells and is known to act either as a tumor promoter or tumor suppressor, depending on the tumor environment. Here, we show that exogenous addition of recombinant TGFBI to BXPC3 tumor cells inhibited clonogenic growth and migration, thus recapitulating the phenotypic effect observed from DDR1 silencing. BXPC3 tumor xenografts demonstrated reduced growth with DDR1 knockdown, and the same xenograft tumors exhibited an increase in TGFBI expression level. Together, these data suggest that DDR1 expression level influences tumor growth in part via modulation of TGFBI expression. The reciprocal expression of DDR1 and TGFBI may help to elucidate the contribution of DDR1 in tumorigenesis and TGFBI may also be used as a biomarker for the therapeutic development of DDR1 specific inhibitors.     

Phosphoproteomic analysis identifies insulin enhancement of discoidin domain receptor 2 phosphorylation

The discoidin domain receptors (DDRs) are collagen binding receptor tyrosine kinases that play important roles in cell migration, invasion and adhesion. Crosstalk between growth factor signaling and components of the extracellular matrix are drivers of cellular function but the integrated signaling networks downstream of such crosstalk events have not been extensively characterized. In this report, we have employed mass spectrometry-based quantitative phosphotyrosine analysis to identify crosstalk between DDR2 and the insulin receptor. Our phosphoproteomic analysis reveals a cluster of phosphorylation sites in which collagen and insulin cooperate to enhance phosphotyrosine levels. Importantly, Y740 on the DDR2 catalytic loop was found in this cluster indicating that insulin acts to promote collagen I signaling by increasing the activity of DDR2. Furthermore, we identify two additional migration associated proteins that are candidate substrates downstream of DDR2 activation. Our data suggests that insulin promotes collagen I signaling through the upregulation of DDR2 phosphorylation which may have important consequences in DDR2 function in health and disease.     

Clustering,Spatial Distribution,and Phosphorylation of Discoidin Domain Receptors 1 and 2 in Response to Soluble Collagen I

Discoidin domain receptors (DDR1 and DDR2) are receptor tyrosine kinases that signal in response to collagen. We had previously shown that collagen binding leads to clustering of DDR1b, a process partly mediated by its extracellular domain (ECD). In this study, we investigated (i) the impact of the oligomeric state of DDR2 ECD on collagen binding and fibrillogenesis, (ii) the effect of collagen binding on DDR2 clustering, and (iii) the spatial distribution and phosphorylation status of DDR1b and DDR2 after collagen stimulation. Studies were conducted using purified recombinant DDR2 ECD proteins in monomeric, dimeric or oligomeric state, and MC3T3-E1 cells expressing full-length DDR2-GFP or DDR1b-YFP. We show that the oligomeric form of DDR2 ECD displayed enhanced binding to collagen and inhibition of fibrillogenesis. Using atomic force and fluorescence microscopy, we demonstrate that unlike DDR1b, DDR2 ECD and DDR2-GFP do not undergo collagen-induced receptor clustering. However, after prolonged collagen stimulation, both DDR1b-YFP and DDR2-GFP formed filamentous structures consistent with spatial re-distribution of DDRs in cells. Immunocytochemistry revealed that while DDR1b clusters co-localized with non-fibrillar collagen, DDR1b/DDR2 filamentous structures associated with collagen fibrils. Antibodies against a tyrosine phosphorylation site in the intracellular juxtamembrane region of DDR1b displayed positive signals in both DDR1b clusters and filamentous structures. However, only the filamentous structures of both DDR1b and DDR2 co-localized with antibodies directed against tyrosine phosphorylation sites within the receptor kinase domain. Our results uncover key differences and similarities in the clustering abilities and spatial distribution of DDR1b and DDR2 and their impact on receptor phosphorylation.     

Molecular analysis of collagen binding by the human discoidin domain receptors,DDR1 and DDR2. Identification of collagen binding sites in DDR2

The widely expressed mammalian discoidin domain receptors (DDRs), DDR1 and DDR2, are unique among receptor tyrosine kinases in that they are activated by the extracellular matrix protein collagen. Various collagen types bind to and activate the DDRs, but the molecular details of collagen recognition have not been well defined. In this study, recombinant extracellular domains of DDR1 and DDR2 were produced to explore DDR-collagen binding in detail. In solid phase assays, both DDRs bound collagen I with high affinity. DDR1 recognized collagen I only as a dimeric and not as a monomeric construct, indicating a requirement for receptor dimerization in the DDR1-collagen interaction. The DDRs contain a discoidin homology domain in their extracellular domains, and the isolated discoidin domain of DDR2 bound collagen I with high affinity. Furthermore, the discoidin domain of DDR2, but not of DDR1, was sufficient for transmembrane receptor signaling. To map the collagen binding site within the discoidin domain of DDR2, mutant constructs were created, in which potential surface-exposed loops in DDR2 were exchanged for the corresponding loops of functionally unrelated discoidin domains. Three spatially adjacent surface loops within the DDR2 discoidin domain were found to be critically involved in collagen binding of the isolated DDR2 extracellular domain. In addition, the same loops were required for collagen-dependent receptor activation. It is concluded that the loop region opposite to the polypeptide chain termini of the DDR2 discoidin domain constitutes the collagen recognition site.     

Discoidin domain receptor 1 expression in activated T cells is regulated by the ERK MAP kinase signaling pathway

The expression and function of discoidin domain receptor 1 (DDR1) in T cells are still poorly explored. We have recently shown that activation of primary human T cells via their T cell receptor leads to increased expression of DDR1, which promoted their migration in three-dimensional collagen. In the present study, we provide evidence that activated T cells bind collagen through DDR1. We found that the DDR1:Fc blocking molecule significantly reduced the ability of activated T cells to bind soluble biotinylated collagen. However, DDR1:Fc had no impact on the adhesion of activated T cells to collagen and overexpression of DDR1 in Jurkat T cells did not enhance their adhesion. Together, our results indicate that DDR1 can promote T cell migration without enhancing adhesion to collagen, suggesting that it can contribute to the previously described amoeboid movement of activated T cells in collagen matrices. Our results also show that CD28, in contrast to IL-2 expression, did not costimulate the expression of DDR1 in primary human T cells. Using specific inhibitors, we demonstrated that TCR-induced expression of DDR1 in T cells is regulated by the Ras/Raf/ERK MAP Kinase and PKC pathways but not by calcium/calcineurin signaling pathway or the JNK and P38 MAP Kinases. Thus, our study provides additional insights into the physiology of DDR1 in T cells and may therefore further our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of T cell migration.     

Inhibition of Collagen Fibrillogenesis by Cells Expressing Soluble Extracellular Domains of DDR1 and DDR2

Collagen fiber assembly affects many physiological processes and is tightly controlled by collagen-binding proteins. However, to what extent membrane-bound versus cell-secreted collagen-binding proteins affect collagen fibrillogenesis is not well understood. In our previous studies, we had demonstrated that the membrane-anchored extracellular domain (ECD) of the collagen receptor discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR2) inhibits fibrillogenesis of collagen endogenously secreted by the cells. These results led to a novel functional role of the DDR2 ECD. However, since soluble forms of DDR1 and DDR2 containing its ECD are known to naturally exist in the extracellular matrix, in this work we investigated if these soluble DDR ECDs may have a functional role in modulating collagen fibrillogenesis. For this purpose, we created mouse osteoblast cell lines stably secreting DDR1 or DDR2 ECD as soluble proteins. Transmission electron microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and hydroxyproline assays were used to demonstrate that DDR ECD expression reduced the rate and quantity of collagen deposition and induced significant changes in fiber morphology and matrix mineralization. Collectively, our studies advance our understanding of DDR receptors as powerful regulators of collagen deposition in the ECM and elucidate their multifaceted role in ECM remodeling.