植物蛋白的体外泛素化检测方法

泛素激活酶(E1)、泛素耦联酶(E2)和泛素连接酶(E3)是蛋白质泛素化修饰的关键酶。在真核基因组上有大量基因编码这些泛素化相关的酶类或蛋白。检测这些泛素化修饰酶及其底物蛋白的生化特性和特异性是分析其生物学功能的重要内容。该文提供了一种简便快速检测体外泛素化反应的方法, 不仅可通过检测对DTT敏感的硫酯键的形成来判断E2的活性、检测E3的体外泛素化活性, 而且可以检测E2-E3和E3-底物的特异性。所用蛋白主要来源于拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana), 包括分属于绝大多数E2亚家族的成员, 可用于不同RING类型E3的活性检测。该方法不仅可以采用多种E2进行E3活性分析, 而且可以分析不同组合的E2-RING E3、RING E3-底物的泛素化活性等, 亦可应用于真核生物蛋白质尤其是植物蛋白的体外泛素化活性分析。     

非经典泛素化的研究进展

泛素化是真核生物最普遍最重要的翻译后修饰之一,控制基因转录表达、细胞生长死亡、分子运输、代谢、发育和免疫反应等大多数生理过程。经典泛素系统的通路和机制越来越明晰,同时非经典的泛素化也逐渐被发现。本文将对经典泛素系统进行简单回顾,并且对非蛋白底物泛素化、非赖氨酸位点泛素化、非经典E3泛素连接酶等最新非经典泛素化进行阐述。     

泛素连接酶和去泛素化酶在帕金森病中的作用

中脑黑质多巴胺能神经元特异性损伤和α突触核蛋白聚集的分子机制是帕金森病（Parkinson’s disease,PD）研究领域亟待解决的问题。蛋白质异常聚集很大程度上是由于泛素-蛋白酶体系统（ubiquitin-proteasome system,UPS）功能障碍引起的。蛋白质泛素化由一系列泛素化酶级联反应促进，并受去泛素化酶（deubiquitylases,DUBs）的反向调节。泛素化和去泛素化过程异常导致蛋白质异常聚集和包涵体形成，进而损伤神经元。近来研究报道，蛋白质的泛素化和去泛素化修饰在PD的发病机制中发挥重要作用。E3泛素连接酶促进蛋白质的泛素化，有利于α突触核蛋白的清除、促进多巴胺能神经元的存活、维持线粒体的功能等。DUBs可以去掉底物蛋白质的泛素化修饰，抑制α突触核蛋白的降解，调控线粒体的功能和神经元内铁的稳态。本文以E3泛素连接酶和DUBs为切入点，综述了蛋白质泛素化和去泛素化修饰参与多巴胺能神经元损伤机制的最新研究进展。     

快速高效检测植物体内蛋白泛素化修饰研究方法

UPS参与植物中绝大多数的信号转导通路。其中, 一些激素的受体本身就是E3泛素连接酶, 如茉莉酸(JA)受体COI1和生长素(auxin)受体TIR1都是F-box蛋白, 它们通过特异性介导相应转录抑制子的泛素化降解来传递激素信号, 但对于整个UPS体系而言, 由于技术的限制, 迄今为止仅见少量泛素连接酶与特异性底物间生化机制的报道。用大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)表达蛋白实施泛素连接酶泛素化修饰底物的体外实验是验证泛素连接酶/底物对的常用方法, 但由于体外实验缺乏某些蛋白必需的转录后修饰, 导致实验结果有时存在假阴性。利用农杆菌注射烟草(Nicotiana benthamiana)瞬时表达蛋白的方法, 建立高效的植物体内检测蛋白泛素化系统, 可以快速检测蛋白泛素化, 包括检测泛素连接酶和底物的特异性相互作用、底物蛋白的自身泛素化、泛素连接酶对底物降解的促进作用、26S蛋白酶体抑制剂MG132对底物降解的抑制作用以及用植物内源表达蛋白进行体外泛素化反应。     

鱼类和哺乳类RLR介导的抗病毒免疫反应的泛素化修饰调控

RLR[retinoic acid-inducible gene Ⅰ(RIG-Ⅰ)-like Receptors]是一类表达在胞浆中的模式识别受体, 在识别细胞质中经病毒复制产生的病毒RNA后, 启动一系列信号级联反应, 以诱导机体Ⅰ型干扰素及干扰素诱导的抗病毒基因的表达, 最后达到清除机体病毒感染的目的。由于在病毒感染时机体干扰素反应必须迅速启动, 当病毒清除后干扰素反应又需要立即恢复到正常本底水平, 因此RLR激活的信号转导途径受到了严格的调控, 其中就包括由E3泛素连接酶参与的泛素化修饰调控和由去泛素化酶参与的去泛素化修饰调控。自2003年成功鉴定出鱼类干扰素基因以来, 鱼类也被发现具有保守的RLR信号转导途径诱导干扰素抗病毒免疫反应, 该信号途径同样受到泛素化修饰的调控。文章总结了近年来泛素化修饰在哺乳类和鱼类RLR介导的抗病毒免疫应答通路中的调节机制。     

快速高效检测植物体内蛋白泛素化修饰研究方法

UPS参与植物中绝大多数的信号转导通路。其中, 一些激素的受体本身就是E3泛素连接酶, 如茉莉酸(JA)受体COI1和生长素(auxin)受体TIR1都是F-box蛋白, 它们通过特异性介导相应转录抑制子的泛素化降解来传递激素信号, 但对于整个UPS体系而言, 由于技术的限制, 迄今为止仅见少量泛素连接酶与特异性底物间生化机制的报道。用大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)表达蛋白实施泛素连接酶泛素化修饰底物的体外实验是验证泛素连接酶/底物对的常用方法, 但由于体外实验缺乏某些蛋白必需的转录后修饰, 导致实验结果有时存在假阴性。利用农杆菌注射烟草(Nicotiana benthamiana)瞬时表达蛋白的方法, 建立高效的植物体内检测蛋白泛素化系统, 可以快速检测蛋白泛素化, 包括检测泛素连接酶和底物的特异性相互作用、底物蛋白的自身泛素化、泛素连接酶对底物降解的促进作用、26S蛋白酶体抑制剂MG132对底物降解的抑制作用以及用植物内源表达蛋白进行体外泛素化反应。     

病原菌效应因子调控宿主泛素化修饰的研究进展北大核心

泛素化(ubiquitination)是真核细胞内广泛存在的蛋白质翻译后修饰方式,参与并调控DNA修复、细胞周期、免疫应答、信号通路等真核细胞内几乎所有的生命活动。同时,细胞通过去泛素化酶(deubiquitinases,DUBs)使泛素化修饰成为可逆过程,保证了泛素化系统及其相关生理过程的动态平衡。病原菌感染过程中,宿主细胞可通过泛素化修饰发挥抗细菌感染作用。然而,病原菌可编码并分泌效应因子,靶向宿主泛素(ubiquitin,Ub)系统并调控宿主泛素化修饰过程,干扰宿主细胞的免疫应答,从而促进细菌存活与毒力。本文概述了重要病原菌利用效应因子调控宿主细胞泛素化修饰的研究进展,有助于全面理解病原菌调控宿主泛素化修饰促进感染的机制。     

泛素链的形成机理

泛素化是真核细胞中重要的蛋白质翻译后修饰过程,通过靶向蛋白质降解或其他信号途径参与多种细胞功能.底物蛋白的多聚泛素化修饰是一个持续的过程,其中不仅涉及复杂泛素系统相关酶的参与,而且存在更为复杂的结构上相互作用与泛素链组装机理.不同的泛素链修饰决定了底物蛋白下游的不同命运,泛素结合酶E2在泛素链形成中的重要作用受到越来越多的关注.对泛素链形成机理的深入研究与认识有利于发现与泛素系统相关的疾病靶点和利用泛素化调控方法进行治疗.本综述总结了E2和E3如何决定不同泛素链形成的机制和相关的结构信息,以及两种不同的泛素链组装机制.     

泛素化在植物抗病中的作用

泛素化作为植物体内一种广泛存在的调控细胞反应的机制,参与调控植物抗病反应。本文综述了泛素化系统在植物抗病反应中的功能及作用机制,重点介绍了CRLs型E3泛素连接酶和RING/U-box型E3泛素连接酶如何参与调控植物抗病信号途径,以及病原物通过效应蛋白和毒性因子调控植物抗病性的分子机理,为阐明植物抗病机理和植物病害防治方法提供参考。     

泛素E3连接酶CHIP和E4B互换U-box结构域突变体的构建及泛素化活性验证

旨在构建互换U-box结构域的泛素E3连接酶CHIP和E4B的突变体,用以研究U-box结构域对两种U-box家族泛素E3连接酶CHIP和E4B活性的影响.通过overlap PCR的方法构建CHIP U-box替换为E4B U-box的突变体C+E,以及E4B U-box替换为CHIP U-box的突变体E+C.将突...     

A plant‐specific in vitro ubiquitination analysis system

Protein ubiquitination requires the concerted action of three enzymes: ubiquitin‐activating enzyme (E1), ubiquitin‐conjugating enzyme (E2) and ubiquitin ligase (E3). These ubiquitination enzymes belong to an abundant protein family that is encoded in all eukaryotic genomes. Describing their biochemical characteristics is an important part of their functional analysis. It has been recognized that various E2/E3 specificities exist, and that detection of E3 ubiquitination activity in vitro may depend on the recruitment of E2s. Here, we describe the development of an in vitro ubiquitination system based on proteins encoded by genes from Arabidopsis. It includes most varieties of Arabidopsis E2 proteins, which are tested with several RING‐finger type E3 ligases. This system permits determination of E3 activity in combination with most of the E2 sub‐groups that have been identified in the Arabidopsis genome. At the same time, E2/E3 specificities have also been explored. The components used in this system are all from plants, particularly Arabidopsis, making it very suitable for ubiquitination assays of plant proteins. Some E2 proteins that are not easily expressed in Escherichia coli were transiently expressed and purified from plants before use in ubiquitination assays. This system is also adaptable to proteins of species other than plants. In this system, we also analyzed two mutated forms of ubiquitin, K48R and K63R, to detect various types of ubiquitin conjugation.     

植物蛋白质SUMO化修饰体外高效检测系统

蛋白质SUMO化修饰是一种调控蛋白命运的关键修饰方式, 广泛参与植物生长发育及逆境胁迫响应。SUMO化修饰过程主要由激活酶(E1)-结合酶(E2)-连接酶(E3)组成的级联酶促反应催化, 其关键酶组分将SUMO分子缀合至底物蛋白的赖氨酸残基, 形成共价异肽键以完成SUMO化修饰过程。该文报道了1种植物蛋白质SUMO化修饰体外高效检测系统, 通过在大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)中构建拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana) SUMO化修饰的关键通路实现对底物蛋白的SUMO化修饰, 结果可通过免疫印迹进行检测。该系统可以简化植物蛋白质SUMO化修饰的检测流程, 为植物细胞SUMO化修饰的功能研究提供了有力工具。     

Ubiquitination in Abscisic Acid-Related Pathway

Ubiquitination is emerging as a tight regulatory mechanism that is necessary for all aspects of development and survival of all eukaryotes. Recent genomic and genetic analysis in Arabidopsis suggests that ubiquitination may also play important roles in plant response to the phytohormone abscisic acid （ABA）. Many components of the ubiquitination pathway, such as ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2, ubiquitin ligase E3 and components of the proteasome, have been identified or predicted to be essential in ABA biosynthesis, catabolism and signaling. In addition, the ubiquitination-related pathway, sumoylation, is also involved in ABA signaling. We summarize in this report recent developments to elucidate their roles in the ABA-related pathway.     

Ubiquitination of substrates by esterification

Post-translational modification by ubiquitination determines intracellular location and fate of numerous proteins, thus impacting a diverse array of physiologic functions. Past dogma has been that ubiquitin was only coupled to substrates by isopeptide bonds to internal lysine residues or less frequently peptide bonds to the N-terminus. Enigmatically, however, several proteins lacking lysines had been reported to retain ubiquitin-dependent fates. Resolution of this paradox was afforded by recent observations that ubiquitination of substrates can also occur on cysteine or serine and threonine residues by thio- or oxy-ester bond formation, respectively (collectively called esterification). Although chemically possible, these bonds were considered too labile to be of physiological relevance. In this review we discuss recent evidence for the ubiquitination of protein substrates by esterification and speculate on its mechanism and its physiological importance.     

The human ubiquitin conjugating enzyme UBE2J2 (Ubc6) is a substrate for proteasomal degradation

The human Ube2J2 enzyme functions in the ubiquitination of proteins at the ER. Here we demonstrate that it, and a second ubiquitin conjugating (Ubc) enzyme Ube2G2, are unstable, and incubation of transfected cells with proteasome inhibitors increased steady-state protein levels. For Ube2J2, pharmacological induction of the unfolded protein response (UPR) did not significantly alter ectopic protein levels, however the effect of proteasomal inhibition was abolished if the enzyme was inactivated or truncated to disrupt its ER-localization. These results suggest for the first time that the steady state expression of Ubcs’ may be important in regulating the degradation of ER proteins in mammalian cells.     

Insights into Ubiquitination from the Unique Clamp-like Binding of the RING E3 AO7 to the E2 UbcH5B

RING proteins constitute the largest class of E3 ubiquitin ligases. Unlike most RINGs, AO7 (RNF25) binds the E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, UbcH5B (UBE2D2), with strikingly high affinity. We have defined, by co-crystallization, the distinctive means by which AO7 binds UbcH5B. AO7 contains a structurally unique UbcH5B binding region (U5BR) that is connected by an 11-amino acid linker to its RING domain, forming a clamp surrounding the E2. The U5BR interacts extensively with a region of UbcH5B that is distinct from both the active site and the RING-interacting region, referred to as the backside of the E2. An apparent paradox is that the high-affinity binding of the AO7 clamp to UbcH5B, which is dependent on the U5BR, decreases the rate of ubiquitination. We establish that this is a consequence of blocking the stimulatory, non-covalent, binding of ubiquitin to the backside of UbcH5B. Interestingly, when non-covalent backside ubiquitin binding cannot occur, the AO7 clamp now enhances the rate of ubiquitination. The high-affinity binding of the AO7 clamp to UbcH5B has also allowed for the co-crystallization of previously described and functionally important RING mutants at the RING-E2 interface. We show that mutations having marked effects on function only minimally affect the intermolecular interactions between the AO7 RING and UbcH5B, establishing a high degree of complexity in activation through the RING-E2 interface.