细菌外膜蛋白参与革兰氏阴性细菌对异丙醇耐受的调节

细菌外膜蛋白与细菌对异丙醇耐受关系密切,但迄今为止尚未见相关研究.本文首先采用基于双向电泳(two dimensional electrophoresis,2-DE)的蛋白质组学技术,研究E.coli K-12 BW25113在有无异丙醇条件下外膜蛋白表达的差异.结果发现,外膜蛋白LamB、FadL和OmpC以及OmpT、Tsx、OmpA和OmpF在异丙醇应激条件下表达量分别上调和下调.然后通过基因敲除、补救和高表达等功能基因组学的方法,探讨这些功能外膜蛋白在异丙醇应激耐受中所起的作用,发现LamB、OmpA和OmpC在E.coli K-12 BW25113对异丙醇耐受过程中起到更重要的作用.最后,对EnvZ/OmpR双组分信号转导系统在对异丙醇耐受中的作用进行了研究,证实EnvZ/OmpR双组分信号转导系统确实参与细菌对异丙醇的耐受.因此,外膜蛋白的改变和EnvZ/OmpR双组分信号转导系统的调节是革兰氏阴性细菌对异丙醇耐受的一种重要机制。     

Signature Protein of the PVC Superphylum

The phyla Planctomycetes, Verrucomicrobia, Chlamydiae, Lentisphaerae, and “Candidatus Omnitrophica (OP3)” comprise bacteria that share an ancestor but show highly diverse biological and ecological features. Together, they constitute the PVC superphylum. Using large-scale comparative genome sequence analysis, we identified a protein uniquely shared among all of the known members of the PVC superphylum. We provide evidence that this signature protein is expressed by representative members of the PVC superphylum. Its predicted structure, physicochemical characteristics, and overexpression in Escherichia coli and gel retardation assays with purified signature protein suggest a housekeeping function with unspecific DNA/RNA binding activity. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the signature protein is a suitable phylogenetic marker for members of the PVC superphylum, and the screening of published metagenome data indicated the existence of additional PVC members. This study provides further evidence of a common evolutionary history of the PVC superphylum and presents a unique case in which a single protein serves as an evolutionary link among otherwise highly diverse members of major bacterial groups.     

Membrane Lipids and the Conformations of Membrane Proteins

The general relations between protein conformation and the optical activity of peptide chromophores are outlined and applied to the analysis of the optical rotatory dispersion and circular dichroism of the plasma membranes of human erythrocytes and Ehrlich ascites carcinoma cells. It is concluded that the proteins of these membranes are "globular" and that they have considerable helical content. The spectroscopic consequences of perturbing the membranes with phospholipase C, phospholipase A, lysolecithin, and sodium dodecyl sulfate are examined in the light of the effects of these agents upon certain enzymatic and physical properties of the membranes and upon their proton magnetic resonance spectra. The data suggest that the architecture of membrane proteins is strongly dependent upon apolar lipid-protein and/or lipid-sensitive protein-protein interactions.     

红细胞膜蛋白与膜骨架

近10多年红细胞膜领域的研究取得了可观的进展,在红细胞膜蛋白的结构-功能相关和相互作用以及红细胞膜障碍多方面都有新的发现和开拓．现主要就国内外有关报道作一扼要综述,涉及红细胞膜蛋白的组成、功能及其相互作用,红细胞膜骨架和红细胞膜蛋白疾病等研究进展．     

Peptidases Compartmentalized to the Ascaris suum Intestinal Lumen and Apical Intestinal Membrane

The nematode intestine is a tissue of interest for developing new methods of therapy and control of parasitic nematodes. However, biological details of intestinal cell functions remain obscure, as do the proteins and molecular functions located on the apical intestinal membrane (AIM), and within the intestinal lumen (IL) of nematodes. Accordingly, methods were developed to gain a comprehensive identification of peptidases that function in the intestinal tract of adult female Ascaris suum. Peptidase activity was detected in multiple fractions of the A. suum intestine under pH conditions ranging from 5.0 to 8.0. Peptidase class inhibitors were used to characterize these activities. The fractions included whole lysates, membrane enriched fractions, and physiological- and 4 molar urea-perfusates of the intestinal lumen. Concanavalin A (ConA) was confirmed to bind to the AIM, and intestinal proteins affinity isolated on ConA-beads were compared to proteins from membrane and perfusate fractions by mass spectrometry. Twenty-nine predicted peptidases were identified including aspartic, cysteine, and serine peptidases, and an unexpectedly high number (16) of metallopeptidases. Many of these proteins co-localized to multiple fractions, providing independent support for localization to specific intestinal compartments, including the IL and AIM. This unique perfusion model produced the most comprehensive view of likely digestive peptidases that function in these intestinal compartments of A. suum, or any nematode. This model offers a means to directly determine functions of these proteins in the A. suum intestine and, more generally, deduce the wide array functions that exist in these cellular compartments of the nematode intestine.     

膜蛋白的拓扑学

膜蛋白的拓扑学是研究膜蛋白三维结构的出发点．利用融合蛋白和化学修饰等实验技术已确定了很多膜蛋白的拓扑学．对膜蛋白的转运与插膜的研究确定可能存在两类插膜元件．对已知拓扑学的膜蛋白的统计分析以及蛋白质工程的研究表明存在膜蛋白拓扑学的内正规则．目前已形成预测膜蛋白的拓扑学的比较可靠的策略,这在反向生物学上具有重要意义.但要进行三维结构的预测还有许多路要走．     

精子膜表面蛋白的研究进展

动物的精子是一类结构和功能都十分特化的细胞,其膜表面存在多种糖蛋白或糖复合物,它们与精卵识别、结合以及质膜融合等受精活动密切相关,同时,作为精子膜抗原,在免疫避孕和免疫不育的治疗中具有广阔的应用前景。本文扼要概述了精子膜蛋白的研究进展。     

细胞膜蛋白与细胞骨架蛋白相互作用研究进展

细胞膜蛋白与胞浆骨架蛋白的相互作用对于维持细胞正常形态 ,细胞粘附与信号传导有重要作用。含有 4 .1 JEF结构域的蛋白 4 .1超家族与含有PDZ结构域的MAGUK蛋白家族能结合多种膜蛋白胞内区与胞浆蛋白 ,在膜蛋白与胞浆蛋白之间建立联系 ,对于细胞、细胞 -细胞间连接的正常结构与功能的维持有着重要作用。     

Proline-Rich Salivary Proteins Have Extended Conformations

Three basic proline-rich salivary proteins have been produced through the recombinant route. IB5 is a small basic proline-rich protein that is involved in the binding of plant tannins in the oral cavity. II-1 is a larger protein with a closely related backbone; it is glycosylated, and it is also able to bind plant tannins. II-1ng has the same polypeptidic backbone as II-1, but it is not glycosylated. Small angle x-ray scattering experiments on dilute solutions of these proteins confirm that they are intrinsically disordered. IB5 and II-1ng can be described through a chain model including a persistence length and cross section. The measured radii of gyration (R_g = 27.9 and 41.0 ± 1 Å respectively) and largest distances (r_max = 110 and 155 ± 10 Å respectively) show that their average conformations are rather extended. The length of the statistical segment (twice the persistence length) is b = 30 Å, which is larger than the usual value (18 Å − 20 Å) for unstructured polypeptide chains. These characteristics are presumably related to the presence of polyproline helices within the polypeptidic backbones. For both proteins, the radius of gyration of the chain cross-section is R_c = 2.7 ± 0.2Å. The glycosylated protein II-1 has similar conformations but the presence of large polyoside sidegroups yields the structure of a branched macromolecule with the same hydrophobic backbone and hydrophilic branches. It is proposed that the unusually extended conformations of these proteins in solution facilitate the capture of plant tannins in the oral cavity.     

蓝色温和凝胶双向电泳用于分析嗜盐菌质膜蛋白复合物

为了揭示细胞对盐胁迫渗透适应的分子机制,以新鉴定的中度嗜盐芽孢杆菌Bacillussp.I121为实验材料,分析了该嗜盐菌质膜上的盐胁迫响应蛋白.为此,通过蓝色温和凝胶双向电泳(BN/SDS-PAGE)对纯化的质膜组分进行了差异蛋白质组学研究.经MALDI-TOF/TOF质谱分析,鉴定了8个盐胁迫响应蛋白.盐胁迫诱导上调表达的蛋白质包括ABC型转运蛋白、3-磷酸甘油透性酶、嘧啶核苷转运蛋白和甲酸脱氢酶,下调表达的蛋白质包括琥珀酸脱氢酶(succinate dehydrogenase)铁硫亚基、黄素蛋白亚基、细胞色素b556亚基以及分子伴侣DnaJ的同源蛋白;酶活力测定结果表明胁迫条件下上述蛋白质的活性变化与表达量变化相一致.这些蛋白质中绝大多数属于高度疏水的跨膜蛋白,主要负责物质跨膜运输及能量代谢.上述结果表明,中度嗜盐菌Bacillus sp.I121可通过加快跨膜物质运输,同时抑制TCA循环完成盐胁迫条件下相容性溶质脯氨酸和四氢嘧啶的合成与积累.也进一步证明,蓝色温和凝胶双向电泳不仅可用于线粒体、叶绿体中蛋白质复合物的分析,也同样适用于细胞质膜上高度疏水蛋白复合物的比较研究.     

Active Fragments from Pro- and Antiapoptotic BCL-2 Proteins Have Distinct Membrane Behavior Reflecting Their Functional Divergence

Background

The BCL-2 family of proteins includes pro- and antiapoptotic members acting by controlling the permeabilization of mitochondria. Although the association of these proteins with the outer mitochondrial membrane is crucial for their function, little is known about the characteristics of this interaction.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Here, we followed a reductionist approach to clarify to what extent membrane-active regions of homologous BCL-2 family proteins contribute to their functional divergence. Using isolated mitochondria as well as model lipid Langmuir monolayers coupled with Brewster Angle Microscopy, we explored systematically and comparatively the membrane activity and membrane-peptide interactions of fragments derived from the central helical hairpin of BAX, BCL-xL and BID. The results show a connection between the differing abilities of the assayed peptide fragments to contact, insert, destabilize and porate membranes and the activity of their cognate proteins in programmed cell death.

Conclusion/Significance

BCL-2 family-derived pore-forming helices thus represent structurally analogous, but functionally dissimilar membrane domains.     

Membrane Proteins of Mycoplasma gallisepticum

Mycoplasma gallisepticum membrane proteins were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. We found no evidence for the presence of a membrane glycoprotein.     

膜蛋白晶体的生长及其进展

生物膜中与脂双层结合的蛋白质称为膜蛋白.由于它们具有很大的疏水表面以及既亲水又疏水的两性特点致使其纯化与结晶都十分困难.在膜蛋白晶体生长系统中引入小分子去污剂与小的两性分子获得突破性进展.迄今为止,结晶出来的膜蛋白为数不多.其中只有光合细菌绿色红假单胞菌及球型红假单胞菌的反应中心得到3分辨率的晶体结构与解析.一系列膜蛋白形成二维晶体,可用电子显微镜与像重构技术获得三维结构信息.     

离子转运相关膜蛋白的几种研究方法

离子转运相关的膜蛋白包括离子通道（Ion channel）和转运蛋白（transporter）等。除了传统的电压钳位法和膜片钳技术外,利用酵母和拟南芥突变体的异源互补技术已成为当今研究离子转运相关膜蛋白及其基因的主要分子生物学手段。     

Ciliary Membrane Proteins of Tetrahymena thermophila

SYNOPSIS SDS polyacrylamide gels of the ciliary membrane proteins of Tetrahymena thermophila revealed 5 major peaks and 11 minor protein peaks ranging in molecular weight from below 20,000 to above 250,000. The peaks resembled those found for ciliary membrane proteins of Paramecium aurelia. .     

Intracellular Bacteria Encode Inhibitory SNARE-Like Proteins

Pathogens use diverse molecular machines to penetrate host cells and manipulate intracellular vesicular trafficking. Viruses employ glycoproteins, functionally and structurally similar to the SNARE proteins, to induce eukaryotic membrane fusion. Intracellular pathogens, on the other hand, need to block fusion of their infectious phagosomes with various endocytic compartments to escape from the degradative pathway. The molecular details concerning the mechanisms underlying this process are lacking. Using both an in vitro liposome fusion assay and a cellular assay, we showed that SNARE-like bacterial proteins block membrane fusion in eukaryotic cells by directly inhibiting SNARE-mediated membrane fusion. More specifically, we showed that IncA and IcmG/DotF, two SNARE-like proteins respectively expressed by Chlamydia and Legionella, inhibit the endocytic SNARE machinery. Furthermore, we identified that the SNARE-like motif present in these bacterial proteins encodes the inhibitory function. This finding suggests that SNARE-like motifs are capable of specifically manipulating membrane fusion in a wide variety of biological environments. Ultimately, this motif may have been selected during evolution because it is an efficient structural motif for modifying eukaryotic membrane fusion and thus contribute to pathogen survival.     

Membrane Proteins: The Key Players of a Cancer Cell

Membrane proteins are involved in the prognosis of the most common forms of cancer. Membrane proteins are the hallmark of a cancer cell. The overexpressed membrane receptors are becoming increasingly important in cancer cell therapy. Current renewing therapy approaches based on receptor overexpression include; antibody therapy, nanocarrier drug delivery, and fluorescent tumor imaging in surgery. Gene profiling reveals cancer specific signatures and may identify membrane proteins that are related to cancer progression and lead to the development of improved therapy strategies in the future.