组蛋白甲基转移酶MLL1的结构与功能研究进展

组蛋白甲基转移酶MLL1因其基因易位重排所引起的混合系白血病（mixed lineage leukemia）而得名。MLL1蛋白在基因调控、细胞增殖、生长分化等正常生理功能中发挥着重要作用,染色体易位重排所产生的MLL1融合蛋白则与急性白血病的发生发展密切相关。目前人们对MLL1蛋白的结构和功能研究取得了很大的进展,为以MLL1和其相互作用蛋白为靶点的新型MLL白血病药物设计奠定了坚实的基础。     

MLL: How complex does it get?

The mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) gene encodes a very large nuclear protein homologous to Drosophila trithorax (trx). MLL is required for the proper maintenance of HOX gene expression during development and hematopoiesis. The exact regulatory mechanism of HOX gene expression by MLL is poorly understood, but it is believed that MLL functions at the level of chromatin organization. MLL was identified as a common target of chromosomal translocations associated with human acute leukemias. About 50 different MLL fusion partners have been isolated to date, and while similarities exist between groups of partners, there exists no unifying property shared by all the partners. MLL gene rearrangements are found in leukemias with both lymphoid and myeloid phenotypes and are often associated with infant and secondary leukemias. The immature phenotype of the leukemic blasts suggests an important role for MLL in the early stages of hematopoietic development. Mll homozygous mutant mice are embryonic lethal and exhibit deficiencies in yolk sac hematopoiesis. Recently, two different MLL-containing protein complexes have been isolated. These and other gain- and loss-of-function experiments have provided insight into normal MLL function and altered functions of MLL fusion proteins. This article reviews the progress made toward understanding the function of the wild-type MLL protein. While many advances in understanding this multifaceted protein have been made since its discovery, many challenging questions remain to be answered.     

组蛋白3甲基转移酶MLL4的研究进展

混合连锁白血病因子4 (mixed lineage leukemia 4, MLL4)是组蛋白H3第4位赖氨酸(H3K4)一种特异的甲基化转移酶,也是COMPASS/Set1-like蛋白复合物中重要成员之一。MLL4蛋白本身及其介导的H3K4甲基化修饰,均能引起染色质结构和功能的改变,调控基因转录与表达。随着近年对MLL4蛋白研究的深入,MLL4基因、MLL4蛋白、蛋白复合物在各组织器官的发育、肿瘤疾病等生理与病理生理过程中的作用逐渐被揭示。本文对MLL4基因、MLL4蛋白特征、生物学功能及其对疾病的影响等方面的研究进展进行综述,以期进一步理解组蛋白甲基化转移酶对基因表达调控的影响及其非酶学依赖的功能,为相关疾病预防和诊治提供新的思路。     

MLL与LBL相结合在基层医生胸腔外科临床培训中的应用

目的:探讨传统教学法(LBL)、微课教学法(MLL)、MLL与LBL相结合的教学法在基层医生胸外科临床培训过程中的教学效果。方法:将唐都医院第10期陕西省基层医生培训班的120名基层医生随机分为LBL教学组、MLL教学组、MLL与LBL相结合教学组三组,每组各40人。在培训结束时,采用理论知识考试及实践技能考查进行量化考核,评估三种不同教学方法的教学效果。同时采用问卷调查,评价对三种教学方法的认同度。结果:LBL组学生的理论知识测试成绩较好(P0.005),而实践技能考查成绩较差(P0.001);MLL组学生的理论知识测试成绩较差(P0.005),而实践技能考查成绩较好(P0.001);MLL与LBL相结合组学生在理论知识测试和实践技能考查成绩两方面都较好(P0.0001)。问卷调查结果显示,MLL教学法、MLL与LBL相结合的教学法都得到了较好的认同度(P0.05)。结论:MLL与LBL相结合的教学法不仅提高了基层医师对理论知识的记忆,而且能够使其将所学知识更灵活运用到实践操作中,综合素质也得到很大的提高。     

含非天然氨基酸定点突变的MLL3SET蛋白表达与纯化

在组蛋白H3K4甲基转移酶MLL3的催化结构域(MLL3SET)中定点引入非天然氨基酸N-炔丙基赖氨酸(N-propargyl-lysine,PrK),表达、纯化该突变蛋白(MLL3SET*),并评估突变蛋白的酶活,为后续进一步利用单分子荧光共振能量转移技术(smFRET)表征MLL3的作用机制奠定基础.将MLL3SE...     

Automethylation Activities within the Mixed Lineage Leukemia-1 (MLL1) Core Complex Reveal Evidence Supporting a “Two-active Site” Model for Multiple Histone H3 Lysine 4 Methylation

The mixed lineage leukemia-1 (MLL1) core complex predominantly catalyzes mono- and dimethylation of histone H3 at lysine 4 (H3K4) and is frequently altered in aggressive acute leukemias. The molecular mechanisms that account for conversion of mono- to dimethyl H3K4 (H3K4me1,2) are not well understood. In this investigation, we report that the suppressor of variegation, enhancer of zeste, trithorax (SET) domains from human MLL1 and Drosophila Trithorax undergo robust intramolecular automethylation reactions at an evolutionarily conserved cysteine residue in the active site, which is inhibited by unmodified histone H3. The location of the automethylation in the SET-I subdomain indicates that the MLL1 SET domain possesses significantly more conformational plasticity in solution than suggested by its crystal structure. We also report that MLL1 methylates Ash2L in the absence of histone H3, but only when assembled within a complex with WDR5 and RbBP5, suggesting a restraint for the architectural arrangement of subunits within the complex. Using MLL1 and Ash2L automethylation reactions as probes for histone binding, we observed that both automethylation reactions are significantly inhibited by stoichiometric amounts of unmethylated histone H3, but not by histones previously mono-, di-, or trimethylated at H3K4. These results suggest that the H3K4me1 intermediate does not significantly bind to the MLL1 SET domain during the dimethylation reaction. Consistent with this hypothesis, we demonstrate that the MLL1 core complex assembled with a catalytically inactive SET domain variant preferentially catalyzes H3K4 dimethylation using the H3K4me1 substrate. Taken together, these results are consistent with a “two-active site” model for multiple H3K4 methylation by the MLL1 core complex.     

微生物发酵生产十一烷1，1 1二羧酸的研究

从热带假丝酵母(Candiada tropicalis)T25—14经过紫外线和亚硝酸的多次诱变,获得4株产十一烷l,11二羧酸(DC₁₃)较多的突变株,其中最优的NP-159株以20％(V／V)正十三烷(nC₁₃)为碳源摇瓶发酵4天,DC₁₃达80g／L左右。在16L罐上,以30％(V／V)nC₁₃发酵6天,DC₁₃高达139g／L,回收残烃后,对nC₁₃的转化率为80％以上。后处理收率为78．9％,DC₁₃的纯度为95．3％。     

Human kidney anion exchanger 1 interacts with adaptor-related protein complex 1 μ1A (AP-1 mu1A)

Kidney anion exchanger 1 (kAE1) mediates chloride (Cl⁻) and bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻) exchange at the basolateral membrane of kidney α-intercalated cells. Impaired trafficking of kAE1 leads to defect of the Cl⁻/HCO₃⁻ exchange at the basolateral membrane and failure of proton (H⁺) secretion at the apical membrane, causing a kidney disease - distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA). To gain a better insight into kAE1 trafficking, we searched for proteins physically interacting with the C-terminal region of kAE1 (Ct-kAE1), which contains motifs crucial for intracellular trafficking, by a yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) system. An adaptor-related protein complex 1 μ1A (AP-1 mu1A) subunit was found to interact with Ct-kAE1. The interaction between either Ct-kAE1 or full-length kAE1 and AP-1 mu1A were confirmed in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293T by co-immunoprecipitation, affinity co-purification, co-localization, yellow fluorescent protein (YFP)-based protein fragment complementation assay (PCA) and GST pull-down assay. The interacting site for AP-1 mu1A on Ct-kAE1 was found to be Y904DEV907, a subset of YXXØ motif. Interestingly, suppression of endogenous AP-1 mu1A in HEK 293T by small interfering RNA (siRNA) decreased membrane localization of kAE1 and increased its intracellular accumulation, suggesting for the first time that AP-1 mu1A is involved in the kAE1 trafficking of kidney α-intercalated cells.     

Niemann–Pick C1 Like 1 (NPC1L1) an intestinal sterol transporter

Niemann–Pick C1 Like 1 (NPC1L1) has been identified and characterized as an essential protein in the intestinal cholesterol absorption process. NPC1L1 localizes to the brush border membrane of absorptive enterocytes in the small intestine. Intestinal expression of NPC1L1 is down regulated by diets containing high levels of cholesterol. While otherwise phenotypically normal, Npc1l1 null mice exhibit a significant reduction in the intestinal uptake and absorption of cholesterol and phytosterols. Characterization of the NPC1L1 pathway revealed that cholesterol absorption inhibitor ezetimibe specifically binds to an extracellular loop of NPC1L1 and inhibits its sterol transport function. Npc1l1 null mice are resistant to diet-induced hypercholesterolemia, and when crossed with apo E null mice, are completely resistant to the development of atherosclerosis. Intestinal gene expression studies in Npc1l1 null mice indicated that no exogenous cholesterol was entering enterocytes lacking NPC1L1, which resulted in an upregulation of intestinal and hepatic LDL receptor and cholesterol biosynthetic gene expression. Polymorphisms in the human NPC1L1 gene have been found to influence cholesterol absorption and plasma low density lipoprotein levels. Therefore, NPC1L1 is a critical intestinal sterol uptake transporter which influences whole body cholesterol homeostasis.     

细胞色素P450 1A1和1B1靶向抗肿瘤前药研究进展

细胞色素P450（CYP）能催化各种内源性及外源性化合物的代谢,与多种肿瘤发生有关。其中CYP1A1参与多种前致癌物和致突变物的代谢活化,CYP1B1被认为在许多人癌细胞中特异性表达,参与药物的氧化代谢和前药的活化。CYP1A1和181已成为靶向抗肿瘤前药研究的新靶点。相继有大量相关研究报道,本文就近年来文献报道的CYP1A1和1B1靶向抗肿瘤前药研究进展。     

Tbf1 or not Tbf1?

In this issue of Molecular Cell, Hogues et al. (2008) demonstrate a wholesale shift in the key regulatory protein involved in ribosomal protein (RP) synthesis during the evolution of S. cerevisiae and, en passant, raise interesting questions about the relationship between RP genes and telomeres.     

CYP1B1基因与青光眼

遗传性青光眼包括两种主要的类型,原发性开角型青光眼(primary open angle glaucoma,POAG)和原发性先天型青光眼(primary congenital glaucoma,PCG).眼前节发育不良(anterior segment dysgenesis,ASD)是眼发育异常的遗传异质性病,与增长的眼内压和青光眼有关,包括Peter's异常、Rieger's异常、无虹膜和虹膜发育不全.CYPIB1基因是PCG的致病基因,也有少数报道是POAG的修饰基因,或是POAG和ASD的致病基因.本文就CYP1B1基因突变与遗传性青光眼和ASD发育不全的关系及其遗传特点作一综述.     

问题解答1

问 :蛋白质、核酸都是通过缩聚反应形成的吗 ?答 :由于人们对教材内容机械引入或对教材语意曲解 ,因而众多的复习资料无论在介绍蛋白质、核酸的结构还是生命起源时都人为地强调氨基酸“缩合”形成蛋白质、核苷酸“聚合”形成核酸。“缩合”与“聚合”似乎成了风马牛不相及的两个概念 ,更谈不上去探索其有机联系了。缩合源于生物化学中蛋白质 (或肽 )的形成 ,它可以指两个或多个氨基酸形成肽时脱去一个或多个水分子的反应。正由于它脱去小分子物质 ,而有别于加成反应 ,同时它发生在有机的小分子之间 ,且反应结果并没有形成不饱合键而不同于消…