DNA及其蛋白质复合体的电镜观察及研究应用

对生物大分子形状的正确了解有助于对其功能的解析。事实上,借助于电子显微镜观察法,使我们在对构成细胞各组分功能的探讨和研究方面收益匪浅。自从生物这家们认识到ＤＮＡ在细胞行使其功能中的重要性以来,电子显微镜便成为一种最重要的技术手段而被用于分析ＤＮＡ的结构,研究ＤＮＡ的复制、重组和转录机制。近年来,这一领域的研究技术又有了非常大的改进,使人们已经能够借助于电子显微镜,观察介入ＤＮＡ复制、重组和转录等过程中的ＤＮＡ－蛋白质复合体的活体状态。今后,在对生物大分子的活体行为进行探讨时,电子显微镜技术将发挥越来越重要的作用。     

蛋白质复合体及蛋白质相互作用研究新策略—化学交联结合质谱分析法

近年来化学交联法结合质谱分析法被广泛用于蛋白质复合体结构及蛋白质相互作用的研究。研究表明这两种方法的有机结合为研究蛋白质复合体结构及蛋白质相互作用提供了一条新的途径。文章对不同类型的化学交联剂、质谱分析中的Bottom-up 与Top-down 两种研究策略,以及化学交联法结合质谱分析法在蛋白质复合体结构、蛋白质相互作用研究中的应用进行综述。这两种方法的不断发展与完善,将会极大促进生物大分子复合体结构及蛋白质相互作用的研究。     

电镜技术在核酸分子杂交研究中的应用

电子显微镜是目前唯一能直接看到DNA或RNA分子的工具,而电泳、同位素标记等技术只能间接地测定这些分子,电镜就是以它这种得天独厚的优点在核酸分子研究中崭露头角。基因的准确定位,核酸复制模型的完善,真核基因DNA倒转重复序列“十字架”结构的观 察及内含子的二发现等等,近四十年来,核酸分子杂交技术取得如此可喜的成绩,电镜所作的贡献是不能低估的。     

豚鼠精母细胞联会复合体的电镜观察

以微铺展法制备豚鼠精母细胞联会复合体标本,经硝酸银染色后作电镜观察,建立了SC组型．与有丝分裂染色体组型比较,发现二者有良好的一致性．在粗线期,X,Y轴的配对区很短,配对区的X轴和Y轴没有明显变细．未发现银染SC具有着丝粒,并对可能的原因作了分析讨论．     

电子显微镜观察SNARE核心复合体的结构

作为神经突触中介导囊泡融合的核心蛋白,SNARE(soluble NSF attachment protein receptors)复合体由VAMP、syntaxin和SNAP25三种蛋白组成。而由其可溶性部分组成的SNARE核心复合体是发挥融合功能的关键部分。通过表达SNARE蛋白,应用分子筛和离子交换柱等纯化方法,重组得到了高纯度的SNARE核心复合体,并分析了其在水溶液中的稳定性。最后,采用负染电镜观察方法得到了该复合体的二维平均结构。在水溶液中,SNARE复合体核心部分为2.5 nm宽、12 nm长的棒状结构。     

系统性红斑狼疮(SLE)患者血清免疫复合物中DNA的提取及电镜观察

从活动期SLE患者血清DNA/抗-DNA免疫复合物中分离DNA,用电镜观察结果表明:这些DNA是很不均质的双链片段。它们的分子量范围很宽,镜下可见的最小片段长553A(约150bp),最大片段长10431A(约2800bp),多数DNA片段长约200—400bp,与正常对照相比较有明显区别。另外,还观察到具有单链末端的双链DNA片段。     

蛋白质复合体非变性凝胶电泳技术及其应用新进展

非变性凝胶电泳技术是研究蛋白质复合体的强有力工具。重点介绍了蓝绿温和非变性凝胶电泳(BN-PAGE)技术的原理和特点,比较了由BN-PAGE衍生的蓝色温和琼脂糖凝胶电泳、清澈温和非变性凝胶电泳(CN-PAGE)和高分辨清澈温和非变性凝胶电泳(HrCN-PAGE)技术的差异和适用范围,并概括地介绍了这些技术在植物蛋白质复合体研究中应用的新进展。     

裙带菜与菠菜的色素-蛋白质复合体的比较研究

裙带菜ＰＳＩ复合体的７７Ｋ荧光发射光谱与菠菜的明显不同,缺少７３０ｎｍ长波荧光峰,位于７１５ｎｍ处,其捕光色素－蛋白质复合体有墨角藻黄素－叶绿素ａ／ｃ－蛋白质复合体和叶绿素ａ／ｃ－蛋白质复合体两种,菠菜只有一种叶绿素ａ／ｂ－蛋白质复合体。     

豚鼠精母细胞联会复合体的电镜观察

以微铺展法制备豚鼠精母细胞联会复合体标本,经硝酸银染色后作电镜观察,建立了SC组型。与有丝分裂染色体组型比较,发现二者有良好的一致性。在粗线期,X,Y轴的配对区很短,配对区的X轴和Y轴没有明显变细。未发现银染SC具有着丝粒,并对可能的原因做了分析讨论。Synaptonemal complexes (SC) in Guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) spermatocytes prepared with micro-spreading technique and silver staningwere analyzed by electron microscopy.The meiotic SC karyotype was constructed from 7 cells and compared with the mitotic chromosome karyotype. There is a good agreement between them. At pachytene, there is only a very a very short pairing region in which X-and Y-axis are not stinctly thin.The kinetochore thin. The kinetochore was not found on each SC in our experiments and probable reason has been discussed.     

DNA Replication and Cell Cycle Progression Regulatedby Long Range Interaction between Protein Complexes bound to DNA

A nonstationary interaction that controlsDNA replication and the cell cycle isderived from many-body physics in achemically open T cell. The model predictsa long range force F() =– (/2) (1 – )(2 – )between thepre-replication complexes (pre-RCs) boundby the origins in DNA, = /N being the relativedisplacement of pre-RCs, the number of pre-RCs, Nthe number of replicons to be replicated,and the compressibilitymodulus in the lattice of pre-RCs whichbehaves dynamically like an elasticallybraced string. Initiation of DNAreplication is induced at the threshold = N by a switch ofsign of F'(), fromattraction (–) and assembly in the G ₁ phase (0<<N), to repulsion (+) and partialdisassembly in the S phase (N< < 2N), withrelease of licensing factors from pre-RCs,thus explaining prevention ofre-replication. Replication is terminatedby a switch of sign of force at = 2N, from repulsion inS phase back to attraction in G ₂, when all primed replicons havebeen duplicated once. F(0) = 0corresponds to a resting cell in theabsence of driving force at = 0. The model thus ensures that the DNAcontent in G ₂ cells is exactlytwice that of G ₁ cells. The switch of interaction at the R-point, at which N pre-RCs have been assembled, starts the release of Rb protein thus also explaining the shift in the Rb phosphorylation from mitogen-dependent cyclinD to mitogen-independent cyclin E.Shape,slope and scale of the response curvesderived agree well with experimental datafrom dividing T cells and polymerising MTs,the variable length of which is due to anonlinear dependence of the growthamplitude on the initial concentrations oftubulin dimers and guanosine-tri-phosphate(GTP). The model also explains the dynamic instabilityin growing MTs.     

PNN-curve: a new 2D graphical representation of DNA sequences and its application

We introduce a novel 2D graphical representation of DNA sequences based on the pairs of the neighboring nucleotides (PNNs). Then we get the PNNs' distributions and obtain a y-M. The construction of the PNN-curve has some important advantages (1) It avoids loss of information and the PNN-curve standing for DNA sequences does not overlap or intersect with itself. (2) The novel 2D representation is more sensitive. The utility of this method can be illustrated by the examination of similarities/dissimilarities among the coding sequences of the first exon of beta-globin gene of eleven different species in Table 2.     

Long Range Force between Pre-Replication Complexes (Pre-RC) in DNA Controls Replication and Cell Cycle Progression

A nonstationary interaction, that controls DNA replication and the cell cycle, is derived from a manybody physics model in a chemically open T cell. The model predicts a long range force F()=-(/2) (1-)(2-) between the pre-replication complexes (pre-RCs) bound by DNA, =/N being the relative displacement of preRCs, the number of pre-RCs, N the threshold for initiation, and the compressibility modulus in thelattice of pre-RCs which behaves like an elastically braced string. Initiation of DNA replication is induced by a switch of sign of F(), from attraction (-)and assembly in the G ₁ phase (0 < < N), to repulsion (+) and partialdisassembly in the S phase (N < < 2N), with release of licensing factors from the pre-RCs, thus explaining prevention of re-replication. Replication is terminated by a switch of sign of F at = 2N, when all primed replicons are duplicated once, and F(0)=0 corresponds to a resting cell in absence of driving force at = 0. The switch of sign of force at = N also explains the dynamic instability in growing microtubules (MTs), as well as switch in the interleukin-2 (IL2) interaction with its receptor in late G ₁, at the restriction point. Shape, slope and scale of the response curves derived agree well with experimental data from dividing T cells and polymerizing MTs, the variable length of which is due to anonlinear dependence of the growth amplitude on the initial concentrations of tubulin dimers and guanosine-tri-phosphate (GTP).     

DNA Binding,Antioxidant Activity,and DNA Damage Protection of Chiral Macrocyclic Mn(III) Salen Complexes

We are reporting the synthesis, characterization, and calf thymus DNA binding studies of novel chiral macrocyclic Mn(III) salen complexes S‐1 , R‐1 , S‐2 , and R‐2 . These chiral complexes showed ability to bind with DNA, where complex S‐1 exhibits the highest DNA binding constant 1.20 × 10⁶ M^?1. All the compounds were screened for superoxide and hydroxyl radical scavenging activities; among them, complex S‐1 exhibited significant activity with IC₅₀ 1.36 and 2.37 μM, respectively. Further, comet assay was used to evaluate the DNA damage protection in white blood cells against the reactive oxygen species wherein complex S‐1 was found effective in protecting the hydroxyl radicals mediated plasmid and white blood cells DNA damage. Chirality 24:1063–1073, 2012.© 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Revealing the mode of action of DNA topoisomerase I and its inhibitors by atomic force microscopy

In this study, we used, for the first time, atomic force microscope (AFM) images to investigate the mode of action of DNA topoisomerase I (topo I) in the presence and absence of its inhibitors: camptothecin (CPT) and tyrphostin AG-1387. The results revealed that in the absence of the inhibitors, the enzyme relaxed supercoiled DNA starting from a certain point in the DNA molecules and proceeded in one direction towards one of the edges of the DNA molecule. In addition, the relaxation of the supercoiled DNA is subsequently followed by a knotting event. In the presence of CPT, enzyme-supercoiled DNA complexes in which the enzyme is locked inside a relaxed region of the supercoiled DNA molecule were observed. Tyrphostin AG-1387 altered the DNA relaxation process of topo I producing unique shapes of DNA molecules. AFM images of the topo I protein provided a picture of the enzyme, which resembles its known crystallographic structure. Thus, AFM images provide new information on the mode of action of topo I in the absence and presence of its inhibitors.     

The interaction networks of the budding yeast and human DNA replication-initiation proteins

DNA replication is a stringently regulated cellular process. In proliferating cells, DNA replication-initiation proteins (RIPs) are sequentially loaded onto replication origins during the M-to-G₁ transition to form the pre-replicative complex (pre-RC), a process known as replication licensing. Subsequently, additional RIPs are recruited to form the pre-initiation complex (pre-IC). RIPs and their regulators ensure that chromosomal DNA is replicated exactly once per cell cycle. Origin recognition complex (ORC) binds to, and marks replication origins throughout the cell cycle and recruits other RIPs including Noc3p, Ipi1-3p, Cdt1p, Cdc6p and Mcm2-7p to form the pre-RC. The detailed mechanisms and regulation of the pre-RC and its exact architecture still remain unclear. In this study, pairwise protein-protein interactions among 23 budding yeast and 16 human RIPs were systematically and comprehensively examined by yeast two-hybrid analysis. This study tested 470 pairs of yeast and 196 pairs of human RIPs, from which 113 and 96 positive interactions, respectively, were identified. While many of these interactions were previously reported, some were novel, including various ORC and MCM subunit interactions, ORC self-interactions, and the interactions of IPI3 and NOC3 with several pre-RC and pre-IC proteins. Ten of the novel interactions were further confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation assays. Furthermore, we identified the conserved interaction networks between the yeast and human RIPs. This study provides a foundation and framework for further understanding the architectures, interactions and functions of the yeast and human pre-RC and pre-IC.     

Assembly Pathway and Characterization of the RAG1/2-DNA Paired and Signal-end Complexes

Mammalian immune receptor diversity is established via a unique restricted set of site-specific DNA rearrangements in lymphoid cells, known as V(D)J recombination. The lymphoid-specific RAG1-RAG2 protein complex (RAG1/2) initiates this process by binding to two types of recombination signal sequences (RSS), 12RSS and 23RSS, and cleaving at the boundaries of RSS and V, D, or J gene segments, which are to be assembled into immunoglobulins and T-cell receptors. Here we dissect the ordered assembly of the RAG1/2 heterotetramer with 12RSS and 23RSS DNAs. We find that RAG1/2 binds only a single 12RSS or 23RSS and reserves the second DNA-binding site specifically for the complementary RSS, to form a paired complex that reflects the known 12/23 rule of V(D)J recombination. The assembled RAG1/2 paired complex is active in the presence of Mg²⁺, the physiologically relevant metal ion, in nicking and double-strand cleavage of both RSS DNAs to produce a signal-end complex. We report here the purification and initial crystallization of the RAG1/2 signal-end complex for atomic-resolution structure elucidation. Strict pairing of the 12RSS and 23RSS at the binding step, together with information from the crystal structure of RAG1/2, leads to a molecular explanation of the 12/23 rule.     

Time resolved fluorescence of bacteriophage Pfl DNA binding protein and its complex with DNA

The DNA binding protein of the filamentous bacteriophage Pfl exhibits fluorescence from a single tryptophan residue. The location of the emission maximum at 340 nm ist quite common for proteins, but the single lifetime of 7.8 ns is one of the longest yet reported. Protein fluorescence is quenched more efficiently by Cs⁺ than by I^-; the Trp is located in a partially exposed pocket, in the vicinity of a negative charge.In the native complex of the binding protein with Pfl DNA the fluorescence emission maximum is at 330 nm, indicating a more apolar environment for Trp 14. The native nucleoprotein complex exhibits a similar fluorescence lifetime (6.5 ns) and an approximately equal fluorescence yield, indicating the absence of Trp-DNA stacking. The tryptophan in the complex is virtually inaccessible to ionic quenchers, and thus appears to be buried.Fluorescence depolarisation measurements have been used to examine the rotational mobility of the tryptophan in the protein and in the nucleoprotein complex. In the protein alone a single rotational correlation time () of 19 ns is observed, corresponding to rotation of the entire dimeric molecule; in the native nucleoprotein complex with Pfl DNA, a of 500 ns is observed, corresponding to a rigid unit of at least 50 subunits. In neither case does the tryptophan exhibit any detectable flexibility on the subnanosecond time scale.     

组蛋白翻译后修饰与DNA损伤响应蛋白招募的调控

组蛋白翻译后修饰是细胞DNA损伤早期应答反应的重要内涵,一方面是松弛、开放染色质结构的必要分子调节事件,以便DNA损伤响应蛋白能接近DNA损伤位点;另一方面直接参与DNA损伤修复蛋白招募过程的调控。综述了在DNA损伤信号激发下,发生的组蛋白主要修饰类型,异组蛋白H2AX、H2A.Z在DNA损伤部位与组蛋白置换,及其对DNA损伤响应蛋白招募的调节作用和机制。