人乳头瘤病毒E6蛋白在细胞凋亡中的作用

细胞凋亡是细胞体在内、外特定的生理或病理因素诱导下发生的程序性死亡.目前认为,细胞内的基因直接调控细胞凋亡的发生与发展,细胞外部因素通过信号转导而影响这些基因的表达或其表达产物的活化,间接控制细胞凋亡.病毒也可以通过影响凋亡信号转导通路中相关蛋白的活性及相关基因的表达而干扰正常的细胞周期和细胞凋亡.     

死亡受体及其配体与心肌细胞凋亡

细胞凋亡是一种受基因调控的主动性细胞死亡 ,表现为凋亡信号通路的启动及相关基因的表达。在细胞凋亡的发生过程中 ,有不同的信号转导途径介导和参与 ,而直接启动凋亡的一条最具特征性的途径为死亡受体 (ｄｅａｔｈｒｅｃｅｐｔｏｒ ,ＤＲ)信号转导途径。死亡受体为位于细胞膜表面的某种蛋白质 ,能与携带凋亡信号的专一性配体结合并迅速将凋亡信号转导到细胞内而诱导细胞凋亡 ,属于肿瘤坏死因子 (ｔｕｍｏｒｎｅｃｒｏｓｉｓｆａｃｔｏｒ ,ＴＮＦ)受体基因超家族成员。这些受体均具有相似的富含半胱氨酸的胞外区 ,而且均存在一个约 80～ 90…     

铝诱导植物程序性细胞死亡信号转导的研究进展

铝是制约酸性土壤上作物生产的主要因素。铝诱导氧化胁迫产生大量活性氧/一氧化氮,引起胞质钙超载,通过线粒体信号转导途径激发相关凋亡基因,从而引起细胞主动死亡,以减轻铝对植物的进一步毒害。本文综述了铝诱导程序性细胞死亡的信号分子、相关基因以及信号转导途径,对未来的研究方向提出了展望,为深入研究植物铝毒害机理和耐铝机制提供参考。     

钙网蛋白在心肌肥大中的研究进展

钙网蛋白（calreticulin,CRT）是内质网中主要的Ca^2＋结合分子伴侣,具有调控细胞Ca^2＋稳态、蛋白质合成与修饰等作用,参与调节细胞凋亡、应激、心血管炎症反应等多种生理和病理生理过程。CRT属于心脏胚胎基因家族,通过调节心肌细胞肌原纤维形成、促进糖原分解、诱导肥大相关基因转录、调节心脏传导系统发育及心肌细胞凋亡等,在心脏发育及心肌肥大的发生、发展过程起重要作用,本文对CRT在心肌肥大中的作用及其信号转导途径予以综述。     

流感病毒诱导宿主细胞凋亡的研究进展

本文综述了流感病毒诱导细胞凋亡的研究进展,重点阐述在流感病毒诱导细胞凋亡过程中可能存在的信号转导途径,并探讨了ｂｃｌ－２基因对流感病毒诱导细胞凋亡的影响。     

钙网蛋白在心肌肥大中的研究进展

钙网蛋白(calreticulin, CRT)是内质网中主要的Ca2+结合分子伴侣,具有调控细胞Ca2+稳态、蛋白质合成与修饰等作用,参与调节细胞凋亡、应激、心血管炎症反应等多种生理和病理生理过程.CRT属于心脏胚胎基因家族,通过调节心肌细胞肌原纤维形成、促进糖原分解、诱导肥大相关基因转录、调节心脏传导系统发育及心肌细胞凋亡等,在心脏发育及心肌肥大的发生、发展过程起重要作用,本文对CRT在心肌肥大中的作用及其信号转导途径予以综述.     

hnRNP A2/B1在人永生化表皮HaCaT细胞凋亡过程中的表达及其调控作用研究

该文以姜黄素诱导人永生化表皮HaCaT细胞凋亡为基础,对hnRNP A2/B1在核基质中的存在、分布及其与细胞凋亡相关基因产物的共定位及相互作用关系进行了研究。蛋白质印迹结果显示,hnRNP A2/B1存在于HaCaT细胞核基质蛋白组分中,在经过姜黄素处理后,表达下调;激光共聚焦显微镜观察显示,hnRNP A2/B1在HaCaT细胞中分别与Fas、p53和Bax等基因产物具有共定位关系,姜黄素处理后其共定位区域出现由核膜或核仁向胞质转移的趋势。GST pull-down实验证实,hnRNPA2/B1分别与Fas、p53和Bax有直接相互作用关系。结果表明,hnRNPA2/B1作为一种核基质蛋白,通过与细胞凋亡相关基因产物的相互作用参与HaCaT细胞的凋亡诱导调控过程,这对深入认识核基质蛋白在细胞凋亡过程中的调控机制具有重要意义。     

植物冷响应基因调控和冷信号转导

植物细胞内存在丰富多样的冷响应基因,但只有一部分与植物的抗冷性有关.植物抗冷性状是由多基因调控的累积性状,CBF(CRT-DRE binding factors)是许多抗冷基因的转录激活子;Ca2 与蛋白质的磷酸化和去磷酸化反应参与了冷信号转导;最近分子方面的的证据也表明在植物细胞内存在着冷信号转导的负调控元件.     

氧化修饰在调控细胞凋亡信号转导中的作用

氧化修饰是细胞内的活性氧诱导生物大分子发生氧化反应引起的结构及构象改变,发挥调控信号转导和对应激作出反应的功能。氧化修饰发生在凋亡信号转导中的多个生物大分子,包括凋亡相关蛋白质的氧化,如caspase-9、线粒体通透性转变孔及电压依赖的阴离子通道(voltagedependent anion channel,VDAC),同时也包括膜磷脂的氧化修饰,如磷脂酰丝氨酸及线粒体特异的心磷脂。氧化修饰作用也涉及凋亡诱导因子、促凋亡的凋亡信号调控激酶1(apoptosis signalregulatin gkinasel,ASK1)信号转导途径及抗凋亡的转录因子NF—kB的激活和活性。所以氧化修饰可能是调控凋亡信号转导机制中除磷酸化、泛素化外的另一个新的分子机制。     

过氧化物酶V在顺铂诱导HepG2肝癌细胞凋亡过程中的调控作用

过氧化物酶V(peroxiredoxin V, Prx V)是过氧化物酶家族(peroxiredoxins, Prxs)中的一员,具有清除细胞内活性氧(reactive oxygen species, ROS)的功能。该文主要阐明了Prx V在顺铂(cisplatin, CDDP)诱导Hep G2人肝癌细胞凋亡过程中的调控作用。该研究利用顺铂处理Hep G2肝癌细胞,通过荧光显微照相、流式细胞术、蛋白质免疫印迹分析等方法检测细胞内活性氧(ROS)水平、细胞凋亡情况以及凋亡相关蛋白水平。研究结果表明,顺铂可引起细胞内的ROS水平升高导致细胞凋亡,同时造成细胞内Prx V蛋白质表达水平下降。利用慢病毒载体过量表达Prx V基因后,顺铂诱导的Prx V过量表达型HepG2细胞凋亡率明显低于Mock组,同时促凋亡蛋白cleavage-Caspase-3、Bad、cleavage-PARP表达水平也明显被下调,说明Prx V在顺铂诱导HepG2细胞凋亡过程中具有一定的抑制作用。该研究初步探究了Prx V在顺铂诱导的HepG2肝癌细胞凋亡过程中的调控作用,为肝癌的治疗研究提供了新的思路和治疗靶点。     

Phosphatases in apoptosis: to be or not to be,PP2A is in the heart of the question

Protein phosphatase type 2A (PP2A) is a major Ser/Thr phosphatase involved in several cellular signal transduction pathways. In this review, we will focus on recent progress concerning the role of PP2A in apoptotic signalling. Since PP2A activates pro-apoptotic and inhibits anti-apoptotic proteins of the Bcl-2 family, we conclude that PP2A has a positive regulatory function in apoptosis. However, in Drosophila, a specific subset of the PP2A holoenzyme family, containing B'/PR61 as third regulatory subunit, is inhibitory for apoptosis, suggesting different regulatory mechanisms and substrates in different species. Moreover, PP2A acts not only upstream as a regulator of the apoptotic signal transduction pathway but also downstream as a substrate of effector caspases. Hence, PP2A is involved in the regulation as well as in the cellular response of apoptosis. Probably, various PP2A holoenzymes with distinct regulatory subunits specifically target different apoptotic substrates. This could explain the implication of PP2A at several levels of the apoptotic signal transduction pathway. Finally, some viral proteins such as adenovirus E4orf4 and simian virus small t target PP2A to alter its activity, resulting in induction of apoptosis as a regulatory mechanism to enhance virus spread.     

Caspase family proteases and apoptosis

Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is an essential physiological process that plays a critical role in development and tissue homeostasis. The progress of apoptosis is regulated in an orderly way by a series of signal cascades under certain circumstances. The caspase-cascade system plays vital roles in the induction, transduction and amplification of intracellular apoptotic signals. Caspases, closely associated with apoptosis, are aspartate-specific cysteine proteases and members of the interleukin- 1 ~-converting enzyme family. The activation and function of caspases, involved in the delicate caspase-cascade system, are regu- lated by various kinds of molecules, such as the inhibitor of apoptosis protein, Bcl-2 family proteins, calpain, and Ca^2＋. Based on the latest research, the members of the caspase family, caspase-cascade system and caspase-regulating molecules involved in apoptosis are reviewed.     

Cold-induced apoptosis of hepatocytes: mitochondrial permeability transition triggered by nonmitochondrial chelatable iron

We previously described that the cold-induced apoptosis of cultured hepatocytes is mediated by an increase in the cellular chelatable iron pool. We here set out to assess whether a mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) is involved in cold-induced apoptosis. When cultured hepatocytes were rewarmed after 18 h of cold (4°C) incubation in cell culture medium or University of Wisconsin solution, the vast majority of cells rapidly lost mitochondrial membrane potential. This loss was due to MPT as assessed by confocal laser scanning microscopy and as evidenced by the inhibitory effect of the MPT inhibitors trifluoperazine plus fructose. The occurrence of the MPT was iron-dependent: it was strongly inhibited by the iron chelators 2,2′-dipyridyl and deferoxamine. Addition of trifluoperazine plus fructose also strongly inhibited cold-induced apoptosis, suggesting that the MPT constitutes a decisive intermediate event in the pathway leading to cold-induced apoptosis. Further experiments employing the non-site-specific iron indicator Phen Green SK and specifically mitochondrial iron indicators and chelators (rhodamine B-[(1,10-phenanthrolin-5-yl)aminocarbonyl]benzyl ester, RPA, and rhodamine B-[(2,2′-bipyridin-4-yl)aminocarbonyl]benzyl ester, RDA) suggest that it is the cold-induced increase in cytosolic chelatable iron that triggers the MPT and that mitochondrial chelatable iron is not involved in this process.     

TNF-α信号传导通路的分子机理

肿瘤坏死因子α（tumor necrosis factor-alpha,TNF-α）是一种具有多效生物学效应的细胞因子.TNF的生物学效应都是通过细胞表面的2种TNF受体（TNFR）引发,其信号传导通路主要包括caspase家族介导的细胞凋亡、衔接蛋白TRAF介导的转录因子NF-κB和JNK蛋白激酶的活化.TNFR1和TNFR2的生物学功能不是独立的,许多生物学活性由二者共同完成.3条信号传导通路之间及各通路内部含有各种调节机制,使TNF的各种生物学功能协调发挥出来.本文评述了3条信号传导通路最新进展、关键激酶的研究状况及其在整个信号网络中的作用机理,如IKK的激活以及重要的信号转导分子RIP、TRAF2、TRUSS的结构、相互作用的方式等     

Regulation of DNA fragmentation: the role of caspases and phosphorylation

DNA fragmentation is a hallmark of apoptosis that is induced by apoptotic stimuli in various cell types. Apoptotic signal pathways, which eventually cause DNA fragmentation, are largely mediated by the family of cysteinyl aspartate-specific protease caspases. Caspases mediate apoptotic signal transduction by cleavage of apoptosis-implicated proteins and the caspases themselves. In the process of caspase activation, reversible protein phosphorylation plays an important role. The activation of various proteins is regulated by phosphorylation and dephosphorylation, both upstream and downstream of caspase activation. Many kinases/phosphatases are involved in the control of cell survival and death, including the mitogen-activated protein kinase signal transduction pathways. Reversible protein phosphorylation is involved in the widespread regulation of cellular signal transduction and apoptotic processes. Therefore, phosphatase/kinase inhibitors are commonly used as apoptosis inducers/inhibitors. Whether protein phosphorylation induces apoptosis depends on many factors, such as the type of phosphorylated protein, the degree of activation and the influence of other proteins. Phosphorylation signaling pathways are intricately interrelated; it was previously shown that either induction or inhibition of phosphorylation causes cell death. Determination of the relationship between protein and phosphorylation helps to reveal how apoptosis is regulated. Here we discuss DNA fragmentation and protein phosphorylation, focusing on caspase and serine/threonine protein phosphatase activation.     

Purine metabolism in B-cell lymphocytic leukemia: a microarray approach

B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) is an adult-onset highly heterogeneous malignancy characterized by a cells resistance to apoptosis rather than to highly proliferative cells. In previous research, we evidenced an imbalance of purine metabolism in B-CLL cells. Since the extracellular adenosine has been proved to induce apoptosis via A2b receptor, enzymes involved in adenosine metabolism could play an important role in apoptosis resistance of B-CLL cells. We prepared a microarray chip for the analysis of 50 selected genes that could be of interest in B-CLL: enzymes of purine de-novo, salvage and catabolic pathway, oxidative stress enzymes, and apoptotis-related proteins. Preliminary results identify many genes of purine metabolism that exhibit low or high expression, while genes involved in signal transduction and apoptosis exhibit lower alterations even if of remarkable interest. This application of microarray technique seems promising and at least a subset of these genes will be valid candidates for further studies.     

Purine Metabolism in B-Cell Lymphocytic Leukemia: A Microarray Approach

B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) is an adult-onset highly heterogeneous malignancy characterized by a cells resistance to apoptosis rather than to highly proliferative cells. In previous research, we evidenced an imbalance of purine metabolism in B-CLL cells. Since the extracellular adenosine has been proved to induce apoptosis via A2b receptor, enzymes involved in adenosine metabolism could play an important role in apoptosis resistance of B-CLL cells. We prepared a microarray chip for the analysis of 50 selected genes that could be of interest in B-CLL: enzymes of purine de-novo, salvage and catabolic pathway, oxidative stress enzymes, and apoptotis-related proteins. Preliminary results identify many genes of purine metabolism that exhibit low or high expression, while genes involved in signal transduction and apoptosis exhibit lower alterations even if of remarkable interest. This application of microarray technique seems promising and at least a subset of these genes will be valid candidates for further studies.     

4-hydroxynonenal contributes to NGF withdrawal-induced neuronal apoptosis

Reactive oxygen species are a necessary triggering event for apoptosis of sympathetic neurons after nerve growth factor (NGF) withdrawal. Reactive oxygen species can lead to the generation of 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE), a highly reactive aldehyde that forms adducts with proteins. This covalent modification can activate or inhibit signal transduction pathways involved in the induction of apoptosis. This process may be clinically relevant because HNE-adduct immunoreactivity increases in several disease states. Here we evaluate the role of HNE-adducts in sympathetic neurons undergoing NGF-deprivation-induced apoptosis, a model of developmental programmed cell death. We show that HNE-adduct immunoreactivity is dramatically increased after NGF-withdrawal in an NADPH oxidase-dependent manner. Moreover, HNE-adducts appear to contribute to NGF-deprivation-induced apoptotic signal transduction because microinjected HNE-adduct antiserum protects sympathetic neurons from NGF withdrawal. In conclusion, this report suggests the direct contribution of endogenously generated HNE in the stimulation of apoptotic signal transduction in neurons.