Reticulons家族蛋白研究进展

Reticulons（RTNs）蛋白是一类广泛存在于真菌、植物及动物等真核生物的膜蛋白,主要定位于内质网,尤其是管状内质网,原核生物中至今尚未发现其同系物。哺乳动物基因组中有RTN1、RTN2、RTN3及RTN4共四类相互独立的基因,因启动子及选择性剪接方式不同每个基因可产生不同转录本。RTNs家族成员氨基端序列高度可变且大小显著不同,羧基端的约200个氨基酸残基则高度保守,被称为内质网蛋白同源结构域（reticulon-homology domain,RHD）。RTNs高度可变的氨基端赋予其各成员物种特异性及细胞特异性的功能,羧基端的RHD则是其执行基本细胞功能的基础。越来越多的研究结果表明,RTNs可参与蛋白转运、参与膜结构形态发生或稳定及细胞分裂、构成内质网膜通道或转运体、调节细胞凋亡、调节β分泌酶（β-site APP cleaving enzyme1,BACE1）活性及抑制神经再生等。该文就RTNs家族各成员基因和蛋白的结构特性以及功能特点的研究进展进行简要综述。     

番茄WOX转录因子家族的鉴定及其进化、表达分析

WUSCHEL相关的同源异型盒(WUSCHEL-related homeobox,WOX)是一类植物特异的转录因子家族,具有调控植物干细胞分裂分化动态平衡等重要功能。本研究利用番茄(Solanum lycopersicum)基因组数据,通过建立隐马尔科夫模型并进行检索,鉴定了番茄10个WOX转录因子家族成员。多序列比对发现,番茄WOX转录因子家族成员具有高度保守的同源异型结构域;以拟南芥WOX转录因子家族成员序列为参照,通过邻接法、极大似然法、贝叶斯法重建了系统发育树,三者呈现出类似的拓扑结构,番茄和拟南芥WOX转录因子家族共25个成员被分为3个进化支(Clade)和9个亚家族(Subgroup);利用MEME和GSDS对WOX转录因子家族成员的蛋白保守结构域和基因结构进行了分析,同一亚家族内的WOX转录因子家族成员的保守结构域的种类、组织形式以及基因结构具有高度的一致性;利用Perl和Orthomcl对家族成员的染色体定位和同源性关系进行分析,结果表明串联重复的SlWOX3a和SlWOX3b可能来源于一次复制事件;利用番茄转录组数据和qRT-PCR进行表达分析,结果显示家族成员在不同组织中的表达存在差异,暗示了WOX家族的不同成员在功能上可能具有多样性。本研究对番茄WOX转录因子家族成员进行GO(Gene Ontology)注释和比较分析,结果表明该家族成员作为转录因子,可能在组织器官发育、细胞间通讯等过程中发挥作用。     

普通烟草CESA基因家族成员的鉴定、亚细胞定位及表达分析

纤维素合成酶蛋白(cellulose-synthase proteins, CESA)是一类质膜定位蛋白,以蛋白复合体的形式存在于质膜上合成纤维素,在细胞壁建成和植物生长发育过程中起着非常重要的作用。本研究利用CESA蛋白保守域序列PF03552检索普通烟草(Nicotiana tabacum L.)蛋白序列,并通过拟南芥(Arabidopsis thaliana)10个CESA蛋白序列在普通烟草基因组数据库中利用TBLASTN程序进行比对,共获得21条NtCESA基因候选序列,对这些序列进行蛋白序列理化性质分析、系统进化树构建、基因结构分析、保守结构域及跨膜区分析和组织表达模式分析,并对NtCESA9和NtCESA14两个蛋白进行了亚细胞定位实验。结果表明：获得的21条NtCESA蛋白序列的理化性质相似;系统进化分析将21个NtCESA基因和10个AtCESA基因分成5个分支,每一个分支各成员之间的进化相对保守,基因结构类似,不同分支之间的基因结构差异也较小;NtCESA蛋白结构域相对保守,都含有CESA蛋白典型的N端锌指结构、C端跨膜区和DDD-QXXRW保守功能域;组织表达分析结果表明,大部分NtCESA基因在幼苗和成熟期烟草的根、叶、胚芽和愈伤组织中都有表达,同一个分支中的基因表达模式基本一致,并且NtCESA基因参与初/次生细胞壁纤维素的合成与该基因编码蛋白的跨膜区数目存在关联,表明NtCESA基因家族成员功能上的复杂性;亚细胞定位结果证实NtCESA9和NtCESA14为质膜定位蛋白。本研究为烟草CESA基因家族功能的深入研究奠定了基础。     

大豆GATL基因家族结构、进化和表达分析

本研究利用同源检索的方法在大豆数据库中全基因组分析获得18个大豆GATL基因,大豆GATL基因的基因结构保守,其中16个成员不含内含子;其后对其编码蛋白的理化特点、亚细胞定位和信号肽进行了分析;通过邻接法构建了该家族的进化树,以了解GATL家族成员的进化关系;表达模式分析发现,家族成员呈现出各自的表达特点;成员启动子区顺式作用元件分析发现了大量的植物激素和胁迫响应相关元件。本研究为进一步分析基因家族成员的功能提供了理论依据。     

砀山酥梨TCP基因家族全基因组鉴定与分析

TCP蛋白是植物特有的转录因子家族之一,在植物生长和发育等多个过程起到重要作用。本研究利用生物信息学方法对砀山酥梨TCP基因家族成员、染色体定位、进化分析、亚组分类、保守域结构和保守元件进行了相关分析。结果显示,梨TCP基因家族含有34个成员;进化分析表明,根据进化树拓扑结构将其分为两类:ClassⅠ和ClassⅡ,其中ClassⅡ可被分为CYC/TB1和CIN两个小组。结构域分析表明,梨TCP基因家族TCP结构域高度保守;保守元件分析表明,梨TCP基因家族包含5个保守元件:元件1是TCP保守域;元件2为R结构域,元件3、4和5为功能尚未鉴定的结构域,所有梨TCP蛋白都含有元件1,ClassⅡ组中CYC/TB1小组包含特异元件2。以上结果将为今后揭示梨TCP基因的功能提供重要的理论基础。     

蛇足石杉COBRA基因家族的分子生物信息学及表达分析

为探明蛇足石杉COBRA基因家族成员分子生物信息学特征及组织表达规律,该文基于蛇足石杉的全长转录组数据,通过生物信息学技术对该家族成员(HsCOBRAs)的理化性质、结构域、保守基序、顺式作用元件、基因表达量等进行分析。结果表明:(1)在蛇足石杉全长转录组中共筛选出24个HsCOBRAs家族成员,其中酸性蛋白9个,稳定蛋白11个,疏水性蛋白5个,具有跨膜结构的蛋白7个,具有信号肽的蛋白3个。(2)亚细胞定位在细胞壁、叶绿体、细胞核、细胞膜上。(3)结构分析发现HsCOBRAs有7种结构域和6种保守基序,部分成员具有高度保守的CCVS结构。(4)HsCOBRAs具有CAAT-box、TATA-box等45种顺式作用元件。(5)HsCOBRA2在叶、孢子、茎、芽胞中的表达量均最高。该研究结果可为HsCOBRAs的进一步研究及生物学功能验证等提供理论依据。     

小立碗藓WRKY基因家族生物信息学分析

WRKY作为最先在植物中发现的转录因子,在植物生长发育等过程中发挥重要作用。为了更好地研究小立碗藓WRKY蛋白的结构与功能,该文以Pfam数据库中WRKY基因家族数据(登录号为PF03106)为材料,分析了小立碗藓(Physcomitrella patens)WRKY基因家族成员的理化性质、蛋白质的二级结构预测、染色体定位、内外显子分布及系统进化关系。结果表明:(1)小立碗藓WRKY基因家族成员共有38个基因,根据WRKY保守结构域个数和锌指结构类型分成Ⅰ、Ⅱ两大类,不含第Ⅲ类(锌指结构为C2HC型),其中部分基因WRKY保守结构域发生变异。(2)WRKY蛋白氨基酸长度在216~775 aa之间、相对分子质量在24.5~82.8 kDa之间,亚细胞定位显示WRKY家族成员蛋白质定位于细胞核中。(3)WRKY蛋白的二级结构以α-螺旋、延伸链、β-转角、无规卷曲四种构成元件构成,除PpWRKY11(α-螺旋为主)外,其余无规卷曲占比高达70%。(4)与拟南芥的系统进化关系表明,植物在进化过程中WRKY家族成员的数目与进化方式发生改变,WRKY基因家族成员外显子的个数为3~7个。(5)小立碗藓WRKY基因家族成员无规则分散于21条染色体上,并未形成基因簇。该研究通过分析WRKY基因家族的基本结构与性质,能为后续深入研究WRKY转录因子的功能奠定基础。     

BURP蛋白家族研究进展

BURP蛋白家族是植物界中广泛存在的比较保守的结构基因家族,在胚胎形成和种子发育过程中具有功能.对BURP蛋白家族的结构特征及其4个亚家族成员的功能进行了综述.     

神经轴突生长抑制因子Nogo 家族的研究进展*

Nogo家族是一类神经轴突生长抑制因子家族,目前成员包括Nogo-A,Nogo-B,Nogo-C三个亚型。Nogo家族成员因C末端具有保守的RHD结构域而归属于RTNs家族,表明它们的分布和功能与内质网密切相关。Nogo家族C末端还具有一个进化保守的66氨基酸的功能段称为Nogo-66,体外表达的Nogo-66片段具有抑制神经突生长的作用。Nogo家族成员结构上的区别主要表现在不同剪切长短的N末端序列。Nogo-A主要在中枢和外周神经系统中广泛分布,Nogo-C主要分布在骨骼肌,而Nogo-B则几乎遍布于各种组织与细胞之中。目前,发现可介导Nogo胞内信号转导通路的受体主要是膜外糖蛋白偶联的NgR和跨膜受体p75NTR组成的共受体,但NgR与Nogo-A在胚胎发育中时空表达并不同步提示可能还有其它受体存在。虽然Nogo家族作为神经轴突生长抑制因子被发现,但越来越多的研究表明其可能在胚胎发育、细胞凋亡或神经退行性变等重大事件中扮演重要角色。本文拟就Nogo家族迄今为止突出的研究进展作一综述,旨在为下一步的功能研究工作提供理论参考和依据。     

Nogo and its paRTNers

Reticulons (RTNs) are a relatively new eukaryotic gene family with unknown functions but broad expression and peculiar topological features. RTNs are widely distributed in plants, yeast and animals and are characterized by a approximately 200-amino-acid C-terminal domain, including two long hydrophobic sequences. Nogo/RTN4 can inhibit neurite growth from the cell surface via specific receptors, whereas more general, 'ancestral', RTN functions might relate to those of the endoplasmic reticulum - for example, intracellular trafficking, cell division and apoptosis. Here, we review the taxonomic distribution and tissue expression of RTNs, summarize recent discoveries about RTN localization and membrane topology, and discuss the possible functions of RTNs.     

Nogo/RTN4 isoforms and RTN3 expression protect SH-SY5Y cells against multiple death insults

Among the members of the reticulon (RTN) family, Nogo-A/RTN4A, a prominent myelin-associated neurite growth inhibitory protein, and RTN3 are highly expressed in neurons. However, neuronal cell-autonomous functions of Nogo-A, as well as other members of the RTN family, are unclear. We show here that SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells stably over-expressing either two of the three major isoforms of Nogo/RTN4 (Nogo-A and Nogo-B) or a major isoform of RTN3 were protected against cell death induced by a battery of apoptosis-inducing agents (including serum deprivation, staurosporine, etoposide, and H₂O₂) compared to vector-transfected control cells. Nogo-A, -B, and RTN3 are particularly effective in terms of protection against H₂O₂-induced increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species levels and ensuing apoptotic and autophagic cell death. Expression of these RTNs upregulated basal levels of Bax, activated Bax, and activated caspase 3, but did not exhibit an enhanced ER stress response. The protective effect of RTNs is also not dependent on classical survival-promoting signaling pathways such as Akt and Erk kinase pathways. Neuron-enriched Nogo-A/Rtn4A and RTN3 may, therefore, exert a protective effect on neuronal cells against death stimuli, and elevation of their levels during injury may have a cell-autonomous survival-promoting function.     

Five Arabidopsis Reticulon Isoforms Share Endoplasmic Reticulum Location,Topology, and Membrane-Shaping Properties

The cortical endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) epidermal cells is a network of tubules and cisternae undergoing dramatic rearrangements. Reticulons are integral membrane proteins involved in shaping ER tubules. Here, we characterized the localization, topology, effect, and interactions of five Arabidopsis thaliana reticulons (RTNs), isoforms 1-4 and 13, in the cortical ER. Our results indicate that RTNLB13 and RTNLB1-4 colocate to and constrict the tubular ER membrane. All five RTNs preferentially accumulate on ER tubules and are excluded from ER cisternae. All isoforms share the same transmembrane topology, with N and C termini facing the cytosol and four transmembrane domains. We show by Förster resonance energy transfer and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy that several RTNs have the capacity to interact with themselves and each other, and we suggest that oligomerization is responsible for their residence in the ER membrane. We also show that a complete reticulon homology domain is required for both RTN residence in high-curvature ER membranes and ER tubule constriction, yet it is not necessary for homotypic interactions.     

Genetic variability of Old Portuguese bread wheat cultivars assayed by IRAP and REMAP markers

Retrotransposons (RTNs) constitute informative molecular markers for plant species as a result of their ability of integrating into a multitude of loci throughout the genome and thereby generating insertional polymorphisms between individuals. Inter-retrotransposon amplified polymorphisms (IRAPs) and the retrotransposon-microsatellite amplified polymorphisms (REMAPs) are marker systems based on long terminal repeats (LTRs) RTNs, developed for plants, that have been widely used for evolution, genetic diversity, DNA fingerprinting of cultivars and varieties, genetic mapping linkage and for detection of genetic rearrangements induced by polyploidisation. In the present study, we aimed to analyse the genetic variability among 48 Old Portuguese bread wheat cultivars using both IRAP and REMAP markers. Five IRAP and six REMAP primer combinations were used. IRAP produced 103 polymorphic fragments in a total of 113 bands. On average, 22.6 bands were amplified per IRAP primer combination. The bands ranged in size from 250 to 5000 bp. The REMAP primer combinations allowed the amplification of 53 bands, 51 of them polymorphic. An average of 8.8 REMAP bands was scored per primer combination. The REMAP bands ranged from 250 to 3000 bp. Both marker systems presented high percentages of polymorphism. However, IRAP markers were suitable for detecting genetic variability at the individual level and did not differentiate higher taxa. The REMAP maker system allowed the clustering by botanical variety and identified most of the homonym bread wheat cultivars.     

Nebulisation of receptor-targeted nanocomplexes for gene delivery to the airway epithelium

Background

Gene therapy mediated by synthetic vectors may provide opportunities for new treatments for cystic fibrosis (CF) via aerosolisation. Vectors for CF must transfect the airway epithelium efficiently and not cause inflammation so they are suitable for repeated dosing. The inhaled aerosol should be deposited in the airways since the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene (CFTR) is expressed predominantly in the epithelium of the submucosal glands and in the surface airway epithelium. The aim of this project was to develop an optimised aerosol delivery approach applicable to treatment of CF lung disease by gene therapy.

Methodology

The vector suspension investigated in this study comprises receptor-targeting peptides, cationic liposomes and plasmid DNA that self-assemble by electrostatic interactions to form a receptor-targeted nanocomplex (RTN) of approximately 150 nm with a cationic surface charge of +50 mV. The aerodynamic properties of aerosolised nanocomplexes produced with three different nebulisers were compared by determining aerosol deposition in the different stages of a Next Generation Pharmaceutical Impactor (NGI). We also investigated the yield of intact plasmid DNA by agarose gel electrophoresis and densitometry, and transfection efficacies in vitro and in vivo.

Results

RTNs nebulised with the AeroEclipse II BAN were the most effective, compared to other nebulisers tested, for gene delivery both in vitro and in vivo. The biophysical properties of the nanocomplexes were unchanged after nebulisation while the deposition of RTNs suggested a range of aerosol aerodynamic sizes between 5.5 µm–1.4 µm cut off (NGI stages 3–6) compatible with deposition in the central and lower airways.

Conclusions

RTNs showed their ability at delivering genes via nebulisation, thus suggesting their potential applications for therapeutic interventions of cystic fibrosis and other respiratory disorders.     

Molecular characterization of Fagaceae species using inter-primer binding site (iPBS) markers

Retrotransposons (RTNs) contribute for genome evolution, influencing its size and structure. We investigated the utility of the RTN-based markers inter-primer binding site (iPBS) for the molecular characterization of 25 Fagaceae species from genera Castanea, Fagus and Quercus. The assessment of genetic diversity, relationships and structure, as well as taxonomic classification of Fagaceae based on molecular data is important for definition of conservation, forestry management strategies and discrimination among natural hybrids and their parents since natural hybridization may increase with the climate changes. Here, iPBS primers designed by other authors were tested alone and combined. Some of them were discriminative, revealed polymorphism within and among taxa allowing the production of a total of 150 iPBS markers. In addition, several monomorphic iPBS markers were also amplified in each taxon. The UPGMA dendrogram based on the pooled iPBS data revealed 27% of genetic similarity among species. The individuals were clustered per genus and most of the oaks per infrageneric group corroborating the adopted taxonomy. Globally, the iPBS markers demonstrated suitability for DNA fingerprinting, determination of phylogenies and taxonomic discrimination in Fagaceae, and could constitute a useful and alternative tool for germplasm characterization, and for definition of conservation strategies and forestry management. Moreover, these markers would be useful for fingerprinting natural hybrids that share morphological similarities with their parents. Since iPBS markers could also enable insights about RTNs evolution, an eventual correlation among iPBS polymorphism, variability of RTN insertions and/or genome size in Fagaceae is discussed.     

RTN4-C基因在肝癌组织中的表达及其对SMMC7721细胞生长和凋亡的影响

RTN4-C属于编码内质网蛋白的基因家族(RTNs)。为研究RTN4-C在肝癌及其癌旁组织中的表达情况及其对SMMC7721肝癌细胞株的影响,利用RT-PCR检测RTN4-C在肝癌及其癌旁组织中的表达。构建RTN4-C-pcDNA3.1真核表达重组质粒,用脂质体介导转染SMMC7721肝癌细胞,通过G418稳定筛选,建立转染RTN4-C/SMMC7721稳定细胞株。MTT法测定转染前后细胞生长改变、吖啶橙染色检测细胞凋亡改变、免疫细胞化学检测肿瘤相关蛋白p53、Hsp70和c-Fos表达改变。结果表明,RTN4-C/SMMC7721细胞生长减慢,与对照组相比,第2、3、4d细胞生长抑制率分别为33·8%±0·026、56·2%±0·094、34·8%±0·077;凋亡明显增多。突变型p53蛋白从核内转移到细胞质且表达减弱,c-Fos、Hsp70蛋白表达量明显减弱。提示RTN4-C基因在肝癌组织中存在表达差异,促进突变型p53的核转移并减少其表达量、抑制癌基因c-Fos和Hsp70的表达,从而抑制SMMC7721细胞的生长,促进其凋亡。