CCCH型锌指蛋白研究进展

锌指蛋白是一类生物体中广泛存在的具有典型锌指结构特征的超蛋白家族,几乎参与了生物体生长发育的各个阶段。根据锌指蛋白的结构及功能特点,锌指蛋白主要分为9大类,其中CCCH型锌指蛋白相比其它几类来说较少,约占所有锌指蛋白的0.8%,在植物、动物、微生物中都有发现。CCCH型锌指蛋白包含一个或多个由3个半胱氨酸和一个组氨酸组成的能与锌离子结合的基序。综述了CCCH型锌指蛋白的定义、结构、表达、作用方式和功能。     

白桦锌指蛋白基因的分离及表达分析

植物锌指蛋白是成员众多的转录因子家族,在植物的生长发育和对非生物胁迫响应等过程中具有重要作用。根据Cys和His残基的数目和位置将锌指转录因子分为C_2H_2、C_8、C6、C_3HC_4、C_2HC、C_2HC5、C_4、CCCH和C_4HC_3九种类型。本实验利用其他物种中已报导的植物逆境胁迫相关的锌指蛋白转录因子基因序列作为信息探针,在白桦基因组数据库中筛选出10个基因,分别是4个C_2H_2型、5个C_3HC_4-RING型和一个CCCH型。通过q RT-PCR技术对筛选的基因在根中的表达模式进行了分析,结果显示Bp ZFP_2、Bp ZFP_3、Bp ZFP_4、Bp ZFP5和Bp ZFP_8的表达受盐和干旱胁迫的显著诱导,表明这些基因参与了逆境胁迫的应答。     

水稻种子发育期间特异锌指蛋白基因的筛选与分析

.锌指蛋白基因是植物基因组中最大最复杂的基因家族之一.大部分的锌指模体存在于转录因子中,它们在转录水平上参与植物生长发育及植物对生物和非生物胁迫的反应.为了解锌指蛋白基因在水稻种子发育中的作用,本研究通过多种数据库搜索获得了878个水稻锌指蛋白基因.从中选取311个利用RT-PCR技术分析它们在水稻成熟期根、茎、叶、花及不同发育阶段种子中的表达特征.结果发现,共有196个基因能在至少1个水稻器官中表达,其中10个为种子特异性表达基因.进一步分析发现,10个特异表达基因在水稻种子不同发育阶段中的表达具有种子阶段表达特异性.同时分析它们的基因及蛋白结构特点,结果显示它们的结构较简单,其中3个蛋白含有线粒体靶肽,5个蛋白含有CCCH锌指结构域.另外,分析种子特异性表达基因上游调控区的顺式作用元件,结果表明它们都含有TATA-box、CAAT-box和种子特异调控元件,除此之外还发现了光、激素和胁迫反应相关调控元件.这些结果为进一步研究它们在种子发育过程中的生物学功能提供了有用的线索.     

棉花锌指蛋白GhZFP1相互作用蛋白的酵母双杂交筛选

GhZFP1蛋白是从盐胁迫棉花幼苗cDNA文库中分离的一种CCCH型锌指蛋白.初步的生物学功能研究表明,过量表达该基因的转基因烟草耐盐性和抗病性显著提高.为深入研究GhZFP1蛋白的作用机制,构建pGBKT7-m1诱饵表达载体,利用酵母双杂交系统从盐胁迫诱导棉花cDNA文库中筛选与其相互作用的蛋白.通过阳性克隆的表型确定、PCR和限制性内切酶检测以及测序和生物信息学分析,获得9个与诱饵蛋白相互作用的靶蛋白.双分子荧光互补实验证明,GhZFP1与GZIRD19A确实存在互作关系.通过分析这些靶蛋白的已知功能,为研究GhZFP1锌指蛋白的未知生物学功能提供重要信息.     

莱茵衣藻中Limp77基因干涉后油脂含量升高

随着能源危机问题日益严重,可再生能源的研究渐渐成为目前研究的热点.微藻生物能源又以众多的优点成为目前可再生能源的研究重点.我们发现,在减氮培养下的莱茵衣藻,其油脂含量增加,Limp77基因的表达量明显下降.Limp77基因编码的是一类CCCH型锌指蛋白,具有通过与DNA、RNA结合来实现转录的调控或通过调控其它基因转录的锌指蛋白来实现转录调控的功能,极可能参与到莱茵衣藻油脂代谢调控中.通过利用RNAi干涉技术构建Limp77基因的干涉载体,并通过玻璃珠法转入莱茵衣藻（Chlamydomonas reinhardtii）2A38中,研究其与油脂相关的生理生化指标的变化.实验结果表明,Limp 77基因明显抑制莱茵衣藻油脂的积累.     

植物C_2H_2型锌指蛋白的研究进展

锌指蛋白是转录因子的一种,对真核生物的生长发育及逆境胁迫的耐受能力都有着重要关系,而植物C2H2型锌指蛋白是研究较多、较为明确的一种锌指蛋白,该蛋白大部分锌指结构具有一段高度保守的氨基酸序列QALGGH,这是植物中独有的特征,且据报道该C2H2型锌指蛋白与逆境胁迫是相关的。本文主要综述了植物C2H2型锌指蛋白的分类、结构和功能,植物C2H2型锌指蛋白与DNA、RNA和蛋白质的相互作用,以及概述了与盐胁迫、低温胁迫、干旱胁迫、氧胁迫和光胁迫等逆境胁迫相关的植物C2H2型锌指蛋白,最后还对其进一步的深入研究进行了展望,这就为日后利用基因工程技术改良作物品质、提高作物的抗逆性提供了有利条件。     

锌指蛋白结构及功能研究进展

锌指蛋白是一类具有手指状结构域的转录因子,对基因调控起重要的作用。根据其保守结构域的不同,可将锌指蛋白主要分为C2H2型、C4型和C6型。锌指通过与靶分子DNA、RNA、DNA-RNA的序列特异性结合,以及与自身或其他锌指蛋白的结合,在转录和翻译水平上调控基因的表达。我们简要综述了近年来锌指蛋白结构、分类及其与核酸及蛋白质相互作用等方面的研究进展。     

C2H2型锌指蛋白结合的DNA序列预测方法的研究进展

C2H2型锌指蛋白是哺乳动物中数量最多的一类转录调控因子.C2H2型锌指蛋白中含有的C2H2型锌指基序多是不相同的,表明它们很可能结合不同的DNA序列,从而调控不同的基因,行使多样化的调控功能.然而,目前大多数C2H2型锌指蛋白结合的DNA序列仍不明确,这阻碍了C2H2型锌指蛋白的功能研究.目前,针对C2H2型锌指蛋白的靶序列预测已有一些初步的研究.本文介绍了C2H2型锌指基序与DNA结合的经典模式,并对C2H2型锌指蛋白靶序列预测方法中所用到的算法、训练集、金标准数据集及相应工具进行了全面系统的总结归纳,旨在丰富对C2H2型锌指蛋白靶序列预测原理和工具的认识,为C2H2型锌指蛋白靶序列的精确预测和更深入的功能研究打下基础.     

单核细胞趋化蛋白诱导蛋白-1的研究进展

单核细胞趋化蛋白诱导蛋白-1（MCPIP1）是最近发现的一类具有免疫调节作用的CCCH型锌指家族分子。MCPIP1可被LPS、IL-1β或MCP-1等多种炎性因子刺激表达,可通过下调炎症因子（如IL-6、IL-12p40等）表达,从而负向调控炎症过程。MCPIP1的作用机制主要是作为RNA酶调节某些炎性因子mRNA或pre-miRNA的降解。此外,MCPIP1也可作为去泛素化酶靶向TNF受体相关蛋白（TRAFs）成员,从而负向调控JNK和NF-κB信号活化。将从MCPIP1分子的发现、基因和蛋白质结构、生物学功能、表达调控以及临床应用前景等几个方面进行阐述。     

大豆C2H2型锌指蛋白基因SCTF-1的克隆及功能分析

锌指蛋白是一类具有手指型结构的蛋白质,其中一些锌指蛋白是转录因子,对真核生物的生长发育及非生物逆境胁迫的耐受能力都有着重要作用。文章从大豆(Glycine max(L.)Merr.)中克隆了一个新的C2H2型锌指蛋白基因SCTF-1(GenBank登录号:JQ692081),该基因包含一个699 bp的开放阅读框,编码233个氨基酸,无内含子,有两个典型的C2H2型锌指结构。锌指结构中有植物锌指蛋白特有的保守氨基酸序列QALGGH。经软件预测分析,其等电点pI=8.33,分子量24.9 kDa。农杆菌介导的洋葱表皮细胞GFP瞬时表达实验结果表明,SCTF-1蛋白能够定位到细胞核中。通过RT-PCR检测发现该基因在大豆叶和花中的表达量较高,在茎和根的表达量相对较低。在对大豆幼苗的低温胁迫中,SCTF-1基因的表达量明显增加。将SCTF-1基因转入烟草(Nicotiana tabacum L.)中,发现SCTF-1基因的过量表达能够明显提高转基因烟草的耐冷能力。     

Genome-wide survey and expression profiling of CCCH-zinc finger family reveals a functional module in macrophage activation

Previously, we have identified a novel CCCH zinc finger protein family as negative regulators of macrophage activation. To gain an overall insight into the entire CCCH zinc finger gene family and to evaluate their potential role in macrophage activation, here we performed a genome-wide survey of CCCH zinc finger genes in mouse and human. Totally 58 CCCH zinc finger genes in mouse and 55 in human were identified and most of them have not been reported previously. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the mouse CCCH family was divided into 6 groups. Meanwhile, we employed quantitative real-time PCR to profile their tissue expression patterns in adult mice. Clustering analysis showed that most of CCCH genes were broadly expressed in all of tissues examined with various levels. Interestingly, several CCCH genes Mbnl3, Zfp36l2, Zfp36, Zc3h12a, Zc3h12d, Zc3h7a and Leng9 were enriched in macrophage-related organs such as thymus, spleen, lung, intestine and adipose. Consistently, a comprehensive assessment of changes in expression of the 58 members of the mouse CCCH family during macrophage activation also revealed that these CCCH zinc finger genes were associated with the activation of bone marrow-derived macrophages by lipopolysaccharide. Taken together, this study not only identified a functional module of CCCH zinc finger genes in the regulation of macrophage activation but also provided the framework for future studies to dissect the function of this emerging gene family.     

Genome-wide analysis and identification of stress-responsive genes of the CCCH zinc finger family in Solanum lycopersicum

Zinc finger genes comprise a large and diverse gene family. Based on their individual finger structures and spacing, zinc finger proteins are further divided into different families according to their specific molecular functions. Genes in the CCCH family encode zinc finger proteins containing a motif with three cysteines and one histidine. They play important roles in plant growth and development, and in response to biotic and abiotic stresses. However, the limited analysis of the genome sequence has meant that there is no detailed information concerning the CCCH zinc finger family in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Here, we identified 80 CCCH zinc finger protein genes in the tomato genome. A complete overview of this gene family in tomato was presented, including the chromosome locations, gene duplications, phylogeny, gene structures and protein motifs. Promoter sequences and expression profiles of putative stress-responsive members were also investigated. These results revealed that, with the exception of four genes, the 80 CCCH genes are distributed over all 12 chromosomes with different densities, and include six segmental duplication events. The CCCH family in tomato could be divided into 12 groups based on their different CCCH motifs and into eight subfamilies by phylogenetic analysis. Analysis showed that almost all CCCH genes contain putative stress-responsive cis-elements in their promoter regions. Nine CCCH genes chosen for further quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed differential expression patterns in three representative tomato tissues. In addition, their expression levels indicated that these genes are mostly involved in the response to mannitol, heat, salicylic acid, ethylene or methyl jasmonate treatments. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a genome-wide analysis of the tomato CCCH zinc finger family. Our data provided valuable information on tomato CCCH proteins and form a foundation for future studies of these proteins, especially for those members that may play important roles in stress responses.     

Solution structure of the RNA binding domain in the human muscleblind‐like protein 2

The muscleblind‐like (MBNL) proteins 1, 2, and 3, which contain four CCCH zinc finger motifs (ZF1–4), are involved in the differentiation of muscle inclusion by controlling the splicing patterns of several pre‐mRNAs. Especially, MBNL1 plays a crucial role in myotonic dystrophy. The CCCH zinc finger is a sequence motif found in many RNA binding proteins and is suggested to play an important role in the recognition of RNA molecules. Here, we solved the solution structures of both tandem zinc finger (TZF) motifs, TZF12 (comprising ZF1 and ZF2) and TZF34 (ZF3 and ZF4), in MBNL2 from Homo sapiens. In TZF12 of MBNL2, ZF1 and ZF2 adopt a similar fold, as reported previously for the CCCH‐type zinc fingers in the TIS11d protein. The linker between ZF1 and ZF2 in MBNL2 forms an antiparallel β‐sheet with the N‐terminal extension of ZF1. Furthermore, ZF1 and ZF2 in MBNL2 interact with each other through hydrophobic interactions. Consequently, TZF12 forms a single, compact global fold, where ZF1 and ZF2 are approximately symmetrical about the C2 axis. The structure of the second tandem zinc finger (TZF34) in MBNL2 is similar to that of TZF12. This novel three‐dimensional structure of the TZF domains in MBNL2 provides a basis for functional studies of the CCCH‐type zinc finger motifs in the MBNL protein family.     

Ribonuclease activity is a common property of Arabidopsis CCCH-containing zinc-finger proteins

The CCCH class of zinc fingers occurs in a large number of Arabidopsis proteins. Previous studies revealed that one such protein is a nuclease, the activity of which is attributable to one of the CCCH motifs. To examine whether nuclease activity is a more general characteristic of CCCH zinc finger containing proteins, five other such Arabidopsis proteins were assayed for a similar activity. The results indicate that all of these proteins possess nuclease activity. Thus, nuclease activity may be a common characteristic of Arabidopsis CCCH-containing proteins.     

Transcription factors Elk-1 and SRF are engaged in IL1-dependent regulation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">ZC3H12A</Emphasis> expression

Background  

MCPIP is a novel CCCH zinc finger protein described as an RNase engaged in the regulation of immune responses. The regulation of expression of the gene coding for MCPIP - ZC3H12A is poorly explored.     

TcZFP1: a CCCH zinc finger protein of Trypanosoma cruzi that binds poly-C oligoribonucleotides in vitro

We have identified two zinc finger proteins of Trypanosoma cruzi, the protozoan parasite that causes Chagas disease in humans. These proteins, named tcZFP1 and tcZFP2, share the unusual zinc finger motif (CCCH) found in a diverse range of RNA-binding proteins involved in various aspects of the control of cell homeostasis and differentiation. We report here the functional expression of a recombinant tcZFP1, and the relative affinity and stability of the specific complexes formed between the protein and synthetic oligoribonucleotides containing C-rich sequences.