游离脂肪酸受体的结构、分布及功能

游离脂肪酸的生理功能及其与某些疾病的相关性长期以来受到人们的关注。由于特异性膜受体一直未被发现．关于其分子机制的认识无法深入。最近的研究表明,长链脂肪酸是孤儿型G蛋白偶联受体GPR40的配基．而短链脂肪酸则是孤儿型G蛋白偶联受体GPR4l和GPR43的配基。体外实验显示,长链脂肪酸通过GPR40增强胰岛B细胞的分泌功能;短链脂肪酸经GPR41刺激脂肪细胞中瘦蛋白(1eptin)的产生。GPR43在白细胞活化过程中发挥一定的作用。作为潜在的药物作用靶点,游离脂肪酸特异性受体为寻找治疗代谢性疾病的新手段指明了的方向。     

G蛋白偶联受体激活的单分子研究进展

G蛋白偶联受体是体内最大的受体超家族,它们参与调节生物体内多种生理功能与病理过程。G蛋白偶联受体的分子内构象变化与G蛋白的偶联以及受体的二聚化等是G蛋白偶联受体激活的重要基本过程。借助于单分予研究手段,在G蛋白偶联受体激活方面取得了重要进展。本文将就这些方面进行简要的综述。     

G蛋白偶联受体二聚化研究进展

G蛋白偶联受体是细胞膜受体最大的家族,参与调节多种生理过程,在信号识别及转导中具有重要作用,传统观点认为G蛋白偶联受体作为单体起作用,近年来,越来越多的证据表明,G蛋白偶联受体不仅能以二聚体形式存在,而且在细胞信号转导中起重要作用,尤其是对阿片受体异源二聚体的研究,推动了这一领域的研究。本文综述了G蛋白偶联受体二聚化研究进展,以及同源和异源二聚体的结构与功能。     

肥胖时过表达的新的脂肪因子apelin：是友是敌？

Apelin是孤儿G蛋白偶联受体一血管紧张素受体AT1相关的受体蛋白（putative receptor protein related to the angiotensin receptor AT1,AH）的天然配体。Apelin及其受体APJ在体内分布广泛。Boucher等报道在分离出的人及小鼠成熟脂肪细胞有apelin的合成和分泌,并认为apelin是一种新的脂肪因子。     

Arrestins家族：一类在G蛋白偶联受体的信号传导中起关键作用的蛋白质

对Arrestins家族的研究是当今生物学中信号传导研究领域的热点之一。Arrestins可以作用于G蛋白偶联受体，使受体与下游的G蛋白解偶联；并充当受体与笼形蛋白的接头，促进衣被蛋白介导的受体内吞；在受体内吞过程中，Arrestins、受体和c-Src激酶共同起始MAPK信号传导途径。本综述概括了近年来Arrestins研究的最新进展，包括其分类、主要蛋白功能结构域、基因定位和在G蛋白偶联受体信号传导中的地位与作用。     

与阿尔兹海默症相关的G 蛋白偶联受体研究进展

G蛋白偶联受体(GPCRs)在大脑信号传递中至关重要,而在阿尔兹海默症(AD)中,G蛋白偶联受体通过调控α-、β-及γ-分泌酶分泌、淀粉样前体蛋白(APP)生成及β-淀粉样蛋白(Aβ)降解,直接影响β-淀粉样蛋白在神经系统信号级联反应;另外,阿尔兹海默症中β-淀粉样蛋白的生成可以扰乱G蛋白偶联受体功能.因此,阐明G蛋白偶联受体与阿尔兹海默症发病之间的关联有助于开发以G蛋白偶联受体为靶点的阿尔兹海默症治疗药物.     

作为2型糖尿病治疗药物的G蛋白偶联受体40激动剂研究进展

2型糖尿病约占糖尿病总病例数的90%,目前研发的其新型治疗药物主要是通过调节糖代谢通路来控制血糖水平,它们可通过激活 G蛋白偶联受体尤其是G蛋白偶联受体40,增强胰岛β细胞功能,促进胰岛素分泌,提高机体对胰岛素的敏感性,从而达到治疗糖尿病的目的。 G蛋白偶联受体40作为抗2型糖尿病的新靶点,以其潜在优势,在糖尿病治疗领域备受关注。简介G蛋白偶联受体与其配体游离脂肪酸, 重点综述不同结构的G蛋白偶联受体40激动剂的研究进展。     

降钙素基因相关肽受体研究的新进展

降钙素基因相关肽(calcitonin gene-related peptide,CGRP)是一种神经肽,它由37个氨基酸残基组成。CGRP通过激活细胞膜上的CGRP受体参与循环系统、神经系统等功能的调节,特别是CGRP在血管舒张以及偏头痛中发挥着重要的作用。过去认为CGRP受体是一种经典的G蛋白偶联受体,具有G蛋白偶联受体的结构特性。近年来发现,与经典的G蛋白偶联受体不同,具有生物活性的CGRP受体由降钙素受体样受体(calcitonin receptor-like receptor,CLR)、受体活性修饰蛋白-1(receptor activity modifying protein,RAMP1)和受体组成蛋白(receptor component protein,RCP)组成,CGRP受体的这些不同组分在跨膜信号转导中分别发挥不同的作用。RAMP参与多种G蛋白偶联受体的组成,在G蛋白偶联受体的表型及功能调节等方面具有重要的作用。所以,RAMP的发现修正了有关G蛋白偶联受体的基本概念和理论。目前对CLR,RAMP以及RCP在CGRP受体激活和信号转导中作用的研究已经有了很大的进展。深入研究RAMP的胞外N末端和RAMP的单跨膜区域如何协同CLR以识别并结合相应的配体,以及G蛋白与RCP之间怎样相互作用,都将为有关G蛋白偶联受体的理论提供新的内容。本文将综述CGRP受体各组分的结构和功能,以及它们之间的相互作用对CGRP受体功能的影响。     

与癌症相关的G 蛋白偶联受体及通路的研究进展

G蛋白偶联受体(G protein-coupled receptors,GPCRs)是一类重要的细胞膜表面跨膜蛋白受体超家族,具有7个跨膜螺旋结构。GPCRs的细胞内信号由G蛋白介导,可将激素、神经递质、药物、趋化因子等多种物理和化学的细胞外刺激穿过细胞膜转导到细胞内不同的效应分子,激活相应的信号级联系统进而影响恶性肿瘤的生长迁移过程。虽然目前药物市场上有很多治疗癌症的小分子药物属于G蛋白受体相关药物,但所作用的靶点集中于少数特定G蛋白偶联受体。因此,新的具有成药性的G蛋白偶联受体的开发具有很大的研究价值和市场潜力。本文主要以在癌症发生、发展中起重要作用的溶血磷脂酸(LPA),G蛋白偶联受体30(GPR30)、内皮素A受体(ETAR)等不同G蛋白偶联受体为分类依据,综述其与相关的信号通路在癌症进程中的作用,并对相应的小分子药物的临床应用和研究进展进行展望。     

脂筏在G蛋白偶联受体信号转导中的调控作用

脂筏是细胞上富含特殊脂质和蛋白质的微结构域.随着脂筏作为细胞膜上信号传导的平台的认识,这个特征化的区域受到了越来越多的关注.大量的研究已经显示脂筏参与G蛋白偶联受体信号转导的调控.通过精细的调节G蛋白偶联受体、G蛋白和下游信号效应物等信号元件的活性,脂筏可以影响信号转导的专一性和信号偶联的效率.本综述主要介绍脂筏对G蛋白偶联受体信号转导的调控机制的研究进展.     

Anatomical and histological profiling of orphan G-protein-coupled receptor expression in gastrointestinal tract of C57BL/6J mice

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) constitute the largest family of transmembrane receptors and regulate a variety of physiological and disease processes. Although the roles of many non-odorant GPCRs have been identified in vivo, several GPCRs remain orphans (oGPCRs). The gastrointestinal (GI) tract is the largest endocrine organ and is a promising target for drug discovery. Given their close link to physiological function, the anatomical and histological expression profiles of benchmark GI-related GPCRs, such as the cholecystokinin-1 receptor and GPR120, and 106 oGPCRs were investigated in the mucosal and muscle-myenteric nerve layers in the GI tract of C57BL/6J mice by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The mRNA expression patterns of these benchmark molecules were consistent with previous in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical studies, validating the experimental protocols in this study. Of 96 oGPCRs with significant mRNA expression in the GI tract, several oGPCRs showed unique expression patterns. GPR85, GPR37, GPR37L1, brain-specific angiogenesis inhibitor (BAI) 1, BAI2, BAI3, and GPRC5B mRNAs were preferentially expressed in the muscle-myenteric nerve layer, similar to GPCRs that are expressed in both the central and enteric nerve systems and that play multiple regulatory roles throughout the gut-brain axis. In contrast, GPR112, trace amine-associated receptor (TAAR) 1, TAAR2, and GPRC5A mRNAs were preferentially expressed in the mucosal layer, suggesting their potential roles in the regulation of secretion, immunity, and epithelial homeostasis. These anatomical and histological mRNA expression profiles of oGPCRs provide useful clues about the physiological roles of oGPCRs in the GI tract.     

生物信息学在孤儿G蛋白偶联受体配基筛选中的应用

生物信息学的飞速发展为孤儿G蛋白偶联受体(orphan G protein—coupled receptors,oGPCRs)配基的筛选提供了重要的信息资源。利用生物信息学数据库和工具对oGPCRs的核酸和蛋白质序列进行运算、分析、注释和预测,获得足够的生物信息,辅助实验研究,以尽可能快速、准确地筛选出oGPCRs的特异性配基。本介绍有关生物信息学在oGPCRs配基筛选研究中的应用。     

人源孤儿G蛋白偶联受体hGPCRc的分子克隆及其初步鉴定

孤儿G蛋白偶联受体 (orphanGprotein coupledreceptors ,oGPCRs)是最重要的潜在药物靶点 ,对于创新药物研究意义重大 .根据已有文献及相关基因数据库提供的信息 ,利用RT PCR从人结肠组织获得oGPCR某一成员的氨基酸编码序列 ,大小为 10 14bp ,而且与GenBank已登录序列(AB0 835 98)完全一致 ,称之为hGPCRc ;又用相同的引物以健康志愿者血液基因组DNA作为模板进行PCR扩增 ,亦得到同样大小的DNA序列 ,测序显示二者个别碱基不一致 ,但所对应氨基酸序列并无差异 .另外 ,RT PCR对人源部分组织及细胞系的检测结果显示 :hGPCRc在人脑组织表达最高 ,结肠次之 ,其它组织或细胞系如胃、血液、肝、肺、上皮未检测到该基因的表达 .利用相关软件对hGPCRc分别结果显示 :hGPCRc定位于人染色体 13q32 3,与小鼠、大鼠的对应物序列同源性高达85 % ,但与人源其他已知基因的同源性较低 ,对应的氨基酸序列组成了 7个跨膜区段的结构域 .因此 ,hGPCRc符合GPCR的结构特点 ,应为人类oGPCRs的新成员 .     

Tissue distribution and functional analyses of the constitutively active orphan G protein coupled receptors, GPR26 and GPR78

GPR26 and GPR78 are orphan GPCRs (oGPCRs) that share 51% amino acid sequence identity and are widely expressed in selected tissues of the human brain as well as the developing and adult mouse brain. Investigation of the functional activity of GPR26 and GPR78 via expression in HEK293 cells showed that both proteins are constitutively active and coupled to elevated cAMP production. Accordingly, in yeast, GPR26 demonstrated apparent agonist-independent coupling to a chimeric Gpa1 protein in which the 5 C-terminal amino acids were from Galphas. A comparison of the proteins revealed an atypical glutamine residue in GPR78 in place of the conserved arginine residue (R3.50) in the so-called DRY box. Site-directed mutants R3.50 in GPR26 were constructed and retained their constitutive activity suggesting that these 2 receptors activate G proteins in a manner that is distinct from other group 1 GPCRs.     

孤儿G蛋白偶联受体hGPCRc的亚细胞定位及组织分布

利用相关生物信息学软件,对从人结肠组织克隆所得某一孤儿G蛋白偶联受体(orphanGprotein_coupledreceptors ,oGPCRs)成员hGPCRc的氨基酸序列进行分析显示,hGPCRc对应的氨基酸序列组成了七个跨膜区段的结构域,具备GPCR的结构特征;然后,将hGPCRc之cDNA与绿色荧光载体pEGFP-N₁ 构建GFP_hGPCRc表达载体,以空白质粒pEGFP-N₁ 作对照,转染CHO-K₁ 细胞,在激光扫描共聚焦显微镜下观察到空白质粒pEGFP-N₁ 转染的细胞表达了GFP并均匀分布于整个细胞,而GFP_hGPCRc转染的细胞观察到荧光清晰聚集于细胞膜和各细胞器质膜上,因而hGPCRc蛋白定位于膜上并稳定表达,与软件分析结果相一致;最后,以RT_PCR检测hGPCRc在2 0周龄胎儿重要组织器官及部分成人组织中的表达情况,结果显示hGPCRc在人心、肾、小脑及结肠等组织均有表达,但在肝、大脑、小肠及肌肉等组织里未检测到表达。该表达谱对于进一步认识hGPCRc在胚胎发育中的作用及生理功能提供了线索。     

Structure-based identification of binding sites,native ligands and potential inhibitors for G-protein coupled receptors

G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest family of cell-surface receptors involved in signal transmission. Drugs associated with GPCRs represent more than one fourth of the 100 top-selling drugs and are the targets of more than half of the current therapeutic agents on the market. Our methodology based on the internal coordinate mechanics (ICM) program can accurately identify the ligand-binding pocket in the currently available crystal structures of seven transmembrane (7TM) proteins [bacteriorhodopsin (BR) and bovine rhodopsin (bRho)]. The binding geometry of the ligand can be accurately predicted by ICM flexible docking with and without the loop regions, a useful finding for GPCR docking because the transmembrane regions are easier to model. We also demonstrate that the native ligand can be identified by flexible docking and scoring in 1.5% and 0.2% (for bRho and BR, respectively) of the best scoring compounds from two different types of compound database. The same procedure can be applied to the database of available chemicals to identify specific GPCR binders. Finally, we demonstrate that even if the sidechain positions in the bRho binding pocket are entirely wrong, their correct conformation can be fully restored with high accuracy (0.28 A) through the ICM global optimization with and without the ligand present. These binding site adjustments are critical for flexible docking of new ligands to known structures or for docking to GPCR homology models. The ICM docking method has the potential to be used to "de-orphanize" orphan GPCRs (oGPCRs) and to identify antagonists-agonists for GPCRs if an accurate model (experimentally and computationally validated) of the structure has been constructed or when future crystal structures are determined.     

Reinfection, exposure and immunity in human schistosomiasis

In this review Paul Hagan will focus on the results of the reinfection studies that have been completed on Schistosoma mansoni in Kenya and Brazil and on S. haematobium in The Gambia. The review will also draw on the data from other immunological, molecular and epidemiological studies that have provided information that may be relevant to an understanding of immunity in human schistosomiasis. No attempt will be made to describe the latest advances that have been reported from studies of the animal models of schistosomiasis; these are adequately dealt with elsewhere.     

Effects of small organic molecules on phospholipid phase transitions

Small organic molecules are known to exhibit a wide spectrum of physiological or pharmacological effects and many of them are thought to be membrane associated. Therefore a great number of studies is devoted to the interaction between these molecules and phospholipid model membranes. Results obtained for molecular species of varying hydrophobic/hydrophilic balances will be described. It will be shown that, in general, these different molecules induce similar effects on phospholipid phase transitions, although they are located differently in the membrane. Detailed studies of these interactions will help to understand these processes on a molecular level.