BcL2蛋白质家族——定位与转位

Bcl-2蛋白质家族的抗凋亡和促凋亡成员,在线粒体水平上决定细胞的存活或死亡.在正常细胞中,这些成员呈现功能适应性的细胞内分布;抗凋亡成员主要定位于细胞内膜系特别是线粒体外膜上：但绝大多数促凋亡成员主要分布于细胞浆中.细胞接受死亡信号后,Bcl-2家族成员本身受到一系列的调节,如磷酸化、裂解、蛋白质-蛋白质相互作用等,结果之一是促凋亡成员发生细胞内定位的改变,从细胞浆转位于线粒体膜上,并引发线粒体功能异常及其内外膜间致凋亡因子的释放,最终导致细胞凋亡.     

Cellular internalization of lactoferrin in intestinal epithelial cells

We studied the cellular internalization of lactoferrin (Lf) in an intestinal epithelial cell line, Caco-2, to investigate the mechanism of biological actions of ingested Lf. RT-PCR and Western blotting analyses revealed that differentiated Caco-2 cells express LfR mRNA and its protein with a 34 kD molecular weight under reducing conditions. Biotin-labeled Lf showed specific binding to the cellular membrane of differentiated Caco-2 cells with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 0.16 microM. The cellular internalization of Lf was studied in differentiated Caco-2 cells grown as monolayers on Transwell inserts, and compared to that of human transferrin (Tf). After labeling with fluorescent dye, either Lf or Tf was added to Caco-2 cells from the apical side or the basolateral one. Laser scanning confocal microscopy showed that labeled Lf was internalized only from the apical side and localized to the nuclei. On the other hand, labeled Tf was internalized from the basolateral side, not from the apical side, and localized in the cytoplasm. The internalization of labeled Lf was inhibited by excess of unlabeled Lf, but not of Tf. The internalization of labeled Lf, but not of labeled Tf, was also suppressed by heparin. This indicates that a heparin-binding site in the N-terminal region of Lf could be important for the internalization of Lf. These findings suggest that ingested Lf might be internalized by the intestinal epithelium in a manner different from Tf and might function in the nucleus.     

介导BLM解旋酶细胞核定位的关键氨基酸位点鉴定

BLM解旋酶是人RecQ DNA解旋酶家族重要成员之一,在机体的DNA复制、重组、损伤修复以及维护基因组稳定性等方面发挥重要作用。早期研究表明,BLM解旋酶通过自身携带的核定位信号（nuclear localization signal, NLS）进入细胞核,但是介导其细胞核定位的关键氨基酸位点尚不清楚。本研究构建了BLM解旋酶C端(aa642 1417)截短体克隆,首先通过截短表达的方法确证其NLS结构域。在此基础上,构建重组真核表达载体pEGFP NLS/BLM NES/Rev,通过观察BLM NLS碱性氨基酸位点突变对EGFP NLS/ BLM NES/Rev融合蛋白细胞核定位的影响,以此快速鉴定NLS中介导BLM解旋酶细胞核定位的关键氨基酸位点。结果表明,BLM(aa642 1417) C端截短体具有与全长BLM解旋酶相同的细胞核定位,同时确证1344RSKRRK1349是BLM解旋酶NLS结构域的活性位点,且具有与SV40 NLS相同的核输入能力。氨基酸位点突变试验结果表明,R1344A、K1346A、R1348A和K1349A点突变均减少了EGFP NLS/BLM NES/Rev和EGFP BLM(642 1417)融合蛋白的细胞核定位。因此,这4个位点是介导BLM解旋酶细胞核定位的关键氨基酸位点。此结果为后续研究BLM解旋酶细胞核定位的分子机制奠定了基础。     

Characterization,subcellular localization and nuclear targeting of casein kinase 2 from Zea mays

We have isolated and characterized the genomic clone of maize casein kinase 2 (CK2) subunit using the previously described CK2-1 cDNA clone as a probe. The genomic clone is 7.5 kb long and contains 10 exons, separated by 9 introns of different size, two larger than 1.5 kb and the others around 100–150 bp. The sequence of the exons is 100% homologous to the sequence of the CK2-1 cDNA. Southern hybridization of total genomic DNA from maize embryos with CK2 cDNA indicated that the CK2-1 gene is part of a multigenic family. We also isolated a new embryo cDNA clone coding for an CK2-2 subunit. We studied the regulation of the enzyme in embryos at the mRNA level, at the protein level and by activity testing. By using immunocytochemistry the CK2 protein was localized in several types of cells of mature embryos. Particularly strong signals were visible in the cytoplasm of epidermis and meristematic cells. Decoration of nuclei of root cortex and scutellum cells was also observed suggesting that CK2 can shift from the cytoplasm into nuclei in specific cell types. We examined whether CK2 contained specific protein domains which actively target the protein to the nucleus by using in-frame fusions of the maize CK2 subunit to the reporter gene encoding -glucuronidase (GUS) which were assayed in transiently transformed onion epidermal cells. Analysis of chimeric constructs identified one region containing a nuclear localization signal (NLS) that is highly conserved in other CK2 proteins.     

核移植与线粒体

线粒体是哺乳动物的产能、供能细胞器,与生长、发育、衰老和凋亡等多种细胞事件及疾病有关。哺乳动物核移植可能导致克隆胚胎及后代中线粒体的杂合性,从而影响到个体的表型甚至导致线粒体疾病。文章阐明了哺乳动物中线粒体的生物学功能及遗传特性,并分析了核移植中供体细胞和受体卵胞质两种来源的线粒体在同种胚胎细胞核移植、同种及异种体细胞核移植重构胚发育进程中的变化以及可能影响线粒体杂合性的一些因素,对其可能导致的线粒体疾病及解决方法进行了简单的阐述。

     

Localization of Carboxyl Ester Lipase in Human Pituitary Gland and Pituitary Adenomas

Carboxyl ester lipase (CEL) is an enzyme that hydrolyzes a wide variety of lipid substrates, including ceramides, which are known to show inhibitory regulation of pituitary hormone secretion in experimental models. Because no studies on CEL expression in human pituitary and pituitary adenomas have been reported in the literature, we investigated CEL expression in 10 normal pituitary glands and 86 well-characterized pituitary adenomas [12 FSH/LH cell, 17 α-subunit/null cell, 6 TSH cell, 21 ACTH cell, 11 prolactin (PRL) cell, and 19 GH cell adenomas] using IHC, immunoelectron microscopy, Western blotting, and quantitative RT-PCR. In normal adenohypophysis, CEL was localized in GH, ACTH, and TSH cells. In adenomas, it was mainly found in functioning GH, ACTH, and TSH tumors, whereas its expression was poor in the corresponding silent adenomas and was lacking in FSH/LH cell, null cell, and PRL cell adenomas. Ultrastructurally, CEL was localized in secretory granules close to their membranes. This is the first study demonstrating CEL expression in normal human pituitary glands and in functioning GH, ACTH, and TSH adenomas. Considering that CEL hydrolyzes ceramides, inactivating their inhibitory function on pituitary hormone secretion, our findings suggest a possible role of CEL in the regulation of hormone secretion in both normal and adenomatous pituitary cells. (J Histochem Cytochem 58:881–889, 2010)     

The mitogaligin protein is addressed to the nucleus via a non-classical localization signal

Mitogaligin, a protein encoded by galig, an internal cytotoxic gene of the galectin-3 locus, is mostly a mitochondrial protein. Mitochondrial targeting is due to an already identified mitochondrial localization signal. Interaction of mitogaligin with mitochondria leads to cytochrome c cytosolic leakage and ultimately to cell death. We have previously pointed out that mitogaligin can also be directed to the nucleus when the mitochondrial addressing signal is inactivated, indicating a possible dual intracellular localization of the protein. When expressed in the nucleus, mitogaligin exhibits also apoptotic properties leading to cell death. In this report, we show that nuclear addressing of mitogaligin depends on a sequence differing from classical signals containing basic, lysine or proline-tyrosine rich residues. The signal consists of a long sequence of amino acids residues based on a series of a short repetitive degenerated sequence.     

核定位信号及其在病毒感染机制中的研究进展

核定位信号介导的蛋白入核是细胞内信号传递网络中核内外物质信息交流的重要一环,绝大多数病毒蛋白进入细胞核均需要核质转运受体识别和结合入核蛋白携带的核定位信号序列.病毒蛋白的入核转运机制在病毒感染过程中起着至关重要的作用,对于病毒的复制、毒力具有重要意义,针对该机制的研究有利于新的抗病毒靶点的发现.本文对核定位信号的分类信...     

Nuclear and cytoplasmic localization of neural stem cell microRNAs

Although generally regarded as functional in the cytoplasm, a number of microRNAs (miRNAs) have been found in the nucleus, possibly with a role in gene regulation. Here we report that, in fact, a substantial fraction of all human miRNAs are present in the nucleus of neural stem cells. Further, subsets of these miRNAs display consistently higher standardized rank in the nucleus than in the cytoplasm of these cells, as identified with an RT-qPCR technology and confirmed by microarray analysis. Likewise, other miRNAs display higher cytoplasmic standardized ranks. Three samples were partitioned into nuclear and cytoplasmic fractions in six assays for 373 miRNAs. From the 100 most highly expressed miRNAs, standard scores of nuclear and cytoplasmic concentrations were determined. Among those, 21 miRNAs had all three nuclear standard scores higher than all three cytoplasmic scores; likewise, 31 miRNAs had consistently higher cytoplasmic scores. Random concentrations would result in only five in each set. Remarkably, if one miRNA has a high standard score in a compartment, then other miRNAs having the same 5' seeds and certain similar 3' end patterns are also highly scored in the same way. That is, in addition to the seed sequence, 3' sequence similarity criteria identify families of mature miRNAs with consistently high nuclear or cytoplasmic expression.     

Nuclear localization signal of SV40 T antigen directs import of plasmid DNA into sea urchin male pronuclei in vitro

Nuclear import of plasmid DNA mediated by a nuclear localization signal (NLS) derived from SV40 T antigen was investigated in a cell-free extract. In vitro assembled sea urchin male pronuclei were incubated in a 100,000g supernatant of a zebrafish fertilized egg lysate, together with fluorescently labeled plasmid DNA bound to NLS or nuclear import deficient reverse NLS (revNLS) peptides. After 3 hr, DNA-NLS, but not DNA-revNLS, complexes were bound around the nuclear periphery. We demonstrate that nuclear import of DNA-NLS complexes is a two-step process involving binding to, and translocation across, the nuclear envelope. Binding is ATP-independent, occurs at 0°C and is Ca²⁺-independent. By contrast, translocation requires ATP hydrolysis, Ca²⁺, is temperature dependent and is blocked by the lectin wheat germ agglutinin. Both binding and translocation are competitively inhibited by albumin-NLS conjugates, require heat-labile cytosolic factors, and are inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide treatment of the cytosol. Binding and translocation are differentially affected by cytosol dilutions, suggesting that at least two distinct soluble fractions are required for nuclear import. The requirements for NLS-mediated nuclear import of plasmid DNA are similar to those for nuclear import of protein-NLS conjugates in permeabilized cells. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

核定位信号及其分析策略

真核细胞核膜上的核孔复合体 (nuclear pore complex, NPC) 是细胞核内外进行物质交换的主要通道, 分子量较小的化合物可自由通过NPC或采取被动扩散的方式进入细胞核, 而分子量为50 kD以上的蛋白质则只能通过主动转运进入细胞核. 以这种方式进入细胞核的 蛋白质必须在其氨基酸序列上拥有特殊的核定位信号(nuclear localization signal, NLS)以被相应的核转运蛋白(karyopherins) 识别. 核定位信号具有多样性, 包括经典核定位信号(classical NLS,cNLS), 内输蛋白β2识别的核定位信号（又称PY模体-NLS）和其它类型的NLS. 每一类NLS具有相似的特征, 但并不具有完全保守的氨基酸组成. 不同的NLS, 往往对应着各不相同的核输入机制. 而对同一蛋白质来说, 也可能同时拥有几个功能性的NLS. 研究核定位信号一方面可以帮助揭示新的大分子物质核转运机制, 另一方面也有助于发现一些蛋白质的新功能. 本文对常见NLS的分类进行了总结, 并介绍了两种常用的NLS预测软件及鉴定NLS的一般策略.