病原菌调节宿主细胞泛素化途径的研究进展

泛素化是真核生物特有的蛋白质翻译后修饰,广泛地参与宿主细胞各种信号通路和生理过程.病原菌常通过分泌毒性效应蛋白,对泛素和泛素结合酶进行独特的共价修饰,或者利用泛素连接酶和去泛素化酶的酶学活性,调节宿主泛素化过程,从而干扰宿主细胞的信号转导,促进细菌的感染和生存.本文概述了病原菌效应蛋白调节宿主泛素化途径的主要研究进展和最新发现.     

泛素化修饰组学技术及其在疾病研究中的应用

泛素化修饰作为真核细胞内主要的蛋白质翻译后修饰之一，通过泛素-蛋白酶体系统(UPS)介导了细胞内的蛋白质特异性降解，同时广泛参与并调控细胞内基因转录、信号传导、DNA损伤与修复、细胞周期调控、应激反应甚至个体的免疫应答等几乎所有的生命活动过程。泛素-蛋白酶体系统的精确调控构成了稳定而复杂的泛素化信号网络，而其失调通常会造成癌症、神经退行性疾病、代谢性疾病等多种疾病的发生发展。近年来，基于质谱(MS)的蛋白质组学逐渐成熟，并极大促进了泛素化修饰研究的深度与广度。依托于泛素化蛋白质/肽段富集技术的发展以及高通量、高覆盖度和高灵敏度的质谱检测技术平台，蛋白质泛素化修饰组学也得以快速发展，并逐渐应用于人类生理、病理状态的泛素化蛋白质组研究和疾病发生发展的机制探索。本文主要综述了泛素化修饰组学研究中的泛素化蛋白质/肽段富集方法、质谱鉴定技术、定量标记技术和数据处理方法，同时对泛素化修饰组学技术在疾病研究中的应用也进行了系统分析，理清了当前存在的问题与挑战，为泛素化修饰蛋白质的发现与鉴定提供参考，为相关疾病治疗靶点的筛选和药物研发提供思路。     

嗜肺军团菌效应蛋白质介导的新型泛素化过程

泛素化是真核细胞特有的蛋白质翻译后修饰方式,调节真核细胞内多种重要生理过程,例如蛋白质稳态、细胞周期、免疫反应、DNA修复以及囊泡转运等。鉴于泛素化对于生命活动的重要性,病原菌在与宿主细胞的长期进化过程中衍生出一系列针对宿主泛素化过程的效应蛋白质,调控宿主体内泛素化过程,从而构建有利于病原菌自身生长繁殖的内环境。嗜肺军团菌是一种革兰氏阴性菌,是军团菌肺炎的致病菌,能够引起发热和肺部感染,重型病死率高达15%~30%。Dot/Icm Ⅳ型分泌系统是嗜肺军团菌侵染过程中最主要的毒力系统。在侵染宿主细胞的过程中,嗜肺军团菌利用该分泌系统,分泌超过330种效应蛋白质,协助细菌在宿主胞内生存、增殖和逃逸。多种嗜肺军团菌效应蛋白质通过直接或者间接的方式对宿主泛素化过程进行调控。近年的研究发现,多种效应蛋白质可以介导不同于真核生物经典泛素化的新型泛素化过程。本文介绍了嗜肺军团菌效应蛋白质介导的新型泛素化过程的最新研究进展,为理解泛素化过程在嗜肺军团菌致病过程中的重要作用提供参考依据。     

蛋白质泛素化修饰的生物信息学研究进展

泛素-蛋白酶体系统(Ubiquitin-proteasome system, UPS)介导了真核生物80%~85%的蛋白质降解, 该蛋白质降解途径具有依赖ATP、高效、高度选择性的特点。除参与蛋白质降解之外, 泛素化修饰还可以直接影响蛋白质的活性和定位。由于泛素化修饰底物蛋白在细胞中的广泛存在, 泛素化修饰可以调控包括细胞周期、细胞凋亡、转录调控、DNA损伤修复以及免疫应答等在内的多种细胞活动。近年来, 泛素-蛋白酶体系统相关的蛋白质组学数据不断产出, 有效地管理、组织并合理分析这些数据显得尤为必要。文章综述了当前世界范围内针对蛋白质泛素化修饰展开的生物信息学研究, 总结了前人的工作结果, 包括UPS相关蛋白质数据的收录、泛素化修饰网络的构建和分析、泛素化修饰位点的预测及泛素化修饰motif的研究等方面内容, 并对该领域未来的发展方向进行了讨论。     

组蛋白泛素化修饰及其在DNA损伤应答中的作用

泛素化修饰是真核生物细胞内重要的翻译后修饰类型,通过调节蛋白质活性、稳定性和亚细胞定位广泛参与细胞内各项信号传导与代谢过程,对维持正常生命活动具有重要意义。组蛋白作为染色质中主要的蛋白成分,与DNA复制转录、修复等行为密切相关,是研究翻译后修饰的热点。DNA损伤后,组蛋白泛素化修饰通过调节核小体结构、激活细胞周期检查点、影响修复因子的招募与装配等诸多途径参与损伤应答。同时,组蛋白泛素化修饰还能调节其他位点翻译后修饰,并通过这种串扰(crosstalk)作用调节DNA损伤应答。本文介绍了组蛋白泛素化修饰的主要位点和相关组分(包括E3连接酶、去泛素化酶与效应分子),以及这些修饰作用共同编译形成的信号网络在DNA损伤应答中的作用,最后总结了目前该领域研究所面临的一些问题,以期为科研人员进一步探索组蛋白密码在DNA损伤应答中的作用提供参考。     

PCNA泛素化修饰对DNA损伤应答途径的调控

机体细胞在多种化学物质和内外环境不断攻击下会诱发DNA损伤。为了维持基因组的稳定性,细胞内拥有一系列完善而精确的细胞应答机制来保护基因组DNA的完整性。细胞首先通过DNA损伤检测点,然后通过一系列细胞信号转导通路,启动细胞周期阻滞,进而介导细胞修复或凋亡。大量研究表明泛素化作为一种重要的蛋白质翻译后修饰方式,参与调控了多种细胞生理过程。近期研究表明,DNA损伤导致复制应激可诱发PCNA的翻译后泛素化修饰,泛素化修饰的PCNA可能参与了多种DNA损伤应激过程,影响细胞选择不同的DNA损伤应答途径,导致细胞截然不同的转归。因此,更好地了解PCNA泛素化的作用及其影响DNA损伤应答通路可为我们更深入地了解人类细胞如何调控异常的DNA代谢过程和癌症的发生和发展机制提供依据。     

PCNA泛素化修饰对DNA损伤应答途径的调控

机体细胞在多种化学物质和内外环境不断攻击下会诱发DNA损伤。为了维持基因组的稳定性,细胞内拥有一系列完善而精确的细胞应答机制来保护基因组DNA的完整性。细胞首先通过DNA损伤检测点,然后通过一系列细胞信号转导通路,启动细胞周期阻滞,进而介导细胞修复或凋亡。大量研究表明泛素化作为一种重要的蛋白质翻译后修饰方式,参与调控了多种细胞生理过程。近期研究表明,DNA损伤导致复制应激可诱发PCNA的翻译后泛素化修饰,泛素化修饰的PCNA可能参与了多种DNA损伤应激过程,影响细胞选择不同的DNA损伤应答途径,导致细胞截然不同的转归。因此,更好地了解PCNA泛素化的作用及其影响DNA损伤应答通路可为我们更深入地了解人类细胞如何调控异常的DNA代谢过程和癌症的发生和发展机制提供依据。     

泛素化修饰在抗病毒天然免疫反应中的作用

蛋白质翻译后修饰几乎调控细胞所有的生命活动,有大量研究报道了其中的泛素化在病毒感染过程中的作用。受病毒感染时,宿主可利用泛素化修饰起始抗病毒天然免疫反应,从而抵抗病毒入侵。相应地,病毒也可以利用泛素化修饰逃逸细胞的免疫反应。该文从宿主与病毒两个角度综述了蛋白质的泛素化修饰在抗病毒天然免疫中的作用及其调控机制,为抗病毒的治疗提供一些新的策略。     

泛素链水解酶的选择性和产生机制

底物蛋白的多聚泛素链修饰参与调节多种生命运动过程(包括蛋白质降解、自噬、DNA损伤修复、细胞周期、信号转导、基因表达、转录调节、炎症免疫等).去泛素化酶通过水解底物蛋白的单泛素和泛素链修饰,对泛素相关过程进行反向调节.人类基因组中约含90余种去泛素化酶,它们通过对自身酶活性和底物识别特异性的调节,实现了对细胞内复杂泛素过程的精密且层次性的调控.本文针对去泛素化酶对不同泛素链的识别选择性,综述目前已知泛素链水解酶的选择性和产生机制.     

组蛋白泛素化与去泛素化对染色质和基因表达的研究进展

组蛋白或转录因子或辅助因子进行泛素化和去泛素化,能够介导某些生理和病理过程。泛素化和去泛素化的动态平衡确保染色质处于健康的稳定状态。组蛋白泛素化酶和去泛素化酶通过识别DNA损伤位点、传导信号和招募修复因子等方式参与维持染色质稳态。组蛋白泛素化修饰和去泛素化修饰通过抑制(多数)或促进(少数)基因转录,从而影响基因表达。本综述主要关注组蛋白泛素化修饰和去泛素化修饰与染色质稳态和基因转录的关系,探讨这些过程在发育调控和在某些疾病中的作用,为相关疾病的治疗提供理论依据。     

Recent advances in the study of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus replication and pathogenesis

It has now been over twenty years since a novel herpesviral genome was identified in Kaposi's sarcoma biopsies. Since then, the cumulative research effort by molecular biologists, virologists, clinicians, and epidemiologists alike has led to the extensive characterization of this tumor virus, Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus(KSHV; also known as human herpesvirus 8(HHV-8)), and its associated diseases. Here we review the current knowledge of KSHV biology and pathogenesis, with a particular emphasis on new and exciting advances in the field of epigenetics. We also discuss the development and practicality of various cell culture and animal model systems to study KSHV replication and pathogenesis.     

A Unique Protease Cleavage Site Predicted in the Spike Protein of the Novel Pneumonia Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) Potentially Related to Viral Transmissibility

正Dear Editor,In December 2019, a novel human coronavirus caused an epidemic of severe pneumonia(Coronavirus Disease 2019,COVID-19) in Wuhan, Hubei, China(Wu et al. 2020; Zhu et al. 2020). So far, this virus has spread to all areas of China and even to other countries. The epidemic has caused 67,102 confirmed infections with 1526 fatal cases     

Curcuminoids as inhibitors of thioredoxin reductase: A receptor based pharmacophore study with distance mapping of the active site

Curcumin is the yellow pigment of turmeric that interacts irreversibly forming an adduct with thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), an enzyme responsible for redox control of cell and defence against oxidative stress. Docking at both the active sites of TrxR was performed to compare the potency of three naturally occurring curcuminoids, namely curcumin, demethoxy curcumin and bis-demethoxy curcumin. Results show that active sites of TrxR occur at the junction of E and F chains. Volume and area of both cavities is predicted. It has been concluded by distance mapping of the most active conformations that Se atom of catalytic residue SeCYS498, is at a distance of 3.56 from C13 of demethoxy curcumin at the E chain active site, whereas C13 carbon atom forms adduct with Se atom of SeCys 498. We report that at least one methoxy group in curcuminoids is necessary for interation with catalytic residues of thioredoxin. Pharmacophore of both active sites of the TrxR receptor for curcumin and demethoxy curcumin molecules has been drawn and proposed for design and synthesis of most probable potent antiproliferative synthetic drugs.     

The structure, reproduction and taxonomy of Vidalia and Osmundaria (Rhodophyta, Rhodomelaceae)

Comprises species occurring mostly in subtidal habitats in tropical, subtropical and warm-temperate areas of the world. An analysis of the type species, V. spiralis (Sonder) Lamouroux ex J. Agardh, a species from Australia, establishes basic characters for distinguishing species in the genus. These characters are (1) branching patterns of thalli, (2) flat blades that may be spiralled on their axis, (3) width of the blade, (4) primary or secondary derivation of sterile and fertile branchlets and (5) position of sterile and fertile branchlets on the thalli. Application of the latter two characters provides an important basic method for separation of species into three major groups. Osmundaria , a genus known only in southern Australia, was studied in relation to Vidalia , and its separation from the Vidalia assemblage is not accepted. Species of Vidalia therefore are transferred to the older genus name, Osmundaria. Two new species, Osmundaria papenfussii and Osmundaria oliveae are described from Natal. Confusion in the usage of the epithet, Vidalia fimbriala Brown ex Turner has been clarified, and Vidalia gregaria Falkenberg, described as an epiphyte on Osmundaria pro/ifera Lamouroux, is revealed to be young branches of the host, Osmundaria prolifera.     

New or rare chromosome counts in Artemisia L. (Asteraceae, Anthemideae) and related genera from Kazakhstan

Fifteen chromosome counts of six Artemisia taxa and one species of each of the genera Brachanthemum, Hippolytia, Kaschgaria, Lepidolopsis and Turaniphytum are reported from Kazakhstan. Three of them are new reports, two are not consistent with previous counts and the remainder are confirmations of very scarce (one to four) earlier records. All the populations studied have the same basic chromosome number, x = 9, with ploidy levels ranging from 2x to 6x. Some correlations between ploidy level, morphological characters and distribution are noted.