香鱼hepcidin基因的克隆、序列分析及组织表达特征

Hepcidin是一类富含半胱氨酸的抗菌肽,在鱼类非特异性免疫中起重要作用,具有调节铁代谢的功能。该研究克隆了香鱼hepcidin基因cDNA序列,全长763个核苷酸,包含一个完整的开放阅读框,推测编码一个由85个氨基酸组成的相对分子质量为9.7k的多肽,N端24个氨基酸是信号肽序列。香鱼hepcidin的成熟肽序列由25个氨基酸组成,含有8个半胱氨酸,可形成4个分子内二硫键结构。系统进化树分析表明,hepcidin的物种进化关系与目前接受的物种分类关系基本一致,香鱼hepcidin位于鱼类hepcidin簇中,与大西洋鲑hepcidin的亲缘关系最近,达60%。香鱼hepcidin在肝脏中表达量最大,在脾、肾、心脏和肌肉中也有表达。实时荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)结果表明,鳗利斯顿氏菌(Listonella anguillarum)感染以后香鱼肝组织中hepcidin基因mRNA表达量显著增加,在12h增加了8.26倍。hepcidin基因可能在香鱼抗外界病原物感染过程中起重要作用。     

香鱼巨噬细胞炎性蛋白-2基因的克隆、序列分析及表达

巨噬细胞炎性蛋白-2(MIP-2)是一种重要的趋化因子,可趋化中性粒细胞到炎症部位,从而消除炎症反应。从香鱼巨噬细胞转录组测序中获得MIP-2基因,阅读框序列长为318个核苷酸,编码一个由105个氨基酸组成、相对分子质量为11.6kD的前体蛋白。N端19个氨基酸为信号肽序列。氨基酸序列分析表明,香鱼MIP-2与白斑狗鱼MIP-2的氨基酸同源性最高,为54%。健康香鱼MIP-2基因mRNA主要在脾、肾、脑、鳃中表达,在肝、心、肌肉、肠中表达量次之。实时荧光定量PCR结果显示,鳗利斯顿氏菌侵染香鱼后,各组织中MIP-2基因mRNA表达量均呈上调趋势。尤其以肾组织和肌肉组织中变化最显著。以上结果表明,香鱼MIP-2基因表达与鳗利斯顿氏菌的侵染密切相关,揭示了MIP-2可能在香鱼抗菌免疫反应中具有重要的作用。     

香鱼镉胁迫相关基因UraD的特征和表达分析

2-氧-4-羟基-4-羧基-5-脲基咪唑啉脱羧酶(UraD)是嘌呤代谢反应酶,目前鱼类UraD基因仅在斑马鱼等少数物种得到克隆分析。从香鱼克隆获得UraD的cDNA序列,全长为967 bp,编码一个由174 aa组成的分子量为19.6kDa的蛋白,等电点为5.42。系统进化树分析显示香鱼UraD位于鱼类UraD簇中,与爬行类和哺乳类的亲缘关系较远,香鱼与斑马鱼UraD的蛋白序列相似性最高达70%。香鱼UraD表达经过反转录PCR(RT-PCR)检测发现在香鱼肝、心和肠中具有较高表达。香鱼肝组织中UraD表达量经过实时荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)检测,发现镉胁迫下显著减少,香鱼UraD表达在盐度胁迫和鳗利斯顿氏菌感染下表达量保持不变。上述结果揭示香鱼UraD基因的基本特征,说明香鱼UraD基因表达与镉胁迫密切相关。     

香鱼RBP基因的克隆、组织表达特征及其与盐度应激相关的表达分析

血浆视黄醇结合蛋白(Retinol binding protein,RBP)是体内将视黄醇从肝脏转运至靶组织的特异载体蛋白。最近研究发现在盐度升高时肾脏RBP蛋白表达量下降。为了进一步研究香鱼RBP基因mRNA和蛋白表达与盐度应激相关性,从香鱼、肝脏cDNA文库中获得RBP基因cDNA序列。香鱼RBP基因mRNA在肝脏中表达量最高,肾、肠、脑和鳃中表达次之。实时荧光定量RT-PCR结果显示,盐度升高时,RBP基因mRNA表达在不同组织中呈不同下降趋势,其中渗透压调节相关组织鳃、肾中,表达量下降最显著。Western blot实验证实,盐度升高时,香鱼血清RBP蛋白表达量也显著下降。揭示了RBP可能在香鱼盐度适应中有重要作用。     

香鱼补体成分C9基因的克隆、序列分析及表达

补体成分C9是构成膜攻击复合体引起靶细胞溶解破坏的重要组成成分。该文测定了香鱼C9(aC9)基因的cDNA全序列,序列全长2125个核苷酸,编码一个由592个氨基酸组成、相对分子质量为6.56×104的前体蛋白,N端22个氨基酸为信号肽序列。序列分析表明,aC9与虹鳟C9的氨基酸同源性最高,达56.8%,与其它鱼类C9的同源性介于40.9%~53.8%之间。aC9在健康香鱼肝、脾、肠、鳃和肌肉有表达,其中在肝内的表达量最高。实时荧光定量PCR的结果显示,鳗利斯顿氏菌侵染4h后,肝中aC9mRNA表达量显著上调,并随着时间的推移在16h时达到峰值。Westernblotting分析的结果显示,鳗利斯顿氏菌侵染后香鱼血清中的aC9蛋白随着时间的推移呈显著上调。以上结果表明,香鱼肝组织C9基因表达变化与鳗利斯顿氏菌的侵染密切相关,揭示了C9在鱼类抗细菌免疫反应中具有重要的作用。     

香鱼凝血因子X基因表达与鳗利斯顿氏菌感染的相关性

凝血途径的关键因子——凝血因子X(coagulation factor X,FX),是一种与免疫调控密切相关的维生素K依赖型丝氨酸蛋白酶.该研究克隆了香鱼(Plecoglossus altivelis) FX基因全长cDNA序列,它由1817个核苷酸组成,包含一个大的开放阅读框,编码一个由453个氨基酸组成的相对分子质量为5.07×104的蛋白.香鱼FX与已知的哺乳动物FX的结构相似,N端24个残基为信号肽序列.序列比较表明,香鱼FX与斑马鱼FX的氨基酸同一性最高,为53％.在健康香鱼中,FX基因mRNA主要在肝组织中表达,脑和鳃中也有少量表达.实时荧光定量PCR分析揭示,鳗利斯顿氏菌感染后香鱼肝组织中FX基因mRNA表达显著上调,16h时达到5.43倍.通过原核表达系统表达了香鱼FX丝氨酸蛋白酶结构域,并制备了抗血清.Western blotting分析显示,鳗利斯顿氏菌感染后香鱼血清中FX含量显著增加,并随着时间延长上调倍数不断增大,在36h时达到3.68倍.据此,FX基因mRNA及蛋白的表达与鳗利斯顿氏菌感染香鱼的过程紧密相关,揭示它可能在鱼类抗细菌感染的免疫反应中起重要作用.     

香鱼 HMGB1克隆、序列分析及表达特征

高迁移率族蛋白B1（High mobility group box protein 1, HMGB1）属于晚期细胞因子,与炎症反应相关。为研究香鱼HMGB1在鳗利斯顿氏菌感染引起的炎症反应中的作用,采用随机测序从肝脏组织cDNA文库中获得HMGB1基因,全长1233 bp,编码一个由204个氨基酸组成的23.3 kDa的蛋白。分析表明,该蛋白与胡瓜鱼HMGB1蛋白同源性最高。健康香鱼HMGB1基因在肌肉、脑和肝脏组织中表达量最高,而在鳃和肠中几乎不表达。 qRT-PCR表明,鳗利斯顿氏菌感染过程中,香鱼肌肉、脑和肝脏组织中HMGB1基因表达显著上调,分别在72、48 h达到峰值。原核表达香鱼HMGB1重组蛋白并制备抗血清,Western blot显示,抗血清能与目的蛋白起特异性反应,能用于研究HMGB1蛋白表达变化,进一步揭示HMGB1基因与鳗利斯顿氏菌感染引起的炎症晚期反应相关性。     

香鱼(Plecoglossus altivelis)NFκB抑制因子α基因PaIκBα克隆及表达

核转录因子κB抑制因子α(IκBα)是NFκB/IκB信号传导通路的重要成员,参与机体抗细菌感染等多种免疫反应,可通过蛋白质间的相互作用结合核转录因子NFκB,从而调控生物体多种免疫基因表达。该研究采用RACE技术从香鱼中克隆得到核转录因子κB抑制因子PaIκBα基因的cDNA全长序列(1341bp,GenBank Accession No.JN801027),开放阅读框ORF为936bp,编码311个氨基酸,5’非编码区为64bp,3’非编码区为341bp。生物信息学分析表明,香鱼IκBα蛋白的序列中包含5个保守的锚蛋白重复序列,N末端含有信号诱导蛋白,C末端含有PEST序列。同源性比对结果表明,香鱼IκBα蛋白与胡瓜鱼IκBα的同源性最高,为95%;其次是大西洋鲑、虹鳟、尼罗罗非鱼和鳜鱼等,同源性分别为76%、75%、70%和68%。系统进化树分析表明,香鱼IκBα蛋白与胡瓜鱼、虹鳟、尼罗罗非鱼、鳜鱼和大西洋鲑等亲缘关系最近。RT-PCR分析表明,PaIκBα基因在香鱼肝脏、肾脏、脾脏和鳃中表达水平较高,其次是肠、脑和肌肉,在心脏中表达极少。嗜水气单胞菌(Aeromonas hydrophil)感染香鱼后,PaIκBα基因表达增强,感染24h达最大值,表明PaIκBα基因在香鱼受到嗜水气单胞菌刺激的免疫过程中可能发挥着重要作用。     

香鱼TGF-β1基因的克隆及其表达与鳗利斯顿氏菌感染的相关性

通过转录组测序的方法,获得香鱼的TGF-β1基因序列,由1134个核苷酸组成,包括一个大的开放阅读框,编码成377个氨基酸组成的前体蛋白,分子量大小为43 kDa,等电点为8.72。N端前19个氨基酸为信号肽,成熟肽由C末端112个氨基酸组成,分子量大小为12.5 kDa。序列比对表明香鱼与虹鳟同源性最高,前导肽为72%,成熟肽为93%。在健康香鱼中,TGF-β1基因在肝、脾、肾、脑、肌、肠、鳃、心组织中均有表达,在肾组织中表达量最高。鳗利斯顿氏菌侵染香鱼组织后,各组织中的TGF-β1基因mRNA表达量均显著上调,肾组织中变化最为显著,注射12h时为对照组的14.5倍。构建了原核表达质粒pET-28a-TGF-β1,并制备了多克隆抗血清,能与目的蛋白TGF-β1起特异性反应,但不与细菌蛋白自身反应。以上结果表明,香鱼TGF-β1基因表达变化与鳗利斯顿氏菌的侵染相关,揭示了TGF-β1可能在鱼类抗细菌的急性期免疫应答过程中发挥作用。     

Molecular cloning and expression profile of snow trout GPDH gene in response to abiotic stress

Glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) gene possibly plays a key role for cold acclimation process in snow trout during winter months when water temperature goes down to 4–5?°C. In this study, 1,012?bp nucleotide fragment of GPDH gene was obtained from two snow trout species (Schizothorax richardsonii and S. niger; family: Cyprinidae), distributed in several Himalayan rivers. The gene encoded a protein of 334 amino acids. The encoded protein sequence was very similar to GPDH of Danio rerio (94.36?%) using BLASTx searches. In S. richardsonii the qRT-PCR showed highest expression in muscle tissue followed by liver and also revealed 19 fold gene expression in liver tissue under cold (5?°C) in comparison with warm (15?°C) condition. The elevated expression levels of GPDH cDNA on cold treatment furthermore suggest that GPDH plays a role in stress related responses in S. richardsonii. The phylogenetic analysis showed that the two snow trout species GPDH share the same clade with characterized GPDHs from other teleost fishes suggesting a common evolutionary origin and a similar catalytic function. In addition, the Ka/Ks ratios of these sequences suggested that they are under purifying selection. Moreover, the expression profile of GPDH gene among co generic species of genus Schizothorax showed that GPDH cDNA expression was highest in S. richardsonii and lowest in S. esocinus which gives an indication of species specific adaptation in relation to different geographical areas.     

Tissue- and cell-specific expression of human sn-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in transgenic mice.

Comparison of the promoter sequence for the sn-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH, EC 1.1.1.8) genes in mice and humans showed that there were three promoter domains conserved in evolution (1). To study the functional organization of the GPDH promoter, we generated transgenic mice carrying the complete human gene, GPD1. The level of human and mouse GPDH activity was measured in each tissue and the amount of human-mouse GPDH heterodimer was used as a sensitive indicator of cell-specific expression of GPD1. During postnatal development and in adult tissues of the transgenic mice, human GPDH was expressed at levels that corresponded closely to the expression of the endogenous mouse gene, Gdc-1. Surprisingly, deletion of the evolutionarily conserved fat-specific elements (FSE) in the proximal promoter region failed to reveal any alterations in GPD1 expression that were specific for either white or brown adipose tissue.     

Appearance of a second form of hepatic glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase during neonatal development in the mouse

Livers of 4-day-old Balb/c mice contain a single form of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH, sn-glycerol-3-phosphate:NAD 2-oxido-reductase, EC 1.1.1.8), which is designated GPDH I. The amount of hepatic GPDH I declines during maturation and levels off by about 6–7 weeks of age. During neonatal development a second form of the enzyme, GPDH II, appears. In mature Balb/c mice (6–7 weeks of age) GPDH II comprises about 30% of the total hepatic GPDH activity. Half-maximal levels of GPDH II are attained by about 18 days postpartum. The rate of appearance of GPDH II is not affected by premature weaning. Hepatic GPDH II is chromatographically distinct from hepatic GPDH I or the embryonic isozyme observed in neonatal brains. Thermal denaturation studies indicate that GPDH I and II from Balb/c mice are denatured at 50 °C with a half-time of about 2 min while the embryonic isozyme is denatured with a half-time of about 30 s. GPDH I and II isolated from C57BL6 mice are denatured at 50 °C with a half-time of 6 min while forms I and II from DDS mice are denatured with a half-time of about 12 min. Kinetic studies reveal that GPDH II and the embryonic isozyme have similar apparent affinities for NADH and dihydroxyacetone phosphate. The apparent affinity of GPDH I for NAD, NADH, dihydroxyacetone phosphate, and glycerol-3-phosphate is lower than that of GPDH II.     

Application of short column gel permeation in the study of protein-protein interactions

A simple and rapid procedure based on the gel filtration principle is described together with its applicability to the study of protein-protein interactions including subunit-subunit and enzyme-enzyme interactions. Using this procedure, it is shown that phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) interact with a stoichiometry of one PGK molecule combining with one monomeric subunit of GPDH. This interaction has been observed with both enzymes being from the same, as well as from different, species. The K_d values for rabbit muscle PGK and porcine muscle GPDH complex and that for the rabbit muscle PGK and yeast GPDH complex are found to be (4.5 ± 2.0) × 10⁻⁷ M and (6.5 ± 1.7) × 10⁻⁷ M, respectively. The specificity of bienzyme association is stronger when enzymes are from the same species than when they are from different species.     

Neuronal influence on glial enzyme expression: evidence from chimeric mouse cerebellum

Cerebella, variably deficient in Purkinje cells, were obtained from aggregation chimeras of either Lurcher or Purkinje cell degeneration mutants. These cerebella were used to analyze the expression of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) in Bergmann glia. Immunocytochemistry showed apparently normal GPDH expression only in Bergmann glia in the immediate vicinity of surviving Purkinje cells. The number of GPDH-positive Bergmann glia cells associated with isolated Purkinje cells was close to that expected, based on measurements in Golgi-stained, normal cerebella of the Bergmann glia cell's domain. The results support the hypothesis that GPDH expression in Bergmann glia cells depends upon their sustained interaction with Purkinje cells, most likely involving direct cell-cell contact.     

Differential expression and isozymic composition of sn-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in tissues from variant lines of Drosophila melanogaster

The tissue-specific expression and isozymic composition of Drosophila sn-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) (EC 1.1.1.8) have been determined for a high-activity control line and two variant lines that alter either the temporal or systemic expression of GPDH through a reduction in rates of polypeptide synthesis. The temporal variant exhibits a reduction in enzyme levels in all larval tissues and in the adult abdomen, while levels of activity in the adult thorax are equal to the control line. Isozymic analyses of these tissues demonstrate that it is the GPDH-3 species that is reduced in a temporal and tissue-specific manner. In contrast, the systemic variant demonstrates a uniform reduction of all isozymic species in each tissue and developmental stage. Analyses of the tissues of F1 hybrid offspring of each variant line and appropriately marked electrophoretic variants demonstrate that the tissue-specific effects observed are due to cis-acting elements that are tightly linked to the structural gene.     

Mechanism of action and fate of the fungicide chlorothalonil (2,4,5,6-tetrachloroisophthalonitrile) in biological systems: 2. In vitro reactions

The reaction characteristics of chlorothalonil with glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH), from yeast, (EC 1.2.1.12) were studied in vitro. Enzyme inhibition was related to the amount of [¹⁴C]chlorothalonil bound to the protein. Kinetics of enzyme inhibition was non-competitive for the substrate glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (GAP) (K_i = 0.42 μM). Reversal of enzyme inhibition could not be demonstrated with the low molecular thiol dithiothreitol (DTT), although the thiol did protect the protein against the toxic action of the fungicide. Because 5,5' dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic) acid (DTNB) reduced the binding of ¹⁴C-labeled fungicide by approximately 90% it is postulated that chlorothalonil affects catalytic activity by reacting with the 4 sulfhydryl sites (cysteine-149) responsible for the binding of GAP. Certain reaction characteristics of the trichloromethyl sulfenyl fungicides with GPDH were found to be similar to those of chlorothalonil. However, chlorothalonil differed from those fungicides in that it did not react with non-thiol groups of either GPDH or -chymotrypsin (CT) and had a slower reaction rate with the GPDH. It is suggested that the differences in reaction rates of the fungicides are due to the molecular size and the chemical nature of the reactive toxiphores.     

Seasonal freeze resistance of rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) is generated by differential expression of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, and antifreeze protein genes

In winter, rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) accumulate glycerol and produce an antifreeze protein (AFP), which both contribute to freeze resistance. The role of differential gene expression in the seasonal pattern of these adaptations was investigated. First, cDNAs encoding smelt and Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) and smelt glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) were cloned so that all sequences required for expression analysis would be available. Using quantitative PCR, expression of beta actin in rainbow smelt liver was compared with that of GAPDH in order to determine its validity as a reference gene. Then, levels of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH), PEPCK, and AFP relative to beta actin were measured in smelt liver over a fall-winter-spring interval. Levels of GPDH mRNA increased in the fall just before plasma glycerol accumulation, implying a driving role in glycerol synthesis. GPDH mRNA levels then declined during winter, well in advance of serum glycerol, suggesting the possibility of GPDH enzyme or glycerol conservation in smelt during the winter months. PEPCK mRNA levels rose in parallel with serum glycerol in the fall, consistent with an increasing requirement for amino acids as metabolic precursors, remained elevated for much of the winter, and then declined in advance of the decline in plasma glycerol. AFP mRNA was elevated at the onset of fall sampling in October and remained elevated until April, implying separate regulation from GPDH and PEPCK. Thus, winter freezing point depression in smelt appears to result from a seasonal cycle of GPDH gene expression, with an ensuing increase in the expression of PEPCK, and a similar but independent cycle of AFP gene expression.