三叶肽家族研究进展

三叶肽是一类由一个或多个“三叶形结构”组成的具有抵卸蛋白酶水解作用的小分子多肽物质。其分子结构中都有一至数段由38－39个氨基酸组成的特定区域,其中的6个半胱氨酸按1－5,2－4和3－6的顺序以二硫键的形式两两相接。三叶形结构的稳定性使三叶肽能在消化道复杂的内环境中保持其生物活性。三叶肽的表达可胃肠道中粘液糖蛋白的合成密切相关,目前已知哺乳动物体内的3类三叶肽都是由胃肠道粘液分泌细胞合成的。而三叶肽在胃肠道炎症周围组织的异位表达使其在保护胃肠粘膜,促进粘膜修复中起重要作用。     

三叶因子家族

三叶因子家族是一类具有特殊结构——P结构域的蛋白质家族, P结构域包含6个高度保守的半胱氨酸残基及精氨酸、甘氨酸、色氨酸和苯丙氨酸残基.半胱氨酸残基以Cys1-Cys5, Cys2-Cys4, Cys3-Cys6连接形成三个链内二硫桥.已发现多种含有P结构域的多肽,其中最引人注目的是TFF1/ pS2、TFF2/SP及TFF3/ITF,在正常组织中其主要表达位点分别为胃基底和胃体(TFF1/pS2)、胃窦深部的小凹（TFF2/SP）及小肠和大肠杯状细胞（TFF3/ITF）.TFF可能具有维持粘膜屏障和促进溃疡治愈的功能.TFF含有α折叠(α-helix),β片层(β-sheet).三叶因子家族多肽的作用机理仍处于猜测阶段,现有与粘蛋白共同作用和与受体作用两种假说.     

三叶因子3的研究

三叶因子 3 (ｔｒｅｆｏｉｌｆａｃｔｏｒ 3 ,ＴＦＦ3 )是一种胃肠道粘膜修复因子 ,1 991年在大鼠ｃＤＮＡ文库中第一次被克隆 ,它由 60个氨基酸组成 ,分子中含有 7个Ｃｙｓ ,其中有 6个Ｃｙｓ以Ｃｙｓ1 Ｃｙｓ5 、Ｃｙｓ2 Ｃｙｓ4、Ｃｙｓ3 Ｃｙｓ6 的形式构成二硫键 ,形成一个状似叶片的紧凑结构 ,因而最初命名为小肠三叶因子 (ｉｎｔｅｓｔｉｎａｌｔｒｅｆｏｉｌｆａｃ ｔｏｒ,ＩＴＦ) [1] 。哺乳动物中有 3种三叶因子 ,分别为含有一个三叶结构域的乳腺癌相关肽(ＴＦＦ1或ｐＳ2 ) ,含有两个三叶结构域的解痉挛多肽 (ＴＦＦ2或ＳＰ)以及…     

用2D—NMR测定人卵泡促性腺激素释放肽（hF—GRP）的溶液构象

人卵泡促性腺激素释放肽是１９８７年才被发现的一种激素类１４肽,本文利用２Ｄ－ＮＭＲ技术首先测定了它的溶液构象,在残基归属的基础上,据ＲＯＥＳＹ距离信息得到该１４肽的初步构象为,羧基端三个残基是运动性较大的无规卷曲,氨基端Ｔｈｒ１的侧链靠近主链,Ｈｉｓ１０－Ｐｒｏ１１间的肽链以ｔｒａｎｓ构型占优势,在Ｓｅｒ４－Ｈｉｓ５－Ｈｉｓ６区域可能形成一个部分类似β－转角Ⅱ的弯曲。     

合成乙型肝炎表面抗原肽段的结构与抗原性

本文对合成的乙型肝炎表面抗原肽段的结构与抗原性进行了研究。通过对三种亚型共9个合成肽段的抗原性测定和结构分析,我们证实了在乙型肝炎表面抗原(HBsAg)氨基酸顺序的122-137区域存在着共同决定簇“a”,且半胱氨酸残基对抗原性有很大的影响。合成的16肽P_(122-137)的两个半胱氨酸残基用叔丁基保护时,其抗原性几乎检测不到,一旦去掉保护基并氧化成分子内S—S键后,抗原性明显增加。比较各种亚型肽段的抗原性测定结果,我们发现亚型决定簇d(或y)的位置可能在122—132之间。另外我们发现P_(adw)122—132的抗原性要比P_(adr)122-137的抗原性强,结构分析结果表明adw型中的Asn_(132)可能对此有较大的贡献。     

斑点叉尾鮰NK-lysin基因的cDNA克隆及融合表达质粒构建

以斑点叉尾鮰(Ictalurus punctatus)NK-lysin-type1的成熟肽为研究目标,首先通过RT-PCR和巢式PCR从斑点叉尾鮰的鳃中克隆到编码NK-lysin成熟肽的基因,该基因编码由92个氨基酸残基组成的成熟肽;6个高度保守的半胱氨酸残基位于成熟肽内,它们被推测与NK-lysin的抗菌活性有关。为了进一步构建原核表达系统用于成熟肽的表达,pET-32a(+)被选择作为融合表达质粒,该质粒含有1个trxA融合头基因,与目的片段mNK-lysin连接后形成融合基因trxA-mNK-lysin,进而有助于在工程菌E.coliBL21(DE3)中的可溶性融合表达。通过PCR、EcoR I和HindⅢ双酶切处理以及DNA测序鉴定,证明pET-32a-mNK-lysin重组融合表达质粒已经被成功构建;将其转化至工程菌E.coliBL21(DE3)后的测序结果表明该重组质粒未发生任何DNA变异。     

调控保幼激素合成的神经肽抑制素Allatostatin 4的初级结构分析

由太平洋折翅蠊Diploptera punctata脑提取,纯化出脑神经肽Allatostatin 4(AST 4),并合成了AST 4及两种类似物。这种神经肽可有效地抑制体外咽侧体的保幼激素生物合成。测定了这种肽的初级结构,有8个氨基酸残基。它与已知的AST 1—3的氨基酸序列有某些相似性,即靠近C-末端的三个氨基酸和从C-末端数第五和第六位氨基酸相同。AST 4的氨基酸序列为: Asp-Arg-Leu-Tyr-Ser-Phe-Gly-Leu-NH_2 合成的肽和由N末端截断的片段(末端残基为5或6个氨基酸),其体外活性明显。     

中国林蛙皮肤抗菌肽基因的cDNA克隆及抗菌、抗癌和溶血活性的测定

采用RT-PCR和3￠RACE方法, 从中国林蛙皮肤总RNA中克隆出了6条编码不同抗菌肽前体的cDNA序列, 分别命名为: preprotemporin-1CEa、preprotemporin-1CEb、preprotemporin-1CEc、preprobrevinin-1CEa、preprobrevinin-1CEb和preprochensinin-1。cDNA碱基序列全长为289~315 bp, 编码59~65个氨基酸。6个抗菌肽前体由3部分结构域组成: 22个氨基酸残基组成的信号肽、多个酸性氨基酸残基组成的中间序列、高度变异的成熟肽。preprotemporin-1CEa、preprotemporin-1CEb和preprotemporin-1CEc属于temporin-1家族抗菌肽前体, 具有肽链短, C-端酰胺化的特点; preprobrevinin-1CEb和preprobrevinin-1CEa属于brevinin-1家族抗菌肽前体, 在肽链的C-端含有RANA盒结构, 可在2个半胱氨酸残基间形成二硫键, 组成7肽环; preprochensinin-1在已知多种数据库中没有发现序列同源的多肽, 被鉴定为新抗菌肽。人工合成temporin-1CEa、temporin-1CEb、brevinin-1CEa和chensinin-1四种中国林蛙皮肤抗菌肽, 活性检测结果表明: 它们对金黄葡萄球菌等3种革兰氏阳性细菌的生长具有明显抑制作用, 同时抑制乳腺癌MCF-7细胞和宫颈癌HeLa细胞生长。     

虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素V的二硫键定位分析

虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素V是从虎纹捕鸟蛛毒液中分离得到的一种昆虫毒素．它含有35个氨基酸残基,其中6个半胱氨酸形成三对二硫键．首先采用多酶将天然的肽链裂解后,通过MALDI-TOF质谱分析酶解肽段,推断出1对二硫键位于Cys9-Cys21,然后利用改进的部分还原分步测序法,确定虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素V的另外2对二硫键的配对方式为Cys2-Cysl6和Cys15-Cys28．因此,虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素V的3对二硫键分别以Cys2-Cys16,Cys9一Cys21,Cys15一Cys28(即1-4、2-5和3-6)的方式配对．     

虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素-III及其天然突变体的纯化与鉴定(英文)

虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素 III及其天然突变体是从虎纹捕鸟蛛粗毒中分离得到的两个毒素多肽。虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素 III含 33个氨基酸残基 ,其中包含 6个半胱氨酸残基 ;而其天然突变体只比虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素 III少了C端的色氨酸残基。MALDI TOF质谱测得虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素 III及其天然突变体的分子量分别为 385 3.35和 36 6 7.4 0。通过比较其理论分子量和质谱测定的分子量表明两个多肽的 6个半胱氨酸残基分别形成了三对二硫键。虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素 III与从同一种蜘蛛分离得到的凝集素 I具有 70 .5 %的序列相似性。生物学活性实验表明 ,虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素 III具有使美洲蜚蠊可逆的致瘫作用 ,其半有效剂量 (ED50 )为 (1 92 .95±1 2 0 .84 ) μg/g (P =0 .95 ) ,而且能加强由电刺激引起的大鼠输精管收缩 ;而其天然突变体却不具有上述生物学活性 ,表明C端色氨酸残基为虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素 III生物学活性相关残基 ;同时虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素 III及其天然突变体都不具有类似于凝集素 I对红细胞的凝集活性 ,表明虎纹捕鸟蛛毒素 III和凝集素 I两者氨基酸序列中不同氨基酸残基对于决定两者的生物学活性有着重要的作用     

Disulfide bond structure of the atrial natriuretic peptide receptor extracellular domain: conserved disulfide bonds among guanylate cyclase-coupled receptors

The disulfide bond structure of the extracellular domain of rat atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) receptor (NPR-ECD) has been determined by mass spectrometry (MS) and Edman sequencing. Recombinant NPR-ECD expressed in COS-1 cells and purified from the culture medium binds ANP with as high affinity as the natural ANP receptor. Reaction with iodoacetic acid yielded no S-carboxymethylcysteine, indicating that all six Cys residues in NPR-ECD are involved in disulfide bonds. Electrospray ionization MS of NPR-ECD deglycosylated by peptide-N-glycosidase F gave a molecular mass of 48377.5+/-1.6 Da, which was consistent with the presence of three disulfide bonds. Liquid chromatography MS analysis of a lysylendopeptidase digest yielded three cystine-containing fragments with disulfide bonds Cys(60)-Cys(86), Cys(164)-Cys(213) and Cys(423)-Cys(432) based on their observed masses. These bonds were confirmed by Edman sequencing of each of the three fragments. No evidence for an inter-molecular disulfide bond was found. The six Cys residues in NPR-ECD, forming a 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 disulfide pairing pattern, are strictly conserved among A-type natriuretic peptide receptors and are similar in B-type receptors. We found that in other families of guanylate cyclase-coupled receptors, the Cys residues involved in 1-2 and 5-6 disulfide pairs are conserved in nearly all, suggesting an important contribution of these disulfide bonds to the receptor's structure and function.     

New member of the trefoil factor family of proteins is an alpha-macroglobulin protease inhibitor

The amino acid sequence of the monomeric alpha-macroglobulin (alphaM) from the American bullfrog, Rana catesbiana, was determined. The mature protein consisted of 1469 amino acid residues and shared sequence identity with other members of the alphaM family of protein. The central portion of the frog monomeric alphaM contained Cys residues positioned analogously to the Cys residues in human alpha(2)-macroglobulin (alpha(2)M), known to be involved in disulfide bridges. Additionally, the frog monomeric alphaM contained six Cys residues in a approximately 60 residue COOH-terminal extension not present in previously characterized alphaMs. The spacing of the Cys residues and the overall sequence identity of this COOH-terminal extension were consistent with a trefoil motif. This is the first time a member of the trefoil factor family has been identified in the circulatory system. The "bait region" was located between Arg(675)-Lys(685) and contained mainly basic amino acid residues. The COOH-terminal receptor-binding domain was not exposed prior to proteolysis of this highly susceptible region. The proximity of the receptor-binding and trefoil domains implied that the trefoil domain is similarly concealed before bait region cleavage.     

The closely related estrogen-regulated trefoil proteins TFF1 and TFF3 have markedly different hydrodynamic properties,overall charge,and distribution of surface charge

The human trefoil proteins TFF1 and TFF3 are expressed predominantly in the gastrointestinal tract. They are also expressed and regulated by estrogens in malignant breast epithelial cells. TFF1 and TFF3 are small cysteine-rich acidic secreted proteins of 60 and 59 amino acids with similar isoelectric points of 4.75 and 3.94, respectively. Each contains one trefoil domain that is characterized by several conserved features including six cysteine residues with conserved spacing. TFF1 and TFF3 form intermolecular disulfide bonds via an extra-trefoil domain cysteine residue and are present in vivo as monomers and homodimers and as complexes with other proteins. The TFF1 dimer is more active than the TFF1 monomer. In the present study the hydrodynamic and charge properties of TFF1 and TFF3 monomers and homodimers have been compared and shown to differ markedly. Notably, TFF1 is significantly more asymmetric than TFF3 (frictional coefficients 1.25 and 1.12, respectively, p < 0.001), and homodimerization of TFF1 results in a greater increase in asymmetry than for TFF3. The overall charges of TFF1 and TFF3 are very different at neutral pH. Titration curves predicted significant differences in charge across a wide pH range that agreed well with experimental data. The locations of charged amino acids in the primary sequences and in the tertiary structures of TFF1 and TFF3 were examined. This revealed interesting divergence in both the distribution and local topology of charged amino acid side chains. The significant differences between the shape, size, and surface charge of these two closely related molecules may account for their divergent biological activities.     

Mode of disulfide bond formation of a heat-stable enterotoxin (STh) produced by a human strain of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

To determine the modes of three disulfide linkages in the heat-stable enterotoxin (STh) produced by a human strain of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, we synthesized STh(6-18), which consists of 13 amino acid residues and has the same intramolecular disulfide linkages as native STh [(1985) FEBS Lett. 181, 138-142], by stepwise and selective formation of disulfide bonds using different types of removable protecting groups for the Cys residues. Synthesis of the peptide with different modes of disulfide bond formation provided three peptides consistent with standard STh(6-18) in their physicochemical and biological properties, thereby indicating that the disulfide bonds in STh(6-18) are Cys-Cys-Glu-Leu-Cys-Cys-Asn-Pro-Ala-Cys-Thr-Gly-Cys.     

Development of a two-site ELISA assay for the dimeric form of human TFF1

TFF1 is one of three human trefoil proteins expressed principally in the gastrointestinal tract in normal tissues. TFF1 protects the gastric mucosa against damage as a result of its ability to facilitate reconstitution of damaged gastric mucosa and its involvement in the secretion and structure of gastric mucus. The most biologically active molecular form in cell culture and animal models tested is a dimer formed by a disulfide bond between two cysteine residues close to the C terminus of the protein. We have therefore developed an assay for this form of TFF1 which should facilitate its measurement in biological samples.     

Cooperative disulfide bond formation in apamin.

Apamin is being studied as a model for the folding mechanism of proteins whose structures are stabilized by disulfide bonds. Apamin consists of 18 amino acid residues and forms a stable structure consisting of a C-terminal alpha-helix and two reverse turns. This structure is stabilized by two disulfide bonds connecting Cys-1 to Cys-11 and Cys-3 to Cys-15. We used glutathione and dithiothreitol as reference thiols to measure the stabilities of the two disulfide bonds as a function of urea concentration and temperature in order to understand what contributes to the stability of the native structure. The results demonstrate modest contributions from secondary structure to the overall stability of the two disulfide bonds. The equilibrium constants for disulfide bond formation between the fully reduced peptide and the native structure with two disulfide bonds at 25 degrees C and pH 7.0 are 0.42 M2 using glutathione and 2.7 x 10(-5) using dithiothreitol. The equilibrium constant decreases by a factor of approximately 4 in 8 M urea and decreases by a factor of 3 between 0 and 60 degrees C. At least three one-disulfide intermediates are found at low concentrations in the equilibrium mixture. Using glutathione, the equilibrium constants for forming the one-disulfide intermediates with respect to the reduced peptide are approximately 0.025 M. The second disulfide bond forms with an equilibrium constant of approximately 17 M. Thus, apamin folding is very cooperative, but the native structure is only modestly stabilized by urea- or temperature-denaturable secondary structure.     

Determination of the positions of the disulfide bonds in aqualysin I (a thermophilic alkaline serine protease) of Thermus aquaticus YT-1

Aqualysin I is a heat-stable alkaline serine protease produced by Thermus aquaticus YT-1. Aqualysin I comprises 281 amino acid residues and contains four cysteine residues. The cysteine residues seemed to form disulfide bonds in the molecule. Thus, the positions of the disulfide bonds were investigated. Disulfide bond-containing peptides were identified by peptide mapping with HPLC before and after carboxymethylation of chymotryptic peptides of aqualysin I. The disulfide bond-containing peptides were isolated and then carboxymethylated. Carboxymethylcysteine-containing peptides were purified, and their amino acid compositions and sequences were determined. Based on the data obtained and the primary structure of aqualysin I, it was concluded that two disulfide bonds were formed between Cys67 and Cys99, and between Cys163 and Cys194.     

1H NMR assignment and secondary structure of the Ca2(+)-free form of the amino-terminal epidermal growth factor like domain in coagulation factor X

Blood coagulation factor X is composed of discrete domains, two of which are homologous to the epidermal growth factor (EGF). The N-terminal EGF like domain in factor X (fX-EGFN), residues 45-86 of the intact protein, contains a beta-hydroxylated aspartic acid and has one Ca2(+)-binding site. Using 2D NMR techniques, we have made a full assignment of the 500-MHz 1H NMR spectrum of Ca2(+)-free fX-EGFN. On the basis of this assignment and complementary NOESY experiments, we have also determined the secondary structure of Ca2(+)-free fX-EGFN in water solution. Residues 45-49 are comparatively mobile, whereas residues 50-56 are constrained by two disulfide bonds to one side of an antiparallel beta-sheet involving residues 59-64 and 67-72. Another antiparallel beta-sheet involves residues 76-77 and 83-84. A small, parallel beta-sheet connects residues 80-81 and 55-56 and thereby orients the two antiparallel beta-sheets relative to each other. Four beta-turns are identified, involving residues 50-53, 56-59, 64-67, and 73-76. Residues 78-82 adopt an extended bend structure. On the basis of secondary structure and the location of the three disulfide bonds, we find that Asp 46, Asp 48, and Hya 63 are sufficiently close to each other to form a Ca2(+)-binding site. However, the amino terminus of the Ca2(+)-free form of fX-EGFN is not part of a triple-stranded beta-sheet as in other EGF like peptides. Differences and similarities between fX-EFGN and murine EGF with respect to secondary structure and conformational shifts are discussed.     

Structure of human lysosomal membrane glycoprotein 1. Assignment of disulfide bonds and visualization of its domain arrangement

The amino acid sequence of one of the major lysosomal membrane glycoproteins, lysosome-associated membrane protein 1 (lamp-1), was deduced from its cDNA sequence (Fukuda, M., Viitala, J., Matteson, J., and Carlsson, S. R. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 18920-18928). This amino acid sequence suggests that lamp-1 contains a hinge-like structure and could form disulfide bridges that are observed in the immunoglobulin superfamily. To test this possibility, we have determined the positions of the disulfide bridges by isolating and sequencing cystine-containing peptides which contain disulfide bridges. The results indicate that disulfide arrangement of lamp-1 is different from that of immunoglobulins. Each molecule contains, in total, four loops formed by disulfide bonds, and each loop contains 36-39 amino acid residues. However, none of the disulfide bonds connects two domains that are separated by a hinge-like structure. The results indicate that the hinge region has no ordered structure, and the relative positions of the two domains can be altered in space. Examination of the ultrastructure of lamp-1 by electron microscopy showed that the hinge-like structure actually functions as a hinge. These results indicate that the lamp-1 molecule represents a novel family of glycoproteins with unique structural properties.     

Antigenicities of stem bromelain. Contribution of three-dimensional structure and individual amino acid residues

The contribution of three-dimensional structure and individual amino acid residues to the antigenicities of macromolecular protein was investigated for a thiol protease stem bromelain as antigen. The extent of the participation was demonstrated by a decrease in antigenicity when the enzyme was denatured in 8 M urea before and after reductive cleavage of intrapeptide disulfide bonds or modified in particular amino acid residues. The results showed that the enzyme treated with 8 M urea without reductive cleavage of disulfide bonds preserved about 90% of antigenicity to antibodies against native stem bromelain, while the enzyme denatured after the reductive cleavage of disulfide bonds brought about almost 80% disappearance of the antigenicity. Modification of individual amino acid side chains revealed that lysine was the most immunodominant amino acid, showing 2.5% contribution per residue, and tyrosine followed with 1.2%. However, acidic amino acids such as flutamic and aspartic acids were found to be as low as 0.3%, and tryptophan was 0.2%. These data suggest that most of the antigenic determinants of stem bromelain are of the steric conformation in which lysine and/or tyrosine are most frequently involved as immunodominant amino acids.