Tau融合蛋白及其缺失突变体与朊蛋白的体外作用分析

在部分朊病毒病（prion diseases）中,高度磷酸化的微管相关蛋白tau与朊蛋白(prion protein,PrP)发生共定位,tau蛋白可能在朊病毒病的病理机制中有重要作用. 本室已经证明二者可以发生分子间相互作用,本文进一步分析了tau蛋白与prion的体外相互作用及作用位点. 利用RT-PCR方法从人源细胞系SHSY5Y cDNA中扩增出微管相关蛋白tau全长cDNA序列,克隆至质粒pGEX-2T载体,在大肠杆菌中诱导表达融合蛋白GST-tau. 利用GST pull-down及免疫共沉淀方法检测全长tau蛋白与PrP23-231的分子间相互作用. 进一步表达tau 蛋白的各种缺失突变体,确定tau蛋白与PrP蛋白的相互作用位点. 结果表明,所表达的全长tau蛋白及各种缺失突变体均为可溶性蛋白,Western印迹结果显示,各种蛋白均能很好的被tau蛋白单抗识别. GST pull-down和免疫共沉淀实验均显示,原核表达的全长tau蛋白可与全长的PrP蛋白在体外发生相互作用,并确定相互作用位点位于tau蛋白的N端序列及中段的重复区. 上述结果为研究tau蛋白与PrP的相互作用在朊病毒病的发病机制中的意义提供了一定的理论基础.     

朊蛋白与信号蛋白14-3-3β的相互作用研究

为进一步确定PrP蛋白与14-3-3蛋白是否发生分子间的相互作用并确定PrP蛋白与14-3-3蛋白相互作用的区域,利用免疫共沉淀、pull down和能量共振转移(FRET)实验检测PrP蛋白与人14-3-3蛋白是否发生分子间的相互作用及相互作用的部位。结果证明,PrP蛋白与人14-3-3蛋白在体外、组织水平及细胞水平均可以发生相互作用,且证实作用的部位在PrP蛋白的106-126位氨基酸。该结果为进一步研究14-3-3蛋白在Prion疾病中的影响及Prion疾病的发病机制奠定了一定基础。     

微管相关蛋白tau与朊蛋白的相互作用

微管相关蛋白tau参与了许多神经退行性疾病的发生, 其中包括一些人类可传播性海绵状脑病. 为了探讨tau与朊蛋白(PrP)之间可能存在的关系, 首先通过GST pull-down和免疫共沉淀等技术发现重组tau蛋白可通过微管结合区与来源于正常叙利亚仓鼠脑组织中的正常细胞膜朊蛋白(PrP^C)和羊瘙痒因子263K感染仓鼠脑组织的异常朊蛋白(PrPSc)相结合. 利用免疫共沉淀实验发现在正常和羊瘙痒因子感染的仓鼠脑组织中存在tau蛋白与PrPC和PrPSc的相互作用, 并且利用激光共聚焦方法检测到PrP和tau蛋白在CHO细胞内具有共定位的关系. 为了确定PrP与tau蛋白相互作用的部位, 构建了不同区域的PrP片段, 从而证明PrP与tau蛋白相互作用的区域位于PrP的N端序列(23~91 aa). PrP与tau蛋白分子间相互作用的直接实验证据提示tau蛋白可能参与PrP的正常生理功能以及朊病毒病的病理过程.     

蛋白激酶CK2与PrP蛋白的体外相互作用研究

为了探讨蛋白激酶CK2与PrP是否存在分子间相互作用,利用RT-PCR方法从人源细胞系SH-SY5Y cDNA中分别扩增出蛋白激酶CK2a和CK2β基因,并在E coli中表达了融合蛋白HIS-CK2α和GST-HISCK2β.利用pU-doWn及免疫共沉淀实验检测PrP与CK2的分子间相互作用.结果显示,重组PrP可与CK2α出现特异性结合,但不与CK2β发生反应.天然状态下脑组织中的CK2与PrPc也发生相互作用.PrP与CK2α亚基相互作用的区域位于PrP的C-端90～231位氨基酸.本研究从分子水平上提供了人重组和天然CK2和PrP蛋白相互作用的实验依据,为深入探讨CK2与朊蛋白作用的生物学意义和在朊病毒病发病过程中的作用提供了科学线索.     

人朊病毒蛋白及其突变体的溶剂可及性和模拟分析

朊病毒是一种全新类型的致病因子,以一种全新的致病机制造成许多神经退化性疾病。它的致病性主要由于PrP^C向PrP^Sc构象转变而造成。为了探讨PrP^C向PrP^Sc转变过程中PrP分子构象变化的机制,我们计算分析了人天然PrP分子及不同的单残基突变体(如M166V,S170N,E200K和R220K)的氨基酸残基溶剂可及性,并对天然PrP分子及其突变体进行了结构重叠模拟RMS偏量分析。结果表明：由于166位等单个残基的突变,造成PrP突变体与天然蛋白的局部结构出现较大差别,使得部分残基的溶剂可及表面积发生了较大变化,并且部分残基改变了它们的位置,同时也影响蛋白质表面的电倚分布,这些改变是为了更好地适应次级相互作用的局部环境。分析表明PrP与一般球蛋白在性质上有一定的差异,说明PrP分子并不是一种稳定的球蛋白结构,只是一种折叠中间物。     

载脂蛋白ApoE的原核表达以及与PrP蛋白间相互作用的初步研究

利用RT-PCR方法从人源细胞系SH-SY5Y cDNA中扩增出载脂蛋白ApoE基因,并在pET32a载体中表达融合蛋白His-ApoE,以纯化的融合蛋白免疫实验用兔获得特异性抗体,利用ELISA及免疫共沉淀方法对ApoE及PrP之间的相互作用进行研究.结果表明,SDS-PAGE显示表达的His-ApoE蛋白的相对分子量约为54 000,所制备的抗血清ELISA效价可达到1∶406 900,并能够有效地识别重组及动物组织中的内源性ApoE蛋白.ELISA和免疫共沉淀实验均显示,原核表达的ApoE可与全长的PrP蛋白（PrP23-231）在体外发生相互作用,其作用位点可能位于PrP蛋白的N端.这些结果为TSE经血传播的机制研究提供了新思路.     

凋亡蛋白和Nmi的相互作用及作用位点的筛选鉴定

为研究来源于鸡贫血病毒的小分子蛋白质———凋亡蛋白 (apoptin)诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡的分子机制 ,利用酵母双杂交系统从人白细胞cDNA文库筛选凋亡蛋白相互作用蛋白质 ,核苷酸序列分析及同源性检索表明 ,其中一个约为 1.2kb的克隆与Nmi(N Mycinteractionprotein)高度同源。细胞免疫共沉淀实验结果显示 ,在哺乳动物细胞水平仍能够检测到凋亡蛋白与全长Nmi的特异相互作用。利用构建好的分别缺失C端 11个氨基酸、中间 33～46位氨基酸和二者均缺失的 3个凋亡蛋白突变体进行相互作用位点研究 ,结果表明凋亡蛋白的 33～ 46位氨基酸(核外运信号 )对于凋亡蛋白与Nmi的相互作用是必需的 ,而C端核定位信号 /DNA结合序列对于凋亡蛋白与Nmi的相互作用不是充分必要的     

人朊病毒蛋白及其突变体的溶剂可及性和模拟分析

朊病毒是一种全新类型的致病因子,以一种全新的致病机制造成许多神经退化性疾病.它的致病性主要由于PrPC向PrPSc构象转变而造成.为了探讨PrPC向PrPSc转变过程中PrP分子构象变化的机制, 我们计算分析了人天然PrP分子及不同的单残基突变体(如M166V,S170N,E200K和R220K)的氨基酸残基溶剂可及性, 并对天然PrP分子及其突变体进行了结构重叠模拟和RMS偏量分析.结果表明由于166位等单个残基的突变, 造成PrP突变体与天然蛋白的局部结构出现较大差别, 使得部分残基的溶剂可及表面积发生了较大变化, 并且部分残基改变了它们的位置, 同时也影响蛋白质表面的电荷分布, 这些改变是为了更好地适应次级相互作用的局部环境.分析表明PrP与一般球蛋白在性质上有一定的差异, 说明PrP分子并不是一种稳定的球蛋白结构, 只是一种折叠中间物.     

脆性组氨酸三联体与复制蛋白A相互作用关键氨基酸残基的鉴定

目的：研究脆性组氨酸三联体（Fhit）对ATR/CHK1通路的影响,在确定Fhit与复制蛋白A（RPA）存在相互作用的基础上鉴定Fhit与RPA相互作用的关键氨基酸残基,为进一步研究Fhit特异的信号通路奠定基础。方法：构建一系列Fhit缺失突变体基因Fhit1～Fhit11及6种Fhit点突变体基因,将这些基因插入含GST基因的原核表达载体中,在大肠杆菌中表达并纯化GST-Fhit1～GST-Fhit11融合蛋白、突变体GST-FhitSIYEEL、GST-FhitIY、GST-FhitEL、GST-FhitF、GST-FhitA,以及GST-FhitD融合蛋白,用GST沉降技术研究Fhit与RPA相互作用的关键氨基酸残基。结果：Fhit蛋白第112～117（SIYEEL）残基可能是Fhit与RPA相互作用的关键区域,而第114（Y）残基可能是Fhit与RPA相互作用的关键氨基酸残基。结论：确定了Fhit与RPA相互作用的关键氨基酸残基,为阐明Fhit在维持基因组完整性方面的机理提供了线索。     

肌钙蛋白I2与“孤儿”核受体ERRα1相互作用位点的鉴定

为深入研究肌钙蛋白I2（TNNI2）作为核受体相互作用蛋白参与核受体基因表达调控的分子机制,采用缺失突变联合酵母双杂交技术证明了TNNI2与ERRα1的相互作用位于TNNI2的1～128位氨基酸残基区域.该区域包括TNNI2蛋白的N末端、抑制肽段（96～116位氨基酸残基）和一个核受体结合位点LXXLL模序（即NR盒）.哺乳细胞瞬时共转染实验证实,TNNI21-128缺失突变体不具备辅助活化功能,并能作为负显性突变体完全抑制野生型TNNI2的辅活化作用.研究充分证明TNNI2与核受体的相互作用定位于TNNI2蛋白1～128氨基酸残基,并从侧面进一步证实了TNNI2能辅助核受体反式激活作用的功能.     

The N-terminus of PrP is responsible for interacting with tubulin and fCJD related PrP mutants possess stronger inhibitive effect on microtubule assembly in vitro

Microtubule dynamics is essential for many vital cellular processes such as in intracellular transport, metabolism, and cell division. Some evidences demonstrate that PrP may associate with microtubular cytoskeleton and its major component, tubulin. In the present study, the molecular interaction between PrP and tubulin was confirmed using pull-down assays, immunoprecipitation and ELISA. The interacting regions within PrP with tubulin were mapped in the N-terminus of PrP spanning residues 23-50 and 51-91. PrP octapeptide repeats are critical for the binding activity with tubulin, that the binding activity of PrP with tubulin became stronger along with the number of the octapeptide repeats increased. Microtubule assembly assays, sedimental tests and transmission electron microscopy demonstrated that the full-length PrP (aa 23-231) obviously inhibited the microtubule polymerization processes in vitro, whereas the N- (aa 23-91) and C- (aa 91-231) terminal peptides of PrP did not affect microtubule polymerization. Moreover, the familial Cruetzfeldt Jacob disease (fCJD) related PrP mutants with inserted or deleted octapeptide repeats showed much stronger inhibitive capacities on the microtubule dynamics in vitro than wild-type PrP. Our data highlight a potential role of PrP in regulating the microtubule dynamics in neurons.     

Study on interaction between microtubule associated protein tau and prion protein

Microtubule-associated protein tau is considered to play roles in many neurodegenera-tive diseases including some transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.To address the possible molecular linkage of prion protein(PrP) and tau,a GST-fusion segment of human tau covering the three-repeat region and various PrP segments was used in the tests of GST pull-down and immuno-precipitation.We found tau protein interacted with various style prion proteins such as native prion protein(PrPC) or protease-resistant isoform(PrPSc) .Co-localization signals of tau and PrP were found in the CHO cell tranfected with both PrP and tau gene.The domain of interaction with tau was located at N-terminal of PrP(residues 23 to 91) .The evidence of molecular interactions between PrP and tau protein highlights a potential role of tau in the biological function of PrP and the pathogenesis of TSEs.     

Study on interaction between microtubule associated protein tau and prion protein

Microtubule-associated protein tau is considered to play roles in many neurodegenerative diseases including some transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. To address the possible molecular linkage of prion protein (PrP) and tau, a GST-fusion segment of human tau covering the three-repeat region and various PrP segments was used in the tests of GST pull-down and immunoprecipitation. We found tau protein interacted with various style prion proteins such as native prion protein (PrPC) or protease-resistant isoform (prpSc). Co-localization signals of tau and PrP were found in the CHO cell tranfected with both PrP and tau gene. The domain of interaction with tau was located at N-terminal of PrP (residues 23 to 91). The evidence of molecular interactions between PrP and tau protein highlights a potential role of tau in the biological function of PrP and the pathogenesis of TSEs.     

Molecular interaction of α-synuclein with tubulin influences on the polymerization of microtubule in vitro and structure of microtubule in cells

Microtubule dynamics is essential for many vital cellular processes such as in intracellular transport, metabolism, and cell division. Evidences demonstrate that α-synuclein may associate with microtubular cytoskeleton and its major component, tubulin. In the present study, the molecular interaction between α-synuclein and tubulin was confirmed by GST pull-down assay and co-immunoprecipitation. The interacting regions within α-synuclein with tubulin were mapped at the residues 60–100 of α-synuclein that is critical for the binding activity with tubulin. Microtubule assembly assays and sedimentation tests demonstrated that α-synuclein influenced the polymerization of tubulin in vitro, revealing an interacting region-dependent feature. Confocal microscopy detected that exposures of α-synuclein proteins inhibited microtubule formation in the cultured cells, with a length-dependent phenomenon. Our data highlight a potential role of α-synuclein in regulating the microtubule dynamics in neurons. The association of α-synuclein with tubulin may further provide insight into the biological and pathophysiological function of synuclein.     

Tau inhibits tubulin oligomerization induced by prion protein

In previous studies we have demonstrated that prion protein (PrP) interacts with tubulin and disrupts microtubular cytoskeleton by inducing tubulin oligomerization. These observations may explain the molecular mechanism of toxicity of cytoplasmic PrP in transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). Here, we check whether microtubule associated proteins (MAPs) that regulate microtubule stability, influence the PrP-induced oligomerization of tubulin. We show that tubulin preparations depleted of MAPs are more prone to oligomerization by PrP than those containing traces of MAPs. Tau protein, a major neuronal member of the MAPs family, reduces the effect of PrP. Importantly, phosphorylation of Tau abolishes its ability to affect the PrP-induced oligomerization of tubulin. We propose that the binding of Tau stabilizes tubulin in a conformation less susceptible to oligomerization by PrP. Since elevated phosphorylation of Tau leading to a loss of its function is observed in Alzheimer disease and related tauopathies, our results point at a possible molecular link between these neurodegenerative disorders and TSEs.     

Prion protein region 23–32 interacts with tubulin and inhibits microtubule assembly

In previous studies we have demonstrated that prion protein (PrP) binds directly to tubulin and this interaction leads to the inhibition of microtubule formation by inducement of tubulin oligomerization. This report is aimed at mapping the regions of PrP and tubulin involved in the interaction and identification of PrP domains responsible for tubulin oligomerization. Preliminary studies focused our attention to the N‐terminal flexible part of PrP encompassing residues 23–110. Using a panel of deletion mutants of PrP, we identified two microtubule‐binding motifs at both ends of this part of the molecule. We found that residues 23–32 constitute a major site of interaction, whereas residues 101–110 represent a weak binding site. The crucial role of the 23–32 sequence in the interaction with tubulin was confirmed employing chymotryptic fragments of PrP. Surprisingly, the octarepeat region linking the above motifs plays only a supporting role in the interaction. The binding of Cu²⁺ to PrP did not affect the interaction. We also demonstrate that PrP deletion mutants lacking residues 23–32 exhibit very low efficiency in the inducement of tubulin oligomerization. Moreover, a synthetic peptide corresponding to this sequence, but not that identical with fragment 101–110, mimics the effects of the full‐length protein on tubulin oligomerization and microtubule assembly. At the cellular level, peptide composed of the PrP motive 23–30 and signal sequence (1–22) disrupted the microtubular cytoskeleton. Using tryptic and chymotryptic fragments of α‐ and β‐tubulin, we mapped the docking sites for PrP within the C‐terminal domains constituting the outer surface of microtubule. Proteins 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Cell cycle and activation of CK2

Microtubule associated protein tau is considered to play roles in some types of human transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE). In this study, the full-length and several truncated human tau proteins were expressed from E. coli and purified. Using GST pull down, co-immunoprecipitation assay and tau-coated ELISA, the molecular interaction between tau protein and PrP was confirmed in the context of the full-length human tau. The N terminus (amino acids 1–91) and tandem repeats region (amino acids 186–283) of tau protein were responsible for the interaction with PrP. The octapeptide repeats within PrP directly affected the binding activity of PrP with tau. GSS-related mutant PrP102L and fCJD- related mutants with two and seven extra octarepeats showed more active binding capacity with tau than wild-type PrP. The molecular interactions between PrP and tau protein highlight a potential role of tau in the biological function of PrP and the pathogenesis of TSE.     

Interaction between metabotropic glutamate receptor 7 and alpha tubulin

Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) mediate a variety of responses to glutamate in the central nervous system. A primary role for group-III mGluRs is to inhibit neurotransmitter release from presynaptic terminals, but the molecular mechanisms that regulate presynaptic trafficking and activity of group-III mGluRs are not well understood. Here, we describe the interaction of mGluR7, a group-III mGluR and presynaptic autoreceptor, with the cytoskeletal protein, alpha tubulin. The mGluR7 carboxy terminal (CT) region was expressed as a GST fusion protein and incubated with rat brain extract to purify potential mGluR7-interacting proteins. These studies yielded a single prominent mGluR7 CT-associated protein of 55 kDa, which subsequent microsequencing analysis revealed to be alpha tubulin. Coimmunoprecipitation assays confirmed that full-length mGluR7 and alpha tubulin interact in rat brain as well as in BHK cells stably expressing mGluR7a, a splice variant of mGluR7. In addition, protein overlay experiments showed that the CT domain of mGluR7a binds specifically to purified tubulin and calmodulin, but not to bovine serum albumin. Further pull-down studies revealed that another splice variant mGluR7b also interacts with alpha tubulin, indicating that the binding region is not localized to the splice-variant regions of either mGluR7a (900-915) or mGluR7b (900-923). Indeed, deletion mutagenesis experiments revealed that the alpha tubulin-binding site is located within amino acids 873-892 of the mGluR7 CT domain, a region known to be important for regulation of mGluR7 trafficking. Interestingly, activation of mGluR7a in cells results in an immediate and significant decrease in alpha tubulin binding. These data suggest that the mGluR7/alpha tubulin interaction may provide a mechanism to control access of the CT domain to regulatory molecules, or alternatively, that this interaction may lead to morphological changes in the presynaptic membrane in response to receptor activation.     

Stress-inducible protein 1 is a cell surface ligand for cellular prion that triggers neuroprotection

Prions are composed of an isoform of a normal sialoglycoprotein called PrP(c), whose physiological role has been under investigation, with focus on the screening for ligands. Our group described a membrane 66 kDa PrP(c)-binding protein with the aid of antibodies against a peptide deduced by complementary hydropathy. Using these antibodies in western blots from two-dimensional protein gels followed by sequencing the specific spot, we have now identified the molecule as stress-inducible protein 1 (STI1). We show that this protein is also found at the cell membrane besides the cytoplasm. Both proteins interact in a specific and high affinity manner with a K(d) of 10(-7) M. The interaction sites were mapped to amino acids 113-128 from PrP(c) and 230-245 from STI1. Cell surface binding and pull-down experiments showed that recombinant PrP(c) binds to cellular STI1, and co-immunoprecipitation assays strongly suggest that both proteins are associated in vivo. Moreover, PrP(c) interaction with either STI1 or with the peptide we found that represents the binding domain in STI1 induce neuroprotective signals that rescue cells from apoptosis.