Growth-limiting Proteins in Relation to Auxin-induced Elongation in Lupin Hypocotyls

The role of protein synthesis in auxin-induced cell elongation in lupin hypocotyl segments was studied using cycloheximide. Cycloheximide inhibited protein synthesis by 9 minutes. Experiments adding cycloheximide at various times before and after indolyl-3-acetic acid are reported. Estimates of the relative amounts of growth-limiting protein(s), and a first order rate constant for the apparent turnover of the growth-limiting protein(s) were made. It was shown that there is a sizeable growth promotion by auxin after protein synthesis has essentially ceased. It is concluded that the initial phases of auxin action do not require protein synthesis but that its action depends on the existing pool of growth-limiting proteins which is rapidly depleted, and protein synthesis is then required for continued elongation.     

A 25 000 dalton inhibitor of cAMP independent protein kinases present in rat liver HMG protein preparations

A protein kinase inhibitor was found in rat liver cells as a component of HMG proteins. It is located in cytosol as well as in nuclei. It inhibits all tested cAMP independent protein kinases and has no effect on cAMP dependent protein kinases. This inhibitor is a 25 000 Da protein. It has no ATPase, phosphoprotein phosphatase or proteinase activity and is heat unstable.     

Synthesis of actin-like protein in rat liver mitochondria

Isolated rat liver mitochondria failed to exhibit in vitro incorporation of [14C]-amino acids into actin-like protein. The use of a pulse-labelling technique demonstrated the appearance of [14C]-actin-like protein in the mitochondria of control, cycloheximide-free rats. The actin-like protein was identified by the method of affinity binding on DNAse1-sepharose and by electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel with sodium dodecyl sulphate. It was shown that mitochondrial actin-like protein is not included among the nine polypeptides synthesized in mitochondria during cycloheximide-induced blockade of cytoplasmic protein synthesis. It was shown that actin-like protein was not desorbed from mitochondria by repeated washing with isotonic sucrose-mannitol medium. The results obtained indicate that the actin-like protein is biosynthesised in the cytoplasmic compartment.     

A protein kinase inhibitor in brown adipose tissue of developing rats

A heat-stable protein was extracted from brown adipose tissue of infant rats that inhibited both purified bovine heart protein kinase and a crude preparation of protein kinase from brown fat. It did not act as an adenosine triphosphatase nor did it exert its effect by proteolytic action. Inhibition of protein kinase was affected in both the presence and the absence of cyclic AMP. Most of the inhibitory activity was present in the 100000g supernatant fraction of tissue homogenates. Inhibitory activity was highest perinatally and it declined 10 days after birth. It is suggested that the protein kinase inhibitor may play a role in regulating cyclic AMP actions.     

Adsorption of viral matrix protein M1 in acidic medium

Adsorption of viral matrix protein M1 on the self-assembled monolayer of carboxyhexadecanthiol molecules simulating the surface of the cell membrane was studied by surface plasmon resonance refractometry technique. It was shown that in the acidic medium (pH 4.0) the fraction of irreversibly adsorbed protein increases with time. The protein formed a monolayer on the surface in concentration range from 50 to 500 nM. It was found that the amount of the adsorbed protein increased more than 3 times in this range. An important observation is that even at the lowest concentrations of the protein its molecules totally occupied the entire surface of the substrate, and a further protein addition did not lead to its further adsorption. To explain this phenomena, it was suggested that the number of M1 bonds with the surface increases during the adsorption, which leads to spreading of the protein molecules. Apparently, this effect is caused by the intrinsic disorder of the C-domain of the protein. It is hypothesized that the disassembly of the protein-lipid envelope of the influenza virus in the acidic medium does not result from desorption of the M1, but it is caused by the weakening of protein-protein bonds.     

Novel subunit in C4b-binding protein required for protein S binding

C4b-binding protein (C4BP) is a multimeric protein with regulatory functions in the complement system. It also interacts with vitamin K-dependent protein S, which is involved in the regulation of the coagulation system. It has been demonstrated that C4BP consists of seven disulfide-linked, identical 70-kDa subunits, which are arranged to give the molecule a spider-like structure. We now have evidence for the presence of a new subunit in C4BP. On sodium dodecyl sulfate-poly-acrylamide gel electrophoresis it appears as a weakly stainable band with a molecular weight of approximately 45,000. The subunit was isolated by gel filtration in 6 M guanidine hydrochloride of reduced and carboxymethylated C4BP. Its amino-terminal sequence is distinct from previously known protein sequences. The stoichiometry of 45- to 70-kDa subunits was estimated to be 1:9, indicating the presence of one 45-kDa subunit per C4BP molecule. The new subunit was demonstrated to be a disulfide-linked component of the central core of C4BP. It was sensitive to proteolysis by chymotrypsin, and when cleaved the protein S binding ability of C4BP was lost. With protein S bound to C4BP, the 45-kDa subunit was protected from degradation by chymotrypsin, and the protein S binding site remained intact. These data suggest that the new subunit is directly involved in protein S binding.     

Protein phosphorylation in microorganisms

The covalent modification of proteins by phosphorylation constitutes a major regulatory mechanism. It was first recognized in mammalian tissues. A conclusive evidence for the occurrence of protein phosphorylation and protein kinases in coliform bacteria was obtained in 1978. Several phosphate labeled proteins were found when Salmonella typhimurium was pulse-labeled with 32p(i) and solubilized bacterial contents were analyzed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. In streptomycetes protein phosphorylation has not yet been demonstrated. We found that Streptomyces albus possesses a protein kinase activity. This in vitro protein phosphorylation is cAMP-independent.     

乙型肝炎病毒S蛋白的序列特征分析

乙肝病毒S蛋白是病毒的包膜蛋白,与病毒进入细胞有关,它存在逆转录过程并且具有极强的潜伏性。本论文应用生物信息学分析乙肝病毒S蛋白的序列特征,利用在线分析软件预测乙肝病毒S蛋白的理化性质和亲疏水性、跨膜区域、信号肽特征、磷酸化位点、二级结构以及乙肝病毒S蛋白的最佳抗原表位形成位置等。结果显示了乙肝病毒S蛋白由226个氨基酸组成,理论等电点是8.21,为不稳定蛋白,总平均亲水性为0.649,是疏水蛋白质,并且该蛋白存在信号肽,有4个跨膜区,有30个潜在的磷酸化位点,主要二级结构为α螺旋和无规则卷曲,同时,结合乙型肝炎病毒S蛋白的序列可及性、线性表位、β转角、柔性、抗原性的预测结果,可以找到潜在的抗原表位区域,为乙型肝炎的表位疫苗研制提供重要的参考依据,有利于进一步对乙型肝炎S蛋白的抗原性进行研究。     

The expression of milligram amounts of functional human 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 receptor in a bacterial expression system.

We expressed milligram amounts of functional human 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 receptor in a bacterial expression system in which the cloned cDNA for the hVDR was expressed under the control of bacterial T7 polymerase. The hVDR protein comprised approximately 60% of total bacterial protein. It migrated on polyacrylamide-sodium dodecyl sulfate gels with an M(r) of 48,000. It had the predicted amino acid composition and amino acid sequence analysis. The expressed protein was bound by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) with a Kd in the nanomolar range. It sedimented on sucrose density gradients at 3.5S. Furthermore, the expressed protein bound to the osteocalcin vitamin D response element (VDRE) as assessed by a gel mobility shift assay. The expression of large amounts of hVDR protein should allow for the use of this protein in structure-function and x-ray crystallography studies.     

HCV E2区基因在原核系统中的表达

用提取的重组表达载体pET-E2转化BL21（DE3）感受态细胞,经IPTG诱导,再进行SDS－PAGE,可得到有一条约34kDa的表达带,与理论推测的蛋白分子量一致,通过Western-blot鉴定,证明此带即为目的蛋白带。该产物有一个六聚组氨酸尾,主要以包涵体形式存在;计算机扫描分析考马斯亮兰染色后的蛋白胶显示：目的蛋白占整个菌体蛋白的36％以上,经Ni-柱纯化的E2蛋白纯度可达95％以上;以纯化的E2蛋白为抗原,用ELISA方法检测了20份抗HCV阳性血清,结果表明15份抗HCV阳必血清中检出5份E2抗体阳性血清,而5份抗HCV阴性血清中没有检测到E2抗体。     

Application of noninteracting probes in the protein structure space for the construction of statistical potentials for atom-atom interactions

Some effects hindering the construction of knowledge-based potentials of atom-atom interactions in problems of biopolymer modeling have been considered. It was shown that some limitations are overcome by considering the distribution of distances between noninteracting probes in the protein structure space. It was shown that knowledge-based potentials thus constructed can be effectively used to analyze the hydration of protein atoms. Using this approach, it is possible to predict the structure water location in a protein globule and recognize the correctly folded protein structure among decoys.     

The effect of protein synthesis inhibition in the central nervous system on long-term memory formation in some behavioral tasks

The effect of the maximum protein synthesis inhibition in brain and spinal cord on long-term memory formation in extreme situations was studied in various new behavioral tasks in rats. Cycloheximide injected bilaterally into the lateral ventricles three hours before learning suppressed protein synthesis in the central nervous system by 96% during one hour after learning. Forty-four hours after learning in a standard Morris water maze, the information about the platform position was not retained, whereas no memory disorder was observed in case of learning in a simplified Morris maze or a new test learned jump-out-of-water task. A more prolonged suppression of protein synthesis (76%, ten hours after learning) elicited amnesia in five out of eight rats learned in a simplified Morris maze but not disturbed information storage after 48 h and 14 days in the learned jump-out-of-water task. It was concluded that protein synthesis inhibitors are not a universal tool for disrupting formation of long-term memory. It was assumed that under extreme conditions, sometimes procedural long-term (to two weeks) memory is formed without de novo protein synthesis.     

Detection of antibody to hepatitis C E2/NS1 protein in patients with type C hepatitis.

Putative E2/NS1 sequence of hepatitis C virus was expressed in E. coli as a fusion protein with maltose binding protein. Approximately 80 kDa protein was obtained containing 38 kDa E2/NS1 protein. The antibody to this protein was detectable in the same serum from which the sequence was amplified. It was also detectable in none of 7 acute hepatitis, in 2 of 12 chronic persistent hepatitis, in 3 of 25 chronic active hepatitis, and in 2 of 4 cirrhosis. It was detectable in none of 10 normal subjects. In 3 cases who were positive for the antibody before the interferon treatment, it became undetectable after the treatment. Thus, it seems that the antibody is not a neutralizing antibody and is related to active viral replication.     

Immunolocalization of retinal-binding protein (RALBP)-like protein in compound eye and ocellus of drosophila melanogaster (Diptera : Drosophilidae)

A retinal-binding protein (RALBP)-like protein was found in Drosophila melanogaster (Diptera : Drosophilidae) visual system by immunoelectron microscopy using anti-squid RALBP antibody. Immunoblot analysis showed that RALBP-like protein has a molecular weight of about 120 kDa. It was detected mainly in the central cavity of compound eye ommatidia and in the interphotoreceptor space of the ocellus. The protein was localized in the cytoplasm of photoreceptor cells as well. However, these molecules were not detected in the cone cells, crystalline cone, and pigment cells. The molecular size and the localization of the Drosophila RALBP-like protein are similar to those of the vertebrate interphotoreceptor retinoid binding protein (IRBP). It is suggested that this protein may function as a Drosophila IRBP.     

The catalytic activity of nitrogenase in intact Azotobacter vinelandii cells

The influence of the growth conditions on the concentration of nitrogenase and on the nitrogenase activity, was studied in intact Azotobacter vinelandii cells. It was observed that whole cell nitrogenase activity could be enhanced in two ways. An increase of the growth rate of cells was accompanied by an increase in whole cell nitrogenase activity and by an increase in the concentration of nitrogenase in the cells. The molar ratio of Fe protein:MoFe protein was 1.47 +/- 0.17 and independent of the growth rate. Activity measurements in cell extracts showed that the catalytic activity of the nitrogenase proteins was independent of the growth rate of cells. The second way to increase whole cell nitrogenase activity was to expose cells to excess oxygen. Whole cells were exposed for 2.5 h to an enhanced oxygen-input rate. After this incubation nitrogenase activity was increased without an increase in protein concentration. It is calculated that the catalytic activity of the Fe protein in these cells was 6200 nmol C2H4 formed X min-1 X (mg Fe protein)-1. With these cells and with cells grown at a high growth rate, 50% of the whole cell activity is lost by preparing a cell-free extract. It will be demonstrated that this inactivation is partly caused by the activity measurements in vitro. When dithionite was replaced by flavodoxin as electron donor, a maximal catalytic activity of 4500 nmol C2H4 formed X min-1 X (mg Fe protein)-1 was measured in vitro for the Fe protein. The results are discussed in relation to the present model for nitrogenase catalysis.     

黑曲霉htmA基因的分离鉴定及其功能分析

本研究通过分析比较黑曲霉基因组与人、哺乳动物和酿酒酵母基因组序列同源性,首次分离鉴定了黑曲霉htmA基因,该基因长3459bp,编码1083个氨基酸。已知真核生物的htmA基因编码一种类α-甘露糖苷酶I的非必须蛋白HTMA,在内质网中参与降解非正确折叠的糖蛋白,htmA基因的破坏会延迟非正确折叠糖蛋白的降解。为分析htmA基因在黑曲霉中的功能,运用同源重组技术敲除黑曲霉基因组中的htmA基因,获得htmA基因缺失突变菌株,并进行了缺失株外源漆酶分泌能力的检测。结果表明黑曲霉htmA基因的破坏延缓了外源漆酶的降解,由此推测黑曲霉htmA基因编码蛋白HTMA具有与酵母、哺乳动物HTM1P/EDEM类似的功能作用。     

Ohanin, a novel protein from king cobra venom, induces hypolocomotion and hyperalgesia in mice

We have identified, purified, and determined the complete amino acid sequence of a novel protein, ohanin from Ophiophagus hannah (king cobra) venom. It is a small protein containing 107 amino acid residues with a molecular mass of 11951.47 +/- 0.67 Da as assessed by electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry. It does not show similarity to any known families of snake venom proteins and hence is the first member of a new family of snake venom proteins. It shows similarity to PRY and SPRY domain proteins. It is nontoxic up to 10 mg/kg when injected intraperitoneally in mice. Ohanin produced statistically significant and dose-dependent hypolocomotion in mice. In a pain threshold assay, it showed dose-dependent hyperalgesic effect. The ability of the protein to elicit a response at greatly reduced doses when injected intracerebroventricularly as compared with intraperitoneal administration in both the locomotion and hot plate experiments strongly suggests that ohanin acts on the central nervous system. Since the natural abundance of the protein in the venom is low (approximately 1 mg/g), a synthetic gene was constructed and expressed. The recombinant protein, which was obtained in the insoluble fraction in Escherichia coli, was purified under denaturing condition and was refolded. Recombinant ohanin is structurally and functionally similar to native protein as determined by circular dichroism and hot plate assay, suggesting that it will be useful in future structure-function relationship studies.     

Participation of protein kinase C in hormonal regulation of pepsin secretion in the rat stomach]

It was shown that pentagastrin (0.5 micrograms/100 g of body mass) increases the activity of Ca2+ and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase C in the membrane fraction of rat gastric mucosa cells. This effect of pentagastrin is accompanied by a decrease of the protein kinase C activity in the cytosolic fraction. Chromatography of the membrane fraction revealed an additional peak of the enzyme activity. Analysis of isolated gastric mucosa cells demonstrated that pentagastrin (10(-8)-10(-6) M) (but not 10(-4) M histamine) added to the incubation mixture increased the protein kinase C concentration in the membranes. The pentagastrin effect was directly correlated with the amount of pepsin-producing chief cells in the cellular pools. Carbacholine, another well-known pepsin secretion stimulator, was able to activate, similar to pentagastrin, the protein kinase C activity. It is concluded that protein kinase C plays a prominent role in hormonal regulation of the chief gastric cell function.     

Molecular cloning of cDNA for antimycin A-inducible mRNA and its role in cyanide-resistant respiration in Hansenula anomala

A cDNA for mRNA induced by antimycin A in Hansenula anomala was cloned. The mRNA for the cDNA was expressed in the yeast under the conditions expressing the cyanide-resistant respiration activity. The nucleotide sequence revealed a long open reading frame of 342 codons encoding a protein with a molecular weight of 40,282 in the cDNA. An antibody recognizing the protein encoded by the open reading frame was produced. Immunoblotting of H. anomala proteins with this antibody showed that a 36 kDa protein localized in mitochondria was a mature form of the protein encoded by the cDNA. It is suggested that the cloned cDNA encodes a protein involved in the cyanide-resistant respiratory pathway.     

冠状病毒HcoV-229E S1蛋白的原核表达及鉴定

目的克隆表达冠状病毒HcoV-229E S1基因片段,表达S1蛋白。方法合成冠状病毒HcoV-229ES1蛋白特异性基因片段并克隆入pET21a原核表达载体,转化BL21（DE3）菌,经IPTG高效诱导表达得到重组蛋白,用金属螯合亲和层析纯化,并通过Western blot对表达的重组蛋白进行鉴定。结果获得了主要以包涵体形式存在的目的蛋白,Western blot鉴定其为S1基因片段蛋白。结论成功构建了HcoV-229E S1蛋白的表达载体,并在BL21（DE3）中得到了高效表达,为下一步表达蛋白免疫原性及疫苗抗病毒保护性测定打下了基础。