STAT3 入核分子机制的初步研究

为了研究Stat3入核的分子机制,将SV40大T 抗原的经典核定位序列NLS(nuclear localization sequence)分别融合在Stat3-GFP分子和缺失突变体Dstat3-GFP的分子之间,构建Stat3-NLS-GFP和Dstat3-NLS-GFP融合分子。转染293T细胞,以NLS-GFP为阳性对照,通过激光共聚焦显微镜的观察融合分子的亚细胞位置,未经白介素-6刺激的Stat3-NLS-GFP和经白介素-6刺激的Stat3-GFP呈胞核分布,未经白介素-6刺激的Stat3-GFP和Dstat3-NLS-GFP呈胞浆分布. 初步证明Stat3入核是由于获得了核定位序列。     

核定位信号分析示踪载体——pGST-EGFP的构建及功能鉴定

目的 构建谷胱甘肽转硫酶（GST）与EGFP相融合的新型蛋白质示踪载体--pGST-EGFP,以用于蛋白质细胞亚定位信号序列的深入分析.方法 以质粒pEGFP-N1为骨架,融合从pGEX-2TK载体中扩增的GST编码序列,构建成pGST-EGFP融合表达质粒;再插入人工合成的已知核定位蛋白SV40的核定位序列（NLS）,构建成pGST-EGFP-SV40 NLS作为阳性对照;另外,构建小分子量蛋白TNNI2在pGST-EGFP的融合表达质粒.将对照pEGFP-N1和各重组质粒分别用脂质体介导,瞬时转染HeLa细胞,荧光显微镜下观察蛋白的核定位情况.结果 单独表达的EGFP呈全细胞分布,而GST-EGFP融合蛋白只存在于细胞浆;SV40 NLS能将GST-EGFP融合蛋白带进细胞核.虽然TNNI2-EGFP融合蛋白的细胞亚定位呈现核内丰度更高的特点,但TNNI2-GST-EGFP融合蛋白仅限定于胞浆分布,提示TNNI2不能主动定位到细胞核中.结论 成功构建了蛋白质细胞亚定位示踪载体--pGST-EGFP.作为核定位信号分析系统,其对小分子蛋白细胞亚定位的示踪效果优于传统的pEGFP载体,更适用于科研工作中小分子量蛋白质核定位信号序列的研究.     

鼠OAZ1基因的真核表达质粒的构建及其在COS7细胞中的表达

构建鼠OAZ1基因真核表达质粒,观察OAZ1-GFP融合蛋白在绿猴肾细胞COS7中的表达。利用RT-PCR的方法获得鼠OAZ1基因,再利用重叠延伸PCR缺失掉OAZ1序列中的205位碱基T,由此获得无需阅读框移码即可编码全长OAZ1的突变基因。将此突变基因克隆入真核表达载体pEGFP-N1获得重组质粒pEGFP-N1-OAZ1-T。将此质粒瞬时转染COS7后,采用RT-PCR,Western blotting,免疫荧光技术观察检测目的基因的表达情况。结果显示,酶切和测序证明质粒pEG-FP-N1-OAZ1-T构建正确,转染COS7细胞后,OAZ1-GFP融合蛋白能在细胞中高效表达。成功构建了pEGFP-N1-OAZ1-T真核表达质粒,在COS7细胞内,该质粒能成功指导OAZ1-GFP融合蛋白合成。     

过量表达Stat3诱导COS7细胞显著的形态变化

信号转导和转录激活蛋白Stat3在细胞的生长、分化、存活和运动过程中扮演重要角色。通过免疫细胞化学染色 ,免疫沉淀结合免疫蛋白质印迹法 ,以及瞬时转染由Stat3特异识别DNA元件所指导的报道基因等技术 ,证明COS7细胞中存在活性Stat3蛋白的表达。Stat3cDNA和报道基因在COS7细胞中的共转染实验表明 ,外源的Stat3蛋白具有DNA结合活性 ,并可增强报道基因的表达。同时 ,过量表达Stat3的COS7细胞呈现显著的细胞形态变化 ,如细胞体积增大、胞体伸出突起 ,有些突起有分枝和伪足。这些结果提示 ,Stat3蛋白在细胞的粘附和迁移 ,以及细胞骨架的重建过程中可能具有重要功能。     

鸡贫血病毒VP3蛋白序列与其核定位功能的相关性

鸡贫血病毒（chicken anemia virus, CAV）编码一种小蛋白VP3.通过构建vp3基因与绿色荧光蛋白基因的真核融合表达载体,转染5种肿瘤/转化细胞株, 观察绿色荧光在亚细胞区域的定位,证实VP3具有核定位的功能;分析VP3的氨基酸序列,将其具核定位序列（nuclear localization sequence, NLS）特征的区域删除,再构建此缺失的VP3的基因与绿色荧光蛋白基因的真核融合表达载体、转染实验显示核定位现象消失;进一步将具核定位序列特征的区域亚克隆到绿色荧光蛋白真核表达载体上,核定位功能再现.从而推断这一区域是VP3蛋白核定位的功能区.此区域位于VP3的C端,且富含碱性氨基酸,二级结构预测发现这一区域形成特定的β折叠结构.用碘丙锭(propidium iodide, PI)染色的方法还得到了VP3促进肿瘤细胞凋亡的初步证据.     

细胞因子和生长因子信号转导途径中信号蛋白分子的核转运机制

信号蛋白分子的入核及出核转运是细胞因子和生长因子信号转导途径中的重要环节.核定位序列（NLS）是信号蛋白分子上与入核转运相关的氨基酸序列.核孔复合物（NPC）、核转运蛋白importin和能量供应体Ran/TC4在入核转运过程中也发挥了重要作用.另外,很多细胞因子和生长因子或其受体上所含有的NLS序列也具有核定位功能,并可能通过“伴侣机制”参与其他信号蛋白分子的入核转运.     

编码山羊补体C3d与口蹄疫病毒VP1融合蛋白重组质粒的构建及表达

旨在构建含分子佐剂山羊补体C3d基因的O型口蹄疫病毒VP1基因真核表达质粒。克隆山羊C3d基因, 通过linker(G4S)2将3拷贝C3d基因串联; 克隆羊源O型口蹄疫病毒VP1基因, 通过linker(G4S)2与3拷贝C3d基因相连, 构建重组质粒pUC19-VP1-C3d3。将VP1-C3d3融合基因亚克隆入含有分泌表达信号肽tPA序列的pcDNA3.1(+)CMV启动子下游, 构建重组真核表达质粒pcDNA3.1-tPA-VP1-C3d3。在脂质体介导下, 将pcDNA3.1-tPA -VP1-C3d3转染HeLa细胞。间接免疫荧光分析表明, VP1- C3d3在HeLa细胞中获得了瞬时表达, Western blot分析证实转染的阳性细胞能分泌预期大小(133 kD)的融合蛋白。重组质粒pcDNA3.1-tPA-VP1-C3d3为研制以羊补体C3d为分子佐剂的口蹄疫新型疫苗奠定了基础。     

编码山羊补体C3d与口蹄疫病毒VP1融合蛋白重组质粒的构建及表达

旨在构建含分子佐剂山羊补体C3d基因的O型口蹄疫病毒VP1基因真核表达质粒。克隆山羊C3d基因, 通过linker(G4S)2将3拷贝C3d基因串联; 克隆羊源O型口蹄疫病毒VP1基因, 通过linker(G4S)2与3拷贝C3d基因相连, 构建重组质粒pUC19-VP1-C3d3。将VP1-C3d3融合基因亚克隆入含有分泌表达信号肽tPA序列的pcDNA3.1(+)CMV启动子下游, 构建重组真核表达质粒pcDNA3.1-tPA-VP1-C3d3。在脂质体介导下, 将pcDNA3.1-tPA -VP1-C3d3转染HeLa细胞。间接免疫荧光分析表明, VP1- C3d3在HeLa细胞中获得了瞬时表达, Western blot分析证实转染的阳性细胞能分泌预期大小(133 kD)的融合蛋白。重组质粒pcDNA3.1-tPA-VP1-C3d3为研制以羊补体C3d为分子佐剂的口蹄疫新型疫苗奠定了基础。     

Identification of amino acid sequence in the hinge region of human vitamin D receptor that transfers a cytosolic protein to the nucleus

The localization of human vitamin D receptor (VDR) in the absence of its ligand 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) was investigated using chimera proteins fused to green fluorescent protein (GFP) at either the N or C terminus, and the nuclear localization signal (NLS) was identified. Plasmids carrying the fusion proteins were transiently or stably introduced into COS7 cells, and the subcellular distribution of the fusion proteins was examined. GFP-tagged wild-type VDRs were located predominantly in nuclei but with a significant cytoplasmic presence, while GFP alone was equally distributed throughout the cells. 10(-8) M 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) promoted the nuclear import of VDR in a few hours. To identify the NLS, we constructed several mutated VDRs fused to GFP. Mutant VDRs that did not bind to DNA were also localized predominantly in nuclei, while the deletion of the hinge region resulted in the loss of preference for nucleus. A short segment of 20 amino acids in the hinge region enabled cytoplasmic GFP-tagged alkaline phosphatase to translocate to nuclei. These results indicate that 1) VDR is located predominantly in nuclei with a significant presence in cytoplasm without the ligand and 2) an NLS consisting of 20 amino acids in the hinge region facilitates the transfer of VDR to the nucleus.     

Identification of domains of ataxia-telangiectasia mutated required for nuclear localization and chromatin association

Ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) is essential for rapid induction of cellular responses to DNA double strand breaks (DSBs). In this study, we mapped a nuclear localization signal (NLS), 385KRKK388, within the amino terminus of ATM and demonstrate its recognition by the conventional nuclear import receptor, the importin alpha1/beta1 heterodimer. Although mutation of this NLS resulted in green fluorescent protein (GFP) x ATM(NLSm) localizing predominantly within the cytoplasm, small amounts of nuclear GFP x ATM(NLSm) were still sufficient to elicit a DNA damage response. Insertion of an heterologous nuclear export signal between GFP and ATM(NLSm) resulted in complete cytoplasmic localization of ATM, concomitantly reducing the level of substrate phosphorylation and increasing radiosensitivity, which indicates a functional requirement for ATM nuclear localization. Interestingly, the carboxyl-terminal half of ATM, containing the kinase domain, which localizes to the cytoplasm, could not autophosphorylate itself or phosphorylate substrates, nor could it correct radiosensitivity in response to DSBs even when targeted to the nucleus by insertion of an exogenous NLS, demonstrating that the ATM amino terminus is required for optimal ATM function. Moreover, we have shown that the recruitment/retention of ATM at DSBs requires its kinase activity because a kinase-dead mutant of GFP x ATM failed to form damage-induced foci. Using deletion mutation analysis we mapped a domain in ATM (amino acids 5-224) required for its association with chromatin, which may target ATM to sites of DNA damage. Combined, these data indicate that the amino terminus of ATM is crucial not only for nuclear localization but also for chromatin association, thereby facilitating the kinase activity of ATM in vivo.     

PNRC1核定位信号序列的鉴定

为鉴定富含脯氨酸核受体辅调节蛋白1(PNRC1)分子的核定位信号序列（nuclear localization signal sequence, NLS）,在生物信息学方法预测的基础上,先构建野生型PNRC1及删除预测NLS的PNRC1突变体的绿色荧光蛋白（GFP）重组表达载体,转染细胞后通过激光共聚焦显微镜观察PNRC1分子在删除预测NLS后细胞内的定位变化.然后,将预测的NLS编码序列直接连到GFP表达载体上,以及将预测的NLS加到胞浆蛋白上构建其GFP重组表达载体,转染细胞,观察预测的NLS能否把构建的重组体都带到细胞核内.结果显示,删除PNRC1中预测的NLS后,其定位从细胞核中变为主要定位在细胞浆中,而预测的NLS能把GFP或胞浆中的蛋白带到细胞核中.研究表明,预测的NLS为PNRC1分子真正的NLS.     

Hepatoma-derived growth factor stimulates cell growth after translocation to the nucleus by nuclear localization signals.

Hepatoma-derived growth factor (HDGF) is the original member of the HDGF family of proteins, which contains a well-conserved N-terminal amino acid sequence (homologous to the amino terminus of HDGF; hath) and nuclear localization signals (NLSs) in gene-specific regions other than the hath region. In addition to a bipartite NLS in a gene-specific region, an NLS-like sequence is also found in the hath region. In cells expressing green fluorescence protein (GFP)-HDGF, green fluorescence was observed in the nucleus, whereas it was detected in the cytoplasm of cells expressing GFP-HDGF with both NLSs mutated or deleted. GFP-hath protein (GFP-HATH) was distributed mainly in the nucleus, although some was present in the cytoplasm, whereas GFP-HDGF with a deleted hath region (HDGFnonHATH) was found only in the nucleus. Exogenously supplied GFP-HDGF was internalized and translocated to the nucleus. GFP-HATH was internalized, whereas GFP-HDGFnonHATH was not. Overexpression of HDGF stimulated DNA synthesis and cellular proliferation, although HDGF with both NLSs deleted did not. Overexpression of HDGFnonHATH caused a significant stimulation of DNA synthesis, whereas that of hath protein did not. HDGF containing the NLS sequence of p53 instead of the bipartite NLS did not stimulate DNA synthesis, and truncated forms without the C- or N-terminal side of NLS2 did not. These findings suggest that the gene-specific region, at least the bipartite NLS sequence and the N- and C-terminal neighboring portions, is essential for the mitogenic activity of HDGF after nuclear translocation.     

Reciprocal regulation of nuclear import of the yeast MutSα DNA mismatch repair proteins Msh2 and Msh6

DNA mismatch recognition is performed in eukaryotes by two heterodimers known as MutSα (Msh2/Msh6) and MutSβ (Msh2/Msh3) that must reside in the nucleus to function. Two putative Msh2 nuclear localization sequences (NLS) were characterized by fusion to green fluorescent protein (GFP) and site-directed mutagenesis in the context of Msh2. One NLS functioned in GFP targeting assays and both acted redundantly within Msh2. We examined nuclear localization of each of the MutS monomers in the presence and absence of their partners. Msh2 translocated to the nucleus in cells lacking Msh3 and Msh6; however, cells lacking Msh6 showed significantly decreased levels of nuclear Msh2. Furthermore, the overall protein levels of Msh2 were significantly diminished in the absence of Msh6, particularly if Msh2 lacked a functional NLS. Msh3 localized in the absence of Msh2, but Msh6 localization depended on Msh2 expressing functional NLSs. Overall, the nuclear levels of Msh2 and Msh6 decline when the other partner is absent. The data suggest a stabilization mechanism to prevent free monomer accumulation in the cytoplasm.     

AKT can be activated in the nucleus

To investigate issues about AKT/PKB nuclear localization in cells, we examined endogenous or transiently transfected AKT localization in cancer cell lines by immunofluorescence. We found that AKT can be detected in both the nucleus and cytoplasm of HEK 293, HeLa and MCF7E cells. It was found that an active process mediates AKT nuclear translocation as shown by fusing AKT with GFP3 protein. The cellular distribution pattern of serial deletion mutants from GFP3-HA-AKT revealed that more than one segment of AKT is required for AKT nuclear translocation, while the individual segment does not have any apparent nuclear transport activity. These results implied that the signal mediating AKT nuclear translocation is conformation dependent, or more likely, is dependent upon association with other proteins. It was also found that AKT does not contain any apparent nuclear export signal. Furthermore, we found that nuclear AKT was activated in MCF7E cells upon stimulation. The possibility that nuclear activated AKT was translocated from the cytoplasm was excluded through the generation of a chimeric AKT protein, in which a strong nuclear localization signal was fused to the C-terminal of AKT.