卵泡抑素：抑制素相关肽的新成员

卵泡抑素是近年新发现的一类有广泛组织分布的抑制素相关肽,为单链糖蛋白,具有与抑制素相似的抑制分泌促滤泡激素的功能,但效力效弱。卵泡抑素的另一大功能是作为激活素的结合蛋白,通过阻断其作用而参与多种生理功能的调节,在胚胎发育、卵巢颗粒细胞分化、成骨细胞功能的调节、红细胞生成等中起重要作用。卵泡抑素的表达受促性腺激素、孕酮等因素的调节,并且可能涉及ｃＡＭＰ和蛋白激酶Ｃ信号传导途径。     

卵泡颗粒细胞凋亡相关蛋白的研究进展

哺乳动物的卵巢中存在大量卵泡。大多数卵泡在发育过程中发生闭锁而消失,只有少数可以发育到成熟而排卵。卵泡是由卵母细胞与其周围的颗粒细胞构成的。卵泡颗粒细胞的凋亡是卵泡闭锁的主要原因。颗粒细胞凋亡相关蛋白通过参与凋亡通路及凋亡信号转导调节凋亡。本文就哺乳动物卵泡颗粒细胞凋亡相关蛋白的研究进展进行综述。     

长角血蜱卵泡抑素相关蛋白的定性

参照GenBank中长角血蜱致病性Okayama株卵泡抑素基因的核苷酸序列(GenBank Accession No.DQ248886)设计合成一对引物,从本实验室保藏的单克隆洁净长角血蜱饥饿成蜱中快速提取总RNA,通过RT-PCR扩增出814bp的卵泡抑素基因,序列比对结果显示:与长角血蜱致病性Okayama株的核苷酸序列及氨基酸序列一致性分别为97.8%和99%,将其亚克隆到表达载体pGEX-4T-1中进行表达,GST融合重组蛋白预期分子量为57kD。表达重组蛋白经MagneGSTTM蛋白纯化系统纯化后作为抗原分别与抗不同发育阶段长角血蜱(卵、幼蜱、若蜱、成蜱)多克隆抗体作为一抗进行免疫印迹,结果表明:与长角血蜱卵制备的多克隆抗体有很强的免疫反应,而与其他发育阶段(幼蜱、若蜱、成蜱)饥饿长角血蜱制备的多克隆抗体反应性很弱。以上结果表明:长角血蜱卵泡抑素蛋白在长角血蜱产卵及卵成熟发育时期的表达水平较其他发育阶段(幼蜱、若蜱、成蜱)的蛋白表达水平高。     

卵泡抑素样蛋白1在实验性结肠炎的表达及其意义

目的:溃疡性结肠炎病因和发病机制目前尚不明确,抗炎与促炎因子的失衡可能在UC的发生发展中起到一定的作用。卵泡抑素-1是一种具有广泛糖基化修饰的分泌糖蛋白,目前的研究倾向于是一种炎性蛋白。本研究检测溃疡性结肠炎小鼠模型结肠标本中FSTL1的表达,分析探讨FSTL1在溃疡性结肠炎发病的中的作用。方法:20只BALB/c小鼠均分为对照组、模型组。模型组予以4%DSS喂养一周,对照组予以普通饮水一周,监测小鼠疾病症状,对小鼠疾病活动指数DAI进行评分。观察FSTL1在结肠黏膜组织中的表达,检测结肠组织FSTL1蛋白及FSTL1 mRNA表达水平,对FSTL1表达与小鼠疾病活动指数DAI进行相关性分析。采用t检验及Pearson相关分析,进行统计分析。结果:HE染色显示模型组病变主要累及黏膜及黏膜下层,可见大量炎性细胞浸润,以中性粒细胞为主,部分表面上皮脱落,上皮内杯状细胞减少,隐窝破坏;FSTL1蛋白表达于肠黏膜腺体间质,模型组表达高于正常对照组,分别为(2.9±1.44)和(0.6±0.51),具有显著性差异,P0.0l;实验组结肠FSTL1 mRNA平均表达水平(1.57±0.23)较对照组(0.46±0.22)明显增加,(t=10.84,P0.05)。结肠组织FSTL1mRNA表达水平与小鼠DAI成正相关,相关系数为r=0.850,P0.05。结论:研究中发现溃疡性结肠炎小鼠模型中FSTL1表达较正常对照组明显升高,且与小鼠DAI成正相关。提示FSTL1可能与实验性结肠炎的发生发展有一定的相关性,可能可以作为预测溃疡性结肠炎活动度的新的炎性标记物应用。     

活化素和卵泡抑素对绍鸭卵泡颗粒细胞FSH受体mRNA表达作用的研究

分别用活化素（Activin）、卵泡抑素（FSP）及其组合（Activin FSP）来处理培养的鸭未成熟卵泡颗粒细胞,发现在FSH存在与不存在的情况下,Activin均能促进FSH受体mRNA的表达,且随着Activin浓度的增大,其刺激作用增强。FSP自身对FSH受体产生无显著作用,但能中和Activin对该受体产生的促进作用。这说明FSP和Activin对颗粒细胞具有自分泌作用,二者通过调节FSH受体mRNA的表达而在卵泡的生长发育过程中起着重要作用。     

转基因高表达卵泡抑素1对斑马鱼肌肉生长促进作用研究

抑肌素是转化生长因子β超家族成员,其主要功能是对肌肉的生长发育起负调控作用.在哺乳动物中,抑肌素信号是通过其特异性的与激活素受体ⅡB亚基结合而发挥作用.因此,其信号传递作用可以被其结合蛋白以及ActR ⅡB的结合蛋白卵泡抑素所抑制.在小鼠肌肉组织中,高表达卵泡抑素可以导致肌肉组织肌纤维的增生和肥大.为了研究鱼类卵泡抑素...     

人绒毛膜癌细胞Jar卵泡抑素基因表达的调控

用逆转录-多聚酶链聚合反应(RT-PCR)方法证实, 表皮生长因子(EGF)可刺激人绒癌细胞株Jar卵泡抑素mRNA的表达, 并呈剂量依赖效应, 最大效应剂量为1.0 nmol/L, 半数有效剂量为0.3 nmol/L.GM-CSF虽然单独对人绒癌细胞株Jar卵泡抑素mRNA表达无任何影响, 但却能显著抑制EGF刺激后的人绒癌细胞株Jar卵泡抑素mRNA的表达,并有剂量依赖关系,最大效应剂量为10 nmol/L, 抑制率达62.3%, 半数有效剂量为3.0 nmol/L.提示胎盘组织卵泡抑素基因除受多种激素调控外, 还受一些生长因子内分泌和旁分泌的调控.     

猪卵泡抑素基因接拼形式克隆、表达及分析

猪卵泡抑素基因（Follistatin,FS）具有调控动物生殖活动和肌肉生长的生物功能,但对猪的研究报道很少。本研究克隆了猪卵泡抑素基因两种接拼形式、比较分析其蛋白结构特征、进化关系和组织表达特性。研究结果表明,通过两对引物成功克隆了猪卵泡抑素基因的1045bp（FS—L）和964bp（FS-L）的两种接拼形式;与Genbank中的序列比对表明FS-L和FS-L的CDS序列与人、牛、家鼠、沟鼠、斑马鱼的卵泡抑素基因序列相似性在80％以上。对两种蛋白质结构域的比较发现,FS-L蛋白相比FS-L蛋白而言缺失了一个FS结构域。同源性分析表明,猪与牛的亲缘关系较近,与人、小鼠、沟鼠和斑马鱼的关系相对较远。组织表达分析表明,两种拼接形式在梅山猪不同组织中的表达存在差异,FS-L基因在梅山猪肌肉及生殖系统等组织中均有表达,而FS-L基因则主要在生殖系统中表达。表明FS-L在肌肉生长中发挥作用,而FS-L主要调控动物的生殖功能。     

鸭卵泡及精巢中卵泡抑素和抑制素／活化素βB亚基mRNA表达的研究

卵泡抑素是与抑制素/活化素功能密切相关的一种糖蛋白激素,采用定量竞争RT-PCR技术对鸭各级卵泡及成熟与未成熟精巢中的卵泡抑素和抑制素/活化素βB亚基的mRNA表达丰度进行了研究,发现在上述组织中均有此两基因mRNA的表达,且只在小卵泡中表达较丰富.卵泡抑素在小黄卵泡(SYF)中表达量最高,以其mRNA的平均相对丰度为1.00,则F1(最大卵泡)、F2、F3、F4、F5、F6～8,LWF(大白卵泡)、TI(未成熟精巢)和TM(成熟精巢)中卵泡抑素mRNA的平均相对含量分别为0.0ll±0.004、0.019±0.006、0.02l±0.009、0.028±0.007、0.075±0.023、0.15±0.072、0.29±0.068、0.037±0.0l1和0.012±0.004.βB亚基也在小黄卵泡中表达量最高,以其mRNA的平均相对丰度为1.00,则F1、F2、F3、F4、F5、F6～8、LWF、TI和TM中B亚基mRNA的平均相对含量分别为0.009±0.003、0.013±0.005、0.019±0.007、0.023±0.006、0.29±0.084、0.84±0.093、0.031±0.008、0.38±0.072和0.046±0.013.结果显示卵泡抑素和βB亚基mRNA的表达模式是相似的,二者在小卵泡中均出现大量表达说明活化素B(βB-βB)的生物活性可能受卵泡抑素的紧密调节,二者共同在卵泡早期发育中起重要作用.     

Identification and characterization of follistatin as a novel angiogenin-binding protein

Angiogenin enhances tumorigenesis. However, the mechanisms of angiogenin-induced angiogenesis and cancer cell proliferation remain elusive. In this study, follistatin was identified as a binding partner of angiogenin by a yeast two-hybrid screen and confirmed by a pull-down experiment. The interaction of fluorescently tagged angiogenin and follistatin was monitored in real time by a laser confocal microscope and shown to localize at the sub-nuclear region of HeLa cells. Additional yeast two-hybrid analysis revealed that domains 2 and 3 of follistatin were the minimal structure requirement for angiogenin binding. These findings provide new clues for further studies on the mechanisms of angiogenin-induced angiogenesis or cancer cell growth.     

Pathophysiological functions of the CagA oncoprotein during infection by Helicobacter pylori

Infection with Helicobacter pylori cagA-positive strains plays an essential role in the development of gastric carcinoma. This review summarizes the pathophysiological functions of the cagA gene product, CagA, particularly focusing on the molecular mechanisms underlying CagA translocation into the host cells as well as CagA-mediated deregulation of host cell signaling.     

Structural and biophysical coupling of heparin and activin binding to follistatin isoform functions

Follistatin (FS) regulates transforming growth factor-beta superfamily ligands and is necessary for normal embryonic and ovarian follicle development. Follistatin is expressed as two splice variants (FS288 and FS315). Previous studies indicated differences in heparin binding between FS288 and FS315, potentially influencing the physiological functions and locations of these isoforms. We have determined the structure of the FS315-activin A complex and quantitatively compared heparin binding by the two isoforms. The FS315 complex structure shows that both isoforms inhibit activin similarly, but FS315 exhibits movements within follistatin domain 3 (FSD3) apparently linked to binding of the C-terminal extension. Surprisingly, the binding affinities of FS288 and FS315 for heparin are similar at lower ionic strengths with FS315 binding decreasing more sharply as a function of salt concentration. When bound to activin, FS315 binds heparin similarly to the FS288 isoform, consistent with the structure of the complex, in which the acidic residues of the C-terminal extension cannot interact with the heparin-binding site. Activin-induced binding of heparin is unique to the FS315 isoform and may stimulate clearance of FS315 complexes.     

Characterization of antisera directed against follistatin/activin-binding protein peptides.

An attempt was made to develop immunologic probes directed against follistatin/activin-binding protein (ABP), for use in investigating the distribution of ABP in various tissues. Five oligopeptides corresponding to different regions of the predicted ABP amino acid sequence (peptides 1-12, 28-43, 123-134, 270-281 and 300-315) were synthesized chemically, and coupled to Limulus polyphemus hemolymph hemocyanin. The peptide-hemocyanin conjugates were then used to immunize rabbits, and the immunoresponses were monitored by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Reactivity of the antipeptide antisera with ABP was determined by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting analysis. All of the peptides produced immune responses. The antiserum to peptide 123-134 recognized all forms of ABP, whereas the antiserum to peptide 300-315 reacted specifically and sensitively with the long forms of ABP. These two antisera exhibited only a limited cross-reaction with other proteins or none at all. Therefore, they will be useful for studying the distribution of ABP in various tissues.     

Rat follistatin: ontogeny of steady-state mRNA levels in different tissues predicts organ-specific functions.

Follistatin (FS), a monomeric glycoprotein which specifically binds activin, is expressed in many tissues. This study investigated 1) the ontogeny of the steady-state FS mRNA levels in different extragonadal tissues and 2) whether the ratio of the differential splicing products, FS 344 or its carboxy-truncated form FS 317, is changed during postnatal development. Whereas the levels of FS mRNA 344 in the kidney showed a profound increase from the day of birth to adulthood, the levels in the muscle peaked during the infantile period and then declined. Brain cortex, heart and thymus also showed tissue specific expression in the steady-state mRNA level of FS during postnatal development. None of the tissues showed a measurable change in the ratio of the mRNA for FS 344 and FS 317. The FS mRNA 344 levels in male and female kidney were not different. It is concluded that the ontogeny of steady state FS mRNA varies in a tissue specific manner during postnatal development of the rat and may be involved in modulating the outcome of activin.     

Heparin-mediated dimerization of follistatin

Heparin and heparan sulfate (HS) are highly sulfated polysaccharides covalently bound to cell surface proteins, which directly interact with many extracellular proteins, including the transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) family ligand antagonist, follistatin 288 (FS288). Follistatin neutralizes the TGFβ ligands, myostatin and activin A, by forming a nearly irreversible non-signaling complex by surrounding the ligand and preventing interaction with TGFβ receptors. The FS288-ligand complex has higher affinity than unbound FS288 for heparin/HS, which accelerates ligand internalization and lysosomal degradation; however, limited information is available for how FS288 interactions with heparin affect ligand binding. Using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) we show that preincubation of FS288 with heparin/HS significantly decreased the association kinetics for both myostatin and activin A with seemingly no effect on the dissociation rate. This observation is dependent on the heparin/HS chain length where small chain lengths less than degree of polymerization 10 (dp10) did not alter association rates but chain lengths >dp10 decreased association rates. In an attempt to understand the mechanism for this observation, we uncovered that heparin induced dimerization of follistatin. Consistent with our SPR results, we found that dimerization only occurs with heparin molecules >dp10. Small-angle X-ray scattering of the FS288 heparin complex supports that FS288 adopts a dimeric configuration that is similar to the FS288 dimer in the ligand-bound state. These results indicate that heparin mediates dimerization of FS288 in a chain-length-dependent manner that reduces the ligand association rate, but not the dissociation rate or antagonistic activity of FS288.     

Proliferation related acidic leucine-rich protein PAL31 functions as a caspase-3 inhibitor

Proliferation related acidic leucine-rich protein PAL31 (PAL31) is expressed in proliferating cells and consists of 272 amino acids with a tandem structure of leucine-rich repeats in the N-terminus and a highly acidic region with a putative nuclear localization signal in the C-terminus. We previously reported that PAL31 is required for cell cycle progression. In the present study, we found that the antisense oligonucleotide of PAL31 induced apoptosis to the transfected Nb2 cells. Stable transfectants, in which PAL31 was regulated by an inducible promoter, were generated to gain further insight into the signaling role of PAL31 in the regulation of apoptosis. Expression of PAL31 resulted in the marked rescue of Rat1 cells from etoposide and UV radiation-induced apoptosis and the cytoprotection was correlated with the levels of PAL31 protein. Thus, cytoprotection from apoptosis is a physiological function of PAL31. PAL31 can suppress caspase-3 activity but not cytochrome c release in vitro, indicating that PAL31 is a direct caspase-3 inhibitor. In conclusion, PAL31 is a multifunctional protein working as a cell cycle progression factor as well as a cell survival factor.     

根据蛋白质互作网络预测乳腺癌相关蛋白质的细致功能

乳腺癌是最为常见的恶性肿瘤之一。已有的关于乳腺癌相关蛋白质的功能注释比较宽泛, 制约了乳腺癌的后续研究工作。对于已知部分功能的乳腺癌相关蛋白质, 提出了一种结合Gene Ontology功能先验知识和蛋白质互作的方法, 通过构建功能特异的局部相互作用网络来预测乳腺癌相关蛋白质的细致功能。结果显示该方法能够以很高的精确率为乳腺癌相关蛋白质预测更为精细的功能。预测的相关蛋白质的功能对于指导实验研究乳腺癌的分子机制具有重要的价值。