Action de la proline exogène sur l'activité de la voie du glycolate chez Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi n.c.

The effect of exogenous proline on the activity of the glycolate pathway in Nicotiana tabacum cv. Xanthi n.c. An exogenous proline supply in the light provokes an increase in free glycine concentration in apical tissues or in leaf disks of vegetative Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Xanthi n.c. This does not occur in the equivalent tissues of tobacco plants after floral induction, these being naturally rich in proline. In vegetative tobacco, we have tried to determine this specific action of exogenous proline. With ¹⁴C glycine, ¹⁴CO₂ experiments (Pulse-chase) and glycine decarboxylase activity determinations, we observed that glycine-serine transformation was inhibited by proline supply. Presently it is important to determine if endogenous proline acts on the same reaction.     

<i>In Vitro</i> Propagation,Isolation and Expression Studies of <i>Suaeda edulis</i> Genes Involved in the Osmoprotectants Biosynthesis

Halophytes are an excellent choice for the study of genes conferring salt tolerance to salt-sensitive plants and, they are suitable for reclamation and remediation of saline soil. We develop an in vitro plant propagation protocol and studies of genes involved with GB and Pro biosynthesis in Suaeda edulis. Axillary buds were used as explants and cultured in different treatments on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different concentrations and combinations of plant growth regulators. The highest number of multiple shoots was on MS medium containing 1 mg/L Benzyladenine (BA) and / or 2 g/L activated carbon with 5.5 ± 06 shoots per explant. The identification and expression analysis of genes involved in glycine betaine (GB) biosynthesis were S-adenosylmethionine synthetase (SAMS), choline monooxygenase (CMO) and betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH), and for proline (Pro) was pyrroline 5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS). These sequences shared 90–95% of identity with others plant homologous in public databases. The amino acids sequence analysis showed that all these peptides contain some of the conserved motifs of those kinds of enzymes. The qRT-PCR analysis revealed a higher expression of SeBADH, SeCMO, and, SeP5CS genes in the roots and leaves from plants collected in the field in contrast with from in vitro plants. However, the expression level of SeSAMS was higher only in the leaves of plants collected in the field when compared to those cultivated in vitro.     

甘氨酸神经递质研究进展

甘氨酸是化学结构最简单的氨基酸,但具有复杂的功能。甘氨酸在中枢神经系统中是介导快速抑制性神经传递的一种重要的神经递质,在控制神经元兴奋性方面发挥重要作用。就其神经递质功能对甘氨酸的生物合成、释放与调控以及作用模式等方面的近年研究进展做一综述,对甘氨酸神经递质的全面认识将有益于炎性痛、痉挛状态以及癫痫等中枢神经系统疾病的诊断、预防及治疗。     

Peptide–peptoid hybrids based on (1–11)‐parathyroid hormone analogs

A series of peptide–peptoid hybrids, containing N‐substituted glycines, were synthesized based on the H‐Aib‐Val‐Aib‐Glu‐Ile‐Gln‐Leu‐Nle‐His‐Gln‐Har‐NH₂ (Har = Homoarginine) as the parent parathyroid hormone (1–11) analog. The compounds were pharmacologically characterized in their agonistic activity at the parathyroid hormone 1 receptor. Copyright © 2010 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

0.7 MPa(7ATA)高气压下大鼠脊髓突触体甘氨酸摄取的变化

目的:研究氮麻醉时甘氨酸神经递质功能变化。方法:制备脊髓突触体,用同位素方法观察0.7MPa(7ATA)高压空气环境中大鼠脊髓突触体摄取甘氨酸的情况。结果:0.7MPa(7ATA)时甘氨酸摄取速度减慢,达到饱和摄取量时间延长,最大饱和摄取量下降。甘氨酸摄取的Vm减小,Km增加。在加入10-7mol.L-1皮质酮后,可增加0.7MPa(7ATA)高压空气时甘氨酸摄取Vm。结论:在高气压下发生氮麻醉时,甘氨酸摄取转运体的功能降低,与甘氨酸亲和力下降;皮质酮有助于高亲和力甘氨酸转运体功能恢复。     

绮丽刺毛霉的一种新型甘氨酸氨肽酶的研究

研究了产自于绮丽刺毛霉（Actinomucor elegans）的一种甘氨酸氨肽酶。分子筛层析表明该酶的天然分子的分子量为320kD,SDSPAGE分析表明蛋白质的亚基分子量为565kD。该酶水解含有甘氨酸残基的底物（如glycinenaphthylamine）的效率要较其它氨基酸残基高得多。该酶的最佳反应温度为30℃,最佳pH为8.0。酶的Km和Kcat值分别为0.24mmol/L与1008 s^-1。1.0mmol/L Zn²⁺,Cu²⁺和Cd²⁺可完全抑制该酶的活性。作用于酶巯基的化学物质对酶活性都有抑制作用。根据络合剂反应的实验结果表明该酶是一种含有金属的酶。当与蛋白酶共同作用时该酶除了甘氨酸外还能提高脯氨酸、精氨酸及谷氨酸的水解率。     

Beta-alanine but not taurine can function as an organic osmolyte in preimplantation mouse embryos cultured from fertilized eggs

Early preimplantation mouse embryos are susceptible to the detrimental effects of increased osmolarity and, paradoxically, their in vitro development is significantly compromised by osmolarities near that of oviductal fluid. In vitro development can be restored, however, by several compounds that are accumulated by 1-cell embryos to act as organic osmolytes, providing intracellular osmotic support and cell volume regulation. Taurine, a substrate of the beta-amino acid transporter that functions as an organic osmolyte transporter in other cells, had been proposed to function as an organic osmolyte in mouse embryos. Here, however, we found that taurine is neither able to provide protection for in vitro embryo development against increased osmolarity nor is it accumulated to higher intracellular levels as osmolarity is increased, indicating that it cannot function as an organic osmolyte in early preimplantation embryos. In contrast, beta-alanine, the other major substrate of the beta-amino acid transporter, both protects against increased osmolarity and is accumulated to somewhat higher levels as osmolarity is increased, indicating that it is able to function as an organic osmolyte in embryos. However, we also found that beta-alanine is displaced from embryos by glycine-the most effective organic osmolyte in embryos previously identified-and beta-alanine does not increase protection above that afforded by glycine at concentrations near those in vivo. Thus, the beta-amino acid transporter is likely present in early preimplantation embryos to supply beta-amino acids such as taurine for purposes other than to serve as organic osmolytes.     

Supraspinal input is dispensable to generate glycine‐mediated locomotive behaviors in the zebrafish embryo

The anatomy of the developing zebrafish spinal cord is relatively simple but, despite this simplicity, it generates a sequence of three patterns of locomotive behaviors. The first behavior exhibited is spontaneous movement, then touch‐evoked coiling, and finally swimming. Previous studies in zebrafish have suggested that spontaneous movements occur independent of supraspinal input and do not require chemical neurotransmission, while touch‐evoked coiling and swimming depend on glycinergic neurotransmission as well as supraspinal input. In contrast, studies in other vertebrate preparations have shown that spontaneous movement requires glycine and other neurotransmitters and that later behaviors do not require supraspinal input. Here, we use lesion analysis combined with high‐speed kinematic analysis to re‐examine the role of glycine and supraspinal input in each of the three behaviors. We find that, similar to other vertebrate preparations, supraspinal input is not essential for spontaneous movement, touch‐evoked coiling, or swimming behavior. Moreover, we find that blockade of glycinergic neurotransmission decreases the rate of spontaneous movement and impairs touch‐evoked coiling and swimming, suggesting that glycinergic neurotransmission plays critical yet distinct roles for individual patterns of locomotive behaviors. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol, 2006     

Glycine bidirectionally regulates ischemic tolerance via different mechanisms including NR2A‐dependent CREB phosphorylation

The exact effect of glycine pre‐treatment on brain ischemic tolerance (IT) remains quite controversial. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential effects of glycine on IT. We used rat models of both in vitro ischemia (oxygen and glucose deprivation) and in vivo ischemia (transient middle cerebral artery occlusion). Low doses of glycine (L‐Gly) significantly decreased hippocampal ischemic LTP (i‐LTP), infarct volume, and neurological deficit scores which were administered before ischemia was induced in rats, whereas high doses of glycine exerted deteriorative effects under the same condition. These findings suggested that exogenous glycine may induce IT in a dose‐dependent manner. Furthermore, L‐Gly‐dependent neuronal protection was inversed by L689, a selective NMDAR glycine site antagonist both in vitro (abolished i‐LTP depression) and in vivo (increased infarct size reduction), but not glycine receptor (GlyR) inhibitor strychnine. Importantly, L‐Gly‐induced IT was achieved by NR2A‐dependent cAMP‐response element binding protein phosphorylation. These data imply that glycine pre‐treatment may represent a novel strategy for inducing IT based on synaptic NMDAR‐dependent neuronal transmission.

     

Solution conformation of a tetradecapeptide stabilized by two di‐n‐propyl glycine residues

The solution conformation of a designed tetradecapeptide Boc‐Val‐Ala‐Leu‐Dpg‐Val‐Ala‐Leu‐Val‐Ala‐Leu‐Dpg‐Val‐Ala‐Leu‐OMe (Dpg‐14) containing two di‐n‐propyl glycine (Dpg) residues has been investigated by ¹H NMR and circular dichroism in organic solvents. The peptide aggregates formed at a concentration of 3 mM in the apolar solvent CDCl₃ were broken by the addition of 12% v/v of the more polar solvent DMSO‐d₆. Successive N_iH N_i+1H NOEs observed over the entire length of the sequence in this solvent mixture together with the observation of several characteristic medium‐range NOEs support a major population of continuous helical conformations for Dpg‐14. Majority of the observed coupling constants ( ) also support ? values in the helical conformation. Circular dichroism spectra recorded in methanol and propan‐2‐ol give further support in favor of helical conformation for Dpg‐14 and the stability of the helix at higher temperature. Copyright © 2010 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

综述: 甘氨酸在心血管疾病中的保护作用

甘氨酸是一种结构最简单的氨基酸,在动物体内广泛存在,为一碳、蛋白质、多肽、核苷酸类、卟啉类以及胆盐代谢中的关键物质．甘氨酸不仅是中枢神经系统的抑制性神经递质,而且还广泛参与代谢调控、抗氧化、抗凋亡等病理生理学过程．本文就甘氨酸在心肌缺血、高血压和高血糖等引起的心血管疾病中的作用进行综述．     

Substitutions of Glycine Residues Gly100 and Gly147 in Conservative Loops Decrease Rates of Conformational Rearrangements of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> Inorganic Pyrophosphatase

Escherichia coli inorganic pyrophosphatase (PPase) is a one-domain globular enzyme characterized by its ability to easily undergo minor structure rearrangements involving flexible segments of the polypeptide chain. To elucidate a possible role of these segments in catalysis, catalytic properties of mutant variants of E. coli PPase Gly100Ala and Gly147Val with substitutions in the conservative loops II and III have been studied. The main result of the mutations was a sharp decrease in the rates of conformational changes required for binding of activating Mg2+ ions, whereas affinity of the enzyme for Mg2+ was not affected. The pH-independent parameters of MgPP(i) hydrolysis, kcat and kcat/Km, have been determined for the mutant PPases. The values of kcat for Gly100Ala and Gly147Val variants were 4 and 25%, respectively, of the value for the native enzyme. Parameter kcat/Km for both mutants was two orders of magnitude lower. Mutation Gly147Val increased pH-independent Km value about tenfold. The study of synthesis of pyrophosphate in the active sites of the mutant PPases has shown that the maximal level of synthesized pyrophosphate was in the case of Gly100Ala twofold, and in the case of Gly147Val fivefold, higher than for the native enzyme. The results reported in this paper demonstrate that the flexibility of the loops where the residues Gly100 and Gly147 are located is necessary at the stages of substrate binding and product release. In the case of Gly100Ala PPase, significant impairment of affinity of enzyme effector site for PP(i) was also found.     

甘氨酸对鲫鱼视网膜ERG b-波和ON型双极细胞活动的调制

本工作在分离灌流的鲫鱼视网膜上研究了甘氨酸对明,暗视视网膜电图（ＥＲＧ）ｂ－波和胞内记录的ＯＮ型双极细胞反应的作用。结果表明,甘氨酸能明显压抑ＥＲＧ ｂ－波和ＯＮ型双极细胞的反应,其作用能为士的宁所翻转;甘氨酸对用谷氨酸分离的ＥＲＧ ＰⅢ成分（光感受器电位）无明显影响。这些结果提示,甘氨酸可能直接作用于双极细胞的受体,从而调节视网膜ＯＮ通路的活动。     

甘氨酸受体的研究进展

甘氨酸受体(GlyR)是中枢神经系统中一种重要的抑制性受体.GlyR是氯离子(Cl^－)选择性通道蛋白,属于配体门控离子通道超家族的一员.天然GlyR是由α和β亚基组装而成的五聚体.介绍了近年来有关GlyR的结构、功能、药理特性研究的重要进展,并结合本实验室工作,论述GlyR的调制及其可能机制.     

13C‐NMR chemical shift tensor and hydrogen‐bonded structure of glycine‐containing peptides in a single crystal

¹³C‐nmr chemical shift tensor components are reported for a ¹³C‐labeled Gly¹ amide carbonyl carbon of a glycylglycine (Gly¹Gly²) single crystal, a GlyGly · HNO₃ single crystal and a GlyGly · HCl · H₂O single crystal, for which the three‐dimensional crystal structures have already been determined by x‐ray diffraction. The tensor components were measured by changing the angle between the crystal plane and the applied magnetic field by using a goniometer designed in this work for use in conventional ¹³C cross‐polarization/magic angle spinning nmr probe. From these experimental data, the principal values of the ¹³C chemical shift tensor and its directions for the Gly¹ amide carbonyl carbon were determined. It was found that the ¹³C chemical shift tensor components (δ₁₁, δ₂₂, and δ₃₃) for the Gly¹ amide carbonyl carbon in GlyGly and GlyGly · HNO₃ with a >NH · · · OC< type of hydrogen bond depend on the hydrogen‐bond length and the directions of the δ₂₂ components of these peptides are along the hydrogen‐bonded >CO bond axis. In addition, the magnitude of the deviation from the bond axis depends on the hydrogen‐bond angle. Further, the experimental result for GlyGly · HCl · H₂O with a  O H · · ·OC< type of hydrogen bond was discussed. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Biopoly 50: 61–69, 1999     

Role of nova‐1 in regulating α2N,a novel glycine receptor splice variant,in developing spinal cord neurons

Inhibitory glycine receptor (GlyR) subunits undergo developmental regulation, but the molecular mechanisms of GlyR regulation in developing neurons are little understood. Using RT‐PCR, we investigated the regulation of GlyR α‐subunit splice forms during the development of the spinal cord of the rat. Experiments to compare the amounts of mRNA for two known splice variants of the GlyR α2 subunit, α2A and α2B, in the developing rat spinal cord revealed the presence of an additional, novel variant that lacked any exon 3, herein named “α2N.” Examination of the RNA from spinal cords of different‐aged rats showed a dramatic down‐regulation of α2N during prenatal development: α2N mRNA formed a significant portion of the α2 subunit pool at E14, but its relative level was reduced by 85% by birth and was undetectable in adults. Two proteins previously implicated in regulating the splicing of GlyR α2 pre‐mRNA, the neurooncological ventral antigen‐1 (Nova‐1) and the brain isoform of the polypyrimidine tract binding protein (brPTB), underwent small changes over the same period that did not correlate directly with the changes in the level of α2N, calling into question their involvement in the developmental regulation of α2N. However, treatment of spinal cord neurons in culture with antisense oligonucleotides designed selectively to knock down one of three Nova‐1 variants significantly altered the relative level of GlyR α2N, showing that Nova‐1 isoforms can regulate GlyR α2 pre‐mRNA splicing in developing neurons. These results provide evidence for a novel splice variant of the GlyR α2 subunit that undergoes dramatic developmental regulation, reveal the expression profiles of Nova‐1 and brPTB in the developing spinal cord, and suggest that Nova‐1 plays a role in regulating GlyR α2N in developing neurons. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol 52: 156–165, 2002