核仁进化研究取得进展

核仁(nucleolus)是普遍存在于真核细胞间期核中的最显著结构。它是rDNA转录和核糖体亚基组装的场所。如果说核糖体是合成蛋白质的“分子机器”,那么核仁便是制造这一机器的“母机”。中国科学院昆明动物研究所文建凡研究员领导的研究小组先是在一类低等的单细胞真核生物——贾第虫(Giardia)上证实了“不具核仁结构”的现象,那么这类生物是如何进行rDNA转录和核糖体亚基组装呢?     

建议开展核糖体RNA拓扑学与核糖体失活蛋白的研究

(一)核糖体RNA拓扑学研究的重要性核糖体是细胞合成蛋白质的唯一场所。核糖体包括两个亚基,由RNA和蛋白质组成,蛋白质占1/3,而RNA占2/3,即RNA是主要组分。蛋白质生物合成的大多数步骤,包括肽链合成的起始、延伸和终止都是在核糖体上进行的。整个合成过程涉及二百多种生物大分子的协同作用。在蛋白质生物合成中,重要的是肽键的形成。这一化学反应就是在核糖体上进行的。核糖体的任何个别组分或局部组分都不能催化肽键的形成,而必须是完整的核糖体,因此人们认为核糖体本身就是一个包括多种蛋白质和rRNA的复杂酶系(有人把核糖体看作     

植物中的核糖体失活蛋白及其抗病毒机制

植物中的核糖体失活蛋白是一类分布于植物体内的毒蛋白,其作用于真核细胞大亚基28S导致核糖体失活,抑制蛋白质的生物合成,从而对细胞产生毒害作用.文章简述了植物核糖体失活蛋白的酶活性和抗病毒的可能分子机制.     

大熊猫核糖体蛋白S11亚基基因(RPS11)cDNA的克隆及序列分析

RPS11是核糖体小亚基40S的组成部分,由RPS11基因所编码,属于核糖体蛋白S17p家族,主要存在于真核生物中.为了解大熊猫核糖体蛋白亚基RPS11基因的结构特点及其与已报道的人和其他哺乳动物核糖体蛋白亚基RPS11 基因的异同,本研究根据已报道的部分哺乳动物核糖体蛋白S11亚基基因(RPS11)的相关信息设计引物,运用RT-PCR 技术从大熊猫的肌肉组织总RNA中成功克隆了核糖体蛋白亚基RPS11基因,并进行了测序和序列分析.结果表明:大熊猫RPS11亚基基因的开放阅读框(ORF)长为477 bp,编码158 个氨基酸的蛋白质,该蛋白的相对分子量为18.4275 kDa,pI为10.96.拓扑预测显示该蛋白含有14个功能位点:即2 个N-糖基化位点,6个蛋白激酶C磷酸化位点,4个酪蛋白激酶Ⅱ磷酸化位点,1个酪氨酸激酶磷酸化位点和1个核糖体蛋白S17 signature位点.进一步分析发现,大熊猫RPS11基因与已报道的部分哺乳动物的表达序列及其编码的氨基酸序列都具有很高的相似性.本研究结果为丰富和完善哺乳动物RPS11基因资源库提供了基础资料.     

核糖体RNA具有蛋白质合成的酶活性

核糖体是合成蛋白质的机器,它由大小两个亚基组成,其主要成份是 RNA(即 rRNA)和蛋白质。在过去的30多年里,对于核糖体结构、成份及其在蛋白质合成中可能起到的作用已做了相当深入的研究,然而对于蛋白质合成中的最关键的一步--即肽键形成的机制却一直不清楚。传统的观念认为酶的本质是蛋白质,即只有蛋白质才有催化功能,所以长期以来人们也自然地认定核糖体中具有催化作用的是某一种或几种蛋白质组分,而 rRNA 主要起一种支架作用,但近几年来越来越多的实验证据表明     

蛋白质结构与功能中的结构域

结构域是蛋白质亚基结构中的紧密球状区域.结构域作为蛋白质结构中介于二级与三级结构之间的又一结构层次,在蛋白质中起着独立的结构单位、功能单位与折叠单位的作用.在复杂蛋白质中,结构域具有结构与功能组件与遗传单位的作用.结构域层次的研究将会促进蛋白质结构与功能关系、蛋白质折叠机制以及蛋白质设计的研究.     

核糖体单链失活蛋白在无细胞体系中的活性

核糖体单链失活蛋白是一类广泛分布于植物中的蛋白质,它能使真核细胞核糖体60S亚基失活。本文报道了一些核糖体单链失活蛋白的制备、纯化以及在兔网织红细胞裂解液中对蛋白质生物合成的抑制活性及它们对完整细胞的毒性。其中多数的核糖体单链失活蛋白是首次被分离纯化并对其毒性进行研究的。     

5S核糖体RNA的结构与功能

<正> 核糖体是细胞内蛋白质合成的场所。它是一个巨大的核糖核蛋白颗粒,由大小两个亚基构成。在真核生物中,核糖体的大亚基是60S亚基,由5S,5.8S,28S RNA和约45种蛋白质组成;在原核生物中是50S亚基,由5S,23S RNA和约34种蛋白质组成。5S rRNA作为核糖体大亚基的组份之一,已在真核生物,原核生物,古细菌,植物的线粒体和叶绿体中被发现,     

揭示核糖体结构的秘密

近年来有科学家利用Ｘ射线晶体学、电子显微镜以及电子计算机绘制而成了核糖体的高分辨率图谱。该图谱揭示出一种细菌核糖体的 2个亚基的主要组成部分中的 2个ＲＡＮ分子及 31个蛋白质的大多数结构。耶鲁大学的ＰｅｔｅｒＢ .Ｍｏｒｒｅ在 2 0 0 0年 8月 11日的Ｓｃｉｅｎｃｅ上报道 ,他们从核糖体晶体中发现有一种非预料中的蛋白质包围了一个预料中的卷曲的ＲＮＡ。这种蛋白质经常有一个球状部分 ,另外还有一根短链延伸深入到核糖体结构中去。研究者将一种新分子导入核糖体 ,这种新分子停靠在肽键形成部位 ,由此他们进一步证实了位于隧道结…     

核糖体

核糖体是存在于所有细胞细胞质中的微小颗粒,真核细胞的线粒体和叶绿体内也有核糖体存在。它是活细胞合成蛋白质的场所。核糖体的形态与结构核糖体为球形或椭园形的小体(210～220A×290～300A)。细菌和真核细胞核糖体的形状相似,细胞器核糖体的形状尚未确定。每个核糖体均由一大一小的两个亚基组成。细菌核糖     

Mass spectrometry of hydrogen/deuterium exchange in 70S ribosomal proteins from E. coli

The 70S ribosome from Escherichia coli is a supermacro complex (MW: 2.7MDa) comprising three RNA molecules and more than 50 proteins. We have for the first time successfully analyzed the flexibility of 70S ribosomal proteins in solution by detecting the hydrogen/deuterium exchange with mass spectrometry. Based on the deuterium incorporation map of the X-ray structure obtained at the time of each exchange, we demonstrate the structure-flexibility-function relationship of ribosome focusing on the deuterium incorporation of the proteins binding ligands (tRNA, mRNA, and elongation factor) and the relation with structural assembly processes.     

Mg2+ Dependence of 70 S Ribosomal Protein Flexibility Revealed by Hydrogen/Deuterium Exchange and Mass Spectrometry

The ribosome from Escherichia coli requires a specific concentration of Mg²⁺ to maintain the 70 S complex formation and allow protein synthesis, and then the structure must be stable and flexible. How does the ribosome acquire these conflicting factors at the same time? Here, we investigated the hydrogen/deuterium exchange of 52 proteins in the 70 S ribosome, which controlled stability and flexibility under various Mg²⁺ concentrations, using mass spectrometry. Many proteins exhibited a sigmoidal curve for Mg²⁺ concentration dependence, incorporating more deuterium at lower Mg²⁺ concentration. By comparing deuterium incorporation with assembly, we have discovered a typical mechanism of complexes for acquiring both stability and flexibility at the same time. In addition, we got information of the localization of flexibility in ribosomal function by the analysis of related proteins with stalk protein, tRNA, mRNA, and nascent peptide, and demonstrate the relationship between structure, assembly, flexibility, and function of the ribosome.     

A decade of progress in understanding the structural basis of protein synthesis

The key reaction of protein synthesis, peptidyl transfer, is catalysed in all living organisms by the ribosome - an advanced and highly efficient molecular machine. During the last decade extensive X-ray crystallographic and NMR studies of the three-dimensional structure of ribosomal proteins, ribosomal RNA components and their complexes with ribosomal proteins, and of several translation factors in different functional states have taken us to a new level of understanding of the mechanism of function of the protein synthesis machinery. Among the new remarkable features revealed by structural studies, is the mimicry of the tRNA molecule by elongation factor G, ribosomal recycling factor and the eukaryotic release factor 1. Several other translation factors, for which three-dimensional structures are not yet known, are also expected to show some form of tRNA mimicry. The efforts of several crystallographic and biochemical groups have resulted in the determination by X-ray crystallography of the structures of the 30S and 50S subunits at moderate resolution, and of the structure of the 70S subunit both by X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy (EM). In addition, low resolution cryo-EM models of the ribosome with different translation factors and tRNA have been obtained. The new ribosomal models allowed for the first time a clear identification of the functional centres of the ribosome and of the binding sites for tRNA and ribosomal proteins with known three-dimensional structure. The new structural data have opened a way for the design of new experiments aimed at deeper understanding at an atomic level of the dynamics of the system.     

A small protein unique to bacteria organizes rRNA tertiary structure over an extensive region of the 50 S ribosomal subunit

A number of small, basic proteins penetrate into the structure of the large subunit of the ribosome. While these proteins presumably aid in the folding of the rRNA, the extent of their contribution to the stability or function of the ribosome is unknown. One of these small, basic proteins is L36, which is highly conserved in Bacteria, but is not present in Archaea or Eucarya. Comparison of ribosome crystal structures shows that the space occupied by L36 in a bacterial ribosome is empty in an archaeal ribosome. To ask what L36 contributes to ribosome stability and function, we have constructed an Escherichia coli strain lacking ribosomal protein L36; cell growth is slowed by 40-50% between 30 degrees C and 42 degrees C. Ribosomes from this deletion strain sediment normally and have a full complement of proteins, other than L36. Chemical protection experiments comparing rRNA from wild-type and L36-deficient ribosomes show the expected increase in reagent accessibility in the immediate vicinity of the L36 binding site, but suggest that a cooperative network of rRNA tertiary interactions has been disrupted along a path extending 60 A deep into the ribosome. These data argue that L36 plays a significant role in organizing 23 S rRNA structure. Perhaps the Archaea and Eucarya have compensated for their lack of L36 by maintaining more stable rRNA tertiary contacts or by adopting alternative protein-RNA interactions elsewhere in the ribosome.     

Simplification of Ribosomes in Bacteria with Tiny Genomes

The ribosome is an essential cellular machine performing protein biosynthesis. Its structure and composition are highly conserved in all species. However, some bacteria have been reported to have an incomplete set of ribosomal proteins. We have analyzed ribosomal protein composition in 214 small bacterial genomes (<1 Mb) and found that although the ribosome composition is fairly stable, some ribosomal proteins may be absent, especially in bacteria with dramatically reduced genomes. The protein composition of the large subunit is less conserved than that of the small subunit. We have identified the set of frequently lost ribosomal proteins and demonstrated that they tend to be positioned on the ribosome surface and have fewer contacts to other ribosome components. Moreover, some proteins are lost in an evolutionary correlated manner. The reduction of ribosomal RNA is also common, with deletions mostly occurring in free loops. Finally, the loss of the anti-Shine–Dalgarno sequence is associated with the loss of a higher number of ribosomal proteins.     

Macromolecular mimicry

Some proteins have been shown to mimic the overall shape and structure of nucleic acids. For some of the proteins involved in translating the genetic information into proteins on the ribosome particle, there are indications that such observations of macromolecular mimicry even extend to similarity in interaction with and function on the ribosome. A small number of structural results obtained outside the protein biosynthesis machinery could indicate that the concept of macromolecular mimicry between proteins and nucleic acids is more general. The implications for the function and evolution of protein biosynthesis are discussed.     

Composition and structure of the 80S ribosome from the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii: 80S ribosomes are conserved in plants and animals

We have conducted a proteomic analysis of the 80S cytosolic ribosome from the eukaryotic green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, and accompany this with a cryo-electron microscopy structure of the ribosome. Proteins homologous to all but one rat 40S subunit protein, including a homolog of RACK1, and all but three rat 60S subunit proteins were identified as components of the C. reinhardtii ribosome. Expressed Sequence Tag (EST) evidence and annotation of the completed C. reinhardtii genome identified genes for each of the four proteins not identified by proteomic analysis, showing that algae potentially have a complete set of orthologs to mammalian 80S ribosomal proteins. Presented at 25A, the algal 80S ribosome is very similar in structure to the yeast 80S ribosome, with only minor distinguishable differences. These data show that, although separated by billions of years of evolution, cytosolic ribosomes from photosynthetic organisms are highly conserved with their yeast and animal counterparts.     

Internal ribosome entry segment-mediated translation during apoptosis: the role of IRES-trans-acting factors

During apoptosis, there is a reduction in translation initiation caused by caspase cleavage of several of the factors required for the cap-dependent scanning mechanism. Under these circumstances, many proteins that are required for apoptosis are instead translated by the alternative method of internal ribosome entry. This mechanism requires the formation of a complex RNA structural element and in the presence of internal ribosome entry segment (IRES)-trans-acting factors (ITAFs), the ribosome is recruited to the RNA. The interactions of several ITAFs with IRESs have been investigated in detail, and several mechanisms of action have been noted, including acting as chaperones, stabilising and remodelling the RNA structure. Structural remodelling by PTB in particular will be discussed, and how this protein is able to facilitate recruitment of the ribosome to several IRESs by causing previously occluded sites to become more accessible.     

从基因组分析贾第虫的核糖体合成系统

为探讨贾第虫细胞核内核糖体合成系统,及与典型的真核生物有何差异,首先,确定在典型真核生物中参与核糖体合成的129条共有的保守蛋白,然后用这些蛋白搜索贾第虫基因组以调查它们在贾第虫中的直系同源蛋白的情况,以对贾第虫的核糖体合成系统作一了解。结果表明：贾第虫具有89条这些蛋白的直系同源蛋白,包括参与rRNA甲基化和假尿嘧啶化的蛋白复合体成员,以及存在于90S、40S和60S复合体中的蛋白。贾第虫的核糖体合成系统与典型的真核生物相似,但还有40条蛋白在贾第虫基因组中找不到同源蛋白。这意味着贾第虫的核糖体合成系统较典型的真核生物简单。贾第虫虽然没有核仁结构,但其核糖体亚基合成的途径和机制可能与真核细胞相似,参与的成分不同于无核仁结构的原核生物,可能相对简单。     

Assembly of the 30S ribosomal subunit

The assembly of ribosomes requires a significant fraction of the energy expenditure for rapidly growing bacteria. The ribosome is composed of three large RNA molecules and over 50 small proteins that must be rapidly and efficiently assembled into the molecular machine responsible for protein synthesis. For over 30 years, the 30S ribosome has been a key model system for understanding the process of ribosome biogenesis through in vitro assembly experiments. We have recently developed an isotope pulse-chase experiment using quantitative mass spectrometry that permits assembly kinetics to be measured in real time. Kinetic studies have revealed an assembly energy landscape that ensures efficient assembly by a flexible and robust pathway.