酵母细胞凋亡机制研究进展

凋亡是一种主动有序发生、受多基因严密控制的细胞逐渐死亡过程,对维持机体正常的生命活动发挥着重要作用,酵母因能发生细胞凋亡且凋亡机制与哺乳动物细胞相比具有高度保守性而成为研究细胞凋亡的重要模式生物。综述近年来酵母细胞凋亡的关键调节因子、启动机制和信号通路的研究进展,并展望其潜在应用前景。     

酵母细胞凋亡研究进展

细胞凋亡是调节生物体正常发育和生命活动的一种不可缺少的机制,其研究生命力在于最终能够有利于疾病机制的阐明以及新疗法的探索及问世。酵母细胞由于凋亡过程的高度保守性及其作为分子生物学模式物种的先天优势,近年来一直是凋亡研究的热点。目前对酵母细胞凋亡的核心分子、传导通路和诱因等已经有了深入的了解。     

丝状真菌的细胞凋亡

凋亡是一种程序性细胞死亡类型,为多细胞生物发育和维持生命所必需的,也普遍存在于细菌等原核生物和酵母、丝状真菌等真核生物中。丝状真菌既具有酵母和哺乳动物共有的凋亡同源蛋白,也具有酵母所不具备的哺乳动物凋亡同源蛋白,所以其凋亡机制较酵母更为复杂,而又较哺乳动物简单。凋亡在丝状真菌的发育、繁殖、衰老等过程中具有重要的作用。近年,丝状真菌作为新的凋亡研究的模式生物被广泛研究,而且进展迅速。综述丝状真菌的凋亡现象和检测方法,丝状真菌中凋亡的生物学功能,丝状真菌凋亡的诱导条件,以及丝状真菌凋亡相关基因的功能研究进展。     

昆虫卵子发生过程中细胞凋亡的研究进展

细胞凋亡是动物发育过程中的基本生命现象,是多细胞生物体一种重要的自我稳定机制。除体细胞发生凋亡外,生殖细胞在其发生过程中也有细胞凋亡。对近10年来昆虫卵子发生过程中细胞凋亡的研究作了综述。重点关注昆虫卵子发生过程中细胞凋亡发生的阶段、凋亡的形态特征、凋亡的调控及意义等,以期为相关研究提供基础资料。     

UV-B诱导的酵母凋亡现象及调节机制的作用

研究UV-B诱导的酵母凋亡现象及调节机制的作用。通过高密度细胞培养, UV-B能够抑制酵母细胞生长和诱导细胞凋亡。然而, 将UV-B已照射96 h活酵母细胞重新进行UV-B照射时发现, 培养12 d照射过细胞的存活率仍有10% (P<0.05), 而未照射细胞已经基本死亡。同时, 经0.01 mol/L和0.1 mol/L H2O2处理, UV-B照射24 h活细胞的存活率分别是对照的3.0倍和5.2倍; 而经30 min和60 min 55°C热处理, UV-B照射24 h活细胞的存活率分别是对照的3.5倍和9.0倍。     

miRNA调控妊娠期滋养细胞凋亡的研究进展

妊娠期胎盘的发育和滋养细胞的凋亡密切相关,凋亡异常会导致胎盘功能障碍,引起一系列相关疾病.细胞凋亡是一个多步骤的复杂过程,受多个因子的调控.miRNA是小的非编码单链RNA,主要通过调节其mRNA稳定性及翻译,参与细胞生理过程.近来的研究发现,miRNA也可通过多个与凋亡相关的途径调控妊娠期滋养细胞的凋亡.     

玫瑰花提取物对砷胁迫下酵母细胞凋亡抑制的研究

本试验以酿酒酵母(Saccharomyces cerevisiae)为材料,研究玫瑰花提取物(RE)对砷胁迫下酵母细胞生长和凋亡的影响。试验以抗坏血酸(Vc)溶液为标准抗氧化对照物,1.0 mmol/L亚砷酸钠(As)为酵母胁迫浓度,分别设置了酵母对照组、酵母+RE(1.5 g/L)培养组、酵母+Vc(0.1 g/L)培养组、酵母+As(1.0 mmol/L)培养组、酵母+As+RE培养组和酵母+As+Vc培养组。酵母细胞培养24 h后,利用噻唑兰(MTT)细胞增殖法、平板点样法、荧光素二乙酸/碘化丙锭(FDA/PI)染色法、4', 6-二脒基-2-苯基吲哚(DAPI)细胞核染色法和Annexin V-FITC/PI细胞凋亡流式检测法测定了酵母细胞的生长增殖与凋亡。试验结果显示,RE有效地缓解了砷对酵母细胞的损伤,极显著提高了砷胁迫下酵母细胞的生长率和存活率(P0.01),极显著抑制了砷胁迫下酵母细胞的凋亡(P0.01)。结果证实,RE对砷胁迫酵母细胞的凋亡有显著抑制作用,在50%的1,1-二苯基-2-三硝基苯肼(DPPH)清除率下,其对砷胁迫下酵母细胞的凋亡抑制率显著高于Vc(P0.05)。因此,RE作为天然植物提取物,因其绿色、无毒的作用机制,将在对抗重金属污染、提高机体抗氧化力、缓解氧化损伤等方面有着更广阔的应用前景。     

幽门螺杆菌空泡毒素诱导细胞凋亡相关研究进展

幽门螺杆菌是公认的胃相关疾病的病原菌,而空泡毒素(VacA)是其主要的致病因子,它除了可以引起细胞空泡样病变外,现已被广泛认为是一种凋亡诱导因子,它能通过线粒体、MAPK、NO等信号转导通路介导细胞凋亡,在诱导细胞凋亡的同时又与机体的免疫系统相互作用。从细胞动力学角度探讨VacA和细胞凋亡的关系已成为研究的热点,本文总结了VacA诱导细胞凋亡机制的最新研究进展,对研究VacA损伤胃黏膜机制以及相关疫苗的研制具有重要意义。     

Nogo-B与Clusterin结合对细胞凋亡的影响

神经轴突生长抑制因子Nogo—B在体分布广泛,提示其除了具有抑制中枢神经系统轴突再生作用外,可能还扮演其他重要的功能角色。该研究为探讨Nogo-B下游新的结合分子及其功能开展相应研究。通过设计诱饵蛋白筛选人脑cDNA文库、免疫共沉淀方法,寻找Nogo-B下游结合分子：通过流式细胞术,检测结合对于细胞凋亡的影响：通过绿色荧光蛋白标记和免疫组织化学方法,探讨Nogo-B诱导细胞凋亡的机制。结果提示,Clusterin除了与Nogo-66功能域在酵母双杂交系统中存在结合,与Nogo—B在哺乳细胞中也能发生结合。过表达Nogo-B可明显诱导HEK293细胞凋亡,与Clusterin共表达可下调早期细胞凋亡率,但后期Nogo—B可通过调节Clusterin由胞浆到胞核转位,进一步诱导细胞凋亡进程。该研究首次提出Nogo—B与Clusterin之间存在结合,且结合参与了Nogo-B诱导的细胞凋亡进程。     

端粒酶是干扰素抗肿瘤的新靶点

端粒酶(telomerase)是一种具有逆转录活性的核糖核蛋白酶.端粒酶的异常活化是细胞永生化和肿瘤形成的关键步骤. 端粒酶活性与细胞周期及细胞凋亡调控密切相关;端粒酶由端粒酶逆转录酶、端粒酶RNA、端粒酶相关蛋白质组成,端粒酶逆转录酶是端粒酶活性的决定性组分.干扰素(interferon)是一种具有抗病毒、抗增殖、抗肿瘤和免疫调节等功能的细胞因子;近年研究表明,干扰素通过相关信号转导途径而调节端粒酶活性,诱导细胞凋亡,为肿瘤的生物治疗提供了新思路;但干扰素与端粒酶活性相关的抗肿瘤机制研究尚不充分. 本文综述干扰素通过调节端粒酶逆转录酶转录因子的表达和相互作用而抑制端粒酶活性、调节细胞周期并诱导细胞凋亡等抗肿瘤作用机制.     

Types of cell death and methods of their detection in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The occurrence of programmed cell death in unicellular organisms is a subject that arouses great interest of theoreticians and experimental scientists. Already found evolutionarily conserved genes and metabolic pathways confirmed its existence in yeast, protozoa and even bacteria. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, at least three main types of death are distinguished: apoptosis, necrosis and autophagy. Their classification suggested by the Nomenclature Committee on Cell Death initially based on the morphological characteristics has now been extended to include the measurable biochemical characteristics. Several laboratory methods previously used to detect the types of cell death of higher eucaryotes and later developed and successfully used for the analysis of yeast cells are here critically reviewed. Their advantages and limitations are described.     

Suppressive effect of elongation factor 2 on apoptosis induced by HIV-1 viral protein R

Rapid CD4+ lymphocyte depletion due to cell death caused by HIV infection is one of the hallmarks of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. HIV-1 viral protein R (Vpr) induces apoptosis and is believed to contribute to CD4+ lymphocyte depletion. Thus, identification of cellular factors that potentially counteract this detrimental viral effect will not only help us to understand the molecular action of Vpr but also to design future antiviral therapies. In this report, we describe identification of elongation factor 2 (EF2) as such a cellular factor. Specifically, EF2 protein level is responsive to vpr gene expression; it is able to suppress Vpr-induced apoptosis when it is overproduced beyond its physiological level. EF2 was initially identified through a genome-wide multicopy suppressor search for Vpr-induced apoptosis in a fission yeast model system. Overproduction of fission yeast Ef2 completely abolishes Vpr-induced cell killing in fission yeast. Similarly, overexpression of the human homologue of yeast Ef2 in a neuroblastoma SKN-SH cell line and two CD4+ H9 and CEM-SS T-cell lines also blocked Vpr-induced apoptosis. The anti-apoptotic property of EF2 is demonstrated by its ability to suppress caspase 9 and caspase 3-mediated apoptosis induced by Vpr. In addition, it also reduces cytochrome c release induced by Vpr, staurosporine and TNFα. The fact that overproduction of EF2 blocks Vpr-induced cell death both in fission yeast and human cells, suggested that EF2 posses a highly conserved anti-apoptotic activity. Moreover, the responsive elevation of EF2 to Vpr suggests a possible host innate antiviral response.     

Apoptosis in yeast

Apoptosis is a highly regulated cellular suicide program crucial for metazoan development. However, dysfunction of apoptosis also leads to several diseases. Yeast undergoes apoptosis after application of acetic acid, sugar- or salt-stress, plant antifungal peptides, or hydrogen peroxide. Oxygen radicals seem to be key elements of apoptotic execution, conserved during evolution. Furthermore, several yeast orthologues of central metazoan apoptotic regulators have been identified, such as a caspase and a caspase-regulating serine protease. In addition, physiological occurrence of cell death has been detected during aging and mating in yeast. The finding of apoptosis in yeast, other fungi and parasites is not only of great medical relevance but will also help to understand some of the still unknown molecular mechanisms at the core of apoptotic execution.     

Dynamic genome-scale modeling of Saccharomyces cerevisiae unravels mechanisms for ester formation during alcoholic fermentation

Fermentation employing Saccharomyces cerevisiae has produced alcoholic beverages and bread for millennia. More recently, S. cerevisiae has been used to manufacture specific metabolites for the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Among the most important of these metabolites are compounds associated with desirable aromas and flavors, including higher alcohols and esters. Although the physiology of yeast has been well-studied, its metabolic modulation leading to aroma production in relevant industrial scenarios such as winemaking is still unclear. Here we ask what are the underlying metabolic mechanisms that explain the conserved and varying behavior of different yeasts regarding aroma formation under enological conditions? We employed dynamic flux balance analysis (dFBA) to answer this key question using the latest genome-scale metabolic model (GEM) of S. cerevisiae. The model revealed several conserved mechanisms among wine yeasts, for example, acetate ester formation is dependent on intracellular metabolic acetyl-CoA/CoA levels, and the formation of ethyl esters facilitates the removal of toxic fatty acids from cells using CoA. Species-specific mechanisms were also found, such as a preference for the shikimate pathway leading to more 2-phenylethanol production in the Opale strain as well as strain behavior varying notably during the carbohydrate accumulation phase and carbohydrate accumulation inducing redox restrictions during a later cell growth phase for strain Uvaferm. In conclusion, our new metabolic model of yeast under enological conditions revealed key metabolic mechanisms in wine yeasts, which will aid future research strategies to optimize their behavior in industrial settings.     

Apoptosis in yeast--mechanisms and benefits to a unicellular organism

Initial observations that the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae can be induced to undergo a form of cell death exhibiting typical markers of apoptosis has led to the emergence of a thriving new field of research. Since this discovery, a number of conserved pro- and antiapoptotic proteins have been identified in yeast. Indeed, early experiments have successfully validated yeasts as a powerful genetic tool with which to investigate mechanisms of apoptosis. However, we still have little understanding as to why programmes of cell suicide exist in unicellular organisms and how they may be benefit such organisms. Recent research has begun to elucidate pathways that regulate yeast apoptosis in response to environmental stimuli. These reports strengthen the idea that physiologically relevant mechanisms of programmed cell death are present, and that these function as important regulators of yeast cell populations.     

The Drosophila genome

The past year has been a spectacular one for Drosophila research. The sequencing and annotation of the Drosophila melanogaster genome has allowed a comprehensive analysis of the first three eukaryotes to be sequenced—yeast, worm and fly—including an analysis of the fly's influences as a model for the study of human disease. This year has also seen the initiation of a full-length cDNA sequencing project and the first analysis of Drosophila development using high-density DNA microarrays containing several thousand Drosophila genes. For the first time homologous recombination has been demonstrated in flies and targeted gene disruptions may not be far off.     

Syp1 is a conserved endocytic adaptor that contains domains involved in cargo selection and membrane tubulation

Internalization of diverse transmembrane cargos from the plasma membrane requires a similarly diverse array of specialized adaptors, yet only a few adaptors have been characterized. We report the identification of the muniscin family of endocytic adaptors that is conserved from yeast to human beings. Solving the structures of yeast muniscin domains confirmed the unique combination of an N‐terminal domain homologous to the crescent‐shaped membrane‐tubulating EFC/F‐BAR domains and a C‐terminal domain homologous to cargo‐binding μ homology domains (μHDs). In vitro and in vivo assays confirmed membrane‐tubulation activity for muniscin EFC/F‐BAR domains. The μHD domain has conserved interactions with the endocytic adaptor/scaffold Ede1/eps15, which influences muniscin localization. The transmembrane protein Mid2, earlier implicated in polarized Rho1 signalling, was identified as a cargo of the yeast adaptor protein. These and other data suggest a model in which the muniscins provide a combined adaptor/membrane‐tubulation activity that is important for regulating endocytosis.     

Apoptosis in yeast--a monocellular organism exhibits altruistic behaviour

Apoptosis is a highly regulated form of programmed cell death crucial for life and health in metazoan animals. Apoptosis is defined by a set of cytological alterations. The recent discovery of these markers in yeast indicates the presence of the basic mechanisms of apoptosis already in unicellular eukaryotes. Oxygen radicals regulate both mammalian and yeast apoptosis. We suggest that apoptosis originated in unicellular organisms as an altruistic response to severe oxidative damage. Later, cells developed mechanisms to purposely produce reactive oxygen species as a regulator of apoptosis. Yeast may become an important model to investigate the conserved steps of apoptosis.     

Androgen receptor coregulator ARA267-α interacts with death receptor-6 revealed by the yeast two-hybrid

ARA267-α is a newly identified androgen receptor coactivator. In order to further elucidate its precise role in cells, using the ARA267-α fragment containing four PHD and one SET conserved domains as bait we revealed an ARA267-α-PHD-SET-interacting protein, death receptor-6 (DR6), in the yeast two-hybrid screening. DR6 is the member of TNF receptor family and has a death domain in its intracellular cytoplasmic portion (DR6cp) to mediate the cell apoptosis. The interaction between ARA267-α-PHD-SET and DR6cp was confirmedin vitro andin vivo. Our finding implied that androgen signaling pathway might cross talk with apoptosis signaling pathway through the interaction between ARA267-α and DR6.