Rex-1对Oct4转录活性的调控

Rex-1和Oct4是在多能性细胞中特异表达的转录因子,而Rex-1的生物学功能及其调控胚胎干细胞(ES细胞)多能性和分化能力的机制尚不清楚。实验探讨了Rex-1和Oct4的相互关系,利用免疫荧光实验和免疫共沉淀实验证明了Rex-1和Oct4两种蛋白共同定位于细胞核中,证明二者之间有直接的相互作用。 进一步的活性分析表明Rex-1能够抑制Oct4的转录激活活性。这些数据提供了一种新的调控Oct4活性的机制。     

Epidermal Growth Factor-dependent Activation of the Extracellular Signal-regulated Kinase Pathway by DJ-1 Protein through Its Direct Binding to c-Raf Protein

DJ-1 is an oncogene and also a causative gene for familial Parkinson disease. DJ-1 has various functions, and the oxidative status of cysteine at position 106 (Cys-106) is crucial for determination of the activation level of DJ-1. Although DJ-1 requires activated Ras for its oncogenic activity and although it activates the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway, a cell growth pathway downstream of Ras, the precise mechanism underlying activation of the ERK pathway by DJ-1 is still not known. In this study, we found that DJ-1 directly bound to the kinase domain of c-Raf but not to Ras and that Cys-106 mutant DJ-1 bound to c-Raf more weakly than did wild-type DJ-1. Co-localization of DJ-1 with c-Raf in the cytoplasm was enhanced in epidermal growth factor (EGF)-treated cells. Knockdown of DJ-1 expression attenuated the phosphorylation level of c-Raf in EGF-treated cells, resulting in reduced activation of MEK and ERK1/2. Although EGF-treated DJ-1 knock-out cells also showed attenuated c-Raf activation, reintroduction of wild-type DJ-1, but not C106S DJ-1, into DJ-1 knock-out cells restored c-Raf activation in a DJ-1 binding activity in a c-Raf-dependent manner. DJ-1 was not responsible for activation of c-Raf in phorbol myristate acetate-treated cells. Furthermore, DJ-1 stimulated self-phosphorylation activity of c-Raf in vitro, but DJ-1 was not a target for Raf kinase. Oxidation of Cys-106 in DJ-1 was not affected by EGF treatment. These findings showed that DJ-1 is a positive regulator of the EGF/Ras/ERK pathway through targeting c-Raf.     

JAK-STAT参与血管平滑肌细胞血管紧张素原和心钠素基因的转录激活

为探讨Janus蛋白酪氨酸激酶2-转导及转录激活因子5（JAK2-STAT5）途径在介导血管紧张素Ⅱ（AngⅡ）诱导的血管平滑肌细胞（VSMC）血管舒-缩肽表达调节的作用及分子机制, 以Ang Ⅱ为诱发因素刺激培养的大鼠VSMC, 用免疫共沉淀、Western印迹分析和激光共聚焦显微镜观察STAT5磷酸化及其核转位, 用电泳迁移率改变分析（EMSA）确定STAT5与血管活性肽基因调控区顺式调控元件的结合活性. 结果显示, STAT5磷酸化水平分别于Ang Ⅱ刺激10 min和12 h出现两个高峰, 增加的磷酸化STAT5主要分布在细胞核内. Ang Ⅱ诱导的STAT5活化与核转位可被JAK2的特异抑制剂AG490所抑制. EMSA结果显示, 用Ang Ⅱ刺激VSMC后, 核蛋白与含有血管紧张素原基因启动子STAT5识别序列的探针结合活性显著升高,而核蛋白与含有心钠素（ANF）基因启动子STAT5识别序列的探针结合活性则呈下降趋势, 核蛋白与两种探针的结合活性均可被JAK2抑制剂AG490所消除, 并且加入抗STAT5抗体后均可出现滞后的超迁移带. 结果提示, Ang Ⅱ通过激活JAK2-STAT5介导信号向胞核内传递, STAT5与相应的顺式元件结合是启动血管紧张素原和心钠素基因表达所必需的转录调控机制之一.