富脯氨酸模体研究进展

综述了近年来富脯氨酸模体的研究进展状况,并将其分为PxxP核心序列模体、聚脯氨酸模体、PPxY核心序列模体以及其他类型的模体4类,论述了富脯氨酸膜体的生物学功能及其常出现的原因.     

Motifs in brain networks

Complex brains have evolved a highly efficient network architecture whose structural connectivity is capable of generating a large repertoire of functional states. We detect characteristic network building blocks (structural and functional motifs) in neuroanatomical data sets and identify a small set of structural motifs that occur in significantly increased numbers. Our analysis suggests the hypothesis that brain networks maximize both the number and the diversity of functional motifs, while the repertoire of structural motifs remains small. Using functional motif number as a cost function in an optimization algorithm, we obtain network topologies that resemble real brain networks across a broad spectrum of structural measures, including small-world attributes. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that highly evolved neural architectures are organized to maximize functional repertoires and to support highly efficient integration of information.     

用网络方法识别生物序列motif

生物序列motif的识别是后基因组时代的一个核心问题。本文首先回顾了识别motif的几种主要算法,然后根据motif的重要性和随机性介绍了利用网络识别motif的两种具有代表性的方法：一种是建立一个随机网络混合模型,利用EM算法识别其中随机的网络motif;另一种用修正的参数流算法过滤出其中的最大密度予图,即为生物序列motif,并指出这两种方法的优劣,最后还对今后研究方向给出了讨论。     

Motifs involved in protein-protein interactions

Summary Interactions between proteins are extremely variable. However, in the dimeric proteins comprised of regular motifs, interface interactions are similar to those that stabilize monomers. Additional stability is gained by converting loops within motifs or domains to linkers across interfaces. In multi-domain proteins, interactions can be greatly effected by the conformation of linkers between domains. Complex association of subunits, involving higher rotational symmetry or cubic symmetry, frequently involves motif sharing across interfaces.     

A Screen for Endocytic Motifs

Sorting signals for cargo selection into coated vesicles are usually in the form of short linear motifs. Three motifs for clathrin‐mediated endocytosis have been identified: YXXΦ, [D/E]XXXL[L/I] and FXNPXY. To search for new endocytic motifs, we made a library of CD8 chimeras with random sequences in their cytoplasmic tails, and used a novel fluorescence‐activated cell sorting (FACS)‐based assay to select for endocytosed constructs. Out of the five tails that were most efficiently internalized, only one was found to contain a conventional motif. Two contain dileucine‐like sequences that appear to be variations on the [D/E]XXXL[L/I] motif. Another contains a novel internalization signal, YXXXΦN, which is able to function in cells expressing a mutant µ2 that cannot bind YXXΦ, indicating that it is not a variation on the YXXΦ motif. Similar sequences are present in endogenous proteins, including a functional YXXXΦN (in addition to a classical YXXΦ) in cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte‐associated protein 4 (CTLA‐4). Thus, the repertoire of endocytic motifs is more extensive than the three well‐characterized sorting signals.     

Motifs of the caldesmon family

Seven highly conserved regions were found in caldesmon molecules from various sources using the multiple sequence alignment method. Their localization coincides with regions where the binding sites to other proteins were postulated. Less conserved and highly divergent regions of the sequences are described as well. These results could refine the planning of caldesmon gene manipulations and accelerate the precise localization of binding sites in the caldesmon molecule and, as a consequence, this could help to elucidate its function in smooth muscle contraction.     

CpG特征结构与树突状细胞

近年来的研究表明 :ＣｐＧ特征结构是脊椎动物免疫系统识别微生物ＤＮＡ并产生针对抗原的保护性免疫反应的主要机制 ,它在体内及体外均能诱导以Ｔｈ1细胞为主的高水平、高特异性的细胞免疫应答 ;是质粒ＤＮＡ疫苗及裸ＤＮＡ疫苗诱导机体免疫应答的原因之一 ,在临床实验中ＣｐＧ ＯＤＮ已被用作抗原疫苗、ＤＮＡ疫苗治疗肿瘤、变态反应性疾病的强有力佐剂。ＣｐＧ特征结构能够诱导机体产生以Ｔｈ1细胞为主的细胞免疫应答是因为它能够作用于Ｔ细胞、Ｂ细胞、ＮＫ细胞、巨噬细胞及树突状细胞等免疫细胞。树突状细胞是机体最主要的专职抗原呈递…     

植物启动子的诱导模序

启动子是位于基因 5′端并负责该基因转录的DNA序列。诱导性启动子中有一些对伤害、真菌侵染、紫外线照射、激素等做出应答反应的顺式作用元件 ,被称为模序。已在植物启动子中鉴定出许多与诱导表达相关的模序 ,如伤害诱导模序 ,真菌诱导模序 ,植物激素诱导模序和光诱导模序等。这些模序作为启动子的顺式元件对各种诱导因子做出反应、调控基因的表达。     

SARS冠状病毒RNA依赖的RNA聚合酶(RdRp)蛋白保守氨基酸基序的鉴定

严重急性呼吸综合片冠状病毒(SARS病毒)的高危害性,使得研究其分子机制并开发有效的治疗药物成为当前生物学家面临的紧迫任务.     

DNA Intercalated Motifs with Non-Nucleoside Inserts

Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry - A cytosine-rich sequence from the human genome that is presumably involved in the regulation of SHANK1 gene expression through the formation of an...     

蛋白质结构层次中的超二级结构

近年来关于蛋白质超二级结构(supersecondary motifs,Motifs)的研究已成为国际上一个热点课题,国内也开始出现有关的研究论文,蛋白质超二级结构是两个或几个规则二级结构单元的进一步组合,或看成是二级结构的局域折叠.文章就蛋白质Motifs结构的定义,特点,及对这一结构层次开展研究的意义作了综述,并对蛋白质Motifs研究的进展作了简要的介绍．