Hsp90抑制剂对未折叠蛋白反应作用的研究进展

肿瘤细胞因癌基因突变、缺氧及营养受限而高度依赖未折叠蛋白反应(unfolded protein response,UPR)。细胞通过内质网(endoplasmic reticulum,ER)膜上3个跨膜蛋白感知未折叠蛋白信号,引起未折叠蛋白反应,动态调控内质网折叠能力,一方面通过暂时减缓翻译和加快蛋白质流出减少ER蛋白质折叠负担,另一方面通过转录因子提高伴侣分子合成,增加ER折叠能力。未折叠的蛋白质长时间积聚在ER会对细胞产生毒性,引起不能缓解的ER应激状态,启动细胞凋亡程序。热休克蛋白90(heat shock protein 90,Hsp90)是一种进化保守的伴侣分子,参与了300多种新生蛋白质的折叠与成熟,其中包括UPR重要信号IRE1α(inositol-requiring enzyme 1α)。Hsp90抑制剂导致细胞产生大量未折叠蛋白质,同时直接诱导IRE1α的降解,从而破坏UPR恢复蛋白质平衡的能力,诱导UPR相关凋亡。目前,Hsp90抑制剂可有效诱导分泌型肿瘤细胞如骨髓瘤以及RAS突变肿瘤UPR途径的凋亡。     

未折叠蛋白质应答

内质网是真核细胞中蛋白质合成、折叠与分泌的重要细胞器.细胞进化出一套完整的机制来监督和帮助内质网内蛋白质的折叠与修饰.而当错误折叠的蛋白质累积时,细胞通过一系列信号转导途径,对其进行应答,包括增强蛋白质折叠能力、停滞大多数蛋白质的翻译、加速蛋白质的降解等.如果内质网功能素乱持续,细胞将最终启动凋亡程序.这些反应被统称为未折叠蛋白质应答(unfolded protein response,UPR).UPR是多个信号转导通路的总称,包括IRE1-XBP1、PERK-ATF4以及ATF6等信号途径.除了应激条件外,UPR还被用于正常生理条件下的调节,例如胆固醇合成代谢的负反馈调控.     

CHOP/GADD153 在内质网应激介导细胞凋亡中的研究进展

内质网(endoplasmic reticulum,ER)广泛存在于真核细胞中,是负责细胞中分泌性蛋白合成和折叠的细胞器。20世纪70年代开始发现了许多干扰内质网功能的因素可直接或间接使内质网中未折叠的蛋白质堆积,使细胞处于应激状态(ER stress),细胞通过未折叠蛋白质反应(unfolded protein response,UPR)来适应内质网应激。未折叠蛋白质反应途径(UPR pathway)是一种信号转导途径,最早在酵母中阐明。近年来对哺乳动物细胞未折叠蛋白质反应途径的研究也获得了重要成果。毒性、缺氧、病毒感染等不良刺激可使细胞内环境的稳态受到破坏,诱发一系列内质网应激反应(ER stress)来维持细胞的正常功能。当细胞受到持续而强烈的刺激时,不能缓解内质网应激状态,细胞会走向凋亡。近年来的研究发现,CHOP/GADD153作为一种前凋亡分子,在内质网应激介导的细胞凋亡中发挥着重要作用,参与肿瘤、阿尔茨海默、糖尿病等诸多疾病的发生和发展过程。     

未折叠蛋白响应的激活机制

未折叠蛋白在内质网（endoplasmic reticulum,ER）腔中累积造成ER应激，此时细胞启动未折叠蛋白响应（unfolded protein response,UPR）以恢复蛋白质稳态。目前已知有三种UPR感受器，即IRE1、PERK和ATF6，它们均为ER跨膜蛋白，在ER应激时被激活并启动下游UPR信号通路。虽然UPR感受器最早是在研究细胞如何应对ER应激时发现的，但它们如何感知ER应激至今未得到完满的回答。随着研究的深入，人们发现UPR的功能不仅限于维持蛋白质稳态，而UPR感受器也不是只对未折叠蛋白累积作出响应。本文对UPR的发现及其经典通路作一介绍，着重阐述目前已知的UPR感受器的激活机制，并就UPR和ER应激关系以及该领域存在的问题进行讨论。     

内质网应激介导的细胞凋亡

内质网是细胞内重要的细胞器,内质网功能的损伤引起ER应激(ERS).内质网通过激活未折叠蛋白质反应(UPR)以保护由内质网应激所引起的细胞损伤,恢复细胞功能,包括暂停早期蛋白质合成、内质网分子伴侣和折叠酶的转录激活、内质网相关性降解(ERAD)的诱导.长期过强的内质网应激诱导内质网相关性细胞凋亡,清除受损细胞,包括内质网应激诱导CHOP/GADD153表达、JNK的激活以及caspase-12蛋白水解酶的活化等一系列生物学效应.     

IRE1α上调人骨肿瘤细胞XBP1启动子转录活性的研究

目的研究内质网跨膜蛋白肌醇酶1α（inositol-requiring enzyme 1α,IRE1α）对其下游转录因子XBP1启动子转录活性的影响。方法在成功构建人IREla基因全长重组质粒的基础上,设计合成并构建靶向IRE1α基因的siRNA干扰载体（pS1;pS2）;采用巢式PCR扩增XBP1启动子,插入到pGL3．Basic载体,构建携带XBP1启动子的报告基因重组质粒pGL3-XBP1。分别将siIRE1α干扰质粒与pGL3-XBPl报告基因重组质粒共转染人SW1353细胞和Saos-2细胞中,48h后采用双荧光报告系统检测IRE1α对XBP1启动子转录活性的调控作用。结果酶切及测序结果证实siRNA1干扰质粒和XBPl启动子真核表达载体均构建成功,双荧光报告系统检测显示SW1353细胞和Saos-2细胞中,直接载体pcDNA3．15（-）IRE1α与pGL3-XBP1共转实验组的荧光素酶活性明显高于其他实验组（P〈0．5）,并随着IRE1α转染剂量的增加逐渐达到饱和;而silRE1α与pGL3-XBP1共转实验组的荧光素酶活性明显降低。免疫印迹结果显示,过表达IRE1α明显上调剪接型XBPlS蛋白的表达。结论人恶性骨肿瘤细胞中,过表达IRE1α明显上调XBP1启动子的转录与表达,并能有效促进XBPIU剪切生成XBPIU;通过siRNA方法抑制IRE1α后,XBP1启动子的转录与表达受到抑制。本实验为进一步研究骨肿瘤细胞中IRE1α调控XBP1启动子转录与剪接的分子机制奠定基础,为临床骨肿瘤的诊断与治疗提供一定的实验依据。     

酿酒酵母细胞中内质网应激与未折叠蛋白反应的研究进展

内质网应激激活的未折叠蛋白反应(Unfolded protein response,UPR)途径在酿酒酵母和哺乳动物细胞中是非常保守的。内质网(Endoplasmic reticulum,ER)是蛋白质合成、折叠和修饰的细胞器,也是贮存钙的主要场所之一。酵母细胞内质网钙平衡与UPR的作用是相互的;两个MAPK途径——HOG途径和CWI途径都是细胞应答内质网应激压力时生存所必需的;重金属镉离子能够激活UPR途径,它通过激活钙离子通道Cch1/Mid1进入细胞影响钙离子的功能。本文结合最新研究进展对酿酒酵母细胞中的两个MAPK途径、镉离子和钙离子稳态与内质网应激激活的UPR途径之间相互关系进行综述。     

内质网应激与心血管疾病关系的研究进展

内质网是蛋白质折叠、转录后修饰和转运的重要细胞器,对维持细胞稳态具有重要作用。多种内外环境刺激能够引起内质网内错误折叠或未折叠蛋白的积累,即形成内质网应激。内质网应激激活未折叠蛋白反应(unfolded protein response,UPR),进而启动一系列下游信号以维持内质网稳态。但持续或过度的内质网应激激活的UPR最终导致细胞凋亡和疾病。近年来,大量研究证据表明,内质网应激参与多种心血管疾病(cardiovascular disease, CVD)的发生和发展,包括缺血性心脏病、糖尿病性心肌病、心力衰竭、动脉粥样硬化、血管钙化、高血压和主动脉瘤等,是治疗多种CVD的重要靶点。本文就内质网应激激活UPR在多种常见CVD中的调控机制以及内质网应激与CVD关系的研究进展作一简要综述。     

丙型肝炎病毒非结构蛋白NS4B诱导细胞非折叠蛋白反应

用RT-PCR和免疫印迹的方法检测稳定表达NS4B的HeLa细胞中的XBP1;通过RT-PCR的方法在表达NS4B的HeLa和Huh-7细胞中检测ATF6,Grp78和caspase-12的转录,并且通过报告基因的方法分析XBP1和Grp78启动子活性.实验结果表明在表达NS4B的HeLa细胞中检测到XBP1的两种形式(剪接和未剪接),此外,在细胞中ATF6、Grp78的转录水平和XBP1、Grp78启动子的荧光素酶活性较没有表达NS4B的HeLa和Huh-7细胞中的量有所增加;通过染色质免疫沉淀实验(ChIP)分析,这些增加可能是由于XBP1结合到了这些基因的启动子上引起的.总之,实验结果可提示HCV NS4B通过ATF6或XBP1途径引起内质网压力,导致UPR反应.NS4B可能在HCV的致病性中起着重要的作用,特别是在慢性肝炎,甚至肝细胞癌中.     

Role of the ASK1-SEK1-JNK1-HIPK1 signal in Daxx trafficking and ASK1 oligomerization

Overexpression of JNK binding domain inhibited glucose deprivation-induced JNK1 activation, relocalization of Daxx from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, and apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) oligomerization in human prostate adenocarcinoma DU-145 cells. However, SB203580, a p38 inhibitor, did not prevent relocalization of Daxx and oligomerization of ASK1 during glucose deprivation. Studies from in vivo labeling and immune complex kinase assay demonstrated that phosphorylation of Daxx occurred during glucose deprivation, and its phosphorylation was mediated through the ASK1-SEK1-JNK1-HIPK1 signal transduction pathway. Data from immunofluorescence staining and protein interaction assay suggest that phosphorylated Daxx may be translocated to the cytoplasm, bind to ASK1, and subsequently lead to ASK1 oligomerization. Mutation of Daxx Ser667 to Ala results in suppression of Daxx relocalization during glucose deprivation, suggesting that Ser667 residue plays an important role in the relocalization of Daxx. Unlike wild-type Daxx, a Daxx deletion mutant (amino acids 501-625) mainly localized to the cytoplasm, where it associated with ASK1, activated JNK1, and induced ASK1 oligomerization without glucose deprivation. Taken together, these results show that glucose deprivation activates the ASK1-SEK1-JNK1-HIPK1 pathway, and the activated HIPK1 is probably involved in the relocalization of Daxx from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. The relocalized Daxx may play an important role in glucose deprivation-induced ASK1 oligomerization.     

DEC1 and MIC-1

Comment on: Qian Y, et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2012; 109:11300-5.     

LINE-1编码蛋白L1-ORF1的原核表达纯化和多克隆抗体制备

目的: 制备具有肿瘤组织特异性表达的L1-ORF1蛋白多克隆抗体并进行初步应用研究。方法:采取基因工程表达方法制备L1-ORF1蛋白,免疫家兔制备多克隆抗体,间接ELISA检测抗体效价,Western blot和细胞免疫荧光方法检测抗体特异性,免疫检测验证其识别肿瘤细胞内L1-ORF1蛋白的特异性。结果:制备的抗L1-ORF1蛋白多克隆抗体具有很高的敏感性与特异性,免疫学检测表明该抗体不仅能检测出正常细胞中瞬时表达的L1-ORF1蛋白,而且可检测出肿瘤细胞中天然表达的L1-ORF1蛋白。结论:制备的多克隆抗体具有较高的敏感性与特异性,为以后该抗体的进一步应用奠定了基础。     

Antagonism between Cry1Ac1 and Cyt1A1 toxins of bacillus thuringiensis

Most strains of the insecticidal bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis have a combination of different protoxins in their parasporal crystals. Some of the combinations clearly interact synergistically, like the toxins present in B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis. In this paper we describe a novel joint activity of toxins from different strains of B. thuringiensis. In vitro bioassays in which we used pure, trypsin-activated Cry1Ac1 proteins from B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki, Cyt1A1 from B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis, and Trichoplusia ni BTI-Tn5B1-4 cells revealed contrasting susceptibility characteristics. The 50% lethal concentrations (LC50s) were estimated to be 4,967 of Cry1Ac1 per ml of medium and 11.69 ng of Cyt1A1 per ml of medium. When mixtures of these toxins in different proportions were assayed, eight different LC50s were obtained. All of these LC50s were significantly higher than the expected LC50s of the mixtures. In addition, a series of bioassays were performed with late first-instar larvae of the cabbage looper and pure Cry1Ac1 and Cyt1A1 crystals, as well as two different combinations of the two toxins. The estimated mean LC50 of Cry1Ac1 was 2.46 ng/cm2 of diet, while Cyt1A1 crystals exhibited no toxicity, even at very high concentrations. The estimated mean LC50s of Cry1Ac1 crystals were 15.69 and 19.05 ng per cm2 of diet when these crystals were mixed with 100 and 1,000 ng of Cyt1A1 crystals per cm2 of diet, respectively. These results indicate that there is clear antagonism between the two toxins both in vitro and in vivo. Other joint-action analyses corroborated these results. Although this is the second report of antagonism between B. thuringiensis toxins, our evidence is the first evidence of antagonism between toxins from different subspecies of B. thuringiensis (B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki and B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis) detected both in vivo and in vitro. Some possible explanations for this relationship are discussed.     

Regulation of PCTAIRE1 protein stability by AKT1, LKB1 and BRCA1

PCTAIRE1, also known as CDK16, is a cyclin-dependent kinase that is regulated by cyclin Y. It is a member of the serine-threonine family of kinases and its functions have primarily been implicated in cellular processes like vesicular transport, neuronal growth and development, myogenesis, spermatogenesis and cell proliferation. However, as extensive studies on PCTAIRE1 have not yet been conducted, the signaling pathways for this kinase involved in governing many cellular processes are yet to be elucidated in detail. Here, we report the association of PCTAIRE1 with important cellular proteins involved in major cell signaling pathways, especially cell proliferation. In particular, here we show that PCTAIRE1 interacts with AKT1, a key player of the PI3K signaling pathway that is responsible for promoting cell survival and proliferation. Our studies show that PCTAIRE1 is a substrate of AKT1 that gets stabilized by it. Further, we show that PCTAIRE1 also interacts with and is degraded by LKB1, a kinase that is known to suppress cellular proliferation and also regulate cellular energy metabolism. Moreover, our results show that PCTAIRE1 is also degraded by BRCA1, a well-known tumor suppressor. Together, our studies highlight the regulation of PCTAIRE1 by key players of the major cell signaling pathways involved in regulating cell proliferation, and therefore, provide crucial links that could be explored further to elucidate the mechanistic role of PCTAIRE1 in cell proliferation and tumorigenesis.     

Antagonism between Cry1Ac1 and Cyt1A1 Toxins of Bacillus thuringiensis

Most strains of the insecticidal bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis have a combination of different protoxins in their parasporal crystals. Some of the combinations clearly interact synergistically, like the toxins present in B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis. In this paper we describe a novel joint activity of toxins from different strains of B. thuringiensis. In vitro bioassays in which we used pure, trypsin-activated Cry1Ac1 proteins from B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki, Cyt1A1 from B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis, and Trichoplusia ni BTI-Tn5B1-4 cells revealed contrasting susceptibility characteristics. The 50% lethal concentrations (LC₅₀s) were estimated to be 4,967 of Cry1Ac1 per ml of medium and 11.69 ng of Cyt1A1 per ml of medium. When mixtures of these toxins in different proportions were assayed, eight different LC₅₀s were obtained. All of these LC₅₀s were significantly higher than the expected LC₅₀s of the mixtures. In addition, a series of bioassays were performed with late first-instar larvae of the cabbage looper and pure Cry1Ac1 and Cyt1A1 crystals, as well as two different combinations of the two toxins. The estimated mean LC₅₀ of Cry1Ac1 was 2.46 ng/cm² of diet, while Cyt1A1 crystals exhibited no toxicity, even at very high concentrations. The estimated mean LC₅₀s of Cry1Ac1 crystals were 15.69 and 19.05 ng per cm² of diet when these crystals were mixed with 100 and 1,000 ng of Cyt1A1 crystals per cm² of diet, respectively. These results indicate that there is clear antagonism between the two toxins both in vitro and in vivo. Other joint-action analyses corroborated these results. Although this is the second report of antagonism between B. thuringiensis toxins, our evidence is the first evidence of antagonism between toxins from different subspecies of B. thuringiensis (B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki and B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis) detected both in vivo and in vitro. Some possible explanations for this relationship are discussed.     

Isolation and Characterization of Ubiquitin-activating Enzyme E1-domain Containing 1, UBE1DC1

Ubiquitin and other ubiquitin-like proteins play important roles in post-translational modification. They are phylogenetically well-conserved in eukaryotes. Activated by other proteins, ubiquitin and ubiquitin-like proteins can covalently modify target proteins. The enzymes responsible for the activation of this modification have been known to include UBA1, SAE2, UBA3, SAE1 and ULA1. Here we report a new ubiquitin activating enzyme like cDNA, named ubiquitin activating enzyme E1-domain containing 1 (UBE1DC1), whose cDNA is 2654 base pairs in length and contains an open reading frame encoding 404 amino acids. The UBE1DC1 gene consists of 12 exons and is located at human chromosome 3q22. The result of RT-PCR showed that UBE1DC1 is expressed in most of human tissues. These two authors contributed equally to this paper. The nucleotide sequence reported in this paper has been submitted to GenBank under accession number AY253672.     

Generation of 'humanized' hCYP1A1_1A2_Cyp1a1/1a2(-/-) mouse line

Human/rodent CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 orthologs are well known to exhibit species-specific differences in substrate preferences and rates of metabolism. This lab previously characterized a BAC-transgenic mouse carrying the human CYP1A1_CYP1A2 locus; in this line, human dioxin-inducible CYP1A1 and basal vs dioxin-inducible CYP1A2 have been shown to be expressed normally (with regard to mRNAs, proteins and three enzyme activities) in every one of nine mouse tissues studied. The mouse Cyp1a1 and Cyp1a2 genes are oriented head-to-head and share a bidirectional promoter region of 13,954 bp. Using Cre recombinase and loxP sites inserted 3' of the stop codons of both genes, we show here a successful interchromosomal excision of 26,173 bp that ablated both genes on the same allele. The Cyp1a1/1a2(-) double-knockout allele was bred with the "humanized" line; the final product is the hCYP1A1_1A2_Cyp1a1/1a2(-/-) line on a theoretically >99.8% C57BL/6J genetic background-having both human genes replacing the mouse orthologs. This line will be valuable for human risk assessment studies involving any environmental toxicant or drug that is a substrate for CYP1A1 or CYP1A2.