The relative cellular levels of CP2a and CP2b potentiates erythroid cell-specific expression of the α-globin gene by regulating the nuclear localization of CP2c

CP2b activates α-globin expression in an erythroid cell-specific manner, through interaction with CP2c and PIAS1. Although CP2a is identical to CP2b except for lacking an exon encoding additional 36 amino acids and has the intrinsic DNA binding and transactivation properties, it does not exert any role in α-globin expression. Investigation of subcellular localization of exogenous CP2 proteins revealed that CP2a and CP2b were exclusively localized in the cytosol and nucleus, respectively. The CP2b-specific exon was in charge of the nuclear localization of CP2b. Interestingly, subcellular localization of CP2c was either in the nucleus or cytosol depending on the relative level of CP2a and CP2b although CP2c intrinsically localized in the cytosol in the absence of CP2a/CP2b. Finally, dramatic increment of hemoglobin expression was correlated with nuclear translocation of CP2c during MEL cell differentiation. Our data suggest that CP2b potentiate erythroid cell-specific α-globin expression by recruiting CP2c into the nucleus.     

Formation of an αCP1-KH3 complex with UC-rich RNA

The CP family of proteins [also known as poly(C)-binding or heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein E proteins] are involved in the regulation of messenger RNA (mRNA) stability and translational efficiency. They bind via their triple heterologous nuclear ribonucleoprotein K homology (KH) domain structures to C-rich mRNA, and are thought to interact with other mRNA-binding proteins as well as provide direct nuclease protection. In particular, CP1 and CP2 have been shown to bind to a specific region of androgen receptor (AR) mRNA, resulting in its increased stability. The roles of each of the KH motifs in the binding affinity and the specificity is not yet understood. We report the beginning of a systematic study of each of the CP KH domains, with the cloning and expression of CP1-KH2 and CP1-KH3. We report the ability of CP1-KH3, but not CP1-KH2, to bind the target AR mRNA sequence using an RNA electrophoretic mobility gel shift assay. We also report the preparation of an CP1-KH3/AR mRNA complex for structural studies. ¹H–¹⁵N heteronuclear single quantum correlation NMR spectra of ¹⁵N-labelled CP1-KH3 verified the integrity and good solution behaviour of the purified domain. The titration of the 11-nucleotide RNA target sequence from AR mRNA resulted in a rearrangement of the ¹H–¹⁵N correlations, demonstrating the complete binding of the protein to form a homogeneous protein/RNA complex suitable for future structural studies.     

The structure of the elicitor Cerato-platanin (CP), the first member of the CP fungal protein family, reveals a double ψβ-barrel fold and carbohydrate binding

Cerato-platanin (CP) is a secretion protein produced by the fungal pathogen Ceratocystis platani, the causal agent of the plane canker disease and the first member of the CP family. CP is considered a pathogen-associated molecular pattern because it induces various defense responses in the host, including production of phytoalexins and cell death. Although much is known about the properties of CP and related proteins as elicitors of plant defense mechanisms, its biochemical activity and host target(s) remain elusive. Here, we present the three-dimensional structure of CP. The protein, which exhibits a remarkable pH and thermal stability, has a double ψβ-barrel fold quite similar to those found in expansins, endoglucanases, and the plant defense protein barwin. Interestingly, although CP lacks lytic activity against a variety of carbohydrates, it binds oligosaccharides. We identified the CP region responsible for binding as a shallow surface located at one side of the β-barrel. Chemical shift perturbation of the protein amide protons, induced by oligo-N-acetylglucosamines of various size, showed that all the residues involved in oligosaccharide binding are conserved among the members of the CP family. Overall, the results suggest that CP might be involved in polysaccharide recognition and that the double ψβ-barrel fold is widespread in distantly related organisms, where it is often involved in host-microbe interactions.     

光系统п核心天线复合物CP43和CP47结构与功能研究进展

ＣＰ４３和ＣＰ４７是构成光合生物内周天线的两个重要的色素蛋白复合物,在生物体内主要起着传递激发能的作用。最近,大量研究证明,它们在放氧等过程中也起着重要作用。因此,近年来人们借助各种先进的研究技术对它们的结构进行了探讨,以揭示它们行使不同生理功能的分子机理。分子生物学技术可以使人们在整体水平上研究蛋白复合物的结构与功能,因此是一个非常有用的研究手段。本文即对近年来人们通过分子生物手段,以蓝藻为转化     

光系统II核心天线复合物CP43和CP47结构与功能研究进展

CP43和CP47是构成光合生物内周天线的两个重要的色素蛋白复合物,在生物体内主要起着传递激发能的作用。最近,大量研究证明,它们在放氧等过程中也起着重要作用。因此,近年来人们借助各种先进的研究技术对它们的结构进行了探讨,以揭示它们行使不同生理功能的分子机理。分子生物学技术可以使人们在整体水平上研究蛋白复合物的结构与功能,因此是一个非常有用的研究手段。本文即对近年来人们通过分子生物学手段,以蓝藻为转化材料,通过基因定点突变技术对CP43和CP47结构和功能的研究结果进行了全面综述,并进行了点评和分析,从而提出了一些新问题,为人们进行深入研究提供了详尽的研究资料和建设性的思路。     

盐酸胍诱导CP43和CP47变性的太赫兹时域光谱技术研究

太赫兹时域光谱技术(THz-TDS)是近年来新兴的一种研究分子构型状态的技术. 把这项技术运用到两种光合膜蛋白CP43和CP47的研究上, 研究结果表明, 运用太赫兹时域光谱技术能有效地把具有相似结构的蛋白质区分开来, 这项技术也是监测蛋白质变性的一种有力工具. 在盐酸胍(GuHCl)作用下, CP47和游离叶绿素a(Chl a)的太赫兹(THz)振幅谱中都出现一个明显的位于1.8 THz处的峰. 我们认为这个峰来自于叶绿素a和盐酸胍的相互作用. 和CP43相比, CP47中的叶绿素a更易于和盐酸胍发生作用.     

Functional analysis of the iron-stress induced CP 43′ polypeptide of PS II in the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7942

Under conditions of iron-stress, the Photosystem II associated chlorophyll a protein complex designated CP 43, which is encoded by the isiA gene, becomes the major pigment-protein complex in Synechococcus sp. PCC 7942. The isiB gene, which is located immediately downstream of isiA, encodes the protein flavodoxin, which can functionally replace ferredoxin under conditions of iron stress. We have constructed two cyanobacterial insertion mutants which are lacking (i) the CP 43 apoprotein (designated isiA ^–) and (ii) flavodoxin (designated isiB ^–). The function of CP 43 was studied by comparing the cell characteristics, PS II functional absorption cross-sections and Chl a fluorescence parameters from the wild-type, isiA ^– and isiB ^– strains grown under iron-stressed conditions. In all strains grown under iron deprivation, the cell number doubling time was maintained despite marked changes in pigment composition and other cell characteristics. This indicates that iron-starved cells remained viable and that their altered phenotype suggests an adequate acclimation to low iron even in absence of CP 43 and/or flavodoxin. Under both iron conditions, no differences were detected between the three strains in the functional absorption crossection of PS II determined from single turnover flash saturation curves of Chl a fluorescence. This demonstrates that CP 43 is not part of the functional light-harvesting antenna for PS II. In the wild-type and the isiB ^– strain grown under iron-deficient conditions, CP 43 was present in the thylakoid membrane as an uncoupled Chl-protein complex. This was indicated by (1) an increase of the yield of prompt Chl a fluorescence (F_o) and (2) the persistence after PS II trap closure of a fast fluorescence decay component showing a maximum at 685 nm.Abbreviations Chl chlorophyll - CP 43, CP 47 and CP 43 Chl a binding protein complexes of indicated molecular mass - DCMU 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea - F_m and F_m fluorescence when all PS II reaction centers are dosed in dark- and light-acclimated cells, respectively - F_o fluorescence when all PS II reaction centers are open in dark acclimated cells - F_v variable fluorescence after dark acclimation (F_m–F_o)     

Random mutagenesis in the large extrinsic loop E and transmembrane α-helix VI of the CP 47 protein of Photosystem II

The intrinsic chlorophyll-protein CP 47 is a component of Photosystem II which functions in both light-harvesting and oxygen evolution. Using the Escherichia coli mutator strain XL-1 Red, we introduced mutations at 14 sites in the large extrinsic loop E of CP 47 and its adjacent transmembrane -helix VI. Four mutant cell lines were recovered in which the histidyl residues 455H, 466H and 469H were altered. The cell lines H455T, H455Y, H469Y, and the double mutant F432L,H466R exhibited phenotypes that supported the identification of the histidyl residues 455H, 466H and 469H as chlorophyll ligands. Four additional mutant cell lines were recovered which contained mutations at positions 448R in the large extrinsic loop of CP 47. These mutants, R448K, R448Q, R448S, and R448W, exhibited variable phenotypes ranging from moderate alteration of photoautotrophic growth and oxygen evolution rates to a complete inhibition of these parameters. Those mutants exhibiting photoautotrophic growth and oxygen evolution capability under standard conditions were unable to grow photoautotrophically or evolve oxygen when grown at low chloride concentrations. Finally, a mutant cell line exhibiting a substitution at position 342G was recovered. The mutant G342D exhibited moderate alterations of photoautotrophic growth and oxygen evolution. In addition to these alterations, mutants were recovered in which deletions and insertions (leading to frame shifts) and stop codons were introduced. These mutants uniformly lacked the ability to either grow photoautotrophically or evolve oxygen.     

光系统II核心天线CP43和CP47的分离纯化及光谱性质研究

采用ＤＥＡＥ－ＦｒａｃｔｏｇｅｌＴＳＫ６５０２阴离子交换树脂柱层析法从菠 菜中分离纯化了ＰＳＯⅡ核心天线复合物ＣＰ４３和ＣＰ４７,计算出每分子ＣＰ４３含１９－２０个Ｃｈｌａ和４－５个β－Ｃａｒ;     

光系统II核心天线CP43和CP47的分离纯化及光谱性质研究

采用ＤＥＡＥ－ＦｒａｃｔｏｇｅｌＴＳＫ６５０Ｓ阴离子交换树脂柱层析法从菠菜（ＳｐｉｎａｃｉａＯｌｅｒａｃｅａ）中分离纯化了ＰＳＩＩ核心天线复合物ＣＰ４３和ＣＰ４７,计算出每分子ＣＰ４３含１９－２０个Ｃｈｌａ和４－５个β－Ｃａｒ;每分子ＣＰ４７含２０－２１个Ｃｈｌａ和３－４个β－Ｃａｒ。普通及三维（３Ｄ）低温（７７Ｋ）荧光发射光谱的测定证明,纯化的ＣＰ４３和ＣＰ４７都具有较好的完整性。常温（２９８Ｋ）吸收光谱的测定,证明纯化的ＣＰ４３和ＣＰ４７的红光区最大吸收峰分别位于６７１ｎｍ和６７４ｎｍ,但是它们在该区的四阶导数光谱均给出６７０ｎｍ和６８２ｎｍ两个峰,这表明,它们均至少含有两种不同结合状态的Ｃｈｌａ分子。对ＣＰ４３和ＣＰ４７中可能的能量传递机制进行了讨论     

In situ ruminal degradation of amino acids and in vitro protein digestibility of undegraded CP of dried distillers’ grains with solubles from European ethanol plants

The objectives of this study were to compare the in situ ruminal degradation of CP and amino acids (AAs) of dried distillers’ grains with solubles (DDGS), and to estimate intestinal digestibility (ID) of undegradable crude protein (UDP) with the in vitro pepsin–pancreatin solubility of CP (PPS), using either DDGS samples (DDGS-s) or DDGS residues (DDGS-r) obtained after 16 h ruminal incubation. Thirteen samples originating from wheat, corn, barley and blends were studied. Lysine and methionine content of DDGS-s varied from 1.4 to 4.0 and 1.3 to 2.0 g/16 g N, respectively. The milk protein score (MPS) of DDGS-s was low and ranged from 0.36 to 0.51, and lysine and isoleucine were estimated to be the most limiting AAs in DDGS-s and DDGS-r. DDGS-r contained slightly more essential AAs (EAAs) than did the DDGS-s. Rumen degradation after 16 h varied from 44% to 94% for CP, from 39% to 90% for lysine and from 35% to 92% for methionine. Linear regressions showed that the ruminal degradation of individual AAs can be predicted from CP degradation. The PPS of DDGS-s was higher than that of DDGS-r and it varied from 70% to 89% and from 47% to 81%, respectively. There was no significant correlation between the PPS of DDGS-s and PPS of DDGS-r (R²=0.31). The estimated intestinally absorbable dietary protein (IADP) averaged 21%. Moderate correlation was found between the crude fibre (CF) content and PPS of DDGS-r (R²=0.43). This study suggests an overestimation of the contribution of UDP of DDGS to digestible protein supply in the duodenum in some currently used protein evaluation systems. More research is required and recommended to assess the intestinal digestibility of AAs from DDGS.     

多表位hCG嵌合肽(CP1和CP10)抗原的构建及其免疫原性

本研究设计了CP1和CP10两种嵌合肽免疫原,它们由人绒毛膜促性腺激素β亚单位(β- hCG)3个线性B细胞表位(BCE)以及包括来自乙肝表面抗原和破伤风类毒素2个广谱性T细胞表位(TCE)的6个TCEs组合而成。编码CP1及其衍生物CP10的人工基因分别重组插入热诱导pBV221载体后,均能在大肠杆菌中以约占细菌总蛋白1％的比例被表达。在蛋白印迹试验中,在SDS-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳凝胶上显示约为16．5 kD分子量的CP1和CP10表达蛋白,能被抗各插入表位单克隆或多克隆抗体识别。各表达蛋白可用制备性PAGE方法一步纯化,纯化产物均显示95％以上的电泳均一性,纯化得率可达到每升培养液1-2mg水平。以它们为抗原主动免疫小鼠,都能分别产生识别CP1或CP10和天然β-hCG的抗血清,并都能在它们的抗血清中检测到各插入抗原表位的抗体。hCG CPs的可获得性及其能诱导各表位抗体生成特征,有可能成为研制hCG抗生育和肿瘤治疗性疫苗的新的候选免疫原。     

Immunogenic comparison for two different recombinant chimeric peptides (CP12 and CP22) containing one or two copies of three linear B cell epitopes from β-hCG subunit

To develop a superior chimeric peptide (CP) vaccine of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), two CP antigens (named CP12 and CP22) encoding one or two copies of three linear B cell epitopes from the β-hCG subunit and six foreign T cell epitopes, including two promiscuous TCEs from hepatitis B surface antigen and tetanus toxoid, were constructed and biosynthesized. The hCG CP12 and CP22 of 21 or 23 kDa, respectively, were expressed in Escherichia coli at the level of ∼1% of total cell proteins when inserted into thermo-inducible pBV221 expression vector. The purified CP12 and CP22 proteins with >95% relative homogeneity are immunogenic, and elicited antibodies against the β5, β9 and β8 BCEs of β-hCG in both rabbits and three different inbred strains of mice. A mouse uterine weight study in Balb/c mice demonstrated that the CP12 and CP22 antigens with an additional β5 neutralizing epitope enhanced the in vivo bio-neutralization capacity of the induced antibodies compared to the C-terminal immunogen of β-hCG. We propose that the biosynthesized CP22, possessing with two copies of three BCEs, represents a novel candidate antigen for an hCG contraceptive or tumor therapeutic vaccine.     

A 13C CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy and AFM study of the structure of Glucagel™, a gelling β-glucan from barley

The structure of Glucagel™, a mixed-linked (1→3), (1→4)-β-d-glucan extracted from barley, was examined using ¹³C CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Results from ¹³C CP/MAS NMR spectroscopy showed that Glucagel™ contained regions with two distinct conformations. In some of the regions the β-glucan chains associated to form a unique conformation, the A-conformation, while in the other regions the β-glucan chains were in an amorphous conformation. Dilute solutions of Glucagel™ were prepared for imaging by dissolving Glucagel™ in water at 90 °C. If the dilute solution was immediately deposited onto mica and the surface dried, then no fine detail was seen in the AFM image. However, when dilute solutions of Glucagel™ were left for several days before being deposited onto the mica surface, individual fibres could be clearly imaged. These results suggested that in gels formed from Glucagel™, junction zones occur because of the interaction of two β-glucan chains in the A-conformation.     

转MDMV CP基因玉米植株的再生

用基因枪法将玉米矮花叶病毒外壳蛋白基因导入玉米自交系综31幼胚诱导的愈伤组织中,在含有Bialaphos 6 mg·L^-1的选择培养基上经过3个月的抗性筛选,抗性愈伤组织在分化培养基上生成可育再生植株。PCR、PCR-Southern blot及DNA点杂交结果表明,外源基因已导入到玉米基因组中。转基因T1和T2代植株在大田表现出对MDMV的抗性,可以降低发病率,减轻发病程度。     

纯化光系统Ⅱ（PSⅡ）核心天线复合物CP43和CP47的共振拉曼光谱

采用ＤＥＡＥ－ＦｒａｃｔｏｇｅｌＴＳＫ６５０Ｓ阴离子交换树脂柱层 从菠菜中分离纯化了ＰＳⅡ核心天线复合物ＣＰ４３和ＣＰ４７。聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳（ＳＤＳ＿ＰＡＧＥ）检测结果表明,纯化的ＣＰ４３和ＣＰ４７均只含１条蛋白带,证明样品纯度的可靠性。其常温（４６０－５００ｎｍ）较ＣＰ４３具有明显的精细结构。同时测定了它们的常温共振拉曼光谱,可以看出;类似于全反式构型的β－ｃａｒｏｔｅｎｅ分子,ＣＰ４３和ＣＰ     

抗菌肽CP10A在大肠杆菌中的融合表达

CP10A是一种由抗菌肽Indolicine经过序列改造,且对多数革兰氏阳性病源细菌具有较强抗菌活性的多肽序列。本研究根据已报道的CP10A氨基酸序列,兼顾大肠杆菌密码子偏好性,设计CP10A的核苷酸序列,利用PCR技术合成相应的DNA序列,后克隆构建重组表达载体pET32a（+）-CP10A,转入大肠杆菌AD494菌株。经IPTG诱导表达和15% SDS-PAGE电泳检测后发现产物以包涵体形式存在,且融合表达量占总蛋白的50%。在变性条件下经Ni-NTA亲合柱层析及复性,最终获得了较高纯度的可溶性重组蛋白。本研究首次实现了CP10A抗菌肽在大肠杆菌中的融合表达,为进一步研究其生物学活性及应用奠定了一定的基础,同时也为研究抗菌肽表达提供了一种方法。