Cloning and purification of protein kinase CK2 recombinant alpha and beta subunits from the Mediterranean fly Ceratitis capitata

The Mediterranean fruit fly Ceratitis capitata is an insect capable of wreaking extensive damage to a wide range of fruit crops. Protein kinase CK2 is a ubiquitous Ser/Thr kinase that is highly conserved among eukaryotes; it is a heterotetramer composed of two catalytic (α) and a dimer of regulatory (β) subunits. We present here the construction of the cDNA molecules of the CK2α and CK2β subunits from the medfly C. capitata by the 5'/3' RACE and RT-PCR methods, respectively. CcCK2α catalytic subunit presents the characteristic and conserved features of a typical protein kinase, similar to the regulatory CcCK2β subunit, that also possess the conserved features of regulatory CK2β subunits, as revealed by comparison of their predicted amino acid sequences with other eukaryotic species. The recombinant CcCK2α and CcCK2β proteins were purified by affinity chromatography to homogeneity, after overexpression in Escherichia coli. CcCK2α is capable to utilize GTP and its activity and is inhibited by polyanions and stimulated by polycations in phosphorylation assays, using purified acidic ribosomal protein P1 as a substrate.     

Overexpression,purification, and functional analysis of recombinant human tubulin dimer

Microtubules consisting of tubulin dimers play essential roles in various cellular functions. Investigating the structure–function relationship of tubulin dimers requires a method to prepare sufficient quantities of recombinant tubulin. To this end, we simultaneously expressed human α1- and β3-tubulin using a baculovirus-insect cell expression system that enabled the purification of 5 mg recombinant tubulin per litre of cell culture. The purified recombinant human tubulin could be polymerized into microtubules that glide on a kinesin-coated glass surface. The method provides a powerful tool for in vitro functional analyses of microtubules.     

Cloning, expression, purification, and biological activity of recombinant native and variant human alpha 1-antichymotrypsins

Human alpha 1-antichymotrypsin has been cloned, sequenced and expressed in Escherichia coli and recombinant protein as well as point-specific mutants have been purified and characterized. The corrected gene-deduced amino acid sequence has 45% overall identity with alpha 1-protease inhibitor, which is higher than the 42% previously reported (Chandra, T., Stackhouse, R., Kidd, V. J., Robson, J. H., and Woo, S. L. C. (1983) Biochemistry 22, 5055-5060). Recombinant antichymotrypsin (rACT) is similar to natural antichymotrypsin with respect to the specificity of its interactions with proteases. Its second-order rate constant for association with bovine chymotrypsin is 6-8 x 10(5) M-1 s-1, which is identical to that of the serum-derived inhibitor. Site-specific mutagenesis has been used to produce two variants of rACT in which the P1 position has been changed from leucine to either methionine (L358M-rACT) or arginine (L358R-rACT). L358M-rACT has a specificity of inhibitory activity toward serine proteases closely similar to that of native rACT. By contrast, the specificity of L358R-rACT is quite different from that of native rACT, most notably in efficiently inhibiting trypsin and human thrombin while showing a decreased ability to inhibit chymotrypsin.     

辣椒MADS-box转录因子CaRIN基因克隆、表达与功能分析

【目的】为探究MADS-box家族基因RIN的表达特征和功能,解析其对辣椒类胡萝卜素代谢的影响。【方法】基于辣椒果实发育转录组,通过RT-PCR克隆辣椒MADS-box转录因子CaRIN基因CDS全长,对其进行生物信息学、表达模式、亚细胞定位、转录活性等分析,并探讨VIGS诱导CaRIN基因沉默对类胡萝卜素代谢的影响。【结果】（1）CaRIN基因CDS全长732 bp,编码243个氨基酸,蛋白分子量为27.95 kD,等电点（pI）为7.06,其编码蛋白具有典型的MEF2_like MADS结构域,属MICK-type型转录因子;（2）CaRIN基因主要在花和果实中表达,具有组织特异性;CaRIN定位在细胞核,并且具有转录激活活性。（3）CaRIN基因启动子具有ABRE等多个激素应答元件,外源脱落酸和乙烯利均能加速果实转红,诱导CaRIN及相关基因高表达;（4）VIGS诱导沉默CaRIN基因后,类胡萝卜素代谢途径基因PSY1、CCS、PDS、CRTZ、LCYB和NCED1表达水平降低为对照组的0.27-0.59倍,且果实总类胡萝卜素含量（0.379 mg/g）较对照（0.650 mg/g）显著降低。【结论】CaRIN可能是辣椒果实类胡萝卜素代谢过程的重要调控因子。     

Glycosylation of the alpha and beta tubulin by sialyloligosaccharides

To examine whether alpha and beta tubulin are glycoproteins, we used a pyridylamino labeling method and a monoclonal antibody, SG3-1, raised against NeuAcalpha2-3Gal structure. Alpha and beta tubulin from both pig brain and HeLa cells were positive for the SG3-1 antibody by immunoblot assay. Sialidase treatment reduced the reactivity of the SG3-1 antibody to alpha and beta tubulin molecules. N-linked oligosaccharide analysis also showed that alpha and beta tubulin are glycosylated. Moreover, immunofluorescence analysis showed that the filamentous structure recognized by the SG3-1 antibody was overlapped with microtubules, especially in the vicinity of the nucleus. These results indicate that alpha and beta tubulin are glycosylated with sialyloligosaccharides.     

辣椒冷诱导差异表达基因分析

采用cDNA-AFLP技术分析了4℃低温诱导前后耐寒辣椒(Capsicum annuum L.)品系P70的基因表达差异谱.结果获得了120个差异片段,对阳性克隆中的12个差异片段进行测序和Blast-x比对,发现其中有4个片段(KH-1、KH-2、KH-3和KH-4)与抗逆性相关,其碱基数分别为185、160、269和511 bp,4个片段分别与编码抗坏血酸过氧化物酶基因的同源性达98%、与细胞色素p450基因的同源性达98%、与牛血清蛋白(BSA)基因的同源性达94%、与水孔通道蛋白(AQP)基因的同源性达90%.4个差异基因表达模式为:基因KH-1、KH-2、KH-3上调表达,KH-4下调表达.     

Peroxisomes from pepper fruits (Capsicum annuum L.): purification, characterisation and antioxidant activity

Pepper is a vegetable of importance in human nutrition. Currently, one of the most interesting properties of natural products is their antioxidant content. In this work, the purification and characterisation of peroxisomes from fruits of a higher plant was carried out, and their antioxidative enzymatic and non-enzymatic content was investigated. Green and red pepper fruits (Capsicum annuum L., type Lamuyo) were used in this study. The analysis by electron microscopy showed that peroxisomes from both types of fruits contained crystalline cores which varied in shape and size, and the presence of chloroplasts and chromoplasts in green and red pepper fruits, respectively, was confirmed.

Peroxisomes were purified by differential and sucrose density-gradient centrifugations. In the peroxisomal fractions, the activity of the photorespiration, β-oxidation and glyoxylate cycle enzymes, and the ROS-related enzymes catalase, superoxide dismutase, xanthine oxidase, glutathione reductase and NADP⁺-dehydrogenases, was determined. Most enzymes studied had higher specific activity and protein content in green than in red fruits. By native PAGE and western blot analysis, the localisation of a Mn-SOD in fruit peroxisomes was demonstrated. The ascorbate and glutathione levels were also determined in crude extracts and in peroxisomes purified from both green and red peppers. The total ascorbate content (200-220 mg per 100 g FW) was similar in crude extracts from the two types of fruits, but higher in peroxisomes from red peppers. The glutathione concentration was 2-fold greater in green pepper crude extracts than in red fruits, whereas peroxisomes from both tissues showed similar values. The presence in pepper peroxisomes of different antioxidative enzymes and their corresponding metabolites implies that these organelles might be an important pool of antioxidants in fruit cells, where these enzymes could also act as modulators of signal molecules (O₂^˙-, H₂O₂) during fruit maturation.     

辣椒资源及其加工利用

综述了辣椒的起源、传播、栽培种分类、生产和加工利用的概况,介绍了辣椒的化学组成、辣椒红色素和辣椒碱的药理作用及其开发利用价值。     

Cloning and expression of a beta tubulin gene of Physarum polycephalum

A beta tubulin gene of Physarum polycephalum has been isolated from a genomic library in the phage EMBL4. Southern-blot hybridization to genomic DNA indicates that the cloned DNA is derived from the betB1 locus of the beta tubulin gene family. A tubulin-specific subfragment of the phage DNA was used as a hybridization probe to construct a restriction map of the betB1 locus. The probe consisted of the almost complete coding region of the 5' half of the tubulin gene, interrupted by one intron. The derived amino acid sequence of this subclone deviates from the protein sequence for Physarum amoebal beta tubulin (amino acids 4-207) in two of 207 amino acids. We used both recA and recBC sbcB bacterial host strains, which have been recommended for cloning of instability-conferring sequences of the Physarum genome, but were unable to subclone the 3' part of the gene from the phage DNA. Primer-extension analysis indicates that the betB gene is expressed in the vegetatively proliferating amoebal and plasmodial stages of the life cycle as well as in differentiating (sporulating) plasmodia.     

Glutamate-induced polymerization of tubulin: characteristics of the reaction and application to the large-scale purification of tubulin

The multiple attack model of the α-amylase mechanism has been analyzed. Theoretical rate coefficients dependent on the degree of polymerization of substrate (n) have been applied. They are: effectiveness of hydrolysis (y_n) which affects V values, and the average number of unitary movements (ζ_n) which affects K_m values. The model explains the dependence of V and K_m on the degree of polymerization of substrates with n values higher than the number of subsites in the enzyme binding site. Distribution of the degree of polymerization of hog pancreas α-amylase products (n_p) and average n_p value has been found experimentally and applied to calculate the maximal number of unitary movements (z) of the enzyme during the single enzyme-substrate meeting. V and K_m values of hog pancreas α-amylase for amylose and different branched substrates have been determined and discussed in terms of the multiple attack theory. Their dependence on theoretic y_n and ζ_n values has been found in support of the model.     

Helicity of alpha(404-451) and beta(394-445) tubulin C-terminal recombinant peptides

We have investigated the solution conformation of the functionally relevant C-terminal extremes of alpha- and beta-tubulin, employing the model recombinant peptides RL52alpha3 and RL33beta6, which correspond to the amino acid sequences 404-451(end) and 394-445(end) of the main vertebrate isotypes of alpha- and beta-tubulin, respectively, and synthetic peptides with the alpha-tubulin(430-443) and beta-tubulin(412-431) internal sequences. Alpha(404-451) and beta(394-445) are monomeric in neutral aqueous solution (as indicated by sedimentation equilibrium), and have circular dichroism (CD) spectra characteristic of nearly disordered conformation, consistent with low scores in peptide helicity prediction. Limited proteolysis of beta(394-445) with subtilisin, instead of giving extensive degradation, resulted in main cleavages at positions Thr409-Glu410 and Tyr422-Gln423-Gln424, defining the proteolysis resistant segment 410-422, which corresponds to the central part of the predicted beta-tubulin C-terminal helix. Both recombinant peptides inhibited microtubule assembly, probably due to sequestration of the microtubule stabilizing associated proteins. Trifluoroethanol (TFE)-induced markedly helical CD spectra in alpha(404-451) and beta(394-445). A substantial part of the helicity of beta(394-445) was found to be in the CD spectrum of the shorter peptide beta(412-431) with TFE. Two-dimensional 1H-NMR parameters (nonsequential nuclear Overhauser effects (NOE) and conformational C alphaH shifts) in 30% TFE permitted to conclude that about 25% of alpha(404-451) and 40% of beta(394-451) form well-defined helices encompassing residues 418-432 and 408-431, respectively, flanked by disordered N- and C-segments. The side chains of beta(394-451) residues Leu418, Val419, Ser420, Tyr422, Tyr425, and Gln426 are well defined in structure calculations from the NOE distance constraints. The apolar faces of the helix in both alpha and beta chains share a characteristic sequence of conserved residues Ala,Met(+4),Leu(+7),Tyr(+11). The helical segment of alpha(404-451) is the same as that described in the electron crystallographic model structure of alphabeta-tubulin, while in beta(394-451) it extends for nine residues more, supporting the possibility of a functional coil --> helix transition at the C-terminus of beta-tubulin. These peptides may be employed to construct model complexes with microtubule associated protein binding sites.     

Cloning, expression, purification and characterization of recombinant glutathione-S-transferase from Xylella fastidiosa

Xylella fastidiosa is an important pathogen bacterium transmitted by xylem-feedings leafhoppers that colonizes the xylem of plants and causes diseases on several important crops including citrus variegated chlorosis (CVC) in orange and lime trees. Glutathione-S-transferases (GST) form a group of multifunctional isoenzymes that catalyzes both glutathione (GSH)-dependent conjugation and reduction reactions involved in the cellular detoxification of xenobiotic and endobiotic compounds. GSTs are the major detoxification enzymes found in the intracellular space and mainly in the cytosol from prokaryotes to mammals, and may be involved in the regulation of stress-activated signals by suppressing apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1. In this study, we describe the cloning of the glutathione-S-transferase from X. fastidiosa into pET-28a(+) vector, its expression in Escherichia coli, purification and initial structural characterization. The purification of recombinant xfGST (rxfGST) to near homogeneity was achieved using affinity chromatography and size-exclusion chromatography (SEC). SEC demonstrated that rxfGST is a homodimer in solution. The secondary and tertiary structures of recombinant protein were analyzed by circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy, respectively. The enzyme was assayed for activity and the results taken together indicated that rxfGST is a stable molecule, correctly folded, and highly active. Several members of the GST family have been extensively studied. However, xfGST is part of a less-studied subfamily which yet has not been structurally and biochemically characterized. In addition, these studies should provide a useful basis for future studies and biotechnological approaches of rxfGST.     

Cloning, expression, purification and functional characterization of recombinant human PSP94

Human PSP94 (prostate secretory protein of 94 amino acids) is a major protein synthesized by the prostate gland and secreted in large quantities in seminal fluid. Previous studies have suggested a potential biomedical utility of PSP94 in applications such as diagnosis/prognosis and in treatment of human prostate cancer (PCa). This study was designed to produce a recombinant human PSP94 (rPSP94) to evaluate its clinical and functional role in PCa. We cloned PSP94 cDNA and successfully expressed an active recombinant protein in yeast using Pichia pastoris expression system. A simple purification strategy was established that incorporated combination of membrane ultrafiltration (Pellicon tangential-flow system) and anion exchange chromatography using DE52 resin. The method minimized the technical level of expertise for the production of high quality functional protein. The purified rPSP94 (>98% purity) showed a single band with SDS-PAGE analysis and a peak with a molecular mass (M(r)) of 11,495 kDa using MALDI TOF mass spectrometry (MS). The in vitro competitive binding assays indicated high functional similarity of the rPSP94 with that of its native counterpart. Furthermore, in vivo administration of rPSP94 caused a significant growth inhibition of hormone refractory Mat LyLu tumors in Dunning rat model. Taken together, our data provides evidence for high suitability of the purified rPSP94 for evaluation of its potential diagnostic and therapeutic role in PCa and as a valuable analytical reference standard for clinical studies.     

G protein alpha subunits activate tubulin GTPase and modulate microtubule polymerization dynamics

G proteins serve many functions involving the transfer of signals from cell surface receptors to intracellular effector molecules. Considerable evidence suggests that there is an interaction between G proteins and the cytoskeleton. In this report, G protein alpha subunits Gi1alpha, Gsalpha, and Goalpha are shown to activate the GTPase activity of tubulin, inhibit microtubule assembly, and accelerate microtubule dynamics. Gialpha inhibited polymerization of tubulin-GTP into microtubules by 80-90% in the absence of exogenous GTP. Addition of exogenous GTP, but not guanylylimidodiphosphate, which is resistant to hydrolysis, overcame the inhibition. Analysis of the dynamics of individual microtubules by video microscopy demonstrated that Gi1alpha increases the catastrophe frequency, the frequency of transition from growth to shortening. Thus, Galpha may play a role in modulating microtubule dynamic instability, providing a mechanism for the modification of the cytoskeleton by extracellular signals.     

人SM22α在巴斯德毕赤酵母中的表达、纯化及抗体制备

目的：用酵母表达重组人平滑肌22α（SM22α）蛋白,制备兔抗人SM22α多克隆抗体。方法：利用PCR从pGEM3z—SM22α质粒扩增得到人SM22α基因编码区,重组至pPIC9构建酵母表达载体,转染巴斯德毕赤酵母,进行分泌型表达。表达产物经分步盐析和CM-纤维素柱层析纯化后,免疫家兔,制备兔抗人sM22α多克隆抗体。结果：所构建的pPIC9-SM22α酵母表达载体转染酵母感受态细胞后,外源性SM22α可整合至酵母染色体中,经甲醇诱导84h,可实现SM22α的高效表达与分泌。用70％硫酸铵处理上清液,收集沉淀进行离子交换层析纯化后,经变性的聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳（SDS-PAGE）可见一分子量为22kD的单一区带。用该纯化产物免疫家兔制备的兔抗人SM22α抗血清可用于检测人或大鼠血管壁中SM22α的表达水平。结论：重组人SM22α可在巴斯德毕赤酵母中进行高效表达与分泌,纯化蛋白可用于抗体制备,为研究SM22α功能提供了检测工具。