RNA病毒翻译调控元件—内部核糖体进入位点(IRES)

真核生物大多数蛋白质合成采用了依赖帽子结构的翻译起始方式.但一组缺乏帽子构的RNA病毒的蛋白质合成起始是依赖其5′端非翻译区（untranslated region,UTR）翻译调控的顺式作用元件——内部核糖体进入位点（internal ribosome entry site, IRES）.它 们能够在一些反式作用因子的辅助下,招募核糖体小亚基到病毒mRNA的翻译起始位点.前,依赖IRES元件翻译起始的RNA病毒在哺乳动物,无脊椎动物及植物中均有发现.因此,对RNA病毒IRES元件的深入研究,不仅有助于阐明相关疾病的发生机理,而且为工业应用和疾病治疗提供借鉴意义.本文对RNA病毒IRES元件发现、分类、结构与功能等作了综述.     

小RNA病毒蛋白翻译调控元件研究进展

真核生物的起始复合物并不是在起始AUG处形成 ,而是在mRNA的 5′末端形成 ,其识别信号就是 5′末端的帽子结构。小RNA病毒科成员RNA 5′末端没有帽子结构 ,而有一个病毒编码的小蛋白质与基因组共价相连。小RNA病毒的蛋白翻译起始于 5′非翻译区中的内部顺式调控元件 ,称为内部核糖体进入位点 (IRES)。口蹄疫病毒 (foot and mouthdiseasevirus,FMDV)是该科病毒的典型代表 ,引起偶蹄动物的急性接触性传染病。完整FMDV含有单链正股RNA、衣壳蛋白及少量装配过程中夹带的非结构蛋白和宿主细胞肌动蛋白 ,其基因组RNA全长约 8 5kb ,可直接作为信使RNA。对IRES的一、二级结构进行了比较 ,对IRES与翻译起始因子的相互作用以及对病毒毒力的影响作了综述。     

转录因子GATA3 mRNA 5′非翻译区内部核糖体进入位点的活性

GATA3(GA-TA-binding protein-3)是锌指蛋白GATA家族成员之一,在细胞的增殖和分化中起着重要的作用,GATA3在细胞中的异常表达也是导致众多肿瘤形成的原因。通过对GATA3m RNA 5′非翻译区(untranslated region,UTR)进行分析,发现其UTR长达557 bp并且具有复杂的二级结构。将GATA3 m RNA 5′UTR克隆至双荧光素酶报告载体p RL-FL中,瞬时转染至细胞中然后对细胞进行无血清培养后,发现GATA3 m RNA 5′UTR介导的翻译明显升高。将GATA3 m RNA 5′UTR克隆至Δp RL-FL载体上,瞬时转染细胞后检测萤火虫荧光素酶的表达,发现GATA3 m RNA 5′UTR不具有隐含启动子,进而确定GATA3 m RNA 5′UTR具有内部核糖体进入位点(internal ribosome entry sites,IRES)元件;进一步对GATA3 m RNA 5′UTR进行序列截短分析,发现GATA3 m RNA 5′UTR中345~557 bp区间可能是抑制IRES活性的调控元件,而95~344 bp区间则是IRES元件的主要活性中心调控域,并且在不同的细胞系中GATA3 IRES元件的活性存在显著的差异。该研究结果表明,GATA3m RNA的5′UTR可参与GATA3的表达调控。     

内部核糖体进入位点及其研究进展

内部核糖体进入位点(IRES)是mRNA5'端非编码区的一段特殊序列,允许核糖体直接在此序列结合mRNA并起始翻译。对IRES的发现、分类、特征,以及细胞中是否存在该元件进行了简要综述。     

依赖于5′端非编码区高级结构的真核生物mRNA翻译调控

翻译水平的调控是真核基因表达调控的重要环节.近年来的研究表明,许多真核基因的翻译依赖于RNA5′端非编码区的结构元件.一些小结构元件,如铁离子反应元件,具有1个茎环结构,由铁离子介导控制转铁蛋白的翻译.核糖开关通过结合特定代谢分子在2种结构状态下切换,调控可变剪接和翻译起始.另1个高度结构化的mRNA元件是内部核糖体进入位点,通过富集核糖体和起始因子促进基因的表达.本文综述了依赖于小结构元件、内部核糖体进入位点和核糖开关的真核基因翻译起始调控相应的研究成果和研究方法.对于研究的前景以及可能存在的挑战也作出阐述.     

依赖于5′端非编码区高级结构的真核生物mRNA翻译调控

翻译水平的调控是真核基因表达调控的重要环节.近年来的研究表明,许多真核基因的翻译依赖于RNA 5′端非编码区的结构元件.一些小结构元件,如铁离子反应元件,具有1个茎环结构,由铁离子介导控制转铁蛋白的翻译. 核糖开关通过结合特定代谢分子在2种结构状态下切换,调控可变剪接和翻译起始.另1个高度结构化的mRNA元件是内部核糖体进入位点,通过富集核糖体和起始因子促进基因的表达.本文综述了依赖于小结构元件、内部核糖体进入位点和核糖开关的真核基因翻译起始调控相应的研究成果和研究方法.对于研究的前景以及可能存在的挑战也作出阐述.     

病毒IRES的结构及IRES介导的蛋白质翻译研究进展

核糖体进入位点(internal ribosome entry sites,IRES)常见于许多正链RNA病毒基因组以及部分细胞基因.在营养缺乏、内质网应激、缺氧和病毒感染等不利条件下,细胞翻译也能够从经典的帽子依赖型翻译转换为依赖于IRES的翻译机制.事实上,自IRES被发现以来,其相关的翻译机制调控被认为是病毒感染...     

eIF4A在帽依赖和IRES介导的翻译起始中的作用

生物体内翻译起始机制分为两类：帽依赖性翻译起始和内部核糖体进入位点(internal ribosome entry sites, IRES)介导的翻译起始。真核生物的翻译起始为经典的帽依赖性翻译起始模型,而大多数正链RNA病毒选择依赖于IRES的翻译机制。真核翻译起始因子4A (eukaryotic initiation factor 4A, eIF4A)是DEAD-box RNA解旋酶家族的成员,具有依赖于RNA的ATP酶活性和RNA解旋酶活性,而e IF4A具体的解旋机制至今仍不清晰。同时,eIF4A与其他翻译因子有着复杂而紧密的联系,在帽依赖性与IRES介导的翻译起始过程中扮演着至关重要的角色。本文主要对eIF4A的功能、结构以及eIF4A在帽依赖性与IRES介导的翻译起始过程中的机制作一综述。     

雌激素受体2（ESR2）mRNA 5′非翻译区内部核糖体进入位点活性的鉴定与分析

真核生物除了传统的帽依赖型翻译机制外,还存在内部核糖体进入位点（internal ribosome entry site, IRES）介导的翻译机制。雌激素受体2（estrogen receptor 2, ESR2）是雌激素受体家族成员之一,其编码的蛋白质在许多肿瘤中发挥重要的作用。ESR2蛋白的异常表达会导致众多肿瘤的发生,但其蛋白质翻译水平的调控机制至今仍不清楚。研究发现,在药物刺激的条件下,乳腺癌细胞MCF7/WT中ESR2蛋白的表达提高,但是其转录水平基本未见发生改变。猜测ESR2 mRNA 5′非翻译区（5′ untranslated region, 5′ UTR）具有IRES活性。为了验证ESR2 mRNA 5′ UTR是否具有IRES元件,将ESR2 mRNA 5′ UTR插入到双顺反子报告基因载体（pRF）中,构建pRL-ESR2-FL重组质粒载体,将其瞬时转染到HEK293细胞。结果发现,ESR2 mRNA 5′ UTR有假定的IRES活性。并且通过3个排除实验验证了ESR2 IRES活性与其5′ UTR中的内部潜在启动子（P<0.0001）、内部剪切位点以及核糖体通读无关。进一步对其序列进行截短研究发现,ESR2 IRES活性发挥的关键区域是3′端的439～468 nt,且ESR2 IRES最大活性的发挥依赖于5′ UTR序列的完整性。并且发现,ESR2 IRES活性的发挥不但需要特定的一级核酸序列,还要有稳定的二级茎环结构。此研究有望为ESR2蛋白调控的相关疾病提供新的药物治疗靶点。     

Recent advances in the study of Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus replication and pathogenesis

It has now been over twenty years since a novel herpesviral genome was identified in Kaposi's sarcoma biopsies. Since then, the cumulative research effort by molecular biologists, virologists, clinicians, and epidemiologists alike has led to the extensive characterization of this tumor virus, Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus(KSHV; also known as human herpesvirus 8(HHV-8)), and its associated diseases. Here we review the current knowledge of KSHV biology and pathogenesis, with a particular emphasis on new and exciting advances in the field of epigenetics. We also discuss the development and practicality of various cell culture and animal model systems to study KSHV replication and pathogenesis.     

The structure, reproduction and taxonomy of Vidalia and Osmundaria (Rhodophyta, Rhodomelaceae)

Comprises species occurring mostly in subtidal habitats in tropical, subtropical and warm-temperate areas of the world. An analysis of the type species, V. spiralis (Sonder) Lamouroux ex J. Agardh, a species from Australia, establishes basic characters for distinguishing species in the genus. These characters are (1) branching patterns of thalli, (2) flat blades that may be spiralled on their axis, (3) width of the blade, (4) primary or secondary derivation of sterile and fertile branchlets and (5) position of sterile and fertile branchlets on the thalli. Application of the latter two characters provides an important basic method for separation of species into three major groups. Osmundaria , a genus known only in southern Australia, was studied in relation to Vidalia , and its separation from the Vidalia assemblage is not accepted. Species of Vidalia therefore are transferred to the older genus name, Osmundaria. Two new species, Osmundaria papenfussii and Osmundaria oliveae are described from Natal. Confusion in the usage of the epithet, Vidalia fimbriala Brown ex Turner has been clarified, and Vidalia gregaria Falkenberg, described as an epiphyte on Osmundaria pro/ifera Lamouroux, is revealed to be young branches of the host, Osmundaria prolifera.     

New or rare chromosome counts in Artemisia L. (Asteraceae, Anthemideae) and related genera from Kazakhstan

Fifteen chromosome counts of six Artemisia taxa and one species of each of the genera Brachanthemum, Hippolytia, Kaschgaria, Lepidolopsis and Turaniphytum are reported from Kazakhstan. Three of them are new reports, two are not consistent with previous counts and the remainder are confirmations of very scarce (one to four) earlier records. All the populations studied have the same basic chromosome number, x = 9, with ploidy levels ranging from 2x to 6x. Some correlations between ploidy level, morphological characters and distribution are noted.     

肝癌中HBV和HCV基因和抗原的分布及意义

采用原位分子杂交方法检测HCV RNA及HBV X基因;采用免疫组织化学方法研究HCV核心抗原,非结构区C33c抗原及HBxAg在肝细胞肝癌中的定位及分布.结果表明(1)HCV RNA、HBV X基因在肝细胞肝癌组织检出率分别为40%(55/136)和82%(112/136).HCV RNA定位于癌细胞的胞浆内,阳性细胞呈散在、灶状及弥漫分布三种形式;HBV X基因在肝癌细胞中的分布呈胞浆型、核型及核浆型,阳性细胞也呈上述三种分布形式;(2)HCV C33c抗原、核心抗原在肝细胞肝癌中的阳性率为81%(133/164)及86%(141/164).C33c抗原定位于癌细胞及肝细胞的胞浆内;核心抗原既定位于癌细胞核中,又可定位于胞浆中.C33c抗原阳性细胞以灶状分布为主;而核心抗原阳性细     

Selection with two alleles and complete dominance

For a plant selection model with frequency-independent viabilities, fertilities and selfing rates, it is shown that apart from global fixation, for certain parameter combinations a protected polymorphism and facultative fixation (either allele may become fixed according to initial frequencies) may both occur. Facultative fixation requires different selling rates for the dominant and recessive type. Protection of the polymorphism requires resource allocation for male and female function. In this connection the problem of purely genetically caused population extinction is discussed.
For general frequency dependence and regular segregation, the chances for establishment of a completely recessive gene are compared to those of a completely dominant gene. It is proven that the process of establishment of the recessive gene, despite a fitness advantage, may be considerably endangered by drift effects if random mating prevails. The recessive gene may reach the same effectivity in establishment as a dominant gene, only if the recessive homozygote mates exclusively with its own type during the period of establishment.