ES cell neural differentiation reveals a substantial number of novel ESTs

We have used a method for synchronously differentiating murine embryonic stem (ES) cells into functional neurons and glia in culture. Using subtractive hybridization we isolated approximately 1200 cDNA clones from ES cell cultures at the neural precursor stage of neural differentiation. Pilot studies indicated that this library is a good source of novel neuro-embryonic cDNA clones. We therefore screened the entire library by single-pass sequencing. Characterization of 604 non-redundant cDNA clones by BLAST revealed 96 novel expressed sequence tags (ESTs) and an additional 197 matching uncharacterized ESTs or genomic clones derived from genome sequencing projects. With the exception of a handful of genes, whose functions are still unclear, most of the 311 known genes identified in this screen are expressed in embryonic development and/or the nervous system. At least 80 of these genes are implicated in disorders of differentiation, neural development and/or neural function. This study provides an initial snapshot of gene expression during early neural differentiation of ES cell cultures. Given the recent identification of human ES cells, further characterization of these novel and uncharacterized ESTs has the potential to identify genes that may be important in nervous system development, physiology and disease. Electronic Publication     

DKT1, a novel K+ channel from carrot, forms functional heteromeric channels with KDC1

We report the isolation and characterisation of DKT1, a new carrot K+ channel alpha-subunit belonging to the Shaker-like family. DKT1 is expressed in many tissues of the adult plant, suggesting that it may play important roles in both nutrition and other important physiological processes. During embryo development, DKT1 is expressed at later phases implying the involvement of K+ in embryo maturation. When co-expressed with KDC1 in Xenopus oocytes, DKT1 is able to form functional, heteromeric channels, suggesting that possible interactions between these two ion channels in plant tissues may modulate K+ uptake.     

Cell surface labeling and mass spectrometry reveal diversity of cell surface markers and signaling molecules expressed in undifferentiated mouse embryonic stem cells

Although interactions between cell surface proteins and extracellular ligands are key to initiating embryonic stem cell differentiation to specific cell lineages, the plasma membrane protein components of these cells are largely unknown. We describe here a group of proteins expressed on the surface of the undifferentiated mouse embryonic stem cell line D3. These proteins were identified using a combination of cell surface labeling with biotin, subcellular fractionation of plasma membranes, and mass spectrometry-based protein identification technology. From 965 unique peptides carrying biotin labels, we assigned 324 proteins including 235 proteins that have putative signal sequences and/or transmembrane segments. Receptors, transporters, and cell adhesion molecules were the major classes of proteins identified. Besides known cell surface markers of embryonic stem cells, such as alkaline phosphatase, the analysis identified 59 clusters of differentiation-related molecules and more than 80 components of multiple cell signaling pathways that are characteristic of a number of different cell lineages. We identified receptors for leukemia-inhibitory factor, interleukin 6, and bone morphogenetic protein, which play critical roles in the maintenance of undifferentiated mouse embryonic stem cells. We also identified receptors for growth factors/cytokines, such as fibroblast growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, ephrin, Hedgehog, and Wnt, which transduce signals for cell differentiation and embryonic development. Finally we identified a variety of integrins, cell adhesion molecules, and matrix metalloproteases. These results suggest that D3 cells express diverse cell surface proteins that function to maintain pluripotency, enabling cells to respond to various external signals that initiate differentiation into a variety of cell types.     

Identification of genes encoding mouse oocyte secretory and transmembrane proteins by a signal sequence trap

The oocyte plays a key role in follicular development. At all stages of follicular development, oocytes interact with surrounding granulosa cells and promote their differentiation into the types of cells that support further oocyte growth and developmental competence. These interactions suggest the existence of an oocyte-granulosa cell regulatory loop that includes both secreted proteins and cell surface receptors on both cell types. Factors involved in the regulatory loop will therefore contain a signal sequence, which can be used to identify them through a signal sequence trap (SST). A screen of an oocyte SST library identified three classes of oocyte-expressed sequences: known mouse genes, sequences homologous to known mammalian genes, and novel sequences of unknown function. Many of the recovered genes may have roles in the oocyte-granulosa cell regulatory loop. For several of the known mouse genes, new roles in follicular development are implied by identification of their expression, for the first time, in the oocyte. The future characterization of novel sequences may lead to the identification of novel proteins participating in the regulatory loop.     

非典型E2F转录因子对细胞周期的调控及其功能

E2F家族转录因子是细胞周期调控网络中的重要环节之一,对细胞的增殖、分化和凋亡进行调节,并参与多种生理和病理过程。近年来,关于哺乳动物中E2F转录因子的生物学作用研究取得了很大进展,并鉴定出两个非典型的E2F家族成员：E2F7和E2F8。与典型的E2F转录因子相比,非典型E2F蛋白结构中含有两个相同的DNA结合域,对靶基因转录的调控不依赖于二聚化蛋白。非典型E2F蛋白进入细胞核后,通过与经典的E2F靶基因启动子结合,发挥转录抑制作用并调节细胞周期的进程,从而对细胞的大小、多倍化、增殖、分化和凋亡进行调控。随着基因敲除模型的建立和完善,使得进一步研究非典型E2F转录因子在不同组织或器官中的生物学作用成为可能。非典型E2F在胚胎发育、血管发生及造血系统中均发挥重要作用。另外,肿瘤细胞中典型E2F和非典型E2F的表达比例发生改变,说明非典型E2F成员还参与肿瘤的发生发展。该文综述了近年来关于非典型E2F转录因子的表达、调节及其生理病理作用的研究进展。     

Protein expression during the embryonic development of a gastropod

Despite the potential use of gastropod embryos in basic and applied research, little is known about their protein expression. We examined, for the first time, changes in proteomic profile during embryonic development of Pomacea canaliculata from an embryo without a shell (stage II) to an embryo with a fully formed shell (stage III) to understand the roles that proteins play in critical developmental events, such as the formation of shell, operculum and heart, and the differentiation of head and foot. To analyze protein expression during development, we used 2‐DE to detect, MS to analyze, and de novo peptide sequencing followed by MS‐BLAST to identify the proteins. The de novo cross‐species protein identification method was adopted because of a lack of genomic and proteomic data in the whole class of Gastropoda. 2‐DE detected approximately 700 protein spots. Among the 125 spots that were abundant, 52% were identified, a marked improvement over the conventional direct MS‐BLAST method. These proteins function in perivitelline fluid utilization, shell formation, protein synthesis and folding, and cell cycle and cell fate determination, providing evidence to support that this embryonic period is a period of dynamic protein synthesis and metabolism. The data shall provide a basis for further studies of how gastropod embryos respond to natural and human‐induced changes in the environment.     

The roles of parathyroid hormone-like hormone during mouse preimplantation embryonic development

Parathyroid hormone-like hormone (PTHLH) was first identified as a parathyroid hormone (PTH)-like factor responsible for humoral hypercalcemia in malignancies in the 1980s. Previous studies demonstrated that PTHLH is expressed in multiple tissues and is an important regulator of cellular and organ growth, development, migration, differentiation, and survival. However, there is a lack of data on the expression and function of PTHLH during preimplantation embryonic development. In this study, we investigated the expression characteristics and functions of PTHLH during mouse preimplantation embryonic development. The results show that Pthlh is expressed in mouse oocytes and preimplantation embryos at all developmental stages, with the highest expression at the MII stage of the oocytes and the lowest expression at the blastocyst stage of the preimplantation embryos. The siRNA-mediated depletion of Pthlh at the MII stage oocytes or the 1-cell stage embryos significantly decreased the blastocyst formation rate, while this effect could be corrected by culturing the Pthlh depleted embryos in the medium containing PTHLH protein. Moreover, expression of the pluripotency-related genes Nanog and Pou5f1 was significantly reduced in Pthlh-depleted embryos at the morula stage. Additionally, histone acetylation patterns were altered by Pthlh depletion. These results suggest that PTHLH plays important roles during mouse preimplantation embryonic development.     

Mechanisms of action of bone morphogenetic proteins in cancer

The bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) play fundamental roles in embryonic development and control differentiation of a diverse set of cell types. It is therefore of no surprise that the BMPs also contribute to the process of tumourigenesis and regulate cancer progression through various stages. We summarise here key roles of BMP ligands, receptors, their signalling mediators, mainly focusing on proteins of the Smad family, and extracellular antagonists, that contribute to the onset of tumourigenesis and to cancer progression in diverse tissues. Overall, the BMP pathways seem to act as tumour suppressors that maintain physiological tissue homeostasis and which are perturbed in cancer either via genetic mutation or via epigenetic misregulation of key gene components. BMPs also control the self-renewal and fate choices made by stem cells in several tissues. By promoting cell differentiation, including inhibition of the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, BMPs contribute to the malignant progression of cancer at advanced stages. It is therefore reasonable that pharmaceutical industries continuously develop biological agents and chemical modulators of BMP signalling with the aim to improve therapeutic regimes against several types of cancer.     

肝细胞生成素在睾丸组织中的相互作用蛋白

肝细胞生成素（HPO）具有复杂的生理功能,在睾丸中的高表达提示其在生殖活动中的重要性,而不仅局限于肝再生.构建了酵母表达载体pGBKT7-HPO,采用酵母双杂交系统,以HPO为诱饵蛋白,从人睾丸cDNA文库中寻找能够与HPO相互作用的蛋白质.经过筛选、验证阳性克隆,并进行PCR、测序和序列比对,得到4种相互作用蛋白质：NADH脱氢酶1、钠/钾ATP酶β3亚基、磷脂酶C δ1以及附睾分泌蛋白.提示HPO可能参与了细胞的蛋白质合成,能量代谢等.通过对候选蛋白的研究,为探讨HPO对睾丸组织细胞功能的调节机制提供了重要的线索.