mGluR 1／5介导的下游信号通路

代谢型谷氨酸受体l／5（mGluR1／5）是G蛋白偶联受体家族C的重要成员之一,该受体及其介导的下游信号在调节神经系统的正常生理功能起着非常重要作用,并与相关神经系统退行性疾病密切相关。文章介绍了mGluR1／5所介导的信号通路、信号通路调控的分子机制以及其他GPCR受体的相互作用对信号共同调节的分子机制等方面最新研究进展。     

细菌DeoR家族转录调控因子的研究进展

细菌基因组中存在大量的转录调控家族,这些转录调控家族在细菌的生长、代谢、外界信号感知与传递等方面发挥着至关重要的作用.DeoR家族是一类广泛分布于原核生物中的转录调控因子,主要参与调控细胞中多个生理过程,包括核苷酸类代谢、糖类代谢、致病菌的毒力以及链霉菌的次级代谢等.DeoR蛋白C末端的配体结合结构域,通常能够以相关代...     

SIRT6功能与疾病研究进展

SIRT6是酵母sir2在哺乳动物中的同源物sirtuin家族SIRT1-SIRT7中的一员。SIRT6具有NAD+依赖的蛋白去酰化酶和ADP核糖基转移酶活性,主要定位在细胞核。SIRT6可通过对组蛋白和非组蛋白去酰化或对部分蛋白底物核糖基化而在基因组稳定性、代谢、炎症、细胞衰老、肿瘤以及寿命等调控过程中发挥重要作用。本文仅从其生理功能与疾病相关性方面作一介绍。     

LRH-1在肿瘤及干细胞中的功能研究进展

核受体(nuclear receptors,NRs)是转录因子家族中最大的成员,多以配体依赖的方式特异性调节其靶基因的表达,参与机体代谢、发育和生殖功能的调控。LRH-1(liver receptor homolog-1),也称为NR5A2(nuclear receptor subfamily 5,group A,member 2),是核受体家族的成员,作为转录共激活子调控相关基因的表达。LRH-1调控多种重要的生理功能,包括调节脂肪酸和胆固醇的代谢,另外在胚胎发育和分化中也起了重要作用。LRH-1在促进多种癌症的发生过程中扮演重要的角色,如结肠癌、胰腺癌、卵巢癌和乳腺癌。随着对LRH-1研究的深入,其在疾病和胚胎干细胞中的功能作用已备受关注,这也使得LRH-1成为了许多疾病的潜在治疗靶点。     

金属转运蛋白SLC39A14的生理功能及作用机制研究进展

溶质载体家族39 (solute carrier family 39, SLC39; Zrt-and Irt-like proteins, ZIPs)作为金属离子转运蛋白家族共包括14个成员,均具有8个跨膜结构域。近年来,国内外研究者围绕SLC39A14 (又称ZIP14)的离子转运及生理功能开展了深入研究,提示SLC39A14具有转运Mn~(2+)、Fe~(2+)或Zn~(2+)等二价金属离子的功能,并通过转运Fe~(2+)而参与细胞铁死亡的发生。携带SLC39A14基因纯合突变的患者表现为锰离子蓄积及年轻型帕金森样体征。此外,有研究报道SLC39A14在肝脏疾病、胰岛素代谢、脂代谢及肌肉疾病中发挥关键作用,为丰富微量元素代谢调控网络及疾病防控提供了重要理论依据。然而,Slc39a14全身敲除与组织特异性敲除小鼠之间的表型不尽相同,因此其在不同组织中的金属离子转运功能及机制尚待深入研究。该文系统综述了SLC39A14在金属离子转运、代谢紊乱疾病和分子调控机制等方面的研究进展,并就未来研究方向进行了展望和讨论。     

TRPM离子通道与人类疾病

TRPM蛋白家族是一类表达于多种哺乳动物细胞中广泛存在的离子通道。近年来发现它们在维持某些特定生理功能中起关 键作用且与人类疾病密切相关。研究显示氧化应激可使TRPM离子通道功能异常导致疾病发生、发展。TRPM亚家族的三个成 员,TRPM2,TRPM4 和TRPM7 均受氧化应激的调控,其功能改变、增加或缺失与炎症及免疫系统的激活、神经退行性疾病和神经 系统疾病、心血管疾病、癌症及糖尿病,代谢紊乱和骨疾病等疾病紧密联系。本文就近年来氧化应激调控的TRPM离子通道与人 类疾病的关系做简要综述。此外,文章也将探讨它们作为药物设计靶点和工具的应用前景。     

转录辅助活化因子PGC-1家族的生物学特性及功能

过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体γ辅助活化因子1(PGC-1)家族共有PGC-1α,PGC-1β和PRC(PGC-1相关因子)3个成员,该家族在机体诸多代谢过程中发挥重要作用,包括调节机体适应性产热、线粒体的生成、脂质代谢、调节血糖平衡及葡萄糖转运、激活糖异生的关键酶和影响肌纤维类型的转换等.成员间功能也存在差异,PGC-1α的上述功能表现的较为明显,而PGC-1β在调节脂肪细胞分化及脂类代谢中具有独特的功能,PRC则仅发现其在调节线粒体的生物合成及细胞增殖中有作用.研究认为,通过调节PGC-1家族的生理功能,可治疗肥胖及糖尿病等疾病,尤其PGC-1β可作为改善机体胰岛素抵抗的新药物靶点.本文就PGC-1家族的特征、生理功能及相互作用研究进行简要综述.     

线粒体转运蛋白质家族

线粒体转运蛋白质家族（mitochondrial transporter family）等可溶性物质载体（solute carrier,SLC）,主要包括SLC25,广泛存在于真核生物线粒体中,负责可溶性物质跨线粒体内膜的转运。SLC25家族成员拥有相似的结构特征、种类繁多的转运底物,并与细胞的多种生理功能密切相关。有研究表明,SLC25家族蛋白质的缺失或突变可导致多种代谢性疾病或神经系统疾病的发生。     

脂肪甘油三酯水解酶的研究进展

胰岛素抵抗等代谢疾病的发生与脂代谢紊乱密切相关。细胞中的脂肪主要储存在一个以中性脂为核的细胞器——脂滴(lipid droplet,LD)中。脂肪甘油三酯水解酶(adiposetriglyceride lipase,ATGL)是在脂滴上发现的水解甘油三酯的脂肪酶。除脂肪组织外,ATGL也广泛存在于骨骼肌等多种非脂肪组织中,并发挥着重要的生理功能。越来越多的研究表明,ATGL与中性脂质贮存异常、胰岛素抵抗等代谢疾病密切相关。运动可以通过改变ATGL的表达起到调控脂代谢的作用,进而在防治胰岛素抵抗等代谢疾病中发挥作用。     

犬尿酸代谢途径异常与中枢神经系统疾病

犬尿氨酸代谢途径(kynurenine pathway,KP)是脑内色氨酸代谢的重要通路。该通路由不同代谢产物及酶系构成,受促炎介质和激素等影响,通过激活或改变通路中代谢产物的合成,调控神经递质释放与功能执行。近些年研究发现,多种中枢神经系统疾病的理化改变与该通路代谢紊乱相关。本文将重点介绍KP组成及其代谢产物的生理功能,并就KP与部分中枢神经系统疾病的研究进展作一综述。     

Temporal and spatial regulation of the phosphatidate phosphatases lipin 1 and 2

Lipins are the founding members of a novel family of Mg(2+)-dependent phosphatidate phosphatases (PAP1 enzymes) that play key roles in fat metabolism and lipid biosynthesis. Despite their importance, there is still little information on how their activity is regulated. Here we demonstrate that the functions of lipin 1 and 2 are evolutionarily conserved from unicellular eukaryotes to mammals. The two lipins display distinct intracellular localization in HeLa M cells, with a pool of lipin 2 exhibiting a tight membrane association. Small interfering RNA-mediated silencing of lipin 1 leads to a dramatic decrease of the cellular PAP1 activity in HeLa M cells, whereas silencing of lipin 2 leads to an increase of lipin 1 levels and PAP1 activity. Consistent with their distinct functions in HeLa M cells, lipin 1 and 2 exhibit reciprocal patterns of protein expression in differentiating 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Lipin 2 levels increase in lipin 1-depleted 3T3-L1 cells without rescuing the adipogenic defects, whereas depletion of lipin 2 does not inhibit adipogenesis. Finally, we show that the PAP1 activity of both lipins is inhibited by phosphorylation during mitosis, leading to a decrease in the cellular PAP1 activity during cell division. We propose that distinct and non-redundant functions of lipin 1 and 2 regulate lipid production during the cell cycle and adipocyte differentiation.     

Torsin and NEP1R1‐CTDNEP1 phosphatase affect interphase nuclear pore complex insertion by lipid‐dependent and lipid‐independent mechanisms

The interphase nuclear envelope (NE) is extensively remodeled during nuclear pore complex (NPC) insertion. How this remodeling occurs and why it requires Torsin ATPases, which also regulate lipid metabolism, remains poorly understood. Here, we show that Drosophila Torsin (dTorsin) affects lipid metabolism via the NEP1R1‐CTDNEP1 phosphatase and the Lipin phosphatidic acid (PA) phosphatase. This includes that Torsins remove NEP1R1‐CTDNEP1 from the NE in fly and mouse cells, leading to subsequent Lipin exclusion from the nucleus. NEP1R1‐CTDNEP1 downregulation also restores nuclear pore membrane fusion in post‐mitotic dTorsin^KO fat body cells. However, dTorsin‐associated nuclear pore defects do not correlate with lipidomic abnormalities and are not resolved by silencing of Lipin. Further testing confirmed that membrane fusion continues in cells with hyperactivated Lipin. It also led to the surprising finding that excessive PA metabolism inhibits recruitment of the inner ring complex Nup35 subunit, resulting in elongated channel‐like structures in place of mature nuclear pores. We conclude that the NEP1R1‐CTDNEP1 phosphatase affects interphase NPC biogenesis by lipid‐dependent and lipid‐independent mechanisms, explaining some of the pleiotropic effects of Torsins.     

piRNA-associated germline nuage formation and spermatogenesis require MitoPLD profusogenic mitochondrial-surface lipid signaling

The mammalian Phospholipase D MitoPLD facilitates mitochondrial fusion by generating the signaling lipid phosphatidic acid (PA). The Drosophila MitoPLD homolog Zucchini (Zuc), a proposed cytoplasmic nuclease, is required for piRNA generation, a critical event in germline development. We show that Zuc localizes to mitochondria and has MitoPLD-like activity. Conversely, MitoPLD(-/-) mice exhibit the meiotic arrest, DNA damage, and male sterility characteristic of mice lacking piRNAs. The primary function of MitoPLD seems to be the generation of mitochondrial-surface PA. This PA in turn recruits the phosphatase Lipin 1, which converts PA to diacylglycerol and promotes mitochondrial fission, suggesting a mechanism for mitochondrial morphology homeostasis. MitoPLD and Lipin 1 have opposing effects on mitochondria length and on intermitochondrial cement (nuage), a structure found between aggregated mitochondria that is implicated in piRNA generation. We propose that mitochondrial-surface PA generated by MitoPLD/Zuc recruits or activates nuage components critical for piRNA production.     

Lipin 2 Binds Phosphatidic Acid by the Electrostatic Hydrogen Bond Switch Mechanism Independent of Phosphorylation

Lipin 2 is a phosphatidic acid phosphatase (PAP) responsible for the penultimate step of triglyceride synthesis and dephosphorylation of phosphatidic acid (PA) to generate diacylglycerol. The lipin family of PA phosphatases is composed of lipins 1–3, which are members of the conserved haloacid dehalogenase superfamily. Although genetic alteration of LPIN2 in humans is known to cause Majeed syndrome, little is known about the biochemical regulation of its PAP activity. Here, in an attempt to gain a better general understanding of the biochemical nature of lipin 2, we have performed kinetic and phosphorylation analyses. We provide evidence that lipin 2, like lipin 1, binds PA via the electrostatic hydrogen bond switch mechanism but has a lower rate of catalysis. Like lipin 1, lipin 2 is highly phosphorylated, and we identified 15 phosphosites. However, unlike lipin 1, the phosphorylation of lipin 2 is not induced by insulin signaling nor is it sensitive to inhibition of the mammalian target of rapamycin. Importantly, phosphorylation of lipin 2 does not negatively regulate either membrane binding or PAP activity. This suggests that lipin 2 functions as a constitutively active PA phosphatase in stark contrast to the high degree of phosphorylation-mediated regulation of lipin 1. This knowledge of lipin 2 regulation is important for a deeper understanding of how the lipin family functions with respect to lipid synthesis and, more generally, as an example of how the membrane environment around PA can influence its effector proteins.     

Negative modulation of bone morphogenetic protein signaling by Dullard during wing vein formation in Drosophila

Studies in Xenopus have shown that the C-terminal domain phosphatase-like domain (CPD) phosphatase Dullard is essential for proper neural development via inhibition of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling receptors. In contrast, the orthologous budding yeast Nem1 and human Dullard have been shown to dephosphorylate the phosphatidate phosphatases yeast Smp2/Pah1 and human Lipin, and the relationship between phospholipid metabolism and BMP signaling remain unsolved. Here we report evidence that the Dullard-Lipin phosphatase cascade in Drosophila can regulate BMP signaling, most likely by affecting the function of the nuclear envelope. Manipulating expression levels of either the Drosophila Dullard gene, d-dullard (ddd) or the Lipin gene, DmLpin affected wing vein formation in a manner suggesting a negative effect on BMP signaling. Furthermore, both genes exhibit genetic interaction with BMP signaling pathway components, and can affect the levels of phosphorylated-Mothers against dpp (p-Mad). Although changing ddd expression levels did not have an obvious effect on overall nuclear envelope morphology as has been shown for yeast nem1, the nuclear import machinery components Importin-β and RanGAP were mislocalized and membrane lipid staining was altered in cells overexpressing ddd. Considering the known genetic interaction between Nup84 complex nucleoporins and nem1 in yeast, and the recently reported requirement for components from the orthologous nucleoporin complex in the nuclear translocation of Drosophila Mad (Chen & Xu 2010), it is likely that the role of Drosophila Dullard in regulating membrane lipid homeostasis is conserved and is critical for normal BMP signaling.     

A decrease in DKK1, a WNT inhibitor, contributes to placental lipid accumulation in an obesity-prone rat model

Placenta, as the sole transport mechanism between mother and fetus, links the maternal physical state and the immediate as well as lifelong outcomes of the offspring. The present study examined the consequences of maternal obesity on placental lipid accumulation and metabolism. Pregnant obesity-prone (OP) and obesity-resistant (OR) rat strains were fed a control diet throughout gestation. Placentas were collected on Gestational Day 21 for mRNA and oxidative stress analysis, and frozen placental sections were analyzed for fat accumulation as well as beta-catenin and Dickkopf homolog 1 (Xenopus laevis) (DKK1) localization. JEG3 trophoblast cells were cultured in vitro to determine the relationship between DKK1 and lipid accumulation. Maternal plasma and placental nonesterified fatty acids and triglycerides (TG) were elevated in OP dams. Placental Dkk1 mRNA content was 4-fold lower in OP placentas, and a significant increase was noted in beta-catenin accumulation as well as in mRNA content of fat transport and TG synthesis genes, including Ppard (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta), Slc27a1 (fatty acid transport protein 1; also known as Fatp1), Cd36 (cluster of differentiation 36; also known as fatty acid translocation [Fat]), Lipin1, and Lipin3. Significant lipid accumulation was found within the decidual zones in OP, but not OR, placentas, and thickness of the decidual and junctional zones was significantly smaller in OP than in OR placentas. Overexpression of DKK1 in JEG3 cells decreased lipid accumulation and mRNA content of PPARD, SLC27A1, CD36, LIPIN1, and LIPIN3. Our results demonstrate that DKK1 is regulating certain aspects of placental lipid metabolism through the WNT signaling pathway.     

Yeast lipin 1 orthologue pah1p regulates vacuole homeostasis and membrane fusion

Vacuole homotypic fusion requires a group of regulatory lipids that includes diacylglycerol, a fusogenic lipid that is produced through multiple metabolic pathways including the dephosphorylation of phosphatidic acid (PA). Here we examined the relationship between membrane fusion and PA phosphatase activity. Pah1p is the single yeast homologue of the Lipin family of PA phosphatases. Deletion of PAH1 was sufficient to cause marked vacuole fragmentation and abolish vacuole fusion. The function of Pah1p solely depended on its phosphatase activity as complementation studies showed that wild type Pah1p restored fusion, whereas the phosphatase dead mutant Pah1p(D398E) had no effect. We discovered that the lack of PA phosphatase activity blocked fusion by inhibiting the binding of SNAREs to Sec18p, an N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor homologue responsible for priming inactive cis-SNARE complexes. In addition, pah1Δ vacuoles were devoid of the late endosome/vacuolar Rab Ypt7p, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase Vps34p, and Vps39p, a subunit of the HOPS (homotypic fusion and vacuole protein sorting) tethering complex, all of which are required for vacuole fusion. The lack of Vps34p resulted in the absence of phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate, a lipid required for SNARE activity and vacuole fusion. These findings demonstrate that Pah1p and PA phosphatase activity are critical for vacuole homeostasis and fusion.