去垢剂在膜蛋白研究中的应用

去垢剂是同时具有亲水极性基团和疏水非极性基团的双极性分子,能够使脂膜解体释放膜蛋白,并在溶液中为去膜状态下的膜蛋白提供疏水环境,维持和保护膜蛋白的疏水跨膜结构,在膜蛋白的结构和功能研究中有重要的意义。去垢剂的双极性和理化特性,如临界胶束浓度能够极大影响去垢剂和膜蛋白间的相互作用。在膜蛋白研究中,需要充分利用去垢剂的结构和特性:一方面,需要利用去垢剂代替脂质分子支持和稳定去膜状态下膜蛋白的结构和功能;另一方面,需要控制去垢剂和膜蛋白的相互作用,以满足膜蛋白结构研究如蛋白质结晶试验的要求。简要介绍了去垢剂在膜蛋白研究中的最新应用进展,涉及去垢剂在膜蛋白离体表达、分离和纯化、以及结构研究中的应用。     

酵母双杂交系统在膜蛋白相互作用研究中的应用

膜相关蛋白约占细胞总蛋白质中的1/3,它们大都参与了细胞的诸多生理、病理过程和药物反应机理。研究膜蛋白的相互作用对于揭示细胞的生命活动规律及寻找药物作用靶标都有重要的意义。由于膜蛋白本身的特性及其难以进入核内等原因,经典的酵母双杂交技术并不适用于检测膜蛋白间的相互作用。针对在活细胞中研究膜蛋白相互作用的需要,近年来国际上先后发展了一系列用于膜蛋白相互作用研究的酵母双杂交新系统,并取得了许多重要发现。     

钒对人红细胞膜蛋白和膜脂质过氧化的影响

对钒酸根Ｖ（Ｖ）与红细胞膜相互作用研究表明Ｖ（Ｖ）使膜蛋白内源荧光淬火和膜巯基含量降低,但对膜脂质过氧化影响较小,提示Ｖ（Ｖ）主要与膜蛋白作用,与Ｖ（Ｖ）不同,Ｖ（Ⅳ）与红细胞膜的作用虽使膜蛋白巯基含量下降,但不显,其主要作用是引起膜脂质过氧化。     

钒对人红细胞膜蛋白和膜脂质过氧化的影响

对钒酸根V（V）与红细胞膜相互作用研究表明V（V）使膜蛋白内源荧光淬灭（KD,37＝2．23,KD,20＝4．17）和膜巯基含量降低,但对膜脂质过氧化影响较小,提示V（V）主要与膜蛋白作用．与V（V）不同,V（V）与红细胞膜的作用虽使膜蛋白就基含量下降,但不显著,其主要作用是引起膜脂质过氧化．     

囊膜病毒膜融合分子机制研究进展

囊膜病毒通过病毒与宿主细胞膜融合的方式感染宿主,病毒囊膜蛋白介导了膜融合过程。根据这些囊膜蛋白在病毒囊膜表面的排列、蛋白结构及其在融合肽中的位置不同,可将囊膜病毒分为三类,其利用这些囊膜特殊的蛋白分子与受体相互作用完成膜融合。在分子水平上研究这一过程有助于认识病毒侵染的本质和发现关键环节,达到预防与治疗病毒病的目的。     

膜蛋白的拓扑学

膜蛋白的拓扑学是研究膜蛋白三维结构的出发点．利用融合蛋白和化学修饰等实验技术已确定了很多膜蛋白的拓扑学．对膜蛋白的转运与插膜的研究确定可能存在两类插膜元件．对已知拓扑学的膜蛋白的统计分析以及蛋白质工程的研究表明存在膜蛋白拓扑学的内正规则．目前已形成预测膜蛋白的拓扑学的比较可靠的策略,这在反向生物学上具有重要意义.但要进行三维结构的预测还有许多路要走．     

肾性贫血病人红细胞膜脂－膜蛋白相互作用的ESR研究

肾性贫血病人红细胞膜脂－膜蛋白相互作用的ＥＳＲ研究石红联,王建潮,赵保路,忻文娟（中国科学院生物物理研究所,北京１００１０１）关键词电子自旋共振,红细胞;膜脂－膜蛋白相互作用,肾性贫血,茶多酚我们曾用脂肪酸氮氧自由基自旋标记物和马来酞亚胺氮氧自由基自...     

跨膜蛋白CD3ε与磷脂酰肌醇二磷酸在脂筏域体系中蛋白质-脂质相互作用的粗粒化模拟研究

细胞膜局部区域可形成富含饱和脂质、胆固醇、鞘脂的脂筏域作为其信号转导调控平台。传统实验手段在研究脂筏及其功能时受到系统复杂度高及区域结构瞬时性强等制约。近年来,分子动力学模拟技术为细胞膜的组织原则提供了重要的理论支撑,从简单的单一组分模型到多组分系统转变,最终形成了越来越多的细胞膜仿真模型。其中,粗粒化模拟由于其简化模型,可大副拓展模拟体系的复杂程度与模拟时间,在细胞膜以及蛋白质-脂质相互作用相关研究中得到了广泛应用。本文采用MARTINI粗粒化力场模拟,构建了一种含有阴离子脂质磷脂酰肌醇二磷酸(phosphatidylinositol diphosphate, PIP2)的混合膜体系。模拟结果表明,该体系在适当温度及饱和度条件下,能自发分层形成脂筏域;膜厚度、膜组分分布、膜组分流动性等多种参数均表明,脂筏结构形成且符合其结构特征;少量PIP2添加不影响分层特性且PIP2对脂筏具有显著亲和性。此外,利用该模型以跨膜信号蛋白CD3ε为例研究了脂筏域体系中蛋白质-脂质相互作用。结果表明,PIP2-CD3ε胞内区相互作用可能是脂筏招募CD3ε的驱动力,且该过程可受钙离子调控。本工作体现了粗粒化模拟在仿真膜相关研究中的巨大优势及良好应用前景。     

配体与受体相互作用诱导的膜蛋白构象变化WGA与GPA作用对膜蛋白构象的影响

用ＦＴＩＲ、ＣＤ、微量ＤＳＣ和ＳＴＭ、ＡＦＭ等研究重组脂质体,血影和完整红细胞在配体与膜受体相互作用下膜蛋白构象改变以及纳米水平上膜表面蛋白的形貌、结果表明ＷＧＡ可诱导重组脂质体膜、血影膜和完整红细胞膜蛋白发生一定的不同的构象变化,红细胞及其膜的热力学行为变更,以及红细胞膜表面蛋白的可能交联。     

配体与受体相互作用诱导的膜蛋白构象变化WGA与GPA作用对膜蛋白构象的影响

用ＦＴＩＲ、ＣＤ、微量ＤＳＣ和ＳＴＭ、ＡＦＭ等研究重组脂质体、血影和完整红细胞在配体（ＷＧＡ）与膜受体（ＧＰＡ）相互作用下膜蛋白构象改变以及纳米水平上膜表面蛋白的形貌。结果表明ＷＧＡ可诱导重组脂质体膜、血影膜和完整红细胞膜蛋白发生一定的不同的构象变化、红细胞及其膜的热力学行为变更,以及红细胞膜表面蛋白的可能交联。     

Disruption of LptA oligomerization and affinity of the LptA–LptC interaction

The lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐rich outer membrane (OM) is a unique feature of Gram‐negative bacteria, and LPS transport across the inner membrane (IM) and through the periplasm is essential to the biogenesis and maintenance of the OM. LPS is transported across the periplasm to the outer leaflet of the OM by the LPS transport (Lpt) system, which in Escherichia coli is comprised of seven recently identified proteins, including LptA, LptC, LptDE, and LptFGB₂. Structures of the periplasmic protein LptA and the soluble portion of the membrane‐associated protein LptC have been solved and show these two proteins to be highly structurally homologous with unique folds. LptA has been shown to form concentration dependent oligomers that stack end‐to‐end. LptA and LptC have been shown to associate in vivo and are expected to form a similar protein–protein interface to that found in the LptA dimer. In these studies, we disrupted LptA oligomerization by introducing two point mutations that removed a lysine and glutamine side chain from the C‐terminal β‐strand of LptA. This loss of oligomerization was characterized using EPR spectroscopy techniques and the affinity of the interaction between the mutant LptA protein and WT LptC was determined using EPR spectroscopy (K_d = 15 µM) and isothermal titration calorimetry (K_d = 14 µM). K_d values were also measured by EPR spectroscopy for the interaction between LptC and WT LptA (4 µM) and for WT LptA oligomerization (29 µM). These data suggest that the affinity between LptA and LptC is stronger than the affinity for LptA oligomerization.     

Lipopolysaccharide binding to the periplasmic protein LptA

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the periplasmic protein, LptA, are two essential components of Gram‐negative bacteria. LPS, also known as endotoxin, is found asymmetrically distributed in the outer leaflet of the outer membrane of Gram‐negative bacteria such as Escherichia coli and plays a role in the organism's natural defense in adverse environmental conditions. LptA is a member of the lipopolysaccharide transport protein (Lpt) family, which also includes LptC, LptDE, and LptBFG₂, that functions to transport LPS through the periplasm to the outer leaflet of the outer membrane after MsbA flips LPS across the inner membrane. It is hypothesized that LPS binds to LptA to cross the periplasm and that the acyl chains of LPS bind to the central pocket of LptA. The studies described here are the first to comprehensively characterize and quantitate the binding of LPS by LptA. Using site‐directed spin‐labeling electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, data were collected for 15 spin‐labeled residues in and around the proposed LPS binding pocket on LptA to observe the mobility changes caused by the presence of exogenous LPS and identify the binding location of LPS to LptA. The EPR data obtained suggest a 1:1 ratio for the LPS:LptA complex and allow the first calculation of dissociation constants for the LptA–LPS interaction. The results indicate that the entire protein is affected by LPS binding, the N‐terminus unfolds in the presence of LPS, and a mutant LptA protein unable to form oligomers has an altered affinity for LPS.     

蛋白转导域透膜作用的研究进展

HIV-TAT蛋白转导域（Protein transduction domain,,PTD）是新近发现的一种在蛋白转导过程中能高效穿过生物膜的结构域,源自人类免疫缺陷病毒Tat蛋白的一段碱性氨基酸多肽,能与多肽、蛋白质及DNA等分子连接并跨膜导入绝大部分的组织细胞或透过血脑屏障,转导效率高且对细胞无损伤。TAT-PTD与细胞膜之间的电荷作用,吸附于膜表面,依赖脂筏介导的巨胞饮作用进入细胞。TAT融合蛋白系统是一种极有价值的运载工具,在基础医学研究和临床治疗方面有着广泛的应用前景。     

Differential backbone dynamics of companion helices in the extended helical coiled‐coil domain of a bacterial chemoreceptor

Cytoplasmic domains of transmembrane bacterial chemoreceptors are largely extended four‐helix coiled coils. Previous observations suggested the domain was structurally dynamic. We probed directly backbone dynamics of this domain of the transmembrane chemoreceptor Tar from Escherichia coli using site‐directed spin labeling and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Spin labels were positioned on solvent‐exposed helical faces because EPR spectra for such positions reflect primarily polypeptide backbone movements. We acquired spectra for spin‐labeled, intact receptor homodimers solubilized in detergent or inserted into native E. coli lipid bilayers in Nanodiscs, characterizing 16 positions distributed throughout the cytoplasmic domain and on both helices of its helical hairpins, one amino terminal to the membrane‐distal tight turn (N‐helix), and the other carboxyl terminal (C‐helix). Detergent solubilization increased backbone dynamics for much of the domain, suggesting that loss of receptor activities upon solubilization reflects wide‐spread destabilization. For receptors in either condition, we observed an unanticipated difference between the N‐ and C‐helices. For bilayer‐inserted receptors, EPR spectra from sites in the membrane‐distal protein‐interaction region and throughout the C‐helix were typical of well‐structured helices. In contrast, for approximately two‐thirds of the N‐helix, from its origin as the AS‐2 helix of the membrane‐proximal HAMP domain to the beginning of the membrane‐distal protein‐interaction region, spectra had a significantly mobile component, estimated by spectral deconvolution to average approximately 15%. Differential helical dynamics suggests a four‐helix bundle organization with a pair of core scaffold helices and two more dynamic partner helices. This newly observed feature of chemoreceptor structure could be involved in receptor function.     

Electron spin resonance in membrane research: protein–lipid interactions from challenging beginnings to state of the art

Conventional electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra of lipids that are spin-labelled close to the terminal methyl end of the acyl chains are able to resolve the lipids directly contacting the protein from those in the fluid bilayer regions of the membrane. This allows determination of both the stoichiometry of lipid–protein interaction (i.e., number of lipid sites at the protein perimeter) and the selectivity of the protein for different lipid species (i.e., association constants relative to the background lipid). Spin-label EPR data are summarised for 20 or more different transmembrane peptides and proteins, and 7 distinct species of lipids. Lineshape simulations of the two-component conventional spin-label EPR spectra allow estimation of the rate at which protein-associated lipids exchange with those in the bulk fluid regions of the membrane. For lipids that do not display a selectivity for the protein, the intrinsic off-rates for exchange are in the region of 10 MHz: less than 10× slower than the rates of diffusive exchange in fluid lipid membranes. Lipids with an affinity for the protein, relative to the background lipid, have off-rates for leaving the protein that are correspondingly slower. Non-linear EPR, which depends on saturation of the spectrum at high radiation intensities, is optimally sensitive to dynamics on the timescale of spin-lattice relaxation, i.e., the microsecond regime. Both progressive saturation and saturation transfer EPR experiments provide definitive evidence that lipids at the protein interface are exchanging on this timescale. The sensitivity of non-linear EPR to low frequencies of spin exchange also allows the location of spin-labelled membrane protein residues relative to those of spin-labelled lipids, in double-labelling experiments.     

Spin-labeling studies of the conformation of the Ca(2+)-regulatory protein calmodulin in solution and bound to the membrane skeleton in erythrocyte ghosts: implications to transmembrane signaling.

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies of the Ca(2+)-regulatory protein calmodulin (CaM) have been performed. The conformation of CaM in solution changes upon binding of Ca2+ allowing the protein to bind to target proteins existing in the red blood cell membrane. In this study a maleimide spin label, covalently attached to the single cysteine residue of CaM located in the first Ca(2+)-binding domain, was used to monitor allosteric conformational changes induced by interaction of CaM with Ca2+ and subsequently with the red blood cell membrane. The results show, relative to apo-CaM, a significant increase in the apparent rotational correlation time, tau, of the spin label when Ca2+ was present in solution (P less than 0.001). When apo-CaM exposed to red blood cell membrane ghosts in the absence of Ca2+, no significant difference in spin label motion was seen relative to solution, consistent with the idea that Ca2+ is required for CaM to bind to skeletal proteins. When Ca2+ was added to CaM which was then exposed to ghosts, a highly significant increase in tau (decrease in motion) (P less than 0.000001) relative to apo-CaM exposed to ghosts was found. This latter increase in tau is significantly greater than that produced by the addition of Ca2+ to CaM in solution (P less than 0.001). The major interaction sites of CaM were found by photoaffinity labeling and autoradiography on SDS-PAGE to be on the principal skeletal protein, spectrin. EPR was also used to investigate the biophysical correlates of transmembrane signaling. Spin-labeled CaM was bound to the membrane skeleton in the presence of Ca2+.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

玉米根细胞中类整合素蛋白与α-微管蛋白的共定位及其可能的相互作用

采用间接免疫荧光标记法对玉米根细胞中的类整合素蛋白和细胞骨架主要组分之一的α-微管蛋白进行了荧光定位。结果表明：类整合素蛋白主要分布在质膜上。与对照相比,用与类整合素蛋白特异结合的5肽GRGDS处理后,质膜上类整合素的分布更为均匀,微管的排列密度降低,而用不与类整合素蛋白特异结合的GRGDS类似物SDGRG处理则对类整合素蛋白分布和微管蛋白的排列均无明显影响。微管蛋白解聚剂或稳定剂处理改变类整合素在质膜上的分布。这些结果表明类整合素蛋白与微管蛋白间有复杂的相互作用。     

Biophysical characterization of genistein–membrane interaction and its correlation with biological effect on cells — The case of EYPC liposomes and human erythrocyte membranes

With application of EPR and ¹H NMR techniques genistein interaction with liposomes formed with egg yolk lecithin and with erythrocyte membranes was assessed. The present study addressed the problem of genistein localization and its effects on lipid membrane fluidity and protein conformation. The range of microscopic techniques was employed to study genistein effects on HeLa cells and human erythrocytes. Moreover, DPPH bioassay, superoxide anion radical test and enzymatic measurements were performed in HeLa cells subjected to genistein. The gathered results from both EPR and NMR techniques indicated strong ordering effect of genistein on the motional freedom of lipids in the head group region and the adjacent hydrophobic zone in liposomal as well as in red blood cell membranes. EPR study of human ghost showed also the changes in the erythrocyte membrane protein conformation. The membrane effects of genistein were correlated with the changes in internal membranes arrangement of HeLa cells as it was noticed using transmission electron microscopic and fluorescent techniques. Scanning electron and light microscopy methods showed that one of the aftermaths of genistein incorporation into membranes was creation of echinocytic form of the red blood cells with reduced diameter. Genistein improved redox status of HeLa cells treated with H₂O₂ by lowering radicals' level.     

Halothane-induced functional and structural modifications in sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes from pig skeletal muscle

We investigated the effect of halothane on lipid and protein components of sarcoplasmic reticulum membranes isolated from pig trapezius muscle. We studied the relationships between the (Ca2(+)-Mg2+)-ATPase activity and the interaction of the anesthetic with lipid and protein moieties by means of EPR and fluorescence spectroscopic techniques. Our results clearly show that below 5 mumol per mg protein, halothane interacts mainly with the lipid components of the membrane. This interaction is shown to be localized in the central core of the phospholipid bilayer and to induce an increase of the membrane calcium permeability. The interaction with protein components only occurs at higher halothane concentrations and affects its conformational and functional states. These results are discussed with respect to new insights into diethylether-SR membrane interaction and to malignant hyperthermia syndrome in the pig.