大鼠胚胎发育期NBC1 在胰腺的表达与定位

目的:探讨碳酸氢钠协同转运载体(NBC1)在大鼠胰腺胚胎发育期不同阶段核酸、蛋白水平的动态变化以及在腺泡和β细胞的定位表达。方法:采用高密度寡核苷酸芯片对孕12.5 d(E12.5)、E15.5、E18.5、新生和成年胰腺进行基因转录水平分析,用RT-PCR和Western blot分别验证了NBC1核酸和蛋白在E15.5、E18.5、新生和成年时期胰腺中的表达情况,用Double fluorescence immunohistochemistry分析了NBC1在E18.5、新生和成年时期胰腺腺泡和β细胞的定位表达。结果:在大鼠胰腺胚胎发育过程中,NBC1核酸、蛋白在E18.5时特异高表达,新生下降直至成年最低;在腺泡基底侧膜和β细胞膜有强烈的阳性信号,且在成年胰腺中β细胞膜阳性信号较腺泡基底侧膜强。NBC1的表达变化与其功能近似基因的表达趋势相反,而与其协同发挥作用的基因及胰腺特异基因的表达趋势一致。结论:NBC1在胰腺发育过程中不仅与结构形成而且与功能发挥相关。     

Signaling Pathways Involved in Dephosphorylation and Localization of the Actin-Binding Protein Cofilin in Stimulated Human Neutrophils

We have studied activation-induced dephosphorylation of proteins in human neutrophils loaded with [³²P]orthophosphate using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. A major phosphoprotein of 20 kDa in resting neutrophils was markedly dephosphorylated upon activation of cells with chemotactic peptide or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), an activator of protein kinase C (PKC). Using a monoclonal anti-cofilin antibody, this phosphoprotein could be shown to be identical with cofilin, a protein implicated in actin filament remodeling. Signaling pathways leading to this dephosphorylation were further characterized. To define the role of PKC isoforms in cofilin dephosphorylation, we used different PKC inhibitors. Gö 6976 (10 μM), which inhibits preferentially PKC α and β, did not prevent PMA-induced dephosphorylation of cofilin, whereas Ro 31-8220 and CGP 41 251 (10 μM), which act also on Ca²⁺-independent PKC isoforms, almost completely suppressed this event. The lack of effect of Gö 6976 was not due to insufficient entry into the cells, as this drug suppressed PMA-induced increases in protein phosphorylation. Ca²⁺-independent PKC isoforms, rather than PKC α or β, may thus be involved in PMA-induced cofilin dephosphorylation. In contrast, Ro 31-8220 did not inhibit chemotactic peptide-induced cofilin dephosphorylation, suggesting here a PKC-independent pathway. The phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid (1–2 μM) attenuated phosphorylation of cofilin in resting cells. This reduced level was not further attenuated by PMA. Phosphatases 1 and/or 2A may thus control cofilin phosphorylation in resting cells and contribute to PMA-induced cofilin dephosphorylation. Dephosphorylation of cofilin induced by PMA, chemotactic peptide, or okadaic acid was always accompanied by a shift of cofilin to the cell periphery into F-actin-rich areas. These findings suggest a role of cofilin in stimulus-dependent actin remodeling in motile neutrophils.     

Role of the C-terminal Extension of Formin 2 in Its Activation by Spire Protein and Processive Assembly of Actin Filaments

Formin 2 (Fmn2), a member of the FMN family of formins, plays an important role in early development. This formin cooperates with profilin and Spire, a WASP homology domain 2 (WH2) repeat protein, to stimulate assembly of a dynamic cytoplasmic actin meshwork that facilitates translocation of the meiotic spindle in asymmetric division of mouse oocytes. The kinase-like non-catalytic domain (KIND) of Spire directly interacts with the C-terminal extension of the formin homology domain 2 (FH2) domain of Fmn2, called FSI. This direct interaction is required for the synergy between the two proteins in actin assembly. We have recently demonstrated how Spire, which caps barbed ends via its WH2 domains, activates Fmn2. Fmn2 by itself associates very poorly to filament barbed ends but is rapidly recruited to Spire-capped barbed ends via the KIND domain, and it subsequently displaces Spire from the barbed end to elicit rapid processive assembly from profilin·actin. Here, we address the mechanism by which Spire and Fmn2 compete at barbed ends and the role of FSI in orchestrating this competition as well as in the processivity of Fmn2. We have combined microcalorimetric, fluorescence, and hydrodynamic binding assays, as well as bulk solution and single filament measurements of actin assembly, to show that removal of FSI converts Fmn2 into a Capping Protein. This activity is mimicked by association of KIND to Fmn2. In addition, FSI binds actin at filament barbed ends as a weak capper and plays a role in displacing the WH2 domains of Spire from actin, thus allowing the association of actin-binding regions of FH2 to the barbed end.     

Expression and subcellular localization of mammalian formin Fhod3 in the embryonic and adult heart

The formin family proteins play pivotal roles in actin filament assembly via the FH2 domain. The mammalian formin Fhod3 is highly expressed in the heart, and its mRNA in the adult heart contains exons 11, 12, and 25, which are absent from non-muscle Fhod3 isoforms. In cultured neonatal cardiomyocytes, Fhod3 localizes to the middle of the sarcomere and appears to function in its organization, although it is suggested that Fhod3 localizes differently in the adult heart. Here we show, using immunohistochemical analysis with three different antibodies, each recognizing distinct regions of Fhod3, that Fhod3 localizes as two closely spaced bands in middle of the sarcomere in both embryonic and adult hearts. The bands are adjacent to the M-line that crosslinks thick myosin filaments at the center of a sarcomere but distant from the Z-line that forms the boundary of the sarcomere, which localization is the same as that observed in cultured cardiomyocytes. Detailed immunohistochemical and immuno-electron microscopic analyses reveal that Fhod3 localizes not at the pointed ends of thin actin filaments but to a more peripheral zone, where thin filaments overlap with thick myosin filaments. We also demonstrate that the embryonic heart of mice specifically expresses the Fhod3 mRNA isoform harboring the three alternative exons, and that the characteristic localization of Fhod3 in the sarcomere does not require a region encoded by exon 25, in contrast to an essential role of exons 11 and 12. Furthermore, the exon 25-encoded region appears to be dispensable for actin-organizing activities both in vivo and in vitro, albeit it is inserted in the catalytic FH2 domain.     

TAT-凋亡素融合蛋白的表达及其抗肿瘤活性

凋亡素(apoptin)由鸡贫血病毒vp3基因编码,能特异地诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡而对正常细胞 没有毒性,为了获得可转导入细胞内部的凋亡素,将人工合成的编码TAT蛋白转导结构域的DNA片段与凋亡素编码基因克隆入质粒pET-28a内,构建出表达融合蛋白TAT-apoptin的原核表达载体pET-28a-TAT-apoptin.在大肠杆菌Rosetta（DE3）中表达融合蛋白,利用IDA -Ni2+ 亲和柱纯化,葡聚糖凝胶G 25除去尿素后得到可溶的变性蛋白.纯化后的TAT apoptin加入体外培养的人脐静脉内皮细胞(HUVECs)和人肺癌Anip973细胞,对照组加入TAT-麦芽糖结合蛋白（TAT-MBP）. 经免疫组化检测,转导1 h后TAT-MBP分布于以上两种细胞的胞浆和胞核,TAT-apoptin则主要分布于2种细胞的胞浆内,转导24 h后TAT-MBP的亚细胞定位没有变化,TAT-apoptin分别定位于HUVECs的胞浆和Anip973的胞核中.脱氧核糖核苷酸末端转移酶介导的缺口末端标记法（TUNEL）显示转导48 h后,TAT-MBP处理过的 HUVECs和Anip973细胞、TAT-apoptin处理过的HUVECs没有明显改变,而TAT-apoptin处理过的Anip973细胞大量凋亡.以上结果表明TAT apoptin融合蛋白在肿瘤治疗上有潜在的应用价值.     

心脏形成关键基因-TBX5在大鼠胚胎心脏中的克隆及表达研究

为了研究心脏形成关键基因-TBX5的表达情况,选择Wistar大鼠作为从分子水平研究心脏发育的实验动物并从胎鼠心脏中克隆了TBX5cDNA全长（GenBank登录号：AY859491）,其cDNA及氨基酸序列不同于GenBank预测序列;随后应用RT-PCR及Northem blot分析TBX5基因在大鼠各组织中的表达情况,发现TBX5为单一转录本,在大鼠各组织均有表达,心脏中表达最强;构建荧光表达载体,转染大鼠肝癌细胞,观察TBX5亚细胞定位,结果证实TBX5基因在细胞核中表达;最后构建原核表达载体,IPTG诱导表达获得了GST-TBX5融合蛋白。以上工作为进一步鉴定心脏发育中TBX5相关转录因子及研究相互间的调控机制奠定了基础。     

具有增强蛋白质表达活性序列ER3的筛选及其功能区域的初步鉴定

目的:利用构建的增强子样序列筛选载体,筛选在大肠杆菌中增强外源蛋白质表达的序列,并利用删除突变体初步鉴定其功能区域。方法:以氯霉素乙酰转移酶(CAT)基因序列与人乳头瘤病毒(HPV)主要衣壳蛋白基因L1的截短序列L11连接作为报告基因,从采集的样品中筛选增强子样序列,通过蛋白质表达来检测其增强活性,并通过构建删除突变体来初步鉴定其功能区域。结果:成功筛选到一条增强子样序列,可使检测载体氯霉素抗体提高11倍,融合蛋白表达水平提高2.26倍,其功能区域主要集中在1~265bp。结论:从收集的样品中成功筛选出一个增强子序列,能提高外源基因在大肠杆菌中的表达。     

人纤溶酶原饼环区5基因的原核表达及活性测定

 人纤溶酶原饼环区 5 (hPgnK5 )是新的血管生成抑制因子 .PCR法改造hPgnK5基因 ,所得hPgnK5基因包括编码人纤溶酶原C4 62 到P54 4共 83个氨基酸残基 ,而且在 5′ ,3′分别引入了EcoRⅠ和BamHⅠ位点 .以pThiohisA构建hPgnK5基因原核表达载体 ,在大肠杆菌TOP10中表达该蛋白 .通过柱层析法获得hPgnK5纯化蛋白 .免疫印迹反应表明该蛋白具有hPgnK5免疫活性 .体外实验表明 ,该蛋白具有抑制血管内皮细胞增殖活性 .提示hPgnK5可能具有良好应用前景     

Characterization of ATM Expression, Localization, and Associated DNA-dependent Protein Kinase Activity

Ataxia telangiectasia–mutated gene (ATM) is a 350-kDa protein whose function is defective in the autosomal recessive disorder ataxia telangiectasia (AT). Affinity-purified polyclonal antibodies were used to characterize ATM. Steady-state levels of ATM protein varied from undetectable in most AT cell lines to highly expressed in HeLa, U2OS, and normal human fibroblasts. Subcellular fractionation showed that ATM is predominantly a nuclear protein associated with the chromatin and nuclear matrix. ATM protein levels remained constant throughout the cell cycle and did not change in response to serum stimulation. Ionizing radiation had no significant effect on either the expression or distribution of ATM. ATM immunoprecipitates from HeLa cells and the human DNA-dependent protein kinase null cell line MO59J, but not from AT cells, phosphorylated the 34-kDa subunit of replication protein A (RPA) complex in a single-stranded and linear double-stranded DNA–dependent manner. Phosphorylation of p34 RPA occurred on threonine and serine residues. Phosphopeptide analysis demonstrates that the ATM-associated protein kinase phosphorylates p34 RPA on similar residues observed in vivo. The DNA-dependent protein kinase activity observed for ATM immunocomplexes, along with the association of ATM with chromatin, suggests that DNA damage can induce ATM or a stably associated protein kinase to phosphorylate proteins in the DNA damage response pathway.     

A Role for the p38 Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Pathway in Myocardial Cell Growth, Sarcomeric Organization, and Cardiac-specific Gene Expression

Three hallmark features of the cardiac hypertrophic growth program are increases in cell size, sarcomeric organization, and the induction of certain cardiac-specific genes. All three features of hypertrophy are induced in cultured myocardial cells by α₁- adrenergic receptor agonists, such as phenylephrine (PE) and other growth factors that activate mitogen- activated protein kinases (MAPKs). In this study the MAPK family members extracellular signal–regulated kinase (ERK), c-jun NH₂-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 were activated by transfecting cultured cardiac myocytes with constructs encoding the appropriate kinases possessing gain-of-function mutations. Transfected cells were then analyzed for changes in cell size, sarcomeric organization, and induction of the genes for the A- and B-type natriuretic peptides (NPs), as well as the α-skeletal actin (α-SkA) gene. While activation of JNK and/or ERK with MEKK1_COOH or Raf-1 BXB, respectively, augmented cell size and effected relatively modest increases in NP and α-SkA promoter activities, neither upstream kinase conferred sarcomeric organization. However, transfection with MKK6 (Glu), which specifically activated p38, augmented cell size, induced NP and α-Ska promoter activities by up to 130-fold, and elicited sarcomeric organization in a manner similar to PE. Moreover, all three growth features induced by MKK6 (Glu) or PE were blocked with the p38-specific inhibitor, SB 203580. These results demonstrate novel and potentially central roles for MKK6 and p38 in the regulation of myocardial cell hypertrophy.     

DEK蛋白的真核表达纯化及其活性检测

利用Bac-to-Bac杆状病毒表达系统表达DEK蛋白并进行纯化。首先以pFastBacI质粒构建重组质粒pFastBacI-DEK,转化DH10Bac大肠杆菌后获得重组穿梭载体Bacmid-DEK,通过脂质体介导转染Sf9细胞产生具有强感染力的重组杆状病毒AcNPV-DEK。用此重组杆状病毒AcNPV-DEK感染Sf9细胞表达His-DEK融合蛋白。在非变性条件下,利用Ni-NTA agarose对表达的His-DEK融合蛋白进行纯化,经SDS-PAGE和Western blotting分析,在50 kDa处出现特异性蛋白条带并证实其为His-DEK融合蛋白。凝胶迁移阻滞实验表明,融合蛋白His-DEK与DNA 的结合具有结构特异性,其与超螺旋型DNA结合活性强于与线性化DNA的结合活性。真核表达并纯化的融合蛋白His-DEK与DNA的结合活性要明显强于原核表达的融合蛋白His-CDB。DEK 蛋白的磷酸化修饰会阻碍其与DNA的结合,而Sf9细胞中表达的融合蛋白His-DEK存在磷酸化修饰,将His-DEK去磷酸化后,其与DNA的结合活性有所提高。     

Simultaneous Quantification of Protein Expression and Modifications by Top-down Targeted Proteomics: A Case of the Sarcomeric Subproteome

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Highlights

• •A new strategy for simultaneous quantification of protein expression and modification.
• •This top-down LC/MS-based method shows high reproducibility and high throughput.
• •Quantification at the intact protein level with results comparable to Western blot.
• •This top-down proteomics method is applicable to different species and tissues.

     

Renal Dnase1 Enzyme Activity and Protein Expression Is Selectively Shut Down in Murine and Human Membranoproliferative Lupus Nephritis

Background

Deposition of chromatin-IgG complexes within glomerular membranes is a key event in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis. We recently reported an acquired loss of renal Dnase1 expression linked to transformation from mild to severe membranoproliferative lupus nephritis in (NZBxNZW)F1 mice. As this may represent a basic mechanism in the progression of lupus nephritis, several aspects of Dnase1 expression in lupus nephritis were analyzed.

Methodology/Principal Findings

Total nuclease activity and Dnase1 expression and activity was evaluated using in situ and in vitro analyses of kidneys and sera from (NZBxNZW)F1 mice of different ages, and from age-matched healthy controls. Immunofluorescence staining for Dnase1 was performed on kidney biopsies from (NZBxNZW)F1 mice as well as from human SLE patients and controls. Reduced serum Dnase1 activity was observed in both mesangial and end-stage lupus nephritis. A selective reduction in renal Dnase1 activity was seen in mice with massive deposition of chromatin-containing immune complexes in glomerular capillary walls. Mice with mild mesangial nephritis showed normal renal Dnase1 activity. Similar differences were seen when comparing human kidneys with severe and mild lupus nephritis. Dnase1 was diffusely expressed within the kidney in normal and mildly affected kidneys, whereas upon progression towards end-stage renal disease, Dnase1 was down-regulated in all renal compartments. This demonstrates that the changes associated with development of severe nephritis in the murine model are also relevant to human lupus nephritis.

Conclusions/Significance

Reduction in renal Dnase1 expression and activity is limited to mice and SLE patients with signs of membranoproliferative nephritis, and may be a critical event in the development of severe forms of lupus nephritis. Reduced Dnase1 activity reflects loss in the expression of the protein and not inhibition of enzyme activity.     

Expression of Rotavirus Capsid Protein VP6 in Transgenic Potato and Its Oral Immunogenicity in Mice

Murine rotavirus gene six encoding the 41 kDa group specific capsid structural protein VP6 was stably inserted into the Solanum tuberosum genome by Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated transformation. The molecular mass of plant synthesized VP6 capsid protein determined by immunoblot was similar to the size of both purified virus VP6 monomeric peptides and partially assembled virus-like particles. The amount of VP6 protein synthesized in transgenic potato leaf and tuber was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to be approximately 0.01% of total soluble protein. Oral immunization of CD-1 mice with transformed potato tuber tissues containing VP6 capsid protein generated measurable titers of both anti-VP6 serum IgG and intestinal IgA antibodies. The presence of detectable humoral and intestinal antibody responses against the rotavirus capsid protein following mucosal immunization provides an optimistic basis for the development of edible plant vaccines against enteric viral pathogens.     

Immediate Translation of Formin DIAPH1 mRNA after Its Exiting the Nucleus Is Required for Its Perinuclear Localization in Fibroblasts

DIAPH1 is a formin protein which promotes actin polymerization, stabilizes microtubules and consequently is involved in cytoskeleton dynamics, cell migration and differentiation. In contrast to the relatively well-understood signaling cascades that regulate DIAPH1 activity, its spatial regulation of biogenesis is not understood. A recent report showed that synthesis of DIAPH1 is confined in the perinuclear ER compartment through translation-dependent mRNA targeting. However, the underlying mechanism of DIAPH1 local synthesis is yet to be elucidated. Here, we provide evidence to demonstrate that the 5′-cap-mediated immediate translation of DIAPH1 mRNA upon exiting nucleus is required for localizing the mRNA in the perinuclear ER compartment. This is supported by data: 1) Delayed translation of DIAPH1 mRNA resulted in loss of perinuclear localization of the mRNA; 2) Once delocalized, DIAPH1 mRNA could not be retargeted to the perinuclear region; and 3) The translation of DIAPH1 mRNA is 5′-cap dependent. These results provide new insights into the novel mechanism of DIAPH1 local synthesis. In addition, these findings have led to the development of new approaches for manipulating DIAPH1 mRNA localization and local protein synthesis in cells for functional studies. Furthermore, a correlation of DIAPH1 mRNA and DIAPH1 protein localization has been demonstrated using a new method to quantify the intracellular distribution of protein.     

Heat Shock Protein 70 Expression Is Spatially Distributed in Human Placenta and Selectively Upregulated during Labor and Preeclampsia

Placental oxidative stress is a feature of both human labor and the pregnancy syndrome preeclampsia. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) can be induced in cells as a protective mechanism to cope with cellular stress. We hypothesized that HSP 70 would increase during labor and preeclampsia and that expression would vary in different placental zones. Samples were obtained from 12 sites within each placenta: 4 equally spaced apart pieces were sampled from the inner, middle and outer placental regions. Non-labor, labor and preeclampsia were studied. HSP 70 expression was investigated by Western blot analysis. HSP 70 protein expression was increased in the middle compared with the outer area (p = 0.03) in non-labor and in both the inner and middle areas compared with the outer area (p = 0.01 and p = 0.02 respectively) in labor. HSP 70 was increased in the preeclampsia non-labor group compared to the control non-labor group in the inner region (p = 0.003) and in the control labor group compared with the preeclampsia labor group at the middle area (p = 0.001). In conclusion HSP 70 is expressed in a spatial manner in the placenta. Changes in HSP 70 expression occur during labor and preeclampsia but at different zones within the placenta. The physiological and pathological significance of these remains to be elucidated but the results have important implications for how data obtained from studies in placental disease (and other organs) can be influenced by sampling methods.