球毛壳菌60S核糖体蛋白L10a基因克隆与特性分析

用粗糙脉孢菌（Neurospora crassa）XP_322380和赤霉菌（Gibberella zeag）PH-1（EAA76971）的60S核糖体蛋白L10a基因（60S ribosomal protein L10a,RPL10a）蛋白序列对球毛壳菌（Chaetomium globosum）ESTs序列数据库进行tBlastn检索,获得了球毛壳菌RPL10a cDNA序列。cDNA序列长765bp,开放阅读框654bp,编码217个氨基酸组成的多肽,蛋白分了量为23．9kD。BlastP分析表明该基因氨基酸序列与粗糙脉胞菌相似最高为89％;与玉蜀黍黑粉菌（Ustilago maydis）相似性最低为78％。cDNA序列及推测的氨基酸序列在GenBank登录（登录号分别为AY669070,AAT74578）。     

海鲈核糖体蛋白L8cDNA的克隆与进化分析

本文构建了海鲈(Lateolabrax japonicus)头肾全长eDNA文库.PCR方法扩增得到海鲈的核糖体蛋白L8基因,全长848bp,编码257个氨基酸,含有L2及L2-C两个保守区.进化分析结果表明,以L8为参照的进化鉴定结果同经典的分子生物学标准18s鉴定结果十分相似,因此核糖体蛋白L8基因L8可以作为鉴定物种进化程度的新标准.     

Perturbation of 60 S Ribosomal Biogenesis Results in Ribosomal Protein L5- and L11-dependent p53 Activation

Ribosomal proteins play an important role in p53 activation in response to nucleolar stress. Multiple ribosomal proteins, including L5, L11, L23, and S7, have been shown to bind to and inhibit MDM2, leading to p53 activation. However, it is not clear whether ribosomal protein regulation of MDM2 is specific to some, but not all ribosomal proteins. Here we show that L29 and L30, two ribosomal proteins from the 60 S ribosomal subunit, do not bind to MDM2 and do not inhibit MDM2-mediated p53 suppression, indicating that the ribosomal protein regulation of the MDM2-p53 feedback loop is specific. Interestingly, direct perturbation of the 60 S ribosomal biogenesis by knocking down either L29 or L30 drastically induced the level and activity of p53, leading to p53-depedent cell cycle arrest. This p53 activation was drastically inhibited by knockdown of L11 or L5. Consistently, knockdown of L29 or L30 enhanced the interaction of MDM2 with L11 and L5 and markedly inhibited MDM2-mediated p53 ubiquitination, suggesting that direct perturbation of 60 S ribosomal biogenesis activates p53 via L11- and L5-mediated MDM2 suppression. Mechanistically, knockdown of L30 or L29 significantly increased the NEDDylation and nuclear retention of L11. Knocking down endogenous NEDD8 suppressed p53 activation induced by knockdown of L30. These results demonstrate that NEDDylation of L11 plays a critical role in mediating p53 activation in response to perturbation of ribosomal biogenesis.     

核糖体蛋白S26的研究进展

核糖体蛋白(ribosomal proteins,RPs)不仅在细胞内参与合成蛋白质,还具有多种核糖体外功能。核糖体蛋白S26(RPS26)位于核糖体小亚基,其功能障碍与多种疾病密切相关。近年来,有关RPS26的研究主要在参与核糖体装配等核糖体功能方面,以及参与无义介导的mRNA降解机制(nonsense-mediated mRNA decay,NMD)、直接或间接调控重要的抑癌基因p53表达等核糖体外功能方面。多篇报道证实RPS26基因突变可引起戴-布二氏贫血(Diamond-Blackfan anemia,DBA),而RPS26基因与Ⅰ型糖尿病的关系仍有争议。探索RPS26参与NMD机制在DBA发生中的作用有助于深入认识DBA发病机理,同时也可为完善SMaRT(spliceosome-mediated mRNA trans-splicing)技术等基因疗法提供帮助。此外,RPS26在癌症中的作用也值得进一步探索。     

Phylogenetic Relationships of Acanthocephala Based on Analysis of 18S Ribosomal RNA Gene Sequences

Acanthocephala (thorny-headed worms) is a phylum of endoparasites of vertebrates and arthropods, included among the most phylogenetically basal tripoblastic pseudocoelomates. The phylum is divided into three classes: Archiacanthocephala, Palaeacanthocephala, and Eoacanthocephala. These classes are distinguished by morphological characters such as location of lacunar canals, persistence of ligament sacs in females, number and type of cement glands in males, number and size of proboscis hooks, host taxonomy, and ecology. To understand better the phylogenetic relationships within Acanthocephala, and between Acanthocephala and Rotifera, we sequenced the nearly complete 18S rRNA genes of nine species from the three classes of Acanthocephala and four species of Rotifera from the classes Bdelloidea and Monogononta. Phylogenetic relationships were inferred by maximum-likelihood analyses of these new sequences and others previously determined. The analyses showed that Acanthocephala is the sister group to a clade including Eoacanthocephala and Palaeacanthocephala. Archiacanthocephala exhibited a slower rate of evolution at the nucleotide level, as evidenced by shorter branch lengths for the group. We found statistically significant support for the monophyly of Rotifera, represented in our analysis by species from the clade Eurotatoria, which includes the classes Bdelloidea and Monogononta. Eurotatoria also appears as the sister group to Acanthocephala. Received: 12 October 1999 / Accepted: 8 February 2000     

Final Pre-40S Maturation Depends on the Functional Integrity of the 60S Subunit Ribosomal Protein L3

Ribosomal protein L3 is an evolutionarily conserved protein that participates in the assembly of early pre-60S particles. We report that the rpl3[W255C] allele, which affects the affinity and function of translation elongation factors, impairs cytoplasmic maturation of 20S pre-rRNA. This was not seen for other mutations in or depletion of L3 or other 60S ribosomal proteins. Surprisingly, pre-40S particles containing 20S pre-rRNA form translation-competent 80S ribosomes, and translation inhibition partially suppresses 20S pre-rRNA accumulation. The GTP-dependent translation initiation factor Fun12 (yeast eIF5B) shows similar in vivo binding to ribosomal particles from wild-type and rpl3[W255C] cells. However, the GTPase activity of eIF5B failed to stimulate processing of 20S pre-rRNA when assayed with ribosomal particles purified from rpl3[W255C] cells. We conclude that L3 plays an important role in the function of eIF5B in stimulating 3′ end processing of 18S rRNA in the context of 80S ribosomes that have not yet engaged in translation. These findings indicate that the correct conformation of the GTPase activation region is assessed in a quality control step during maturation of cytoplasmic pre-ribosomal particles.     

Alterations in Phosphorylation of Hepatocyte Ribosomal Protein S6 Control Plasmodium Liver Stage Infection

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Methylation of Ribosomal Protein L42 Regulates Ribosomal Function and Stress-adapted Cell Growth

Lysine methylation is one of the most common protein modifications. Although lysine methylation of histones has been extensively studied and linked to gene regulation, that of non-histone proteins remains incompletely understood. Here, we show a novel regulatory role of ribosomal protein methylation. Using an in vitro methyltransferase assay, we found that Schizosaccharomyces pombe Set13, a SET domain protein encoded by SPAC688.14, specifically methylates lysine 55 of ribosomal protein L42 (Rpl42). Mass spectrometric analysis revealed that endogenous Rpl42 is monomethylated at lysine 55 in wild-type S. pombe cells and that the methylation is lost in Δset13 mutant cells. Δset13 and Rpl42 methylation-deficient mutant S. pombe cells showed higher cycloheximide sensitivity and defects in stress-responsive growth control compared with wild type. Genetic analyses suggested that the abnormal growth phenotype was distinct from the conserved stress-responsive pathway that modulates translation initiation. Furthermore, the Rpl42 methylation-deficient mutant cells showed a reduced ability to survive after entering stationary phase. These results suggest that Rpl42 methylation plays direct roles in ribosomal function and cell proliferation control independently of the general stress-response pathway.     

Double-Stranded RNA-Activated Protein Kinase (PKR) Is Negatively Regulated by 60S Ribosomal Subunit Protein L18

The double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-activated protein kinase (PKR) provides a fundamental control step in the regulation of protein synthesis initiation through phosphorylation of the alpha subunit of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 (eIF-2α), a process that prevents polypeptide chain initiation. In such a manner, activated PKR inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis, whereas disruption of normal PKR signaling results in unregulated cell growth. Therefore, tight control of PKR activity is essential for regulated cell growth. PKR is activated by dsRNA binding to two conserved dsRNA binding domains within its amino terminus. We isolated a ribosomal protein L18 by interaction with PKR. L18 is a 22-kDa protein that is overexpressed in colorectal cancer tissue. L18 competed with dsRNA for binding to PKR, reversed dsRNA binding to PKR, and did not directly bind dsRNA. Mutation of K64E within the first dsRNA binding domain of PKR destroyed both dsRNA binding and L18 interaction, suggesting that the two interactive sites overlap. L18 inhibited both PKR autophosphorylation and PKR-mediated phosphorylation of eIF-2α in vitro. Overexpression of L18 by transient DNA transfection reduced eIF-2α phosphorylation and stimulated translation of a reporter gene in vivo. These results demonstrate that L18 is a novel regulator of PKR activity, and we propose that L18 prevents PKR activation by dsRNA while PKR is associated with the ribosome. Overexpression of L18 may promote protein synthesis and cell growth in certain cancerous tissue through inhibition of PKR activity.     

Extremophilic 50S Ribosomal RNA-Binding Protein L35Ae as a Basis for Engineering of an Alternative Protein Scaffold

Due to their remarkably high structural stability, proteins from extremophiles are particularly useful in numerous biological applications. Their utility as alternative protein scaffolds could be especially valuable in small antibody mimetic engineering. These artificial binding proteins occupy a specific niche between antibodies and low molecular weight substances, paving the way for development of innovative approaches in therapeutics, diagnostics, and reagent use. Here, the 50S ribosomal RNA-binding protein L35Ae from the extremophilic archaea Pyrococcus horikoshii has been probed for its potential to serve as a backbone in alternative scaffold engineering. The recombinant wild type L35Ae has a native-like secondary structure, extreme thermal stability (mid-transition temperature of 90°C) and a moderate resistance to the denaturation by guanidine hydrochloride (half-transition at 2.6 M). Chemical crosslinking and dynamic light scattering data revealed that the wild type L35Ae protein has a propensity for multimerization and aggregation correlating with its non-specific binding to a model cell surface of HEK293 cells, as evidenced by flow cytometry. To suppress these negative features, a 10-amino acid mutant (called L35Ae 10X) was designed, which lacks the interaction with HEK293 cells, is less susceptible to aggregation, and maintains native-like secondary structure and thermal stability. However, L35Ae 10X also shows lowered resistance to guanidine hydrochloride (half-transition at 2.0M) and is more prone to oligomerization. This investigation of an extremophile protein’s scaffolding potential demonstrates that lowered resistance to charged chemical denaturants and increased propensity to multimerization may limit the utility of extremophile proteins as alternative scaffolds.     

Phylogenetic Analysis of Ruminant Theileria spp. from China Based on 28S Ribosomal RNA Gene

Species identification using DNA sequences is the basis for DNA taxonomy. In this study, we sequenced the ribosomal large-subunit RNA gene sequences (3,037-3,061 bp) in length of 13 Chinese Theileria stocks that were infective to cattle and sheep. The complete 28S rRNA gene is relatively difficult to amplify and its conserved region is not important for phylogenetic study. Therefore, we selected the D2-D3 region from the complete 28S rRNA sequences for phylogenetic analysis. Our analyses of 28S rRNA gene sequences showed that the 28S rRNA was useful as a phylogenetic marker for analyzing the relationships among Theileria spp. in ruminants. In addition, the D2-D3 region was a short segment that could be used instead of the whole 28S rRNA sequence during the phylogenetic analysis of Theileria, and it may be an ideal DNA barcode.     

巴西橡胶树线粒体50S核糖体蛋白L21cDNA的克隆与分析

在橡胶生产中,死皮生理综合症严重制约了橡胶树(Hevea brasiliensis)单产的提高。在早期构建的差减文库中,筛选到一条在死皮植株中下调表达的基因片段,该片段编码的蛋白与线粒体50S核糖体蛋白L21(mRPL21)同源。通过ESTs序列拼接和RT-PCR,获得一条853 bp的cDNA序列(命名为HbmRPL21,GenBank登录号为HM800425),该序列包含一个完整的开放读码框,编码271个氨基酸,理论分子量为30.52 kD,等电点为8.40。同源比对表明,植物和动物界间mRPL21序列差异很大,而植物界内则相对比较保守。生物信息学分析表明,HbmRPL21是一个包含Ribosomal_L21p保守结构域的线粒体定位蛋白。