GAPDH降解途径在鱼藤酮诱导多巴胺能神经元损伤中的作用

目的探讨GAPDH降解途径在鱼藤酮(rotenone)诱导的多巴胺能神经元损伤中的作用。方法用鱼藤酮诱导多巴胺能神经细胞SH-SY5Y建立帕金森病(Parkinson’s disease,PD)细胞模型,并分别加入蛋白酶体和自噬抑制剂和激活剂,显微镜观察细胞形态,MTT法检测细胞活性,Western blot检测GAPDH的表达及降解。结果鱼藤酮、蛋白酶体和自噬途径抑制剂可导致细胞活性下降,各药物组细胞生长受抑制;在鱼藤酮诱导的SH-SY5Y细胞内GAPDH水平上调,加入蛋白酶体和自噬途径抑制剂能够进一步上调GAPDH水平,而加入两个降解途径的激活剂则显著抑制鱼藤酮对GAPDH水平的上调作用。结论蛋白酶体和自噬溶酶体途径功能异常在GAPDH代谢中发挥重要作用,两者均参与GAPDH的降解。激活这两条降解途径可增加过表达的GAPDH的清除,可能成为PD治疗潜在的新靶点。     

原癌蛋白c-Cbl促进受体酪氨酸激酶EphA2的降解

c Cbl最近被证明是泛素 蛋白酶体 (ubiquitin proteasome)通路中的一个新的RINGFinger型泛素连接酶 (ubiquitinligase ,E3) .c Cbl可以介导受体酪氨酸激酶和非受体酪氨酸受体激酶的降解 .利用内源性表达较高EphA2的大肠癌细胞株HCT1 1 6 ,通过转染野生型c Cbl和显性负变异体(dominantnegativemutant)c Cbl 70Z ,探讨c Cbl在EphA2降解中的作用 .结果显示 ,c Cbl可促进磷酸化EphA2的降解 ,EphA2的降解必须依赖其配体ephrin A1的刺激 ;利用蛋白酶体 (proteasome)抑制剂MG1 32可抑制磷酸化的EphA2降解 ,提示EphA2的最终降解部位是在蛋白酶体 .研究的结果提示 ,c Cbl作为泛素连接酶诱导磷酸化后的EphA2在蛋白酶体中降解     

MG-132提高TNFR-Fc融合蛋白在CHO细胞中表达的研究

目的:在不影响细胞活力的前提下,通过抑制人肿瘤坏死因子受体-Fc(TNFR-Fc)融合蛋白的降解,提高其在中国仓鼠卵巢(CHO)细胞中的产量和质量。方法:通过在细胞培养过程中加入全蛋白质合成抑制剂Cycloheximide、溶酶体抑制剂Leupeptin、蛋白酶体抑制剂MG-132,验证TNFR-Fc融合蛋白在CHO细胞的降解途径;免疫印迹(Western blot)方法检测在细胞内TNFR-Fc融合蛋白的变化,酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)方法检测分泌表达的TNFR-Fc融合蛋白的含量。Protein A亲和层析纯化细胞培养液上清,高效液相色谱(HPLC)检测重组蛋白的纯度,并通过阻断肿瘤坏死因子α(TNFα)诱导的L929细胞毒作用来检测纯化的TNFR-Fc蛋白的活性。结果:TNFR-Fc在CHO细胞内,经泛素蛋白酶体途径降解,稳定表达TNFR-Fc的CHO细胞培养过程中添加50μmol/L MG-132,可以使TNFR-Fc融合蛋白的分泌表达量提高42.35%,纯化后,二聚体比例提高28.60%,并且纯化后目的蛋白的比活性也增加。结论:在不影响细胞活力、蛋白质生物学活性的前提下,添加蛋白酶体抑制剂MG-132提高TNFR-Fc融合蛋白在CHO细胞中的表达量,为进一步研究从抑制蛋白质降解途径来提高重组蛋白在CHO细胞中的表达量提供了现实依据。     

p62与蛋白降解途径的研究进展

p62是一种多功能泛素结合蛋白,参与泛素蛋白酶体系统(ubiquitin-proteasome system,UPS)和自噬-溶酶体系统两种蛋白降解过程。p62作为一种信号转导途径中的支架和适配子蛋白,其分子结构中的多个功能结构域可与其它蛋白质相互作用,介导多种细胞功能,特别是在细胞的选择性自噬和细胞抗氧化反应中发挥重要作用,因而p62与许多疾病的发病机制密切相关。本文主要综述p62的结构特征及其与UPS和自噬的相互关系,旨在为相关领域的研究提供参考。     

单增李斯特菌核糖核酸酶Rnase Ⅲ RncS氨基酸突变对其降解RNA活性的影响

为研究单增李斯特菌(LM)核糖核酸酶Rnase Ⅲ RncS氨基酸突变对RNA降解活性的影响。利用生物信息学软件分析单核细胞增生李斯特菌(LM)野毒株SB5中rncS基因编码的Rnase Ⅲ的结构域,并选择关键氨基酸利用基因重叠延伸PCR(SOE-PCR)技术对其进行了基因突变;然后将rncS突变基因片段D50A、E122A克隆至表达载体pET-32a(+),在大肠杆菌中利用IPTG进行诱导表达;应用SDS-PAGE和Western Blot鉴定重组蛋白的表达情况及其抗原特异性;通过体外酶活试验研究其对RNA降解活性的影响。结构域分析结果显示,LM-Rnase Ⅲ氨基酸序列含有1个双链RNA结合结构域(DSRM)和1个核酸酶结构域(RIBOc),其中结构域RIBOc含有5个活性位点。SDS-PAGE检测结果显示,表达的重组突变型Rnase Ⅲ -D50A和Rnase Ⅲ -E122 A蛋白相对分子质量均为42.5 kD,与理论值相符;Western blot分析表明重组突变型Rnase Ⅲ -D50A和Rnase Ⅲ -E122A蛋白可与LM阳性血清发生免疫学反应。体外酶活实验表明,Rnase Ⅲ发挥降解活性依赖于Mn2+或Mg2+,将其第50位天冬氨酸突变后,Rnase Ⅲ RncS的降解活性有所降低(P0.001);第122位谷氨酸突变后,Rnase Ⅲ RncS降解活性极显著下降(P0.0001),提示第122位谷氨酸是维持LM Rnase Ⅲ RncS酶活性的关键位点。     

MiR-147a通过抑制细胞自噬促进HIF-1α蛋白的积累

目的:HIF-1α是由低氧诱导表达的一个重要的调节肿瘤生长、代谢的转录因子,它的降解除了通过泛素-蛋白酶体途径降解之外还与可以通过细胞自噬途径降解。通过研究miR-147a对细胞自噬的影响从而进一步研究miR-147a对HIF-1α降解的影响。方法:在HeLa细胞中过表达miR-147a,用Western blot和Q-PCR检测细胞自噬相关的标志物LC3B、P62、LAMP-2A的变化。再通过溶酶体-自噬泡共定位实验共聚焦显微镜观察自噬泡的数量以及共定位情况。最后通过加入自噬诱导剂(EBSS)和自噬抑制剂(Bafilomycin A1),用Western blot检测转染NC与miR-147a后HIF-1α蛋白的表达情况。结果:过表达miR-147a后自噬相关的标志物LC3B、P62表达量上升,LAMP-2A表达量下降,且溶酶体与自噬泡的共定位增多;加入自噬诱导剂和自噬抑制剂后HIF-1α蛋白的表达量增加。结果表明miR-147a可以抑制细胞自噬的巨自噬途径以及分子伴侣介导的自噬途径,积累HIF-1α蛋白。结论:miR-147a通过抑制细胞自噬从而减少HIF-1α蛋白的降解,但是miR-147a作用靶点的分子机制需要进一步研究。     

泛素融合降解蛋白UFD1的结构与功能

泛素-蛋白酶体途径是细胞内蛋白质选择性降解的主要途径,参与多种真核生物细胞生理过程,与细胞的生理功能和病理状态有着密切的关系。该途径中UFD1作为泛素识别因子介导泛素化的靶蛋白至26S蛋白酶体降解。该文在概述泛素-蛋白酶体途径作用机制的基础上,对哺乳动物和酵母UFD1蛋白的结构及其在细胞周期调控、转录调控、内质网相关蛋白降解中的功能进行了综述。     

棉铃虫Ⅳ型几丁质酶的基因克隆、酶学性质及表达谱

【目的】昆虫几丁质酶(chitinase, CHT)主要参与蜕皮、围食膜的降解和机体免疫防御等重要生理生长发育过程。本研究旨在对棉铃虫Helicoverpa armigera Ⅳ型(group)几丁质酶基因进行克隆和表达分析,为以该基因作为棉铃虫防控的分子靶标提供理论依据。【方法】采用RT-PCR和RACE技术从棉铃虫中肠中克隆Ⅳ型几丁质酶基因,分别运用DNAMAN和MEGA软件进行多序列比对和构建系统发育树。在大肠杆菌Escherichia coli(DE3)中诱导表达其体外重组蛋白,利用Western blot进一步验证;用Ni-NTA纯化柱纯化重组蛋白,之后研究该蛋白的酶学性质。qPCR分析该基因的在棉铃虫不同发育阶段和6龄幼虫不同组织中的表达谱。【结果】克隆获得棉铃虫几丁质酶基因HaCHT4(GenBank登录号: MH500771),其cDNA长1 624 bp,ORF长1 527 bp,编码509个氨基酸,预测的分子量为55.2 kD。蛋白质序列的N末端具有信号肽,中间序列部分含有一个催化结构域(catalytic domain, CAD), C末端含有一个几丁质结合结构域(chitin binding domain, CBD)。多序列比对显示,HaCHT4具有几丁质酶的保守区域;系统发育分析表明,HaCHT4属于Ⅳ型几丁质酶。重组蛋白His-HaCHT4在大肠杆菌中成功表达。纯化的重组蛋白对胶体几丁质底物具有降解活性,最适温度和pH分别为50℃和7,动力学参数K_m和V_max值分别为1.76±0.35 mg/mL和0.0220±0.0012 μg/mL·s。qPCR分析表明,HaCHT4在1龄和2龄幼虫期的表达量显著高于其他幼虫龄期及预蛹期;主要在中肠和脂肪体中高度表达,体壁和头部中低表达。【结论】结果提示棉铃虫HaCHT4可能参与围食膜中几丁质降解过程。这些结果为深入研究HaCHT4的功能奠定了基础,并为害虫防治提供了有用的信息。     

超级杂交水稻 TIR1 类似基因 cDNA 的克隆与生物信息学分析

生长素受体TIR1通过形成SCFTIR1复合体与生长素直接结合, 即为Aux/IAA在26S 蛋白酶体降解过程中的关键蛋白质。在Blas t检索和生物信息学分析的基础上设计特异引物, 以超级杂交水稻(Oryz a sativa)亲本株1S为材料, 通过RT-PCR扩增并经T-A克隆后测序, 获得一条长度为2 219 bp 的序列, 其开放阅读框长度为1 764 bp, 编码含587个氨基酸残基的肽链。该序列经生物信息学分析发现, 其与拟南芥TIR1相似性为77%, 同样具有2个保守的结构域, 即F-box和亮氨酸富集重复区域(LRR),且都不具有跨膜结构域和信号肽。该cDNA序列命名为OsTIR1。     

低稳定性绿色荧光蛋白EGFP-PEST的载体构建及表达验证

目的:构建含有蛋白降解基序PEST序列的增强型绿色荧光蛋白(EGFP)融合基因表达载体pQCXIP-EGFPPEST-N1,并检测其对蛋白稳定性的调节。方法:以NFATx6-mPro-EGFP-PEST-YES为模板,PCR扩增EGFP-PEST序列,克隆入逆转录病毒载体pQCXIP-EGFP-N1构建pQCXIP-EGFP-PEST-N1,病毒包装后感染293FT细胞获得稳定细胞系;用蛋白酶体抑制剂MG-132处理细胞,Western印迹检测EGFP的表达变化。结果:构建获得逆转录病毒载体pQCXIP-EGFP-PEST-N1,感染293FT细胞后,与对照组相比,EGFP表达显著降低,并且该降低可被MG-132处理逆转。结论:构建了EGFP-PEST蛋白的表达载体,PEST可以介导EGFP蛋白发生蛋白酶体依赖的降解。为实现基因编辑效果的可视化筛选奠定了基础。     

The destruction box is involved in the degradation of the NTE family proteins by the proteasome

Neuropathy target esterase (NTE) and NTE-related esterase (NRE) are endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane-anchored proteins belonging to the NTE protein family. NTE and NRE are degraded by macroautophagy and by the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway. However, the regulation of NTE and NRE by proteasome has not been well understood. Western blotting showed that the deletion of the regulatory region of NTE and NRE led to protein accumulation compared with that of the corresponding wild-type proteins. Further, deletion and site-directed mutagenesis experiments demonstrated that the destruction (D) box was required for the proteasomal degradation of NTE and NRE. However, unlike the deletion of the regulatory region, the deletion of the D box did not affect the subcellular localisation of NTE or NRE or disrupt the ER. Moreover, the deletion of the D box or the regulatory region of NTE has similar inhibitory effects on cell growth, which are greater than those produced by the full-length NTE. Here, for the first time, we show that the D box is involved in the regulation of NTE family proteins by the proteasome but not in their subcellular localisation. In addition, these results suggest that the NTE overexpression-mediated inhibition of cell growth is related to active protein levels but not to its ER disruption effect.     

Mapping of a N-terminal α-helix domain required for human PINK1 stabilization,Serine228 autophosphorylation and activation in cells

Autosomal recessive mutations in the PINK1 gene are causal for Parkinson''s disease (PD). PINK1 encodes a mitochondrial localized protein kinase that is a master-regulator of mitochondrial quality control pathways. Structural studies to date have elaborated the mechanism of how mutations located within the kinase domain disrupt PINK1 function; however, the molecular mechanism of PINK1 mutations located upstream and downstream of the kinase domain is unknown. We have employed mutagenesis studies to define the minimal region of human PINK1 required for optimal ubiquitin phosphorylation, beginning at residue Ile111. Inspection of the AlphaFold human PINK1 structure model predicts a conserved N-terminal α-helical extension (NTE) domain forming an intramolecular interaction with the C-terminal extension (CTE), which we corroborate using hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry of recombinant insect PINK1 protein. Cell-based analysis of human PINK1 reveals that PD-associated mutations (e.g. Q126P), located within the NTE : CTE interface, markedly inhibit stabilization of PINK1; autophosphorylation at Serine228 (Ser228) and Ubiquitin Serine65 (Ser65) phosphorylation. Furthermore, we provide evidence that NTE and CTE domain mutants disrupt PINK1 stabilization at the mitochondrial Translocase of outer membrane complex. The clinical relevance of our findings is supported by the demonstration of defective stabilization and activation of endogenous PINK1 in human fibroblasts of a patient with early-onset PD due to homozygous PINK1 Q126P mutations. Overall, we define a functional role of the NTE : CTE interface towards PINK1 stabilization and activation and show that loss of NTE : CTE interactions is a major mechanism of PINK1-associated mutations linked to PD.     

Reversion of temperature-sensitive mutation by inhibition of proteasome-mediated degradation of mutated D123 protein.

A temperature-sensitive cell-cycle mutant of the 3Y1 rat fibroblast cell line, 3Y1tsD123 has in the D123 gene coding region a point mutation which causes instability of the D123 protein. Temperature-sensitive G1 arrest of the mutant is caused by increased degradation of the D123 protein at restrictive temperature. In this study we found that the selective proteasome inhibitors lactacystin and MG132 inhibited degradation of the mutated D123 protein in cell lines overexpressing the mutated D123 protein, followed by accumulation of a modified form (increased molecular weight other than by ubiquitination) of the D123 protein. Although a temperature-resistant revertant of the mutant had no further mutation in the D123 gene coding region, the modification of the mutated D123 protein was inhibited and the mutated D123 protein was rendered stable. The modification was also inhibited in the hybrid cell lines between the revertant and the cell line overexpressing the mutated D123 protein. These facts imply that the mutated D123 protein receives unidentified modification before degradation in the proteasome, and that the revertant expresses a gene inhibiting this modification.     

快速高效检测植物体内蛋白泛素化修饰研究方法

UPS参与植物中绝大多数的信号转导通路。其中, 一些激素的受体本身就是E3泛素连接酶, 如茉莉酸(JA)受体COI1和生长素(auxin)受体TIR1都是F-box蛋白, 它们通过特异性介导相应转录抑制子的泛素化降解来传递激素信号, 但对于整个UPS体系而言, 由于技术的限制, 迄今为止仅见少量泛素连接酶与特异性底物间生化机制的报道。用大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)表达蛋白实施泛素连接酶泛素化修饰底物的体外实验是验证泛素连接酶/底物对的常用方法, 但由于体外实验缺乏某些蛋白必需的转录后修饰, 导致实验结果有时存在假阴性。利用农杆菌注射烟草(Nicotiana benthamiana)瞬时表达蛋白的方法, 建立高效的植物体内检测蛋白泛素化系统, 可以快速检测蛋白泛素化, 包括检测泛素连接酶和底物的特异性相互作用、底物蛋白的自身泛素化、泛素连接酶对底物降解的促进作用、26S蛋白酶体抑制剂MG132对底物降解的抑制作用以及用植物内源表达蛋白进行体外泛素化反应。     

快速高效检测植物体内蛋白泛素化修饰研究方法

UPS参与植物中绝大多数的信号转导通路。其中, 一些激素的受体本身就是E3泛素连接酶, 如茉莉酸(JA)受体COI1和生长素(auxin)受体TIR1都是F-box蛋白, 它们通过特异性介导相应转录抑制子的泛素化降解来传递激素信号, 但对于整个UPS体系而言, 由于技术的限制, 迄今为止仅见少量泛素连接酶与特异性底物间生化机制的报道。用大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)表达蛋白实施泛素连接酶泛素化修饰底物的体外实验是验证泛素连接酶/底物对的常用方法, 但由于体外实验缺乏某些蛋白必需的转录后修饰, 导致实验结果有时存在假阴性。利用农杆菌注射烟草(Nicotiana benthamiana)瞬时表达蛋白的方法, 建立高效的植物体内检测蛋白泛素化系统, 可以快速检测蛋白泛素化, 包括检测泛素连接酶和底物的特异性相互作用、底物蛋白的自身泛素化、泛素连接酶对底物降解的促进作用、26S蛋白酶体抑制剂MG132对底物降解的抑制作用以及用植物内源表达蛋白进行体外泛素化反应。     

一株新分离的云芝栓孔菌Z-1应用于木质素降解及染料脱色

木质素是一种非结晶性的复杂三维网状酚类高分子聚合物,被认为是木质纤维素生物质抗降解的天然屏障。探索并开发高效降解木质素的微生物资源已成为近些年来的研究焦点。本研究对新分离的一株具有潜在木质素降解能力的菌株Z-1开展了系列研究。首先通过形态学和系统发育分析将菌株Z-1鉴定为云芝栓孔菌Trametes versicolor。平板定性检测初步表明云芝栓孔菌T. versicolor Z-1具有较强的产过氧化物酶和漆酶能力。以木质素为唯一碳源时,T. versicolor Z-1对木质素的降解率和脱色率分别可达13.38%和26.43%。酶活检测分析表明该菌主要是通过分泌漆酶和锰过氧化物酶（manganese peroxidase,MnP）降解木质素。利用傅里叶变换红外光谱（fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy,FT-IR）、扫描电镜（scanning electron microscope,SEM）及气相色谱-质谱联用（gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy,GC-MS）对云芝栓孔菌T. versicolor Z-1降解后木质素残渣结构以及代谢物的鉴定分析结果证实了该菌对木质素的强降解能力,并表明该菌对木质素的降解途径包括酚醚键的断裂、芳香环侧链氧化裂解以及芳香环开环反应等。此外,该菌还对多种芳香类染料展现出了强的脱色能力,其中对刚果红、孔雀石绿和考马斯亮蓝R-250 3种染料的脱色率达到100%。本研究表明云芝栓孔菌T. versicolor Z-1具有应用于工业化木质素降解与芳香化合物类染料脱色的开发前景。     

Degradation of mouse NTE-related esterase by macroautophagy and the proteasome

NTE-related esterase (NRE) is a novel endoplasmic reticulum-anchored lysophospholipase with high homology to neuropathy target esterase (NTE). However, little is known about the regulation of NRE protein. In the current study, we investigated the degradation pathways of mouse NRE (mNRE) in mammalian cells. Based on experiments with inhibitors and inducer of protein degradation pathways, we provide here the first evidence that mNRE is degraded by macroautophagy as well as by the proteasome. Moreover, the contribution of protein domains to the degradation of mNRE was investigated, which showed that the transmembrane and regulatory domain played a role in the degradation of mNRE by macroautophagy and the proteasome respectively. In contrast the C-terminal catalytic domain was not involved in both degradation pathways of mNRE. These findings showed for the first time that the degradation pathways in controlling mNRE quantity and may provide further insight into structure and regulation of mNRE.     

The Diverse Functions of Small Heat Shock Proteins in the Proteostasis Network

The protein quality control (PQC) system maintains protein homeostasis by counteracting the accumulation of misfolded protein conformers. Substrate degradation and refolding activities executed by ATP-dependent proteases and chaperones constitute major strategies of the proteostasis network. Small heat shock proteins represent ATP-independent chaperones that bind to misfolded proteins, preventing their uncontrolled aggregation. sHsps share the conserved α-crystallin domain (ACD) and gain functional specificity through variable and largely disordered N- and C-terminal extensions (NTE, CTE). They form large, polydisperse oligomers through multiple, weak interactions between NTE/CTEs and ACD dimers. Sequence variations of sHsps and the large variability of sHsp oligomers enable sHsps to fulfill diverse tasks in the PQC network. sHsp oligomers represent inactive yet dynamic resting states that are rapidly deoligomerized and activated upon stress conditions, releasing substrate binding sites in NTEs and ACDs Bound substrates are usually isolated in large sHsp/substrate complexes. This sequestration activity of sHsps represents a third strategy of the proteostasis network. Substrate sequestration reduces the burden for other PQC components during immediate and persistent stress conditions. Sequestered substrates can be released and directed towards refolding pathways by ATP-dependent Hsp70/Hsp100 chaperones or sorted for degradation by autophagic pathways. sHsps can also maintain the dynamic state of phase-separated stress granules (SGs), which store mRNA and translation factors, by reducing the accumulation of misfolded proteins inside SGs and preventing unfolding of SG components. This ensures SG disassembly and regain of translational capacity during recovery periods.     

高效木质素降解菌的筛选及其对玉米秸秆的降解效果

本研究利用愈创木酚和苯胺蓝固体培养基对菌株进行初筛,利用形态学和分子生物学对筛选出的菌株进行鉴定,以黄孢原毛平革菌Phanerochaete chrysosporium CGMCC 5.0776为对照,利用其对玉米秸秆进行预处理并测定木质素和纤维素的降解率,测定筛选菌株在预处理玉米秸秆过程中漆酶、锰过氧化物酶（manganese peroxidase,MnP）和木质素过氧化物酶（lignin peroxidase,LiP）活性。结果表明:利用愈创木酚和苯胺蓝固体培养基,从16株白腐真菌菌株中筛选出2株具有较高漆酶或MnP活性的菌株,鉴定其为桦栓孔菌Trametes betulina (L.) Pilát（ZT-153）和亚黑管孔菌Bjerkandera fumosa (Pers.) P. Karst.（ZT-307）,测定T. betulina ZT-153和B. fumosa ZT-307对玉米秸秆酸不溶木质素降解效率分别为13.60%和21.87%,较对照P. chrysosporium CGMCC 5.0776高1.58%和9.85%,对纤维素的降解率较低,分别为4.10%和4.50%。2株菌株在预处理玉米秸秆过程中,T. betulina ZT-153表现出漆酶和MnP活性,B. fumosa ZT-307只表现出LiP活性。其中B. fumosa ZT-307对玉米秸秆酸不溶木质素的降解效率最高,在秸秆资源的综合利用方面具有较好的潜力和应用前景。     

Relationships between soil nutrients and plant functional traits in different degradation stages of Leymus chinensis steppe in Nei Mongol,China

Aims Understanding ecological implications of plant functional traits is helpful in exploring community assembly under different environments of nature and human disturbances, and then to reveal the maintenance mechanism of the ecosystem services. By analyzing vegetation and soil data derived from field observations in Leymus chinensis steppe of Xilin River Basin in Nei Mongol, we aimed to explore the responses of plant functional traits to changing soil nutrients at different degradation stages. Methods We observed 69 plots for both plant community structure and soil attributes using quadrat and soil-drilling methods. Five plant functional traits, namely the specific leaf area (SLA), leaf dry matter content (LDMC), leaf carbon to nitrogen ratio (C:N), leaf lignin content (LLC), and maximum height (MH), were measured for each plot. We also tested soil attributes, such as total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), available nitrogen (AN), available phosphorus (AP), and organic carbon (OC). The sixty-nine communities were classified into four groups (undegraded L. chinensis + forbs, slightly degraded L. chinensis + Stipa sp., moderately degraded L. chinensis + Cleistogenes squarrosa, and heavily degraded L. chinensis + Artemisia frigida) using TWINSPAN software. The relationships between plant functional traits and soil nutrient variables were analyzed for the four community groups using the Pearson’s correlation test with SPSS 21.0 software. Important findings (1) The soil nutrients decreased with the grassland degradation process and there were significant differences in TN and TP between the undegraded L. chinensis + forbs and heavily degraded L. chinensis + A. frigida communities; (2) plant functional traits also showed strong differences between the degradation stages. MH and C:N decreased with degradation. A significant difference was observed in MH between the undegraded L. chinensis + forbs and slightly degraded L. chinensis + Stipa sp. communities. The difference in C:N was also significant between the undegraded L. chinensis + forbs and heavily degraded L. chinensis + A. frigida communities; (3) the effects of soil nutrients on plant functional traits changed with grassland degradation. AN was negatively correlated with MH, LLC, and C:N in the slightly degraded L. chinensis + Stipa sp. community. In the moderately degraded L. chinensis + C. squarrosa community, those three traits mentioned above showed significantly positive correlations with TP; (4) while analyzing the degraded grassland, different relationships between plant functional traits were found. In the slightly degraded L. chinensis + Stipa sp. community, LLC was positively correlated with all other traits. Moreover, positive correlations also occurred between C:N and MH, C:N and LDMC, and C:N and LLC. In the heavily degraded L. chinensis + A. frigida community, all traits demonstrated the most significantly positive correlations.