高等植物的LRR蛋白：结构与功能

ＬＲＲ结构存在于细胞定位和功能上各不相同的多种蛋白质中,与蛋白质之间的相互作用和细胞内信号传递过程密切相关。植物中含ＬＲＲ的蛋白主要有类受体蛋白激酶,抗病编码的蛋白和多聚半乳糖酸酶抑制蛋白等,它们分别在细胞的生长发育,抗病反应等过程中发挥着重要作用,其相似的ＬＲＲ结构为从分子水平上研究这些蛋白的作用机制提供了结构基础。     

植物抗病基因的研究进展

近年来,已有１０多个植物抗病基因被克隆并定序。植物抗病基因编码的蛋白,大多含有富氨酸重复单位（ＬＲＲ）和核苷酸结合位点（ＮＢＳ）等结构。在植物与病原物的互作中,这些蛋白可作为受体识别由病原物无毒基因编码的激发子,从而激发一系列防卫反应,使植物表现出抗病性。克隆的植物抗病基因可用于培育基因工程植株而大大加快育种速度。本文对目前植物抗病基因研究中存在的问题及发展前景也进行了探讨。     

Bcl—2家族蛋白与细胞凋亡

Bcl 2家族蛋白是在细胞凋亡过程中起关键性作用的一类蛋白质。在线粒体上 ,Bcl 2家族蛋白通过与其他凋亡蛋白的协同作用 ,调控线粒体结构与功能的稳定性 ,发挥着细胞凋亡“主开关”的作用。Bcl 2家族包括两类蛋白质 :一类是抗凋亡蛋白 ,另一类是促凋亡蛋白。在细胞凋亡时 ,Bcl 2家族中的促凋亡蛋白成员发生蛋白质的加工修饰 ,易位到线粒体的外膜上 ,引起细胞色素c、凋亡诱导因子等其他促凋亡因子的释放 ,导致细胞凋亡 ;而平时被隔离在线粒体等细胞器内的该家族的抗凋亡蛋白成员则抑制细胞色素c和凋亡诱导因子等促凋亡因子的释放 ,具有抑制细胞凋亡的功能。但一旦这类抗凋亡蛋白成员与激活的促凋亡蛋白发生相互作用后 ,便丧失了对细胞凋亡的抑制作用 ,造成线粒体等细胞器的功能丧失和细胞器内促凋亡因子的释放 ,导致细胞凋亡。现以Bcl 2家族调控细胞凋亡的最新研究进展为基础 ,对Bcl 2家族成员及其蛋白质结构、分布和调控细胞凋亡的分子机制进行综述。     

参与植物天然免疫的LRR型蛋白

植物含有多种富含亮氨酸重复序列(LRRs)结构的蛋白质,它们在植物天然免疫中发挥着重要作用。参与植物防御反应的LRR型蛋白家族包括:类受体蛋白激酶、抗病基因编码蛋白质、多聚半乳糖醛酸酶抑制蛋白和伸展蛋白家族。最近,人们发现植物免疫系统包含:病原相关分子模式(PAMP)激发的免疫性(PTI),即类受体蛋白激酶识别病原菌PAMPs,启动植物防卫反应;病原菌效应子激发的免疫性(ETI),即抗病基因编码蛋白质识别效应子,启动植物防卫反应。除此之外,细胞壁是植物细胞的天然保护屏障。多聚半乳糖醛酸酶抑制蛋白和伸展蛋白通过维护细胞壁,抵御病原菌入侵。我们综述了植物中LRRs蛋白的结构特征与不同种类的LRR蛋白介导免疫反应的分子机制,讨论了LRR型蛋白在植物免疫过程中的意义及存在的问题,指出搜寻配体和下游信号分子将是LRR型蛋白研究热点。     

Sindbis病毒的蛋白质合成与细胞骨架的关系

我们以Sindbis病毒感染BHK-21细胞为模式,研究了病毒的感染与细胞骨架的关系。结果显示:在病毒感染早期,细胞的蛋白质合成迅速被抑制,细胞的多聚核糖体(polysome)和mRNA从骨架上脱落,而病毒的RNA结合到骨架上。我们的结果还进一步表明,病毒的RNA是通过其3′-尾端与骨架结合的。另一方面在对Sindbis病毒非结构蛋白在体内与体外合成与加工的比较中,我们发现病毒蛋白在体外翻译加工的速度远低于体内,并且出现很多未成熟蛋白(premature protein),这种区别可能在某种程度上反应细胞骨架在蛋白质合成与加工中的作用。此外,在用秋水仙素和细胞松驰素B破坏微管和微丝后,病毒非结构蛋白的合成与加工没有明显变化,而结构蛋白的合成则受到明显的抑制。这表明病毒的两类蛋白的合成所依赖的细胞骨架成分可能有所不同,在结构蛋白合成过程中,微丝和微管起了重要作用,在非结构蛋白合成过程中,中间丝很可能起了重要作用。     

植物抗病基因及其作用机理

综合近年国内外对植物抗病基因的研究和我们对水稻抗病基因的研究成果,对植物抗病基因进行归纳分类,并就其结构、功能、作用机理和信号传导进行分析和讨论。根据植物抗病基因编码蛋白的保守结构,将植物抗病基因分成NBS-LRR、eLRR-TM、eLRR-TM-pkinase、STK和其他五大类。不同类型的基因在细胞水平上的分布不一样,NBS、激酶和LRR在不同类型的基因之间结构差异也较大,但是它们通过各不相同的作用机理参与细胞对病原体的防御。     

植物抗病基因及其作用机理

综合近年国内外对植物抗病基因的研究和我们对水稻抗病基因的研究成果,对植物抗病基因进行归纳分类,并就其结构、功能、作用机理和信号传导进行分析和讨论.根据植物抗病基因编码蛋白的保守结构,将植物抗病基因分成NBS-LRR、eLRR-TM、eLRR-TM-pkinase、STK和其他五大类.不同类型的基因在细胞水平上的分布不一样,NBS、激酶和LRR在不同类型的基因之间结构差异也较大,但是它们通过各不相同的作用机理参与细胞对病原体的防御.     

尿激酶／尿激酶受体结构研究进展

尿激酶是纤溶酶原的主要激活物之一。近年来的研究工作发现,尿激酶及其受体-尿激酶受体-在其他多种生理和病理过程中也发挥了重要作用,包括了创伤愈合、组织再生、细胞迁移、特别是癌症转移和血管生成等多种生理和病理过程。除了其配体尿激酶外,尿激酶受体还能结合其他多种蛋白质,包括了玻璃体结合蛋白、LDL受体蛋白,及多种整合素等蛋白质,这些蛋白质-蛋白质相互作用是尿激酶-尿激酶受体系统生物作用的结构基础,是目前的一个重要研究方向。结合作者的工作描述了该体系的结构研究现状。     

SARS冠状病毒中的核衣壳蛋白

严重急性呼吸综合征(SARS)的元凶是一种新冠状病毒,研究病毒结构蛋白的功能有助于了解病毒的感染、复制和包装等生理过程。其中核衣壳蛋白是SARS冠状病毒中含量最丰富和最保守的结构蛋白,自身聚合后包被病毒RNA基因组形成螺旋状核壳体是SARS冠状病毒成熟的关键步骤;核衣壳蛋白能与病毒或宿主细胞中多种蛋白质相互作用,还能影响宿主细胞的多个通路。因此核衣壳蛋白是一个重要的多功能蛋白质,参与了病毒感染、复制和病毒包装等过程。     

Chromodomain蛋白在表观遗传调控中的功能

克罗莫结构域 (chromatin organization modifier domain, chromodomain)是与染色质结构相关的进化上保守的蛋白质模体。Chromodomain中芳香族氨基酸残基组成保守的疏水“box”结构与“组蛋白密码”中的二甲基或三甲基修饰的H3K9和H3K27结合, 同时chromodomain也可识别非组蛋白和特定的核酸结构。不同类型的chromodomain蛋白在基因转录调节、基因组重排修复和染色质重塑等过程中发挥重要调控作用, 从多个层次参与染色质表观遗传调节过程。本文综述chromodomain的分类和结构特征, 探讨进化中不同的chromodomain蛋白在细胞中的功能多样性, 为进一步研究chromodomain蛋白在细胞中的作用机制提供参考。     

神经系统中富亮氨酸重复序列跨膜蛋白的功能研究进展

富亮氨酸重复序列(leucine-rich repeat, LRR)是一种常见的蛋白质结构域．含有富亮氨酸重复序列的蛋白质简称LRR蛋白．LRR蛋白在真核生物和原核生物的细胞和组织中广泛分布,其定位的特异性以及与之相互作用蛋白质的复杂性,决定了LRR蛋白功能的多样性．许多LRR蛋白相对特异性表达于神经系统,绝大多数在神经系统中高表达的LRR蛋白属于跨膜蛋白,它们主要作为细胞黏附分子或配体结合蛋白参与突触的形成、神经突起的生长发育、神经递质的转移和释放等神经系统正常生理活动．LRR蛋白的异常表达将会导致神经、精神系统疾病的发生．     

PIRLs: a novel class of plant intracellular leucine-rich repeat proteins

Leucine-rich repeat (LRR) proteins feature tandem leucine-rich motifs that form a protein-protein interaction domain. Plants contain diverse classes of LRR proteins, many of which take part in signal transduction. We have identified a novel family of nine Arabidopsis LRR proteins that, based on predicted intracellular location and LRR motif consensus sequence, are related to Ras-binding LRR proteins found in signaling complexes in animals and yeast. This new class has been named plant intracellular Ras group-related LRR proteins (PIRLs). We have characterized PIRL cDNAs, rigorously defined gene and protein annotations, investigated gene family evolution and surveyed mRNA expression. While LRR regions suggested a relationship to Ras group LRR proteins, outside of their LRR domains PIRLs differed from Ras group proteins, exhibiting N- and C-terminal regions containing low complexity stretches and clusters of charged amino acids. PIRL genes grouped into three subfamilies based on sequence relationships and gene structures. Related gene pairs and dispersed chromosomal locations suggested family expansion by ancestral genomic or segmental duplications. Expression surveys revealed that all PIRL mRNAs are actively transcribed, with three expressed differentially in leaves, roots or flowers. These results define PIRLs as a distinct, plant-specific class of intracellular LRR proteins that probably mediate protein interactions, possibly in the context of signal transduction. T-DNA knock-out mutants have been isolated as a starting point for systematic functional analysis of this intriguing family.     

A capping domain for LRR protein interaction modules.

Leucine-rich repeats (LRR) are protein interaction modules which are present in a large number of proteins with diverse functions. We describe here a novel motif (16-19 residues) downstream of the last, incomplete, LRR in a subfamily of LRR proteins. In the U2A' spliceosomal protein, this motif is folded into a cap that shields the hydrophobic core of the LRRs from the solvent. Modelling of the LRR-cap in the imidazoline-1 candidate receptor, using the known structure of U2A' as template, showed a conservation of the basic structural features.     

Cutting edge: CATERPILLER: a large family of mammalian genes containing CARD,pyrin, nucleotide-binding,and leucine-rich repeat domains

Large mammalian proteins containing a nucleotide-binding domain (NBD) and C-terminal leucine-rich repeats (LRR) similar in structure to plant disease resistance proteins have been suggested as critical in innate immunity. Our interest in CIITA, a NBD/LRR protein, and recent reports linking mutations in two other NBD/LRR proteins to inflammatory disorders have prompted us to perform a search for other members. Twenty-two known and novel NBD/LRR genes are spread across eight human chromosomes, with multigene clusters occurring on 11, 16, and 19. Most of these are telomeric. Their N termini vary, but most have a pyrin domain. The genomic organization demonstrates a high degree of conservation of the NBD- and LRR-encoding exons. Except for CIITA, all the predicted NBD/LRR proteins are likely ATP-binding proteins. Some have broad tissue expression, whereas others are restricted to myeloid cells. The implications of these data on origins, expression, and function of these genes are discussed.     

Identification of a novel leucine-rich repeat protein as a component of flagellar radial spoke in the Ascidian Ciona intestinalis

Axonemes are highly organized microtubule-based structures conserved in many eukaryotes. In an attempt to study axonemes by a proteomics approach, we selectively cloned cDNAs of axonemal proteins by immunoscreening the testis cDNA library from the ascidian Ciona intestinalis by using an antiserum against whole axonemes. We report here a 37-kDa protein of which cDNA occurred most frequently among total positive clones. This protein, named LRR37, belongs to the class of SDS22+ leucine-rich repeat (LRR) family. LRR37 is different from the LRR outer arm dynein light chain reported in Chlamydomonas and sea urchin flagella, and thus represents a novel axonemal LRR protein. Immunoelectron microscopy by using a polyclonal antibody against LRR37 showed that it is localized on the tip of the radial spoke, most likely on the spoke head. The LRR37 protein in fact seems to form a complex together with radial spoke protein 3 in a KI extract of the axonemes. These results suggest that LRR37 is a component of the radial spoke head and is involved in the interaction with other radial spoke components or proteins in the central pair projection.     

Structural diversity of the hagfish variable lymphocyte receptors

Variable lymphocyte receptors (VLRs) are recently discovered leucine-rich repeat (LRR) family proteins that mediate adaptive immune responses in jawless fish. Phylogenetically it is the oldest adaptive immune receptor and the first one with a non-immunoglobulin fold. We present the crystal structures of one VLR-A and two VLR-B clones from the inshore hagfish. The hagfish VLRs have the characteristic horseshoe-shaped structure of LRR family proteins. The backbone structures of their LRR modules are highly homologous, and the sequence variation is concentrated on the concave surface of the protein. The conservation of key residues suggests that our structures are likely to represent the LRR structures of the entire repertoire of jawless fish VLRs. The analysis of sequence variability, prediction of protein interaction surfaces, amino acid composition analysis, and structural comparison with other LRR proteins suggest that the hypervariable concave surface is the most probable antigen binding site of the VLR.     

In vitro characterization of the cysteine-rich capping domains in a plant leucine rich repeat protein

Plant leucine rich repeat (LRR) proteins have diverse functions and cellular locations. An important unresolved question involves the role of the cysteine-rich capping domains which flank the LRR domain. Such studies have been hampered by difficulties in producing recombinant LRR proteins in yields sufficient for biochemical analysis. We have used Escherichia coli to overproduce Leucine Rich Protein (LRP), a small model LRR protein from tomato containing approximately five LRRs. The LRP capping domain sequences resemble those from plant disease resistance proteins and receptor-like protein kinases. LRP was purified as a soluble, crystallizable, monomeric protein by renaturation of a GST-fusion protein. The four cysteine residues in LRP were found to form two disulfide bonds, one each in the N- and C-terminal LRR-capping domains, the presence of which is necessary to protect the LRR domain from proteolysis in vitro. Fluorescence and CD spectroscopies together with molecular modelling revealed that structural features of the N-capping domain may be destabilised on reduction. These include a tryptophan stacking interaction and a long alpha-helix of residues 30-44. LRP deletion mutants lacking the capping domains showed a propensity to aggregate and increased proteolytic sensitivity. These results have important implications for future structure-function studies of plant LRR proteins.     

Application of hybrid LRR technique to protein crystallization

LRR family proteins play important roles in a variety of physiological processes. To facilitate their production and crystallization, we have invented a novel method termed "Hybrid LRR Technique". Using this technique, the first crystal structures of three TLR family proteins could be determined. In this review, design principles and application of the technique to protein crystallization will be summarized. For crystallization of TLRs, hagfish VLR receptors were chosen as the fusion partners and the TLR and the VLR fragments were fused at the conserved LxxLxLxxN motif to minimize local structural incompatibility. TLR-VLR hybridization did not disturb structures and functions of the target TLR proteins. The Hybrid LRR Technique is a general technique that can be applied to structural studies of other LRR proteins. It may also have broader application in biochemical and medical application of LRR proteins by modifying them without compromising their structural integrity.     

Basolateral targeting by leucine-rich repeat domains in epithelial cells

The asymmetric distribution of proteins to basolateral and apical membranes is an important feature of epithelial cell polarity. To investigate how basolateral LAP proteins (LRR (for leucine-rich repeats) and PDZ (for PSD-95/Discs-large/ZO-1), which play key roles in cell polarity, reach their target membrane, we carried out a structure–function study of three LAP proteins: Caenorhabditis elegans LET-413, human Erbin and human Scribble (hScrib). Deletion and point mutation analyses establish that their LRR domain is crucial for basolateral membrane targeting. This property is specific to the LRR domain of LAP proteins, as the non-LAP protein SUR-8 does not localize at the basolateral membrane of epithelial cells, despite having a closely related LRR domain. Importantly, functional studies of LET-413 in C. elegans show that although its PDZ domain is dispensable during embryogenesis, its LRR domain is essential. Our data establish a novel paradigm for protein localization by showing that a subset of LRR domains direct subcellular localization in polarized cells.