单羧酸转运蛋白家族及其生物学功能

单羧酸转运蛋白家族是哺乳动物细胞膜上一类重要的跨膜转运蛋白,负责乳酸,短链脂肪酸等单羧酸类化合物的跨膜转运,涉及多种生物学功能,包括促进营养物质吸收、影响代谢动态平衡、调节胞内pH值以及参与药物输送等.迄今为止,单羧酸转运蛋白家族已发现有1 4个成员,各亚型间具有底物差异性和组织分布特异性.研究单羧酸转运蛋白家族的生化特征、组织分布、生物学功能及基因表达调控,将为人和动物的营养代谢稳衡和疾病治疗提供新的方法.     

单羧酸转运蛋白基因SNP 与肝细胞肝癌预后的关联研究

目的:探讨单羧酸转运蛋白基因(monocarboxylate transporter,MCT)单核苷酸多态性(single nucleotide polymorphism,SNPs)与肝细胞肝癌(hepatocellular carcinoma,HCC)根治术患者预后的关系。方法:运用Sequenom i PLEX分型技术对830例原发性HCC患者MCT家族(MCT1、MCT2和MCT4)基因上的8个功能性SNP位点进行基因分型,并分析这些SNP与HCC患者预后的相关性。结果:MCT1基因rs1049434位点和MCT2基因rs995343位点基因型与HCC患者总体生存期及无复发生存期均显著相关(P0.05)。携带MCT1 AT基因型或TT基因型的患者死亡及复发风险均显著低于携带AA基因型的患者(HR=0.72;P=0.042或HR=0.64;P=0.002);携带MCT2 CT基因型或TT基因型的患者死亡及复发风险均显著高于携带CC基因型的患者(HR=1.64;P=0.018或HR=1.52;P=0.026)。而且,MCT1基因rs1049434位点和MCT2基因rs995343位点对HCC预后存在显著的累积效应,携带2个危险基因型的患者死亡及复发风险分别是没有危险基因型患者的2.16倍和2.54倍。此外,携带2个危险基因型的HCC患者在术后行TACE辅助治疗后死亡及复发风险均显著降低(P0.05)。结论:MCT1和MCT2基因上的功能性SNP位点有可能作为HCC根治术后预后评估和TACE辅助治疗反应预测的独立标志物。     

单羧酸转运体在肿瘤中的功能

单羧酸转运体 (Monocarboxylte Transporters,MCTs)属于溶质运载蛋白家族（Solute carrier family,SLC）SLC16A亚家族成员.目前已发现该家族有14个成员;研究表明,MCTs具有偶联转运细胞新陈代谢中产生的单羧酸与质子的功能. MCTs在肿瘤组织中表达普遍增高,肿瘤细胞是以糖酵解代谢方式获取能量,该过程中产生的大量乳酸被MCTs运出胞外,以保护细胞免因酸中毒诱发细胞凋亡;细胞外乳酸也能被肿瘤细胞摄取和利用.由于肿瘤组织的血管不发达,使肿瘤细胞内外的乳酸堆积,导致肿瘤细胞存活在缺氧和酸性微环境中,MCTs对此种环境中肿瘤细胞的存活与转移发挥重要作用.因此,研究肿瘤细胞和正常组织中MCTs的差异性表达及其机制,以及MCTs活性的调控机制,对于认识肿瘤细胞在缺氧和酸性微环境中存活与转移规律具有重要意义,并为肿瘤的治疗提供新的分子靶标.本文将对肿瘤中MCTs的功能研究的最新进展进行综述. 同时,结合我们的研究,提出了一些见解.     

乳酸作为信号分子作用的研究进展

在既往研究中乳酸常被认为是糖酵解代谢废物,尤其被认为是肌肉疲劳的罪魁祸首。然而,越来越多的研究表明,乳酸在多种细胞生理与病理过程中扮演重要角色。乳酸不但可以作为能量来源参与机体脑神经元、心脏以及骨骼肌等组织细胞供能,而且还可作为一种特殊的信号分子借助其运输载体单羧酸转运体和特异性受体G蛋白偶联受体81在能量调节、肿瘤细胞生长转移和免疫逃逸、神经元能量代谢、突触可塑性、学习记忆和神经发育、细胞增殖分化等多种细胞生理病理过程中发挥重要调节作用。在此,该文就乳酸转运、信号转导及其在相关细胞生理病理过程中的重要生理作用进行综述,希望为深入理解乳酸的生物学特性及基础应用提供新的参考依据。     

细菌肽转运蛋白的研究进展

细菌的肽转运蛋白包括3种,寡肽转运蛋白(Oligopeptide permease,Opp)、二肽转运蛋白(Dipeptide permease,Dpp)和二/三肽转运蛋白(Di-and tripeptide permease,Dtp)。Opp和Dpp属于ABC型超家族(ATP-binding cassette superfamily)转运蛋白,利用ATP水解产生的能量实现底物转运。对Opp和Dpp研究最多的是胞外肽结合蛋白OppA和DppA,它们起着最初识别与结合底物的重要作用。Dtp属于主要协助转运蛋白超家族(Major facilitator superfamily,MFS),与质子进行底物共转运。细菌肽转运蛋白的晶体结构解析结合大量的生化数据分析,使得人们对其转运机制有了深入的了解。本文对这三种肽转运蛋白的研究进展分别进行综述。     

大豆磷、硫转运蛋白研究进展

磷、硫转运蛋白是大豆（Glycine max（L.）Merr.）体内磷、硫转运的重要载体,参与调节磷和硫酸盐的吸收与转运,对提高大豆的磷、硫利用效率至关重要。大豆磷转运蛋白可划分为Pht1、Pht2、Pht3、Pho1和Pho2 5大家族,目前对Pht1的研究最为深入。大豆14个Pht1家族可分为3个亚家族,他们对磷吸收和转运具有重要作用。大豆硫转运蛋白基因GmSULTR1;2b可在大豆根中特异性表达并被低硫胁迫诱导。本文基于大豆磷、硫的营养吸收、转运与利用过程中的相关性,对Pht1家族以及GmSULTR1;2b基因在大豆中的研究进展进行了综述,并对近年来大豆磷、硫转运蛋白的研究进展及未来的研究方向进行了展望。     

植物中SWEET基因家族研究进展

SWEET基因家族是一个新的糖转运蛋白,具有2个MtN3/saliva跨膜结构域,从单细胞的原生生物到高等的真核生物中均有出现。目前对该家族功能研究较少,尽管基于MtN3/saliva的不同类型的基因已经被确定,但确切的生物学功能与该跨膜结构域的分子功能仍有待研究。近来的研究表明MtN3/saliva/SWEET基因可能作为糖转运蛋白或通过与离子转运蛋白的互作促进离子转运,调节不同的生理过程,在包括转运糖类、发育、环境适应性、宿主-病原体的相互作用中发挥作用。本文介绍了MtN3/saliva/SWEET基因结构功能的最新研究进展,将为阐明其在不同植物中的功能提供分子基础。     

植物重金属转运蛋白研究进展

土壤中的有毒重金属不仅对植物有害,也可通过食物链危害人类和动物的健康.重金属转运蛋白在植物吸收、抵抗重金属的复杂机制中起着关键作用.植物重金属转运蛋白分为吸收蛋白和排出蛋白,其中,吸收蛋白转运必需重金属进入细胞,同时也会因为必需重金属的缺乏或离子之间的竞争而运载有毒重金属;排出蛋白是一类解毒蛋白,可将过量的或有毒的重金属逆向转运出细胞,或区室化于液泡中.目前,细胞内多种重金属转运蛋白基因的转录水平与重金属离子积累之间的联系已被揭示,并分离克隆出诸多相关蛋白家族成员.本文综述了近年来发现并鉴定的主要重金属转运蛋白的金属亲和性、器官表达特异性及细胞内定位等的研究进展.     

酵母甾醇转运蛋白研究进展

甾醇是一类广泛存在于生物体内的环戊烷骈多氢菲衍生物,其不仅是细胞膜的重要组成成分,还具有重要的生理和药理活性。随着合成生物学和代谢工程技术的发展,近些年来应用酵母细胞异源合成甾醇的研究不断深入。但由于甾醇是疏水性大分子,倾向于积累在酵母的膜结构中而引发细胞毒性,一定程度上限制了甾醇产量的进一步提升。因此,揭示酵母中甾醇转运机制,特别是与甾醇转运相关的转运蛋白的工作原理,有助于设计新的策略,解除酵母细胞工厂中的甾醇积累毒性、实现甾醇增产。酵母中甾醇转运主要通过蛋白质介导的非囊泡运输机制来完成,本文归纳了酵母中已报道的5类甾醇转运相关蛋白,即OSBP/ORPs家族蛋白、LAM家族蛋白、NPC样甾醇转运蛋白、ABC转运家族蛋白和CAP超家族蛋白,汇总了这些蛋白对细胞内甾醇梯度分布和稳态维持所起的重要作用。此外,本文还综述了甾醇转运蛋白在酵母细胞工厂中的应用现状。     

拟南芥养分离子转运蛋白研究进展

养分离子的跨膜转运是细胞获取养分的重要环节,亦是植物在组织和器官水平上进行养分吸收运移的基础。文中综述了拟南芥中养分离子转运蛋白在基因克隆、序列与结构分析、功能鉴定、表达与调控方面的研究进展,其中着重讨论了这些转运蛋白在氮、磷和钾等营养元素吸收、运输、分配中的作用。     

Monocarboxylate transporters in the central nervous system: distribution, regulation and function

Monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) are proton-linked membrane carriers involved in the transport of monocarboxylates such as lactate, pyruvate, as well as ketone bodies. They belong to a larger family of transporters composed of 14 members in mammals based on sequence homologies. MCTs are found in various tissues including the brain where three isoforms, MCT1, MCT2 and MCT4, have been described. Each of these isoforms exhibits a distinct regional and cellular distribution in rodent brain. At the cellular level, MCT1 is expressed by endothelial cells of microvessels, by ependymocytes as well as by astrocytes. MCT4 expression appears to be specific for astrocytes. By contrast, the predominant neuronal monocarboxylate transporter is MCT2. Interestingly, part of MCT2 immunoreactivity is located at postsynaptic sites, suggesting a particular role of monocarboxylates and their transporters in synaptic transmission. In addition to variation in expression during development and upon nutritional modifications, new data indicate that MCT expression is regulated at the translational level by neurotransmitters. Understanding how transport of monocarboxylates is regulated could be of particular importance not only for neuroenergetics but also for areas such as functional brain imaging, regulation of food intake and glucose homeostasis, or for central nervous system disorders such as ischaemia and neurodegenerative diseases.     

A 44-kDa of protein identical to the N-terminal amino acid sequence of MCT1 in human circulation

A family of specific carrier protein designated as monocarboxylate transporter (MCT) has been known to transport the lactate and other moncarboxylates in mammalian cells. We hypothesized the presence of serum protein in human circulation that may works as a lactate carrier and that biochemical structure would possesses common structure with MCT on the plasma membrane.Immunoblot analysis with an anti-MCT1 polyclonal antibody suggested the presence of a 44-kDa protein in human circulation and N-terminal amino acid sequencing exhibited a stretch of 14 amino acids which is completely identical to MCT1. The unbound fractions from the GST-MCT1 fusion protein-immobilized glutathione sepharose 4B column demonstrated that lactic acid concentration began to increase with one fraction delay compared to Sepharose 4B and GST-immobilized column. When lactic acid was washed away with PBS, lactic acid concentrations in the effuluent constantly decreased in both Sepharose 4B and GST-immobilized column. However, GST-MCT1-immobilized column showed specific convex curve from fraction approximately 3 mM of lactate and demonstrated wash out delay compared to Sepharose 4B and GST-immobilized column.These observations demonstrated biochemical and immunological similarities between a 44-kDa protein purified from human serum and MCT1 present on the plasma membrane. The studies on MCT1-fusion protein suggested possible functional properties of a 44-kDa protein as a lactate buffer by holding and unhand a lactate according to the lactate concentration in human blood. The experiments described herein have suggested the existence of lactate carrier in human circulation which is free from plasma membrane.     

补充丙酮酸盐可预防高强度间歇运动诱导代谢性酸中毒并提高大鼠骨骼肌MCT1/MCT4的表达

运动诱导的代谢性酸中毒作为运动性疲劳的发生原因之一而备受关注。补充丙酮酸盐对运动诱导代谢性酸中毒的作用效果少有报道,且其作用机制尚未完全阐明。单羧酸转运蛋白(monocarboxylate transporter,MCTs)对机体酸碱平衡的维持有重要意义,但丙酮酸盐能否通过提高MCTs表达缓解酸中毒尚不清楚。因此,本研究通过预先给大鼠补充丙酮酸盐(616 mg/kg/d)。1周后进行急性高强度间歇运动(high intensity intermittent exercise,HIIE)。具体方案为110% VO_2max运动1 min结合1 min休息为1组,共13组,观察大鼠在HIIE后血液、骨骼肌酸碱平衡状态及骨骼肌MCTs表达的变化。结果表明,急性HIIE后大鼠血液pH、碳酸氢根离子(bicarbonate ion,HCO₃^-)、碱剩余(base excess,BE)显著降低(P<0.05),血乳酸水平显著升高(P<0.05);并且快肌和慢肌内pH显著降低(P<0.05),肌内乳酸水平显著升高(P<0.05)。预先补充丙酮酸盐,大鼠血液pH、HCO₃^-、以及BE均显著提升(P<0.05),快肌和慢肌内pH也显著提升(P<0.05),并且快肌内乳酸水平显著降低(P<0.05)。采用免疫印迹法测定大鼠快、慢肌中MCT1、MCT4相对表达后发现,补充丙酮酸盐,能够显著增高大鼠快肌和慢肌中MCT4表达水平(P<0.05)以及慢肌中MCT1的表达(P<0.05)。以上研究结果表明,补充丙酮酸盐,能够有效预防HIIE诱导的代谢性酸中毒,其可以通过增高大鼠快肌和慢肌中MCT4及慢肌中MCT1的表达,从而改善大鼠骨骼肌和血液的酸代谢。本研究为今后丙酮酸盐缓解运动诱导的酸中毒的机制研究提供了理论基础,并为运动性疲劳的延缓提供了新的营养策略。     

A metabolic switch in brain: glucose and lactate metabolism modulation by ascorbic acid

In this review, we discuss a novel function of ascorbic acid in brain energetics. It has been proposed that during glutamatergic synaptic activity neurons preferably consume lactate released from glia. The key to this energetic coupling is the metabolic activation that occurs in astrocytes by glutamate and an increase in extracellular [K⁺]. Neurons are cells well equipped to consume glucose because they express glucose transporters and glycolytic and tricarboxylic acid cycle enzymes. Moreover, neuronal cells express monocarboxylate transporters and lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme 1, which is inhibited by pyruvate. As glycolysis produces an increase in pyruvate concentration and a decrease in NAD⁺/NADH, lactate and glucose consumption are not viable at the same time. In this context, we discuss ascorbic acid participation as a metabolic switch modulating neuronal metabolism between rest and activation periods. Ascorbic acid is highly concentrated in CNS. Glutamate stimulates ascorbic acid release from astrocytes. Ascorbic acid entry into neurons and within the cell can inhibit glucose consumption and stimulate lactate transport. For this switch to occur, an ascorbic acid flow is necessary between astrocytes and neurons, which is driven by neural activity and is part of vitamin C recycling. Here, we review the role of glucose and lactate as metabolic substrates and the modulation of neuronal metabolism by ascorbic acid.     

Subacute ruminal acidosis suppressed the expression of MCT1 in rumen of cows

Subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) is characterized by the depression of ruminal pH and an increase in the concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the rumen of cows. The onset of SARA was linked to the accumulation of SCFAs. However, the mechanism of SCFAs transport is unknown. The proton-linked monocarboxylate transporter (MCT1) plays a vital role in the transportation of SCFAs. The goal of this study was to elucidate the distribution of MCT1 along the gastrointestinal tract of calves and adult cows; the expression change of MCT1 in SARA cows and the effect of ruminal pH, SCFAs, and LPS on MCT1 expression in rumen epithelial cells in vitro. The results indicated the presence of MCT1 along the gastrointestinal tract of calves and adult cows, most abundantly expressed in the rumen. Importantly, the expression of MCT1 was decreased in the rumen epithelium of SARA cows, and the expression of MCT1 was restored in the SARA treatment group. In vitro, LPS, low rumen fluid pH, high concentrations of SCFAs (90 mM acetate, 40 mM propionate, and 30 mM butyrate), and high concentrations of acetate, propionate, and butyrate, respectively, inhibited the expression of MCT1 in rumen epithelial cells. Taken together, these results indicated that LPS, low ruminal pH, and high concentrations of SCFAs decreased the expression of MCT1, further aggravating the accumulation of SCFAs in the rumen by decreasing the absorption of SCFAs.     

NHE基因家族的研究进展

Na⁺/H⁺交换泵(Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger, NHE)是存在于所有脊椎动物细胞中的重要跨膜蛋白,该蛋白质涉及细胞的多种功能,包括细胞内pH值调节、细胞体积的控制以及离子转运等.目前已克隆了五个亚型NHE的cDNA,它们构成了脊椎动物细胞离子转运泵的一个基因家族. 这五个亚型的表达水平及活性可受多种因素的调节.在肿瘤、高血压及糖尿病等疾病中,已发现NHE-1亚型的表达水平和活性显著增高.因此,研究NHE-1的转录及活性调节机制,将可能为这些疾病的诊治提供新的手段.     

Basal and stimulated lactate fluxes in primary cultures of astrocytes are differentially controlled by distinct proteins

Lactate release by astrocytes is postulated to be of importance for neuroenergetics but its regulation is poorly understood. Basigin, a chaperone protein for specific monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs), represents a putatively important regulatory element for lactate fluxes. Indeed, basigin knockdown by RNA interference in primary cultures of astrocytes partially reduced both proton-driven lactate influx and efflux. But more strikingly, enhancement of lactate efflux induced by glutamate was prevented while the effect of sodium azide was significantly reduced by treatment of cultured astrocytes with anti-basigin small interfering RNA. Enhancement of glucose utilization was unaffected under the same conditions. Basal lactate uptake and release were significantly reduced by MCT1 knockdown, even more so than with basigin knockdown, whereas glutamate-driven or sodium azide-induced enhancement of lactate release was not inhibited by either MCT1, 2, or 4 small interfering RNAs. In conclusion, MCT1 plays a pivotal role in the control of basal proton-driven lactate flux in astrocytes while basigin is only partly involved, most likely via its interaction with MCT1. In contrast, basigin appears to critically regulate the enhancement of lactate release caused by glutamate (or sodium azide) but via an effect on another unidentified transporter at least present in astrocytes in vitro.     

The metabolic microenvironment of melanomas: Prognostic value of MCT1 and MCT4

BRAF mutations are known drivers of melanoma development and, recently, were also described as players in the Warburg effect, while this reprogramming of energy metabolism has been identified as a possible strategy for treating melanoma patients. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate the expression and prognostic value of a panel of glycolytic metabolism-related proteins in a series of melanomas. The immunohistochemical expression of MCT1, MCT4, GLUT1, and CAIX was evaluated in 356 patients presenting melanoma and 20 patients presenting benign nevi. Samples included 20 benign nevi, 282 primary melanomas, 117 lymph node and 54 distant metastases samples. BRAF mutation was observed in 29/92 (31.5%) melanoma patients and 17/20 (85%) benign nevi samples. NRAS mutation was observed in 4/36 (11.1%) melanoma patients and 1/19 (5.3%) benign nevi samples. MCT4 and GLUT1 expression was significantly increased in metastatic samples, and MCT1, MCT4 and GLUT1 were significantly associated with poor prognostic variables. Importantly, MCT1 and MCT4 were associated with shorter overall survival. In conclusion, the present study brings new insights on metabolic aspects of melanoma, paving the way for the development of new-targeted therapies.     

Noradrenaline enhances the expression of the neuronal monocarboxylate transporter MCT2 by translational activation via stimulation of PI3K/Akt and the mTOR/S6K pathway

Monocarboxylate transporter 2 (MCT2) expression is up-regulated by noradrenaline (NA) in cultured cortical neurons via a putative but undetermined translational mechanism. Western blot analysis showed that p44/p42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) was rapidly and strongly phosphorylated by NA treatment. NA also rapidly induced serine/threonine protein kinase from AKT virus (Akt) phosphorylation but to a lesser extent than p44/p42 MAPK. However, Akt activation persisted over a longer period. Similarly, NA induced a rapid and persistent phosphorylation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), a kinase implicated in the regulation of translation in the central nervous system. Consistent with activation of the mTOR/S6 kinase pathway, phosphorylation of the ribosomal S6 protein, a component of the translation machinery, could be observed upon treatment with NA. In parallel, it was found that the NA-induced increase in MCT2 protein was almost completely blocked by LY294002 (phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitor) as well as by rapamycin (mTOR inhibitor), while mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase and p38 MAPK inhibitors had much smaller effects. Taken together, these data reveal that NA induces an increase in neuronal MCT2 protein expression by a mechanism involving stimulation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt and translational activation via the mTOR/S6 kinase pathway. Moreover, considering the role of NA in synaptic plasticity, alterations in MCT2 expression as described in this study might represent an adaptation to face energy demands associated with enhanced synaptic transmission.