科学家首次解析NPC1蛋白结构

正日前,中科院微生物所高福院士团队与清华大学颜宁课题组合作,首次报导了人类胆固醇转运体NPC1,以及NPC1与埃博拉病毒表面融合蛋白复合物的冷冻电镜结构,为深入理解NPC1介导的胆固醇转运和埃博拉病毒入侵提供了重要线索。相关成果发布于《细胞》。NPC1是位于内吞体和溶酶体上的一个多次跨膜蛋白,由1 278个氨基酸残基组成,包含13次跨膜螺旋,具有     

我国科学家解析出NPC1蛋白结构

正近日,清华大学颜宁课题组与中国疾控中心、中科院微生物组高福院士课题组合作的一项最新成果,在世界上首次解析出NPC1蛋白的清晰结构,并初步揭示了它的工作过程,从而为干预、治疗罕见遗传疾病"尼曼-皮克病"和埃博拉病毒打开了新大门。颜宁教授过去9年一直针对胆固醇代谢调控通路进行系统的结构生物学与生物化学研究,高福院士一直从事包括埃博拉病毒在内的重大传染疾病相关病毒入侵机制的结构生物学研究。他们合作的研究论文《NPC1蛋白介导胆固醇     

ABCA1与NPC1在细胞内胆固醇转运中的作用

腺苷三磷酸结合盒转运蛋白A1（ATP-binding cassette transporter A1,ABCA1）是血浆高密度脂蛋白（high-density lipoprotein,HDL）颗粒形成之初的限速步骤。ABCA1通过膜泡运输脂质至细胞表面的HDL载脂蛋白的作用机制尚未完全阐明。C型尼曼-匹克病（Niemann-Pick disease type C,NPC）主要由NPC1基因突变引起,NPC1蛋白能促进胆固醇和其他脂质从晚期胞内体/溶酶体流入其他细胞结构。ABCA1和NPC1相互作用保持细胞内脂质平衡,与Tangier病和N C P病等病理过程密切相关。     

NPC1L1:固醇脂质吸收的关键蛋白质

NPC1L1是最近发现的一种与NPC1同源的蛋白质。在体内的分布有物种差异性,其亚细胞定位存在很大争议。近些年发现NPC1L1在固醇类脂质代谢途径中起着重要作用,是肠道吸收固醇类脂质尤其是胆固醇的关键蛋白质,这项新发现使得人们对固醇类脂质的吸收机制有了了解。高胆固醇血症是心血管系统疾病的一个高危因子,因此,对NPC1L1的研究具有重大的实际意义,正逐渐成为研究的热点。     

CXCL12/CXCR4轴对NPC调节的研究进展

基质细胞衍生因子1α(SDF-1α/CXCL12)属于趋化因子CXC家族,与其受体CXCR4组成的CXCL12/CXCR4轴,在大脑生理和病理状态下都发挥着重要作用。CXCL12能与神经祖细胞(NPC)表面上的受体CXCR4结合,从而激活CXCR4下游不同的信号通路,参与调节NPC静息、激活、增殖、迁移和分化等活动。在中枢神经系统(CNS)疾病发生后,大脑中CXCL12会激活内源的NPC,促进NPC增殖并迁移至病灶区域,最终分化为神经元并整合入神经系统,促进神经功能恢复。深入理解CNS疾病时期CXCL12/CXCR4轴对NPC调控作用,对内源性和外源性的NPC应用于CNS疾病具有重要意义。现主要对CXCL12/CXCR4轴调控NPC活动的作用机制及相关信号通路进行综述。     

Niemann–Pick C2 (NPC2) and intracellular cholesterol trafficking

Cholesterol is an important precursor for numerous biologically active molecules, and it plays a major role in membrane structure and function. Cholesterol can be endogenously synthesized or exogenously taken up via the endocytic vesicle system and subsequently delivered to post-endo/lysosomal sites including the plasma membrane and the endoplasmic reticulum. Niemann–Pick C (NPC) disease results in the accumulation of exogenously-derived cholesterol, as well as other lipids, in late endosomes and lysosomes (LE/LY). Identification of the two genes that underlie NPC disease, NPC1 and NPC2, has focused attention on the mechanisms by which lipids, in particular cholesterol, are transported out of the LE/LY compartment. This review discusses the role of the NPC2 protein in cholesterol transport, and the potential for concerted action of NPC1 and NPC2 in regulating normal intracellular cholesterol homeostasis.     

NPC1 gene mutations in Japanese patients with Niemann-Pick disease type C

Complementary and genomic DNAs isolated from the fibroblasts of 10 Japanese (7 late infantile, 2 juvenile, and 1 adult form of the disease) and one Caucasian patient with Niemann-Pick disease type C were analyzed for mutations in the NPC1 gene. Fourteen novel mutations were found including small deletions and point mutations. A one-base deletion and a point mutation caused splicing errors. The mutations were not clustered in any particular region of the gene and were found both in and out of the transmembrane domains. Three patients were homozygous, five were compound heterozygous, and the remaining three were suspected of being compound hetrozygous with an unknown error in one of their NPC1 alleles. Of the 14 mutations, the G1553A substitution that caused a splicing error of exon 9 appeared to be relatively common in Japanese patients, because two patients were homozygous and one patient was compound heterozygous for this mutation. Electronic Publication     

Do GWAS and studies of heterozygotes for <Emphasis Type="Italic">NPC1</Emphasis> and/or <Emphasis Type="Italic">NPC2</Emphasis> explain why NPC disease cases are so rare?

Early onset Niemann-Pick C diseases are extremely rare, especially Niemann-Pick C2. Perhaps unusually for autosomal recessive diseases, heterozygotes for mutations in NPC1 manifest many biological variations. NPC2 deficiency has large effects on fertility. These features of NPC1 and NPC2 are reviewed in regard to possible negative selection for heterozygotes carrying null and hypomorphic alleles.     

炎症上调NPC1加重高脂负荷下HMCs胆固醇积聚致细胞损伤机制

该研究观察炎症因子IL1-β对高脂负荷下人肾脏系膜细胞(human glomerular mesangial cells, HMCs)C型尼曼匹克蛋白1(Niemann-pick protein c1, NPC1)表达水平的影响,并初步探讨NPC1介导的胆固醇积聚致细胞损伤的作用机制。体外培养HMCs分为正常对照组、高脂组、高脂+炎症组。Western blot测NPC1蛋白含量;酶法测细胞及内质网胆固醇水平; CCK8法测细胞增殖;流式细胞术测细胞周期;荧光定量PCR测NPC1、GRP78、PERK、ATF6、FN、Col IV mRNA;免疫荧光技术测GRP78、FN的表达水平。予U-18666A干预NPC1的功能,观察内质网胆固醇水平、细胞增殖能力、GRP78、FN、Col IV mRNA水平的变化。结果显示,高脂促进NPC1蛋白及mRNA的表达水平,同时细胞总胆固醇及内质网胆固醇浓度增加,增殖加快、S期比例增加、内质网应激相关分子—GRP78、PERK、ATF6 mRNA及系膜基质成分—FN、Col IV mRNA水平均增加, GRP78、FN的荧光强度也增加;炎症进一步上调高脂负荷下上述各指标水平。U-18666A干预后可减轻高脂和炎症导致的内质网胆固醇积聚及细胞损伤。综上,炎症可通过上调NPC1的表达水平,加重高脂负荷下肾系膜细胞及内质网胆固醇积聚,诱发细胞损伤。     

Tracking Sphingosine Metabolism and Transport in Sphingolipidoses: NPC1 Deficiency as a Test Case

The late endosomal/lysosomal compartment (LE/LY) plays a key role in sphingolipid breakdown, with the last degradative step catalyzed by acid ceramidase. The released sphingosine can be converted to ceramide in the ER and transported by ceramide transfer protein (CERT) to the Golgi for conversion to sphingomyelin. The mechanism by which sphingosine exits LE/LY is unknown but Niemann-Pick C1 protein (NPC1) has been suggested to be involved. Here, we used sphingomyelin, ceramide and sphingosine labeled with [(3) H] in carbon-3 of the sphingosine backbone and targeted them to LE/LY in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles. These probes traced LE/LY sphingolipid degradation and recycling as suggested by (1) accumulation of [(3) H]-sphingomyelin-derived [(3) H]-ceramide and depletion of [(3) H]-sphingosine upon acid ceramidase depletion, and (2) accumulation of [(3) H]-sphingosine-derived [(3) H]-ceramide and attenuation of [(3) H]-sphingomyelin synthesis upon CERT depletion. NPC1 silencing did not result in the accumulation of [(3) H]-sphingosine derived from [(3) H]-sphingomyelin/LDL or [(3) H]-ceramide/LDL. Additional evidence against NPC1 playing a significant role in LE/LY sphingosine export was obtained in experiments using the [(3) H]-sphingolipids or a fluorescent sphingosine derivative in NPC1 knock-out cells. Instead, NPC1-deficient cells displayed an increased affinity for sphingosine independently of protein-mediated lipid transport. This likely contributes to the increased sphingosine content of NPC1 cells.     

EBV阳性与阴性NPC细胞中AKR1B10的差异表达及生物学意义

研究EB病毒（Epstein-Barr virus,EBV）阳性与阴性鼻咽癌（Nasopharyngeal carcinoma,NPC）细胞中醛酮还原酶家族1成员B10(AKR1B10)的差异表达及生物学意义。收集NPC组织并检测EBV感染情况及AKR1B10表达水平，比较EBV阳性与阴性NPC组织中AKR1B10表达水平的差异；培养EBV阳性的NPC细胞株HK-1和C666-1、EBV阴性的NPC细胞株CNE-1及CNE-2，检测AKR1B10的表达水平。HK-1和C666-1进行分组，给予10μmol/L、20μmol/L AKR1B10抑制剂处理，20μmol/L AKR1B10抑制剂联合对照溶剂或20μmol/L β-catenin激动剂处理，检测细胞增殖水平、侵袭数目及c-myc、MMP2、MMP9的mRNA表达水平，AKR1B10、总β-连环蛋白（β-catenin）、核β-catenin的蛋白表达水平。结果显示HK-1和C666-1细胞中AKR1B10的蛋白表达水平高于CNE-1及CNE-2;10μmol/L、20μmol/L AKR1B10抑制剂组HK-1和C666-1...     

Niemann–Pick C1 Like 1 (NPC1L1) an intestinal sterol transporter

Niemann–Pick C1 Like 1 (NPC1L1) has been identified and characterized as an essential protein in the intestinal cholesterol absorption process. NPC1L1 localizes to the brush border membrane of absorptive enterocytes in the small intestine. Intestinal expression of NPC1L1 is down regulated by diets containing high levels of cholesterol. While otherwise phenotypically normal, Npc1l1 null mice exhibit a significant reduction in the intestinal uptake and absorption of cholesterol and phytosterols. Characterization of the NPC1L1 pathway revealed that cholesterol absorption inhibitor ezetimibe specifically binds to an extracellular loop of NPC1L1 and inhibits its sterol transport function. Npc1l1 null mice are resistant to diet-induced hypercholesterolemia, and when crossed with apo E null mice, are completely resistant to the development of atherosclerosis. Intestinal gene expression studies in Npc1l1 null mice indicated that no exogenous cholesterol was entering enterocytes lacking NPC1L1, which resulted in an upregulation of intestinal and hepatic LDL receptor and cholesterol biosynthetic gene expression. Polymorphisms in the human NPC1L1 gene have been found to influence cholesterol absorption and plasma low density lipoprotein levels. Therefore, NPC1L1 is a critical intestinal sterol uptake transporter which influences whole body cholesterol homeostasis.     

用DHPLC法研究细胞周期蛋白D1的多态性与NPC遗传易感性之间的关系

细胞周期蛋白D1是一个关键的细胞周期调节因子和候选的原癌基因 ,其失调参与多种肿瘤 ,包括鼻咽癌的发生。由于细胞周期蛋白D1的基因CCND1第 4外显子存在单个核苷酸多态A/G(A870G) ,因此可产生两种不同的转录本。有报道表明CCND1的基因型与某些肿瘤的临床表型相关。为研究细胞周期蛋白D1的基因型对中国南方散发性鼻咽癌遗传易感性是否存在影响 ,用变性高效液相色谱法 (DHPLC)和DNA测序的方法对 84例鼻咽癌患者和 91例对照的PCR产物进行细胞周期蛋白D1的基因分型。对病例组与对照组基因频率的分布分别进行Hardy Weinberg平衡检验 ,两组间基因频率的差异用 χ2 检验进行比较。结果发现 :在鼻咽癌患者中 ,细胞周期蛋白D1基因型为AA型的 (占 2 0 .2 4% )显著低于正常对照 (占38.46 % ) ,而基因型为GG型和AG型的则显著高于对照 (χ2 =6 .946 ,Pcorrected =0 .0 16 ,OR =2 .46 3,95 %CI =1.2 49～4.85 9)。这表明细胞周期蛋白D1基因的A/G多态性与鼻咽癌的遗传易感性相关 ,在鼻咽癌患者中GG和AG型基因型显著高于健康对照     

Adenovirus RIDα uncovers a novel pathway requiring ORP1L for lipid droplet formation independent of NPC1

Niemann–Pick disease type C (NPC) is caused by mutations in NPC1 or NPC2, which coordinate egress of low-density-lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol from late endosomes. We previously reported that the adenovirus-encoded protein RIDα rescues the cholesterol storage phenotype in NPC1-mutant fibroblasts. We show here that RIDα reconstitutes deficient endosome-to-endoplasmic reticulum (ER) transport, allowing excess LDL-cholesterol to be esterified by acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase and stored in lipid droplets (LDs) in NPC1-deficient cells. Furthermore, the RIDα pathway is regulated by the oxysterol-binding protein ORP1L. Studies have classified ORP1L as a sterol sensor involved in LE positioning downstream of GTP-Rab7. Our data, however, suggest that ORP1L may play a role in transport of LDL-cholesterol to a specific ER pool designated for LD formation. In contrast to NPC1, which is dispensable, the RIDα/ORP1L-dependent route requires functional NPC2. Although NPC1/NPC2 constitutes the major pathway, therapies that amplify minor egress routes for LDL-cholesterol could significantly improve clinical management of patients with loss-of-function NPC1 mutations. The molecular identity of putative alternative pathways, however, is poorly characterized. We propose RIDα as a model system for understanding physiological egress routes that use ORP1L to activate ER feedback responses involved in LD formation.     

肝X受体激动剂通过上调NPC1基因的表达减轻apoE基因敲除小鼠动脉粥样硬化病变程度

本文研究肝X受体（LXR）激动剂对apoE基因敲除小鼠NPC1表达的影响．52只雄性apoE基因敲除小鼠被随机分成4组：（a）基础组（baseline group,n=10）;（b）对照组（control group,n=14）;（c）LXR激动剂治疗组（treatment group,n=14）;（d）LXR激动剂预防组（prevention group,n=14）．各组小鼠均被给予高脂／高胆固醇饲料喂养;基础组小鼠被赋形剂灌胃处理8周;对照组小鼠被赋形剂灌胃处理14周;LXR激动剂治疗组小鼠在前8周被赋形剂灌胃处理,后6周被T0901317灌胃处理;LXR激动剂预防组小鼠被T0901317灌胃处理14周．采用实时定量PCR,Western blot和免疫组织化学方法分别检测组织中NPC1 mRNA和蛋白质的表达;采用酶法测定血清中总胆固醇（TC）、甘油三酯（TG）、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-C）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）、载脂蛋白A—I（ApoA—I）和载脂蛋白B（ApoB）含量．另外,我们采用RNA干扰技术沉默人THP-1巨噬细胞NPC1基因表达,并将细胞诱导成泡沫细胞,检测T0901317对该细胞胆固醇流出的影响．结果显示,LXR激动剂治疗组和预防组小鼠的血浆TC,TG,HDL-C和ApoA．I水平都较对照组明显增高（P〈0．05）;LXR激动剂治疗组和预防组小鼠的主动脉粥样硬化斑块和脂质条纹明显少于对照组（P〈0．05）,其中治疗组减少了58.3％,预防组减少了64．2％;LXR激动剂治疗组和预防组小鼠的小肠组织、肝脏组织和主动脉NPC1表达上调（P〈0.05）;和正常THP-1巨噬细胞源性泡沫细胞比较,RNA干扰组胆固醇流出明显减少,T0901317处理组胆固醇流出明显增加,总之,LXR激动剂T0901317能减轻高脂高胆固醇饲料喂养的apoE基因敲除小鼠动脉粥样硬化病变程度并上调肝脏组织、小肠组织和主动脉NPC1的表达,NPC1基因沉默能使细胞胆固醇流出减少。     

Normalization of cholesterol homeostasis by 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin in neurons and glia from Niemann-Pick C1 (NPC1)-deficient mice

Niemann-Pick C (NPC) disease is an inherited, progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by mutations in the NPC1 or NPC2 gene that result in an accumulation of unesterified cholesterol in late endosomes/lysosomes (LE/L) and impaired export of cholesterol from LE/L to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Recent studies demonstrate that administration of cyclodextrin (CD) to Npc1(-/-) mice eliminates cholesterol sequestration in LE/L of many tissues, including the brain, delays neurodegeneration, and increases lifespan of the mice. We have now investigated cholesterol homeostasis in NPC1-deficient cells of the brain in response to CD. Primary cultures of neurons and glial cells from Npc1(-/-) mice were incubated for 24 h with 0.1 to 10 mm CD after which survival and cholesterol homeostasis were monitored. Although 10 mm CD was profoundly neurotoxic, and altered astrocyte morphology, 0.1 and 1 mm CD were not toxic but effectively mobilized stored cholesterol from the LE/L as indicated by filipin staining. However, 0.1 and 1 mm CD altered cholesterol homeostasis in opposite directions. The data suggest that 0.1 mm CD releases cholesterol trapped in LE/L of neurons and astrocytes and increases cholesterol availability at the ER, whereas 1 mm CD primarily extracts cholesterol from the plasma membrane and reduces ER cholesterol. These studies in Npc1(-/-) neurons and astrocytes establish a dose of CD (0.1 mm) that would likely be beneficial in NPC disease. The findings are timely because treatment of NPC disease patients with CD is currently being initiated.     

Structure–activity relationship study of non-steroidal NPC1L1 ligands identified through cell-based assay using pharmacological chaperone effect as a readout

Niemann-Pick type C1-like 1 (NPC1L1) is an intestinal cholesterol transporter that is known to be the target of the cholesterol absorption inhibitor ezetimibe. We previously discovered steroidal NPC1L1 ligands by using a novel cell-based assay that employs pharmacological chaperone effect as a readout. Those steroid derivatives bound to a site different from both the sterol-binding domain and the ezetimibe-binding site, implying that they may be a novel class of NPC1L1 inhibitors with a distinct mode of action. As an extension of that work, we aimed here to find non-steroidal NPC1L1 ligands, which may be better candidates for clinical application than steroidal ligands, by using the same assay to screen our focused library of ligands for liver X receptor (LXR), a nuclear receptor that recognizes oxysterols as endogenous ligands. Here we describe identification of a novel class of NPC1L1 ligands with a ring-fused quinolinone scaffold, and an analysis of the structure–activity relationships of their derivatives as NPC1L1 ligands.     

Requirement of Myosin Vb��Rab11a��Rab11-FIP2 Complex in Cholesterol-regulated Translocation of NPC1L1 to the Cell Surface

Niemann-Pick C1-like 1 (NPC1L1) plays a critical role in the enterohepatic absorption of free cholesterol. Cellular cholesterol depletion induces the transport of NPC1L1 from the endocytic recycling compartment to the plasma membrane (PM), and cholesterol replenishment causes the internalization of NPC1L1 together with cholesterol via clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Although NPC1L1 has been characterized, the other proteins involved in cholesterol absorption and the endocytic recycling of NPC1L1 are largely unknown. Most of the vesicular trafficking events are dependent on the cytoskeleton and motor proteins. Here, we investigated the roles of the microfilament and microfilament-associated triple complex composed of myosin Vb, Rab11a, and Rab11-FIP2 in the transport of NPC1L1 from the endocytic recycling compartment to the PM. Interfering with the dynamics of the microfilament by pharmacological treatment delayed the transport of NPC1L1 to the cell surface. Meanwhile, inactivation of any component of the myosin Vb·Rab11a·Rab11-FIP2 triple complex inhibited the export of NPC1L1. Expression of the dominant-negative mutants of myosin Vb, Rab11a, or Rab11-FIP2 decreased the cellular cholesterol uptake by blocking the transport of NPC1L1 to the PM. These results suggest that the efficient transport of NPC1L1 to the PM is dependent on the microfilament-associated myosin Vb·Rab11a·Rab11-FIP2 triple complex.Cholesterol homeostasis in human bodies is maintained through regulated cholesterol synthesis, absorption, and excretion. Intestinal cholesterol absorption is one of the major pathways to maintain cholesterol balance. NPC1L1 (Niemann-Pick C1-like protein 1), a polytopic transmembrane protein highly expressed in the intestine and liver, is required for dietary cholesterol uptake and biliary cholesterol reabsorption (1–4). Genetic or pharmaceutical inactivation of NPC1L1 significantly inhibits cholesterol absorption and confers the resistance to diet-induced hypercholesterolemia (1, 2, 4). Ezetimibe, an NPC1L1-specific inhibitor, is currently used to prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases (5).Human NPC1L1 contains 1,332 residues with 13 transmembrane domains (6). The third to seventh transmembrane helices constitute a conserved sterol-sensing domain (4, 7). NPC1L1 recycles between the endocytic recycling compartment (ERC)³ and the plasma membrane (PM) in response to the changes of cholesterol level (8). ERC is a part of early endosomes that is involved in the recycling of many transmembrane proteins. It is also reported that ERC is a pool for free cholesterol storage (9). When cellular cholesterol concentration is low, NPC1L1 moves from the ERC to the PM (8, 10). Under cholesterol-replenishing conditions, NPC1L1 and cholesterol are internalized together and transported to the ERC (8). Disruption of microfilament, depletion of the clathrin·AP2 complex, or ezetimibe treatment can impede the endocytosis of NPC1L1, thereby decreasing cholesterol internalization (8, 10, 11).The microfilament (MF) system, part of the cytoskeleton network, is required for multiple cellular functions such as cell shape maintenance, cell motility, mitosis, protein secretion, and endocytosis (12, 13). The major players in the microfilament system are actin fibers and motor proteins (14). Actin fibers form a network that serves as the tracks for vesicular transport (15, 16). Meanwhile, the dynamic assembly and disassembly of actin fibers and the motor proteins provides the driving force for a multitude of membrane dynamics including endocytosis, exocytosis, and vesicular trafficking between compartments (15, 16).Myosins are a large family of motor proteins that are responsible for actin-based mobility (14). Class V myosins (17, 18), comprising myosin Va, Vb, and Vc, are involved in a wide range of vesicular trafficking events in different mammalian tissues. Myosin Va is expressed mainly in neuronal tissues (19, 20), whereas myosins Vb and Vc are universally expressed with enrichment in epithelial cells (21, 22). Class V myosins are recruited to their targeting vesicles by small GTPase proteins (Rab) (23). Rab11a and Rab11 family-interacting protein 2 (Rab11-FIP2) facilitate the binding of myosin Vb to the cargo proteins of endocytic recycling vesicles (24–28).Myosin Vb binds Rab11a and Rab11-FIP2 through the C-terminal tail (CT) domain. The triple complex of myosin Vb, Rab11a, and Rab11-FIP2 is critical for endocytic vesicular transport and the recycling of many proteins including transferrin receptor (29), AMPA receptors (30), CFTR (28), GLUT4 (31, 32), aquaporin-2 (26), and β2-adrenergic receptors (33). The myosin Vb-CT domain (24) competes for binding to Rab11a and Rab11-FIP2 and functions as a dominant-negative form. Expression of the CT domain substantially impairs the transport of vesicles. Deficient endocytic trafficking is also observed in cells expressing the GDP-locked form of Rab11a (S25N) (34) or a truncated Rab11-FIP2, which competes for the rab11a binding (35).Here we investigated the roles of actin fibers and motor proteins in the cholesterol-regulated endocytic recycling of NPC1L1. Using pharmaceutical inactivation, dominant-negative forms, and an siRNA technique, we demonstrated that actin fibers and myosin Vb·Rab11a·Rab11-FIP2 triple complex are involved in the export of NPC1L1 to the PM and that this intact MF-associated triple complex is required for efficient cholesterol uptake. Characterization of the molecules involved in the recycling of NPC1L1 may shed new light upon the mechanism of cholesterol absorption.