次黄嘌呤鸟嘌呤磷酸核糖转移酶研究进展

次黄嘌呤鸟嘌呤磷酸核糖转移酶(Hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase, HPRT)是一种细胞质酶, 在体内广泛存在, 它不仅参与嘌呤碱基的补救合成途径, 而且关系到嘌呤类药物的代谢, 是调控该类药物药理效应和毒性反应的关键酶。其基因突变可影响酶的活性, 不仅可能导致不同临床表现的代谢疾病的发生, 而且影响体内嘌呤类药物的代谢。同时, HPRT作为管家基因, 是诊断许多疾病的靶点基因。文章概括了HPRT研究的新进展, 通过总结国内外研究现状, 发现HPRT的研究既推动了嘌呤类药物个体化用药的发展及新药物的研发, 又促进了HPRT突变相关遗传代谢疾病的诊断和治疗。     

Gene transfer with poly-melittin peptides

The 26 amino acid hemolytic melittin peptide was converted into a gene transfer peptide that binds to DNA and polymerized through disulfide bond formation. Melittin analogues were synthesized by the addition of one to four Lys repeats at either the C- or the N-subterminal end along with terminal Cys residues. Melittin analogues were able to bind and polymerize on plasmids resulting in the formation of DNA condensates. In the absence of DNA, melittin analogues retained their red blood cell hemolytic potency but were inactive when bound to plasmid DNA. The in vitro gene transfer efficiency mediated by poly-melittin analogues was equivalent to PEI in HepG2 cells. Attempts to truncate portions of either of the two melittin alpha-helices resulted in concurrent loss of hemolytic potency and gene transfer efficiency. The results demonstrate the ability to transform melittin into a gene transfer peptide by transiently masking its membrane lytic activity by the addition of Lys and Cys residues to promote DNA binding and polymerization.     

2-(2-Bromophenyl)-formononetin and 2-heptyl-formononetin are PPARγ partial agonists and reduce lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

Isoflavones are bioactive compounds that have been shown to decrease lipid accumulation in vitro. However, the knowledge of the isoflavone formononetin is limited. The aim of the study was to assess the effects of formononetin and its two synthetic analogues, 2-(2-bromophenyl)-formononetin and 2-heptyl-formononetin, on lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and investigate possible mechanisms. Formononetin and the two analogues were added day 0–8 or day 8–10 of the differentiation period, and lipid accumulation, glycerol release and gene expression were measured. Additionally, competitive peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ binding assay, PPARγ transactivation assay and Western blot for phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) were performed. Chronic treatment (day 0–8) with formononetin increased lipid accumulation, whereas the two analogues decreased lipid accumulation partly due to decreased differentiation. The two analogues, but not formononetin, also decreased lipid content in mature adipocytes. 2-Heptyl-formononetin increased glycerol release and lipolytic gene expression and decreased lipogenic gene expression. Formononetin did not bind to or activate PPARγ whereas both analogues bound to the receptor and behaved as PPARγ partial agonists in the transactivation assay. Neither of the compounds affected phosphorylation of AMPK. In conclusion, the analogues of formononetin decreased lipid accumulation possibly in part by acting as PPARγ partial agonists.     

Structural effects of carbohydrate-containing polycations on gene delivery. 2. Charge center type

Recent polycation structure-gene delivery studies reveal that subtle changes in the molecular structure of polycations have substantial influences on DNA-binding and condensation and on in vitro toxicity and gene delivery efficiency. In Part 1 of this structure-property study using carbohydrate-containing polycations (1), it is demonstrated that as the amidine charge center is removed further from the carbohydrate unit within the polycation structure, the toxicity increases. Inclusion of larger carbohydrate species within the polycation backbone also reduces the toxicity. Here, the effect that polycation charge center type has on toxicity and gene delivery efficiency is investigated. A series of quaternary ammonium polycations containing N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-1,6-hexanediamine, d-trehalose, and beta-cyclodextrin are synthesized in order to elucidate the effects of charge center type (by comparison to the data given in Part 1) on gene delivery. In all cases, it is found that the quaternary ammonium analogues exhibit lower gene expression values and similar toxicities to their amidine analogues. Additionally, transfection experiments conducted in the presence of chloroquine reveal increased gene expression from quaternary ammonium containing polycations and not from their amidine analogues.     

Exploring pyrimidine-substituted curcumin analogues: Design,synthesis and effects on EGFR signaling

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is an effective molecular target of anti-cancer therapies. Curcumin inhibits cancer cell growth in vitro by suppressing gene expression of EGFR and reduces tumor growth in various animal models. To overcome instable and insoluble properties of curcumin as therapeutics, we designed and synthesized six novel pyrimidine-substituted curcumin analogues with or without a hydroxyl group originally present in curcumin. The cell viability tests indicated that IC₅₀ of the analogues containing hydroxyl group were 3 to 8-fold lower than those of the analogues without hydroxyl group in two colon cancer cell lines tested. Western blot analysis indicates the analogues containing hydroxyl group inhibited expression and tyrosine phosphorylation of EGFR. Further protein analyses showed that the analogues had anti-cellular proliferation, pro-apoptosis, and cell cycle arrest properties associated with suppressed EGFR expression. These results indicate that the hydroxyl groups in curcumin and the analogues were critical for observed biological activities.     

Characterization of the yeast low Km cAMP-phosphodiesterase with cAMP analogues. Applications in mammalian cells that express the yeast PDE2 gene

The essential interactions between cAMP and the yeast low Km cAMP-phosphodiesterase have been analyzed using cAMP analogues and phosphodiesterase inhibitors. cAMP specificity is conferred by hydrogen bonding at the N-6 and N-7 positions. In contrast to the other yeast phosphodiesterase, (Rp)-adenosine 3',5'-monophosphorothioate is not hydrolyzed. Eleven standard phosphodiesterase inhibitors were not highly effective. In Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells that express the yeast cAMP-phosphodiesterase (PDE2) gene, cAMP levels cannot be raised by cholera toxin. cAMP analogues that are efficiently hydrolyzed by the yeast cAMP-phosphodiesterase had no effect on the growth of CHO cells that express the PDE2 gene, even though they block the growth and alter the morphology of control cells. cAMP analogues that are not hydrolyzed by the yeast enzyme inhibited the growth and changed the morphology of both control and PDE2 expressing CHO cells. We have developed a method for creating cell lines in which cAMP levels can be reduced by expression of an exogenous cAMP-phosphodiesterase gene. By employing cAMP analogues that are not hydrolyzed by this phosphodiesterase, the inhibitory effects of the enzyme can be bypassed.     

Ion-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of oligodeoxyribonucleotide phosphorothioates.

Oligodeoxynucleotide-containing phosphorothioate backbones have been used to regulate viral as well as cellular gene expression. The studies carried out in tissue culture have shown promising results on the use of oligonucleotide phosphorothioates as antiviral agents and, at present, study is underway to develop these oligonucleotide analogues as chemotherapeutic agents. To analyze and purify oligonucleotide analogues, high-performance liquid chromatography using weak anion exchange column has been described. The separation of oligonucleotide phosphorothioate is found to be length dependent.     

Nucleoside Analogues as Chemotherapeutic Agents: A Review

Abstract

The importance of nucleoside analogues in chemotherapy and in other potential therapeutic approaches as immunomodulation or regulation of gene expression, is reviewed.     

Predicted structures of cAMP binding domains of type I and II regulatory subunits of cAMP-dependent protein kinase

The mammalian cAMP-dependent protein kinases have regulatory (R) subunits that show substantial homology in amino acid sequence with the catabolite gene activator protein (CAP), a cAMP-dependent gene regulatory protein from Escherichia coli. Each R subunit has two in-tandem cAMP binding domains, and the structure of each of these domains has been modeled by analogy with the crystal structure of CAP. Both the type I and II regulatory subunits have been considered, so that four cAMP binding domains have been modeled. The binding of cAMP in general is analogous in all the structures and has been correlated with previous results based on photolabeling and binding of cAMP analogues. The model predicts that the first cAMP binding domain correlates with the previously defined fast dissociation site, which preferentially binds N6-substituted analogues of cAMP. The second domain corresponds to the slow dissociation site, which has a preference for C8-substituted analogues. The model also is consistent with cAMP binding in the syn conformation in both sites. Finally, this model has targeted specific regions that are likely to be involved in interdomain contacts. This includes contacts between the two cAMP binding domains as well as contacts with the amino-terminal region of the R subunit and with the catalytic subunit.     

人GLP-1R基因转染BHK细胞及重组细胞的应用

为了构建表达人胰高血糖素样肽-1受体(GLP-1R)基因的BHK细胞株,并利用该重组细胞对GLP-1等相关肽进行活性测定,首先通过酶切、连接方式将人GLP-1R基因克隆至真核表达载体pCDNA3.(1 )中,然后用脂质体转染法将重组质粒转染至BHK-21细胞,转染后的细胞经G418加压筛选、细胞有限稀释等方法获得克隆细胞株。经过该细胞株RT-PCR验证,结果证实目的基因已整合至BHK-21细胞基因组中,并获得成功转录和表达。活性检测实验表明该重组细胞株经过GLP-1的刺激后,其细胞中的cAMP含量得到明显提升。该细胞株的构建为GLP-1及相关肽的活性测定奠定了基础。     

拉米夫定联合阿德福韦酯治疗前后乙型肝炎病毒的全基因组序列分析

目的探究拉米夫定治疗反弹后联合阿德福韦酯治疗前后乙型肝炎全基因组序列变化。方法分别提取服用拉米夫定治疗24周反弹后和阿德福韦酯辅助治疗24周后的患者2份血清病毒核酸,用聚合酶链反应扩增核酸后进行全基因组测序分析。结果测序结果显示,共计有29个氨基酸发生了突变,其中,S区突变点有5个（17．2％）,C区突变点有12个（41．3％）,P区突变点有6个（20．6％）,X区突变点有6个（20．6％）,其中P区与拉米夫定的相关位点173和204位点发生了突变翻转,但服用阿德福韦后出现了与之相关的突变位点（181、214、236和237位点）。结论核苷酸药物的使用和HBV基因耐药突变密切相关,定期检测HBV基因突变对于合理使用核苷酸药物具有重要意义。     

Establishment of mutant murine mammary carcinoma FM3A cell strains transformed with the herpes simplex virus type 2 thymidine kinase gene

To establish cell systems appropriate for investigating the mode of action of antiherpetic nucleoside analogues, mutant cell strains were constructed from murine mammary carcinoma FM3A cells, which were deficient in TK, but were transformed with a recombinant plasmid DNA containing the HSV-2 TK gene. The transformed cells incorporated the viral DNA, expressed viral TK activity and showed unusually high sensitivity to the cytostatic action of the antiherpetic nucleoside analogues ACV and IVDU, both of which were only weakly inhibitory to the growth of the parent cells. Curiously, the FM3A cell strains transformed with HSV-2 TK gene showed a higher sensitivity to ACV and IVDU than the previously established cell line transformed with HSV-1 TK gene. This contrasts with the inhibitory effects of ACV and IVDU on acute HSV infection, since HSV-2 infection is slightly or considerably less susceptible than HSV-1 infection to inhibition by ACV or IVDU, respectively.     

Synthesis and Application of Negatively Charged PNA Analogues

Negatively charged DNA mimics containing phosphonate analogues of peptide nucleic acids were designed, and their physicochemical and biological properties were evaluated in the comparison with natural oligonucleotides, classical peptide nucleic acids, and morpholino phosphorodiamidate oligonucleotide analogues. The results obtained revealed a high potential of phosphonate-containing PNA derivatives for a number of biological applications, such as diagnostic, nucleic acids analysis, and inhibition of gene expression.     

博莱霉素同系物对癌基因表达的影响

应用快速酶联免疫法（ELISA）及Northern印迹杂交法研究了博莱霉素（BLM）同系物诱导癌基因表达的作用．通过检测P21和c－myc蛋白表达的改变和药物在RNA的转录水平上对癌基因表达的影响,证明BLM能够抑制c－myc基因的表达．这种抑制作用不仅发生在蛋白质的翻译水平,而且可能发生在RNA的转录水平上．BLMA6及A2对Ras基因亦有极显著的抑制,提示其亦为以p21蛋白为靶点的抗癌抗生素．A6、A2与A5之间的区别提示在同系物之间可能存在不同的抗癌机理     

蛇足石杉内生真菌产黄青霉菌MT-40中xanthocillin类似物生物合成基因簇的挖掘及鉴定

Xanthocillin具有显著的抗菌活性,结构中含有独特的异腈基。本文通过对蛇足石杉(Huperzia serrata)内生真菌产黄青霉菌(Penicillium chrysogenum)MT-40基因组的测序分析,利用本地BLAST等生物信息学分析工具挖掘具有合成xanthocillin类似物潜力的基因簇,结合米曲霉(Aspergillus oryzae)NSAR1异源表达技术实现基因簇中关键基因的功能鉴定。结果成功从内生真菌P.chrysogenum MT-40中发现一个合成xanthocillin类似物的生物合成基因簇(命名为for),for基因簇中的关键生物合成基因forB编码的异腈基合成酶可以催化合成2-formamido-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)acrylic acid,基因forG编码的P450酶可以催化2-formamido-3-(4-hydroxyphenyl)acrylic acid的二聚化生成xanthocillin类似物N,N′-(1,4-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)buta-1,3-diene-2,3-diyl)diformamide。本文研究结果为进一步从真菌中发现xanthocillin类似物提供参考。