昆虫化学感受蛋白研究进展

昆虫化学感受蛋白(chemosensory proteins)是在长期进化过程中形成的一类低分子量酸性可溶性蛋白,广泛分布于昆虫触角、跗节等各种化学感受器中,蛋白质序列具有较高的保守性,种内种间同源性一般为30%～90％。其主要功能是感受、识别、转运、传导环境化学因子刺激信息,参与调节生理节律和生长发育。该文从昆虫化学感受蛋白的生态进化意义、分布表达部位、生化特性、分子结构、生理功能和研究方法等角度,较详细地综述了近年来国内外昆虫化学感受蛋白的研究进展,指出昆虫化学感受蛋白的深入研究,对于阐明昆虫与环境化学信息联系规律、昆虫行为反应本质原因,探索害虫综合治理和益虫利用效率新途径,开辟创制昆虫行为控制剂新领域等具有重要的理论和实践意义。     

昆虫嗅觉相关可溶性蛋白的研究进展

昆虫在长期进化过程中形成了一套高度敏感的嗅觉系统,通过该系统昆虫可以完成寻觅配偶、定位寄主及选择产卵位点等多种行为。在昆虫嗅觉系统中的可溶性蛋白主要有气味结合蛋白(odorant-binding protein, OBP)和化学感受蛋白(chemosensory protein, CSP)。OBP可以特异性结合并运输疏水性的气味分子相应的受体,是昆虫化学识别过程的第一步,具有十分重要的作用。CSP与OBP的结构和功能类似,主要参与化合物的识别和运输,尽管没有直接的证据表明CSP也参与了昆虫的化学感受过程,但已有研究发现,CSP在昆虫嗅觉系统中发挥着重要的作用。本文主要从分子特性、蛋白结构、表达模式、生理功能等方面分别对昆虫的OBP和CSP进行了概述,为深入的研究两者的功能提供理论参考,进而为以昆虫嗅觉系统为靶标的害虫防治提供新的思路。     

昆虫化学感受蛋白(CSPs)的功能研究概述

昆虫的嗅觉系统与其各项生命活动息息相关,化学感受蛋白(CSPs)是嗅觉系统中的重要组成部分,可以结合气味或信息素分子,并传递给嗅觉受体,完成嗅觉相关功能。随着分子生物学技术和测序手段的不断发展,越来越多的昆虫CSPs得到鉴定。CSPs在昆虫体内广泛分布于触角、跗节、下颚须等化学感受器官,同时也在表皮、腹部、体躯等非感受器官大量表达,具有感知化学分子的功能并且与昆虫生长、发育、繁殖等生理功能及昆虫对杀虫剂的抗性相关。本文通过从CSPs的发现和命名、分子特性、结构及分布等方面展开综述,着重介绍CSPs的气味分子识别作用机制、抗药性机制及功能分类,以期为今后利用CSPs作为靶标防治害虫提供参考。     

家蚕保幼激素结合蛋白Bmtol基因的克隆及表达分析

目的:克隆获得家蚕(Bombyx mori)Bmtol基因序列,并对其蛋白结构进行预测,分析其在组织和JHA处理后头部的表达差异,为该基因的功能研究提供参考。方法:以家蚕的全组织c DNA为模板利用RT-PCR技术扩增和克隆获得Bmtol基因c DNA全长序列,并提交至Gen Bank数据库;利用多种生物信息学软件预测分析其编码蛋白的理化特性和结构特征;采用MREGA5.0软件中的邻接法(neighbor-joining,NJ)构建Bm TOL及其它昆虫同源TO的进化树;通过q PCR技术分析Bmtol基因在5龄3天家蚕不同组织的表达情况,及JHA处理5龄蚕后在0 h、24 h、48 h、72 h和96 h家蚕头部的表达情况。结果:克隆获得了家蚕Bmtol基因的c DNA序列(Gen Bank登录号KY681053),Bmtol基因的开放阅读框(ORF)长度为759 bp,编码252个氨基酸,预测其蛋白分子量为27.72k Da,理论等电点为6.16,有信号肽,无跨膜结构,且第25~251位氨基酸之间存在一个保幼激素结合蛋白家族JHBP保守结构域;N端为疏水区域,可能与保幼激素结合蛋白的核心部位有关。亚细胞定位分析表明,Bm TOL属于分泌型蛋白,主要集中在内质网-高尔基体-质膜分泌途径上。Bm TOL蛋白具有3个α螺旋,第34位的Cys和第44位Cys形成一个二硫键链接在α1螺旋和N末端,构成Bm TOL蛋白与配体结合的核心部位。序列比对结果显示,家蚕Bm TOL序列与其他昆虫TO的氨基酸序列一致性差别较大。家蚕Bm TOL与果蝇Dm TO的相似性为25.10%,与烟草天蛾的相似性为19.69%,与冈比亚按蚊的相似性为25.78%,与埃及伊蚊的相似性为23.53%,与黑花蝇的相似性为28.17%,与意大利蜜蜂的相似性为23.05%,与苹浅褐卷蛾的相似性为21.18%。系统进化树分析表明,所有选用昆虫TO形成两个大的分支:苹浅褐卷蛾Ep TO1、烟草天蛾Ms TO、意大利蜜蜂Am TOL、果蝇Dm TO和黑花蝇Pr TOL聚为一个分支,埃及伊蚊Aa TO、冈比亚按蚊Ag TOL-2和家蚕Bm TOL聚为另一大分支。q PCR结果显示,Bmtol基因在家蚕头部、表皮和精巢有较高表达,其他组织表达量很低或没有。在JHA处理的5龄家蚕的头部,Bmtol基因在处理后0 h、24 h、48 h、72 h和96 h的表达量差异不明显。结论:Bm TOL蛋白属于JHBP家族,具有JHBP家族的典型结构;组织表达谱和JHA处理结果暗示,Bm TOL属保幼激素结合蛋白(JHBP),在家蚕中除保幼激素结合之外还参与其他多种生理功能。     

昆虫雄性附腺功能蛋白研究进展

昆虫雄性附腺蛋白是精液蛋白的主要来源,对雌雄虫生殖过程具有重要生理功能,按功能可分为精包结构蛋白和功能蛋白两类。精包结构蛋白参与精包的形成;功能蛋白在交配过程中随精子一起转移到雌虫体内,导致雌虫行为和生理的深刻变化,如降低雌虫再交配率、提高产卵量、促进精子转移、储存和竞争等。随着对昆虫雄性附腺功能蛋白研究的深入,特别对果蝇附腺功能蛋白的详细研究,从分子水平上阐述蛋白质序列与功能的关系,明确其作用机制,可为进一步阐明昆虫生殖和进化机制等提供新依据。     

中华蜜蜂化学感受蛋白基因Acer-CSP1克隆与表达特征分析

化学感受蛋白(chemosensory proteins, CSPs)是昆虫化学感受系统中重要的组成部分之一。本研究克隆了中华蜜蜂Apis cerana cerana化学感受蛋白基因Acer-CSP1, 其核苷酸全长351 bp （GenBank登录号为FJ157352）, 编码116个氨基酸残基, 预测蛋白分子量为13.85 kD, 等电点为4.89, 且含有4个保守的半胱氨酸残基, 均符合昆虫CSPs的一般特征, 且与意蜂CSP1基因具有99.1%的相似性, 与其他昆虫也有45.3%~68.0%的相似性。利用2^-ΔΔCt法及绝对定量法的real-time PCR技术对Acer-CSP1在中蜂不同器官表达特征进行了研究, 得出的一致结论为Acer-CSP1显著水平地高丰度表达于中华蜜蜂触角, 其次大量表达于头部。由于触角为中华蜜蜂最主要的嗅觉器官, 而头部则具有发达的感觉神经系统和味觉系统, 这也提示Acer-CSP1极有可能参与中华蜜蜂的嗅觉以及其他化学感受功能。     

动物bHLH转录因子家族成员及其功能

bHLH转录因子在真核生物生长发育调控过程中具有重要作用。动物bHLH转录因子包含45个家族, 分别参与调控神经元发生、肌细胞生成、肠组织发育以及环境毒素响应等生物学过程。过去20年里, 研究人员对动物bHLH家族成员鉴定及其生物学功能开展了广泛的研究。文章在介绍动物45个bHLH家族名称来源的基础上, 综述了小鼠、果蝇和线虫3种模式动物bHLH家族成员及其功能的研究进展。小鼠、果蝇和线虫中分别有114、59和42种bHLH蛋白。其中, 小鼠108种、果蝇47种和线虫20种bHLH蛋白的功能已比较明确, 功能未知的22种线虫bHLH蛋白中还有15种尚未归入相应家族。文章也对部分被误用的bHLH家族成员名称做了说明, 可为相关研究人员深入开展bHLH转录因子结构与功能的研究提供较为清晰和系统的背景资料。     

CSP介导的害虫抗药性新机制研究进展

CSPs(Chemosensory proteins)即化学感受蛋白,其在昆虫体内各个阶段均有表达,参与昆虫的多种生理过程,具有十分复杂的化学功能。CSPs基因介导昆虫抗药性是最新发现的害虫抗药性新机制,且近几年在几种昆虫中被报道。CSPs可以通过螯合作用大量结合农药,进而导致昆虫产生抗药性,但CSPs与杀虫剂的结合机理及其表达调控机制尚未被阐明。基于目前现状,本文系统综述了CSPs在昆虫抗药性中的功能以及抗药性相关酶的表达调控机制等方面的研究进展,分析其表达调控的可能机制,旨在为害虫抗药性机制研究提供新思路。     

昆虫嗅觉相关蛋白及嗅觉识别机理研究概述

嗅觉是昆虫产生行为的基础之一,在长期进化的过程中昆虫形成了复杂的嗅觉系统,完成这一过程,需要有多种与嗅觉相关的蛋白参与,包括气味结合蛋白、化学感受蛋白、气味受体和感觉神经元膜蛋白等。了解昆虫感受外界信息的嗅觉机制可以帮助我们更好地理解昆虫识别配偶、天敌及寻找食物来源、产卵场地等行为特征,为进一步调控昆虫的行为、防控害虫侵袭、保护和利用有益昆虫奠定基础。本文综述了昆虫嗅觉相关的几类重要蛋白的生化特性和生理功能,并对昆虫气味分子的识别机制、气味分子在昆虫体内运输机制的最新研究进展进行了概述。     

节肢动物血蓝蛋白家族的组成与演化

血蓝蛋白是动物界的三类呼吸功能蛋白之一,目前仅发现于节肢动物和软体动物等少数动物类群中。不同亚型的血蓝蛋白有不同的理化性质和序列,但均结合氧分子,并以六聚体,甚至更复杂的聚合体结构存在。血蓝蛋白与酚氧化酶、拟血蓝蛋白、昆虫储存蛋白以及昆虫储存蛋白受体等结构类似、进化上近缘的分子共同组成了血蓝蛋白超家族。该文主要介绍了血蓝蛋白家族成员在节肢动物四大类群（螯肢动物、多足动物、甲壳动物和六足动物）中已知的分布、结构和功能,并重点综述了血蓝蛋白家族成员在节肢动物系统演化研究中发挥的独特而有效的作用,进一步强调了在更多节肢动物类群中研究血蓝蛋白家族的功能和演化的重要性。     

The CCN family of genes: a perspective on CCN biology and therapeutic potential

The CCN family of genes currently comprises six secreted proteins (designated CCN1–6 after Cyr61/CCN1; ctgf/CCN2; Nov/CCN3; WISP1/CCN4; WISP2/CCN5, WISP3/CCN6) with a similar mosaic primary structure. It is now well accepted that CCN proteins are not growth factors but matricellular proteins that modify signaling of other molecules, in particular those associated with the extracellular matrix. CCN proteins are involved in mitosis, adhesion, apoptosis, extracellular matrix production, growth arrest and migration of multiple cell types. Since their first identification as matricellular factors, the CCN proteins now figure prominently in a variety of major diseases and are now considered valid candidates for therapeutic targeting. Dissection of the molecular mechanisms governing the biological properties of these proteins is being actively pursued by an expanding network of scientists around the globe who will meet this year at the 5th International Workshop on the CCN family of Genes, organized by the International CCN Society (http://ccnsociety.com), home for an international cadre of collaborators working in the CCN field.     

Localization of an ascorbate-reducible cytochrome b561 in the plant tonoplast

As a free radical scavenger, and cofactor, ascorbate (ASC) is a key player in the regulation of cellular redox processes. It is involved in responses to biotic and abiotic stresses and in the control of enzyme activities and metabolic reactions. Cytochromes (Cyts) b561 catalyze ASC-driven trans-membrane electron transport and contribute to ASC-mediated redox reactions in subcellular compartments. Putative Cyts b561 have been identified in Arabidopsis (ecotype Columbia) on the basis of sequence similarity to their mammalian counterparts. However, little is known about the function or subcellular localization of this unique class of membrane proteins. We have expressed one of the putative Arabidopsis Cyt b561 genes (CYBASC1) in yeast and we demonstrate that this protein encodes an ASC-reducible b-type Cyt with absorbance characteristics similar to that of other members of this family. Several lines of independent evidence demonstrate that CYBASC1 is localized at the plant tonoplast (TO). Isoform-specific antibodies against CYBASC1 indicate that this protein cosediments with the TO marker on sucrose gradients. Moreover, CYBASC1 is strongly enriched in TO-enriched membrane fractions, and TO fractions contain an ASC-reducible b-type Cyt with alpha-band absorbance maximum near 561 nm. The TO ASC-reducible Cyt has a high specific activity, suggesting that it is a major constituent of this membrane. These results provide evidence for the presence of trans-membrane redox components in this membrane type, and they suggest the coupling of cytoplasmic and vacuolar metabolic reactions through ASC-mediated redox activity.     

Changes in the sweet proteins (thaumatins) in thaumatococcus danielli fruits during development

The thaumatin content (forms TO, TI and TII) of fruits from Thaumatococcus danielli at various stages of maturation were examined. The amounts of all three forms of sweet protein increased during maturation to reach a total of about 50 mg/g in mature aril tissue in fruits from both the Ashanti and Kadjebe regions of Ghana. TO was a minor form in fruits at all stages of development from both regions. The major regional difference was that TII was absent from the Kadjebe fruits; however, the total level of sweet proteins was maintained by increased levels of TO and TI. Structural and immunological comparisons of the three thaumatin forms showed that TO is closely related to the other two forms which are known to differ at only five positions in their primary structure.     

FIGfams: yet another set of protein families

We present FIGfams, a new collection of over 100 000 protein families that are the product of manual curation and close strain comparison. Using the Subsystem approach the manual curation is carried out, ensuring a previously unattained degree of throughput and consistency. FIGfams are based on over 950 000 manually annotated proteins and across many hundred Bacteria and Archaea. Associated with each FIGfam is a two-tiered, rapid, accurate decision procedure to determine family membership for new proteins. FIGfams are freely available under an open source license. These can be downloaded at ftp://ftp.theseed.org/FIGfams/. The web site for FIGfams is http://www.theseed.org/wiki/FIGfams/     

Continuous Distributed Representation of Biological Sequences for Deep Proteomics and Genomics

We introduce a new representation and feature extraction method for biological sequences. Named bio-vectors (BioVec) to refer to biological sequences in general with protein-vectors (ProtVec) for proteins (amino-acid sequences) and gene-vectors (GeneVec) for gene sequences, this representation can be widely used in applications of deep learning in proteomics and genomics. In the present paper, we focus on protein-vectors that can be utilized in a wide array of bioinformatics investigations such as family classification, protein visualization, structure prediction, disordered protein identification, and protein-protein interaction prediction. In this method, we adopt artificial neural network approaches and represent a protein sequence with a single dense n-dimensional vector. To evaluate this method, we apply it in classification of 324,018 protein sequences obtained from Swiss-Prot belonging to 7,027 protein families, where an average family classification accuracy of 93%±0.06% is obtained, outperforming existing family classification methods. In addition, we use ProtVec representation to predict disordered proteins from structured proteins. Two databases of disordered sequences are used: the DisProt database as well as a database featuring the disordered regions of nucleoporins rich with phenylalanine-glycine repeats (FG-Nups). Using support vector machine classifiers, FG-Nup sequences are distinguished from structured protein sequences found in Protein Data Bank (PDB) with a 99.8% accuracy, and unstructured DisProt sequences are differentiated from structured DisProt sequences with 100.0% accuracy. These results indicate that by only providing sequence data for various proteins into this model, accurate information about protein structure can be determined. Importantly, this model needs to be trained only once and can then be applied to extract a comprehensive set of information regarding proteins of interest. Moreover, this representation can be considered as pre-training for various applications of deep learning in bioinformatics. The related data is available at Life Language Processing Website: http://llp.berkeley.edu and Harvard Dataverse: http://dx.doi.org/10.7910/DVN/JMFHTN.     

Role of sialyloligosaccharide binding in Theiler's virus persistence.

Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis viruses (TMEVs) belong to the Picornaviridae family and are divided into two groups, typified by strain GDVII virus and members of the TO (Theiler's original) group. The highly virulent GDVII group causes acute encephalitis in mice, while the TO group is less virulent and causes a chronic demyelinating disease which is associated with viral persistence in mice. This persistent central nervous system infection with demyelination resembles multiple sclerosis (MS) in humans and has thus become an important model for studying MS. It has been shown that some of the determinants associated with viral persistence are located on the capsid proteins of the TO group. Structural comparisons of two persistent strains (BeAn and DA) and a highly virulent strain (GDVII) showed that the most significant structural variations between these two groups of viruses are located on the sites that may influence virus binding to cellular receptors. Most animal viruses attach to specific cellular receptors that, in part, determine host range and tissue tropism. In this study, atomic models of TMEV chimeras were built with the known structures of GDVII, BeAn, and DA viruses. Comparisons among the known GDVII, BeAn, and DA structures as well as the predicted models for the TMEV chimeras suggested that a gap on the capsid surface next to the putative receptor binding site, composed of residues from VP1 and VP2, may be important in determining viral persistence by influencing virus attachment to cellular receptors, such as sialyloligosaccharides. Our results showed that sialyllactose, the first three sugar molecules of common oligosaccharides on the surface of mammalian cells, inhibits virus binding to the host cell and infection with the persistent BeAn virus but not the nonpersistent GDVII and chimera 39 viruses.     

Deduced primary structure of rat tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase

The complete amino acid sequence of the tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TO) of rat liver was determined from the nucleotide sequence of a full length TO cDNA isolated from a rat liver cDNA library and determined its primary structure. TO was encoded in a mRNA of about 1.7 kb containing an open reading frame of 1218 bp. According to the deduced amino acid sequence, the monomeric polypeptide of TO consisted of 406 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular weight of 47,796 daltons. It has twelve histidine residues around its hydrophobic region, which has homology with some heme proteins and oxygenase, suggesting that this hydrophobic region might to be the core of TO for the activity.     

Heterogeneous Turnover of Myofibrillar Protein

TO investigate the heterogeneity of turnover of proteins of the myofibril, we developed “a continuous double isotope method” which is a modification of the continuous isotope administration method. The assumptions involved in the use of the double isotope method, proposed by Schmike¹, are not applicable in the case of proteins of the myofibril because these proteins did not follow the simple exponential decay kinetics as shown by the single isotope administration method².