小分子量G蛋白Rap2信号途径的生物学功能

Rap2与Rap1同属于Ras超家族小分子量GTP结合蛋白的Rap亚家族,Rap2的氨基酸序列与Rap1具有60%的同源性,推测二者可能具有相似的信号途径和相近的生物学功能,包括细胞的增殖、分化、粘附和细胞骨架重排。然而,Rap2位于效应因子结构域的第39位的苯丙氨酸不同于Rap1及Ras的丝氨酸,这个关键差异表明其可能通过特异的下游信号分子调控独特的生物学功能。最近,随着Rap2特异效应因子的不断发现,Rap2特异的信号通路及功能受到了更多的关注,Rap2具有多样的生物学功能,除调控细胞粘附及细胞骨架动态组装外、Rap2调节中枢神经突触的可塑性以及非洲爪蟾发育中背腹轴特化。此外,也有报道显示Rap2的表达增强与多种肿瘤的形成具有相关性。本文主要针对Rap2的信号途径和生物学功能研究的最新进展进行介绍。     

Rap信号在神经系统中的功能研究进展

小分子G蛋白Rap属于Ras家族,其结构类似于Ras,结合GTP后处于活性状态(RapGTP),结合GDP后则处于非活性状态(RapGDP)。在细胞内,Rap通过RapGTP与RapGDP之间的动态转换起到分子开关的作用,调控细胞增殖、分化、存活、粘附、迁移等生理过程。胞外信号通过特异性鸟嘌呤核苷酸交换因子(guanine nucleotide exchange factors,GEFs)调控Rap与GTP的结合,激活Rap;胞内特异性GTP酶激活蛋白(GTPase activating proteins,GAPs)促进GTP的水解,使Rap失活。活化的Rap信号通过其下游不同的信号分子调控不同的生物学功能。在神经系统中,Rap信号具有多样的生物学功能,Rap信号能促进神经元极性的建立和轴突生长,还能调节神经突生长。Rap信号能够调控神经突触结构和功能的可塑性变化。此外,也有研究报道Rap信号和神经元的迁移具有相关性。本文主要针对Rap信号在神经系统中的功能研究进展进行综述。     

Rho小G蛋白信号通路在癌细胞生物学中的多样功能

癌症的产生是由于细胞正常行为的多个方面发生改变,例如基因突变的积累、失去控制的细胞增殖、细胞的异常迁移和侵染、染色体的不稳定性等。Rho小G蛋白相关信号通路涉及癌症发展进程的多个方面,例如细胞周期进程、细胞极性的调控、细胞骨架重排、细胞与细胞或细胞与基质相互作用调控的细胞迁移和侵染等。该文总结了近年来Rho小G蛋白在癌症的发生发展过程中相关作用的研究进展,重点阐述其家族成员在癌细胞的增殖、存活、侵染、转移等过程中的作用,并对以Rho小G蛋白信号通路作为癌症治疗靶点的研究进展进行概括总结。     

小分子G蛋白Rap1 shRNA表达载体的构建和鉴定

应用RNA干扰（RNA interference,RNAi）技术抑制Rap1基因的表达,构建RaplshRNA（small hairpin RNA．shRNA）表达载体,观察其对小鼠肝脏细胞中RaplmRNA和蛋白表达的干扰作用．根据小鼠RaplmRNA的全序列．设计了3种Rap1 siRNA序列（Rap1 siRNA1、Rap1 siRNA2、Rap1 siRNA3）和阴性对照序列（HK）;采用克隆技术,将其插入带有报告基因绿色荧光（EGFP）的pGenesi1－3载体,构建RaplshRNA表达载体：经双酶切和测序证实Rap1 siRNA表达载体克隆构建成功,插入片段测序结果与合成的siRNA结果一致：昆明小鼠40只,体重18～20g,随机分成4组：I组（转染HK组）、Ⅱ组（转染RaplshRNAl组）、Ⅲ组（转染RaplshRNA2组）、Ⅳ组（转染Rap1 shRNA3组）．于0、16、24h腹腔内注射Rap1 shRNA2．0－2．5mg／kg（用PBS稀释至1mL）：48h后收集小鼠肝脏．用显微荧光、定量RT—PCT、免疫组化检测小鼠肝细胞中Rap1 shRNA的转染率、Rap1基因表达以及蛋白质表达水平．I组、Ⅱ组、Ⅲ组、Ⅳ组小鼠肝脏细胞体内转染率均大于60％．Ⅱ组、m组、Ⅳ组的RaMmRNA表达、Rap1蛋白表达均降低．其中Rao1 shRNA1干扰效果最佳．     

在大肠杆菌中高效表达可用于检测人源Rap1活性RapBD蛋白方法的建立

【背景】Rap1是一种小GTP酶,其活性的检测方法少,目前主要依赖试剂盒,检测成本太高。而Rap1下游效应蛋白RalGDS具有Rap1结合结构域(Rap binding domain,RapBD),该结构域能与有活性的GTP-Rap1特异性结合。【目的】利用大肠杆菌外源表达GST-RapBD融合蛋白,建立经济的检测人源Rap1活性的方法。【方法】合成RapBD基因序列,插入pGEX-4T-1载体,使该质粒表达GST-RapBD融合蛋白,再利用GST亲和树脂结合大肠杆菌中表达的GST-RapBD融合蛋白,最后利用GST-RapBD融合蛋白Pulldown检测GTP-Rap1。【结果】建立了检测人源Rap1活性的方法。【结论】序列优化使得pGEX-4T-1载体在大肠杆菌中高效表达能特异性结合人源GTP-Rap1且带有GST标签的RapBD蛋白,提高了Pulldown实验检测GTP-Rap1的效率,降低了检测人源小G蛋白Rap1活性的成本。     

冷诱导RNA结合蛋白的生物学功能与信号通路

冷诱导RNA结合蛋白（ cold-inducible RNA-binding protein, CIRBP）是哺乳动物体内发现的第一个冷诱导蛋白。这种蛋白质在机体内各个组织与器官中均广泛表达,并在正常生理状态或应激条件下,广泛参与多个生物学过程,例如细胞增殖、发展、凋亡、分化和生物节律调节等多个方面。随着研究的深入,发现CIRBP具有一些新的功能,例如在一些炎症的发生和肿瘤的发生过程中,起到促进作用与作为新一代的原癌基因等。CIRBP发挥作用的信号通路,主要有胞外信号调节激酶/丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(extracellular signal-regulated kinases/mitogen-activated protein kinases, ERK/MAPK)、磷脂酰肌醇3激酶/蛋白激酶B(phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B, PI3K/PKB)、无翅和整合基因(wingless and integration 1,Wnt)、核因子κB(nuclear factor κB, NF-κB)等。本文针对CIRBP的生物学功能和相关信号通路的最新研究进展加以综述,希望能为细胞生物学基础研究与利用该蛋白质进行临床有关疾病的诊治提供新的思路。     

mTOR信号通路的生物学功能

哺乳动物的雷帕霉素靶(mammalian target of rapamycin,mTOR)是一种非典型丝氨酸/苏氨酸蛋白激酶,可整合细胞外信号,磷酸化下游靶蛋白核糖体p70S6激酶,如S6K1及4E-BP1,影响基因转录与蛋白质翻译,从而参与调控细胞生长、增殖等过程。mTOR的生物学功能的多样性,使其成为当今生物学研究的焦点之一。mTOR与蛋白质合成、免疫、细胞运动及代谢、细胞凋亡及自噬等均有联系。     

HPV16 E6对HeLa细胞中Rap1GAP蛋白水平下调的研究

目的探讨HPV16E6对细胞中Rap1GAP蛋白水平的影响,为阐明宫颈癌发生发展的分子机制提供实验依据。本研究组前期实验显示,宫颈癌石蜡切片组织中Rap1GAP蛋白水平下降,且与高危型HPV16/18感染相关。本文将进一步探讨HPV16 E6是否导致Rap1GAP蛋白下调的原因。方法通过将HPV16 E6基因插入pGEX-KG的BamHI和Hind Ⅲ酶切位点构建GST标记的HPVE6质粒,采用脂质体转染法将其转染入HeLa细胞中,Westernblot方法观察GST-tagged-HPV16 E6在HeLa细胞中的表达,并观察其对HeLa细胞中内源性Rap1GAP蛋白水平的影响。结果测序表明成功构建GST标记的HPV16E6质粒;Western blot检测表明HPV16E6在HeLa细胞中成功表达;并且发现HeLa细胞中过表达HPV16 E6后,Rap1GAP蛋白相对含量(0.602±0.205)明显低于未转染组(1.130±0.163),差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论HPV16 E6下调Rap1GAP蛋白水平。     

小分子G蛋白R-Ras介导的细胞信号转导通路及其生物学功能

R-Ras属于小分子G蛋白Ras超家族,在细胞信号转导通路中起着分子开关的作用,具有调控细胞黏附、促进细胞凋亡、抑制细胞运动、调节细胞形态等多种生物学功能。R-Ras和Ras家族的其他成员一样,结合GTP时处于激活状态,即信号通路开启状态,能够与下游因子相互作用;通过上游信号的调节及其下游效应物,将胞外信号转导到胞内,调节细胞的相关生物学功能。最近的研究提示R-Ras与乳腺癌等肿瘤的发生具有相关性,对其深入研究有可能为肿瘤发生机制的阐明提供分子基础。我们对R-Ras介导的细胞信号转导通路及其生物学功能进行简要综述。     

细菌效应蛋白对宿主细胞Rho小G蛋白信号通路的调节作用

病原体细菌通过自身分泌系统分泌效应蛋白并注入宿主体内,修饰宿主的信号转导系统,破坏宿主细胞中天然免疫有关信号通路,发挥毒性作用使宿主产生疾病。吞噬作用在天然免疫系统中发挥重要作用,这个过程涉及肌动蛋白细胞骨架的重排。Rho(Ras homolog family)小G蛋白家族成员作为细胞骨架结构的重要调控蛋白可调节这一过程,其相关信号通路成为细菌效应蛋白的作用靶点。细菌效应蛋白可以模仿Rho的调节因子破坏信号通路,可以通过剪切Rho C-端的尾部结构使其从细胞膜解离并失去活性,可以直接模仿Rho发挥调控功能,可以影响Rho上游的调控事件影响其活性,也可通过对Rho进行直接的翻译后修饰使其失活,形成有利于细菌生存、繁殖、毒力释放的环境。由此导致的Rho信号通路功能紊乱使宿主产生智力缺陷、免疫功能障碍、癌症等多种疾病。     

Tumor Cell Migration and Invasion Are Enhanced by Depletion of Rap1 GTPase-activating Protein (Rap1GAP)

The functional significance of the widespread down-regulation of Rap1 GTPase-activating protein (Rap1GAP), a negative regulator of Rap activity, in human tumors is unknown. Here we show that human colon cancer cells depleted of Rap1GAP are endowed with more aggressive migratory and invasive properties. Silencing Rap1GAP enhanced the migration of confluent and single cells. In the latter, migration distance, velocity, and directionality were increased. Enhanced migration was a consequence of increased endogenous Rap activity as silencing Rap expression selectively abolished the migration of Rap1GAP-depleted cells. ROCK-mediated cell contractility was suppressed in Rap1GAP-depleted cells, which exhibited a spindle-shaped morphology and abundant membrane protrusions. Tumor cells can switch between Rho/ROCK-mediated contractility-based migration and Rac1-mediated mesenchymal motility. Strikingly, the migration of Rap1GAP-depleted, but not control cells required Rac1 activity, suggesting that loss of Rap1GAP alters migratory mechanisms. Inhibition of Rac1 activity restored membrane blebbing and increased ROCK activity in Rap1GAP-depleted cells, suggesting that Rac1 contributes to the suppression of contractility. Collectively, these findings identify Rap1GAP as a critical regulator of aggressive tumor cell behavior and suggest that the level of Rap1GAP expression influences the migratory mechanisms that are operative in tumor cells.     

小分子G蛋白Rapl shRNA表达载体的构建和鉴定

应用RNA干扰(RNA interference,RNAi)技术抑制Rapl基因的表达,构建Rap1 shRNA(small hairpin RNA,shRNA)表达载体,观察其对小鼠肝脏细胞中Rap1 mRNA和蛋白表达的干扰作用.根据小鼠Rap1 mRNA的全序列.设计了3种Rap1 siRNA序列(Rap1 siRNA1、Rap1 siRNA2、Rap1 siRNA3)和阴性对照序列(HK);采用克隆技术,将其插入带有报告基因绿色荧光(ECFP)的pGenesil-3栽体,构建Rap1 shRNA表达载体:经双酶切和测序证实Rap1 siRNA表达载体克隆构建成功,插入片段测序结果与合成的siRNA结果一致;昆明小鼠40只,体重18～20 g,随机分成4组: Ⅰ组(转染HK组)、Ⅱ组(转染Rapl shRNAl组)、Ⅲ组(转染Rap1 shRNA2组)、Ⅳ组(转染Rapl shRNA3组).于0、16、24 h腹腔内注射Rapl shRNA 2.0～2.5 mg/kg(用PBS稀释至1 mL);48 h后收集小鼠肝脏.用显微荧光、定量RT-PCT、免疫组化检测小鼠肝细胞中Rap1shRNA的转染率、Rap1基因表达以及蛋白质表达水平.Ⅰ组、Ⅱ组、Ⅲ组、Ⅳ组小鼠肝脏细胞体内转染率均大于60%,Ⅱ组、Ⅲ组、Ⅳ组的Rap1 mRNA表达、Rap1蛋白表达均降低,其中Rap1 shRNA1干扰效果最佳.     

Rap G protein signal in normal and disordered lymphohematopoiesis

Rap proteins (Rap1, Rap2a, b, c) are small molecular weight GTPases of the Ras family. Rap G proteins mediate diverse cellular events such as cell adhesion, proliferation, and gene activation through various signaling pathways. Activation of Rap signal is regulated tightly by several specific regulatory proteins including guanine nucleotide exchange factors and GTPase-activating proteins. Beyond cell biological studies, increasing attempts have been made in the past decade to define the roles of Rap signal in specific functions of normal tissue systems as well as in cancer. In the immune and hematopoietic systems, Rap signal plays crucial roles in the development and function of essentially all lineages of lymphocytes and hematopoietic cells, and importantly, deregulated Rap signal may lead to unique pathological conditions depending on the affected cell types, including various types of leukemia and autoimmunity. The phenotypical studies have unveiled novel, even unexpected functional aspects of Rap signal in cells from a variety of tissues, providing potentially important clues for controlling human diseases, including malignancy.     

Differential roles of Rap1 and Rap2 small GTPases in neurite retraction and synapse elimination in hippocampal spiny neurons

The Rap family of small GTPases is implicated in the mechanisms of synaptic plasticity, particularly synaptic depression. Here we studied the role of Rap in neuronal morphogenesis and synaptic transmission in cultured neurons. Constitutively active Rap2 expressed in hippocampal pyramidal neurons caused decreased length and complexity of both axonal and dendritic branches. In addition, Rap2 caused loss of dendritic spines and spiny synapses, and an increase in filopodia-like protrusions and shaft synapses. These Rap2 morphological effects were absent in aspiny interneurons. In contrast, constitutively active Rap1 had no significant effect on axon or dendrite morphology. Dominant-negative Rap mutants increased dendrite length, indicating that endogenous Rap restrains dendritic outgrowth. The amplitude and frequency of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionate (AMPA)-mediated miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) decreased in hippocampal neurons transfected with active Rap1 or Rap2, associated with reduced surface and total levels of AMPA receptor subunit GluR2. Finally, increasing synaptic activity with GABA(A) receptor antagonists counteracted Rap2's inhibitory effect on dendrite growth, and masked the effects of Rap1 and Rap2 on AMPA-mediated mEPSCs. Rap1 and Rap2 thus have overlapping but distinct actions that potentially link the inhibition of synaptic transmission with the retraction of axons and dendrites.     

The Ras-related Protein,Rap1A,Mediates Thrombin-stimulated,Integrin-dependent Glioblastoma Cell Proliferation and Tumor Growth

Rap1 is a Ras family GTPase with a well documented role in ERK/MAP kinase signaling and integrin activation. Stimulation of the G-protein-coupled receptor PAR-1 with thrombin in human 1321N1 glioblastoma cells led to a robust increase in Rap1 activation. This response was sustained for up to 6 h and mediated through RhoA and phospholipase D (PLD). Thrombin treatment also induced a 5-fold increase in cell adhesion to fibronectin, which was blocked by down-regulating PLD or Rap1A or by treatment with a β₁ integrin neutralizing antibody. In addition, thrombin treatment led to increases in phospho-focal adhesion kinase (tyrosine 397), ERK1/2 phosphorylation and cell proliferation, which were significantly inhibited in cells treated with β₁ integrin antibody or Rap1A siRNA. To assess the role of Rap1A in tumor formation in vivo, we compared growth of 1321N1 cells stably expressing control, Rap1A or Rap1B shRNA in a mouse xenograft model. Deletion of Rap1A, but not of Rap1B, reduced tumor mass by >70% relative to control. Similar observations were made with U373MG glioblastoma cells in which Rap1A was down-regulated. Collectively, these findings implicate a Rap1A/β₁ integrin pathway, activated downstream of G-protein-coupled receptor stimulation and RhoA, in glioblastoma cell proliferation. Moreover, our data demonstrate a critical role for Rap1A in glioblastoma tumor growth in vivo.     

Cell-cell junction formation: The role of Rap1 and Rap1 guanine nucleotide exchange factors

Rap proteins are Ras-like small GTP-binding proteins that amongst others are involved in the control of cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion. Several Rap guanine nucleotide exchange factors (RapGEFs) function to activate Rap. These multi-domain proteins, which include C3G, Epacs, PDZ-GEFs, RapGRPs and DOCK4, are regulated by various different stimuli and may function at different levels in junction formation. Downstream of Rap, a number of effector proteins have been implicated in junctional control, most notably the adaptor proteins AF6 and KRIT/CCM1. In this review, we will highlight the latest findings on the Rap signaling network in the control of epithelial and endothelial cell-cell junctions.     

蛋白激酶A锚定蛋白95的生物学功能

蛋白激酶A锚定蛋白95(AKAP95),具有在细胞核内锚定蛋白激酶A(PAK)的作用.最近的研究结果发现AKAP95参与细胞内许多重要的生命过程,如参与细胞分裂染色体集缩的建立和集缩状态的保持,参与基因表达调控、DNA复制以及维持mRNA的稳定,参与胚胎发育,参与细胞凋亡以及参与细胞周期调控等.简要介绍了PKA和蛋白激酶A锚定蛋白(AKAPs),并综述了AKAP95的结构、细胞周期分布以及新近发现的AKAP95的重要生物学功能.     

Solution structure of Rap1 BRCT domain from Saccharomyces cerevisiae reveals a novel fold

Rap1 (repressor-activator protein 1) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae, containing a BRCT domain at its N-terminus, is a multifunctional protein that controls telomere function, silencing, and the activation of glycolytic and ribosomal protein genes. In this work, we determined the solution structure of Rap1 BRCT domain, which contains three β-strands and three α-helices. Structural comparison indicated that Rap1 BRCT domain adopts a global fold similar to other BRCT domains, implying some common structural aspects of BRCT domain family. On the other hand, Rap1 BRCT domain displays structural characteristics significantly different from other BRCT domains in that Rap1 BRCT domain adopts a rather flexible conformation with less secondary structure elements, revealing a novel fold of the BRCT domain family.