二化螟乙酰胆碱受体α亚基的基因克隆与序列分析

烟碱型乙酰胆碱受体(nAChR)在昆虫的兴奋性突触传递中起着重要的作用,同时也是杀虫剂作用的重要靶标。近年来,二化螟对作用于昆虫nAChR的沙蚕毒素类杀虫剂杀虫单产生了高抗性。为了研究可能存在的靶标不敏感机制,我们采用RT-PCR技术,对二化螟nAChR-α亚 基全长cDNA进行了分子克隆。序分析表明,这是1个新的α亚基基因,定名为Cs α 1。基 因全长为1997个核苷酸,包含了1个开放阅读框,编码1个509氨基酸的成熟蛋白和1个24氨基酸的信号肽。Cs α 1与其他昆虫nAChR α亚基之间有52%-94%的同源性,高于与脊椎动物nAChR α亚基之间的同源性。     

甜菜夜蛾烟碱型乙酰胆碱受体β1亚基基因的克隆与序列分析

烟碱型乙酰胆碱受体是昆虫体内重要的神经受体,同时也是杀虫剂作用靶标.从甜菜夜蛾Spodoptera exigua3龄幼虫体内提取总的RNA,经过反转录,利用RT-PCR获得了烟碱型乙酰胆碱受体6个α和1个β亚基基因的cD-NA序列片段,并利用cDNA末端快速扩增技术(RACE)获得了β亚基基因的cDNA序列全长.该基因命名为SenAChRβl,其长度为2231个碱基,含有一个1575个碱基的开放读码框,开放读码框编码524个氨基酸残基,预测的分子量为60 kDa.推导得到的氨基酸序列与其它昆虫特别是鳞翅目昆虫的烟碱型乙酰胆碱受体β亚基具有高度的同源性,并具有典型的烟碱型乙酰胆碱受体β亚基特征化位点.     

二化螟乙酰胆碱受体a亚基的基因克隆与序列分析

烟碱型乙酰胆碱受体（nAChR）在昆虫的兴奋性突触传递中起着重要的作用,同时也是杀虫剂作用的重要靶标。近年来,二化螟对作用于昆虫nAChR的沙蚕毒素类杀虫剂杀虫单产生了高抗性。为了研究可能存在的靶标不敏感机制,我们采用RT-PCR技术,对二化螟nAChRa亚基全长cDNA进行了分子克隆。序列分析表明,这是1个新的a亚基基因,定名为Cs a 1。基因全长为1997个核苷酸,包含了1个开放阅读框,编码1个509氨基酸的成熟蛋白和1个24氨基酸的信号肽。Cs a 1与其他昆虫nAChR a亚基之间有52%～94%的同源性,高于与脊椎动物nAChR a亚基之间的同源性。     

苹果蠹蛾8个烟碱型乙酰胆碱受体基因的克隆与生物信息学分析

烟碱型乙酰胆碱受体(nicotinic acetylcholine receptors,n AChRs)能够快速介导胆碱能突触传递,并在许多认知功能障碍性疾病的过程中发挥作用。昆虫的烟碱型乙酰胆碱受体是新烟碱类等杀虫剂的重要作用靶标,而且靶标抗性是昆虫产生抗药性的一个重要机制。本文利用生物信息学结合现代分子生物学技术,以新疆石河子地区的苹果蠹蛾种群为材料,克隆获得了8个烟碱型乙酰胆碱受体n AChR亚基基因的c DNA全长序列,并对这8个亚基基因的序列进行了生物信息学分析。研究结果有助于进一步深入解析苹果蠹蛾对新烟碱类杀虫剂的靶标抗性机制,进而为开发新型靶标药剂提供科学依据和理论基础。     

麦长管蚜羧酸酯酶基因cDNA片段克隆及吡虫啉胁迫对其表达的影响

羧酸酯酶在昆虫对杀虫剂的解毒代谢过程中发挥重要作用,本研究旨在分析吡虫啉胁迫对麦长管蚜羧酸酯酶基因表达的影响。采用同源克隆方法克隆麦长管蚜羧酸酯酶基因cDNA片段,实时荧光定量PCR技术检测羧酸酯酶基因在不同吡虫啉剂量下的表达量变化。扩增所得麦长管蚜羧酸酯酶基因cDNA片段大小为392 bp,命名为SaEST 3(GenBank登录号KY 441614),该片段编码130个氨基酸残基,分子量14 kD,等电点4.93。序列同源性比对及生物信息学分析表明SaEST3推导的氨基酸序列与豌豆长管蚜、麦双尾蚜、夹竹桃蚜、桃蚜的羧酸酯酶氨基酸序列相似性较高,分别为94%、85%、80%和80%。实时荧光定量PCR结果显示,不同吡虫啉处理剂量下,SaEST3 m RNA的相对表达量均上调。克隆得到的基因片段为麦长管蚜羧酸酯酶基因片段,吡虫啉对麦长管蚜羧酸酯酶基因SaEST3表达有一定的影响。     

小菜蛾烟碱型乙酰胆碱受体α亚基cDNA的克隆、序列分析与不同发育阶段表达分析

烟碱型乙酰胆碱受体(nAChR)介导昆虫中枢神经系统中胆碱能突触兴奋性神经递质的快速传递,也是新烟碱类杀虫剂和多杀菌素的作用靶标。本研究利用RT-PCR和RACE技术,克隆了小菜蛾Plutella xylostella nAChR α亚基的一个新基因(Pxα8)的全长cDNA(GenBank登录号为EU914853)。Pxα8的cDNA序列全长1 744 bp,开放阅读框为1 602 bp,编码534个氨基酸,具有nAChR α亚基的典型特征,与其他昆虫nAChR α8亚基具有77%～96%的相似性,与果蝇nAChR β2亚基具有76%的相似性。Pxα8的开放阅读框存在单核苷酸多态性位点,导致多个位点氨基酸的替换。雌性4龄幼虫的多态性位点多于雄性4龄幼虫,而且雌、雄4龄幼虫的多态性位点均不相同。半定量RT-PCR研究结果表明,Pxα8 mRNA在成虫期表达量高于蛹期和4龄幼虫期。本研究结果为进一步研究小菜蛾nAChR 亚基的多样性和对多杀菌素的靶标抗性机制提供重要基础。     

杀虫药剂的神经毒理学研究进展

大多数杀虫药剂都具有较强的神经毒性,它们对神经系统的作用靶标不同。有机磷类杀虫剂不仅抑制乙酰胆碱酯酶活性和乙酰胆碱受体功能,影响乙酰胆碱的释放,而且还具有非胆碱能毒性,有些有机磷杀虫剂还能引发迟发性神经毒性。新烟碱类杀虫剂作为烟碱型乙酰胆碱受体（nAChR）的激动剂,作用于该类受体的α亚基;它对昆虫的毒性比对哺乳动物的毒性大得多,乃是因为它对昆虫和哺乳动物nAChR的作用位点不同。拟除虫菊酯类杀虫剂主要作用于神经细胞钠通道,引起持续开放,导致传导阻滞;该类杀虫剂也可抑制钙通道。另外,这类杀虫剂还干扰谷氨酸递质和多巴胺神经元递质的释放。拟除虫菊酯类杀虫剂对昆虫的选择毒性很可能是因为昆虫神经元的钠通道结构与哺乳动物的不同。阿维菌素类杀虫剂主要作用于γ-氨基丁酸（GABA）受体,它能促进GABA的释放,增强GABA与GABA受体的结合,使氯离子内流增加,导致突触后膜超级化。由于这类杀虫剂难以穿透脊椎动物的血脑屏障而与中枢神经系统的GABA受体结合,故该类杀虫剂对脊椎动物的毒性远低于对昆虫的毒性。多杀菌素类杀虫剂可与中枢神经系统的nAChR作用,引起Ach长时间释放,此外,这类杀虫剂还可作用于昆虫的GABA受体,改变GABA门控氯通道的功能。     

棉蚜乙酰胆碱受体亚基的选择性剪接和多重转录起始位点分析

乙酰胆碱受体在神经突触传导过程中具有重要作用,也是氯化胆碱类杀虫剂的作用靶标。采用RACE技术,成功地从棉蚜中克隆了3个nAChR亚基,其中2个为α亚型, 1个为β亚型,分别命名为Agα1、Agα2和Agβ1。通过锚定mRNA的5′mG结构, 5′RACE结果表明Agβ1有三个不同的剪接变体,具有不同长度的5′UTR区,表明Agβ1亚基具有多重的转录起始位点。其中,最短的剪接变体Agβ1C在蛋白编码区域也存在选择性剪接,位于D环区域的186 bp碱基缺失。3′RACE实验结果表明,Agα1亚基虽然具有ploy ( A)和加尾信号AATAAA等完整的mRNA基因结构,但缺失了终止子和乙酰胆碱受体α亚基保守的第4个跨膜区,文中对此做了进一步分析。分子进化树的分析表明,昆虫乙酰胆碱受体亚基应当被划分为三个不同的亚类群αⅠ,αⅡandβ。本文的研究揭示了昆虫乙酰胆碱受体亚基复杂的基因结构[动物学报51 (5) : 867 -878 , 2005]。     

桔小实蝇烟碱型乙酰胆碱受体β亚基基因的克隆及mRNA表达分析

烟碱型乙酰胆碱受体(nicotinic acetylcholine receptor,nAChR)在昆虫中枢神经系统的递质传递过程中起着重要作用。本研究采用RT-PCR和RACE技术,从桔小实蝇Bactrocera dorsalis(Hendel)体内克隆获得nAChRβ亚基的cDNA序列,命名为Bdβ3(GenBank登录号:JF974074)。测序结果表明,Bdβ3的cDNA序列全长1602bp,开放阅读框为1287bp,编码429个氨基酸残基,预测蛋白质分子量和等电点分别为48.8ku和5.81。通过对氨基酸同源性分析表明,Bdβ3具有nAChR亚基的典型特征,与其他昆虫nAChR亚基具有较高的氨基酸相似性,与黑腹果蝇nAChRβ3亚基具有49.78%的相似性。Bdβ3在桔小实蝇的不同发育时期和成虫的不同体段的实时定量PCR结果表明,Bdβ3在整个发育阶段均有表达,其中在成虫期的表达水平最高,这可能与Bdβ3主要在成虫期发挥作用有关;Bdβ3在桔小实蝇头部表达量最高,显著高于胸部和腹部。研究结果为深入分析桔小实蝇nAChR亚基的功能以及对多杀菌素的靶标抗性机制提供了基础数据。     

橘小实蝇nAChR α9亚基基因的鉴定及其时空表达

【目的】橘小实蝇Bactrocera dorsalis是世界性分布的危害果蔬的重要检疫性农业害虫,目前已对包括新烟碱类在内的多种杀虫剂产生了抗性。本研究在克隆鉴定橘小实蝇烟碱型乙酰胆碱受体(n AChR)α9亚基基因c DNA的基础上,对其分子特性和系统发育进行生物信息学分析,并检测了该基因在橘小实蝇不同发育阶段及成虫不同组织中的表达模式,为进一步研究其潜在功能及在抗药性中的作用奠定基础。【方法】通过高通量测序技术对橘小实蝇进行转录组测序,对高质量序列拼接组装、基因鉴定及同源性比对分析,预测橘小实蝇烟碱型乙酰胆碱受体候选基因。采用RTPCR和RACE(rapid-amplification of c DNA ends)技术克隆该基因的c DNA全长序列,利用生物信息学分析软件分析其基本生物信息;以α-tubulin为内参基因,利用q PCR研究该基因mRNA在橘小实蝇不同发育阶段及成虫头、胸、腹等组织中的表达模式。【结果】根据预测的基因序列,设计特异性引物进行RACE扩增,从橘小实蝇中克隆获得一条烟碱型乙酰胆碱受体基因的全长序列,c DNA全长1 486 bp,完整开放阅读框1 281 bp,编码426个氨基酸,推测其蛋白质分子量为49.1 k D,理论等电点6.56。该基因经序列比对命名为Bdα9,Gen Bank登录号为JQ178254。氨基酸同源性及系统进化树分析显示,该基因的编码蛋白具有n AChRα亚基的典型特征,并与Agα9和Dmβ3聚类在一起,与其他昆虫n AChRα9亚基具有22%~27%的氨基酸序列一致性。q PCR结果表明,Bdα9mRNA在橘小实蝇整个发育阶段均有表达,成虫期的表达量显著高于卵、2龄幼虫、3龄幼虫和蛹期;Bdα9在橘小实蝇成虫头部中表达量最高,且显著高于胸部和腹部中的表达量。【结论】鉴定了橘小实蝇烟碱型乙酰胆碱受体基因Bdα9,明确了该基因在橘小实蝇不同发育阶段及成虫不同组织中的表达模式。根据q PCR的结果,推测Bdα9可能在橘小实蝇成虫期具有重要功能。     

Expression of α4 and β2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit mRNA and localization of α-bungarotoxin binding proteins in the rat vestibular periphery

In situ hybridization histochemistry was used to map the distribution of α2, α3, α4, and β2 nAChR subunit mRNAs throughout the peripheral vestibular system of the rat. The α4 and β2 nAChR subunit genes were co-expressed by populations of primary afferent neurons within Scarpa's ganglion, while there was no expression of the α2, α3, α4, or β2 nAChR subunit genes by type I or type II vestibular hair cells. α-bungarotoxin binding to nAChRs in the vestibular end-organs was primarily limited to the afferent chalices surrounding type I hair cells and the basal aspect of type II hair cells. These data suggest that nAChRs composed of α4 and β2 subunits are localized on afferent chalices innervating the type I vestibular hair cells and that the direct cholinergic efferent innervation of the type II vestibular hair cells utilizes nAChR composed of other subunits.     

Function of human α3β4α5 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors is reduced by the α5(D398N) variant

Genome-wide studies have strongly associated a non-synonymous polymorphism (rs16969968) that changes the 398th amino acid in the nAChR α5 subunit from aspartic acid to asparagine (D398N), with greater risk for increased nicotine consumption. We have used a pentameric concatemer approach to express defined and consistent populations of α3β4α5 nAChR in Xenopus oocytes. α5(Asn-398; risk) variant incorporation reduces ACh-evoked function compared with inclusion of the common α5(Asp-398) variant without altering agonist or antagonist potencies. Unlinked α3, β4, and α5 subunits assemble to form a uniform nAChR population with pharmacological properties matching those of concatemeric α3β4* nAChRs. α5 subunit incorporation reduces α3β4* nAChR function after coinjection with unlinked α3 and β4 subunits but increases that of α3β4α5 versus α3β4-only concatemers. α5 subunit incorporation into α3β4* nAChR also alters the relative efficacies of competitive agonists and changes the potency of the non-competitive antagonist mecamylamine. Additional observations indicated that in the absence of α5 subunits, free α3 and β4 subunits form at least two further subtypes. The pharmacological profiles of these free subunit α3β4-only subtypes are dissimilar both to each other and to those of α3β4α5 nAChR. The α5 variant-induced change in α3β4α5 nAChR function may underlie some of the phenotypic changes associated with this polymorphism.     

Molecular basis for the differential sensitivity of rat and human α9α10 nAChRs to α-conotoxin RgIA

J. Neurochem. (2012) 122, 1137-1144. ABSTRACT: The α9α10 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) may be a potential target in pathophysiology of the auditory system, chronic pain, and breast and lung cancers. Alpha-conotoxins, from the predatory marine snail Conus, are potent nicotinic antagonists, some of which are selective for the α9α10 nAChR. Here, we report a two order of magnitude species difference in the potency of α-conotoxin RgIA for the rat versus human α9α10 nAChR. We investigated the molecular mechanism of this difference. Heterologous expression of the rat α9 with the human α10 subunit in Xenopus oocytes resulted in a receptor that was blocked by RgIA with potency similar to that of the rat α9α10 nAChR. Conversely, expression of the human α9 with that of the rat α10 subunit resulted in a receptor that was blocked by RgIA with potency approaching that of the human α9α10 receptor. Systematic substitution of residues found in the human α9 subunit into the homologous position in the rat α9 subunit revealed that a single point mutation, Thr56 to Ile56, primarily accounts for this species difference. Remarkably, although the α9 nAChR subunit has previously been reported to provide the principal (+) binding face for binding of RgIA, Thr56 is located in the (-) complementary binding face.     

Pleiotropic functional effects of the first epilepsy-associated mutation in the human CHRNA2 gene

Autosomal dominant nocturnal frontal lobe epilepsy (ADNFLE) can be caused by mutations in the neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunit genes CHRNA4 and CHRNB2. Recently, a point mutation (α2-I279N) associated with sleep-related epilepsy has been described in a third nAChR gene, CHRNA2. We demonstrate here that α2-I279N can be co-expressed with the major structural subunit CHRNB2. α2-I279N causes a marked gain-of-function effect and displays a distinct biopharmacological profile, including markedly reduced inhibition by carbamazepine and increased nicotine sensitivity.     

Modulation of recombinant, α2*, α3* or α4*-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) function by nAChR β3 subunits

The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) β3 subunit is thought to serve an accessory role in nAChR subtypes expressed in dopaminergic regions implicated in drug dependence and reward. When β3 subunits are expressed in excess, they have a dominant-negative effect on function of selected nAChR subtypes. In this study, we show, in Xenopus oocytes expressing α2, α3 or α4 plus either β2 or β4 subunits, that in the presumed presence of similar amounts of each nAChR subunit, co-expression with wild-type β3 subunits generally (except for α3*-nAChR) lowers amplitudes of agonist-evoked, inward peak currents by 20-50% without having dramatic effects (≤ 2-fold) on agonist potencies. By contrast, co-expression with mutant β3(V9'S) subunits generally (except for α4β2*-nAChR) increases agonist potencies, consistent with an expected gain-of-function effect. This most dramatically demonstrates formation of complexes containing three kinds of subunit. Moreover, for oocytes expressing nAChR containing any α subunit plus β4 and β3(V9'S) subunits, there is spontaneous channel opening sensitive to blockade by the open channel blocker, atropine. Collectively, the results indicate that β3 subunits integrate into all of the studied receptor assemblies and suggest that natural co-expression with β3 subunits can influence levels of expression and agonist sensitivities of several nAChR subtypes.     

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors containing the α4 subunit are critical for the nicotine-induced reduction of acute voluntary ethanol consumption

Recently, we investigated the molecular mechanisms of the smoking cessation drug varenicline, a nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) partial agonist, in its ability to decrease voluntary ethanol intake in mice. Previous to our study, other labs had shown that this drug can decrease ethanol consumption and seeking in rat models of ethanol intake. Although varenicline was designed to be a high affinity partial agonist of nAChRs containing the α4 and β2 subunits (designated as α4β2*), at higher concentrations it can also act upon α3β2*, α6*, α3β4* and α7 nAChRs. Therefore, to further elucidate the nAChR subtype responsible for varenicline-induced reduction of ethanol consumption, we utilized a pharmacological approach in combination with two complimentary nAChR genetic mouse models, a knock-out line that does not express the α4 subunit (α4 KO) and another line that expresses α4* nAChRs hypersensitive to agonist (the Leu9'Ala line). We found that activation of α4* nAChRs was necessary and sufficient for varenicline-induced reduction of alcohol consumption. Consistent with this result, here we show that a more efficacious nAChR agonist, nicotine, also decreased voluntary ethanol intake, and that α4* nAChRs are critical for this reduction.     

Species- and Subtype-Specific Recognition by Antibody WF6 of a Sequence Segment Forming an α-Bungarotoxin Binding Site on the Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor α Subunit

Abstract

The monoclonal antibody WF6 competes with acetylcholine and α-bungarotoxin (α-BGT) for binding to the Torpedo nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) α1 subunit. Using synthetic peptides corresponding to the complete Torpedo nAChR α1 subunit, we previously mapped a continuous epitope recognized by WF6, and the prototope for α-BGT, to the sequence segment α1(181–200). Single amino acid substitution analogs have been used as an initial approach to determine the critical amino acids for WF6 and α-BGT binding. In the present study, we continue our analysis of the structural features of the WF6 epitope by comparing its cross-reactivity with synthetic peptides corresponding to the α1 subunits from the muscle nAChRs of different species, the rat brain α2, α3, α4 and α5 nAChR subtypes, and the chick brain α-BGT binding protein subunits, αBGTBP α1 and αBGTBP α2. Our results indicate that WF6 is able to cross-react with the muscle α1 subunits of different species by virtue of conservation of several critical amino acid residues between positions 190–198 of the α1 subunit. These studies further define the essential structural features of the sequence segment α1(181–200) required to form the epitope for WF6.     

A novel α-conotoxin MII-sensitive nicotinic acetylcholine receptor modulates [(3) H]-GABA release in the superficial layers of the mouse superior colliculus

Mouse superficial superior colliculus (SuSC) contains dense GABAergic innervation and diverse nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes. Pharmacological and genetic approaches were used to investigate the subunit compositions of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) expressed on mouse SuSC GABAergic terminals. [(125) I]-Epibatidine competition-binding studies revealed that the α3β2* and α6β2* nicotinic subtype-selective peptide α-conotoxin MII-blocked binding to 40 ± 5% of SuSC nAChRs. Acetylcholine-evoked [(3) H]-GABA release from SuSC crude synaptosomal preparations is calcium dependent, blocked by the voltage-sensitive calcium channel blocker, cadmium, and the nAChR antagonist mecamylamine, but is unaffected by muscarinic, glutamatergic, P2X and 5-HT3 receptor antagonists. Approximately 50% of nAChR-mediated SuSC [(3) H]-GABA release is inhibited by α-conotoxin MII. However, the highly α6β2*-subtype-selective α-conotoxin PIA did not affect [(3) H]-GABA release. Nicotinic subunit-null mutant mouse experiments revealed that ACh-stimulated SuSC [(3) H]-GABA release is entirely β2 subunit-dependent. α4 subunit deletion decreased total function by >90%, and eliminated α-conotoxin MII-resistant release. ACh-stimulated SuSC [(3) H]-GABA release was unaffected by β3, α5 or α6 nicotinic subunit deletions. Together, these data suggest that a significant proportion of mouse SuSC nicotinic agonist-evoked GABA-release is mediated by a novel, α-conotoxin MII-sensitive α3α4β2 nAChR. The remaining α-conotoxin MII-resistant, nAChR agonist-evoked SuSC GABA release appears to be mediated via α4β2* subtype nAChRs.