全雌系苦瓜ACC氧化酶基因cDNA克隆及序列分析

为研究1-氨基环丙烷-1-羧酸氧化酶(ACC氧化酶,ACO)基因在苦瓜性别分化中的作用,以全雌系苦瓜‘X-Hei-d-d’花蕾为试材,采用RT-PCR和RACE技术获得了ACC氧化酶基因(Mc-ACO1)的全长cDNA序列。该序列为1 137 bp(GenBank登录号:FJ459813),其完整开放阅读框长1 005 bp,编码334个氨基酸,预测分子量为37.30 kD,肽链N端缺失ACOs家族典型的1个保守区和2个保守二价铁离子/抗坏血酸依赖型双加氧酶氨基酸残基。序列分析表明,植物ACO基因的演化与其来源植物亲缘关系的一致性较高;与其他物种相比,苦瓜Mc-ACO1不同的氨基酸序列主要表现在肽链N端;苦瓜Mc-ACO1应属于黄瓜Cs-ACO2类成员,功能可能与性别分化相关。     

马尾松PmFT1基因克隆及对花发育的影响

本研究利用RT-PCR和RACE技术从马尾松中克隆获得PmFT1基因全长序列,PmFT1基因开放阅读框(ORF)全长993 bp,编码247个氨基酸。对基因氨基酸序列生物信息学分析表明,PmFT1蛋白含有保守的PEBP结构域、基序DPDx P、Gx HR和第84位的关键氨基酸,但PmFT1在保守的14个氨基酸序列和LYN/IYN区域差异较大。系统进化树分析显示,马尾松PmFT1与云杉和辐射松亲缘关系较近,裸子植物单独分为一类,并且在FT类基因关键结构域相对保守。利用荧光定量PCR研究PmFT1基因在不同组织和雌雄球花发育中的表达研究表明,PmFT1基因为组成型表达,在老茎中的表达量最低;PmFT1基因在雌球花和雄球花发育过程中的表达模式正好相反,说明PmFT1基因参与了马尾松花发育调控,且促进雄球花发育,抑制雌球花发育。     

大眼长蝽卵黄原蛋白基因克隆、序列分析及表达研究

旨在为研究大眼长蝽(Geoco ris pallidipennis)卵黄原蛋白(Vitellogenin,Vg)分子特性及其基因生理功能。利用RT-PCR、RACE及ELISA方法对大眼长蝽Vg基因进行克隆、序列分析和表达研究。该基因c DNA全长5 667 bp(Gen Bank登录号:KP688587),编码1 848个氨基酸残基,N-末端的前19个氨基酸为信号肽。氨基酸序列中有两个保守的多聚丝氨酸区域和RXXR酶切位点,接近C-末端有GLAG基序,其后有5个保守的半胱氨酸残基,DGYR基序位于GLAG上游18个氨基酸残基处。该基因编码氨基酸序列与其它半翅目昆虫Vg氨基酸序列相似度较高,氨基酸序列分析显示它有Vg的典型特征,表明克隆的c DNA序列是大眼长蝽的Vg基因序列。ELISA检测发现随着发育时间的延长,卵黄原蛋白表达量逐渐增加,羽化后22 d达到高峰,随后开始下降,结果表明大眼长蝽雌虫卵黄原蛋白的表达量与大眼长蝽产卵量紧密相关。     

柿果实ACC合成酶cDNA的克隆及其序列分析

根据其它植物ACC合成酶（1－aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase,ACS)氨基酸保守区,设计1组简并引物,用RT－PCR法,从柿（Diospyros kaki Thunb.)果实扩增出3个约1kb左右的cDNA片段,将其克隆至pGEM-T载体上,对这些重组克隆进行序列测定和氨基酸序列推导,DK－ACS1由1101个碱基组成,编码364个氨基酸;DK－ACS2是1086个碱基,编码359个氨基酸;DK－ACS3为1089个碱基,编码363个氨基酸。它们均具有其它植物ACS合成酶中存在的7个保守区和11个不变氨基酸残基,且在多肽水平上有较高的同源性。与番茄LE－ACS2的同源性DK－ACS1是60.5A%,DK-ACS2是70.7%,DK－ACS3为66．9％,与甜瓜CM－ACS1的同源性依次分别是60．4％,72．1％和64．4％。     

苦瓜谷胱甘肽磷脂氢过氧化物酶cDNA的克隆及其特征分析

根据谷胱甘肽磷脂氢过氧化物酶(PHGPX)氨基酸序列中高度保守的区段设计引物,采用RACE-PCR从苦瓜中克隆到一个全长927 bp的cDNA片段.DNA序列的数据库分析比较表明,该cDNA编码167个氨基酸,含有动植物PHGPX的特征结构,是一个新发现的苦瓜PHGPX基因（mocPHGPX）.RNA印迹结果显示,该基因在苦瓜幼苗的根中表达相对较弱,茎的信号较强,叶中最强.这些结果将有助于深入研究植物PHGPX的功能以及全面了解植物抗氧化体系.     

苦瓜果实β-半乳糖苷酶基因的克隆、表达及亚细胞定位

根据已构建苦瓜果实均一化文库中获得的1个与β-Gal基因相关的EST序列,采用经3’RACE技术,克隆获得1 个苦瓜β-Gal基因的cDNA 序列McGAL,全长为2261bp,开放阅读框2187bp,编码719个氨基酸。该基因在GenBank 基因数据库的登录号为AFD54987.1。应用生物信息学软件对McGAL氨基酸序列分析表明,McGAL含有糖苷水解酶家族35的保守结构域G-G-P-[LIVM]-x-Q-x-E-N-E-[FY],C端不含凝集素结构域。二级结构显示,该酶含有α-螺旋（19.89%）,伸展链（26.98%）,β-转角（6.54%）和无规卷曲（46.59%）。McGAL氨基酸序列与鹰嘴豆、苜蓿、绿豆、大豆、羽扇豆的氨基酸序列的同源性分别达到73%、73%、73%、72%和71%。亚细胞定位结果表明,McGAL定位在线粒体膜上。荧光定量结果表明,McGAL在果实绿熟期表达量最高并随之下降,该基因可能与果实成熟软化初期相关。     

甘蔗乙烯合成酶基因家族三个成员的克隆与序列分析

ACC（1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid）合成酶是高等植物乙烯生物合成途径中的限速酶.根据已克隆的植物ACS（1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase）基因同源序列,设计简并引物,以甘蔗叶片总DNA为模板,通过PCR扩增,得到3条特异性强的扩增片段：Sc-ACS1为1 041 bp、Sc-ACS2为1 345 bp和Sc-ACS3为1 707 bp.将序列在GenBank核酸数据库进行同源性搜索,结果表明,3个片段均为ACS基因,推导编码的蛋白质序列分别包含326、242和310个氨基酸.其中,Sc-A CS1和Sc-ACS3同源性最高,核苷酸序列和蛋白质氨基酸序列分别有98%和96%同源,与禾本科植物玉米Zm ACS6、水稻OS-ACS2、毛竹等ACS基因家族也有很高的同源性,核苷酸序列同源性为88%-98%,蛋白质氨基酸序列同源性为73%-81%.甘蔗Sc-ACS2与水稻OS-ACS5在核苷酸和氨基酸序列上分别有91%和79%同源性,但与甘蔗Sc-ACS1和Sc-ACS3基因成员之间,氨基酸同源性分别只有45%和49%.系统进化分析表明,Sc-ACS1和Sc-ACS3基因与玉米Zm ACS6基因亲缘关系最近,而Sc-ACS2基因与水稻OS-ACS5基因亲缘关系最近.Southern杂交表明三基因在基因组中确实存在而且是多拷贝基因.三个片段已在GenBank数据库中注册,注册号分别为AY620985、AY620986和AY788919.     

烟粉虱MEAM1隐种磷脂氢谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶基因克隆与表达分析

【目的】本研究旨在从烟粉虱Bemisia tabaci中东-小亚细亚1隐种(Middle East-Asia Minor 1, MEAM1)中克隆磷脂氢谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase, PHGPX)基因,鉴定其在烟粉虱不同发育阶段及吡虫啉处理不同时间后雌成虫体内的表达情况,明确其在烟粉虱应对外界环境压力中的功能。【方法】利用3′RACE克隆和测定烟粉虱MEAM1隐种内PHGPX基因的cDNA全长序列,并对其编码的氨基酸序列进行生物信息学分析;利用定量RT-PCR技术对该基因在烟粉虱MEAM1隐种不同发育阶段及吡虫啉处理不同时间后雌成虫体内的表达量进行分析。【结果】获得了烟粉虱MEAM1隐种两个磷脂氢谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶基因的全长cDNA序列,分别命名为BtB-PHGPX1(GenBank登录号:KY312116)和BtB-PHGPX2(GenBank登录号:KY312117)。序列分析表明,BtB-PHGPX1基因开放阅读框全长732 bp,编码243个氨基酸;BtB-PHGPX2基因开放阅读框全长567 bp,编码188个氨基酸。序列比对结果表明两基因的编码蛋白内均具有谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶保守的半胱氨酸、谷氨酰胺和色氨酸残基位点。BtB-PHGPX1在烟粉虱MEAM1隐种卵内表达量显著高于其在若虫、伪蛹、雌成虫和雄成虫内的表达量,BtB-PHGPX2在烟粉虱MEAM1隐种卵内的表达量显著低于其在若虫、伪蛹和雌成虫内的表达量(P<0.05)。BtB-PHGPX1和BtB-PHGPX2在雌成虫内的表达量均显著高于雄成虫内。吡虫啉处理雌成虫2 h时两基因的表达量均较对照显著提高(P<0.05),处理后5, 10和24 h时其表达量均较对照显著下降(P<0.01)。【结论】本研究克隆了烟粉虱MEAM1隐种两个PHGPX基因的序列全长,明确了其在不同发育阶段及吡虫啉处理不同时间后雌成虫体内的差异表达,推测PHGPX在烟粉虱抵御环境压力及杀虫剂胁迫时可能发挥着重要的防御作用。     

马铃薯腐烂茎线虫L 型半胱氨酸蛋白酶新基因(Dd-cpl-1) 的克隆与序列分析

L型半胱氨酸蛋白酶基因 (Cathepsin L-like cysteine proteinase gene) 为与植物寄生线虫寄生能力相关的多功能基因。运用RT-PCR和RACE的方法从马铃薯腐烂茎线虫Ditylenchus destructor中克隆出1个L型半胱氨酸蛋白酶新基因Dd-cpl-1 (GenBank登录号为GQ180107)。该基因Dd-cpl-1 cDNA全长序列含有1个1 131 bp的开放性阅读框 (ORF),编码376个氨基酸残基,其5′末端及3′末端分别含有29 bp和159 bp的非编码区 (UTR)。Dd-cpl-1内含子外显子结构分析结果表明,其基因组序列包含7个内含子,且各内含子两端剪接位点序列遵守GT/AG规则。Dd-cpl-1基因推定的蛋白Dd-CPL-1与松材线虫L型半胱氨酸蛋白酶高度同源,一致性达到77％。以不同物种中L 型半胱氨酸蛋白酶氨基酸序列进行比对分析,推测推定的蛋白 Dd-CPL-1含有L型半胱氨酸蛋白酶基因家族高度保守的催化三联体 (Cys183,His322 和Asn343) 以及ERFNIN基系和GNFD基系。半胱氨酸蛋白酶系统发育分析表明,Dd-cpl-1 属于由L型半胱氨酸蛋白酶组成的进化分支。Dd-cpl-1的这些序列特征进一步表明其为L型半胱氨酸蛋白酶基因。这是首次在马铃薯腐烂茎线虫中克隆到的L型半胱氨酸蛋白酶,为今后在蛋白水平对其进行进一步的功能分析提供基础。     

球根白丝膜菌γ-actin基因的克隆及表达分析

根据真菌肌动蛋白(actin)基因保守区序列设计引物,用简并PCR法和RACE技术分离得到球根白丝膜菌(Leucocortinarius bulbiger)γ-肌动蛋白基因(Lb-act)的全长cDNA序列。该序列全长为1 357 bp,包含一个1 137 bp的开放阅读框(ORF),编码378个氨基酸,5'端非翻译区(5'UTR)92 bp,3'UTR长度128 bp。Port Param软件在线分析结果表明,该cDNA所编码的蛋白质理论等电点为5.12,相对分子质量为95.022 kD,具有真菌γ-actin基因3个保守特征序列。Blast同源性检索结果表明,Lb-act氨基酸序列与担子菌肌动蛋白序列有较高的相似性,其与双色蜡蘑的肌动蛋白氨基酸序列的亲缘关系最近。Lb-act基因在不同碳源及磷水平培养条件下表达量基本一致,验证了该基因作为分子内标的可靠性。     

AgNO3诱导的苦瓜纯雌系完全花分化与幼叶和花蕾中内源激素的关系

本文用酶联免疫检测（ELIsA）技术研究三叶-心期喷施AgNO3诱导苦瓜纯雌系完全花分化过程中花蕾与幼叶中内源激素含量变化。结果显示：喷施AgNO,后幼叶中IAA、GA,、ZR和ABA含量与喷水的相比,都是先下降后增加。AgNO3处理的花蕾中这4种激素含量在72h内没有一致变化规律,但变化幅度大于幼叶的,表明生殖器官的内源激素对苦瓜性别分化影响比营养器官的大。AgNO3处理后24-48h内,花蕾中这4种激素的含量明显低于喷水的,而其余时间则高于喷水的。此外,AgNO3处理的花蕾中ABA／IAA、ZR／I从和GA3／IAA比值也在2448h发生剧烈的变化,48h之后这些激素比值与喷水的相差不大。这些结果说明了AgNO3处理后24-48h是苦瓜纯雌系性别分化的关键时期,IAA可能是诱导纯雌系苦瓜雄性分化的关键激素。     

甜瓜抗霜霉病基因同源序列克隆与分析

采用RT—PCR扩增的方法,从高抗霜霉病甜瓜品种‘日本安农二号’中克隆到约3kb的cDNA片段（命名为MRGH-D,该基因是一个连续的通读编码框,编码1007个氨基酸。推测的蛋白质分子量为113．7kDa,等电点为7．88,蛋白质预测无跨膜区。根据推测的氨基酸序列,该基因属于TIR—NBS—LRR类抗病基因,具有TIR-NBS—LRR类抗病基因所有的保守结构域。核苷酸序列和氨基酸序列同源性分析结果显示,MRGH-J与甜瓜抗病基因的同源序列MRGHl2及抗霜霉病相关基因mp-19均具有高达99％的同源性,推测该基因可能在甜瓜抗霜霉病中起作用。     

The primary structure of the alpha subunit of human elongation factor 1. Structural aspects of guanine-nucleotide-binding sites

The primary structure of the alpha subunit of elongation factor 1 (EF-1 alpha) from human MOLT 4 cells was determined by cDNA sequencing. The data show that the conservation of the amino acid sequence is more than 80% when compared with yeast and Artemia EF-1 alpha. An inventory of amino acid sequences around the guanine-nucleotide-binding site in elongation factor Tu from Escherichia coli and homologous amino acid sequences in G proteins, initiation and elongation factors and proteins from the RAS family shows two regions containing conserved sequence elements. Region I has the sequence apolar-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Gly-Xaa-Xaa-Yaa-Xaa-Gly-LYs-Thr(Ser)- -Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-Xaa-X-apolar. Except for RAS proteins, Yaa is always an acidic amino acid residue. Region II is characterized by the invariant sequence apolar-apolar-Xaa-Xaa-Asn-Lys-Xaa-Asp. In order to facilitate sequence comparison we have used a graphic display, which is based on the hydrophilicity values of individual amino acids in a sequence.     

Residues within a conserved amino acid motif of domains 1 and 4 of VCAM- 1 are required for binding to VLA-4

Vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), a member of the Ig superfamily originally identified on activated endothelium, binds to the integrin very late antigen-4 (VLA-4), also known as alpha 4 beta 1 or CD49d/CD29, to support cell-cell adhesion. Studies based on cell adhesion to two alternatively spliced forms of VCAM-1 or to chimeric molecules generated from them and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) have demonstrated two VLA-4 binding sites on the predominate form of VCAM-1. Here, we studied VLA-4-dependent adhesion of the lymphoid tumor cell line Ramos to cells expressing wild type and mutant forms of VCAM-1. Results based on domain deletion mutants demonstrated the existence and independence of two VLA-4-binding sites located in the first and fourth domains of VCAM-1. Results based on amino acid substitution mutants demonstrated that residues within a linear sequence of six amino acids found in both domain 1 and 4 were required for VLA-4 binding to either domain. Five of these amino acids represent a conserved motif also found in ICAM domains. We propose that integrin binding to these Ig-like domains depends on residues within this conserved motif. Specificity of integrin binding to Ig-like domains may be regulated by a set of nonconserved residues distinct from the conserved motif.     

Structural basis of activation of bitter taste receptor T2R1 and comparison with Class A G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs)

The human bitter taste receptors (T2Rs) are non-Class A members of the G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily, with very limited structural information. Amino acid sequence analysis reveals that most of the important motifs present in the transmembrane helices (TM1-TM7) of the well studied Class A GPCRs are absent in T2Rs, raising fundamental questions regarding the mechanisms of activation and how T2Rs recognize bitter ligands with diverse chemical structures. In this study, the bitter receptor T2R1 was used to systematically investigate the role of 15 transmembrane amino acids in T2Rs, including 13 highly conserved residues, by amino acid replacements guided by molecular modeling. Functional analysis of the mutants by calcium imaging analysis revealed that replacement of Asn-66(2.65) and the highly conserved Asn-24(1.50) resulted in greater than 90% loss of agonist-induced signaling. Our results show that Asn-24(1.50) plays a crucial role in receptor activation by mediating an hydrogen bond network connecting TM1-TM2-TM7, whereas Asn-66(2.65) is essential for binding to the agonist dextromethorphan. The interhelical hydrogen bond between Asn-24(1.50) and Arg-55(2.54) restrains T2R receptor activity because loss of this bond in I27A and R55A mutants results in hyperactive receptor. The conserved amino acids Leu-197(5.50), Ser-200(5.53), and Leu-201(5.54) form a putative LXXSL motif which performs predominantly a structural role by stabilizing the helical conformation of TM5 at the cytoplasmic end. This study provides for the first time mechanistic insights into the roles of the conserved transmembrane residues in T2Rs and allows comparison of the activation mechanisms of T2Rs with the Class A GPCRs.     

西双版纳黄瓜Cs-Psy1基因的序列特征与表达分析

西双版纳黄瓜是我国特有的果肉橙黄色的黄瓜变种资源,不同种质间的β-胡萝卜素含量差异明显。PSY是胡萝卜素生物合成途径中的第1个限速酶。本文以西双版纳黄瓜为试材,分别克隆西双版纳黄瓜八氢番茄红素合成酶(Cs-PSY1)的DNA和c DNA序列,结果显示,DNA长2797 bp,包含5个内含子和6个外显子,c DNA序列长1385 bp,编码421个氨基酸。Psy1推测的氨基酸序列包含该家族的2个特征序列,保守性很高。该蛋白为不稳定蛋白,无明显疏水区,未预测到跨膜结构;系统进化分析结果显示,西双版纳黄瓜的Cs-PSY1蛋白与甜瓜的同源性较高;与栽培黄瓜深度测序材料"9930"和"GY14"的序列进行比较分析,结合115份黄瓜重测序结果,共发现5个SNP,其中2个位于起始密码子上游27 bp处和971 bp处,3个位于内含子区域。其中SNP4在重测序的19份西双版纳黄瓜中的突变率为100%,在96份栽培黄瓜中的特异性为5.3%。转录因子结合位点预测结果显示,在普通栽培黄瓜该位点处存在一个CTAG motif,在西双版纳黄瓜中该位点突变后则不存在该motif。利用实时荧光定量PCR技术分析Cs-Psy1的表达量变化趋势,结果表明,在黄瓜不同果实发育时期,该基因的表达量均呈现先上升后下降的趋势,在西双版纳黄瓜中表达量变化的差异明显,在授粉后50 d达到最大值,是果实发育初期表达量的8倍多,是同时期普通黄瓜的4倍多,而普通黄瓜表达量的总体变化相对平缓。西双版纳黄瓜果实内果皮的表达水平明显高于中果皮,最高相差约5倍,普通黄瓜差异不明显。从上述研究结果推测Psy1基因可能影响西双版纳黄瓜的β-胡萝卜素积累。     

Cloning of the human cDNA which can complement the defect of the yeast mannosyltransferase I-deficient mutant alg 1

The assembly of the lipid-linked oligosaccharide, Glc(3)Man(9)GlcNAc(2)-P-P-Dol, occurs on the rough ER membrane in an ordered stepwise manner. The process is highly conserved among eukaryotes. In order to isolate the human mannosyltransferase I (MT-I) gene involved in the process, we used the Saccharomyces cerevisiae MT-I gene ( ALG1 ), which has already been cloned. On searching the EST database with the amino acid sequence of the ALG1 gene product, we detected seven related human EST clones. A human fetal brain cDNA library was screened by PCR using gene-specific primers based on the EST nucleotide sequences and a 430 bp cDNA fragment was amplified. The cDNA library was rescreened with this 430 bp cDNA, and two cDNA clones (HR1-3 and HR1-4) were isolated and sequenced. On a homology search of the EST database with the nucleotide sequence of HR1-3, we detected a novel human EST clone, AA675921 (GenBank accession number). Based on the nucleotide sequences of AA675921 and HR1-4, we designed gene-specific PCR primers, which allowed to amplify a 1.8 kb cDNA from human fetal brain cDNA. This cDNA was cloned and shown to contain an ORF encoding a protein of 464 amino acids. We designated this ORF as Hmat-1. The amino acid sequence deduced from the Hmat-1 gene showed several highly conserved regions shared with the yeast and nematode MT-I sequences. Furthermore, this 1.8 kb cDNA successfully complemented the S. cerevisiae alg1-1 mutation, indicating that the Hmat-1 gene encodes the human MT-I and that the function of this enzyme was conserved between yeast and human.     

Metabolic response of yellow mealworm larvae to two alternative rearing substrates

Introduction

Bitter melon (Momordica charantia, Cucurbitaceae) is a popular edible medicinal plant, which has been used as a botanical dietary supplement for the treatment of diabetes and obesity in Chinese folk medicine. Previously, our team has proved that cucurbitanes triterpenoid were involved in bitter melon’s anti-diabetic effects as well as on increasing energy expenditure. The triterpenoids composition can however be influenced by changes of varieties or habitats.

Objectives

To clarify the significance of bioactive metabolites diversity among different bitter melons and to provide a guideline for selection of bitter melon varieties, an exploratory study was carried out using a UHPLC-HRMS based metabolomic study to identify chemotypes.

Methods

Metabolites of 55 seed samples of bitter melon collected in different parts of China were profiled by UHPLC-HRMS. The profiling data were analysed with multivariate (MVA) statistical methods. Principle component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) were applied for sample differentiation. Marker compounds were identified by comparing spectroscopic data with isolated compounds, and additional triterpenes were putatively identified by propagating annotations through a molecular network (MN) generated from UHPLC-HRMS & MS/MS metabolite profiling.

Results

PCA and HCA provided a good discrimination between bitter melon samples from various origins in China. This study revealed for the first time the existence of two chemotypes of bitter melon. Marker compounds of those two chemotypes were identified at different MSI levels. The combined results of MN and MVA demonstrated that the two chemotypes mainly differ in their richness in cucurbitane versus oleanane triterpenoid glycosides (CTGs vs. OTGs).

Conclusion

Our finding revealed a clear chemotype distribution of bioactive components across bitter melon varieties. While bioactivities of individual CTGs and OTGs still need to be investigated in more depth, our results could help in future the selection of bitter melon varieties with optimised metabolites profile for an improved management of diabetes with this popular edible Chinese folk medicine.

     

Mutational analysis of the octapeptide sequence motif at the NS1-NS2A cleavage junction of dengue type 4 virus.

We have previously shown that proper processing of dengue type 4 virus NS1 from the NS1-NS2A region of the viral polyprotein requires a hydrophobic N-terminal signal and the downstream NS2A. Results from deletion analysis indicate that a minimum length of eight amino acids at the C terminus of NS1 is required for cleavage at the NS1-NS2A junction. Comparison of this eight-amino-acid sequence with the corresponding sequences of other flaviviruses suggests a consensus cleavage sequence of Met/Leu-Val-Xaa-Ser-Xaa-Val-Xaa-Ala. Site-directed mutagenesis was performed to construct mutants of NS1-NS2A that contained a single amino acid substitution at different positions of the consensus cleavage sequence or at the immediate downstream position. Three to eight different substitutions were made at each position. A total of 50 NS1-NS2A mutants were analyzed for their cleavage efficiency relative to that of the wild-type dengue type 4 virus sequence. As predicted, nearly all substitutions at positions P1, P3, P5, P7, and P8, occupied by conserved amino acids, yielded low levels of cleavage, with the exception that Pro or Ala substituting for Ser (P5) was tolerated. Substitutions of an amino acid at the remaining positions occupied by nonconserved amino acids generally yielded high levels of cleavage. However, some substitutions at nonconserved positions were not tolerated. For example, substitution of Gly or Glu for Gln (P4) and substitution of Val or Glu for Lys (P6) each yielded a low level of cleavage. Overall, these data support the proposed cleavage sequence motif deduced by comparison of sequences among the flaviviruses. This study also showed that in addition to the eight-amino-acid sequence, the amino acid immediately following the NS1-NS2A cleavage site plays a role in cleavage.     

保守的第52位色氨酸突变引起的胰高血糖素样肽1受体N端片段活性丧失

通过易错PCR方法建立了一个鼠肺不同长度的nGLP-1R(从第21个氨基酸开始到第145个氨基酸)的噬菌体随机突变展示肽库,通过噬菌体表面展示技术检测胰高血糖素样肽1受体N端片段(nGLP-1R)在缺失一段或两段基因后是否还具有结合Exendin-4的活性.经ELISA分析发现了一株无结合活性的突变株,命名为EP16.经测序比对,发现EP16缺失了前20个和后10个氨基酸,且第52位色氨酸突变为精氨酸.为确定EP16与Exendin-4无结合活性的原因,重新构建了无前20个和后10个氨基酸的EP16野生型及第52位色氨酸变为精氨酸的全长nGLP-1Rw52R与EP16进行对比分析.结果表明,EP16的活性丧失是由保守的第52位色氨酸突变为精氨酸引起的,缺失的前20个和后10个氨基酸没有影响其生物学活性.关键位点单个氨基酸残基的突变可以改变胰高血糖素样肽1受体N端片段整个蛋白质的生物学活性.