靶向FtsZ的细胞分裂抑制剂的研究进展

细菌耐药性的日益凸显严重威胁着人类健康。传统的筛选方法已经难以筛选到新的抗生素。运用新的技术去开发新的抗生素迫在眉睫。FtsZ(filamentous temperature-sensitive protien Z)作为一种广泛存在于细菌中的重要的细胞分裂蛋白目前广受关注。该文简要概述了FtsZ在细胞分裂中的作用,靶向FtsZ的细胞分裂抑制剂筛选模型的建立,以及已经筛选获得的一些具有生理活性的FtsZ抑制剂。     

衣藻叶绿体分裂基因CrFtsZ1在E.coli中的表达

FtsZ蛋白在细菌的分裂中起着重要作用,能够在分裂位点形成一个环状结构而控制细菌的分裂过程。细胞内FtsZ蛋白浓度的明显降低或异常升高均可阻断正常的细胞分裂过程进而导致丝状菌体的产生。为了研究衣藻叶绿体分裂基因ftsZ的功能,构建了衣藻CrFtsZ1的原核表达重组质粒。试验结果表明,衣藻ftsZ的表达严重影响了大肠杆菌的分裂,初步证明衣藻FtsZ蛋白不仅与E．coli FtsZ蛋白在序列上相似,而且也有着相似的功能,同时这一结果也为真核细胞中质体的内共生起源提供了直接的证据。     

钝顶螺旋藻FtsZ在大肠杆菌中的表达和定位北大核心CSCD

FtsZ是与真核微管蛋白类似的原核骨架蛋白,能在细胞分裂位点聚合组装成环状结构而调控细胞分裂过程。为了研究钝顶螺旋藻(Spirulina platensis)FtsZ蛋白的功能,构建了钝顶螺旋藻FtsZ与绿色荧光蛋白GFP融合表达的质粒,并在大肠杆菌中进行了表达和定位研究,结果发现,表达融合蛋白GFP-FtsZ的大肠杆菌细胞由短杆状变为长丝状,且菌丝体长度与融合蛋白的表达量呈正比。在荧光显微镜下观察到融合蛋白GFP-FtsZ在长丝状体细菌中呈有规律的点状分布,这说明FtsZ蛋白功能高度保守,钝顶螺旋藻FtsZ蛋白能识别大肠杆菌分裂位点并装配成环状结构调控大肠杆菌细胞分裂,FtsZ蛋白的过量表达能抑制大肠杆菌正常的细胞分裂而导致长丝状体细胞的形成。     

钝顶螺旋藻FtsZ在大肠杆菌中的表达和定位

FtsZ是与真核微管蛋白类似的原核骨架蛋白,能在细胞分裂位点聚合组装成环状结构而调控细胞分裂过程。为了研究钝顶螺旋藻（Spirulina platensis）FtsZ蛋白的功能,构建了钝顶螺旋藻FtsZ与绿色荧光蛋白GFP融合表达的质粒,并在大肠杆菌中进行了表达和定位研究,结果发现,表达融合蛋白GFP-FtsZ的大肠杆菌细胞由短杆状变为长丝状,且菌丝体长度与融合蛋白的表达量呈正比。在荧光显微镜下观察到融合蛋白GFP-FtsZ在长丝状体细菌中呈有规律的点状分布,这说明FtsZ蛋白功能高度保守,钝顶螺旋藻FtsZ蛋白能识别大肠杆菌分裂位点并装配成环状结构调控大肠杆菌细胞分裂,FtsZ蛋白的过量表达能抑制大肠杆菌正常的细胞分裂而导致长丝状体细胞的形成。     

衣藻CrFtsZ2-GFP融合蛋白在E.coli中的表达及其定位

FtsZ蛋白在细菌的分裂中担任着重要作用 ,能够在分裂位点形成一个环状结构而控制细菌的分裂过程。胞内FtsZ蛋白浓度的异常升高或降低均可阻断正常的细胞分裂过程进而形成分裂异常的丝状菌体。为了研究衣藻FtsZ蛋白的生物学活性 ,构建了衣藻CrFtsZ2cDNA全长与绿色荧光蛋白基因egfp的融合表达质粒 ,并对其在大肠杆菌中的表达与定位做了初步分析。在大肠杆菌JM10 9中 ,融合表达质粒的过量表达导致宿主菌形成了丝状菌体 ,通过荧光显微镜观察发现CrFtsZ2 EGFP融合蛋白沿着宿主菌体的纵轴方向有规律地聚集成荧光点或荧光带 ,暗示衣藻CrFtsZ2蛋白能够识别宿主菌内分裂位点的定位信号并参与其细胞分裂过程 ,初步验证了衣藻CrFtsZ2蛋白的功能。     

原核生物细胞分裂的调控机制

原核细胞的分裂机制一直是人们研究的热点 ,经过多年来的不懈研究 ,人们发现FtsZ蛋白在细胞分裂过程中发挥着重要作用 ,并且是最早出现在分裂位点的蛋白 ,而且直接参与启始了细胞分裂环的形成 ;此外 ,对ftsQAZ基因簇的深入研究也大大加深了人们对原核细胞分裂的认识。就目前原核生物细胞分裂的调控机制作一综述。     

结核分枝杆菌FtsZ的异源表达及酶学性质研究

作为细菌分裂所必需的微管蛋白类似物,丝状温度敏感蛋白Z(filamentous temperature-sensitive protein Z,FtsZ)被认为是一个具有潜力的药物作用新靶点。为了构建高纯度的FtsZ重组蛋白分离纯化体系,探讨其酶学性质,该研究利用大肠杆菌BL21异源表达结核分枝杆菌FtsZ重组蛋白,通过Ni亲和层析柱和G-50层析柱纯化目的蛋白,采用孔雀石绿法和90°光散射法测定FtsZ重组蛋白的GTP酶活和蛋白聚集。研究结果表明:成功获得具有生物学活性的结核分枝杆菌FtsZ重组蛋白,其相对分子质量约为49kD;该酶最适反应温度为37℃,最适pH为6.8,金属离子Mg~(2+)和K~+对FtsZ重组蛋白酶活具有促进作用,有机溶剂DMSO和TritonX-100的体积分数分别高于0.1%和0.005%时对酶活有显著抑制作用(P0.05)。此外,FtsZ重组蛋白在加入底物GTP诱导后,快速聚集。本实验利用基因工程技术成功获得具有生物活性的FtsZ重组蛋白,并明确了该蛋白质的酶学性质,为其进一步的研究和应用奠定了基础。     

FtsZ蛋白同源性分析在乳酸菌系统学研究中的应用

FtsZ是一种广泛存在于细菌和古菌中的结构保守的蛋白质,在细胞分裂的过程中起关键的作用。通过PCR扩增FtsZ基因的一段800bp的核苷酸,构建了干酪乳杆菌-片球菌及相关乳酸菌的FtsZ蛋白系统发育树。将此系统树和16SrDNA系统树比较发现二者的拓扑结构非常相似。在两个基因系统树中,片球菌与乳杆菌的种均显示了较近的亲缘关系,而与其它球状的乳酸菌,如链球菌和肠球菌的亲缘关系较远。研究还表明FtsZ蛋白序列的分辨率高于16SrDNA,更适用于乳酸菌种间的系统分类研究。     

高等植物质体的分裂

质体来源于早期具光合能力的原核生物与原始真核生物的内共生事件。原核起源的蛋白以及真核寄主起源的蛋白共同参与了质体的分裂过程。以原核生物的细胞分裂蛋白为蓝本, 近些年在植物中陆续鉴定出几种主要的原核生物细胞分裂蛋白的同源物, 如FtsZ、MinD和MinE蛋白。然而, 除此之外, 原核细胞大多数分裂相关因子在植物中找不到其同源物, 但却鉴定了许多真核寄主来源的分裂相关蛋白。当前研究的重点是剖析各种质体分裂蛋白协同作用的机制, 业已证明MinD和MinE的协同作用保证了FtsZ(Z)环的正确定位。尽管经典的FtsZ的抑制因子MinC在植物中不存在, 但实验表明ARC3在拟南芥中具有类似MinC的功能。ARC3蛋白与真核起源的蛋白如ARC5、ARTEMIS、FZL和PD环以及其它原核起源的蛋白如ARC6和GC1等共同构成了一个复杂的植物质体分裂调控系统。     

高等植物质体的分裂

质体来源于早期具光合能力的原核生物与原始真核生物的内共生事件。原核起源的蛋白以及真核寄主起源的蛋白共同参与了质体的分裂过程。以原核生物的细胞分裂蛋白为蓝本,近些年在植物中陆续鉴定出几种主要的原核生物细胞分裂蛋白的同源物,如FtsZ、MinD和MinE蛋白。然而,除此之外,原核细胞大多数分裂相关因子在植物中找不到其同源物,但却鉴定了许多真核寄主来源的分裂相关蛋白。当前研究的重点是剖析各种质体分裂蛋白协同作用的机制,业已证明MinD和Mine的协同作用保证了FtsZ（Z）环的正确定位。尽管经典的FtsZ的抑制因子MinC在植物中不存在,但实验表明ARC3在拟南芥中具有类似MinC的功能。ARC3蛋白与真核起源的蛋白如ARC5、ARTEMIS、FZL和PD环以及其它原核起源的蛋白如ARC6和GC1等共同构成了一个复杂的植物质体分裂调控系统。     

Plant FtsZ1 and FtsZ2 expressed in a eukaryotic host: GTPase activity and self-assembly

Plants and algae contain the FtsZ1 and FtsZ2 protein families that perform specific, non-redundant functions in plastid division. In vitro studies of chloroplast division have been hampered by the lack of a suitable expression system. Here we report the expression and purification of FtsZ1-1 and FtsZ2-1 from Arabidopsis thaliana using a eukaryotic host. Specific GTPase activities were determined and found to be different for FtsZ1-1 vs. FtsZ2-1. The purified proteins readily assembled into previously unreported assembly products named type-I and -II filaments. In contrast to bacterial FtsZ, the Arabidopsis proteins do not form bundled sheets in the presence of Ca²⁺.     

FtsZ and bacterial cell division

In this review we describe proteins and supermolecular structures which take part in the division of bacterial cells. FtsZ, a eukaryotic tubulin homolog is a key cell division protein in most prokaryotes. FtsZ, as well as tubulin, is capable of binding and hydrolyzing GTP. The division of a bacterial cell begins with the forming of a so-called divisome. The basis of such a divisome is a contractile ring (Z ring) which encircles the cell about midcell. The Z-ring consists of a bundle of laterally bound protofilaments formed in result of FtsZ polymerization. Z-ring is rigidly bounded to the cytosolic side of the inner membrane with the participation of FtsA, ZipA, FtsW and many other divisome cell division proteins. The ring directs the process of cytokinesis transmitting constriction power to the membrane. The primary structures of the prokaryotic FtsZ family members significantly differ from eukaryotic tubulins except for the sites of GTP binding. There is a high degree of structural homology between these proteins in the region. FtsZ is one of the most conserved proteins in prokaryotes. However, ftsZ genes have not been found in several species of microorganisms with completely sequenced genomes. They include two species of mycoplasmas (Ureaplasma parvum and Mycoplasma mobile), Prostecobacter dejongeii, 10 species of chlamydia and 5 species of archaea. Consequently, these organisms divide without FtsZ participation. The genomes of U. parvum and M. mobile have many open reading frames which encode proteins with unknown functions. A comparison of the primary structures of these hypothetical proteins did not identify any known cell division proteins. We hypothesize that the process of cell division in these organisms should involve proteins similar to FtsZ in function and homologous to FtsZ or other cell division proteins in structure.     

Oligomerization of plant FtsZ1 and FtsZ2 plastid division proteins

FtsZ was identified in bacteria as the first protein to localize mid-cell prior to division and homologs have been found in many plant species. Bacterial studies demonstrated that FtsZ forms a ring structure that is dynamically exchanged with a soluble pool of FtsZ. Our previous work established that Arabidopsis FtsZ1 and FtsZ2-1 are capable of in vitro self-assembly into two distinct filament types, termed type-I and type-II and noted the presence of filament precursor molecules which prompted this investigation. Using a combination of electron microscopy, gel chromatography and native PAGE revealed that (i) prior to FtsZ assembly initiation the pool consists solely of dimers and (ii) during assembly of the Arabidopsis FtsZ type-II filaments the most common intermediate between the dimer and filament state is a tetramer. Three-dimensional reconstructions of the observed dimer and tetramer suggest these oligomeric forms may represent consecutive steps in type-II filament assembly and a mechanism is proposed, which is expanded to include FtsZ assembly into type-I filaments. Finally, the results permit a discussion of the oligomeric nature of the soluble pool in plants.     

FtsZ(236-245)区域的两性螺旋特性对大肠埃希氏菌FtsZ组装和功能的影响

【目的】探索大肠埃希氏菌(Escherichia coli,E.coli)FtsZ(236-245)结构域两性螺旋特性对FtsZ组装和FtsZ-FtsA相互作用的影响。【方法】利用分子克隆和定点突变技术,构建FtsZ及其突变体表达载体,亲和纯化获得相应目标蛋白;通过同源重组和Pl转导构建QN23-QN29菌株;利用活细胞成像观察FtsZ及其突变体的胞内定位特点;膜蛋白分离和Western blot分析FtsZ突变体的膜结合特性变化;非变性胶分离和体外聚合分析检测定点突变对FtsZ单体组装特性的影响;免疫沉淀和Far Western blot实验检测FtsZ/FtsZ~*-FtsA间的相互作用。【结果】FtsZ~(E234A/K)和FtsZ~(E241A/K)突变体的功能活性降低、备突变体在E.coli内不能正确定位和形成功能性Z环;E237A/K和E241A/K位点突变致备突变体聚合能力降低、FtsZ*-FtsA的相互作用减弱和FtsZ的膜结合特性变化。【结论】E237和E241是影响FtsZ(236-245)区域两性螺旋特性和FtsZ组装及FtsZ-FtsA相互作用的重要氨基酸。     

Fluorescent assay for polymerization of purified bacterial FtsZ cell-division protein

Septum formation in Escherichia coli is a complex cascade of interactions among cell-division proteins. The tubulin-like FtsZ division protein localizes to the division site and serves a cytoskeletal role during septum formation. A novel fluorescent-based 96-well format filter assay has been developed to measure the polymerization of FtsZ. A mixture of monomers and aggregates (38 to approximately 200 KDa in range) of purified wild-type FtsZ and a fluorescently tagged derivative of FtsZ protein in stoichiometric ratio passes through a 0.2-microm filter membrane, while polymerized FtsZ is retained on the filter. Addition of the SulA protein to the assay leads to rapid disassembly of existing FtsZ polymers, demonstrating its natural regulatory effect on FtsZ under the assay conditions. This assay is sensitive (requiring 2 microM FtsZ or less) and facilitates high-throughput screening of factors affecting FtsZ polymerization.     

GTP/GDP binding stabilizes bacterial cell division protein FtsZ against degradation by FtsH protease in vitro

Factors contributing to the stability of bacterial cell division protein FtsZ remain unknown. In order to identify FtsZ-stabilizing factor(s), we exploited FtsH protease-based in vitro FtsZ degradation assay system. Whole cell lysate from an ftsH-null strain of Escherichia coli inhibited degradation of FtsZ by FtsH in vitro. However, activated charcoal-treated lysate did not inhibit degradation. The loss of ability of the activated charcoal-treated lysate to inhibit degradation of FtsZ was restored when it was replenished with GTP, but not when replenished with other NTPs or dNTPs. The lysate did not protect either FtsZ deletion mutants, which do not bind GTP, or FtsH substrates, sigma(32) and cI-108 proteins, against FtsH. GDP and GTPgammaS also stabilized FtsZ against FtsH. Neither GTP nor GDP inhibited proteolytic activity of FtsH per se. These observations demonstrate that binding of GTP/GDP ligands is responsible for the proteolytic stability of FtsZ against FtsH.     

Curved FtsZ protofilaments generate bending forces on liposome membranes

We have created FtsZ‐YFP‐mts where an amphipathic helix on the C‐terminus tethers FtsZ to the membrane. When incorporated inside multi‐lamellar tubular liposomes, FtsZ‐YFP‐mts can assemble Z rings that generate a constriction force. When added to the outside of liposomes, FtsZ‐YFP‐mts bound and produced concave depressions, bending the membrane in the same direction as the Z ring inside liposomes. Prominent membrane tubules were then extruded at the intersections of concave depressions. We tested the effect of moving the membrane‐targeting sequence (mts) from the C‐terminus to the N‐terminus, which is approximately 180 degrees from the C‐terminal tether. When mts‐FtsZ‐YFP was applied to the outside of liposomes, it generated convex bulges, bending the membrane in the direction opposite to the concave depressions. We conclude that FtsZ protofilaments have a fixed direction of curvature, and the direction of membrane bending depends on which side of the bent protofilament the mts is attached to. This supports models in which the FtsZ constriction force is generated by protofilament bending.     

Effects of mutations in Arabidopsis FtsZ1 on plastid division, FtsZ ring formation and positioning, and FtsZ filament morphology in vivo

In plants, chloroplast division FtsZ proteins have diverged into two families, FtsZ1 and FtsZ2. FtsZ1 is more divergent from its bacterial counterparts and lacks a C-terminal motif conserved in most other FtsZs. To begin investigating FtsZ1 structure-function relationships, we first identified a T-DNA insertion mutation in the single FtsZ1 gene in Arabidopsis thaliana, AtFtsZ1-1. Homozygotes null for FtsZ1, though impaired in chloroplast division, could be isolated and set seed normally, indicating that FtsZ1 is not essential for viability. We then mapped five additional atftsZ1-1 alleles onto an FtsZ1 structural model and characterized chloroplast morphologies, FtsZ protein levels and FtsZ filament morphologies in young and mature leaves of the corresponding mutants. atftsZ1-1(G267R), atftsZ1-1(R298Q) and atftsZ1-1(Delta404-433) exhibit reduced FtsZ1 accumulation but wild-type FtsZ2 levels. The semi-dominant atftsZ1-1(G267R) mutation caused the most severe phenotype, altering a conserved residue in the predicted T7 loop. atftsZ1-1(G267R) protein accumulates normally in young leaves but is not detected in rings or filaments. atftsZ1-1(R298Q) has midplastid FtsZ1-containing rings in young leaves, indicating that R298 is not critical for ring formation or positioning despite its conservation. atftsZ1-1(D159N) and atftsZ1-1(G366A) both have overly long, sometimes spiral-like FtsZ filaments, suggesting that FtsZ dynamics are altered in these mutants. However, atftsZ1-1(D159N) exhibits loss of proper midplastid FtsZ positioning while atftsZ1-1(G366A) does not. Finally, truncation of the FtsZ1 C-terminus in atftsZ1-1(Delta404-433) impairs chloroplast division somewhat but does not prevent midplastid Z ring formation. These alleles will facilitate understanding of how the in vitro biochemical properties of FtsZ1 are related to its in vivo function.     

重组大肠杆菌表达水稻白叶枯病菌FtsZ蛋白

旨在通过现代分子生物学技术制备水稻白叶枯病菌FtsZ蛋白。以水稻白叶枯病菌总DNA为模板,采用巢式PCR方法扩增获得水稻白叶枯病菌fts Z基因,构建fts Z基因的表达载体p ET-22b-ftsZ,转化表达宿主E.coli BL21后,经PCR、Nde I/Xho I双酶切及测序鉴定、阳性克隆子经IPTG诱导表达,融合蛋白经镍柱纯化后,通过SDS-PAGE和Western blotting分析鉴定。结果显示,水稻白叶枯病菌ftsZ基因的重组表达载体构建成功,且阳性克隆子在IPTG的诱导下表达了Fts Z-6×His融合蛋白,并通过镍柱纯化获得了电泳纯的Fts Z-6×His融合蛋白。