AP2/EREBP转录因子在植物发育和胁迫应答中的作用

AP2／EREBP（APETALA2/ethylene-responsive element binding proteins）是一个起源古老的转录因子超家族,它含有1个或2个由约60—70个氨基酸残基组成的非常保守的DNA结合域（DNA-binding domain）,即AP2／ERF结构域。根据AP2／ERF结构域的数目,AP2／EREBP转录因子可以分为2个亚族：EREBP亚族（具有1个AP2／ERF结构域）和AP2亚族（具有2个AP2／ERF结构域）。AP2亚族转录因子有调控花、胚珠和种子发育的功能,而EREBP亚族转录因子（包括DREB类和ERF类）的主要功能是调节植物对激素（乙烯和ABA等）、病原和胁迫（低温、干旱及高盐）等的应答反应。本文讨论了AP2／EREBP转录因子在植物发育和胁迫应答中的研究进展。     

鉴定水稻中一个新的专一结合GCC元件的AP2/EREBP族转录因子

TSH1,是通过搜寻GenBank的EST库而获得的一个来源于水稻的含AP2/EREBP保守结构域的蛋白质.为了详细分析TSH1蛋白与其DNA顺式元件的结合特性,首先采用传统的凝胶阻滞实验和酵母单杂交技术,证实TSH1在体内和体外均专一性地结合于GCC元件,然后利用原子力显微镜技术精确测量了TSH1蛋白与GCC元件在单分子水平的相互作用力.结果表明,GST-TSH1与DRE元件没有特异性的结合,而GST-TSH1与GCC元件结合力的大小为(83.9±2.2)pN,这种特异性的结合可以被加入的游离TSH1蛋白明显降低.GST蛋白和突变GCC元件作为负对照显示出与GCC元件无特异性作用力.以上结果充分证明,TSH1是专一性地与GCC元件相作用的转录因子,而且原子力显微镜对于检测转录因子与DNA相互作用时单碱基的突变十分灵敏.通过比较几种评估转录因子与DNA顺式元件结合特异性的方法,阐述了原子力显微镜技术的特点及优越性.     

巴西橡胶树一个AP2／EREBP转录因子的克隆及表达分析

本文采用RACE技术从巴西橡胶树中鉴定出一个AP2／EREBP转录因子。该转录因子全长cDNANl225bp,最长开放阅读框699bp,预测编码蛋白包含232个氨基酸;序列比对分析发现,该转录因子具有一段保守的AP2／EREBP结构域,与拟南芥Soloist（At4g13040）具有较高的相似性,将该基因命名HbSoloist。半定量胙PcR分析结果表明,HbSoloist在巴西橡胶树的胶乳、叶片、树皮和花中均有表达。与健康橡胶树相比,死皮树胶乳HbSoloist表达量明显下降。研究发HbSoloist表达受乙烯利、茉莉酸和低温处理调控,表明HbSoloist基因可能在巴西橡胶树乙烯、茉莉酸和低温反应中发挥作用。     

抗逆相关AP2/EREBP转录因子研究进展

干旱、低温、土地盐碱化等非生物胁迫是影响植物生长发育以及作物产量的重要因素。近年来大量研究表明,多种转录因子参与调控植物对各种生物及非生物胁迫的应答与防御反应,与此同时人们对其作用机理的探索也日渐深入。AP2/ERF转录因子家族是植物所特有的一类转录因子,在拟南芥中该家族至少有146个成员;而在水稻中该基因家族多达181个,是已知水稻转录因子基因中最大的家族。这些编码含有一个保守APETALA(AP2)结构域的蛋白质可能在植物多个发育过程及应答外界环境信号过程中发挥重要功能。综述了AP2/EREBP类转录因子的结构特征及其功能特性,并重点讨论了它们在植物抗逆中的调控作用及其在植物抗逆性分子遗传改良上的意义。     

AP2功能基因在植物花发育中的重要作用

AP2基因作为调控植物花发育的功能基因,参与花分生特性建立、花器官的特性特化以及形成调控。所编码的AP2/EREBP转录因子的主要特征是都至少含有一个由60到70个左右的氨基酸组成高度保守的DNA结合区,称作AP2结合域。按其所含的AP2结构域的数目分为3个亚族,即AP2亚家族、EREBP亚家族和RAV亚家族,每个亚家族都有各自的作用。AP2基因不但自身调控着花、胚珠的发育,而且与其他因子相互协作,参与到复杂的花发育调控网络。将对AP2基因的特征和分类及其在花发育中的作用进行概述。     

利用阵列分析水稻AP2/EREBP家族基因的表达特性

AP2／EREBP蛋白是广泛存在于高等植物中的且包含AP2／EREBP功能域的重要转录因子家族,通常可分为包含单功能域的EREBP类蛋白和包含两个功能域的AP2类蛋白,它们的功能涉及植物生长发育调控和对逆境应答等许多方面。据预测．水稻基因组编码150个左右的AP2／EREBP家族成员,但目前绝大多数蛋白的功能仍不清楚。为了解这些基因在水稻不同器官中的表达特性,我们以AP2／EREBP功能域的氨基酸序列为基础,从水稻基因组数据库中搜索到12个AP2类以及20个EREBP类预测基因,利用PCR扩增的编码区序列制备了这些预测基因的macro—array。以幼芽、幼根、幼叶、颖花和灌浆期成熟叶的cDNA为探针,杂交分析结果显示：不同AP2类预测基因之间的表达量差别较大,但同一个基因在不同器官中表达量基本一致：与此不同的是,大部分EREBP类预测基因在幼根和成熟叶片中表达量较高,而在幼芽和幼叶中表达量较低。这些预测基因的表达模式可能与它们的功能密切相关。     

山菠菜EREBP/AP2类DNA结合蛋白基因的克隆及其耐逆性研究

EREBP/AP2类蛋白是一个仅存在于植物中的DNA结合蛋白(DBP)大家族.其中一些成员如APETALA2和AtDREB/CBF分别调控花的发育和植物对环境胁迫的反应.为了阐明在植物响应盐胁迫过程中所涉及的转录因子的特点,用高盐浓度处理盐生植物山菠菜,构建了cDNA文库,并从此文库中分离得到了一个编码EREBP/AP2类蛋白的基因.此cDNA包含一个723bp的开放读码框和一个长达655bp的3＇端非编码区,推导的氨基酸序列显示其有一个保守的EREBP/AP2的DNA结合域,此基因被命名为AhDREB1.将AhDREB1置于CaMV 35S启动子下转入烟草,获得9个独立的转基因株系,对其进行了长期的盐胁迫实验.结果显示,AhDREB1的组成性表达显著提高了转基因烟草的耐盐能力,这可能是由于其激活了一些具有抗盐效应的下游基因.通过与拟南芥的全基因组进行同源性比较得到了具有较高相似性的7个EREBP/AP2家族成员,二级结构预测显示了它们在DNA结合区段的α螺旋结构上具有相似性.     

山菠菜EREBP／AP2类DNA结合蛋白基因的克隆及其耐逆性研究

EREBP/AP2类蛋白是一个仅存在于植物中的DNA结合蛋白（DBP）大家族,其中一些成员如SPETALA2和AtDREB/CBF分别调控花的发育和植物对环境胁迫的反应,为了阐明在植物响应盐胁迫过程中所涉及的转录因子的特点,用高盐浓度处理盐生植物山菠菜,构建了cDNA文库。并从此文库中分离得到了一个编码EREBP/AP2类蛋白的基因,此cDNA包含一个723bp的开放读码框和一个长达655bp的3′端非编码区,推导的氨基酸序列显示基有一个保守的EREBP/AP2的DNA结合域,此基因被命名为AhDREB1,将AhDREB1置于CaMV35S启动子下转入烟草,获得9个独立的转基因株系,对其进行了长期的盐胁迫实验。结果显示。AhDREB1的组成性表达显著提高了转基因烟草的耐盐能力。这可能是由于其激活了一些具有抗盐效应的下游基因。通过与拟南芥的全基因组进行同源性比较8得到了具有较高相似性的7个EREBP/AP2家族成员,二级结构预测显示了它们在DNA结合区段的α螺旋结构上具有相似性。     

Probing ligand binding modes of human cytochrome P450 2J2 by homology modeling, molecular dynamics simulation, and flexible molecular docking

Cytochrome P450 (P450) 2J2 catalyzes epoxidation of arachidonic acid to eicosatrienoic acids, which are related to a variety of diseases such as coronary artery disease, hypertension, and carcinogenesis. Recent experimental data also suggest that P450 2J2 could be a novel biomarker and a potential target for cancer therapy. However, the active site topology and substrate specificity of this enzyme remain unclear. In this study, a three-dimensional model of human P450 2J2 was first constructed on the basis of the crystal structure of human P450 2C9 in complex with a substrate using homology modeling method, and refined by molecular dynamics simulation. Flexible docking approaches were then employed to dock four ligands into the active site of P450 2J2 in order to probe the ligand-binding modes. By analyzing the results, active site architecture and certain key residues responsible for substrate specificity were identified on the enzyme, which might be very helpful for understanding the enzyme's biological role and providing insights for designing novel inhibitors of P450 2J2.     

Deciphering the GPER/GPR30-agonist and antagonists interactions using molecular modeling studies,molecular dynamics,and docking simulations

The G-protein coupled estrogen receptor 1 GPER/GPR30 is a transmembrane seven-helix (7TM) receptor involved in the growth and proliferation of breast cancer. Due to the absence of a crystal structure of GPER/GPR30, in this work, molecular modeling studies have been carried out to build a three-dimensional structure, which was subsequently refined by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations (up to 120 ns). Furthermore, we explored GPER/GPR30’s molecular recognition properties by using reported agonist ligands (G1, estradiol (E2), tamoxifen, and fulvestrant) and the antagonist ligands (G15 and G36) in subsequent docking studies. Our results identified the E2 binding site on GPER/GPR30, as well as other receptor cavities for accepting large volume ligands, through GPER/GPR30 π–π, hydrophobic, and hydrogen bond interactions. Snapshots of the MD trajectory at 14 and 70 ns showed almost identical binding motifs for G1 and G15. It was also observed that C107 interacts with the acetyl oxygen of G1 (at 14 ns) and that at 70 ns the residue E275 interacts with the acetyl group and with the oxygen from the other agonist whereas the isopropyl group of G36 is oriented toward Met141, suggesting that both C107 and E275 could be involved in the protein activation. This contribution suggest that GPER1 has great structural changes which explain its great capacity to accept diverse ligands, and also, the same ligand could be recognized in different binding pose according to GPER structural conformations.     

烟草DREBP转录因子结合DRE元件的关键氨基酸

从烟草品种本塞母氏中分离出2条DREB类转录因子基因,分别命名为NbDREB1和 NbDREB2.根据测序结果推导出的氨基酸序列分析显示,NbDREB1和NbDREB2都具有典型的AP2/EREBP转录因子家族EREBP亚族A类特征.酵母单杂交结果显示,它们都不具有激活功能.连接pGADT7反式激活载体形成融合基因表达结果显示,NbDREB1能与DRE顺式作用元件结合,NbDREB2则不能.比较NbDREB1和NbDREB2的AP2区,发现两者的第2和49位氨基酸残基不同.对NbDREB2的第2位氨基酸残基N点突变为Y,NbDREB2也显示出与DRE顺式元件结合的活性,表明烟草DREB转录因子的AP2区第2位氨基酸残基Y是识别及结合DRE顺式作用元件必需的氨基酸残基.     

Structural basis of pesticide detection by enzymatic biosensing: a molecular docking and MD simulation study

Designing of rapid, facile, selective, and cost-effective biosensor technology is a growing area for the detection of various classes of pesticides. The biosensor with these features can be achieved only through the various bio-components using different transducers. This study, therefore, focuses on the usage of molecular docking, specificity tendencies, and capabilities of proteins for the detection of pesticides. Accordingly, the four transducers, acetylcholinesterase (ACH), cytochromes P450 (CYP), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and protein kinase C (PKC) were selected based on their applications including neurotransmitter, metabolism, detoxification enzyme, and protein phosphorylation. Then after molecular docking of the pesticides, fenobucarb, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), and parathion onto each enzyme, the conformational behavior of the most stable complexes was further analyzed using 50 ns Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations carried out under explicit water conditions. In the case of protein kinase C (PKC) and cytochrome P450 3A4 enzyme (CYP), the fenobucarb complex showed the most suitable combination of free energy of binding and inhibition constant ?4.42 kcal/mol (573.73 μM) and ?5.1 kcal/mol (183.49 μM), respectively. Parathion dominated for acetylcholinesterase (ACH) with ?4.57 kcal/mol (448.09 μM) and lastly dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane for glutathione S-transferase (GST), ?5.43 kcal/mol (103.88 μM). The RMSD variations were critical for understanding the impact of pesticides as they distinctively influence the energetic attributes of the proteins. Overall, the outcomes from the extensive analysis provide an insight into the structural features of the proteins studied, thereby highlighting their potential use as a substrate in biorecognition sensing of pesticide compounds.