正常和反常PRION分子PrP~C和PrP~(Sc)的空间结构模建和电子结构计算

朊蛋白（ＰＲＩＯＮ）是一种不同于细菌,真菌,病毒的新的病原体。１９９６年英国“疯牛病”引起了对ＰＲＩＯＮ研究的高潮。ＰＲＩＯＮ分子生物学的关键是解释ＰＲＩＯＮ蛋白构象转换的生物不本质。本文从构象模建,量子化学整体从头算的水平上对两个构象的电子结构进行了计算比较,从中发现了ＰＲＩＯＮ蛋白分子电子结构上区别于其他分子的特异性,并对计算所得的活性部位进行了讨论。     

大肠杆菌PRIBOW与起始位点的统计分析

通过对大肠杆菌ＲＮＡ聚合酶识别的４４个启动子及其起始位点进行统计分析,估计了ＰＲＩＢＯＷ的系列范围,计算出它们的信息量。所得结果与真核生物中ＨＵＭＡＮ的ＴＡＴＡ框进行比较,得到了这两个物种的信息量曲线与不确定值曲线都具有显著差异,尤其在ＰＲＩＢＯＷ和ＴＡＴＡ框与起始位点的对应关系上得到明显不同的结果,ＰＲＩＢＯＷ与起始位点有比较明显的关系,而ＨＵＭＡＮ的ＴＡＴＡ框与起始位点的对应关系则不太明确。     

多粘菌素-B的溶液构象研究

利用核磁共振技术对多粘菌素－Ｂ在溶液中的构象进行测定。多粘菌素－Ｂ的全部质子信号及３ＪＨＮα均得到归属和确认。大部分存在于环肽及侧链的分子间ＮＯＥ得到归属,并以此为依据对多粘菌素－Ｂ的溶液构象进行了计算     

一氧化氮在肺疾病的临床应用

一氧化氮（ＮＯ）在临床应用已成为目前研究的重要课题。但对ＮＯ的性质如何,生物性能作用,我们需要进一步了解。在ＮＯ分子中,Ｎ原子外层有五个电子。Ｏ原子外层有六个电子。形成共价键后,在分子轨道含有一个不成对电子。因此,ＮＯ也是自由基。ＮＯ还可以与Ｏ反应生成过氧亚硝基阴离子（ＯＮＯＯ－）。它们在人体内具有一定生物作用［１］。１９９２年美国科学杂志对ＮＯ生物功能给予肯定。认为ＮＯ是一种内皮细胞舒张因子,它们有４个作用：（１）松驰血管平滑肌;（２）防止血小板的凝聚;（３）神经传导;（４）吞噬细胞,内皮细胞…     

自由基损伤红细胞膜分子的机理研究

为探明自由基对红细胞膜脂质及蛋白分子损伤机理,本文通过电子自旋共振波谱仪（ＥＳＲ）、激光拉曼波谱仪、圆二色波谱仪（ＣＤ）、显微付立叶变换红外波谱仪（ＭＦＴ－ＩＲ）和表面电子能谱分析系统（ＥＳＣＡ）分别对体外自由基作用３０分钟后,及作用后３小时红细胞膜整体结构、膜蛋白分子及脂质分子进行了分析。结果发现,自由基作用后①红细胞膜中β－胡萝卜素构象由伸展变为卷曲,提示膜整体结构改变,②膜蛋白分子二级结构变化,表现为α螺旋减少和β折叠增加,③膜蛋白分子二硫键与巯基的比例增加（Ｓ－Ｓ／ＳＨ）、亚氨基（ＮＨ）和羰基含量改变,同时蛋白分子的氢键也被破坏（如ＮＨ、ＣＯＨ等基团的减少和ＮＣ、ＣＯ的增加）,④膜脂分子磷氧双键（Ｐ＝Ｏ）成分、羰基成分（Ｃ＝Ｏ）、碳－碳双键（Ｃ＝Ｃ）成分降低;说明自由基导致红细胞膜蛋白及脂质分子化学结构改变是造成膜分子构象及膜整体结构改变的根本原因。３小时后无论是膜蛋白二级结构、二硫键与巯基比或膜脂分子Ｐ＝Ｏ、Ｃ＝Ｏ、Ｃ＝Ｃ不仅没有恢复,反而有加重趋势。这说明了自由基损伤的部分不可逆性     

一氧化氮在植物体内的信号分子作用

一氧化氮 (ｎｉｔｒｉｃｏｘｉｄｅ ,ＮＯ)是一种广泛分布于生物体的气体活性分子 ,它具有多种生理功能。动物体研究结果揭示 ,ＮＯ在血管松驰、神经转导及先天性免疫反应等一系列生理代谢过程均可作为一种关键的信号和效应分子。有关ＮＯ作为信使物质参与植物抗病及其他生理代谢调节的报道也日益增多。1 .植物内源ＮＯ的产生途径植物体内氮代谢的关键酶硝酸还原酶(ｎｉｔｒａｔｅｒｅｄｕｃｔａｓｅ,ＮＲ)也可以ＮＡＤＨ/ＮＡＤＰＨ作为电子供体 ,催化硝酸盐和亚硝酸盐的单电子还原反应来合成ＮＯ。如在含有ＮＯ-2 和ＮＡＤＨ的缓冲液 (ｐ…     

人心肌缺血/再灌注期间红细胞膜分子流动性改变的机理研究

对开心手术病人心肌缺血／再灌注过程中冠状静脉窦血中的红细胞流变性变化和红细胞膜分子结构的改变进行了研究。结果表明,再灌注即刻心脏产生大量自由基,并持续到再灌注第２０分钟时才大幅度回落;于再灌注后的２０分钟的自由基产生时相期间,除红细胞膜蛋白分子和脂质分子的τｐ、τｌ均明显延长外,还伴有血浆ＭＤＡ水平的明显增加和ＳＯＤ活性的显著降低,及红细胞内ＧＳＨ－Ｐｘ活性升高;与此同时其红细胞膜蛋白分子的α螺旋先减少后渐回复和β折叠渐增加并伴有羧基（ＣＯＯＨ）和氨基（ＮＨ３）的减少,而其红细胞膜脂质分子的磷氧双键（Ｐ＝Ｏ）、羰基（Ｃ＝Ｏ）和多不饱和键（Ｃ＝Ｃ）则增加;说明（１）再灌注期间氧自由基分别引起了红细胞膜蛋白分子碳端和氮端的改变及膜磷脂分子亲水区和疏水区化学结构的变化,（２）蛋白分子碳、氮端的变化造成了膜蛋白分子构象的改变,（３）蛋白分子和磷脂分子化学结构及构象的改变是红细胞膜这些分子流动性明显恶化的根本原因。     

应用分子轨道方法分析生物体系NO与氧自由基反应特性

用分子轨道对称生规则阐明生物体系ＮＯ与Ｏ＾－２、ＮＯ２、ＯＨ、ＬＯＯ反应动力主其生物学意义。从分子轨道,电子结构,化学键的稳定性,诱导效应以及极化与反极化作用,阐明ＯＮＯＯＨ的极不稳定性。用量子化学ＭＯ理论建立ＮＯＮＯＯ＾－、ＯＮＯＯＨ键合模型,从理论和实验事实证证模型的唯一合理性。提出了ＯＮＯＯＨ存在特殊共轭大π停顿同它们的π分子轨道能级顺序和示意图,从而能很好解释ＯＮＯＯ＾－和ＯＮＯＯＨ的氧化     

构象电子系统的集体激发,跃迁过程和合作现象

本文给出了一套对分子生物学问题进行理论分析的方法并列举简单应用的实例.以分子构象和前沿电子为变数,引入了构家电子场,给出了研究其集体激发的Green函数途径,指出生物凝聚态中存在新型局域激发.导出了构象电子跃迁哈密顿量,特别研究了光致构家电子跃迁,指出低阶跃迁为非Franck—Condon型的.研究了链式分子的合作现象,阐明了振动激发对于实现合作转变的重要性及转变中可能存在反常温度依赖.     

不同钙-醇溶解体系丝素蛋白的制备及表征研究

采用 ４种中性盐溶液 Ｃａ（ＮＯ３）２４Ｈ２Ｏ 甲醇、Ｃａ（ＮＯ３）２４Ｈ２Ｏ 乙醇、ＣａＣｌ２ 甲醇 水和 ＣａＣｌ２ 乙醇 水（摩尔比分别为 １∶２、１∶２、１∶２∶８、１∶２∶８）处理蚕丝纤维,透析后经冷冻干燥制成固体,利用ＳＤＳ ＰＡＧＥ、电镜扫描和红外光谱对制得的固体进行表征。ＳＤＳ ＰＡＧＥ结果表明：Ｃａ（ＮＯ３）２４Ｈ２Ｏ 醇体系降解丝素蛋白较 ＣａＣｌ２ 醇 水体系降解程度高;电镜扫描的结果表明 Ｃａ（ＮＯ３）２４Ｈ２Ｏ 甲醇和 ＣａＣｌ２ 乙醇 水溶解体系处理的丝素蛋白溶解比较完全,Ｃａ（ＮＯ３）２４Ｈ２Ｏ 甲醇处理的丝素蛋白冻干后为颗粒状,而 ＣａＣｌ２ 乙醇 水处理的丝素蛋白冻干后为片状。红外光谱的结果表明：４种溶液处理后的丝素蛋白构象均介于 β折叠和无规则卷曲之间,从而为丝素蛋白在药物缓释载体领域的应用提供了一定的理论依据。     

Comparative computational analysis of prion proteins reveals two fragments with unusual structural properties and a pattern of increase in hydrophobicity associated with disease-promoting mutations

Prion diseases are a group of neurodegenerative disorders associated with conversion of a normal prion protein, PrPC, into a pathogenic conformation, PrPSc. The PrPSc is thought to promote the conversion of PrPC. The structure and stability of PrPC are well characterized, whereas little is known about the structure of PrPSc, what parts of PrPC undergo conformational transition, or how mutations facilitate this transition. We use a computational knowledge-based approach to analyze the intrinsic structural propensities of the C-terminal domain of PrP and gain insights into possible mechanisms of structural conversion. We compare the properties of PrP sequences to those of a PrP paralog, Doppel, and to the distributions of structural propensities observed in known protein structures from the Protein Data Bank. We show that the prion protein contains at least two sequence fragments with highly unusual intrinsic propensities, PrP(114-125) and helix B. No segments with unusual properties were found in Doppel protein, which is topologically identical to PrP but does not undergo structural rearrangements. Known disease-promoting PrP mutations form a statistically significant cluster in the region comprising helices B and C. Due to their unusual properties, PrP(114-125) and the C terminus of helix B may be considered as primary candidates for sites involved in conformational transition from PrPC to PrPSc. The results of our study also show that most PrP mutations associated with neurodegenerative disorders increase local hydrophobicity. We suggest that the observed increase in hydrophobicity may facilitate PrP-to-PrP or/and PrP-to-cofactor interactions, and thus promote structural conversion.     

The AGAAAAGA palindrome in PrP is required to generate a productive PrPSc-PrPC complex that leads to prion propagation

The molecular hallmark of prion disease is the conversion of normal prion protein (PrPC) to an insoluble, proteinase K-resistant, pathogenic isoform (PrPSc). Once generated, PrPSc propagates by complexing with, and transferring its pathogenic conformation onto, PrPC. Defining the specific nature of this PrPSc-PrPC interaction is critical to understanding prion genesis. To begin to approach this question, we employed a prion-infected neuroblastoma cell line (ScN2a) combined with a heterologous yeast expression system to independently model PrPSc generation and propagation. We additionally applied fluorescence resonance energy transfer analysis to the latter to specifically study PrP-PrP interactions. In this report we focus on an N-terminal hydrophobic palindrome of PrP (112-AGAAAAGA-119) thought to feature intimately in prion generation via an unclear mechanism. We found that, in contrast to wild type (wt) PrP, PrP lacking the palindrome (PrPDelta112-119) neither converted to PrPSc when expressed in ScN2a cells nor generated proteinase K-resistant PrP when expressed in yeast. Furthermore, PrPDelta112-119 was a dominant-negative inhibitor of wtPrP in ScN2a cells. Both wtPrP and PrPDelta112-119 were highly insoluble when expressed in yeast and produced distinct cytosolic aggregates when expressed as fluorescent fusion proteins (PrP::YFP). Although self-aggregation was evident, fluorescence resonance energy transfer studies in live yeast co-expressing PrPSc-like protein and PrPDelta112-119 indicated altered interaction properties. These results suggest that the palindrome is required, not only for the attainment of the PrPSc conformation but also to facilitate the proper association of PrPSc with PrPC to effect prion propagation.     

Cell-lysate conversion of prion protein into its protease-resistant isoform suggests the participation of a cellular chaperone.

A conformational transition between the normal cellular prion protein (PrPC) and the beta-sheet-rich pathological isoform (PrPSc) is a central event in the pathogenesis of spongiform encephalopathies. The prion infectious agent seems to contain mainly, if not exclusively, PrPSc, which has the ability to propagate its abnormal conformation by transforming the host PrPC into the pathological isoform. We have developed an in vitro system to induce the PrPC --> PrPSc conversion by incubating a cell-lysate containing mouse PrPC with partially purified mouse PrPSc. After 48 h of incubation with a 10-fold molar excess of PrPSc, the cellular protein acquired PK-resistance resembling a PrPSc-like state. Time course experiments suggest that the conversion follows a stepwise mechanism involving kinetic intermediates. The conversion was induced by PrPSc extracted from mice infected with two different prion strains, each propagating its characteristic Western blot profile. The latter results and the fact that all the cellular components are present in the conversion reaction suggest that PrPC-PrPSc interaction is highly specific and required for the conversion. No transformation was observed under the same conditions using purified proteins without cell-lysate. However, when PrPC-depleted cell-lysate was added to the purified proteins the conversion was recovered. These findings provide direct evidence for the participation of a chaperone-like activity involved in catalyzing the conversion of PrPC into PrPSc.     

Ionic strength and transition metals control PrPSc protease resistance and conversion-inducing activity

The essential component of infectious prions is a misfolded protein termed PrPSc, which is produced by conformational change of a normal host protein, PrPC. It is currently unknown whether PrPSc molecules exist in a unique conformation or whether they are able to undergo additional conformational changes. Under commonly used experimental conditions, PrPSc molecules are characteristically protease-resistant and capable of inducing the conversion of PrPC molecules into new PrPSc molecules. We describe the effects of ionic strength, copper, and zinc on the conformation-dependent protease resistance and conversion-inducing activity of PrPSc molecules in scrapie-infected hamster brains. In the absence of divalent cations, PrPSc molecules were > 20-fold more sensitive to proteinase K digestion in low ionic strength buffers than in high ionic strength buffers. Addition of micromolar concentrations of copper or zinc ions restored the protease resistance of PrPSc molecules under conditions of low ionic strength. These transition metals also controlled the conformation of purified truncated PrP-(27-30) molecules at low ionic strength, confirming that the N-terminal octapeptide repeat region of PrPSc is not required for binding to copper or zinc ions. The protease-sensitive and protease-resistant conformations of PrPSc were reversibly interchangeable, and only the protease-resistant conformation of PrPSc induced by high ionic strength was able to induce the formation of new protease-resistant PrP (PrPres) molecules in vitro. These findings show that PrPSc molecules are structurally interconvertible and that only a subset of PrPSc conformations are able to induce the conversion of other PrP molecules.     

Folding and intrinsic stability of deletion variants of PrP(121-231), the folded C-terminal domain of the prion protein

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies in mammals are believed to be caused by PrPSc, the insoluble, oligomeric isoform of the cellular prion protein PrPC. PrPC and the subunits of PrPSc have identical covalent but different tertiary structure. To address the question of whether parts of the structure of PrPC are sufficiently stable to be retained in PrPSc, we have constructed two deletion variants of the C-terminal PrPC domain, PrP(121-231), which is the only part of recombinant PrP with defined tertiary structure. One of the variants, H2-H3, comprises the last two alpha-helices of PrP(121-231) that have been proposed to be preserved in models of PrP(Sc). In the other variant, PrP(121-231)-deltaH1, the first alpha-helix of PrP(121-231) was deleted and replaced by introduction of the beta-turn dipeptide Asn-Gly between the strands of the single beta-sheet of PrP(121-231). Although both deletion constructs still show alpha-helical CD-spectra, they are more disordered and thermodynamically strongly destabilized compared to PrP(121-231), with free energies of folding close to zero. These data demonstrate that the tertiary structure context is critical for the conformation of the segment comprising alpha-helix 2 and 3 in the solution structure of recombinant PrP.     

Glycosylinositol phospholipid anchors of the scrapie and cellular prion proteins contain sialic acid.

The only identified component of the scrapie prion is PrPSc, a glycosylinositol phospholipid (GPI)-linked protein that is derived from the cellular isoform (PrPC) by an as yet unknown posttranslational event. Analysis of the PrPSc GPI has revealed six different glycoforms, three of which are unprecedented. Two of the glycoforms contain N-acetylneuraminic acid, which has not been previously reported as a component of any GPI. The largest form of the GPI is proposed to have a glycan core consisting of Man alpha-Man alpha-Man-(NeuAc-Gal-GalNAc-)Man-GlcN-Ino. Identical PrPSc GPI structures were found for two distinct isolates or "strains" of prions which specify different incubation times, neuropathology, and PrPSc distribution in brains of Syrian hamsters. Limited analysis of the PrPC GPI reveals that it also has sialylated glycoforms, arguing that the presence of this monosaccharide does not distinguish PrPC from PrPSc.     

Prion diseases. The "prion" a remarkable infectious agents]

Prion diseases are a set of brain degenerative syndromes developed by many mammals. The epidemiological characteristics are remarkable, the origin of the disease is either infectious, genetics or sporadic. A protein synthesised by the host, the so-called prion protein (PrP), seems to be both the etiologic agent and it is also responsible for the induced pathology. This protein is found under two very different conformations. The normal cellular form (PrPC) is alpha-helix rich while the pathological (PrPSc) conformation is mainly composed of beta-sheet structures and resist proteinase-K attack. The conversion of the PrPC isoform to a structure resisting to proteinase-K has been demonstrated in vitro. In order to understand these phenomena, physico-chemical models have been proposed.     

Influence of amino acid substitutions related to inherited human prion diseases on the thermodynamic stability of the cellular prion protein

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) are caused by a unique infectious agent which appears to be identical with PrPSc, an oligomeric, misfolded isoform of the cellular prion protein, PrPC. All inherited forms of human TSEs, i.e., familial Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Gerstmann-Str?ussler-Scheinker syndrome, and fatal familial insomnia, segregate with specific point mutations or insertions in the gene coding for human PrP. Here we have tested the hypothesis that these mutations destabilize PrPC and thus facilitate its conversion into PrPSc. Eight of the disease-specific amino acid replacements are located in the C-terminal domain of PrPC, PrP(121-231), which constitutes the only part of PrPC with a defined tertiary structure. Introduction of all these replacements into PrP(121-231) yielded variants with the same spectroscopic characteristics as wild-type PrP(121-231) and similar to full-length PrP(23-231), which excludes the possibility that the exchanges a priori induce a PrPSc-like conformation. The thermodynamic stabilities of the variants do not correlate with specific disease phenotypes. Five of the amino acid replacements destabilize PrP(121-231), but the other variants have the same stability as the wild-type protein. These data suggest that destabilization of PrPC is neither a general mechanism underlying the formation of PrPSc nor the basis of disease phenotypes in inherited human TSEs.     

Prions and prion proteins

Neurodegenerative diseases of animals and humans including scrapie, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease are caused by unusual infectious pathogens called prions. There is no evidence for a nucleic acid in the prion, but diverse experimental results indicate that a host-derived protein called PrPSc is a component of the infectious particle. Experiments with scrapie-infected cultured cells show that PrPSc is derived from a normal cellular protein called PrPC through an unknown posttranslational process. We have analyzed the amino acid sequence and posttranslational modifications of PrPSc and its proteolytically truncated core PrP 27-30 to identify potential candidate modifications that could distinguish PrPSc from PrPC. The amino acid sequence of PrP 27-30 corresponds to that predicted from the gene and cDNA. Mass spectrometry of peptides derived from PrPSc has revealed numerous modifications including two N-linked carbohydrate moieties, removal of an amino-terminal signal sequence, and alternative COOH termini. Most molecules contain a glycosylinositol phospholipid (GPI) attached at Ser-231 that results in removal of 23 amino acids from the COOH terminus, whereas 15% of the protein molecules are truncated to end at Gly-228. The structure of the GPI from PrPSc has been analyzed and found to be novel, including the presence of sialic acid. Other experiments suggest that the N-linked oligosaccharides are not necessary for PrPSc formation. Although detailed comparison of PrPSc with PrPC is required, there is no obvious way in which any of the modifications might confer upon PrPSc its unusual physical properties and allow it to act as a component of the prion. If no chemical difference is found between PrPC and PrPSc, then the two isoforms of the prion protein may differ only in their conformations or by the presence of bound cellular components.