温度对胸腺激素理化性质和生物活性的影响

为探讨胸腺激素耐受的最高温度,将胸腺因子Ｄ、胸腺素和胸腺肽加热至１２１℃、１２５℃、１３０℃,直至１９０℃１５ｍｉｎ。结果：加热１４０℃以下１５ｍｉｎ,其色泽、澄明度、紫外吸收峰、旋光度、ＰＨ值、蛋白质含量、相对比移值和活性玫瑰花形成率,与未加热样品比较,均无明显变化;加热至１５０℃以上,上述指标除紫外吸收峰外,余均显著改变。结果表明,胸腺因子Ｄ、胸腺素和胸腺肽能耐受１４０℃１５ｍｉｎ。     

New starches: Physicochemical properties of sweetsop (Annona squamosa) and soursop (Anonna muricata) starches

Starch from the fruits of sweetsop (Anonna squamosa) and soursop (Anonna muricata) were isolated and purified and the fat, ash, phosphorus and protein contents measured. The amount of amylose present was determined spectrophotometrically and found to be very similar (19%) for both starches. Scanning electron microscopy showed very small indented and spherical granules from both with an average granule size of 4.84 μm and 4.72 μm, respectively. The physicochemical properties, namely the swelling power, solubility, pasting characteristics, paste clarity and freeze–thaw stability were studied to assess the functionality of the starch pastes as hydrocolloids. The sweetsop starch showed higher swelling power and solubility compared to soursop starch and had a lower gelatinization temperature indicating a weaker granular structure. Sweetsop starch exhibited a lower pasting temperature, higher viscosity peak, higher viscosity breakdown and lower setback, higher paste clarity and freeze–thaw stability compared to soursop starch. The low gelatinization temperature and high freeze thaw stability of sweetsop starch are comparable to that of waxy corn. The properties of sweetsop indicate that it has potential for application as a thickener in frozen foods.     

动物源溶菌酶研究进展

动物源溶菌酶是一种动物体内广泛存在的酶类,它可以水解细菌细胞壁肽聚糖中的β-1,4糖苷键,具有消化分解细菌、抑制外源微生物生长、增强机体免疫力的作用.目前溶菌酶已被用作研究蛋白功能、性质以及分子进化的模型.首先介绍了溶菌酶及其分子的晶体结构,溶菌酶基因及其蛋白研究进展,其次介绍了动物源溶菌酶的功能,包括溶菌酶生物学功能和重组蛋白功能活性,重点介绍了溶菌酶基因在转基因工程中的应用研究,最后对动物源溶菌酶研究进行了展望.研究动物源溶菌酶对于基础科学,并应用其转变成现实生产力具有重要的指导意义.     

Inhibition of Pokeweed Antiviral Protein (PAP) by Turnip Mosaic Virus Genome-linked Protein (VPg)

Pokeweed antiviral protein (PAP) from Phytolacca americana is a ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP) and an RNA N-glycosidase that removes specific purine residues from the sarcin/ricin loop of large rRNA, arresting protein synthesis at the translocation step. PAP is also a cap-binding protein and is a potent antiviral agent against many plant, animal, and human viruses. To elucidate the mechanism of RNA depurination, and to understand how PAP recognizes and targets various RNAs, the interactions between PAP and turnip mosaic virus genome-linked protein (VPg) were investigated. VPg can function as a cap analog in cap-independent translation and potentially target PAP to uncapped IRES-containing RNA. In this work, fluorescence spectroscopy and HPLC techniques were used to quantitatively describe PAP depurination activity and PAP-VPg interactions. PAP binds to VPg with high affinity (29.5 nm); the reaction is enthalpically driven and entropically favored. Further, VPg is a potent inhibitor of PAP depurination of RNA in wheat germ lysate and competes with structured RNA derived from tobacco etch virus for PAP binding. VPg may confer an evolutionary advantage by suppressing one of the plant defense mechanisms and also suggests the possible use of this protein against the cytotoxic activity of ribosome-inactivating proteins.     

Diverse Sequence Determinants Control Human and Mouse Receptor Interacting Protein 3 (RIP3) and Mixed Lineage Kinase domain-Like (MLKL) Interaction in Necroptotic Signaling

Receptor interacting protein 3 (RIP3) is a protein kinase essential for TNF-induced necroptosis. Phosphorylation on Ser-227 in human RIP3 (hRIP3) is required for its interaction with human mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL) in the necrosome, a signaling complex induced by TNF stimulation. RIP1 and RIP3 mediate necrosome aggregation leading to the formation of amyloid-like signaling complexes. We found that TNF induces Thr-231 and Ser-232 phosphorylation in mouse RIP3 (mRIP3) and this phosphorylation is required for mRIP3 to interact with mMLKL. Ser-232 in mRIP3 corresponds to Ser-227 in hRIP3, whereas Thr-231 is not conserved in hRIP3. Although the RIP3-MLKL interaction is required for necroptosis in both human and mouse cells, hRIP3 does not interact with mMLKL and mRIP3 cannot bind to hMLKL. The species specificity of the RIP3-MLKL interaction is primarily determined by the sequence differences in the phosphorylation sites and the flanking sequence around the phosphorylation sites in hRIP3 and mRIP3. It appears that the RIP3-MLKL interaction has been selected as an evolutionarily conserved mechanism in mediating necroptosis signaling despite that differing structural and mechanistic bases for this interaction emerged simultaneously in different organisms. In addition, we further revealed that the interaction of RIP3 with MLKL prevented massive abnormal RIP3 aggregation, and therefore should be crucial for formation of the amyloid signaling complex of necrosomes. We also found that the interaction between RIP3 and MLKL is required for the translocation of necrosomes to mitochondria-associated membranes. Our data demonstrate the importance of the RIP3-MLKL interaction in the formation of functional necrosomes and suggest that translocation of necrosomes to mitochondria-associated membranes is essential for necroptosis signaling.     

C-terminal modification of osteopontin inhibits interaction with the αVβ3-integrin

Osteopontin (OPN) is a multifunctional phosphorylated protein containing the integrin binding sequence Arg-Gly-Asp through which it interacts with several integrin receptors, such as the α(V)β(3)-integrin. OPN exists in many different isoforms differing in phosphorylation status that are likely to interact differently with integrins. The C-terminal region of OPN is particularly well conserved among mammalian species, which suggests an important functional role of this region. In this study, we show that modification of the extreme C terminus of OPN plays an important regulatory role for the interaction with the α(V)β(3)-integrin. It is demonstrated that highly phosphorylated OPN has a much reduced capability to promote cell adhesion via the α(V)β(3)-integrin compared with lesser phosphorylated forms. The cell attachment promoted by highly phosphorylated OPN could be greatly increased by both dephosphorylation and proteolytic removal of the C terminus. Using recombinantly expressed OPN containing a tag in the N or C terminus, it is shown that a modification in the C-terminal part significantly reduces the adhesion of cells to OPN via the α(V)β(3)-integrin, whereas modification of the N terminus does not influence the binding. The inhibited binding of the α(V)β(3)-integrin to OPN could be restored by proteolytic removal of the C terminus by thrombin and plasmin. These data illustrate a novel mechanism regulating the interaction of OPN and the α(V)β(3)-integrin by modification of the highly conserved C-terminal region of the protein.     

A comparative in silico characterization of functional and physicochemical properties of 3FTx (three finger toxin) proteins from four venomous snakes

Snake venom is an abundant resource of diverse pharmacologically bioactive proteins and peptides and a good natural source of drug lead compounds and used as important research tools in the field of toxicology, pharmacology and neuroscience. Three finger toxins (3FTx) is an important super-family of snake venom proteins which has a conserved three finger like appearance in three dimensional structures. Members of 3FTx family show a wide array of pharmacological effects by targeting different receptors and ion channels with high specificity and many of them are being investigated as potential drug target. Therefore, with a vision to verdict a new edge and attempt we determined the amino acid compositional (%) profile, physiochemical properties, secondary structural and functional analysis and phylogenetic relationship of three finger toxins present in four different elapid snake species namely, Naja naja, Astrotia stokesii, Hydrophis cyanocintus and Pelamis platura using different bioinformatics tools. From the outcome of the current studies, it will be possible to know about a range of biological functions which are responsible mainly for the glowing amino acid composition profile of these proteins. Amino acid composition (%) profile although represents differential amount of different amino acid residues which encompasses a family precise model but all the protein sequence have a conserved amount of cysteine. The analysis of physicochemical properties can be used as a basic approach to contribute in developing rational drug through protein engineering and understanding different physiological function which will be beneficial for the welfare of human being.     

Role of pollination in yield and physicochemical properties of tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum)

Very little is known about pollination and its effects on the yield and physicochemical properties of flowering plants in tropical countries. Wind and insect pollinators are among our natural resources because pollination is the most important ecosystem service performed by wind and insects, and is vital to the socio-economic status of human beings. In this experiment, different pollination methods for tomato plants were examined. Self-pollination was encouraged by covering the plants with a plastic sheet. Wind and insects were excluded from these plants, and thus only self-pollination was possible. The experiment occurred during the flowering stage. Wind-pollinated plants were covered with a muslin cloth, which excluded insects, and only wind could pass through the cloth. For insect pollination, plants remained uncovered, allowing free access to insects to pollinate the flowers. At fruit maturity, when fruits were completely red, fruits from each treatment were harvested on the same date and under the same conditions. Results illustrated the substantial importance of insects as pollinators of tomato crops. Open field had greater tomato yield and positive effects on physicochemical properties on fruit than under self and wind pollination.     

The design and synthesis of a potent glucagon receptor antagonist with favorable physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties as a candidate for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus

A novel and potent small molecule glucagon receptor antagonist for the treatment of diabetes mellitus is reported. This candidate, (S)-3-[4-(1-{3,5-dimethyl-4-[4-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]phenoxy}butyl)benzamido]propanoic acid, has lower molecular weight and lipophilicity than historical glucagon receptor antagonists, resulting in excellent selectivity in broad-panel screening, lower cytotoxicity, and excellent overall in vivo safety in early pre-clinical testing. Additionally, it displays low in vivo clearance and excellent oral bioavailability in both rats and dogs. In a rat glucagon challenge model, it was shown to reduce the glucagon-elicited glucose excursion in a dose-dependent manner and at a concentration consistent with its rat in vitro potency. Its properties make it an excellent candidate for further investigation.     

基于生物信息学方法分析人CREB结合蛋白的结构与功能

为了预测分析人CREB结合蛋白(CREB-binding protein,CBP)的结构和功能。本研究利用生物信息学相关数据库及软件对人CBP蛋白的理化性质、保守性、亚细胞定位、信号肽、跨膜结构域、二级结构、三级结构、相互作用蛋白及功能进行预测。结果表明,人CBP蛋白是一种定位于核内的不稳定亲水性蛋白质,无跨膜区和信号肽。其二级结构以无规卷曲和α-螺旋为主,并且该蛋白质HAT结构域在各物种间高度保守,推测与其酶活性密切相关的氨基酸残基为Tyr1433、Leu1434、Asp1435、Arg1664。此外,人CBP蛋白能够与TP53、CREB1、NCAO3等多种转录因子或转录辅激活因子发生相互作用,主要参与转录调控、细胞分化、组织发育、信号转导及细胞凋亡等生物学过程。本研究为进一步研究CBP在恶性肿瘤发生发展中的作用机制提供了理论依据。