Mouse MIM,a tissue-specific regulator of cytoskeletal dynamics,interacts with ATP-actin monomers through its C-terminal WH2 domain

The WH2 (WASP homology domain-2) is a small actin monomer-binding motif and is found in many proteins that regulate the actin cytoskeleton, including the beta-thymosins, ciboulot, WASP, and verprolin/WIP (WASP-interacting protein). In sequence database searches we identified a novel mouse protein containing a WH2 domain in its C-terminal region. This mouse gene also shows strong sequence homology to human MIM (Missing in Metastasis), a cDNA fragment that is present in non-metastatic but absent in metastatic bladder cancer cell lines. Northern blot and in situ hybridizations show that MIM is strongly expressed in the developing neurons and skeletal and cardiac muscles in mouse embryos. In adult mice, the strongest expression of MIM mRNA is in liver, outer layers of the kidney, and in the Purkinje cells of the brain. Recombinant MIM protein interacts with actin monomers and inhibits actin filament nucleation in vitro. However, the MIM/ATP-G-actin complex can participate in actin filament assembly at the barbed end. MIM binds ATP-G-actin with a higher affinity (K(D) = 0.06 microm) than ADP-G-actin (K(D) = 0.3 microm) and inhibits the nucleotide exchange on actin monomers. Site-directed mutagenesis demonstrates that the actin monomer-binding site resides in the C-terminal WH2 domain of MIM. Overexpression of mouse MIM in NIH 3T3 cells results in the disappearance of actin stress fibers and appearance of abnormal actin filament structures. These data show that MIM is an ATP-G-actin binding protein that regulates cytoskeletal dynamics in specialized mammalian cell-types.     

烟草乙烯转录因子ERF基因NtTOE3的克隆、载体构建及表达分析

ERF（Ethylene-responsive factor）是一类具有AP2特征结构域的乙烯应答转录因子,在响应植物的逆境胁迫应答中起关键作用。为明确ERF家族成员TOE3在烟草中的生物学功能和调控机制,同源克隆普通烟草K326中NtTOE3基因cDNA全长,利用实时荧光定量PCR（qRT-PCR）表征基因表达模式,结合生物信息学分析,对基因功能和调控机制进行初步预测。结果表明,该基因全长1 356 bp,编码451个氨基酸残基,预测分子量为49.84 ku。生物信息学分析表明,该蛋白是一个亲水蛋白,可能定位在细胞核,且与美花烟草（Nicotiana sylvestris）NsTOE3有96%的同源性,故命名为NtTOE3。组织表达分析发现,该基因在烟草根、茎、叶、花中均有表达,其中茎中表达量最高。逆境胁迫试验表明,该基因能快速响应低钾、高盐、干旱、H₂O₂、ABA和4℃等逆境处理。表明NtTOE3转录因子在烟草非生物胁迫中起着重要调节作用。     

Wsp1, a GBD/CRIB domain-containing WASP homolog, is required for growth, morphogenesis, and virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans

Human endocytic protein ITSN1 regulates actin reorganization by activating Rho family GTPases, such as Cdc42. The process is enhanced by ITSN binding of WASP, an effector of Cdc42 and a potent activator of actin polymerization. In the human pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans, endocytic protein Cin1 also interacts with Cdc42 and Wsp1, an uncharacterized WASP homolog, but the significance of these interactions remains unknown. Wsp1 contains several conserved domains, including a WASP homology 1 domain (WH1), a GTPase binding/Cdc42 and Rac interactive binding domain (GBD/CRIB), and a C-terminal domain composed of verprolin-like, central, and acidic motifs (VCA). Thus, Wsp1 exhibits domain compositions more similar to human WASP proteins than Saccharomyces cerevisiae Las17/Bee1, a WASP homolog lacking the GDB/CRIB domain. Wsp1 is not an essential protein; however, the wsp1 mutant exhibited defects in growth, cytokinesis, chitin distribution, and endocytosis and exocytosis. The wsp1 mutant was also unable to undergo genetic cross, produce the polysaccharide capsule, or secrete the enzyme urease. An in vitro phagocytosis assay showed a higher phagocytic index for the wsp1 mutant, whose ability to cause lethal infection in a murine model of cryptococcosis was also attenuated. Our studies reveal divergent evolution of WASP proteins in the fungal phylum and suggest that the conserved function of WASP proteins in the actin cytoskeleton may also impact fungal virulence.     

Human and mouse LSP1 genes code for highly conserved phosphoproteins

With use of the mouse LSP1 cDNA we isolated a human homologue of the mouse LSP1 gene from a human CTL cDNA library. The predicted protein sequence of human LSP1 is compared with the predicted mouse LSP1 protein sequence and regions of homology are identified in order to predict structural features of the LSP1 protein that might be important for its function. Both the human and mouse LSP1 proteins consist of two domains, an N-terminal acidic domain and a C-terminal basic domain. The C-terminal domains of the mouse and human LSP1 proteins are highly conserved and include several conserved, putative serine/threonine phosphorylation sites. Immunoprecipitation of LSP1 protein from 32P-orthophosphate-loaded cells show that both the mouse and human LSP1 proteins are phosphoproteins. The sequences of the putative Ca2(+)-binding sites present in the N-terminal domain of the mouse LSP1 protein are not conserved in the human LSP1 protein; however, a different Ca2(+)-binding site may exist in the human protein, indicating a functional conservation rather than a strict sequence conservation of the two proteins. The expression of the human LSP1 gene follows the same pattern as the expression of the mouse LSP1 gene. Southern analysis of human genomic DNA shows multiple LSP1-related fragments of varying intensity in contrast to the simple pattern found after similar analysis of mouse genomic DNA. By using different parts of the human LSP1 cDNA as a probe, we show that most of these multiple bands contain sequences homologous to the conserved C-terminal region of the LSP1 cDNA. This suggests that there are several LSP1-related genes present in the human genome.     

The nos (nitrous oxide reductase) gene cluster from the soil bacterium Achromobacter cycloclastes: Cloning, sequence analysis, and expression

The nitrous oxide (N₂O) reductase (nos) gene cluster from Achromobacter cycloclastes has been cloned and sequenced. Seven protein coding regions corresponding to nosR, nosZ (structural N₂O reductase gene), nosD, nosF, nosY, nosL, and nosX are detected, indicating a genetic organization similar to that of Rhizobium meliloti. To aid homology studies, nosR from R. meliloti has also been sequenced. Comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences with corresponding sequences from other organisms has also allowed structural and functional inferences to be made. The heterologous expression of NosD, NosZ (N₂O reductase), and NosL is also reported. A model of the Cu_A site in N₂O reductase, based on the crystal structure of this site in bovine heart cytochrome c oxidase, is presented. The model suggests that a His residue of the Cu_A domain may be a ligand to the catalytic Cu_Z site. In addition, the origin of the spectroscopically-observed Cys coordination to Cu_Z is discussed in terms of the sequence alignment of seven N₂O reductases.     

小黑杨转录因子PsnbZIP1应答盐胁迫功能分析

为揭示小黑杨(Populus simonii×P. nigra)在面对非生物胁迫时,转录因子PsnbZIP1在植物体内发挥的功能,以小黑杨为试验材料,克隆得到PsnbZIP1的ORF区序列长为432 bp,并初步分析PsnbZIP1盐胁迫下的分子机制。采用q-PCR分析PsnbZIP1在150 mmol·L^-1 NaCl处理小黑杨组培苗时的表达模式,发现该基因的表达量快速上升;通过生物信息学分析预测PsnbZIP1转录因子为无跨膜结构且具有信号肽的亲水性不稳定蛋白;用农杆菌(Agrobacterium)介导的烟草(Nicotiana)瞬时表达观察该基因的亚细胞定位情况,结果表明该基因为核定位蛋白;用酵母单杂交实验证明该基因编码的蛋白在酵母体内不具有转录激活功能。对PsnbZIP1基因的启动子序列进行分析,结果表明该启动子包含了生长素应答、脱落酸应答元件、光应答元件以及种子特异性调控的顺式作用调控元件,该基因可能在植物的生长发育与响应胁迫过程中发挥了重要作用;启动子还包括参与干旱诱导的MYB结合位点和MYBHv1结合位点,表明该基因有可能与一些干旱诱导相关MYB基因...     

Identification and characterization of thrombospondin-4, a new member of the thrombospondin gene family

A new member of the thrombospondin gene family, designated thrombospondin-4, has been identified in the Xenopus laevis genome. The predicted amino acid sequence indicates that the protein is similar to the other members of this gene family in the structure of the type 3 repeats and the COOH-terminal domain. Thrombospondin-4 contains four type 2 repeats and lacks the type 1 repeats that are found in thrombospondin-1 and 2. The amino-terminal domain of thrombospondin-4 has no significant homology with the other members of the thrombospondin gene family or with other proteins in the database. RNAse protection analysis establishes that the initial expression of Xenopus thrombospondin-4 is observed during neurulation. Levels of mRNA expression increase twofold during tailbud stages but decrease by the feeding tadpole stage. The size of the thrombospondin-4 message is 3.3 Kb and 3.4 Kb in the frog and human, respectively. Northern blot analysis of human tissues reveals high levels of thrombospondin-4 expression in heart and skeletal muscle, low levels in brain, lung and pancreas and undetectable levels in the placenta, liver and kidney. These data establish the existence of a new member of the thrombospondin gene family that may participate in the genesis and function of cardiac and skeletal muscle.     

Expression of Zkrml2, a homologue of the Krml1/val segmentation gene, during embryonic patterning of the zebrafish (Danio rerio)

We have identified Zkrml2, a novel homologue of the segmentation gene Krml/val in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Zkrml2 shows 72% and 92% identity in its basic leucine zipper domain with mouse Krml1 and zebrafish val, respectively. Zkrml2 is expressed coincident with MyoD throughout the somites starting at the three somite stage, becomes restricted to the dermomyotome, and subsequently disappears. Transient expression is also detected in the reticulospinal and oculomotor neurons. Zkrml2 maps to the Oregon linkage group 11 (Boston Linkage group 14) with no mapped zebrafish mutations nearby.     

Overexpression of the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein N-terminal domain in transgenic mice inhibits T cell proliferative responses via TCR signaling without affecting cytoskeletal rearrangements

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is an X-linked recessive disorder characterized by thrombocytopenia with small platelets, severe eczema, and recurrent infections due to defects in the immune system. The disease arises from mutations in the gene encoding the WAS protein (WASP), which plays a role as an adaptor molecule in signal transduction accompanied by cytoskeletal rearrangement in T cells. To investigate the functional domain of WASP, we developed transgenic mice overexpressing the WASP N-terminal region (exon 1-5) including the Ena/VASP homology 1 (pleckstrin homology/WASP homology 1) domain, in which the majority of mutations in WAS patients have been observed. WASP transgenic mice develop and grow normally under the specific pathogen-free environment, and showed normal lymphocyte development. However, proliferative responses and cytokine production induced by TCR stimulation were strongly inhibited in transgenic mice, whereas Ag receptor capping and actin polymerization were normal. These findings suggest that overexpressed Ena/VASP homology 1 (pleckstrin homology/WASP homology 1) domain of WASP inhibits the signaling from TCR without coupling of cytoskeletal rearrangement. WASP transgenic mice shown here could be valuable tools for further understanding the WASP-mediated processes.     

MADS-box转录因子编码基因Vvrin1在草菇不同发育时期的表达分析

草菇是我国土特产出口的主要种类之一,而采后易开伞问题限制了草菇的贮藏及运输。MADS-box转录因子对植物的成熟衰老和真菌的子实体发育起到重要的调控作用。目前尚未见草菇MADS-box转录因子的相关报道。本研究通过生物信息方法及分子生物学的手段对草菇的基因组、转录组数据进行分析,获得了草菇MADS-box转录因子基因Vvrin1。该基因全长1 392bp,含2个内含子,编码419个氨基酸残基。该转录因子含有一个MADS-box结构域,序列与双孢蘑菇Agaricus bisporus、斑玉蕈Hypsizygus marmoreus和灰盖鬼伞Coprinopsis cinerea的MADS-box转录因子相似性分别为71%、67%和61%。通过表达谱数据及荧光定量PCR分析表明Vvrin1基因在草菇子实体伸长期菌柄的表达量出现高峰,具有极显著性差异（P<0.01）,推测该转录因子参与调控草菇菌柄的伸长,菌盖的开伞。这些结果为草菇成熟衰老（特别是开伞）的调控研究提供数据支持。