X连锁非特异性精神发育迟滞相关基因功能研究进展

X连锁非特异性精神发育迟滞相关基因是一类目前研究较多的基因,其突变或缺失患者仅具有一般或特殊认知功能障碍的单纯表现型。从生物学功能和认知功能两方面研究X连锁非特异性精神发育迟滞相关基因,不仅对弄清非特异性精神发育迟滞的遗传基础有重要意义,而且还能开拓出研究人类认知功能的分子遗传机理的新领域。文章就目前对X连锁非特异性精神发育迟滞相关基因的生物学功能和认知功能的研究现状,及该研究方向的发展前景进行了综述。      

与精神发育迟滞有关的IL1RAPL1基因研究进展

IL1RAPL1基因缺失、倒置以及突变会导致非特异性精神发育迟滞,因而与人类认知能力密切相关。研究该基因的生物学功能与认知功能将为临床诊断和防治精神发育迟滞提供参考。本文综述了IL1RAPL1基因产物、基因的生理功能与认知功能的研究现状,并对今后的进一步研究工作进行了展望。     

常染色体非特异性精神发育迟滞相关基因研究进展

常染色体上一些基因与神经系统的发育和功能密切相关, 突变后可导致非特异性精神发育迟滞。文章从基因定位、表达、生物学功能与突变后致病机理等方面, 对常染色体非特异性精神发育迟滞相关基因的研究现状进行了综述, 并展望了今后这一领域的研究前景。     

细胞信号转导与X连锁的非特异性精神发育迟滞

非特异性精神发育迟滞是患者仅表现出一般或特殊认知功能障碍的一种病症。对相关的基因及其生理功能进行研究,不仅对弄清非特异性精神发育迟滞的遗传基础有重要意义,还能揭示人类认知功能的分子遗传机理。文章对一些涉及X连锁的非特异精神发育迟滞的基因,其表达产物同时参与细胞信号转导的信号分子,如跨膜受体、鸟苷酸相关蛋白和激酶的生理功能及其研究现状进行了阐述,揭示了细胞信号转导与人类认知活动之间的密切关系,为精神发育迟滞的治疗或预防提供新思路。     

X连锁精神发育迟滞相关基因JARID1C研究进展

JARID1C基因属于X连锁精神发育迟滞相关基因之一, 其表达产物影响大脑神经系统中相关基因的转录和表达, 并可能与人类认知能力密切相关。对JARID1C基因功能的研究有助于理解该基因在精神发育迟滞形成和人类认知能力发展中的分子作用, 也能为精神发育迟滞的临床诊断和防治提供参考。文章对JARID1C基因的定位、分离、转录产物的生理功能及其认知功能做一综述, 并对以后的研究工作进行了展望。     

OPHN1基因的研究进展

OPHN1是X连锁的与非特异性精神发育迟滞有关的基因之一,编码RhoGTP酶激活蛋白（RhoGAP）,包含RhoGTP酶激活结构域和氨基末端结构域,参与调节RhoGTP酶的信号转导过程。它广泛表达于机体神经系统,并被严格调控。基因内的突变会导致精神发育迟滞的发生。对这些非特异性精神发育迟滞相关基因的研究,将有助于揭示智力活动中认知过程的分子基础。     

X染色体变异对男性精神发育迟滞致病性的研究进展

精神发育迟滞(旧称智力低下)作为儿科神经科常见的一组疾患,具有高度的遗传和表型异质性,大约25%~50%的精神发育迟滞是由遗传因素引起的,其中X染色体基因/基因组变异占25%~30%,导致X连锁的精神发育迟滞。X连锁的精神发育迟滞患者占所有精神发育迟滞患者的10%~15％以上,约20%~25％的男性精神发育迟滞归因于X连锁的精神发育迟滞。精神发育迟滞男女患病比例为1.3:1,这与男性只有一条X染色体的遗传背景有关。随着新一代基因组检测技术的快速发展和临床应用,尤其是全外显子测序、高深度测序、X染色体深度测序和全基因组芯片杂交,这些大大改善了精神发育迟滞患者的X染色体基因/基因组变异检出。本文综述了致精神发育迟滞的X染色体基因组/基因变异特点、其对男性精神发育迟滞的致病性,以及如何采用新测序技术提高检出率,旨在促进科研人员认识X染色体变异在男性精神发育迟滞的致病性,拓宽精神发育迟滞遗传病因的认识,同时也为遗传咨询和产前诊断提供理论依据。     

OPHN1基因rs492933位点多态性与秦巴山区汉族儿童非特异精神发育迟滞的相关性研究

OPHN1基因编码RhoGTP酶激活蛋白(RhoGAP), 是X连锁的与非特异性精神发育迟滞有关的基因之一。采用PCR-RFLP方法, 对234名陕西秦巴山区正常的汉族儿童以及精神发育迟滞(Mental retardation, MR)患者的OPHN1基因5′非翻译区中的单核苷酸多态位点(Single nucleotide polymorphism, SNP) rs492933的等位基因频率和基因型频率以及是否与非特异精神发育迟滞相关进行分析。结果发现: 这一位点基因频率C为0.826, T为0.174; MR组与对照组之间基因型频率和基因频率没有显著性差异, 边缘组与对照组之间基因型频率和基因频率也没有显著性差异。证明OPHN1基因内SNP rs492933的多态性与秦巴山区汉族儿童精神发育迟滞不存在相关性。     

GDI1基因多态性与秦巴山区儿童NSMR及其智力水平的相关性研究

用来自中国中西部秦巴山区的非特异性精神发育迟滞患者及正常对照人群为样本, 通过研究分别位于GDI1基因第7外显子剪接区和第8外显子上的rs2276462和rs11549300两个功能SNP位点的多态性, 探索GDI1基因的多态现象与当地儿童的精神发育迟滞及其智力水平的相关性。在样本人群中仅观察到rs11549300位点的多态现象, 而rs2276462位点在秦巴山区儿童中十分保守。病例-对照分析结果显示, rs11549300位点多态性与秦巴山区儿童的非特异性精神发育迟滞无显著相关性(P>0.05), 但是其多态现象可能与当地儿童的智力水平有一定的相关性(P=0.03), 但是这一结论还需要在更大样本中, 通过选择更多的遗传标记来进一步确证。     

p21活化激酶的生物学活性及其与肿瘤的关系

p21活化激酶(p21-activatedkinase,PAK),为一类进化上保守的丝氨酸/苏氨酸蛋白激酶。PAK在许多组织中广泛表达,作为小G蛋白Rho家族Cdc42和Rac1的下游靶蛋白,可以被生长因子及其他胞外信号通过GTP酶依赖的信号通路或非GTP酶依赖的信号通路活化,发挥多种生物学效应。PAK作为一种重要的生物学调节因子,在哺乳动物一系列细胞功能中具有重要作用,如:细胞运动、细胞生存、细胞周期、血管生成、基因转录调节及癌细胞的侵袭转移。通过对PAK家族成员信号转导机制的研究,为癌症治疗提供分子靶标。     

p21-Activated kinase 3 (PAK3) protein regulates synaptic transmission through its interaction with the Nck2/Grb4 protein adaptor

Mutations in the p21-activated kinase 3 gene (pak3) are responsible for nonsyndromic forms of mental retardation. Expression of mutated PAK3 proteins in hippocampal neurons induces abnormal dendritic spine morphology and long term potentiation anomalies, whereas pak3 gene invalidation leads to cognitive impairments. How PAK3 regulates synaptic plasticity is still largely unknown. To better understand how PAK3 affects neuronal synaptic plasticity, we focused on its interaction with the Nck adaptors that play a crucial role in PAK signaling. We report here that PAK3 interacts preferentially with Nck2/Grb4 in brain extracts and in transfected cells. This interaction is independent of PAK3 kinase activity. Selective uncoupling of the Nck2 interactions in acute cortical slices using an interfering peptide leads to a rapid increase in evoked transmission to pyramidal neurons. The P12A mutation in the PAK3 protein strongly decreases the interaction with Nck2 but only slightly with Nck1. In transfected hippocampal cultures, expression of the P12A-mutated protein has no effect on spine morphogenesis or synaptic density. The PAK3-P12A mutant does not affect synaptic transmission, whereas the expression of the wild-type PAK3 protein decreases the amplitude of spontaneous miniature excitatory currents. Altogether, these data show that PAK3 down-regulates synaptic transmission through its interaction with Nck2.     

Targeted disruption of the gene for the PAK5 kinase in mice

PAK5 is a member of the group B family of PAK serine/threonine kinases and is an effector for the Rho GTPase Cdc42. PAK5 is highly expressed in the brain and is expressed at lower levels in several other tissues. In cell lines, PAK5 has been shown to play a role in filopodia formation and neurite outgrowth. To examine the biological function of PAK5, we deleted the PAK5 gene in mice. The phenotypes of the PAK5-null mice are completely different from those of mice null for PAK4, another member of the group B PAK family. Unlike PAK4-null mice, which are embryonic lethal, PAK5-null mice develop normally and are fertile. The nervous system appears normal in the absence of PAK5, as do other tissues in which PAK5 is normally expressed. Our results suggest functional redundancy between PAK5 and other Rho GTPase targets.     

p21‐activated kinase 7 is an oncogene in human osteosarcoma

p21‐activated kinase 7 (PAK7), also named as PAK5, is a member of Rac/Cdc42‐associated Ser/Thr protein kinases. It is overexpressed in some types of cancer such as colorectal and pancreatic cancers. However, the expression status and biological function of PAK7 in osteosarcoma are still ambiguous. To evaluate the expression levels of PAK7 in osteosarcoma tissues and cell lines, immunohistochemistry was used. To investigate the role of PAK7 in cell proliferation, apoptosis and tumorigenicity in vitro and vivo, a recombinant lentivirus expressing PAK7 short hairpin RNA (Lv‐shPAK7) was developed and transfected into Saos‐2 cells. The silencing effect of PAK7 was confirmed by quantitative real‐time PCR (qRT‐PCR) and Western blot technique. PAK7 was overexpressed in osteosarcoma tissue and cell line. By knocking‐down of PAK7, the proliferation and colony formation of Saos‐2 cells were inhibited and apoptosis enhanced significantly. The in vivo tumorigenic ability in xenograft model of Saos‐2 cells was also notably inhibited when PAK7 was knocked down. Our results imply that PAK7 promotes cell proliferation and tumorigenesis and may be an attractive candidate for the therapeutic target of osteosarcoma.     

Central nervous system functions of PAK protein family

Several of the genes currently known to be associated, when mutated, with mental retardation, code for molecules directly involved in Rho guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) signaling. These include PAK3, a member of the PAK protein kinase family, which are important effectors of small GTPases. In many systems, PAK kinases play crucial roles regulating complex mechanisms such as cell migration, differentiation, or survival. Their precise functions in the central nervous system remain, however, unclear. Although their activity does not seem to be required for normal brain development, several recent studies point to a possible involvement in more subtle mechanisms such as neurite outgrowth, spine morphogenesis or synapse formation, and plasticity. This article reviews this information in the light of the current knowledge available on the molecular characteristics of the different members of this family and discuss the mechanisms through which they might contribute to cognitive functions.     

Central Nervous System Functions of PAK Protein Family: From Spine Morphogenesis to Mental Retardation.

Several of the genes currently known to be associated, when mutated, with mental retardation, code for molecules directly involved in Rho guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) signaling. These include PAK3, a member of the PAK protein kinase family, which are important effectors of small GTPases. In many systems, PAK kinases play crucial roles regulating complex mechanisms such as cell migration, differentiation, or survival. Their precise functions in the central nervous system remain, however, unclear. Although their activity does not seem to be required for normal brain development, several recent studies point to a possible involvement in more subtle mechanisms such as neurite outgrowth, spine morphogenesis or synapse formation, and plasticity. This article reviews this information in the light of the current knowledge available on the molecular characteristics of the different members of this family and discuss the mechanisms through which they might contribute to cognitive functions.     

人PAK1重组蛋白质的表达及在人胃癌BGC-823细胞内定位

为检测人PAK1在原核细胞中的表达情况及在真核细胞中的定位,利用RT-PCR技术获得PAK1目的基因,构建GST融合蛋白原核表达载体pGEX-5X-1/PAK1,IPTG诱导后进行SDS-PAGE及Western印迹检测,并用体外激酶实验测定其生物学活性;同时,构建带绿色荧光蛋白(GFP)标签的真核表达载体pEGFP/PAK1,利用脂质体法转入人胃癌BGC-823细胞系中,在共焦激光扫描显微镜下观察癌细胞中绿色荧光蛋白的表达。结果表明,pGEX-5X-1/PAK1载体能在大肠杆菌BL-21中正确表达GST-PAK1融合蛋白,大小约为94kDa,具有生物活性;PAK1绿色荧光蛋白定位于细胞浆。上述研究为进一步探索PAK1的生物学特性及信号转导通路打下了基础。     

Lethality of PAK3 and SGK2 shRNAs to Human Papillomavirus Positive Cervical Cancer Cells Is Independent of PAK3 and SGK2 Knockdown

The p21-activated kinase 3 (PAK3) and the serum and glucocorticoid-induced kinase 2 (SGK2) have been previously proposed as essential kinases for human papillomavirus positive (HPV+) cervical cancer cell survival. This was established using a shRNA knockdown approach. To validate PAK3 and SGK2 as potential targets for HPV+ cervical cancer therapy, the relationship between shRNA-induced phenotypes in HPV+ cervical cancer cells and PAK3 or SGK2 knockdown was carefully examined. We observed that the phenotypes of HPV+ cervical cancer cells induced by various PAK3 and SGK2 shRNAs could not be rescued by complement expression of respective cDNA constructs. A knockdown-deficient PAK3 shRNA with a single mismatch was sufficient to inhibit HeLa cell growth to a similar extent as wild-type PAK3 shRNA. The HPV+ cervical cancer cells were also susceptible to several non-human target shRNAs. The discrepancy between PAK3 and SGK2 shRNA-induced apoptosis and gene expression knockdown, as well as cell death stimulation, suggested that these shRNAs killed HeLa cells through different pathways that may not be target-specific. These data demonstrated that HPV+ cervical cancer cell death was not associated with RNAi-induced PAK3 and SGK2 knockdown but likely through off-target effects.