凋亡素蛋白多克隆抗体的制备及免疫学评价

凋亡素由鸡贫血病毒中的VP3基因编码,能诱导多种肿瘤细胞发生凋亡。以真核表达载体pcDNA3.0-VP3为模板构建原核表达载体pET8a-VP3,经NdeⅠ/BamHⅠ双酶切鉴定和基因测序无误后,在IPGT诱导下表达VP3蛋白并对其进行纯化,将纯化后的VP3蛋白与弗氏完全佐剂或不完全佐剂乳化后,分别对两只新西兰大耳白兔进行皮下多点注射,间接ELISA检测免疫后血清效价,效价达到指标后第2天以心脏穿刺的方法采全血后分离抗血清。抗血清效价高的兔子进一步采用Protein A纯化总IgG,最终纯化后的抗体效价可以达到1 ∶ 243 000。用重组腺相关病毒rAAV-VP3感染细胞后对抗体的特异性进行免疫学评价。首先利用免疫荧光技术检测VP3基因在人膀胱癌细胞株T24、EJ细胞以及Vero细胞中的表达情况,观察到凋亡素在T24、EJ细胞中主要定位于细胞核,而在Vero细胞中则定位于细胞质。其次通过Western blotting检测纯化后的抗体能与细胞内腺相关病毒介导表达的凋亡素蛋白特异性结合。实验证明了制备的凋亡素蛋白多克隆抗体的有效性和特异性,为进一步阐明凋亡素抗肿瘤效应的分子机制及生物学特性奠定了基础。     

Interdomain salt‐bridges in the Ebola virus protein VP40 and their role in domain association and plasma membrane localization

The Ebola virus protein VP40 is a transformer protein that possesses an extraordinary ability to accomplish multiple functions by transforming into various oligomeric conformations. The disengagement of the C‐terminal domain (CTD) from the N‐terminal domain (NTD) is a crucial step in the conformational transformations of VP40 from the dimeric form to the hexameric form or octameric ring structure. Here, we use various molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to investigate the dynamics of the VP40 protein and the roles of interdomain interactions that are important for the domain–domain association and dissociation, and report on experimental results of the behavior of mutant variants of VP40. The MD studies find that various salt‐bridge interactions modulate the VP40 domain dynamics by providing conformational specificity through interdomain interactions. The MD simulations reveal a novel salt‐bridge between D45‐K326 when the CTD participates in a latch‐like interaction with the NTD. The D45‐K326 salt‐bridge interaction is proposed to help domain–domain association, whereas the E76‐K291 interaction is important for stabilizing the closed‐form structure. The effects of the removal of important VP40 salt‐bridges on plasma membrane (PM) localization, VP40 oligomerization, and virus like particle (VLP) budding assays were investigated experimentally by live cell imaging using an EGFP‐tagged VP40 system. It is found that the mutations K291E and D45K show enhanced PM localization but D45K significantly reduced VLP formation.     

Protein kinase Cδ and caspase‐3 modulate TRAIL‐induced apoptosis in breast tumor cells

This report describes that protein kinase C delta (PKCδ) overexpression prevents TRAIL‐induced apoptosis in breast tumor cells; however, the regulatory mechanism(s) involved in this phenomenon is(are) incompletely understood. In this study, we have shown that TRAIL‐induced apoptosis was significantly inhibited in PKCδ overexpressing MCF‐7 (MCF7/PKCδ) cells. Our data reveal that PKCδ inhibits caspase‐8 activation, a first step in TRAIL‐induced apoptosis, thus preventing TRAIL‐induced apoptosis. Inhibition of PKCδ using rottlerin or PKCδ siRNA reverses the inhibitory effect of PKCδ on caspase‐8 activation leading to TRAIL‐induced apoptosis. To determine if caspase‐3‐induced PKCδ cleavage reverses its inhibition on caspase‐8, we developed stable cell lines that either expresses wild‐type PKCδ (MCF‐7/cas‐3/PKCδ) or caspase‐3 cleavage‐resistant PKCδ mutant (MCF‐7/cas‐3/PKCδ mut) utilizing MCF‐7 cells expressing caspase‐3. Cells that overexpress caspase‐3 cleavage‐resistant PKCδ mutant (MCF‐7/cas‐3/PKCδmut) significantly inhibited TRAIL‐induced apoptosis when compared to wild‐type PKCδ (MCF‐7/cas‐3/PKCδ) expressing cells. In MCF‐7/cas‐3/PKCδmut cells, TRAIL‐induced caspase‐8 activation was blocked leading to inhibition of apoptosis when compared to wild‐type PKCδ (MCF‐7/cas‐3/PKCδ) expressing cells. Together, these results strongly suggest that overexpression of PKCδ inhibits caspase‐8 activation leading to inhibition of TRAIL‐induced apoptosis and its inhibition by rottlerin, siRNA, or cleavage by caspase‐3 sensitizes cells to TRAIL‐induced apoptosis. Clinically, PKCδ overexpressing tumors can be treated with a combination of PKCδ inhibitor(s) and TRAIL as a new treatment strategy. J. Cell. Biochem. 111: 979–987, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Analysis of replication factories in human cells by super-resolution light microscopy

Background

Retinoid-inducible gene 1 (RIG1), also known as tazarotene-induced gene 3 or retinoic-acid receptor responder 3, is a growth regulator, which induces apoptosis and differentiation. RIG1 is classified into the NC protein family. This study investigated functional domains and critical amino acids associated with RIG1-mediated cell death and apoptosis.

Results

Using enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP)-tagged RIG1 variants, RIG1 proteins with deletion at the NC domain significantly decreased cell death induced by RIG1, and fusion variants containing only the NC domain significantly induced apoptosis of HtTA cervical cancer cells. The EGFP-RIG1-induced apoptosis was significantly decreased in cells expressing N¹¹²C¹¹³ motif double- (NC→FG) or triple- (NCR→FGE) mutated RIG1 variants. Using dodecapeptides, nuclear localization and profound cell death was observed in HtTA cells expressing wild type RIG1_111–123 or Leu¹²¹-mutated RIG1_111–123:L→ C peptide, but peptides double- or triple-mutated at the NC motif alone, RIG1_111–123:NC→FG or RIG1_111–123:NCR→FGE, were cytoplasmically localized and did not induce apoptosis. The RIG1_111–123 also induced apoptosis of A2058 melanoma cells but not normal human fibroblasts.

Conclusion

The NC domain, especially the NC motif, plays the major role in RIG1-mediated pro-apoptotic activity. The RIG1_111–123 dodecapeptide exhibited strong pro-apoptotic activity and has potential as an anticancer drug.     

编码山羊补体C3d与口蹄疫病毒VP1融合蛋白重组质粒的构建及表达

旨在构建含分子佐剂山羊补体C3d基因的O型口蹄疫病毒VP1基因真核表达质粒。克隆山羊C3d基因, 通过linker(G4S)2将3拷贝C3d基因串联; 克隆羊源O型口蹄疫病毒VP1基因, 通过linker(G4S)2与3拷贝C3d基因相连, 构建重组质粒pUC19-VP1-C3d3。将VP1-C3d3融合基因亚克隆入含有分泌表达信号肽tPA序列的pcDNA3.1(+)CMV启动子下游, 构建重组真核表达质粒pcDNA3.1-tPA-VP1-C3d3。在脂质体介导下, 将pcDNA3.1-tPA -VP1-C3d3转染HeLa细胞。间接免疫荧光分析表明, VP1- C3d3在HeLa细胞中获得了瞬时表达, Western blot分析证实转染的阳性细胞能分泌预期大小(133 kD)的融合蛋白。重组质粒pcDNA3.1-tPA-VP1-C3d3为研制以羊补体C3d为分子佐剂的口蹄疫新型疫苗奠定了基础。     

编码山羊补体C3d与口蹄疫病毒VP1融合蛋白重组质粒的构建及表达

旨在构建含分子佐剂山羊补体C3d基因的O型口蹄疫病毒VP1基因真核表达质粒。克隆山羊C3d基因, 通过linker(G4S)2将3拷贝C3d基因串联; 克隆羊源O型口蹄疫病毒VP1基因, 通过linker(G4S)2与3拷贝C3d基因相连, 构建重组质粒pUC19-VP1-C3d3。将VP1-C3d3融合基因亚克隆入含有分泌表达信号肽tPA序列的pcDNA3.1(+)CMV启动子下游, 构建重组真核表达质粒pcDNA3.1-tPA-VP1-C3d3。在脂质体介导下, 将pcDNA3.1-tPA -VP1-C3d3转染HeLa细胞。间接免疫荧光分析表明, VP1- C3d3在HeLa细胞中获得了瞬时表达, Western blot分析证实转染的阳性细胞能分泌预期大小(133 kD)的融合蛋白。重组质粒pcDNA3.1-tPA-VP1-C3d3为研制以羊补体C3d为分子佐剂的口蹄疫新型疫苗奠定了基础。     

霍乱弧菌分型噬菌体VP3基因组序列的测定与分析

测定和分析霍乱弧菌分型噬菌体VP3基因组序列,并为ElTor型霍乱弧菌两类菌株的分型方法原理提供研究基础。鸟枪法构建VP3噬菌体全基因组随机文库;测序拼接成最小重叠群,引物步移法填补缝隙序列,拼接后获得VP3全基因组序列。PCR随机扩增噬菌体DNA片段并酶切鉴定;预测可能存在的开放读码框(ORF);对VP3和相关噬菌体的DNA聚合酶基因作进化树分析,协助判定VP3的分类;对预测的部分启动子区利用报道基因进行活性分析。VP3全基因组为环状双链DNA,长度39504bp;酶切鉴定结果与序列一致。确定了49个ORF,注释了27个ORF的编码产物,其中有20个基因产物与T7样噬菌体同源,包括RNA聚合酶(RNAP)、参与DNA复制的蛋白、衣壳蛋白、尾管及尾丝蛋白、DNA包装蛋白等。DNA聚合酶(DNAP)进化树分析表明VP3与T7样噬菌体有同源性。将预测的10个启动子序列克隆到lacZ融合质粒pRS1274上,经检测均具有启动子活性。测定和分析VP3的基因组序列,基因组结构与进化树分析提示VP3属于T7噬菌体家族。     

Genetic variation in the VP4 and NSP4 genes of human rotavirus serotype 3 (G3 type) isolated in China and Japan

Sequence analyses of the VP4 and NSP4 genes were performed on twenty human isolates of serotype G3 rotavirus obtained from China and Japan. One isolate from China, CHW17, possessed P[4] genotype VP4 and KUN group NSP4 genes which are associated with G2. One isolate (02/92) from Japan, which was shown to have a wider spacing between RNA segments 10 and 11 by RNA polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis like AU-1, possessed P[9] genotype VP4 and AU-1 group NSP4 genes. The other isolates had P[8] genotype VP4 and Wa group NSP4 genes. While the nucleotide sequence conservation among the G3 VP7 genes was more than 79% (Wen et al, Arch. Virol., 1997, 142: 1481-1489), the conservation of VP4 and NSP4 genes in the same genotypes or groups was more than 85%.     

Truncated RIP3 (tRIP3) acts upstream of FADD to induce apoptosis in the human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line QGY-7703

RIP3 (receptor-interacting protein 3) is a serine/threonine kinase that promotes apoptosis in various cell types. The C-terminal domain of RIP3 is critical for its apoptosis induction. In this study, we showed that a truncated form of RIP3 (tRIP3) containing only the unique C-terminal region (aa 224-518) induced significant apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells QGY-7703. A FADD-dominant negative (FADD-DN) was shown to significantly block apoptosis induced by tRIP3. In contrast, the RIP3 dominant negative (RIP3-DN) was found unable to block FADD-induced apoptosis. Thus, we conclude that tRIP3 may function upstream of FADD to induce apoptosis in TNFR-1 signaling pathway. Additionally, sequence alignments of RIP3 with other death domain (DD)-containing proteins revealed that amino acids Leu 477 and Leu 488 in RIP3 are highly conserved, nonetheless, neither mutational change at Leu 477 nor at Leu 488 confers obvious effect on cell death, indicating that these two amino acids might not be critical for its pro-apoptotic activity as expected.     

Binding of Avibirnavirus VP3 to the PIK3C3-PDPK1 complex inhibits autophagy by activating the AKT-MTOR pathway

ABSTRACT

Macroautophagy/autophagy is a host natural defense response. Viruses have developed various strategies to subvert autophagy during their life cycle. Recently, we revealed that autophagy was activated by binding of Avibirnavirus to cells. In the present study, we report the inhibition of autophagy initiated by PIK3C3/VPS34 via the PDPK1-dependent AKT-MTOR pathway. Autophagy detection revealed that viral protein VP3 triggered inhibition of autophagy at the early stage of Avibirnavirus replication. Subsequent interaction analysis showed that the CC1 domain of VP3 disassociated PIK3C3-BECN1 complex by direct interaction with BECN1 and blocked autophagosome formation, while the CC3 domain of VP3 disrupted PIK3C3-PDPK1 complex via directly binding to PIK3C3 and inhibited both formation and maturation of autophagosome. Furthermore, we found that PDPK1 activated AKT-MTOR pathway for suppressing autophagy via binding to AKT. Finally, we proved that CC3 domain was critical for role of VP3 in regulating replication of Avibirnavirus through autophagy. Taken together, our study identified that Avibirnavirus VP3 links PIK3C3-PDPK1 complex to AKT-MTOR pathway and inhibits autophagy, a critical step for controlling virus replication.     

Overexpression of Par‐4 sensitizes TRAIL‐induced apoptosis via inactivation of NF‐κB and Akt signaling pathways in renal cancer cells

The prostate‐apoptosis‐response‐gene‐4 (Par‐4) is up‐regulated in prostate cells undergoing programmed cell death. Furthermore, Par‐4 protein has been shown to function as an effector of cell death in response to various apoptotic stimuli that trigger mitochondria and membrane receptor‐mediated cell death pathways. In this study, we investigated how Par‐4 modulates TRAIL‐mediated apoptosis in TRAIL‐resistant Caki cells. Par‐4 overexpressing cells were strikingly sensitive to apoptosis induced by TRAIL compared with control cells. Par‐4 overexpressing Caki cells treated with TRAIL showed an increased activation of the initiator caspase‐8 and the effector caspase‐3, together with an enforced cleavage of XIAP and c‐FLIP. TRAIL‐induced reduction of XIAP and c‐FLIP protein levels in Par‐4 overexpressing cells was prevented by z‐VAD pretreatment. In addition, the surface DR5 protein level was increased in TRAIL‐treated Par‐4 overexpressing cells. Interestingly, even though a deletion of leucine zipper domain in Par‐4 recovered Bcl‐2 level to basal level induced by wild type Par‐4, it partly decreased sensitivity to TRAIL in Caki cells. In addition, exposure of Caki/Par‐4 cells to TRAIL led to reduction of phosphorylated Akt levels, but deletion of leucine zipper domain of Par‐4 did not affect these phosphorylated Akt levels. In conclusion, we here provide evidence that ectopic expression of Par‐4 sensitizes Caki cells to TRAIL via modulation of multiple targets, including DR5, Bcl‐2, Akt, and NF‐κB. J. Cell. Biochem. 109: 885–895, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Matrilysin (MMP‐7) cleaves C‐type lectin domain family 3 member A (CLEC3A) on tumor cell surface and modulates its cell adhesion activity

Matrilysin (MMP‐7) plays important roles in tumor progression. Previous studies have suggested that MMP‐7 binds to tumor cell surface and promotes their metastatic potential. In this study, we identified C‐type lectin domain family 3 member A (CLEC3A) as a membrane‐bound substrate of MMP‐7. Although this protein is known to be expressed specifically in cartilage, its message was found in normal breast and breast cancer tissues as well as breast and colon cancer cell lines. Because few studies have been done on CLEC3A, we overexpressed its recombinant protein in human cancer cells. CLEC3A was found in the cell membrane, extracellular matrix (ECM), and culture medium of the CLEC3A‐expressing cells. CLEC3A has a basic sequence in the NH₂‐terminal domain and showed a strong heparin‐binding activity. MMP‐7 cleaved the 20‐kDa CLEC3A protein, dividing it to a 15‐kDa COOH‐terminal fragment and an NH₂‐terminal fragment with the basic sequence. The 15‐kDa fragment no longer had heparin‐binding activity. Treatment of the CLEC3A‐expressing cells with MMP‐7 released the 15‐kDa CLEC3A into the culture supernatant. Furthermore, the 20‐kDa CLEC3A promoted cell adhesion to laminin‐332 and fibronectin substrates, but this activity was abrogated by the cleavage by MMP‐7. These results suggest that CLEC3A binds to heparan sulfate proteoglycans on cell surface, leading to the enhancement of cell adhesion to integrin ligands on ECM. It can be speculated that the cleavage of CLEC3A by MMP‐7 weakens the stable adhesion of tumor cells to the matrix and promotes their migration in tumor microenvironments. J. Cell. Biochem. 106: 693–702, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Intramolecular masking of nuclear localization signals: analysis of importin binding using a novel AlphaScreen-based method

Active nuclear import of proteins requires the recognition of a nuclear localization sequence (NLS) by members of the importin (IMP) family of proteins. We have developed a modified AlphaScreen-based assay able to estimate the solution binding affinities of such interactions using biotinylated IMPs and His6-tagged NLS-containing proteins. We describe this assay in detail as well as its application in documenting the phenomenon of intramolecular masking of NLSs using recombinant green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusion proteins containing sequences from the SV40 large tumor T antigen (T-ag). We also use it to examine, for the first time, IMP binding to the cancer cell-specific proapoptotic factor viral protein 3 (VP3) from the chicken anemia virus (CAV). High-affinity binding of the IMPalpha/beta heterodimer to the T-ag NLS was observed when the GFP tag was fused to its N terminus but not to its C terminus. Effects of flanking residues were also observed in GFP-T-ag fusion derivatives containing the Thr128 NLS-inactivating mutation, whereby the absence of flanking sequences N terminal to the T-ag NLS appeared to decrease the specificity of the mutation in terms of oblating IMPalpha/beta binding. IMPbeta, but not IMPalpha or the IMPalpha/beta heterodimer, was found to bind to CAV VP3 with high affinity. Interestingly, GFP-VP3(74-121) bound to IMPbeta with threefold higher affinity than the full-length protein, GFP-VP3(1-121), implying that the NLS is masked to a significant extent in the context of full-length protein. This may represent a regulatory mechanism to control nuclear import in a tumor cell-specific fashion.     

Identification and characterization of nuclear localization signals within the nucleocapsid protein VP15 of white spot syndrome virus

The nucleocapsid protein VP15 of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is a basic DNA-binding protein. Three canonical bipartite nuclear localization signals (NLSs), called NLS1 (aa 11-27), NLS2 (aa 33-49) and NLS3 (44-60), have been detected in this protein, using the ScanProsite computer program. To determine the nuclear localization sequence of VP15, the full-length open reading frame, or the sequence of one of the three NLSs, was fused to the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene, and transiently expressed in insect Sf9 cells. Transfection with full-length VP15 resulted in GFP fluorescence being distributed exclusively in the nucleus. NLS 1 alone could also direct GFP to the nucleus, but less efficiently. Neither of the other two NLSs (NLS2 and 3) was functional when expressed alone, but exhibited similar activity to NLS1 when they were expressed as a fusion peptide. Furthermore, a mutated VP15, in which the two basic amino acids (11RR12) of NLSI were changed to two alanines (11AA12), caused GFP to be localized only in the cytoplasm of Sf9 cells. These results demonstrated that VP15, as a nuclear localization protein, needs cooperation between its three NLSs, and that the two residues (11RR12) of NLS1 play a key role in transporting the protein to the nucleus.     

犬CTLA-4胞外区的分子克隆、表达和对犬细小病毒VP2的免疫佐剂作用

[目的]探索犬细胞毒性T细胞相关抗原-4(cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4,CTLA-4)胞外区作为免疫佐剂的可行性.[方法]根据已发表序列设计引物,用RT-PCR扩增CTLA-4胞外区编码序列,用PCR扩增犬细小病毒(canine parvovirus,CPV)VP2蛋白主要抗原表位基因片段VP2S,将VP2S克隆入含和不含CTLA-4胞外区基因片段的原核表达质粒pQE-31;用获得的重组质粒pQE-CTLA-4-VP2S和pQE-VP2S转化大肠杆菌,并进行诱导表达;用相同剂量的重组蛋白VP2S和CTLA-4-VP2S免疫小鼠.用间接ELISA和血凝抑制试验比较两个免疫组的抗体水平.[结果]经过30次循环PCR扩增后,琼脂糖凝胶电泳显示预期大小的扩增产物;序列测定结果显示,克隆的毕格犬CTLA-4胞外区与已发表序列的核苷酸同源性为99.2%,氨基酸序列同源性为98.4%,结合B7分子的六肽基序(MYPPPY)无变化:VP2S与已发表CPV VP2的核苷酸序列同源性为99%,氨基酸序列同源性为98.6%:经IPTG诱导后,两种重组大肠杆菌表达预期的29kDa VP2S和42kDaCTLA-4-VP2S重组蛋白,两者均能被CPV抗血清识别;间接ELISA和血凝抑制试验结果显示,CTLA-4-VP2S免疫组的抗体产生时间为初免后第2周,抗体高峰期为初免后第4周,而VP2S免疫组的抗体产生时间为初免后第4周,抗体高峰期为初免后第5周,两个试验组高峰期ELISA抗体效价和血凝抑制抗体效价分别相差100倍和10倍.[结论]犬CTLA-4胞外区可作为分子佐剂促进CPV VP2蛋白抗体的产生.     

Expression of SLAM (CDw150) on Sf9 cell surface using recombinant baculovirus mediates measles virus infection in the nonpermissive cells

Signaling lymphocytic activation molecule (SLAM; also known as CDw150) has been reported as the receptor of measles virus (MV) interacting with MV hemagglutinin (MVH). In this study, we developed a baculovirus-derived vector, the Bacmid-egfp, containing a reporter gene encoding the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) under the control of the promoter of very late polyhedrin gene from Autographa californica multiple nucleopolyhedrovirus (AcMNPV), and employed the recombinant baculovirus to express SLAM in Sf9 (Spodoptera frugiperda) cells and investigate SLAM function. The result showed that the integration of the EGFP expression cassette in the Bac-to-Bac system facilitated research with the system without introducing compromises due to its use. SLAM protein fused to His-tag was expressed in Sf9 cells through the modified Bac-to-Bac system. The expressed SLAM was identified as approximately 46 kDa, and it presented on the cell surface, as revealed by fluorescent immunochemical staining and confocal microscopic analysis. The pull-down assay proved that SLAM protein expressed in this system could interact with MVH protein. After incubating with MV vaccine strain S191, cell fusion was only observed in the Sf9 cells expressing both EGFP and SLAM from recombinant baculovirus rather than those expressing EGFP only from the modified viral vector. Furthermore, MV replicated and induced apoptosis in the Sf9 cells with SLAM expression.     

传染性法氏囊病病毒VP3结构蛋白基因在大肠杆菌中的高效表达

传染性法氏囊病病毒（ＩＢＤＶ）是危害养鸡业的重要病原之一,属双股双节段ＲＮＡ病毒科成员,由Ａ和Ｂ两个片段的ｄｓＲＮＡ构成,大小分别约３３００－３４００ｂｐ和２８００－２９００ｂｐ。基因片段Ａ首先编码ＶＰ２－ＶＰ４－ＶＰ３聚合蛋白,然后再断裂成ＶＰ３、...