Modulation of the Kv1.3 Potassium Channel by Receptor Tyrosine Kinases

The voltage-dependent potassium channel, Kv1.3, is modulated by the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFr) and the insulin receptor tyrosine kinases. When the EGFr and Kv1.3 are coexpressed in HEK 293 cells, acute treatment of the cells with EGF during a patch recording can suppress the Kv1.3 current within tens of minutes. This effect appears to be due to tyrosine phosphorylation of the channel, as it is blocked by treatment with the tyrosine kinase inhibitor erbstatin, or by mutation of the tyrosine at channel amino acid position 479 to phenylalanine. Previous work has shown that there is a large increase in the tyrosine phosphorylation of Kv1.3 when it is coexpressed with the EGFr. Pretreatment of EGFr and Kv1.3 cotransfected cells with EGF before patch recording also results in a decrease in peak Kv1.3 current. Furthermore, pretreatment of cotransfected cells with an antibody to the EGFr ligand binding domain (α-EGFr), which blocks receptor dimerization and tyrosine kinase activation, blocks the EGFr-mediated suppression of Kv1.3 current. Insulin treatment during patch recording also causes an inhibition of Kv1.3 current after tens of minutes, while pretreatment for 18 h produces almost total suppression of current. In addition to depressing peak Kv1.3 current, EGF treatment produces a speeding of C-type inactivation, while pretreatment with the α-EGFr slows C-type inactivation. In contrast, insulin does not influence C-type inactivation kinetics. Mutational analysis indicates that the EGF-induced modulation of the inactivation rate occurs by a mechanism different from that of the EGF-induced decrease in peak current. Thus, receptor tyrosine kinases differentially modulate the current magnitude and kinetics of a voltage-dependent potassium channel.     

重组杆状病毒细小VP2蛋白40L生物反应器放大工艺研究

研究了Sf9细胞生产重组杆状病毒细小VP2蛋白在机械搅拌式生物反应器(STR)中从3L至40L的放大工艺。首先在3L反应器中,通过DO和搅拌转速的优化,使反应器中的VP2蛋白HA效价不低于摇瓶结果。在40L反应器放大时,温度、p H、DO保持不变,根据输入搅拌功率、体积溶氧系数和叶尖线速度等工程参数的计算,得到了该反应器的合理搅拌转速,最终HA效价测定结果与小罐一致。豚鼠免疫试验证实,反应器中表达的VP2蛋白制成疫苗,与HN2011灭活苗及商品化灭活疫苗相比,抗体水平上升较快且高于传统灭活苗。     

Characterization of Strychnine-sensitive Glycine Receptor in the Intact Frog Retina: Modulation by Protein Kinases

We studied ³H-glycine and ³H-strychnine specific binding to glycine receptor (GlyR) in intact isolated frog retinas. To avoid glycine binding to glycine uptake sites, experiments were performed at low ligand concentrations in a sodium-free medium. The binding of both radiolabeled ligands was saturated. Scatchard analysis of bound glycine and strychnine revealed a K_D of 2.5 and 2.0 M, respectively. Specific binding of glycine was displaced by -alanine, sarcosine, and strychnine. Strychnine binding was displaced 50% by glycine, and sarcosine. Properties of the strychnine-binding site in the GlyR were modified by sarcosine. Binding of both radioligands was considerably reduced by compounds that inhibit or activate adenylate cyclase and increased cAMP levels. A phorbol ester activator of PKC remarkably decreased glycine and strychnine binding. These results suggest modulation of GlyR in response to endogenous activation of protein kinases A and C, as well as protein phosphorylation modulating GlyR function in retina.     

Neurite Outgrowth Stimulated by the Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Herbimycin A Requires Activation of Tyrosine Kinases and Protein Kinase C

Abstract: Activation of tyrosine kinases is established as an important mechanism for controlling growth cone motility and neurite outgrowth. We have tested the effects of a range of tyrosine kinase inhibitors on neurite outgrowth from postnatal day 4 cerebellar granule cells cultured over confluent monolayers of 3T3 fibroblasts. The only agent that had any effect was herbimycin A, which stimulated neurite outgrowth. The response is shown to be attributable to a direct effect of this tyrosine kinase inhibitor on neurones. The neurite outgrowth response to herbimycin A was inhibited by two other tyrosine kinase inhibitors, which on their own did not affect neurite outgrowth. The data suggest that the response to herbimycin A reflects either a direct or indirect activation of one or more protein tyrosine kinases. Independent signalling events downstream from tyrosine kinase activation underlying the neurite outgrowth response to herbimycin A include increased activity of protein kinase C and calcium influx into neurones through both N-and L-type calcium channels.     

利用昆虫杆状病毒表达SARS冠状病毒的刺突蛋白和膜蛋白

SARS冠状病毒是人的严重急性呼吸综合征的病原体。对其他种类冠状病毒的研究结果显示,刺突蛋白(S蛋白)和膜蛋白(M蛋白)是病毒主要的结构蛋白。重组M蛋白和S蛋白可被用来作为抗原检测冠状病毒的感染和制备疫苗。这两个蛋白质分别被克隆并重组到昆虫杆状病毒基因组中,利用重组杆状病毒感染昆虫细胞来表达重组M蛋白和S蛋白,并对M蛋白进行了细胞内定位,融合蛋白的绿色荧光暗示了该蛋白质定位在细胞膜上。     

酪氨酸蛋白激酶抑制剂genistein对PMA处理后A类清道夫受体表达的抑制

为研究清道夫受体与细胞内酷不氨酸蛋白激酶的关系,用酪氨酸蛋白激酶抑制剂genistein处理人U937细胞。分别测定对照组和处理组细胞对碘标记的氧化低密度脂蛋白[^125I]ox-LDL的结合、降解以及细胞内脂质蓄积的程度;并利用放射自显影的方法观察药物对细胞表面受体数目的影响,利用RT－PCR法进一步探讨药物作用的分子机制。结果发现genistein可以抑制细胞表达结合[^125I]ox-LDL,抑制细胞表面受全的表达以及细胞内降解[^125I]ox-LDL,抑制细胞内胆固醇脂的蓄积,并且抑制SR－A mRNA的转录,提示清道夫受体的活性可能与细胞内蛋白质酪氨酸磷酸化水平密切相关,genistein所引起的酪氨酸磷酸化水平下降可影响SR－A基因转录和翻译。     

Efficient Production of sTNFRII-gAD Fusion Protein in Large Quantity by Use of the Modified CHO-S Cell Expression System

TNFα is one of the initial and important mediators to activate downstream signaling pathways by binding to trimerized TNFα receptors (TNFR), and thus is an ideal drug target for cancer therapy. Taking advantage of intrinsic homotimerization of the globular domain of adiponectin (gAD), we have developed a novel TNFα antagonist, the trimerized fusion protein named sTNFRII-gAD. However, our previously-used CHO expression system yielded less than 10 mg/L of sTNFRII-gAD. To produce large quantities of sTNFRII-gAD efficiently, we used a modified CHO-S cell expression system, which is based on a pMH3 vector with non-coding GC-rich DNA fragments for high-level gene expression. We obtained stable clones that produced 75 mg/L of sTNFRII-gAD in the 96-well plate, adapted the clones to 40 ml suspension serum-free batch culture, then optimized the culturing conditions to scale up the fed-batch culture in a 3 L shake-flask and finally in a 5 L AP30 bioreactor. We achieved a final yield of 52 mg/L of sTNFRII-gAD. The trimerized sTNFRII-gAD exhibited the higher affinity to TNFα with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 5.63 nM than the dimerized sTNFRII-Fc with a Kd of 13.4 nM, and further displayed the higher TNFα-neutralizing activity than sTNFRII-Fc (p<0.05) in a L929 cytotoxicity assay. Therefore, the strategy employed in this study may provide an efficient avenue for large-scale production of other recombinant proteins by use of the modified CHO-S cell expression system.     

Structure-activity Relationship for FR901464: A Versatile Method for the Conversion and Preparation of Biologically Active Biotinylated Probes

The structure-activity relationship for FR901464, a potent cell-cycle inhibitor, was examined by synthesizing its analogs. A versatile method for converting FR901464 was devised. This method made it possible to synthesize biologically active FR901464-biotin conjugates which could be used to isolate the binding proteins.     

Thrombin Receptor Activation Stimulates Astrocyte Proliferation and Reversal of Stellation by Distinct Pathways: Involvement of Tyrosine Phosphorylation

Abstract: Treatment of cultured type-1 astrocytes with thrombin leads to cell proliferation and reversal of stellation. The half-maximal concentrations of thrombin required for each response are 500 and 2 p M , respectively. To test whether they might be mediated by different receptors, we examined the contribution of the G protein-coupled thrombin receptor to these responses in purified rat astrocytes by using the agonist peptide SFLLRNP. In the absence of added growth factors, SFLLRNP fully mimicked the effects of thrombin at half-maximal concentrations of 30 µ M for an increase in cell number and DNA synthesis and 100 n M for the reversal of stellation. The role of protein tyrosine phosphorylation in these events was investigated using antiphosphotyrosine antibodies. Thrombin and SFLLRNP at concentrations at least 10-fold greater than those required for half-maximal reversal of stellation but below those required for mitogenesis induced an identical pattern of tyrosine phosphorylation on several proteins of 55–65, 106, 110–115, and 120–130 kDa. The response was rapid (<1 min) and transient with a peak response after ∼2 min. The specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor herbimycin A did not affect thrombin- or SFLLRNP-mediated reversal of stellation at concentrations of up to 1 µ M . In contrast, 1 µ M herbimycin fully inhibited the ability of thrombin and SFLLRNP to increase cell number and stimulate DNA synthesis. Furthermore, this inhibition by 1 µ M herbimycin A corresponded to inhibition of receptor-induced tyrosine phosphorylation. Thus, cell proliferation but not reversal of stellation is dependent on thrombin receptor-activated tyrosine kinase activity. These observations support the hypotheses that the thrombin receptor mediates the actions of thrombin in these cells and that activation of the thrombin receptor leads to multiple second messages that stimulate distinct cellular responses.     

杆状病毒用于哺乳动物细胞快速高效表达外源基因的研究

现已发现杆状病毒可进入某些培养的哺乳动物细胞,这提示可将杆状病毒作为一种对哺乳动物细胞的新型基因转移载体。对杆状病毒转移载体的改造及对哺乳动物细胞的基因转移方式进行了进一步的研究。以绿色荧光蛋白基因为报告基因,利用Bac-to-Bac系统构建了分别含有正向和反向CMV启动子表达盒的两种重组杆状病毒。可观察到CMV启动子在Sf9细胞中可启动报告基因的表达,但表达效率较低。用重组杆状病毒感染后Sf9细胞的培养上清直接与HepG2细胞作用,以流式细胞术检测基因转移效率及荧光表达强度,发现这两种病毒在相同的感染复数下对HepG2细胞具有相似的基因转移及表达效率。同时,利用流式细胞术进一步研究了直接使用重组杆状病毒感染4d后Sf9细胞的培养上清对哺乳动物细胞进行基因转移的方法。通过对HepG2细胞的实验结果显示,将带毒Sf9细胞培养上清(1.2×10⁷PFU/mL)用哺乳动物细胞培养基1倍稀释后,37℃下孵育靶细胞12h(moi=50),可达到较高的基因转移及表达效率,同时不会对细胞造成明显损伤。将重组杆状病毒与脂质体和逆转录病毒这两种系统对HepG2及CV1细胞的基因转移效率进行了比较,结果发现在同样未经浓缩等特殊处理的条件下重组杆状病毒对这两种细胞的基因转移效率是最高的。因此可以认为,经过适当改造后的Bac-to-Bac重组杆状病毒系统可作为一种对哺乳动物细胞简便高效的基因转移表达载体。     

SARS冠状病毒S蛋白在昆虫细胞中的表达和纯化

导致严重急性呼吸综合征(sevcre acute rcspiratory syndrome,SARS)的元凶是一种新型的冠状病毒(SARS coronavirus,SARS-CoV)。SARS-CoV感染入侵宿主细胞关键的一环是病毒自身的棘突蛋白(spike protein,S-protein)与细胞受体的相互作用,故而S蛋白己成为SARS研究的主要热点。     

杆状病毒表达系统的改进及IL-6在昆虫细胞内的表达和纯化

使用同源重组方法,在昆虫细胞内将多角体启动子驱动的EGFP表达盒插入杆状病毒穿梭载体Bacmid的p74位相,经5轮空斑纯化获得重组穿梭载体Bacmid-egfp。然后将Bacmid-egfp转化含转座助手质粒的E.coliDH10B,获得受体菌E.coliDH10Bac-egfp,由于Bacmid-egfp保留了完整的转座结构和α互补功能,因此该菌株和原始E.coliDH10Bac一样能有效的利用各种pFastBac系列的载体进行转座并构建出能指示病毒繁殖和目的基因表达的重组病毒。使用红色荧光蛋白DsRed对系统进行了验证,结果表明重组病毒Bac-egfp-DsRed感染的细胞中绿色荧光蛋白和红色荧光蛋白均得到了高效表达。进一步使用该系统在昆虫细胞中高效表达并纯化了IL-6蛋白,为研究和应用该细胞因子提供物质基础,同时也进一步证明所改造的杆状病毒表达系统的可靠性和实用性。     

家蚕核型多角体病毒酪氨酸蛋白磷酸酯酶基因的克隆及在大肠杆菌中表达

采用PCR方法克隆了家蚕核型多角体病毒中国镇江株 (BmNPV ZJstrain)的酪氨酸蛋白磷酸酯酶基因(ptp) ,测定了该基因的核苷酸序列 ,比较了与相关病毒相应基因的同源性 ,并将该基因插入到原核表达质粒在大肠杆菌中进行了表达。该基因的编码部分由 5 0 7个核苷酸组成 ,编码 16 8个氨基酸残基的蛋白多肽 ,其中含有酪氨酸蛋白磷酸酶酯催化部位的“HC”基序。该基因与苜蓿银纹夜蛾核型多角体病毒 (AcMNPV) ptp 基因和BmN PV -T3 株 (日本 )拟为的 ptp基因核苷酸序列的同源性分别为 96 8%和 98 2 % ,蛋白质氨基酸序列的同源性分别为 97 0 %和 97 6 %。将该基因插入到温度诱导型表达质粒pBV2 2 1的温控启动子PRPL 之后 ,在大肠杆菌JM10 9中表达了具有催化活性的蛋白质 ,分子量约为 19kD ,表达产物能催化对硝基酚磷酸钠 (PNPP)的脱磷酸反应 ,这种催化作用可被钒酸钠和ZnCl2 抑制     

甲壳胺对HepG2细胞蛋白酪氨酸激酶和磷酸酶活性的影响

目的:初步探讨甲壳胺诱导人肝癌Hep G2细胞凋亡的信号转导机制。方法:采用酶联免疫法,动态检测甲壳胺作用于Hep G2细胞后,细胞膜相及胞浆内的蛋白酪氨酸激酶(PTK)及蛋白酪氨酸磷酸酶(PTP)活性的变化。结果:甲壳胺可以抑制Hep G2细胞内的PTK活性,并呈一定的浓度依赖性;甲壳胺作用Hep G2细胞后,随着PTK活性的减弱,PTP的活性也短暂下降。结论:甲壳胺诱导Hep G2细胞凋亡时,涉及到PTK的活性改变。观察到膜相蛋白中PTK的活性改变早于胞浆蛋白,提示可能存在一个信号的跨膜转运过程;同时伴有PTP的活性变化,可能反映了胞内蛋白酪氨酸残基的磷酸化与去磷酸化即时调节机制。     

Developmental Regulation of Tyrosine Phosphorylation of the NR2D NMDA Glutamate Receptor Subunit in Rat Central Nervous System

Abstract: A subunit-specific antibody against the N -methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) receptor NR2D protein along with an antiphosphotyrosine antibody were employed to examine the developmental profile of the tyrosine phosphorylation of NR2D and its regulation by a protein phosphatase inhibitor in rat brain. NMDA receptor proteins from the thalamus at postnatal days 1, 7, 21, and 49 were solubilized under denaturing conditions and used in immunoprecipitations with these antibodies followed by quantitative immunoblot analysis of NR2D protein in the resulting immunopellets. The results indicate that the NR2D subunit is tyrosine phosphorylated in the brain. The quantified data examining the developmental profile of tyrosine phosphorylation of NR2D in the thalamus show that the level of tyrosine phosphorylation of NR2D protein increases five- to sixfold during development. In addition, the protein phosphatase inhibitor pervanadate (vanadyl hydroperoxide) was found to increase tyrosine phosphorylation of NR2D subunit threefold in brain slices, implying an active cycle of phosphorylation and dephosphorylation in situ. These studies demonstrate developmentally regulated tyrosine phosphorylation of NR2D protein in vivo, suggesting that tyrosine phosphorylation may be important for regulating the functions of this NMDA receptor subunit in the mammalian central nervous system.     

Increased Production of Paired Helical Filament Epitopes in a Cell Culture System Reduces the Turnover of τ

Abstract: To investigate the regulation of posttranslational modifications of τ that might be pertinent to the production of the paired helical filament (PHF) of Alzheimer's disease, we incubated human neuroblastoma cells with the protein phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid. This treatment results in increased immunoreactivity of τ with the monoclonal antibodies Alz-50, PHF-1, T3P, and NP8, a reduction in Tau-1 immunoreactivity, and an elevation in apparent molecular weight of τ. Moreover, our data demonstrate that accumulation of phosphates in τ leads to a decrease in the turnover rate of τ in the neuroblastoma cells. It is suggested that similar build-up of hyperphosphorylated τ in the neuronal perikarya may represent an early event in PHF formation. The present system facilitates the investigation of regulatory mechanisms governing the occurrence of PHF epitopes, their effects on neuronal cell metabolism, and possible pharmacological intervention.     

Stimulation of p42 and p44 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases by Reactive Oxygen Species and Nitric Oxide in Hippocampus

Abstract: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been suggested to act as cellular messengers that mediate signal transduction cascades in various cell types. However, little is known about their role in this capacity in the nervous system. We have begun to investigate the role of ROS, and that of nitric oxide (NO), in mediating mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling in rat hippocampal slices. Our studies have revealed that direct exposure of hippocampal slices to hydrogen peroxide, xanthine/xanthine oxidase (a superoxide-generating system), sodium nitroprusside (an NO donor compound), S -nitroso- N -acetylpenicillamine (an NO donor compound), or 3-morpholinosydnonimine (a compound that produces NO and superoxide) results in an enhancement in tyrosine phosphorylation of several proteins, including proteins with apparent molecular masses of 42 and 44 kDa. We investigated the possibility that these proteins correspond to the active forms of p42 MAPK and p44 MAPK. Hippocampal slices exposed to various ROS and NO donors resulted in increases in levels of the active forms of both p42 MAPK and p44 MAPK. The ROS- and NO-enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of p42 MAPK and p44 MAPK were inhibited by pretreatment with the antioxidant N -acetyl- l -cysteine. Our observations indicate that ROS and NO can mediate protein tyrosine phosphorylation and MAPK signaling in the hippocampus via a redox-sensitive mechanism and suggest a potential cellular mechanism for their effects in the nervous system.     

Protein kinase network in the regulation of phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of smooth muscle myosin light chain

The contraction of smooth muscle is regulated primarily by intracellular Ca²⁺ signal. It is well established that the elevation of the cytosolic Ca²⁺ level activates myosin light chain kinase, which phosphorylates 20 kDa regulatory myosin light chain and activates myosin ATPase. The simultaneous measurement of cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration and force development revealed that the alteration of the Ca²⁺-sensitivity of the contractile apparatus as well as the Ca²⁺ signal plays a critical role in the regulation of smooth muscle contraction. The fluctuation of an extent of myosin phosphorylation for a given change in Ca²⁺ concentration is considered to contribute to the major mechanisms regulating the Ca²⁺-sensitivity. The level of myosin phosphorylation is determined by the balance between phosphorylation and dephosphorylation. The phosphorylation level for a given Ca²⁺ elevation is increased either by Ca²⁺-independent activation of phosphorylation process or inhibition of dephosphorylation. In the last decade, the isolation and cloning of myosin phosphatase facilitated the understanding of regulatory mechanism of dephosphorylation process at the molecular level. The inhibition of myosin phosphatase can be achieved by (1) alteration of hetrotrimeric structure, (2) phosphorylation of 110 kDa regulatory subunit MYPT1 at the specific site and (3) inhibitory protein CPI-17 upon its phosphorylation. Rho-kinase was first identified to phosphorylate MYPT1, and later many kinases were found to phosphorylate MYPT1 and inhibit dephosphorylation of myosin. Similarly, the phosphorylation of CPI-17 can be catalysed by multiple kinases. Moreover, the myosin light chain can be phosphorylated by not only authentic myosin light chain kinase in a Ca²⁺-dependent manner but also by multiple kinases in a Ca²⁺-independent manner, thus adding a novel mechanism to the regulation of the Ca²⁺-sensitivity by regulating the phosphorylation process. It is now clarified that the protein kinase network is involved in the regulation of myosin phosphorylation and dephosphorylation. However, the physiological role of each component remains to be determined. One approach to accomplish this purpose is to investigate the effects of the dominant negative mutants of the signalling molecule on the smooth muscle contraction. In this regards, a protein transduction technique utilizing the cell-penetrating peptides would provide a useful tool. In the preliminary study, we succeeded in introducing a fragment of MYPT1 into the arterial strips, and found enhancement of contraction.     

SRPK1 and Akt Protein Kinases Phosphorylate the RS Domain of Lamin B Receptor with Distinct Specificity: A Combined Biochemical and In Silico Approach

Activated Akt has been previously implicated in acting on RS domain-containing proteins. However, it has been questioned whether its action is direct or it is mediated by co-existing SR kinase activity. To address this issue we studied in detail the phosphorylation of Lamin B Receptor (LBR) by Akt. Using synthetic peptides and a set of recombinant proteins expressing mutants of the LBR RS domain we now demonstrate that while all serines of the RS domain represent more or less equal phosphoacceptor sites for SRPK1, Ser80 and Ser82 are mainly targeted by Akt. 3D-modeling combined with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations show that amongst short, overlapping LBR RS-containing peptides complying with the minimum Akt recognition consensus sequence, only those bearing phosphosites either at Ser80 or Ser82 are able to fit into the active site of Akt, at least as effectively as its known substrate, GSK3-β. Combined our results provide evidence that Akt kinases directly phosphorylate an RS domain-containing protein and that both the residues N-terminal the phosphosite and at position +1 are essential for Akt specificity, with the latter substrate position being compatible with the arginine residue of RS-repeats.