β-淀粉样前体蛋白胞内端与JKTBP2蛋白的相互作用

β-淀粉样前体蛋白APP(β-amyloidprecursorprotein)与阿尔茨海默氏症密切相关,它经分泌酶γ切割后生成的胞内端AID(APPintracellulardomain)能够诱导细胞凋亡。为了研究AID在阿尔茨海默氏症病理过程中的作用,我们以AID为诱饵蛋白用酵母双杂交系统筛选与之有相互作用的蛋白。我们发现人不均一核蛋白D类似蛋白JKTBP2的90-204位肽段可以结合AID。利用293T细胞表达蛋白后进行免疫共沉淀,结果证实二者间存在相互作用。这些结果指出JKTBP2可能在阿尔茨海默氏症形成中有重要作用。     

淀粉样前体蛋白（APP）相互作用及其生物学意义

淀粉样前体蛋白（amyloid precursor protein,APP）是一类与阿尔茨海默氏病（Alzheimer＇s disease,AD）的发生、发展密切相关的I型跨膜蛋白,具有膜受体样结构,但迄今人们对APP真正的生理功能仍知之甚少。近年来研究发现,APP分子间可以进行二聚化,并且反式的二聚化作用有促进细胞黏附的功能。而APP的降解产物β-淀粉样蛋白（β—amyloid protein,Aβ）反过来又可以加速APP的聚集,经过一系列反应,最终引发细胞凋亡。本文综述这一领域的研究进展,特别是APP的相互作用,以及这些相互作用对细胞状态和行为的影响。     

β-分泌酶与二价阳离子耐受蛋白CUTA存在相互作用

淀粉样蛋白(β-amyloid,Aβ)沉积是阿尔茨海默病(Alzheimerdisease,AD)的重要病理特征之一.Aβ是由淀粉样前体蛋白(amyloid precursor protein,APP)经β-分泌酶(BACE)和γ-分泌酶水解产生的,因此BACE1在AD的形成过程中发挥重要作用.为了进一步研究BACE1的作用机制,以BACE1胞内段构建诱饵蛋白用酵母双杂交方法筛选与之相互作用的蛋白质.结果得到了二价阳离子耐受蛋白(divalent cation tolerant protein,CUTA)的阳性克隆,β-半乳糖苷酶实验表明CUTA和BACE1胞内片段存在相互作用.构建了两者全长基因的表达载体,证明二者在哺乳动物细胞中同样可以相互作用.CUTA可能涉及铜的代谢动力学及乙酰胆碱酯酶(AchE)的膜锚定,而铜的代谢失衡和AchE水平与AD发病密切相关.实验结果为BACE生物学功能和AD发病机制的研究提供了条件.     

β-淀粉样蛋白前体蛋白胞内结构域（AICD）研究进展

老年性痴呆症（Alzheimer’s disease,AD）一个重要的病理学特征,是在神经细胞外形成由β-淀粉样蛋白（β-amyloid,Aβ）组成的淀粉样斑（amyloidplaques）。β-淀粉样蛋白前体蛋白（β-amyloidprocursorprotein,APP）经β-分泌酶和γ-分泌酶依次水解后产生AB和APP胞内结构域（APP intrace Uulardomain,AICD）。现在已经知道AB在AD的发病机制中起着关键作用,但是关于AICD的生理及病理功能还不清楚。近年来研究发现AICD可以与细胞内多种蛋白相互作用,而且AICD在基因转录、细胞凋亡以及APP的加工和运输过程中均有调节功能。本文针对这一领域的研究进展,对AICD的生理及病理功能进行探讨。     

β淀粉样蛋白1-42对BV-2细胞产生一氧化氮功能的刺激作用

目的应用β淀粉样蛋白1-42(β-Amyloid,Aβ1-42)作用于小胶质细胞(microglia,MG),对MG产生一氧化氮(nitric oxide,NO)的作用进行研究.方法应用高度纯化的BV-2小胶质细胞作为体外小胶质细胞模型,测定加入Aβ1-42后细胞上清NO含量及细胞iNOS酶活力;Western blot法测定Aβ对BV-2细胞iNOS蛋白表达的影响,免疫细胞化学方法对iNOS蛋白的表达情况进行观察.结果 Aβ1-42可以刺激BV-2细胞产生NO、提高细胞iNOS酶活性、增加iNOS蛋白质表达,以上作用均具有时间及浓度依赖性.结论 Aβ1-42在体外可通过提高细胞iNOS酶活性、增加iNOS蛋白质表达而增加NO的分泌,为NO发挥神经元毒性作用创造了条件.     

淀粉样前体蛋白和LRP6在大肠杆菌中的表达及其体外相互作用

 淀粉样前体蛋白 (APP)是阿尔茨海默氏病 (AD)发病过程中有重要作用的蛋白 .利用酵母双杂交的方法发现低密度脂蛋白受体相关蛋白 6(LRP6)羧基端可和 APP羧基端片段相互作用 .分别构建了 APP和 LRP6的原核表达载体 ,并利用大肠杆菌获得 GST- APP1 0 6、MBP- LRP6融合蛋白 .体外相互作用研究证实了 APP羧基端和 LRP6羧基端之间的结合 .这使与 AD相关的两个重要蛋白 apo E和 APP联系起来 ,并提示 LRP6可能在 APP代谢和 Aβ产生中起重要作用 .     

用于核磁共振研究的淀粉样前体蛋白跨膜区域的表达、纯化和胶束重构

淀粉样前体蛋白(amyloid precursor protein,APP)被多次酶切后生成β-淀粉样蛋白(amyloid-β peptide,Aβ),其聚合物的毒性作用会引发阿尔茨海默病(Alzheimer’s disease,AD)。其中,APP蛋白的跨膜区域(transmembrane domain of amyloid precursor protein,APPTM)与γ-分泌酶的非特异性切割作用是生成Aβ的关键步骤,在生理条件下重构APPTM对于探究其与γ-分泌酶的相互作用以及AD药物研发具有重要作用。然而,现有的重组APPTM制备方法存在制备效率和产量低等缺点,限制了APPTM的稳定大规模制备。本研究以大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)为宿主,使用pMM-LR6载体对APPTM进行融合表达。包涵体蛋白经盐酸胍提取后,依次使用Ni-NTA亲和层析、溴化氰切割融合标签和反相高效液相色谱(reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography RP-HPLC),得到了高纯度和高产量的同位素标记的APPTM。进一步将APP...     

转录因子AP-2β与SLP-2的蛋白相互作用

AP-2β是转录因子AP-2家族中的重要一员.AP-2是一个与哺乳动物的发育、细胞生长、分化、凋亡和肿瘤发生都有密切联系的重要的转录因子家族.最近的研究表明,AP-2能通过与其他蛋白的相互作用来调控AP-2下游基因的转录活性.采用免疫共沉淀结合质谱鉴定的方法筛选与AP-2β相互作用的蛋白.结果筛选到Stomatin like protein2(SLP-2)蛋白可能与AP-2β相互作用.免疫共沉淀实验证实外源过表达和内源的SLP-2蛋白都能与AP-2β蛋白相互作用.而且,细胞免疫荧光实验发现外源表达的Myc-AP-2β蛋白与内源的SLP-2蛋白在MCF-7细胞的胞质中有共定位.此外,免疫印记实验结果表明过表达SLP-2能上调AP-2β的蛋白水平,这就表明SLP-2与AP-2β相互作用后,SLP-2可能使AP-2β蛋白更稳定.这些研究结果为进一步研究这两个基因的功能提供了新的切入点.     

淀粉样前体蛋白裂解片段sAPPβ、Aβ和AICD对SH-SY5Y细胞氧化损伤和线粒体膜电位的影响

阿尔茨海默病(Alzheimer’s disease, AD)的一个主要的病理特征表现为神经细胞表面大量地呈现β-淀粉样蛋白(amyloidβ-protein, Aβ)。淀粉样前体蛋白(amyloid precursor protein, APP)是与AD病理密切相关的膜蛋白,它经β-裂解途径剪切后生成s APPβ、Aβ和AICD片段。Aβ能引发细胞内质网氧化应激、线粒体功能障碍等,但s APPβ和AICD片段对细胞的影响还有待进一步的研究。本实验采用慢病毒介导质粒转染技术,分别构建了稳定过表达s APPβ、Aβ和AICD片段的SH-SY5Y细胞系,并分析了其细胞活力、细胞膜损伤、胞内活性氧(reactive oxygen species, ROS)水平和线粒体膜电位去极化程度。结果表明, Aβ或AICD片段可在一定程度上导致细胞活力下降、细胞膜受损、胞内ROS水平升高和线粒体膜电位发生去极化,从而对细胞产生氧化损伤作用。     

分泌型β-淀粉样蛋白前体蛋白的神经保护作用及其分子机制

β-淀粉样蛋白前体蛋白(β-amyloid precursor protein,APP)是体内广泛表达的跨膜蛋白质,已知APP经β-分泌酶切割产生的β-淀粉样蛋白(Aβ)是阿尔茨海默病(AD)的标志性病理分子之一,但对APP生理功能的认识比较有限。近年的研究却发现,APP经分泌酶切割的可溶性胞外片段sAPP对于兴奋性神经毒性、脑缺血、脑创伤等病理状况具有与β-淀粉样蛋白相反的神经保护作用。离体和在体研究证明,APP的α-分泌酶切割片段sAPPα可促进神经元的增殖、分化以及促进突触的发育,并改善突触传递和突触可塑性,进而提升学习与认知功能;APP基因缺失则造成不良后果。已报道的sAPPα神经保护作用机制包括激活高电导钾通道,抑制电压依赖性钙通道和NMDA受体通道介导的钙内流,调节神经细胞的离子稳态,平衡神经元和突触的兴奋性。值得注意的是,最新的研究鉴定出sAPP在细胞表面的特异性受体GABA_BR1a,sAPP通过与该受体结合调节突触传递,协同降低神经元的异常兴奋性。可以预见,深入研究与发掘sAPP神经保护作用的机制与替代方法,恢复退行性病变脑组织已经降低的sAPPα水平与下游效应分子功能,将可能为相关脑疾病的发病机制与防治提供新思路或新策略。     

Overexpression of JKTBP1 induces androgen-independent LNCaP cell proliferation through activation of epidermal growth factor-receptor (EGF-R)

Heterogenous nuclear ribonucleoprotein D-like protein (JKTBP) belongs to a new member of hnRNPs. Previous studies implied that JKTBP1 may be associated with the progression of androgen-independent (AI) prostate cancer. In this study, we generated three stable LNCaP cell lines which expressed exogenous JKTBP1. Furthermore, the effect of ectopic JKTBP1 on the proliferation of LNCaP cells and its mechanism was investigated. We originally found that the ectopic JKTBP1 expression resulted in the proliferation of LNCaP cells in an AI way, as well as inducing the upregulated expression of EGF-R and prostate-specific antigen (PSA), but did not influence the expression level of AR. Moreover, AG1478 suppressed the effect of proliferation induced by JKTBP1. In addition, immunohistochemistry showed that JKTBP1 expression was significantly elevated in AI prostate cancer tissues when compared with the androgen-dependent (AD) prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia. Our data indicated that overexpression of JKTBP1 in LNCaP cells leads to abnormal cell proliferation and may be involved in the process of AD to AI through induction of EGF-R expression.     

Interactions of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein D-like protein JKTBP and its domains with high-affinity binding sites

JKTBP proteins consisting of two canonical RNA binding domains (RBDs) and a glycine-rich carboxyl domain are nucleocytoplasmic shuttling proteins. We studied in vivo and in vitro interactions between JKTBP and RNA. UV cross-linking experiments on HL-60 cells indicated that following RNA synthesis inhibition by actinomycin D, JKTBP1 accumulated in the cytoplasam is bound to poly(A)(+) RNAs. Recombinant JKTBP1 protein blots could bind poly(A)(+) RNAs, but not poly(A)(-) RNAs. For examination of RNA binding specificity of JKTBP, we enriched high binding sites from pools of 20 nt random sequence-containing RNAs by a selection/amplification method. After eight rounds of a selection and amplification, >20 sequences for each of JKTBPs 1 and 2 were identified. Their consensus high-affinity site was ACUAGC. Approximate K(d)s of JKTBPs 2 and 1 were estimated to be 6-12 nM for the selected sequences by filter binding assays. JKTBP deletion analysis indicated that not individual RBDs, both RBDs and the N-terminal 15 amino acids of the carboxyl domain are required for sequence-specific and high-affinity binding. These results indicate that JKTBP is a sequence-specific RNA binding protein differing from the related heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins A1 and D.     

NRF IRES activity is mediated by RNA binding protein JKTBP1 and a 14-nt RNA element

The mRNA of human NF-kappaB repressing factor (NRF) contains a long 5'-untranslated region (UTR) that directs ribosomes to the downstream start codon by a cap-independent mechanism. Comparison of the nucleotide (nt) sequences of human and mouse NRF mRNAs reveals a high degree of identity throughout a fragment of 150 nt proximal to the start codon. Here, we show that this region constitutes a minimal internal ribosome entry segment (IRES) module. Enzymatic RNA structure analysis reveals a secondary structure model of the NRF IRES module. Point mutation analysis of the module determines a short, 14-nt RNA element (nt 640-653) as a mediator of IRES function. Purification of IRES binding cellular proteins and subsequent ESI/MS/MS sequence analysis led to identification of the RNA-binding protein, JKTBP1. EMSA experiments show that JKTBP1 binds upstream to the 14-nt RNA element in the NRF IRES module (nt 579-639). Over-expression of JKTBP1 significantly enhances activity of the NRF IRES module in dicistronic constructs. Moreover, siRNA experiments demonstrate that down-regulation of endogenous JKTBP1 decreases NRF IRES activity and the level of endogenous NRF protein. The data of this study show that JKTBP1 and the 14-nt element act independently to mediate NRF IRES activity.     

Identification of a specific domain required for dimerization of activation-induced cytidine deaminase

Activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) is essential to all three genetic alterations required for generation of antigen-specific immunoglobulin: class switch recombination, somatic hypermutation, and gene conversion. Here we demonstrate that AID molecules form a homodimer autonomously in the absence of RNA, DNA, other cofactors, or post-translational modifications. Studies on serial deletion mutants revealed the minimum region between Thr27 and His56 responsible for dimerization. Analyses of point mutations within this region revealed that the residues between Gly47 and Gly54 are most important for the dimer formation. Functional analyses of these mutations indicate that all mutations impairing the dimer formation are inefficient for class switching, suggesting that dimer formation is required for class switching activity. Dimer formation and its requirement for the function of AID are features that AID shares with APOBEC-1, an RNA editing enzyme of apolipoprotein B100 mRNA.     

Activation-induced cytidine deaminase deficiency causes organ-specific autoimmune disease

Activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) expressed by germinal center B cells is a central regulator of somatic hypermutation (SHM) and class switch recombination (CSR). Humans with AID mutations develop not only the autosomal recessive form of hyper-IgM syndrome (HIGM2) associated with B cell hyperplasia, but also autoimmune disorders by unknown mechanisms. We report here that AID-/- mice spontaneously develop tertiary lymphoid organs (TLOs) in non-lymphoid tissues including the stomach at around 6 months of age. At a later stage, AID-/- mice develop a severe gastritis characterized by loss of gastric glands and epithelial hyperplasia. The disease development was not attenuated even under germ-free (GF) conditions. Gastric autoantigen -specific serum IgM was elevated in AID-/- mice, and the serum levels correlated with the gastritis pathological score. Adoptive transfer experiments suggest that autoimmune CD4+ T cells mediate gastritis development as terminal effector cells. These results suggest that abnormal B-cell expansion due to AID deficiency can drive B-cell autoimmunity, and in turn promote TLO formation, which ultimately leads to the propagation of organ-specific autoimmune effector CD4+ T cells. Thus, AID plays an important role in the containment of autoimmune diseases by negative regulation of autoreactive B cells.