织锦芋螺ο家族芋螺毒素的序列分析

为了从织锦芋螺（Ｃｏｎｕｓｔｅｘｔｉｌｅ）中尽可能多地分离出ο家族的毒素序列和研究其应用价值,在克隆了织锦芋螺α芋螺毒素的基础上进行了织锦芋螺ο家族芋螺毒素基因的分离工作．从织锦芋螺毒管中提取ｍ ＲＮＡ,通过ＲＡＣＥ（ｒａｐｉｄ ａｍ ｐｌｉｆｉｃａｔｉｏｎ ｏｆｃＤＮＡ ｅｎｄｓ,ｃＤＮＡ 末端的快速扩增）－ＰＣＲ方法扩增获得ο家族芋螺毒素ｃＤＮＡ 片段,并进行克隆和序列分析．从织锦芋螺毒液中获得了６种新的芋螺毒素序列,且毒素序列的成熟肽部分均符合Ｃ－ Ｃ－ ＣＣ－ Ｃ－ Ｃ的保守半胱氨酸框架．这些是新的ο家族芋螺毒素序列,新序列的阐明为进一步研究其生物活性和应用打下了基础．     

织锦芋螺毒素的研究进展

芋螺毒素是来源于芋螺的毒液的活性多肽,由于其分子质量小、结构多样、作用靶点广泛、功能专一、组织特异性强等优点,广泛地被用作细胞中各种具有重要生理功能靶点的探针,以及作为新药的先导化合物甚至直接作为新药开发.芋螺可以分为食鱼、食软体动物和食虫3种类型,织锦芋螺是一种分布广泛的食软体动物芋螺.作为毒性最强的芋螺品种之一,织锦芋螺毒素成为食软体动物类芋螺毒素研究的代表.现对20世纪90年代末至今的织锦芋螺毒素方面的研究进行了综述.     

芋螺毒素研究进展

芋螺毒素是７０年代末期发现的一类海洋生物神经毒肽,近２０年来研究进展十分迅速,其独特的化学结构特征,高选择性的生物活性,协同性的作用机制,以及其生态作用等都引起了广泛注意,成为生命科学研究中的一个新的活跃领域,在多肽化学,分子生物学以及新药研究等方面都有十分诱人的发展前景,本文就这方面研究进行了综述。     

α-芋螺毒素的研究现状

α-芋螺毒素是近年来研究较多的一种海洋生物神经毒素,它特异性竞争结合烟碱型乙酰胆碱受体,化学结构独特。本文介绍了有关α-芋螺毒素的种类、结构特征、生物学活性和制备方法等方面的研究进展,及其在生物化学、生物学以及新药开发等方面的应用前景。     

芋螺毒素

简明阐述了芋螺毒素的种类、特点、功能和用途。对芋螺毒素的生物合成及其基因的研究进展进行了综述。     

新型α-芋螺毒素基因克隆的引物筛选

目的:优化PCR条件,建立能特异扩增出α-芋螺毒素基因片段的最理想PCR条件.方法:根据α-芋螺毒素基因保守的信号肽或内含子序列和非翻译区保守核苷酸序列设计了多组特异引物,并对引物浓度和退火温度等影响因素进行优化.结果:根据α-芋螺毒素基因保守的内含子序列为引物、引物浓度为0.1 μmol/L、退火温度为50℃时,能特异的扩增出α-芋螺毒素基因片段,分子量大约分别为180bp和300bp.结论:采用优化的PCR条件,能筛选出克隆新型的α--芋螺毒素基因片段的最理想引物,为α-芋螺毒素的化学合成、活性研究和应用提供基础.     

ω—芋螺毒素线性肽合成方法比较

比较了不同偶合方法及裂解条件对ω－芋螺毒素及其衍生物线性肽合成效率的影响。结果表明,Ｂｏｃ／Ｂｚｌ策略、Ｆｍｏｃ／Ｂｕｔ策略、手工及仪器对总偶合率影响较小,但裂解条件及保护策略对肽－树脂裂解影响很大,氟化氢体系裂解Ｂｏｃ／Ｂｚｌ法合成树脂副产物较多,且主链易发生断裂,以低高法裂解效率最高。三氟乙酸体系裂解Ｆｍｏｃ法合成树脂效率高,主要副产物是含Ｔｒｔ基的线性肽,增加１,２－二巯基乙醇可提高肽纯度。     

O-超家族芋螺毒素研究进展

O-超家族芋螺毒素是芋螺毒素中较复杂的超家族之一,它包括δ、μO-、ω-、κ-等若干成员,通常由24-33个氨基酸组成,具有相同的三对二硫键骨架,形成ICK模体,能特异性作用于电压门控离子通道。本文主要对该芋螺毒素生物化学及分子遗传学特征、生理学和药理学特征、结构与性能的关系及应用研究与前景等进行综述。     

新芋螺毒素基因的克隆及其遗传进化分析

全世界有约800种芋螺,每种芋螺产生多达2 000种的肽类毒素,这些毒素可以作用于电压门控离子通道(Na+,K+,Ca2+)、配体门控离子通道(n ACh Rs,5-HT3R,NMDAR)、G蛋白偶联受体(神经降压素和血管加压素)和神经递质转运蛋白。虽然已有大量的芋螺毒素通过毒液分离、c DNA克隆和转录组测序获得,但已发现的芋螺毒素不足其总量的0.5%。A-超家族中α-芋螺毒素基因结构包含了一个内含子和被该内含子分开的两个外显子,成熟肽具有标准的4个半胱氨酸骨架(CC-C-C)。本研究利用具有保守性的α-芋螺毒素基因内含子序列,采用多个PCR退火温度,从海南产疣缟芋螺中克隆到了1个新的具有6个半胱氨酸骨架(CC-C-C-CC)的M-超家族芋螺毒素基因和1个含有5个半胱氨酸新颖骨架(CC-C-C-C)的未知新家族芋螺毒素,并对它们的基因结构、成熟肽序列,以及与其他M-超家族芋螺毒素的遗传进化关系进行了深入分析。首次证实保守的α-芋螺毒素基因内含子序列可能存在于其他超家族中。     

芋螺毒素基因资源研究进展

芋螺毒素和微生物的次生代谢产物与植物的生物碱一样,具有生物多样性的特点。芋螺毒素特有的二硫键骨架和化学修饰后特异的空间结构,使其具有特异的稳定性和药理学活性。对芋螺毒素基因的分析和新型基因的克隆筛选,是深入研究各种受体、离子通道及其亚型,进而在克隆表达的靶受体上设计和筛选高效新药的前提。芋螺毒素基因资源的研究在芋螺毒素新基因及其编码产物毒素肽的发现与利用方面发挥了重要作用。现对该领域的新进展进行论述。     

Novel alpha-conotoxins identified by gene sequencing from cone snails native to Hainan, and their sequence diversity.

Conotoxins (CTX) from the venom of marine cone snails (genus Conus) represent large families of proteins, which show a similar precursor organization with surprisingly conserved signal sequence of the precursor peptides, but highly diverse pharmacological activities. By using the conserved sequences found within the genes that encode the alpha-conotoxin precursors, a technique based on RT-PCR was used to identify, respectively, two novel peptides (LiC22, LeD2) from the two worm-hunting Conus species Conus lividus, and Conus litteratus, and one novel peptide (TeA21) from the snail-hunting Conus species Conus textile, all native to Hainan in China. The three peptides share an alpha4/7 subfamily alpha-conotoxins common cysteine pattern (CCX(4)CX(7)C, two disulfide bonds), which are competitive antagonists of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChRs). The cDNA of LiC22N encodes a precursor of 40 residues, including a propeptide of 19 residues and a mature peptide of 21 residues. The cDNA of LeD2N encodes a precursor of 41 residues, including a propeptide of 21 residues and a mature peptide of 16 residues with three additional Gly residues. The cDNA of TeA21N encodes a precursor of 38 residues, including a propeptide of 20 residues and a mature peptide of 17 residues with an additional residue Gly. The additional residue Gly of LeD2N and TeA21N is a prerequisite for the amidation of the preceding C-terminal Cys. All three sequences are processed at the common signal site -X-Arg- immediately before the mature peptide sequences. The properties of the alpha4/7 conotoxins known so far were discussed in detail. Phylogenetic analysis of the new conotoxins in the present study and the published homologue of alpha4/7 conotoxins from the other Conus species were performed systematically. Patterns of sequence divergence for the three regions of signal, proregion, and mature peptides, both nucleotide acids and residue substitutions in DNA and peptide levels, as well as Cys codon usage were analyzed, which suggest how these separate branches originated. Percent identities of the DNA and amino acid sequences of the signal region exhibited high conservation, whereas the sequences of the mature peptides ranged from almost identical to highly divergent between inter- and intra-species. Notably, the diversity of the proregion was also high, with an intermediate percentage of divergence between that observed in the signal and in the toxin regions. The data presented are new and are of importance, and should attract the interest of researchers in this field. The elucidated cDNAs of these toxins will facilitate a better understanding of the relationship of their structure and function, as well as the process of their evolutionary relationships.     

Diversity of A-conotoxins of three worm-hunting cone snails (Conus brunneus,Conus nux,and Conus princeps) from the Mexican Pacific coast

Conus marine snails (∼500 species) are tropical predators that use venoms mainly to capture prey and defend themselves from predators. The principal components of these venoms are peptides that are known as “conotoxins” and generally comprise 7–40 amino acid residues, including 0–5 disulfide bridges and distinct posttranslational modifications. The most common molecular targets of conotoxins are voltage- and ligand-gated ion channels, G protein-coupled receptors, and neurotransmitter transporters, to which they bind, typically, with high affinity and specificity. Due to these properties, several conotoxins have become molecular probes, medicines, and leads for drug design. Conotoxins have been classified into genetic superfamilies based on the signal sequence of their precursors, and into pharmacological families according to their molecular targets. The objective of this work was to identify and analyze partial cDNAs encoding conotoxin precursors belonging to the A superfamily from Conus brunneus, Conus nux, and Conus princeps. These are vermivorous species of the Mexican Pacific coast from which only one A-conotoxin, and few O- and I₂-conotoxins have been reported. Employing RT-PCR, we identified 30 distinct precursors that contain 13 different predicted mature toxins. With the exception of two groups of four highly similar peptides, these toxins are diverse at both the sequence and the physicochemical levels, and they belong to the 4/3, 4/4, 4/5, 4/6, and 4/7 structural subfamilies. These toxins are predicted to target diverse nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subtypes: nx1d, muscle; pi1a–pi1d, α₃β₂, α₇, and/or α₉α₁₀; br1a, muscle, α₃β₄, and/or α₄β₂; and nx1a–nx1c/pi1g and pi1h, α₃β₂, α₃β₄, α₉β₁₀, and/or α₇.     

Pc16a, the first characterized peptide from Conus pictus venom, shows a novel disulfide connectivity

A novel conotoxin, pc16a, was isolated from the venom of Conus pictus. This is the first peptide characterized from this South-African cone snail and it has only 11 amino acid residues, SCSCKRNFLCC*, with the rare cysteine framework XVI and a monoisotopic mass of 1257.6Da. Two peptides were synthesized with two possible conformations: globular (pc16a_1) and ribbon (pc16a_2). pc16a_1 co-eluted with the native peptide, which indicates a disulfide connectivity I-III, II-IV. The structure of pc16a_1 was determined by NMR. Both synthetic peptides were used to elucidate the biological activity. Bioassays were performed on crickets, ghost shrimps, larvae of the mealworm beetle and mice, but no effect was seen. Using two-electrode voltage clamp, a range of voltage-gated ion channels (Na(v) and K(v)) and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors were screened, but again no activity was found. Hence, the specific target of pc16a still remains to be discovered.     

大鼠4.5S RNAs的cDNA克隆与序列分析

利用ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ方法,首次从大鼠肝脏细胞总ＲＮＡ中扩增出４．５Ｓ ＲＮＡｓ的ｃＤＮＡ。该ｃＤＮＡ被克隆到ｐＧＥＭ３Ｚｆ（＋）质粒上,经酶切电泳鉴定,然后测序。与报道的小鼠和仓鼠４．５Ｓ ＲＮＡｓ序列进行了比较研究,并对该分子的结构特点进行了初步分析。     

Biochemical and gene expression analyses of conotoxins in Conus textile venom ducts

Each Conus snail species produces 50-200 unique peptide-based conotoxins, derived from a number of different gene superfamilies. Conotoxins are synthesized and secreted in a long venom duct, but biochemical and molecular aspects of their biosynthesis remain poorly understood. Here, we analyzed expression patterns of conotoxin genes belonging to different superfamilies in Conus textile venom ducts. The results demonstrate that specific gene families are expressed in particular regions of the venom duct. Biochemical analysis using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry revealed an even more localized accumulation of individual conotoxins. This study demonstrates for the first time that specialization of gene expression, processing, and secretion of conotoxins occurs in different regions of the venom duct.     

几种南海芋螺二硫键异构酶的克隆及进化分析

目的:从来自中国南海的4种芋螺中克隆出包含完整3’和5’非翻译区的蛋白质二硫键异构酶(PDI)全基因序列,并对其进行序列及进化分析。方法:根据各种生物PDI基因的保守区域设计引物,利用3’和5’cDNA末端快速扩增(RACE)方法克隆出PDI全基因序列,并通过生物信息学方法对各芋螺PDI序列进行分析。结果与结论:从中国南海玉女芋螺、黑星芋螺、堂皇芋螺、桶形芋螺cDNA中克隆出包含有完整3’和5’非翻译区的PDI全基因序列;分析结果表明各芋螺之间的同源性大于90%,而与对虾、人类、酿酒酵母的同源性均小于60%;各芋螺PDI与其他生物的2个活性位点序列高度保守,而底物结合位点具有物种特异性,进化树显示各芋螺PDI的特征可能受其捕食食性影响。     

Isolation and cloning of a conotoxin with a novel cysteine pattern from Conus caracteristicus

A new conotoxin, ca16a, containing 8 cysteine residues was purified, sequenced, and cloned from a worm-hunting snail, Conus caracteristicus. This conotoxin is an extremely hydrophilic peptide comprising 34 residues, with 4 acidic and 4 basic residues. It is rich in polar Gly, Ser, and Thr residues and includes a hydroxylated Pro residue. The cysteine arrangement pattern of ca16a (-C-C-CC-C-CC-C-, designated as framework #16) is distinct from that of other known conotoxins. Furthermore, the signal peptide sequence of this conotoxin does not share any homology with those of other conotoxins. Leu residues account for almost 50% of its 20-residue signal peptide. The unique cysteine framework and signal peptide sequence of ca16a suggest that it belongs to a new conotoxin superfamily.