Uncontrolled zinc- and copper-induced oligomerisation of the human complement regulator factor H and its possible implications for function and disease

Polymorphisms in factor H (FH), a major regulator of complement activation, and the accumulation of high zinc concentrations in the outer retina are both associated with age-related macular degeneration. FH is inhibited by zinc, which causes FH to aggregate. To investigate this, we quantitatively studied zinc-induced FH self-association by X-ray scattering and analytical ultracentrifugation to demonstrate uncontrolled FH oligomerisation in conditions corresponding to physiological levels of FH and pathological levels of zinc in the outer retina. By scattering, FH at 2.8-7.0 μM was unaffected until [Zn] increased to 20 μM, whereupon the radius of gyration, R_G, values increased from 9 to 15 nm at [Zn] = 200 μM. The maximum dimension of FH increased from 32 to 50 nm, indicating that compact oligomers had formed. By ultracentrifugation, size-distribution analyses showed that monomeric FH at 5.57 S was the major species at [Zn] up to 60 μM. At [Zn] above 60 μM, a series of large oligomers were formed, ranging up to 100 S in size. Oligomerisation was reversed by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. Structurally distinct large oligomers were observed for Cu, while Ni, Cd and Fe showed low amounts of oligomers and Mg and Ca showed no change. Fluid-phase assays showed reduced FH activities that correlated with increased oligomer formation. The results were attributed to different degrees of stabilisation of weak self-dimerisation sites in FH by transition metals. The relevance of metal-induced FH oligomer formation to complement regulation and age-related macular degeneration is discussed.     

Post-endocytic fates of delta-opioid receptor are regulated by GRK2-mediated receptor phosphorylation and distinct beta-arrestin isoforms

Once internalized, some G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) can recycle back to the cell surface, while some of them are delivered to lysosomes for degradation. Because recycling and degradation represent two opposing receptor fates, understanding the mechanisms that determine post-endocytic fate of GPCRs is of great importance. Our recent work has verified that agonist-induced internalization of delta-opioid receptor (DOR) employs both phosphorylation-dependent and -independent mechanisms in HEK293 cells. To investigate whether these two internalization mechanisms work differently in receptor regulation, we monitored receptor post-endocytic fates using flow cytometry, surface receptor biotinylation and radioligand binding assays. Results showed that the internalized wild type DOR could either recycle to the cell surface or be degraded. Mutant DOR M4/5/6, which lacks all three G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) phosphorylation sites, could also internalize upon agonist challenge although in a reduced level as compared with the wild type counterpart. However, the internalized mutant DOR could not recycle back to the cell surface and all mutant DOR was degraded after internalization. Inhibition of GRK2 expression by GRK2 RNAi also strongly attenuated recycling of DOR. Furthermore, overexpression of GRK2, which significantly increased receptor phosphorylation and internalization, also targeted more internalized receptors to the recycling pathway. These data suggest that GRK2-catalyzed receptor phosphorylation is critically involved in DOR internalization and recycling, and the phosphorylation-independent internalization leads to receptor degradation. Data obtained from beta-arrestin1 and beta-arrestin2 RNAi experiments indicated that both beta-arrestin1 and beta-arrestin2 participate in phosphorylation-dependent internalization and the subsequent recycling of DOR. However, phosphorylation-independent internalization and degradation of DOR were strongly blocked by beta-arrestin2 RNAi, but not beta-arrestin1 RNAi. Taken together, these data demonstrate for the first time that GRK2 phosphorylation-dependent internalization mediated by both beta-arrestin1 and beta-arrestin2 leads DOR to recycle, whereas GRK2-independent internalization mediated by beta-arrestin2 alone leads to receptor degradation. Thus, the post-endocytic fate of internalized DOR can be regulated by GRK2-catalyzed receptor phosphorylation as well as distinct beta-arrestin isoforms.     

Rapid recruitment of BRCA1 to DNA double-strand breaks is dependent on its association with Ku80

BRCA1 is the first susceptibility gene to be linked to breast and ovarian cancers. Although mounting evidence has indicated that BRCA1 participates in DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair pathways, its precise mechanism is still unclear. Here, we analyzed the in situ response of BRCA1 at DSBs produced by laser microirradiation. The amino (N)- and carboxyl (C)-terminal fragments of BRCA1 accumulated independently at DSBs with distinct kinetics. The N-terminal BRCA1 fragment accumulated immediately after laser irradiation at DSBs and dissociated rapidly. In contrast, the C-terminal fragment of BRCA1 accumulated more slowly at DSBs but remained at the sites. Interestingly, rapid accumulation of the BRCA1 N terminus, but not the C terminus, at DSBs depended on Ku80, which functions in the nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) pathway, independently of BARD1, which binds to the N terminus of BRCA1. Two small regions in the N terminus of BRCA1 independently accumulated at DSBs and interacted with Ku80. Missense mutations found within the N terminus of BRCA1 in cancers significantly changed the kinetics of its accumulation at DSBs. A P142H mutant failed to associate with Ku80 and restore resistance to irradiation in BRCA1-deficient cells. These might provide a molecular basis of the involvement of BRCA1 in the NHEJ pathway of the DSB repair process.     

CLOCK/BMAL1 regulates human nocturnin transcription through binding to the E-box of nocturnin promoter

We attempted to clarify the effects of cyclohexenonic long-chain fatty alcohol (N-hexacosanol) on nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy. After induction of experimental diabetes with streptozotocin, rats were maintained for 8 weeks with or without treatment by N-hexacosanol (8 mg/kg i.p. every day). Urinary albumin excretion, blood chemistry, immunoblot analysis, and real-time polymerase chain reactions (real-time PCR) of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), inducible NOS (iNOS), and neuronal NOS (nNOS) were investigated. Although N-hexacosanol had no effects on serum glucose or insulin level, it normalized serum creatinine and urinary albumin excretion. N-hexacosanol was found to improve the diabetes-induced alterations in the eNOS, iNOS, and nNOS protein and their mRNA levels. Histologically, N-hexacosanol inhibited the progression to glomerular sclerosis. Our data suggest that N-hexacosanol improves diabetes-induced NOS alterations in the kidney, resulting in the amelioration of diabetic nephropathy.     

猪SLA-DR二级结构预测及同源模建

应用EXPASY服务器（http：／／www．expasy．oh／tools）上的SOPMA法对SLA—DR的α链和口链进行二级结构的预测,并与人的HLA—DR相应的α链和β链的氨基酸和二级结构成分比较,在此基础上同源模建SLA—DRα链、β链及复合体SLA—DR的三级结构。结果显示,SLA—DR的α链各二级结构成分α螺旋、β折叠、转角和无规则卷曲的数目分别为36、61、4和69,β链中分别为42、56、16和74。α链和β链各二级结构成分与复合体SLA—DR具有高度的符合率,分别达到98．7％（α螺旋）、99．1％（β折叠）、83．3％（转角）和97．2％（无规则卷曲）。各功能区分析,SLA—DR的α1和β1区为结合抗原的高变化区。同源模建和三级结构分析表明SLA—DR的α链和口链具有独立的三级结构,并可以组成复合体SLA—DR。     

SARS冠状病毒感染Lewis大鼠模型的建立

目的通过观察SARS-CoV感染Lewis大鼠后,病理学、免疫学以及病毒的复制与外排情况变化,探讨其能否作为有效的SARS动物模型。方法SARS病毒感染9只Lewis大鼠,在感染后不同时间安乐死动物,应用光镜对动物的各脏器进行病理观察研究;用病毒分离和RT-PCR方法检测病毒外排与复制的情况;用ELISA法检测动物产生特异性抗体情况。结果在SARS-CoV感染Lewis大鼠后,肺组织出现一定的与人类SARS疾病相似的病理改变,在动物体内可检测到活病毒或病毒核酸,并可检测到特异性IgG抗体的存在。结论Lewis大鼠出现了特异的免疫反应及特征性病理改变,可做为灵长类SARS动物模型的有益补充用于SARS发病机理及疫苗的研发等。     

粪肠球菌Ace重组蛋白的表达、纯化及黏附活性研究

构建含粪肠球菌表面蛋白Ace保守序列A的重组载体,在大肠埃希菌M15中进行诱导表达、纯化表达产物,研究其黏附活性。以粪肠球菌标准株JH2-2为模板进行PCR扩增ace基因保守序列A,构建重组质粒pQE30/Ace,转化至表达宿主菌M15中进行诱导表达,利用SDS-PAGE和Western blot进行分析和鉴定表达结果,Ni-NTA亲和层析柱纯化重组蛋白,同时用纯化的Ace重组蛋白免疫新西兰兔,用所得相应的抗血清分别进行黏附和黏附抑制实验。结果可见,构建的重组质粒经酶切鉴定和测序鉴定证明其中插入片段为ace基因保守序列A,测序结果与Genbank上登录序列完全一致;SDS-PAGE分析显示,重组工程菌表达了一相对分子质量(Mr)约为37 ku的目的蛋白条带,Western blot检测其能与6×His单克隆抗体发生特异性反应。粪肠球菌JH2-2能够黏附于胶原蛋白Ⅰ表面;抗Ace多克隆抗体可抑制46℃培养的JH2-2对胶原蛋白Ⅰ的黏附,这种抑制作用与其稀释度呈负相关。构建的原核表达载体PQE30/Ace在E.coli M15中成功地表达,纯化的重组Ace蛋白具有胶原黏附活性。     

小鼠生殖细胞体外分化与发育机制

小鼠作为发育机制的模式动物,其生殖细胞分化与发育的研究一直是发育生物学研究的重点之一。主要综述了小鼠原始生殖细胞的起源、迁移与增殖的机制,以及原始生殖细胞向生殖细胞的分化,卵母细胞与精子的发生与发育机理,讨论了胚胎干细胞向生殖细胞体外诱导分化以及生殖细胞体外培养的应用前景。