The N-terminal tail of hERG contains an amphipathic α-helix that regulates channel deactivation

The cytoplasmic N-terminal domain of the human ether-a-go-go related gene (hERG) K+ channel is critical for the slow deactivation kinetics of the channel. However, the mechanism(s) by which the N-terminal domain regulates deactivation remains to be determined. Here we show that the solution NMR structure of the N-terminal 135 residues of hERG contains a previously described Per-Arnt-Sim (PAS) domain (residues 26-135) as well as an amphipathic α-helix (residues 13-23) and an initial unstructured segment (residues 2-9). Deletion of residues 2-25, only the unstructured segment (residues 2-9) or replacement of the α-helix with a flexible linker all result in enhanced rates of deactivation. Thus, both the initial flexible segment and the α-helix are required but neither is sufficient to confer slow deactivation kinetics. Alanine scanning mutagenesis identified R5 and G6 in the initial flexible segment as critical for slow deactivation. Alanine mutants in the helical region had less dramatic phenotypes. We propose that the PAS domain is bound close to the central core of the channel and that the N-terminal α-helix ensures that the flexible tail is correctly orientated for interaction with the activation gating machinery to stabilize the open state of the channel.     

Next-generation sequencing to generate interactome datasets

Next-generation sequencing has not been applied to protein-protein interactome network mapping so far because the association between the members of each interacting pair would not be maintained in en masse sequencing. We describe a massively parallel interactome-mapping pipeline, Stitch-seq, that combines PCR stitching with next-generation sequencing and used it to generate a new human interactome dataset. Stitch-seq is applicable to various interaction assays and should help expand interactome network mapping.     

Chemical and biological approaches synergize to ameliorate protein-folding diseases

Loss-of-function diseases are often caused by a mutation in a protein traversing the secretory pathway that compromises the normal balance between protein folding, trafficking, and degradation. We demonstrate that the innate cellular protein homeostasis, or proteostasis, capacity can be enhanced to fold mutated enzymes that would otherwise misfold and be degraded, using small molecule proteostasis regulators. Two proteostasis regulators are reported that alter the composition of the proteostasis network in the endoplasmic reticulum through the unfolded protein response, increasing the mutant folded protein concentration that can engage the trafficking machinery, restoring function to two nonhomologous mutant enzymes associated with distinct lysosomal storage diseases. Coapplication of a pharmacologic chaperone and a proteostasis regulator exhibits synergy because of the former's ability to further increase the concentration of trafficking-competent mutant folded enzymes. It may be possible to ameliorate loss-of-function diseases by using proteostasis regulators alone or in combination with a pharmacologic chaperone.     

The roles of autophagy in development and stress responses in Arabidopsis thaliana

Autophagy is a dynamic process that involves the recycling process of the degradation of intracellular materials. Over the past decade, our molecular and physiological understanding of plant autophagy has greatly been increased. Most essential autophagic machineries are conserved from yeast to plants. The roles that autophagy-related genes (ATGs) family play in the lifecycle of the Arabidopsis are proved to be similar to that in mammal. Autophagy is activated during certain stages of development, senescence or in response to starvation, or environmental stress in Arabidopsis. In the progression of autophagy, ATGs act as central signaling regulators and could develop sophisticated mechanisms to survive when plants are suffering unfavorable environments. It will facilitate further understanding of the molecular mechanisms of autophagy in plant. In this review, we will discuss recent advances in our understanding of autophagy in Arabidopsis, areas of controversy, and highlight potential future directions in autophagy research.     

松果体昼夜节律生物钟分子机制的研究进展

在各种非哺乳类脊椎动物中 ,松果体起着中枢昼夜节律振荡器的作用。近来 ,在鸟类松果体中相继发现了几种钟基因 ,如Per、Cry、Clock和Bmal等 ,其表达的时间变化规律与哺乳类视交叉上核 (SCN)的非常相似。钟的振荡由其自身调控反馈环路的转录和翻译组成 ,鸟类松果体和哺乳类SCN似乎具有共同的钟振荡基本分子构架 ;若干钟基因产物作为正向或负向调节子影响钟的振荡 ;昼夜性的控时机制同时也需要翻译后事件的参与。这些过程对钟振荡器的稳定性和 /或钟导引的光输入通路有着重要的调控作用     

Generating gene knockout rats by homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells

We describe here a detailed protocol for generating gene knockout rats by homologous recombination in embryonic stem (ES) cells. This protocol comprises the following procedures: derivation and expansion of rat ES cells, construction of gene-targeting vectors, generation of gene-targeted rat ES cells and, finally, production of gene-targeted rats. The major differences between this protocol and the classical mouse gene-targeting protocol include ES cell culture methods, drug selection scheme, colony picking and screening strategies. This ES cell-based gene-targeting technique allows sophisticated genetic modifications to be performed in the rat, as many laboratories have been doing in the mouse for the past two decades. Recently we used this protocol to generate Tp53 (also known as p53) gene knockout rats. The entire process requires ～1 year to complete, from derivation of ES cells to generation of knockout rats.     

中国维吾尔族人群MSY1(DYF155S1)基因座多态性及其结构特点

应用荧光标记MVR-PCR、Amp-FLP与DNA序列分析技术等检测106例中国维吾尔族人群无关男性个体血纱样品,揭示了中国维吾尔族人群Y特异的小卫星MSY1 (DYF155S1)基因座5′和3′端多态性及其基因结构特点。DYF155S1基因座的多态性表现为3个方面：（1）长度多态性;（2）5′端多态性;（3）3′端多态性。106例无关个体共检出37个不同长度的片段,5′端检出68个类型,3′端检出23个类型。综合这3方面多态性,106例个体间没有相同,其基因多样性（h）超过0.9999。DNA序列分析发现该基因座5′端表现有7种模块结构,3′端有2种模块结构。DYF155S2片段缺失率约为4.7%。MVR-PCR、Amp-FLP与DNA序列分析技术结合起来可以更充分地揭示人群Y染色体特异的小卫星MSY1（DYF155S1）基因座多态性,并提出命名方式,从而为人类遗传学及法医学研究提供了有用的方法和基础资料。 Abstract:The study is to reveal the diversity and gene structure of 5′ and 3′ end of DYF155S1 locus in Y-chromosome minisatellite among Chinese Uygur population.Fluorescent MVR-PCR（minisatellite variant repeat by PCR）,Amp-FLP(Amplified fragment length polymorphism) and DNA sequencing methods were used repectively to detect 106 unrelated males among Chinese Uygur population.The polymorphisms of DYF155S1 locus could be revealed in three aspects:(1) polymorphic length:the sizes of amplified fragments ranged from 1405 to 2505bp.There are 37 types found among the 106 unrelated males.(2) polymorphism at 5′ end of DYF155S1 locus,68 types found among the 106 unrelated males.(3) polymorphism at 3′ end of DYF155S1 locus,23 types found among the 106 unrelated males.In combination of these three aspects of polymorphism,none of the 106 unrelated males tested had the same allele,and the gene diversity(h) was over 0.9999.Seven and two types of modular structure were founded in the 5′ and 3′ end of DYF155S1 locus,respectively,by DNA sequencing.The alleles at DYF155S2 locus showed yes/no dimorphism and the rate of deletion was 4.7%.The polymorphisms of DYF155S1 locus were fully revealed by using combination of MVR-PCR, Amp-FLP and DNA sequencing methods, and we suggested the nomenclature for alleles of MVR loci.These methods are useful tools and provide basic data for the study of human genetics and forensic medicine.     

水通道蛋白1-C末端肽段/GST融合蛋白的原核表达(简报)

水通道蛋白(Aquaporin,AQP)是一类选择性高效转运水分子的细胞膜通道蛋白,广泛存在于原核和真核生物细胞的细胞膜上,主要介导自由水分子的被动跨膜转运,对保持细胞内外液环境的稳态平衡起着重要的作用.     

Calcium signaling in Alzheimer's disease & therapies

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia and is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. Much attention has been given to develop AD treatments based on the amyloid cascade hypothesis; however, none of these drugs had good efficacy at improving cognitive functions in AD patients suggesting that Aβ might not be the disease origin. Thus, there are urgent needs for the development of new therapies that target on the proximal cause of AD. Cellular calcium (Ca²⁺) signals regulate important facets of neuronal physiology. An increasing body of evidence suggests that age-related dysregulation of neuronal Ca²⁺ homeostasis may play a proximal role in the pathogenesis of AD as disrupted Ca²⁺ could induce synaptic deficits and promote the accumulation of Aβ plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Given that Ca²⁺ disruption is ubiquitously involved in all AD pathologies, it is likely that using chemical agents or small molecules specific to Ca²⁺ channels or handling proteins on the plasma membrane and membranes of intracellular organelles to correct neuronal Ca²⁺ dysregulation could open up a new approach to AD prevention and treatment. This review summarizes current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms linking Ca²⁺ dysregulation with AD pathologies and discusses the possibility of correcting neuronal Ca²⁺ disruption as a therapeutic approach for AD.