Theoretical Insights into Catalytic Mechanism of Protein Arginine Methyltransferase 1

Protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1), the major arginine asymmetric dimethylation enzyme in mammals, is emerging as a potential drug target for cancer and cardiovascular disease. Understanding the catalytic mechanism of PRMT1 will facilitate inhibitor design. However, detailed mechanisms of the methyl transfer process and substrate deprotonation of PRMT1 remain unclear. In this study, we present a theoretical study on PRMT1 catalyzed arginine dimethylation by employing molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) calculation. Ternary complex models, composed of PRMT1, peptide substrate, and S-adenosyl-methionine (AdoMet) as cofactor, were constructed and verified by 30-ns MD simulation. The snapshots selected from the MD trajectory were applied for the QM/MM calculation. The typical S_N2-favored transition states of the first and second methyl transfers were identified from the potential energy profile. Deprotonation of substrate arginine occurs immediately after methyl transfer, and the carboxylate group of E144 acts as proton acceptor. Furthermore, natural bond orbital analysis and electrostatic potential calculation showed that E144 facilitates the charge redistribution during the reaction and reduces the energy barrier. In this study, we propose the detailed mechanism of PRMT1-catalyzed asymmetric dimethylation, which increases insight on the small-molecule effectors design, and enables further investigations into the physiological function of this family.     

Analysis of the downstream region of nodD3 P1 promoter by deletion and complementation tests in Sinorhizobium meliloti

Rhizobia specifically interacts with the host, leguminous plants, leading to the formation of nitrogen-fixing root nodules. The Rhizobium genes essential for nodule formation are called nodulation genes (nod or nol). The expression of nod genes requires the presence of host signals, generally flavonoids, and the product of regulatory nodD gene, NodD[1,2]. The expression of nod genes results in the synthesis of Nod factors, which serve as the signal molecules to elicit root cor-tical cells di…     

土壤原生动物群落及其生态功能

土壤原生动物是土壤微生物区系的重要组成部分。在土壤生态系统中 ,由于微生物与微动物的生命活动及其相互作用 ,从而形成了土壤的物质循环和能量转化。土壤原生动物既参与了微生物所介导的物质转化和能量循环 ,又参与了动物对微生物的捕食作用。由于原生动物具有丰富的种类和多样性以及巨大的生物量 ,所以土壤原生动物的群落及其生态功能 ,已引起了人们的广泛关注 ,并且研究理论与方法日益深入。但我国在这方面的研究报道较少 ,本文拟从群落与生态功能方面的进展做一概述。1　土壤原生动物的群落特征土壤与淡水原生动物最早是由Ａｎｔｏｎ…     

从野皂荚提胶后的副产物中制备分离蛋白

采用碱提酸沉法从野皂荚提胶后的副产物中制备分离蛋白,研究了制备工艺条件对分离蛋白得率的影响。结果表明:当料液比1∶10~1∶12(m/V)、提取液pH8.0~9.0、浸提温度45~50℃、浸提两次、每次浸提45 m in时,分离蛋白得率可达78.45%。研究结果可为野皂荚提胶副产物中蛋白的综合利用奠定了基础。     

中枢神经细胞的高尔基复合体ACP活性分布的电镜观察

本文采用电镜金属盐法—酸性磷酸酶(ACP)细胞化学技术,用30mmol/L pipes缓冲液配制低浓度戊二醛进行固定。对成年大鼠的大脑大锥体细胞,小脑浦肯野氏细胞,脊髓前角运动细胞的高尔基复合体的ACP活性进行了实验研究和探讨。结果发现ACP活性分布在高尔基复合体的部份转移泡、浓缩泡及GERL部位。高尔基复合体呈ACP阳性反应,并显示出多种形态。     

碱性成纤维细胞生长因子对牙周膜细胞内核心蛋白多糖基因表达的影响

利用外源性碱性成纤维细胞生长因子(Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor,bFGF)刺激体外培养的人正常牙周膜细胞.采用逆转录-聚合酶链式反应(RT-PCR)检测细胞内decorin的基因表达的变化,研究bFGF对体外培养的人牙周膜细胞内核心蛋白多糖(decorin)的作用,进一步探讨bFGF抑制Ⅰ型胶原的作用机制.发现bFGF刺激牙周膜细胞后能促进牙周膜细胞的增殖,bFGF抑制decorin的合成是bFGF促进牙周膜细胞增殖的重要调节因素之一.     

Novel aminopeptidase N inhibitors derived from antineoplaston AS2–5 (Part I)

Overexpression of zinc-dependent metalloproteinase, aminopeptidase N (APN/CD13), is considered to be involved in the process of tumor invasion and metastasis. Herein we describe the synthesis and in vitro enzymatic inhibition assay of antineoplaston AS2–5 scaffold peptidomimetic compounds. The results demonstrated that most of these l-iso-glutamine derivatives displayed selective inhibitory activity against APN as compared with MMP-2, with IC₅₀ values in the micromole range. The structure–activity relationships were also briefly discussed.     

Demonstration of diet-induced decoupling of fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis by combining gene expression array and 2H2O quantification

The liver is a crossroad for metabolism of lipid and carbohydrates, with acetyl-CoA serving as an important metabolic intermediate and a precursor for fatty acid and cholesterol biosynthesis pathways. A better understanding of the regulation of these pathways requires an experimental approach that provides both quantitative metabolic flux measurements and mechanistic insight. Under conditions of high carbohydrate availability, excess carbon is converted into free fatty acids and triglyceride for storage, but it is not clear how excessive carbohydrate availability affects cholesterol biosynthesis. To address this, C57BL/6J mice were fed either a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet or a high-fat, carbohydrate-free diet. At the end of the dietary intervention, the two groups received (2)H(2)O to trace de novo fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis, and livers were collected for gene expression analysis. Expression of lipid and glucose metabolism genes was determined using a custom-designed pathway focused PCR-based gene expression array. The expression analysis showed downregulation of cholesterol biosynthesis genes and upregulation of fatty acid synthesis genes in mice receiving the high-carbohydrate diet compared with the carbohydrate-free diet. In support of these findings, (2)H(2)O tracer data showed that fatty acid synthesis was increased 10-fold and cholesterol synthesis was reduced by 1.6-fold in mice fed the respective diets. In conclusion, by applying gene expression analysis and tracer methodology, we show that fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis are differentially regulated when the carbohydrate intake in mice is altered.