Aggregate Clearance of α-Synuclein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Depends More on Autophagosome and Vacuole Function Than on the Proteasome

Parkinson disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease. The molecular hallmark is the accumulation of proteinaceous inclusions termed Lewy bodies containing misfolded and aggregated α-synuclein. The molecular mechanism of clearance of α-synuclein aggregates was addressed using the bakers' yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as the model. Overexpression of wild type α-synuclein or the genetic variant A53T integrated into one genomic locus resulted in a gene copy-dependent manner in cytoplasmic proteinaceous inclusions reminiscent of the pathogenesis of the disease. In contrast, overexpression of the genetic variant A30P resulted only in transient aggregation, whereas the designer mutant A30P/A36P/A76P neither caused aggregation nor impaired yeast growth. The α-synuclein accumulation can be cleared after promoter shut-off by a combination of autophagy and vacuolar protein degradation. Whereas the proteasomal inhibitor MG-132 did not significantly inhibit aggregate clearance, treatment with phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, an inhibitor of vacuolar proteases, resulted in significant reduction in clearance. Consistently, a cim3-1 yeast mutant restricted in the 19 S proteasome regulatory subunit was unaffected in clearance, whereas an Δatg1 yeast mutant deficient in autophagy showed a delayed aggregate clearance response. A cim3-1Δatg1 double mutant was still able to clear aggregates, suggesting additional cellular mechanisms for α-synuclein clearance. Our data provide insight into the mechanisms yeast cells use for clearing different species of α-synuclein and demonstrate a higher contribution of the autophagy/vacuole than the proteasome system. This contributes to the understanding of how cells can cope with toxic and/or aggregated proteins and may ultimately enable the development of novel strategies for therapeutic intervention.     

Phenylalanine promotes interaction of transmembrane domains via GxxxG motifs

Interactions of transmembrane helices play a crucial role in the folding and oligomerisation of integral membrane proteins. In order to uncover novel sequence motifs mediating these interactions, we randomised one face of a transmembrane helix with a set of non-polar or moderately polar amino acids. Those sequences capable of self-interaction upon integration into bacterial inner membranes were selected by means of the ToxR/POSSYCCAT system. A comparison between low/medium-affinity and high-affinity sequences reveals that high-affinity sequences are strongly enriched in phenylalanine residues that are frequently observed at the − 3 position of GxxxG motifs, thus yielding FxxGxxxG motifs. Mutation of Phe or GxxxG in selected sequences significantly reduces self-interaction of the transmembrane domains without affecting their efficiency of membrane integration. Conversely, grafting FxxGxxxG onto unrelated transmembrane domains strongly enhances their interaction. Further, we find that FxxGxxxG is significantly over-represented in transmembrane domains of bitopic membrane proteins. The same motif contributes to self-interaction of the vesicular stomatitis virus G protein transmembrane domain. We conclude that Phe stabilises membrane-spanning GxxxG motifs. This is one example of how the role of certain side-chains in helix-helix interfaces is modulated by sequence context.     

Nrf2及天然产物导向的Nrf2激活剂研究进展

氧化应激能够破坏细胞内氧化还原平衡,造成系统和组织损伤,最终引起一系列疾病的产生.转录因子E2相关因子2(Nrf2),受Kelch样环氧氯丙烷相关蛋白1(Keap1)蛋白的调控,是细胞氧化应激反应中的关键因子,在氧化应激条件下,Nrf2从Keap1中分离,然后进入细胞核与抗氧化反应元件(ARE)结合,增加了Ⅱ相解毒酶的...     

Alteration in gene expression profile and biological behavior in human lung cancer cell line NL9980 by nm23-H1 gene silencing

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women. Tumor metastasis is an essential aspect of lung cancer progression. nm23-H1 is a metastasis suppressor gene. The molecular mechanism by which nm23-H1 suppresses the metastasis is still unclear. Here, we compared the gene expression profile of human large cell lung cancer cell line NL9980 by nm23-H1 gene silencing with that of negative control cells to comprehensively investigate nm23-H1-mediated changes in gene expression of NL9980 cells. Microarray assay revealed that expression of 733-known genes (1.9%, 733/38,500) were altered in response to nm23-H1 gene silencing, including 466 upregulated genes and 267 downregulated. real-time PCR assay of the expression changes indicated that 81.82% (45/55) of verified genes were consistent with that observed in microarray assay. The upregulated genes included MMP-1, -2, SNAI2, CXCL1, 2, 3, PAI-2, while the downregulated genes included cystatin B, TIMP-2, E-cadherin, centrin-2, all of which have been associated with tumor metastasis. Furthermore, we confirmed by Western blot that the expression of MMP-1 and -2 were significantly increased while that of cystatin B was dramatically decreased in NL9980-nm23-H1 silencing cells. The NL9980-nm23-H1 silencing cells exhibited significantly more S phase growth and invasive ability. Thus, silencing of nm23-H1 gene caused metastasis-related gene expression changes in lung cancer cells. The knockdown of nm23-H1 expression may change the lung cancer cells to a more invasive phenotype through alteration in the expression of a set of genes.     

Pioglitazone suppresses advanced glycation end product-induced expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in vascular smooth muscle cells

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) play an important role in vascular complications of diabetes, including fibrinolytic abnormalities.Pioglitazone, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARΥ) agonist, has recently been shown to reduce circulating plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) levels in diabetes mellitus. In the present study, we investigated the effects of pioglitazone on the expression of local PAI-1 in rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) induced by AGEs and the underlying mechanism. The result showed that AGEs could enhance the PAI-1 expression by 5.1-fold in mRNA and 2.7-fold in protein level, as evaluated by real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting,respectively. Pioglitazone was found to down-regulate the AGE-stimulated PAI-1 expression in VSMCs. However, these inhibitory effects were partially attenuated by the PPARΥ antagonist, GW9662. Furthermore, we found that AGEs induced a rapid increase in phosphorylation and activation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK 1/2). The ERK kinase inhibitor, UO126, partially prevented the induction of PAI-1 by AGEs. Moreover, pioglitazone was also found to inhibit the phosphorylation of ERKi/2. Taken together, it was concluded that pioglitazone could inhibit AGE-induced PAI-1 expression, which was mediated by the ERK1/2 and PPARΥ pathways. Our findings suggestedpioglitazone had a therapeutic potential in improving fibrinolytic activity, and consequently preventing thromboembolic complications of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.     

MicroRNA-30a sensitizes tumor cells to cis-platinum via suppressing beclin 1-mediated autophagy

Autophagy is activated in cancer cells during chemotherapy and often contributes to tumor chemotherapy resistance. In this study, we characterized the role of microRNA-30a (miR-30a) in the coordination of cancer cell apoptosis and autophagy, which determines the sensitivity of cancer cells to chemotherapy. First, the autophagy activity in cancer cells increased after cis-dichloro-diamine platinum (cis-DDP) or Taxol treatment, as indicated by the enhanced expression of beclin 1, a key regulator of autophagy, and increased number of LC3-positive autophagosomes. Second, miRNA screening using a TaqMan probe-based quantitative RT-PCR assay identified that miR-30a, a miRNA that targets beclin 1, was significantly reduced in tumor cells by cis-DDP treatment. Forced expression of miR-30a significantly reduced beclin 1 and the autophagy activity of tumor cells induced by cis-DDP. Third, the blockade of tumor cell autophagy activity by miR-30a expression or 3-methyladenine significantly increased tumor cell apoptosis induced by cis-DDP treatment. Finally, an in vivo tumor implantation mouse model clearly showed that elevation of miR-30a in implanted tumor cells by administration of the recombinant lentivirus expressing miR-30a strongly enhanced cis-DDP-induced apoptosis of tumor cells. In conclusion, our results demonstrate for the first time that miR-30a can sensitize tumor cells to cis-DDP via reducing beclin 1-mediated autophagy and that increasing miR-30a level in tumor cells represents a novel approach to enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy during cancer treatment.     

自噬对鼠伤寒沙门菌所致的巨噬细胞凋亡的影响

为探讨鼠伤寒沙门菌与巨噬细胞共作用时细胞自噬对凋亡的影响,用加入自噬诱导剂雷帕霉素(Rapamycin,RAPA)和未加RAPA的RPMI1640过夜培养小鼠腹腔巨噬细胞J774A.1,以携带一分子量为100kb毒力质粒的鼠伤寒沙门菌标准毒株SR-11为受试菌。首先测定RAPA对菌量及细胞活性的影响,然后建立细胞感染模型,在细菌与细胞共作用后动态观察24h,不同时间点检测细胞超微结构变化、自噬泡的形成、Beclin-1和Bcl-2的表达、细胞存活率和胞内活菌计数以及细胞凋亡情况。结果显示,RAPA单独作用于细菌或细胞时菌量及细胞活性均无变化;而对细胞感染模型而言,RAPA作用与否细胞内的细菌数及细胞存活率均有显著改变,RAPA可明显降低细胞内活菌数及其所致的巨噬细胞凋亡率(P0.05);RAPA干预组在细菌与细胞共作用早期,部分细菌可被双层膜包裹形成自噬泡,细胞超微结构正常;Beclin-1的表达量增加,而Bcl-2的表达量降低;后期细胞破坏程度明显轻于未用RAPA组。以上结果提示,通过调控细胞自噬水平以减轻宿主细胞凋亡,可作为防治某些感染性疾病的新途径。     

Beclin1、p53与肺癌恶性度及疗效预后的相关性研究

目的通过定量检测肺组织中Beclin1和p53表达水平,分析自噬蛋白Beclin1与凋亡蛋白P53在肺癌发生发展中的作用,研究二者之间及其与肺癌临床病理分期的关系、为肺癌早期诊断提供新的思路和实验依据。方法选取外科手术或纤维支气管镜肺组织56例,依据2003年UICC公布的肺癌TNM分期标准同时结合临床表现、胸部CT、X线检查、纤维支气管镜检查、腹部CT或B超等将入选的50例病例进行分组:其中Ⅰ期5例,Ⅱ期10例,Ⅲ期(ⅢA+ⅢB)26例,Ⅳ期9例,各组年龄、性别等控制情况基本匹配。组织病理学分级按2003年UICC标准:G17例,G219例,G324例。另取6例癌旁组织或者病理确诊为正常组织作为对照组织。采用流式细胞术检测和分析不同病理分期以及不同临床分期肺癌组织中Beclin1、p53的表达水平,对该表达情况与对应的分期进行样本均数两两对比式统计学分析,并与正常肺组织作对照。结果 P53蛋白阳性表达百分率:肿瘤患者(63.96±9.43)%显著高于正常对照组(24.90±4.68)%,t=49.46,P0.05;肿瘤转移者显著高于未转移者,P0.05;并且P53蛋白表达随患者临床分期和病理分级的增加而逐渐增高(P0.05)。Beclin1蛋白检出率的变化规律与P53蛋白检出率的变化相反:肿瘤患者Beclin1蛋白(31.72±20.53)%,显著低于正常对照组(92.26±4.51)%,t=35.84,P0.05;该指标随患者临床分期和病理分级的增加而逐渐降低(P0.05)。Beclin1蛋白与P53蛋白二者相关性分析,Beclin1与p53的表达呈负相关,r=-0.848,P0.05。结论 Beclin1与p53的联合检测可以作为肺癌诊断指标,为估计肺癌的恶性度及预后提供依据。Beclin1与P53蛋白表达水平与肺癌发生发展的关系密切,肿瘤发生过程中细胞自噬作用降低和抗凋亡作用增强同时并存,提高自噬能力成为肿瘤治疗的又一途径。     

抗人PAI—1单克隆抗体制备,鉴定和应用

以重组PAI-(rPAI-1)为抗原,通过杂交瘤技术获得6株阳性杂交瘤细胞(AP1、AP2、AP3、AP4、AP5和AP6),并用SPA亲和层析纯化了抗PAI-1单克隆抗体(McAb)。所有McAb均能识别rPAI和天然PAI-1,腹水滴度均为10~6以上。6种McAb对PAI-1亲和常数在3.45×10~7—1.05×10~9mol/L之间。AP2、AP3 McAb能完全抑制PAI-1活性,AP4、AP和AP6只能部分抑制PAI-1活性,AP1则不抑制PAI-1活性。6种McAb中只有AP1、AP4和AP5能识别PAI-1/t-PA复合物。利用AP1、AP3、和AP4 McAb制备免疫亲和柱一步纯化HepG_2细胞分泌的PAI-1,纯度大于98％,回收率92％,纯化倍数51倍。利用抗PAI-1 McAb建立了夹心法ELISA,测定了人血浆PAI-1水平,正常人血浆PAI-1平均含量(±D)为24.7±7.75ng/ml。