Studies on the synthesis of CDP-diacylglycerol: Stimulation by GTP and inhibition by ATP and fluoride

The rat liver microsomal enzyme CTP: phosphatidate cytidylyltransferase (EC 2.7.7.41) which catalyzes the formation of CDP-diacylglycerol has been found to be markedly stimulated by GTP. The requirement for GTP is absolute, the novel GTP analogues such as guanosine 5′-[β,γ-methylene]-triphosphate, guanosine 5′-[α,β-methylene]-triphosphate, guanosine 5′-[β,γ-imido]-triphosphate and guanosine 3′-diphosphate 5′-diphosphate are without significant effect. Maximal stimulation occurs at 1 mM GTP. ATP at a concentration of 5 mM totally inhibits the formation of CDP-diacylglycerol even in the presence of optimal GTP concentration. Analogues of ATP such as adenosine 5′-[α,β-methylene]-triphosphate, adenosine 5′-[β,γ-methylene]-triphosphate and adenosine 5′-[β,γ-imido]-triphosphate are without effect on the reaction. The addition of fluoride (8 mM) likewise abolishes the stimulatory effect of GTP.     

PPARγ 基因与代谢综合征关系的研究进展

过氧化物酶体增殖物激活受体(PPARs)γ基因已被公认在调控脂肪细胞分化和多种代谢(糖、脂肪、能量代谢等)中起重要作用。它在脂肪、肌肉、肝脏等多种与胰岛素作用有关的组织中表达,并且具备激活后调控涉及葡萄糖的产生、转运、利用及脂肪代谢的调节等基因的表达。PPARγ基因在脂肪细胞分化、糖、脂代谢、动脉粥样硬化形成、炎性反应中起重要作用,从而与T2DM、胰岛素抵抗、肥胖症、心血管疾病和高血压等疾病的发病风险相关。本文综述了PPARγ基因的结构、功能及其多态性与代谢综合征关系的研究进展。     

热量限制通过HNF3γ下调NOX4表达来抑制内皮细胞的衰老

为了观察热量限制对主动脉内皮细胞中HNF3γ及NOX4基因表达的影响, 揭示HNF3γ-NOX4-活性氧通路介导热量限制抗内皮细胞衰老的分子机制, 文章将主动脉内皮细胞分为5组：对照组、高热量组、低热量组、siRNA+低热量组、siRNA+高热量组。应用逆转录实时定量PCR(Real-time quantitative PCR, RT-qPCR)、Western blotting分析各组HNF3γ、NOX4 mRNA及蛋白水平变化, 并检测各组细胞内活性氧产量及细胞衰老程度变化。采用染色质免疫共沉淀分析HNF3γ蛋白与NOX4基因启动子区域结合情况, 萤光素酶报告基因检测HNF3γ蛋白结合后对NOX4基因启动子活性的影响。结果显示：与对照组比较, 低热量组HNF3γ mRNA和总HNF3γ蛋白表达水平、磷酸化/总HNF3γ比值显著升高(P<0.05), NOX4 mRNA和蛋白表达水平、细胞内活性氧产量及细胞衰老程度显著降低(P<0.05); 高热量组HNF3γ mRNA和总HNF3γ蛋白表达水平、磷酸化/总HNF3γ比值显著降低(P<0.05), NOX4 mRNA和蛋白表达水平、细胞内活性氧产量及细胞衰老程度显著升高(P<0.05); siRNA+低热量组及siRNA+高热量组中NOX4 mRNA和蛋白表达水平、细胞内活性氧水平及细胞衰老程度显著升高(P< 0.05)。染色质免疫共沉淀证实HNF3γ蛋白可与NOX4基因启动区域4个结合位点(-6 bp、-76 bp、-249 bp、-954 bp)结合。萤光素酶报告基因检测显示HNF3γ蛋白与NOX4启动子区域1个位点(-6 bp)、2个位点(-6、-76 bp)、3个位点(-6、-76、-249 bp)、4个位点(-6、-76、-249、-954 bp)结合, 可使NOX4启动子活性分别降低至对照组的80.15±4.64%、40.02.±2.15%、16.46±2.24%、12.13±1.46%, P<0.05。上述结果提示热量限制可上调HNF3γ基因表达, 增强HNF3γ蛋白活性, 促进HNF3γ蛋白同NOX4基因启动子区域结合, 抑制NOX4基因表达, 进而减少细胞内活性氧产生而延缓动脉内皮细胞衰老。     

Tyrosine and serine phosphorylation regulate the conformation and subsequent threonine phosphorylation of the L1 cytoplasmic domain

Previously we identified threonine-1172 (T1172) in the cytoplasmic domain of the cell adhesion molecule L1 as phosphorylated in pancreatic cancer cells. Although both CKII- and PKC-blockade suppressed this modification, only CKII was capable of phosphorylating T1172 of a recombinant L1 cytoplasmic domain, suggesting the requirement for additional events to facilitate availability of T1172 to PKC. In this study, we demonstrate that the region around T1172 exists in distinct conformations based on both T1172 phosphorylation and the integrity of surrounding residues. We further demonstrate the role of membrane-proximal and membrane-distal residues in regulating cytoplasmic domain conformation, and that modification of 3 of the 4 tyrosines in the L1 cytoplasmic domain promote conformational changes that facilitate other events. In particular, phenylalanine-substitution of tyrosine-1151 or tyrosine-1229 promote opening up of the cytoplasmic domain in a manner that facilitates phosphorylation of the other 3 tyrosines, as well as phosphorylation of T1172 by PKCα. Importantly, we show that phosphorylation of serine-1181 is required for T1172 phosphorylation by CKII. These data define a specific role for secondary structure in regulating the availability of T1172 that facilitates phosphorylation by PKC.     

PLC-γ1 regulates fibronectin assembly and cell aggregation

Phospholipase C-γ1 (PLC-γ1) mediates cell adhesion and migration through an undefined mechanism. Here, we examine the role of PLC-γ1 in cell-matrix adhesion in a hanging drop assay of cell aggregation. Plcg1 Null (−/−) mouse embryonic fibroblasts formed aggregates that were larger and significantly more resistant to dissociation than cells in which PLC-γ1 is re-expressed (Null+ cells). Aggregate formation could be disrupted by inhibition of fibronectin interaction with integrins, indicating that fibronectin assembly may mediate aggregate formation. Fibronectin assembly was mediated by integrin α5β1 in both cell lines, while assays measuring fibronectin assembly revealed increased assembly in the Null cells. Null and Null+ cells exhibited equivalent fibronectin mRNA levels and equivalent levels of fibronectin protein in pulse-labeling experiments. However, levels of secreted fibronectin in the conditioned medium were increased in Null cells. The data implicates a negative regulatory role for PLC-γ1 in cell aggregation by controlling the secretion of fibronectin into the media and its assembly into fibrils.     

蕨菜叶、茎中γ-氨基丁酸的提取分离及含量测定

用渗漉法对蕨菜叶、茎中的γ-氨基丁酸进行了提取,并用柱层析法对提取物进行了分离。采用双波长薄层扫描 法测定其含量,测得蕨菜叶、茎中γ-氨基丁酸的质量分数分别为0.319%、0.141%。采用该法测定γ-氨基丁酸操作简便、 快速,结果稳定。     

hMutS alpha is protected from ubiquitin-proteasome-dependent degradation by atypical protein kinase C zeta phosphorylation

The hMutS alpha (hMSH2-hMSH6) protein heterodimer plays a critical role in the detection of DNA mispairs in the mismatch repair (MMR) process. We recently reported that hMutS alpha proteins were degraded by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway in a cell-type-dependent manner, indicating that one or several regulator(s) may interfere with hMutS alpha protein ubiquitination and degradation. On the other hand, we and others have shown that protein kinase C (PKC) is involved as a positive regulator of MMR activity. Here, we provide evidence that the atypical PKC zeta regulates ubiquitination, degradation, and levels of hMutS alpha proteins. Using both PKC zeta-transfected U937 and PKC zeta siRNA-transfected MRC-5 cell lines, we found that PKC zeta protein expression was correlated with that of hMutS alpha as well as with MMR activity, but was inversely correlated with hMutS alpha protein ubiquitination and degradation. Interestingly, PKC zeta interacts with hMSH2 and hMSH6 proteins and phosphorylates both. Moreover, in an in vitro assay PKCzeta mediates phosphorylation events decreasing hMutS alpha protein degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Altogether, our results indicate that PKC zeta modulates hMutS alpha stability and protein levels, and suggest a role for PKC zeta in genome stability by regulating MMR activity.     

IFN-gamma inhibition of TRAIL-induced IAP-2 upregulation, a possible mechanism of IFN-gamma-enhanced TRAIL-induced apoptosis

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a type II transmembrane cytokine molecule of TNF family and a potent inducer of apoptosis. The anticancer activities of TNF family members are often modulated by interferon (IFN)-gamma. Thus, we investigated whether IFN-gamma enhances TRAIL-induced apoptosis. We exposed HeLa cells to IFN-gamma for 12 h and then treated with recombinant TRAIL protein. No apoptosis was induced in cells pretreated with IFN-gamma, and TRAIL induced 25% cell death after 3 h treatment. In HeLa cells pretreated with IFN-gamma, TRAIL induced cell death to more than 70% at 3 h, indicating that IFN-gamma pretreatment sensitized HeLa cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. We investigated molecules that might be regulated by IFN-gamma pretreatment that would affect TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Western blotting analyses demonstrated that TRAIL treatment increased the level of IAP-2 protein and IFN-gamma pretreatment inhibited the upregulation of IAP-2 protein by TRAIL protein. Our data indicate that TRAIL can signal to activate both apoptosis induction and antiapoptotic mechanism, at least, through IAP-2 simultaneously. IFN-gamma or TRAIL treatment alone did not change expression of other pro- or antiapoptotic proteins such as DR4, DR5, FADD, Bax, IAP-1, XIAP, Bcl-2, and Bcl-XL. Our findings suggest that IFN-gamma may sensitize HeLa cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis by preventing TRAIL-induced IAP-2 upregulation, and IFN-gamma may play a role in anticancer therapy of TRAIL protein through such mechanism.     

以葡萄糖为底物一步法合成γ-氨基丁酸整合型重组钝齿棒杆菌的构建

[目的]为了构建一株直接利用廉价的葡萄糖合成γ-氨基丁酸的重组钝齿棒杆菌,将来自于植物乳杆菌γ-氨基丁酸合成途径的关键酶谷氨酸脱羧酶基因(lpgad)在产谷氨酸菌株钝齿棒杆菌中进行整合表达,实现葡萄糖到GABA的一步法生产.[方法]运用PCR技术扩增得到带有tac启动子的谷氨酸脱羧酶基因tacgad.通过重叠PCR的方法获得钝齿棒杆菌精氨酸合成途径关键酶N-乙酰谷氨酸激酶(NAGK)基因内部缺失型基因△argB.利用自杀载体pK18mobsacB构建同源整合载体pK18-△argB::tacgad,以△argB的上下游序列为同源臂,通过两次同源重组将tacgad基因整合到钝齿棒杆菌基因组,同时将NAGK基因argB灭活,利用蔗糖致死基因sacB反向筛选标记筛选得到谷氨酸脱羧酶的重组钝齿棒杆菌C.crenatum △argB::tacgad.重组钝齿棒杆菌以葡萄糖为底物进行发酵,测定GABA含量.[结果]重组菌C.crenatum △argB::tacgad成功表达谷氨酸脱羧酶,同时阻断了精氨酸合成途径对谷氨酸到GABA代谢途径的竞争,粗酶液基本检测不到NAGK活性,发酵液无精氨酸合成.通过96 h发酵,重组菌可积累约8.28 g/L的GABA.[结论]本研究通过将谷氨酸脱羧酶基因定向整合到钝齿棒杆菌精氨酸合成途径的关键酶基因argB内部,成功表达谷氨酸脱羧酶的同时阻断竞争途径精氨酸的合成.本研究为实现直接利用葡萄糖合成GABA的一步法生产奠定了基础.     

Vasopressin activates Akt/mTOR pathway in smooth muscle cells cultured in high glucose concentration

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex is a key regulator of autophagy, cell growth and proliferation. Here, we studied the effects of arginine vasopressin (AVP) on mTOR activation in vascular smooth muscle cells cultured in high glucose concentration.