促酰化蛋白对脂肪细胞分化中脂滴相关蛋白TIP47表达的影响

研究促酰化蛋白（acylation stimulating protein, ASP）在3T3-L1脂肪细胞分化中对脂滴相关蛋白TIP47(tail-interacting protein 47 kD)表达的影响,从而探讨ASP在成脂方面的重要意义．用免疫荧光染色法观察3T3-L1前脂肪细胞中TIP47的表达定位;采用经典激素鸡尾酒法诱导分化3T3-L1前脂肪细胞,用RT-PCR和Western 印迹方法检测诱导分化的3T3-L1脂肪细胞中TIP47 mRNA和蛋白表达;在分化过程中不同时点,对诱导分化中的3T3-L1脂肪细胞分别给予胰岛素和ASP处理,并设立相应空白对照,用RT-PCR和Western印迹方法检测TIP47 mRNA和蛋白表达． 结果显示,3T3-L1前脂肪细胞中TIP47主要在胞浆内表达;诱导分化过程中的3T3-L1脂肪细胞TIP47 mRNA和蛋白的表达水平呈时间依赖性降低;ASP对诱导分化的3T3-L1脂肪细胞中TIP47 mRNA和蛋白表达有显著的上调作用,但随着分化至48 h,其上调作用已不明显;胰岛素仅在分化的0 d对脂肪细胞中TIP47 mRNA和蛋白表达有上调作用,之后基本无影响．结果提示,ASP促成脂作用可能与其调节脂滴相关蛋白TIP47的表达密切相关,从而为认识及防治肥胖症开拓新的思路．     

促酰化蛋白(ASP)诱导3T3-L1前脂肪细胞分化

促酰化蛋白 (ASP)代替经典激素“鸡尾酒”诱导法中胰岛素 ,通过形态学观察、油红染色分化百分比测定、脂肪细胞甘油三酯合成率和甘油三酯总量测定 ,并与经典激素“鸡尾酒”法诱导前脂肪细胞分化情况比较 ,探讨ASP是否具有诱导 3T3 L1前脂肪细胞分化作用 .ASP组诱导分化第 6d ,3T3 L1前脂肪细胞变大、变圆 ,出现大量脂肪滴 ,形态由前脂肪细胞向成熟脂肪细胞转变 ;随着诱导分化时间延长 ,胞浆中脂滴进一步积累 .分化 9d时 ,3T3 L1前脂肪细胞分化完全 .油红染色结果显示 ,ASP组分化率很高 (85 % ) ,与胰岛素组分化率 (90 % )相似 ,明显高于IBMX +DEX组 (4 0 % ) .ASP不仅促进 3T3 L1前脂肪细胞形态向成熟脂肪细胞转化 ,同时促进细胞中甘油三酯的合成和积累 .ASP组诱导分化第 3d时 ,脂肪细胞甘油三酯合成率明显高于对照组和IBMX +DEX组 ,但仍低于胰岛素组 ;在分化第 6d和第 9d时 ,ASP组甘油三酯合成率进一步升高 ,与对照组和IBMX +DEX组相比差异有极显著性 ,与胰岛素组相比无显著性差异 .ASP组诱导分化 3d时 ,脂肪细胞中甘油三酯总量明显高于对照组和IBMX +DEX组 ;分化 6d和 9d时 ,甘油三酯总量进一步升高 ,与对照组和IBMX +DEX组相比差异有极显著性 ,而与胰岛素组相比无显著性差异 .结果表明 ,新型脂源性激     

A quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics study of the reaction mechanism of the hepatitis C virus NS3 protease with the NS5A/5B substrate

Combined quantum mechanics and molecular mechanics (QM/MM) calculations were carried out to characterize the reaction mechanism of the NS3 protease with its preferred substrate (NS5A/5B). The main purpose of this study was to locate the barrier states and intermediates along the distinguished coordinate path (DCP) involved in this process. These structures, and in particular the one corresponding to the first barrier state and intermediate (B1 and I1), could be a starting point for the synthesis of inhibitors of this protease, which could be used to treat hepatitis C. The two first steps of the reaction mechanism were studied, i.e., the acylation step and the breaking of the peptide bond. The first step takes place through a tetracoordinated intermediate, as suggested from previous works on other Serine proteases. The importance of the different amino acid residues was also considered (perturbation study where the MM charges of each residue were set to zero independently). The residues of the oxyanion hole were confirmed as the most important for the electrostatic stabilization of the tetracoordinate intermediate. Moreover, the role of other residues, e.g., Arg-155 and Asp-79, was also explained.     

Methods for syntheses of <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-methyl-<Emphasis Type="Italic">DL</Emphasis>-aspartic acid derivatives

Summary. A novel practical method for the synthesis of N-methyl-DL-aspartic acid 1 (NMA) and new syntheses for N-methyl-aspartic acid derivatives are described. NMA 1, the natural amino acid was synthesized by Michael addition of methylamine to dimethyl fumarate 5. Fumaric or maleic acid mono-ester and -amide were regioselectively transformed into beta-substituted aspartic acid derivatives. In the cases of maleamic 11a or fumaramic esters 11b, the α-amide derivative 13 was formed, but hydrolysis of the product provided N-methyl-DL-asparagine 9 via base catalyzed ring closure to DL-α-methylamino-succinimide 4, followed by selective ring opening. Efficient methods were developed for the preparation of NMA-α-amide 13 from unprotected NMA via sulphinamide anhydride 15 and aspartic anhydride 3 intermediate products. NMA diamide 16 was prepared from NMA dimethyl ester 6 and methylamino-succinimide 4 by ammonolysis. Temperature-dependent side reactions of methylamino-succinimide 4 led to diazocinone 18, resulted from self-condensation of methylamino-succinimide via nucleophyl ring opening and the subsequent ring-transformation.     

Synthesis of L‐Lys‐Aminoxy‐Goralatide

Natural tetrapeptide Goralatide inhibits primitive hematopoietic cell proliferation but reported to be rather unstable in solution (half‐life 4.5 min). In this work, we report the synthesis of an aminoxy analog of Goralatide. Aminoxy moiety is expected to provide increased stability and bioavailability of the Goralatide analog. Copyright © 2014 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Bottlenecks in erucic acid accumulation in genetically engineered ultrahigh erucic acid Crambe abyssinica

Erucic acid is a valuable industrial fatty acid with many applications. The main producers of this acid are today high erucic rapeseed (Brassica napus) and mustard (Brassica juncea), which have 45%–50% of erucic acid in their seed oils. Crambe abyssinica is an alternative promising producer of this acid as it has 55%–60% of erucic acid in its oil. Through genetic modification (GM) of three genes, we have previously increased the level of erucic acid to 71% (68 mol%) in Crambe seed oil. In this study, we further investigated different aspects of oil biosynthesis in the developing GM Crambe seeds in comparison with wild‐type (Wt) Crambe, rapeseed and safflower (Carthamus tinctorius). We show that Crambe seeds have very low phosphatidylcholine‐diacylglycerol interconversion, suggesting it to be the main reason why erucic acid is limited in the membrane lipids during oil biosynthesis. We further show that GM Crambe seeds have slower seed development than Wt, accompanied by slower oil accumulation during the first 20 days after flowering (DAF). Despite low accumulation of erucic acid during early stages of GM seed development, nearly 86 mol% of all fatty acids accumulated between 27 and 50 DAF was erucic acid, when 40% of the total oil is laid down. Likely bottlenecks in the accumulation of erucic acid during early stages of GM Crambe seed development are discussed.     

p‐Coumaroyl‐CoA:monolignol transferase (PMT) acts specifically in the lignin biosynthetic pathway in Brachypodium distachyon

Grass lignins contain substantial amounts of p‐coumarate (pCA) that acylate the side‐chains of the phenylpropanoid polymer backbone. An acyltransferase, named p‐coumaroyl‐CoA:monolignol transferase (OsPMT), that could acylate monolignols with pCA in vitro was recently identified from rice. In planta, such monolignol‐pCA conjugates become incorporated into lignin via oxidative radical coupling, thereby generating the observed pCA appendages; however p‐coumarates also acylate arabinoxylans in grasses. To test the authenticity of PMT as a lignin biosynthetic pathway enzyme, we examined Brachypodium distachyon plants with altered BdPMT gene function. Using newly developed cell wall analytical methods, we determined that the transferase was involved specifically in monolignol acylation. A sodium azide‐generated Bdpmt‐1 missense mutant had no (<0.5%) residual pCA on lignin, and BdPMT RNAi plants had levels as low as 10% of wild‐type, whereas the amounts of pCA acylating arabinosyl units on arabinoxylans in these PMT mutant plants remained unchanged. pCA acylation of lignin from BdPMT‐overexpressing plants was found to be more than three‐fold higher than that of wild‐type, but again the level on arabinosyl units remained unchanged. Taken together, these data are consistent with a defined role for grass PMT genes in encoding BAHD (BEAT, AHCT, HCBT, and DAT) acyltransferases that specifically acylate monolignols with pCA and produce monolignol p‐coumarate conjugates that are used for lignification in planta.     

Lipase-catalyzed preparation of biologically active esters of dehydroepiandrosterone

A series of acyl esters derivatives of dehydroepiandrosterone have been prepared by an enzymatic methodology. The acyl chain had a length that varied from two to eighteen carbon atoms. The C₁₈ derivative could be saturated or unsaturated. Following this biocatalytic approach we have also obtained a chloropropionyl derivative. We have observed that several lipases catalyzed esterification and transesterification reactions of dehydroepiandrosterone with carboxylic acids or alkyl carboxylates. The advantages presented by this methodology such as mild reaction conditions, economy and low environmental impact, make biocatalysis a convenient way to prepare acyl derivatives of DHEA with biological activity.     

Regulation of Wnt protein secretion and its role in gradient formation

In metazoans, many developmental and disease-related processes are mediated by Wnt proteins, which are secreted by specific cells to regulate cellular programmes in the surrounding tissue. Although the Wnt-induced signal-transduction cascades are well studied, little is known about how Wnts are secreted. The discovery of Porcupine, an endoplasmic-reticulum-resident acyltransferase, led to closer inspection of the secretory routes of Wnts, and the analysis of Wnt secretion has become an exciting new area of research. Wnt post-translational modifications, interaction partners and subcellular localizations now indicate that Wnt release is tightly regulated. In this review, we summarize recent advances in the field of Wnt secretion and discuss the possibility that separate pathways might regulate the release of lipid-linked morphogens for short-range and long-range signalling.     

Feruloylation and structure of arabinoxylan in wheat endosperm cell walls from RNAi lines with suppression of genes responsible for backbone synthesis and decoration

Arabinoxylan (AX) is the major component of the cell walls of wheat grain (70% in starchy endosperm), is an important determinant of end‐use qualities affecting food processing, use for animal feed and distilling and is a major source of dietary fibre in the human diet. AX is a heterogeneous polysaccharide composed of fractions which can be sequentially extracted by water (WE‐AX), then xylanase action (XE‐AX) leaving an unextractable (XU‐AX) fraction. We determined arabinosylation and feruloylation of AX in these fractions in both wild‐type wheat and RNAi lines with decreased AX content (TaGT43_2 RNAi, TaGT47_2 RNAi) or decreased arabinose 3‐linked to mono‐substituted xylose (TaXAT1 RNAi). We show that these fractions are characterized by the degree of feruloylation of AX, <5, 5–7 and 13–19 mg bound ferulate (g^?1 AX), and their content of diferulates (diFA), <0.3, 1–1.7 and 4–5 mg (g^?1 AX), for the WE, XE and XU fractions, respectively, in all RNAi lines and their control lines. The amount of AX and its degree of arabinosylation and feruloylation were less affected by RNAi transgenes in the XE‐AX fraction than in the WE‐AX fraction and largely unaffected in the XU‐AX fraction. As the majority of diFA is associated with the XU‐AX fraction, there was only a small effect (TaGT43_2 RNAi, TaGT47_2 RNAi) or no effect (TaXAT1 RNAi) on total diFA content. Our results are compatible with a model where, to maintain cell wall function, diFA is maintained at stable levels when other AX properties are altered.