Intermediate Filaments Play a Pivotal Role in Regulating Cell Architecture and Function

Intermediate filaments (IFs) are composed of one or more members of a large family of cytoskeletal proteins, whose expression is cell- and tissue type-specific. Their importance in regulating the physiological properties of cells is becoming widely recognized in functions ranging from cell motility to signal transduction. IF proteins assemble into nanoscale biopolymers with unique strain-hardening properties that are related to their roles in regulating the mechanical integrity of cells. Furthermore, mutations in the genes encoding IF proteins cause a wide range of human diseases. Due to the number of different types of IF proteins, we have limited this short review to cover structure and function topics mainly related to the simpler homopolymeric IF networks composed of vimentin, and specifically for diseases, the related muscle-specific desmin IF networks.     

植物富含亮氨酸重复序列型类受体蛋白激酶的生物学功能

介绍了植物富含亮氨酸重复序列(leucine-rich repeat,LRR)型类受体蛋白激酶概念、最近发现的这类蛋白激酶的亚结构域特征;总结了目前已确定其功能的LRR型类受体蛋白激酶,并分别阐述了它们在参与植物抗逆性反应、发育调控及激素的信号转导等过程中的生物学功能;着重介绍和讨论了LRR型类受体蛋白激酶复合物之间及其与下游成分KAPP之间互作而产生信号传递的分子机理.最后展望了LRR型类受体蛋白激酶生物学功能、信号转导机制、以及应用于生产实践的研究前景.     

核定位信号肽提高核糖体区打靶载体转染效率的研究

核糖体区打靶载体(10～14 kb)是中南大学医学遗传学国家重点实验室构建的一种具有定点整合能力的非病毒载体,具有安全性好及长期稳定表达的特点,但是较低的转染率成为其应用于临床的主要障碍．核定位信号肽可以促进非病毒载体进入细胞核,从而提高其转染效率．但是核定位信号肽提高外源基因表达的能力却严重受到其与DNA偶联方式及偶联剂的影响．采用偶联剂SPB可以通过静电作用将核糖体区打靶载体与SV40 核定位信号肽有效结合,并且可以防止其被DNase降解．应用聚乙烯亚胺转染人原代皮肤成纤维细胞后,激光共聚焦显微镜观察显示,核定位信号肽可以在60 min内携带12 kb的质粒DNA进入细胞核．转染后48 h,流式细胞仪检测GFP表达,结果显示转染率提高了4～5倍．聚乙烯亚胺是一种毒性小,而且价格低廉的高分子转染试剂,广泛被应用于体内基因治疗的研究中,上述研究将会促进核糖体区打靶载体在临床基因治疗中的应用．     

东方肉座菌EU7-22纤维素内切酶Ⅰ的异源表达

[目的]实现东方肉座菌纤维素内切酶EGⅠ在毕赤酵母中的表达,获得重组EGⅠ。[方法]通过RT-PCR获得EGⅠ开放阅读框。将EGⅠ成熟肽和PHO1信号肽的DNA片段插入p PIC3. 5K后,重组表达载体电转化毕赤酵母。通过甲醇诱导表达和镍柱纯化获得EGⅠ。以羟甲基纤维素钠检测活性,以肽N-糖苷酶F分析N-糖基化,以SDSPAGE分析表达情况和糖基化修饰。[结果]获得EGⅠ分泌表达菌株,诱导96 h后上清液活性为0. 513±0. 002 U/m L,纯化后的EGⅠ活性为0. 558±0. 012 U/mg。SDS-PAGE表明EGⅠ分子量在100～180 k Da,远高于预测值47. 3k Da,经肽N-糖苷酶F处理后,降至63～75 k Da。[结论]实现了EGⅠ的分泌表达,获得活性为0. 558±0. 012 U/mg的糖基化重组EGⅠ。     

Analysis of protein phosphorylation: methods and strategies for studying kinases and substrates

Protein phosphorylation is a highly conserved mechanism for regulating protein function, being found in all prokaryotes and eukaryotes examined. Phosphorylation can alter protein activity or subcellular localization, target proteins for degradation and effect dynamic changes in protein complexes. In many cases, different kinases may be involved in each of these processes for a single protein, allowing a large degree of combinatorial regulation at the post-translational level. Therefore, knowing which kinases are activated during a response and which proteins are substrates is integral to understanding the mechanistic regulation of a wide range of biological processes. In this paper, I will describe methods for monitoring kinase activity, investigating kinase-substrate specificity, examining phosphorylation in planta and the determination of phosphorylation sites in a protein. In addition, strategic considerations for experimental design and variables will be discussed.     

Protease signalling: the cutting edge

Protease research has undergone a major expansion in the last decade, largely due to the extremely rapid development of new technologies, such as quantitative proteomics and in-vivo imaging, as well as an extensive use of in-vivo models. These have led to identification of physiological substrates and resulted in a paradigm shift from the concept of proteases as protein-degrading enzymes to proteases as key signalling molecules. However, we are still at the beginning of an understanding of protease signalling pathways. We have only identified a minor subset of true physiological substrates for a limited number of proteases, and their physiological regulation is still not well understood. Similarly, links with other signalling systems are not well established. Herein, we will highlight current challenges in protease research.     

植物抗脱水胁迫的分子机制

主要介绍植物在脱水胁迫下,逆激基因产物的功能和胁迫信号的转导过程.逆激基因产物的功能可分为两类：一类起“保护”作用,另一类起“调节”作用.在脱水胁迫起始信号和基因表达之间至少存在四条信号转导通路,两条依赖脱落酸(ABA),两条不依赖ABA,依赖ABA的途径中有1条必须有蛋白质合成.不依赖ABA的途径中有1条与低温胁迫应答有共同的信号转导通路.     

PTEN蛋白磷酸酶活性的作用

PTEN是一个具有磷酸酶活性的肿瘤抑制基因,是编码具有脂质磷酸酶活性和蛋白磷酸酶活性的双重特异性磷酸酶,其缺失或功能异常与人类恶性肿瘤的发生发展密切相关。PTEN的脂质磷酸酶活性和蛋白磷酸酶活性在调控肿瘤细胞的生物学行为、维持细胞正常的生理活动中均发挥了重要作用。但二者的作用重点及机制仍有不同,其蛋白磷酸酶活性主要侧重于调控细胞的黏附迁移及侵袭。为更好地认识PTEN蛋白磷酸酶活性的作用,该文对PTEN蛋白磷酸酶活性的作用及其机制作一简要综述。     

阳离子脂质体运载基因的跨膜机制

阳离子脂质体等非病毒载体以其制备简单、低毒性、低免疫原性、可生物降解等优点,成为近年来基因转运中的常用载体。理解阳离子脂质体运载基因的机制对阳离子脂质体的研究具有重要意义。从跨膜机制和信号调控的角度,介绍了脂质体/DNA复合体以特定构象避免细胞外基质中核酸酶的降解,跨越细胞膜进入细胞的过程;阐明了DNA在信号调控的作用下,逃离溶酶体并安全释放的机制;讨论了基因穿过核被膜进入到细胞核的方式,为进一步阐明阳离子脂质体运载基因的分子机制奠定基础。     

整合素αvβ3对MDA-MB-231BO乳腺癌细胞AKT信号通路的调控

旨在探究整合素αvβ3的单克隆抗体LM609在BSP不同表达水平的乳腺癌细胞中对AKT(蛋白激酶B)信号通路的影响。利用免疫细胞化学法检测BSP不同表达水平的乳腺癌细胞中整合素αvβ3的表达量。BSP基因沉默乳腺癌MDA-MB-231BO细胞,Western blotting在蛋白水平检测磷酸化AKT的表达,MTT试验和细胞划痕试验分别检测细胞增殖、迁移能力的变化。结果显示,与231BO-Scrambled细胞相比,231BO-BSP27细胞中BSP蛋白水平明显降低,抑制率达到(59.43±1.71)%;LM609分别处理两株细胞后,与对照组231BO-Scrambled细胞相比,BSP基因沉默组21BO-BSP27细胞中AKT磷酸化水平下调明显,为(33.78±1.51)%(P<0.01);231BO-BSP27细胞和对照组231BO-Scrambled中细胞的增殖和迁移能力均有不同程度的下降(P<0.05)。LM609能够抑制胞内整合素αvβ3功能的表达,进而对AKT信号通路进行调控,并影响细胞增殖和迁移的发生。