RNA binding is more critical to the suppression of silencing function of Cucumber mosaic virus 2b protein than nuclear localization

Previously, we found that silencing suppression by the 2b protein and six mutants correlated both with their ability to bind to double-stranded (ds) small RNAs (sRNAs) in vitro and with their nuclear/nucleolar localization. To further discern the contribution to suppression activity of sRNA binding and of nuclear localization, we have characterized the kinetics of in vitro binding to a ds sRNA, a single-stranded (ss) sRNA, and a micro RNA (miRNA) of the native 2b protein and eight mutant variants. We have also added a nuclear export signal (NES) to the 2b protein and assessed how it affected subcellular distribution and suppressor activity. We found that in solution native protein bound ds siRNA, miRNA, and ss sRNA with high affinity, at protein:RNA molar ratios ~2:1. Of the four mutants that retained suppressor activity, three showed sRNA binding profiles similar to those of the native protein, whereas the remaining one bound ss sRNA at a 2:1 molar ratio, but both ds sRNAs with 1.5-2 times slightly lower affinity. Three of the four mutants lacking suppressor activity failed to bind to any sRNA, whereas the remaining one bound them at far higher ratios. NES-tagged 2b protein became cytoplasmic, but suppression activity in patch assays remained unaffected. These results support binding to sRNAs at molar ratios at or near 2:1 as critical to the suppressor activity of the 2b protein. They also show that cytoplasmically localized 2b protein retained suppressor activity, and that a sustained nuclear localization was not required for this function.     

植物水孔蛋白的亚细胞分布与生理功能研究浅析

水孔蛋白(aquaporin,AQP)因具有水转运活性而得名,然而随着研究的深入,水孔蛋白转运活性的多样性与生理功能的多样性不断被报道．本文综合分析了植物水孔蛋白亚细胞定位与功能多样性的研究进展,重点综述了植物水孔蛋白广泛的亚细胞分布特点,以及亚细胞上的再分布现象与植物水孔蛋白生理功能多样性间的关系,并对植物水孔蛋白研究中存在的 问题及研究方向进行了分析,认为水孔蛋白多样化的生理功能的作用机制需要结合其组织定位与亚细胞定位进行分析才能 揭示．     

镉在互花米草中积累、转运及亚细胞的分布

研究了在不同Cd浓度(0、5、100、200μg·g-1)处理下,互花米草花序、叶、茎、根茎、须根中Cd含量、积累量、转运特征,及Cd在互花米草体内的亚细胞分布。结果表明,Cd在互花米草不同器官中的积累能力存在较大差异。茎、根茎、须根中Cd含量及积累量随处理浓度的增加而升高,其中须根中Cd含量及积累量均高于其他器官。Cd处理浓度为100gμ·g-1时,花序和叶中Cd含量达到最大值,分别为8.65和7.82μg·g-1。在Cd处理浓度为200μg·g-1时,须根中Cd含量可高达390.00μg·g-1,积累量达3200μg·株-1。Cd在互花米草体内转运能力极低,绝大部分Cd积累在地下部位。Cd在互花米草亚细胞中的分布规律为细胞壁>胞液>细胞器。随着Cd处理浓度的增加,Cd在细胞壁中的分配比例增大,胞液中Cd分布比例则相应减小,细胞壁和胞液相互协调,增强互花米草对重金属Cd的耐性。     

拟南芥新型脂转移蛋白AtDHyPRP1的亚细胞定位及其对灰霉菌的抗性

通过遗传转化技术研究了拟南芥脂转移蛋白AtDHyPRP1在细胞中的定位及其对真菌病原体的抗性。采用PCR方法从拟南芥Ws生态型克隆了AtDHyPRP1基因,构建产生pRI101-AN-AtDHyPRP1植物双元表达载体和pCAMBIA1302-AtDHyPRP1-GFP融合表达载体,经农杆菌介导的叶盘和浸花法得到烟草和拟南芥转基因植株。AtDHyPRP1基因能够明显增加烟草对灰霉菌的抗性,转AtDHyPRP1烟草叶片的被侵染部位有大量H2O2积累,激光共聚焦显微观察发现AtDHyPRP1蛋白定位于细胞表面。说明AtDHyPRP1蛋白在合成后被分泌到细胞外执行特殊的功能,与植物抗病防御机制有关。     

Developmentally regulated alternative splicing of densin modulates protein-protein interaction and subcellular localization

Densin is a member of the leucine-rich repeat (LRR) and PDZ domain (LAP) protein family that binds several signaling molecules via its C-terminal domains, including calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII). In this study, we identify several novel mRNA splice variants of densin that are differentially expressed during development. The novel variants share the LRR domain but are either prematurely truncated or contain internal deletions relative to mature variants of the protein (180 kDa), thus removing key protein–protein interaction domains. For example, CaMKIIα coimmunoprecipitates with densin splice variants containing an intact C-terminal domain from lysates of transfected HEK293 cells, but not with variants that only contain N-terminal domains. Immunoblot analyses using antibodies to peptide epitopes in the N- and C- terminal domains of densin are consistent with developmental regulation of splice variant expression in brain. Moreover, putative splice variants display different subcellular fractionation patterns in brain extracts. Expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP)-fused densin splice variants in HEK293 cells shows that the LRR domain can target densin to a plasma membrane-associated compartment, but that the splice variants are differentially localized and have potentially distinct effects on cell morphology. In combination, these data show that densin splice variants have distinct functional characteristics suggesting multiple roles during neuronal development.     

羟基喜树碱诱导肝癌细胞凋亡前后线粒体疏水蛋白质组的定量分析

抗癌剂羟基喜树碱可以通过线粒体途径诱导肝癌细胞凋亡.应用定量蛋白质组学技术分析羟 基喜树碱诱导肝癌细胞凋亡前后的线粒体疏水蛋白质差异表达,探讨癌细胞凋亡机制及羟基 喜树碱的抗癌机理.分离提取羟基喜树碱诱导肝癌细胞凋亡前后的线粒体,并采用顺序抽提法提取疏水蛋白质;用含稳定同位素亲和标签的c-ICAT试剂标记蛋白,利用基于多维色谱线性离子阱/静电场轨道阱质谱联用技术的鸟枪(shotgun)法策略分析鉴定了在肝癌细胞凋亡前后的线粒体中表达量差异有显著统计学意义(P<0.05)的疏水蛋白144种,其中, 12种蛋白的表达量在凋亡细胞中下调,而表达量在羟基喜树碱诱导细胞凋亡后上调10倍以上的蛋白43种.这些蛋白主要与细胞分裂增殖、分化凋亡、能量代谢、核酸代谢以及信号转导相关.该研究结果为在亚细胞定量蛋白质组水平上深入探讨羟基喜树碱的作用机理提供了新的实验依据,亦为研究肿瘤细胞凋亡机制提供了新的思路.     

Subcellular localizations of AS1 and AS2 suggest their common and distinct roles in plant development

During leaf organogenesis, a critical step for normal leaf primordium initiation is the repression of the class 1 KNOTTED1-like homeobox (KNOX) genes. After leaf primordia are formed, they must establish polarity for normal leaf morphogenesis.Recent studies have led to the identification of a number of genes that participate in the class 1 KNOX gene repression and/or the leaf polarity establishment. ASTMMETRIC LEAVES1 and 2 (AS1 and AS2) are two of these genes, which are critical for both of these two processes. As a first step towards understanding the molecular genetic basis of the AS1-AS2 action, we determined the subcellular Iocalizations of the two proteins in both tobacco BY2 cells and Arabidopsis plants,by fusing them to yellow/cyan fluorescent protein (YFPICFP). Our data showed that AS1 and AS2 alone were predominantly localized in the nucleolus and the nucleoplasm, respectively. The presence of both AS1 and AS2 proteins in the same interphase cell demonstrated their co-localization in both nucleolus and nucleoplasm. In addition, AS1 alone was able to associate with the condensed chromosome in the metaphase cell. Our data suggest that AS1, AS2 and the AS1-AS2 protein complex may have distinct functions, which are all required for normal plant development.     

Palmitoylation of stathmin family proteins domain A controls Golgi versus mitochondrial subcellular targeting

Background information. Precise localization of proteins to specialized subcellular domains is fundamental for proper neuronal development and function. The neural microtubule‐regulatory phosphoproteins of the stathmin family are such proteins whose specific functions are controlled by subcellular localization. Whereas stathmin is cytosolic, SCG10, SCLIP and RB3/RB3′/RB3″ are localized to the Golgi and vesicle‐like structures along neurites and at growth cones. We examined the molecular determinants involved in the regulation of this specific subcellular localization in hippocampal neurons in culture. Results. We show that their conserved N‐terminal domain A carrying two palmitoylation sites is dominant over the others for Golgi and vesicle‐like localization. Using palmitoylation‐deficient GFP (green fluorescent protein) fusion mutants, we demonstrate that domains A of stathmin proteins have the particular ability to control protein targeting to either Golgi or mitochondria, depending on their palmitoylation. This regulation involves the co‐operation of two subdomains within domain A, and seems also to be under the control of its SLD (stathmin‐like domain) extension. Conclusions. Our results unravel that, in specific biological conditions, palmitoylation of stathmin proteins might be able to control their targeting to express their functional activities at appropriate subcellular sites. They, more generally, open new perspectives regarding the role of palmitoylation as a signalling mechanism orienting proteins to their functional subcellular compartments.     

Heavy Metal Accumulation and Distribution in Organs of the Mussel Crenomytilus grayanus from Upwelling Areas of the Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan

The subcellular and cytosolic distribution of Zn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Mn, Cd, and Pb in the digestive gland and kidney of the mussel Crenomytilus grayanus from upwelling areas of the Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan was studied. Cd, Zn, Pb, and Ni have accumulated in the kidneys of mussels from these areas. When the concentrations of both essential and toxic metals in the mussel organs had increased significantly, their redistribution into the cytosol took place. Gel chromatography of cytosolic proteins in the kidneys of mussels sampled in the area with a strong stationary upwelling revealed metallothioneins. This is uncommon for bivalve mollusks from unpolluted areas. High molecular weight proteins act as preliminary ligands for Cd.