Pancreastatin, a novel pancreatic peptide that inhibits insulin secretion

In mammalian tissues the C-terminal amide structure has been found to occur only in neuroactive or hormonally-active peptides. About half known neuropeptide and peptide hormones have this unique chemical feature. Using a chemical detection method, a search for previously unknown peptides that possess the C-terminal amide structure in extracts of brain and intestine was carried out and a number of novel neuropeptides and hormonal peptides, designated neuropeptide Y, PHI, peptide YY, galanin and neuropeptide K were isolated. We recently performed a similar search in porcine pancreas and found a high concentration of a peptide having a glycine amide at its C-terminus. Here we report the isolation, primary structure and biological activity of this novel peptide. The 49-residue peptide strongly inhibits glucose-induced insulin release from the isolated perfused pancreas and was therefore named pancreastatin. It may be important in the regulation of insulin secretion and in the pathogenesis and treatment of diabetes mellitus.     

Isolation and structure of a novel C-terminally amidated opioid peptide, amidorphin, from bovine adrenal medulla

Biologically active peptide hormones and neurotransmitters have been shown to be enzymatically liberated from larger, inactive precursor molecules by tissue-specific post-translational processing, particularly at the typical cleavage signals of paired basic residues. Subsequent N-terminal or C-terminal modifications may be of importance in regulating the biological activities of these peptides. C-terminal alpha-amidation is considered to be essential for the biological function of several non-opioid peptides. Here we present the isolation and structure of a novel C-terminally amidated opioid peptide, amidorphin, from bovine adrenal medulla. Amidorphin and the recently isolated octapeptide metorphamide (adrenorphin) are the only endogenous opioid peptides in mammals known to possess a C-terminal amide group. The amino acid sequence of amidorphin corresponds to the sequence 104-129 of bovine proenkephalin A. Very high concentrations of amidorphin were detected in bovine adrenal medulla and in a further endocrinological system, the hypothalamic-neurohypophyseal axis. Amidorphin may therefore be considered to be a major gene product of the opioid peptide precursor proenkephalin A in these endocrine tissues.     

Homology of proteasome subunits to a major histocompatibility complex-linked LMP gene.

The class II region of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) contains genes encoding at least two subunits of a large, intracellular protein complex (the low molecular mass polypeptide, or LMP, complex). This complex is biochemically similar to the proteasome, an abundant and well conserved protein complex having multiple proteolytic activities. Here we report the isolation of a complementary DNA corresponding to one of the subunits of the LMP complex, LMP-2. The protein predicted from this cDNA sequence closely matches the amino-terminal peptide sequence of a rat proteasome subunit, confirming that the proteasome and the LMP complex share polypeptide subunits. The LMP-2 gene is tightly linked to HAM1, a gene thought to be required for translocating peptide fragments of endogenous antigens into the endoplasmic reticulum for association with MHC class I molecules. These observations suggest that the LMP complex may be responsible for generating peptides from cytoplasmic antigen during antigen processing.     

Human preprovasoactive intestinal polypeptide contains a novel PHI-27-like peptide, PHM-27

Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), a 28-amino acid peptide originally isolated from porcine duodenum, is present not only in gastrointestinal tissues but also in neural tissues, possibly as a neurotransmitter, and exhibits a wide range of biological actions (for example, relaxation of smooth muscle, stimulation of intestinal water and electrolyte secretion and release of insulin, glucagon and several anterior pituitary hormones). As the structure of porcine and bovine VIP shows several similarities to those of mammalian glucagon, secretin and gastric inhibitory peptide (GIP), VIP is considered to be a member of the glucagon-secretin family. Recently, we have found that VIP is synthesized from a precursor, pro-VIP (molecular weight (Mr) 17,500), in human neuroblastoma cells and that the primary translation product of the mRNA encoding VIP is prepro-VIP (Mr 20,000). In an attempt to elucidate the primary structure of the precursor, we have now cloned the DNA sequence complementary to the mRNA coding for human VIP and analysed the nucleotide sequence. The entire amino acid sequence of the precursor, deduced from the nucleotide sequence, indicates that the precursor protein contains not only VIP but also a novel peptide of 27 amino acids. The peptide, designated PHM-27, differs by only 2 amino acids from PHI-27, a peptide recently isolated from porcine intestine, and is also closely related in sequence to VIP.     

Nucleotide sequence of the gene encoding human atrial natriuretic factor precursor

The mammalian atrium is an endocrine organ that may be involved in the control of blood pressure and extracellular fluid volume. A series of peptides, which seem to be associated with atrium-specific secretory granules, have potent natriuretic, diuretic and smooth muscle relaxant activities. Sequence determination of several of these peptides, which range from 21 to 126 amino acids long, shows that they form a family, derived from a common precursor. Rat and human complementary DNAs that encode the precursor to the various peptides, collectively called atrial natriuretic factors (ANFs), have been cloned. Nucleotide sequencing showed that the ANFs are located at the C-terminus of a polypeptide of relative molecular mass 13,000. We describe here the isolation and characterization of the corresponding human gene. Two introns interrupt the gene; one is located in the region coding for the N-terminus of the precursor and the other separates the codon for the C-terminal tyrosine from the rest of the peptide.     

基于多标签直推学习的抗菌肽及其抗菌功能预测

抗菌肽是广泛存在于生物体内的一类具有广谱抗菌作用的天然多肽,因其不易导致细菌耐药性,已成为医药界开发新型抗菌制剂的主要选择,识别出更多的抗菌肽并预测其抗菌功能具有重要意义.提出了一种基于多标签直推学习的抗菌肽及其抗菌功能的预测方法,该方法利用K-spaced氨基酸对组成方法提取多肽特征,采用多标签学习框架和加权近邻图构建直推预测模型,通过对有标签训练样本和无标签待测样本的共同学习来提升预测性能.该方法不仅能够识别多肽是否为抗菌肽,还能同时预测出抗菌肽所具有的单种或多种抗菌功能,且适用于对多效抗菌肽和普通抗菌肽的预测.数值实验表明,与已有的iAMP-2L预测方法相比,所提方法在全局预测精度和多标签预测性能上均有较大提升.     

Mouse prepro-epidermal growth factor synthesis by the kidney and other tissues

Epidermal growth factor (EGF), a protein comprising 53 amino acids, is derived from a precursor of 1,217 amino acids that includes at least seven EGF-like sequences. EGF has diverse biological activities: it is a potent mitogen for many tissue culture cells, inhibits gastric acid secretion from the intestinal mucosa and promotes healing of the corneal epithelium. EGF given to fetal animals accelerates several developmental processes including palate formation, incisor eruption, eyelid opening and lung maturation. However, the physiological roles of EGF in vivo are unknown. The presence of high-affinity receptors in many fetal and adult tissues suggests that EGF is involved in normal cellular functions. Immunocytochemical studies have revealed the presence of EGF in mouse and human submaxillary glands, rat brain and human intestine. The low levels of EGF in extracts from many tissues may reflect sequestration rather than synthesis of the polypeptide. We show here that several mouse tissues contain preproEGF mRNA and that it is synthesized mainly in the distal tubules of the kidney. PreproEGF does not seem to be processed to EGF or other peptides in this tissue.     

Stimulation of food intake in rats by centrally administered hypothalamic growth hormone-releasing factor

Hypothalamic growth hormone-releasing factors (GRFs) have been purified recently from human pancreatic (hp) tumours and from rat hypothalamus (rh). GRF peptides have strong homology with peptides of the glucagon, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and PHI-27 family. Aside from their potent actions on release of somatotropin, no other biological actions of GRFs have been reported. GRF has been localized in neurones bordering the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus, a region associated frequently with experimental analysis of feeding behaviour. We now report that intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.)-administered rhGRF and hpGRF(1-40) in doses of 0.2, 2.0 and 20.0 pmol, produced an increase in food intake in hungry rats. This effect seemed to be specific to GRF as i.c.v. injections of a structurally related but physiologically inactive peptide in the same doses had no effect on feeding. In addition, peripheral injections of rhGRF or growth hormone had no effect on food intake, suggesting that the present effects may be mediated centrally. Injections (i.c.v.) of rhGRF (0.2, 2.0 and 20.0 pmol) had no effect on general activity, suggesting that GRF does not produce nonspecific arousal.     

Enkephalin-, VIP- and substance P-like immunoreactivity in the carotid body

The carotid body type I cell contains amines and has features, both morphological and cytochemical, which indicate that it may also produce a peptide. Many regulatory peptides are now known to be present in both central and peripheral tissues. In the periphery these neuropeptides occur in both classical endocrine (APUD) cells and the neurones of the autonomic nervous system. We have now investigated the possible presence of neuropeptides in the cat carotid body using both immunocytochemistry and radioimmunoassay. Met- and Leu-enkephalin-like material occurred in considerable quantities in carotid body extracts and enkephalin-like immunoreactivity was localised in type I cells. Both vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)- and substance P-like immunoreactivity was also present but was localised in nerve fibres distributed throughout the organ. These active neuropeptides are widely distributed in mammalian tissues, forming a diffuse regulatory system which now seems to include the carotid body.     

两栖类动物皮肤分泌抗菌肽的研究进展(动物科学)

近年因病原性细菌耐药性日趋严重,迫切需要从各种自然资源中寻找新的抗菌药物;因两栖类抗菌肽具有分子量小、水溶性好、抗原性低、抗菌作用强等优点,成为筛选抗菌药物的重要研究对象。本文就两栖抗菌肽的生物活性、分子结构、家族分类、抗菌分子机制、应用价值及研究前景等方面进行了综述。当前的研究表明,两栖类抗菌肽除具有抗菌作用外还有抗病毒抗肿瘤溶血等作用;它们因结构可分为3类:线性α-螺旋多肽、环性肽和含10～13个氨基酸残基长度的多肽;目前已发现抗菌肽有很多家族如Magainin家族、Aurein家族、Bombinin家族、Bombinin-like家族Brevinin家族等抗菌肽家族不同其生物活性也不同;它们杀菌主要通过膜裂解或膜不裂解机制完成;已发现两栖类抗菌肽在临床医药、食品保鲜防腐、农业生产等领域具有广阔的应用价值。随着在分子水平上深入的研究,两栖类抗菌肽将突破表达量低、特异性差、产量小、成本高等局限性,为人类制备新型抗菌药提供更多可用的资源。     

A synthetic peptide that is a bombesin receptor antagonist

The tetradecapeptide bombesin was originally isolated from frog skin. Bombesin-like peptides have since been detected in mammalian gastrointestinal tract, brain and lung. These peptides have potent pharmacological effects on the central nervous system; they cause contraction of intestinal, uterine and urinary tract smooth muscle; and stimulate the release of other peptides including gastrin, cholecystokinin, motilin, pancreatic polypeptide, neurotensin, insulin, enteroglucagon, prolactin and growth hormone. Specific plasma membrane receptors for bombesin have been demonstrated on pancreatic acinar cells, brain membranes and pituitary cells. Studies defining the physiological importance of bombesin have been impeded by the lack of a bombesin receptor antagonist. Here we describe experiments which demonstrate that a peptide originally described as a substance P receptor antagonist, [D-Arg, D-Pro, D-Trp, Leu ]substance P, is also a bombesin receptor antagonist. This peptide competitively inhibits the ability of bombesin to stimulate enzyme secretion from dispersed pancreatic acini, and also inhibits the action of other peptides that interact with the bombesin receptor.     

Use of a cDNA clone to identify a supposed precursor protein containing valosin

Valosin, a novel 25-amino-acid peptide isolated recently from pig intestine, has several effects on the digestive system of dogs. We report here that the valosin-specific complementary DNA clone from pigs codes for a polypeptide unlike most precursors of biologically active peptides. The predicted protein lacks a characteristic amino-terminal hydrophobic signal sequence and contains no processing signals of the type acted upon by endopeptidases to generate other active peptides from precursors. Antibodies to synthetic valosin have been used to show that nearly all valosin immunoreactivity is in the cytoplasm and that the protein detected (valosin-containing protein, VCP), although smaller than the predicted product of the cDNA sequence, is much larger than valosin. Valosin-specific messenger RNA is found in extracts from many pig tissues, which contrasts with the restricted occurrence expected of a biologically active peptide. We conclude that valosin is an artefact of the purification procedure and does not occur in vivo.     

Cloning and sequence analysis of the cDNA for the rat atrial natriuretic factor precursor

Atrial extracts contain factors which induce potent natriuresis changes in renal haemodynamics, and relax pre-contracted vascular smooth muscle. Low-molecular-weight peptides which mimic these actions have now been purified by several groups, including ours (see accompanying paper), and higher-molecular-weight proteins with similar but less potent biological activities have also been identified and are presumed to be precursors. If released into the circulation, these peptides, collectively called atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), may play a significant part in blood-pressure homeostasis, regulation of extracellular fluid volume and as antagonists to the hypertensive effects of the renin-angiotensin system and other hormonal and neurotransmitter systems. We describe here the isolation and characterization of rat atrial cDNA clones which encode ANF. Nucleotide sequence analysis shows that auriculin corresponds to the 25 amino acids located close to the C-terminus of a 152-amino acid ANF precursor. Analysis of the in vitro translation products of precursor ANF mRNA suggests that multiple forms of the precursor may exist.     

多肽的表面展示与结构库

表面展示是一种新的基因操作技术,它使表达的多肽以融合蛋白形式展现在噬菌体或细胞表面,保持相对独立的空间结构和生物活性。该技术可用于研究多肽(蛋白质)的性质、相互识别和作用,并据此从巨大展示库中选择特定靶功能的多肽结构。常用丝状噬菌体、T₄噬菌体、λ噬菌体以及细胞构建表面展示系统。表面展示库包括重组噬菌体抗体库、随机短肽库、多肽构象库、cDNA展示库和基因突变体展示库。表面展示技术可用于人工抗体和疫苗的制备、抗原决定簇的定位、蛋白质相互作用位点的确定、特异调节分子的分离、细胞表面工程的研究、多肽药物的研制,以及生物分子实验定向进化等研究。     

异柠檬酸裂解酶肽类抑制剂的优化筛选

利用噬菌体肽库筛选与计算机模拟分子对接技术, 优化异柠檬酸裂解酶肽类抑制剂的筛选. 先通过噬菌体肽库筛选出与异柠檬酸裂解酶（ICL）具有高亲和力的结合肽, 再利用Discovery Studio 2.1模拟多肽与ICL蛋白晶体（1F8I）的分子对接, 最后用Fmoc固相合成法合成多肽, 并对其生物活性进行检测. 实验结果表明, 通过噬菌体肽库筛选得到了29条七肽序列, 其中12条可与ICL蛋白晶体成功对接. 体外生物活性检测结果显示, 得到的12条七肽均对ICL的活性有明显抑制作用（抑制率均超过50%）.     

Rationalization of the effects of mutations on peptide and protein aggregation rates

In order for any biological system to function effectively, it is essential to avoid the inherent tendency of proteins to aggregate and form potentially harmful deposits. In each of the various pathological conditions associated with protein deposition, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, a specific peptide or protein that is normally soluble is deposited as insoluble aggregates generally referred to as amyloid. It is clear that the aggregation process is generally initiated from partially or completely unfolded forms of the peptides and proteins associated with each disease. Here we show that the intrinsic effects of specific mutations on the rates of aggregation of unfolded polypeptide chains can be correlated to a remarkable extent with changes in simple physicochemical properties such as hydrophobicity, secondary structure propensity and charge. This approach allows the pathogenic effects of mutations associated with known familial forms of protein deposition diseases to be rationalized, and more generally enables prediction of the effects of mutations on the aggregation propensity of any polypeptide chain.     

抗菌肽的分类及作用机理研究进展

抗菌肽是广泛存在于自然界生物中的具有广谱抗菌、抗病毒、抑制杀伤肿瘤细胞等作用的多肽。简要概述了抗菌肽在分类进化及作用机理方面的研究进展。     

Neuropeptides modulate the beta-adrenergic response of purified astrocytes in vitro

Neuropeptides may have functions in the central nervous system (CNS) other than altering neuronal excitability. For example, they may act as regulators of brain metabolism by affecting glycogenolysis. Since it has been suggested that glial cells might provide metabolic support for neuronal activity, they may well be one of the targets for neuropeptide regulation of metabolism. Consistent with this view are reports that peptide-containing nerve terminals have been seen apposed to astrocytes, but it is also quite possible that peptides could act at sites lacking morphological specialization. Primary cultures containing CNS glial cells have been shown to respond to beta-adrenergic agonists with an increase in cyclic AMP and, as a result, with an increase in glycogenolysis and have also been shown to respond to a variety of peptides with changes in cyclic AMP. In the study reported here, we have examined the effects of several peptides on relatively pure cultures of rat astrocytes. We demonstrate that the increase in intracellular cyclic AMP induced by noradrenaline is markedly enhanced by somatostatin and substance P and is inhibited by enkephalin, even though these peptides on their own have little or no effect on the basal levels of cyclic AMP. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) on the other hand increases cyclic AMP in the absence of noradrenaline. These results suggest that neuropeptides influence glial cells as well as neurones in the CNS and, in the case of somatostatin and substance P, provide further examples of neuropeptides modulating the response to another chemical signal without having a detectable action on their own.     

Sequence, structure, receptor-binding domains and internal repeats of human apolipoprotein B-100

Apolipoprotein (apo) B-100, the major protein component in low density lipoprotein (LDL), is the ligand that binds to the LDL receptor. It is important in the metabolism of LDL and elevated plasma levels of LDL-apo B are strongly associated with increased risk of coronary artery disease. Although apo B-100 is of great clinical and biological importance its primary structure has defied chemical elucidation, mainly because of its enormous size, insolubility, and tendency to aggregate. Less than 5% of the apo B-100 sequence has been reported, despite the efforts of many laboratories over the past twenty years. Here we report the complete amino acid sequence of human apo B-100 as deducted by sequence analysis of complementary DNA clones; 2,366 of the 4,536 residues were also confirmed by direct sequencing of apo B-100 tryptic peptides. The distribution of trypsin-accessible and -inaccessible peptides of the protein on LDL is non-random and they can be grouped into 5 hypothetical domains. Of 20 potential N-glycosylation sites identified in the sequence, 13 were found by direct peptide sequencing to be glycosylated, and 4 unglycosylated. Examination of the primary structure of apo B-100 reveals that it contains a large number of long (greater than 70 residues) internal repeats and an even larger number of shorter ones, suggesting that the apo B-100 sequence was derived largely from internal duplications. Finally, using synthetic peptides of a specific region of apo B-100, we have identified a potential LDL receptor-binding domain (residues 3,345-3,381) which can bind to the LDL receptor and suppress 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase activities in cultured human fibroblasts.     

肿瘤靶向多肽生物淘选技术研究进展

生物淘选肿瘤或癌细胞的各种特异性靶向多肽是探索肿瘤早期诊断和治疗方法的有效途径.特异性靶向多肽既可用于探测肿瘤细胞表型特征,又可将其与抗癌药物结合进行靶向治疗,同时还可作为体内肿瘤的成像制剂,用于肿瘤及肿瘤细胞微转移的早期探测.噬菌体展示肽库技术能够有效地进行生物淘选或识别出与癌或肿瘤细胞某一靶点连结的,具有特异性、高亲和性的多肽.近年来,利用体内或体外噬菌体展示肽库技术已成功地淘选或识别出一些癌细胞的靶向多肽.本文就这些方面的研究进展进行了简要阐述,重点介绍了癌或肿瘤细胞靶向多肽的体外和体内生物淘选最新技术和临床应用.