Subcellular localization and functional analyses of structural domains of COP1 in transgenic tobacco

Plants have evolved an extremely exquisite light signal regulatory network to adapt to the changing ambient light conditions, in which COP1 plays a critical role of the light signal transduction. Based on the cloned pea COP1 cDNA sequence and its protein structure, four individual gene fragments encoding different structural domains of the COP1 were designed to fuse to the GFP gene. The plant expression vectors containing these fusion genes as well as the COP1GFP fusion gene were constructed and used to transform tobacco by Agribacterium as confirmed by Southern analyses. Antibodies were raised against the recombinant GFP-COP1 overproduced in Escherichia coli. Immunoblotting results demonstrated that all of the fusion genes were constitutively expressed in transgenic tobacco plants. We systematically investigated the different subcellular localization of these fusion proteins and the resulting phenotypic characteristics of these transgenic plants under light and dark conditions. Our data show that (1) the molecular mass of the tobacco endogenous COP1 protein is 76 kD. It is constitutively expressed in all of the tested tissues and the total cellular content of COP1 protein is not noticeably affected by light conditions. (2) The nuclear localization signal of COP1 plays a critical role in regulation of its nuclear-cytoplasmic partitioning. The subcellular localization of the COP1 protein containing nuclear localization signal is regulated by light in the epidermal cells of leaves, but, it is located in nucleus constitutively in root cells. (3) The coiled-coil domain is very critical to the function of COP1 protein, while the zinc binding RING finger domain only plays a supportive role. (4) The WD-40 repeats domain is essential to the COP1 function, but this domain alone does not affect photomorphogenesis. (5) Overexpression of COP1 protein not only inhibits the photomorphogenesis of the stems and leaves of the transgenic tobacco, but also results in the generation of short and clustered roots. In contrast, overexpression of COP1 protein without WD-40 repeats domain promotes the photomorphogenesis process in the stems and leaves and lead to root elongation and lack of lateral roots. The COP1-COP1 interaction happens not only in the nucleus, but also in cytoplasm.     

The conserved protein DCN-1/Dcn1p is required for cullin neddylation in C. elegans and S. cerevisiae

SCF-type E3 ubiquitin ligases are multi-protein complexes required for polyubiquitination and subsequent degradation of target proteins by the 26S proteasome. Cullins, together with the RING-finger protein Rbx1, form the catalytic core of the ligase, and recruit the substrate-recognition module. Cycles of covalent modification of cullins by the ubiquitin-like molecule Nedd8 (neddylation) and removal of Nedd8 by the COP9 signalosome (deneddylation) positively regulate E3 ligase activity. Here we report the identification and analysis of a widely conserved protein that is required for cullin neddylation in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. C. elegans DCN-1 and S. cerevisiae Dcn1p (defective in cullin neddylation) are characterized by a novel UBA-like ubiquitin-binding domain and a DUF298 domain of unknown function. Consistent with their requirements for neddylation, DCN-1 and Dcn1p directly bind Nedd8 and physically associate with cullins in both species. Moreover, overexpression of Dcn1p in yeast results in the accumulation of Nedd8-modified cullin Cdc53p. Both in vivo and in vitro experiments indicate that Dcn1p does not inhibit deneddylation of Cdc53p by the COP9 signalosome, but greatly increases the kinetics of the neddylation reaction.     

玉米幼苗两种形态建成中3个生化指标的比较研究

采用ＰＡＧＥ方法，对玉米幼苗和暗形态建成过程中ＥＳＴ、ＰＯＤ各可溶性蛋白进行比较研究后发现：光促进分化而抑制生长，暗则与此正相反；光或暗条件下各自都有部分基因特异性表达，植物能够适应光与暗的环境，进行形态建成。     

地衣芽孢杆菌A13重组表达黑曲霉植酸酶phyA基因的研究

将黑曲霉Z6植酸酶phyA基因置于芽孢杆菌强启动子F1下,与大肠-芽孢杆菌穿梭表达载体pHY300PLK连接,重组质粒pHY300-F1-phyA电击转化地衣芽孢杆菌A13。筛选阳性克隆,获得重组菌株A13-F1-phyA,PCR扩增及酶切验证表明植酸酶基因已转入地衣芽孢杆菌。SDS-PAGE分析和表达产物的酶活性研究证明,重组菌株中植酸酶得到了有效分泌和表达。     

Overexpression of OsRAA1 promotes flowering and hypocotyls elongation in Arabidopsis

Previously, OsRAA1, an AtFPF1 homologue gene, was found to play an important role in modulating rice root development. In the current study, OsRAA1 was overexpressed in Arabidopsis, and the transgenic plants showed early flowering and elongated hypocotyl phenotypes as compared with the wild-type under white-light conditions. The hypocotyls of transgenic lines were twice as long as those of wild-type plants under red-light conditions but were indistinguishable from those of the wild-type under blue and far-red light and darkness. In addition, the phenotypes of AtFPF1 transgenic lines were similar to those of OsRAA1 transgenic lines. These results suggested that OsRAAI/AtFPF1 protein is involved in regulating flowering time and plays an important role in the inhibition of hypocotyl elongation under continuous red light. The functions were preserved during the evolution.     

Homogeneous interferon-inducing 22K factor is related to endogenous pyrogen and interleukin-1

In vitro stimulation of mononuclear cells from human peripheral blood with mitogens causes the release of factors (monokines and lymphokines) which possess distinct biological activities. One such factor, termed 22K, can induce production of human beta-interferon (HuIFN-beta) in cultured human fibroblasts, thereby rendering these cells resistant to virus infection. Here we report the complete purification and partial sequencing (39 N-terminal amino acids) of this factor, whose relative molecular mass was estimated by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to be 17,000 (17K). In addition to an antiviral effect, the pure protein exhibits several other biological activities. Most significantly, intravenous (i.v.) injection of the factor in rabbits caused fever and granulopenia at doses of 0.1-1 microgram per kg, effects which we attribute to a monokine called endogenous pyrogen (EP). In vitro, the protein was scored as positive in a LAF (lymphocyte-activating factor) assay at 0.1-1 ng ml-1. LAF and EP are considered to be members of one family of monokines, called interleukin-1 (IL-1). For this reason, and also because the amino-acid sequence of the 22K factor is at least partially homologous to a complementary DNA-derived IL-1 sequence, we postulate that the 22K factor also belongs to the IL-1 family.     

TNF-RII and c-IAP1 mediate ubiquitination and degradation of TRAF2

Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a proinflammatory mediator that exerts its biological functions by binding two TNF receptors (TNF-RI and TNF-RII), which initiate biological responses by interacting with adaptor and signalling proteins. Among the signalling components that associate with TNF receptors are members of the TNF-R-associated factor (TRAF) family. TRAF2 is required for TNF-alpha-mediated activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), contributes to activation of NF-kappaB, and mediates anti-apoptotic signals,. TNF-RI and TNF-RII signalling complexes also contain the anti-apoptotic ('inhibitor of apoptosis') molecules c-IAP1 and c-IAP2 (refs 5, 6), which also have RING domain-dependent ubiquitin protein ligase (E3) activity. The function of IAPs in TNF-R signalling is unknown. Here we show that binding of TNF-alpha to TNF-RII induces ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of TRAF2. Although c-IAP1 bound TRAF2 and TRAF1 in vitro, it ubiquitinated only TRAF2. Expression of wild-type c-IAP1, but not an E3-defective mutant, resulted in TRAF2 ubiquitination and degradation. Moreover, E3-defective c-IAP1 prevented TNF-alpha-induced TRAF2 degradation and inhibited apoptosis. These findings identify a physiologic role for c-IAP1 and define a mechanism by which TNF-RII-regulated ubiquitin protein ligase activity can potentiate TNF-induced apoptosis.     

尿激酶体外抑制人体免疫缺损病毒的侵染能力

人体免疫缺损病毒的包膜蛋白gp120的V3环区包含一段在人类蛋白质中很少出现的高度保守序列，但这段序列与纤溶酶原被纤溶酶原激活剂酶切位点附近序列有同源性．由于V3环区在人体免疫缺损病毒侵染细胞过程中的重要性，评估了尿激酶对人体免疫缺损病毒侵染能力的影响．通过检测逆转录酶活力，P24抗原的表达和合胞体形成情况发现尿激酶可以抑制人体免疫缺损病毒对多种淋巴瘤和白血病细胞系，如MT4、CCM、H9和外周血单核细胞的侵染能力，并且这种抑制与尿激酶浓度呈剂量依赖关系．那些能够被尿激酶抑制的人体免疫缺损病毒株其V3环区序列必须与纤溶酶原激活区亭列同源，实验事常用病毒株包括BRU和RF以及某些野生病毒株．研究结果显示尿激酶在体外实验中可以抑制人体免疫缺损病毒的侵染能力．     

毕赤酵母表达重组植酸酶酶学性质的比较研究

通过酶学性质比较毕赤酵母GS115表达的E.coli K12植酸酶(appA)及其突变体植酸酶(appA NR)和黑曲霉植酸酶(phyA)的最适pH、温度、热稳定性及对胃蛋白酶和胰蛋白酶的耐受性.结果表明,在95℃,加热10 min,appA NR可残余90％左右的活力,而其他两种只残余20％～50％的活力;appAN...     

螺旋藻水溶性多糖的分离纯化

螺旋藻干粉经乙醇脱脂后用水提取,乙醇沉淀,并经凝胶Ｓｅｐｈａｄｅｘ－Ｇ柱层析精制,获得４种螺旋藻制多糖ＳＰＡ－１,ＳＰＡ－２,ＳＰＡ－３,ＳＰＡ－４,研究表明均为均一多糖组分。     

Glycoprotein C of herpes simplex virus 1 acts as a receptor for the C3b complement component on infected cells

Receptors for the Fc portion of immunoglobulins or for the third component of complement (C3) are present on a variety of circulating and fixed tissue cells including granulocytes, monocytes, lymphocytes and glomerular epithelial cells. Cells which lack Fc receptors may express them after infection by herpes simplex virus (HSV)-1, HSV-2, cytomegalovirus or varicella zoster virus. We recently reported that infection by HSV-1 induces both Fc and C3 receptors on human endothelial cells. Glycoprotein E of HSV-1 has been shown to function as an Fc receptor. We now demonstrate that glycoprotein C (gC) of HSV-1 functions as a C3b receptor. This receptor appears following HSV-1, but not HSV-2, infection. Detection of the C3b receptor is blocked by monoclonal antibodies to glycoprotein C (gC) of HSV-1, but not by monoclonal antibodies to other HSV-1 glycoproteins. In addition, the MP mutant of HSV-1, which lacks gC, fails to express a C3b receptor. These results assign a new function of gC of HSV-1 and demonstrate potentially important differences between HSV-1 and HSV-2 glycoproteins.     

拟南芥 AtTR1 在盐胁迫应答中的功能初探

本研究主要探索油菜中E3泛素连接酶BnTR1在拟南芥中的同源基因AtTR1(At3g47550)的功能.通过体外泛素化实验证明AtTR1具有E3连接酶活性.基因表达分析显示该基因受200mmol/L NaCl显著诱导,说明该基因可能在响应盐胁迫中发挥一定的功能.为了更深入的探究该基因在植物耐盐中的作用,构建了植物表达载体pZH01-AtTR1转化突变体.在含有潮霉素的培养基上筛选阳性苗,并利用荧光定量PCR检测表明AtTR1基因已经成功转入突变体中.