拟南芥Hsp40蛋白AtDjA5在大肠杆菌中的功能分析

通过分析大肠杆菌dnaJ缺失菌株在43℃下的生长表型, 发现AtDjA5及其J Domain能够功能性地替换DnaJ及其J Domain. 免疫共沉淀实验结果表明AtDjA5与DnaK存在相互作用. 由Western blot检测推测AtDjA5能够稳定大肠杆菌热激转录因子σ32并下调热激蛋白DnaK表达量. 这些发现说明AtDjA5在大肠杆菌中具有与DnaJ相似的功能.     

一个拟南芥C2H2锌指蛋白的结构域分析

At3g23140是拟南芥中仅含有一个C2H2锌指结构的转录因子,主要含有N端的C2H2锌指结构和C端的类似EAR两个结构域.将〖WTBX〗〖STBX〗At3g23140〖WTBZ〗〖STB3〗中仅含C2H2锌指结构区域不同长度的两个基因片段〖WTBX〗〖STBX〗A1〖WTBZ〗〖STB3〗(240 bp),〖WTBX〗〖STBX〗A2〖STB3〗〖WTBZ〗(410 bp)克隆到植物表达载体pMON530 35S启动子的下游,并转化野生型拟南芥.经过筛选得到稳定遗传的T3代纯合转化子.对转基因植株研究表明, 35S::〖WTBX〗〖STBX〗A2〖STB3〗〖WTBZ〗转基因植株的内源乙烯释放量明显低于野生型,这与〖WTBX〗〖STBX〗At3g23140〖STB3〗〖WTBZ〗插入失活突变体〖WTBX〗〖STBX〗cs16966〖STB3〗〖WTBZ〗的表型是一致的,而35S::〖WTBX〗〖STBX〗A1〖WTBZ〗〖STB3〗转基因植株的内源乙烯释放量与野生型没有明显区别.表明A2片段的过量表达产生了显性抑制的作用,这种显性抑制效应很可能是由于 A2蛋白片段与〖WTBX〗〖STBX〗At3g23140〖STB3〗〖WTBZ〗表达产物所调控的核酸序列竞争结合所导致.而A2片段C端所含有的非锌指结构域是At3g23140蛋白与靶基因序列结合所必需的.     

日本赭纤虫第一类肽链释放因子C端结构域分析

eRF1的C结构域与eRF3的C结构域相互作用对于蛋白质翻译终止过程中的快速反应至关重要.通过计算机同源建模对日本赭纤虫第一类肽链释放因子C结构域Bj-eRF1C进行结构模拟,发现在Bj-eRF1C结构域中有些肽段直接参与了eRF1-eRF3相互作用,特别是Bj-eRF1C结构域中V294和D297位点高度保守.通过定点突变与pull-down分析,表明在Bj-eRF1C结构域中V294和D297是eRF1-eRF3相互作用的关键位点.     

鲫血清转铁蛋白推导序列分析及空间结构预测

用DNA Club分析软件推导出鲫血清转铁蛋白序列,并对该序列进行分析.推导的蛋白质长度为807个氨基酸残基,Mw约为90 000.其中半胱氨酸43个,可以组成21对二硫键.疏水性和二级结构几率分析表明:有两个非常相似的结构域分别存在于1-390和390-807区域.旋管结构和螺旋结构的分布区域,均分别集中在上述两个区段中,同样位于两个结构域中,结构也非常类似.证实了转铁蛋白(Tf)由2个同源性较高的结构域(N结构域和C结构域)组成.Tf的三级结构呈"V"字形,每个结构域又各自分为3个小的结构小区(即N1、N2、N3和C1、C2、C3).两个糖基位于N1和C1区,呈"Y"字型结构;铁链位于N2和C2区;受体结合位点R1和R2位于N3和C3区.     

拟南芥E3连接酶AT2G02960在大肠杆菌中的功能分析

本研究以一个含有C4HC3锌指的RING结构域蛋白基因AT2G02960(简称ATPRF1)为研究对象,Western Blot检测ATPRF1能够大幅度提高σ~(32)表达水平并稳定σ~(32),提高大肠杆菌的热耐受性,细菌双杂交及免疫共沉淀实验表明ATPRF1与σ~(32)及DnaK存在相互作用,促进DnaK表达,体外泛素实验验证ATPRF1将σ~(32)泛素化,相互作用位点为RING-finger结构域.证明ATPRF1参与DnaK/J/E分子伴侣体系,提升大肠杆菌的热耐受性并能将σ~(32)多泛素化.     

人源锌指蛋白ZNF24及其锌指结构域的表达、纯化及DNA结合性质的研究

转录因子是调控基因表达的关键蛋白，能够以序列特异性方式结合DNA。ZNF24是Krüppel-like锌指转录因子家族成员之一，在细胞增殖和分化中起重要作用，能促进肝癌细胞的增殖，抑制神经元细胞的分化。ZNF24蛋白N端包含一个SCAN结构域，C端为锌指区，由4个串联的C2H2型锌指结构组成。ZNF24能特异性识别和结合基因的启动子，参与基因的表达调控，但其发挥功能的具体分子机制并不清楚。本文我们在大肠杆菌中成功表达了人源锌指蛋白ZNF24全长和其锌指结构域ZNF24(243～368),ZNF24全长蛋白在溶液中以三聚体形式存在，而锌指结构域在溶液中为单体，表明ZNF24蛋白N端的SCAN结构域能够促进全长蛋白的寡聚化。凝胶迁移实验验证ZNF24全长蛋白和锌指结构域与双链DNA底物结合能力，为进一步研究锌指蛋白ZNF24调控基因表达提供理论基础，相关结果表明SCAN结构域介导的蛋白寡聚可能代表了一种新的转录活性调节机制。     

小麦TaUBC基因泛素结合酶活性分析

已报道的RNA水平研究表明TaUBC可能是小麦产量相关基因,生物信息学分析显示该基因属于泛素结合酶家族.荧光定量PCR显示TaUBC在小麦根茎叶中均有表达.为了验证TaUBC蛋白是否具有泛素结合酶活性,本文利用原核系统表达野生型TaUBC及三种点突变TaUBC~(C21S)、TaUBC~(C85S)、TaUBC~(C107S)蛋白,并对这些蛋白进行体外泛素化活性分析.结果证实TaUBC是一个有活性的泛素结合酶.另外,点突变C85S使得TaUBC丧失E2活性,C21S和C107S则对活性没有影响,证明其UBC结构域中第85位Cys是结合泛素的关键作用位点.     

Pax3a基因Homeobox domain结构域敲除斑马鱼的跨代遗传观察

目的:检测Pax3a的Homeobox domain结构域敲除后斑马鱼基因型和表型的稳定性.方法:利用CRISPR/Cas9技术双靶点整体敲除斑马鱼中Pax3a的Homeobox domain结构域,并建立F0代和F1代敲除斑马鱼.同时比较靶基因敲除的基因型和表型跨代遗传的影响.结果:两年的跟踪观察显示F1代Homeobox domain结构域敲除序列有延长和重组修复改变;瓦登伯革氏症候群病态表型比原先报道的Homeobox domain结构域过表达更明显,主要体现为色素颗粒松散和肠道细胞失去紧密连接.结论:斑马鱼Pax3a的Homeobox domain结构域的过表达或缺失都能妨碍Pax3的结构和功能完整性,导致不正常的细胞迁移和细胞间紧密连接.     

杨树MAGPIE和JACKDAW基因克隆、表达及蛋白互作研究

利用RACE技术从杨树不定根中克隆获得PeMGP和PeJDK基因全长cDNA序列,分别包含1 434 bp和1 518 bp长度的开放阅读框。两者都含2个内含子,其氨基酸序列均有4个保守结构域:2个C2H2型锌指结构域ZF1(CX2-4CX3FX4LX2HX3-5H)和ZF2(CX4CXnHXnX4H),2个C2HC型锌指结构域ZF3(CX2CXnHX3C)和ZF4(CXCXnHX3C)。在根茎叶中均检测到PeMGP和PeJKD基因的表达,但它们在杨树不定根发育过程中具有动态的表达模式。杨树原生质体瞬时表达揭示,PeMGP和PeJDK蛋白都定位于细胞核,两者在细胞核发生相互作用。     

杨树MAGPIE和JACKDAW基因克隆、表达及蛋白互作研究

利用RACE技术从杨树不定根中克隆获得PeMGP和PeJDK基因全长cDNA序列,分别包含1 434 bp和1 518 bp长度的开放阅读框。两者都含2个内含子,其氨基酸序列均有4个保守结构域:2个C2H2型锌指结构域ZF1(CX2-4CX3FX4LX2HX3-5H)和ZF2(CX4CXnHXnX4H),2个C2HC型锌指结构域ZF3(CX2CXnHX3C)和ZF4(CXCXnHX3C)。在根茎叶中均检测到PeMGP和PeJKD基因的表达,但它们在杨树不定根发育过程中具有动态的表达模式。杨树原生质体瞬时表达揭示,PeMGP和PeJDK蛋白都定位于细胞核,两者在细胞核发生相互作用。     

BICP0 and its RING finger domain act as ubiquitin E3 ligases <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis>

Bovine infected-cell protein 0 (BICP0) encoded by bovine herpes virus 1 (BHV-1) immediate early gene is necessary for efficient productive infection, in a large part,because it activates all 3 classes of BHV-1 genes. It also has the ability to efficiently transactivate promoters that are not derived from BHV-1. To investigate the mechanism by which BICP0 achieves these effects, we expressed and purified BICP0 and its different mutants in E. coil In vitro assays showed that both full-length BICP0 and its isolated RING finger domain induce the accumulation of polyubiquitin chains. Mutations within the RING finger region that abolish the in vitro ubiquitination activity also cause severe reductions in BICP0 activity in other assays. Based on these, we conclude that BICP0 has the potential to act as an E3 ubiquitin ligase during viral infection and its RING finger domain is necessary for this function. These strongly support the hypothesis that BICPO might influence virus infection through its ability to interact with the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway.     

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.     

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.     

ZNRF3 promotes Wnt receptor turnover in an R-spondin-sensitive manner

R-spondin proteins strongly potentiate Wnt signalling and function as stem-cell growth factors. Despite the biological and therapeutic significance, the molecular mechanism of R-spondin action remains unclear. Here we show that the cell-surface transmembrane E3 ubiquitin ligase zinc and ring finger 3 (ZNRF3) and its homologue ring finger 43 (RNF43) are negative feedback regulators of Wnt signalling. ZNRF3 is associated with the Wnt receptor complex, and inhibits Wnt signalling by promoting the turnover of frizzled and LRP6. Inhibition of ZNRF3 enhances Wnt/β-catenin signalling and disrupts Wnt/planar cell polarity signalling in vivo. Notably, R-spondin mimics ZNRF3 inhibition by increasing the membrane level of Wnt receptors. Mechanistically, R-spondin interacts with the extracellular domain of ZNRF3 and induces the association between ZNRF3 and LGR4, which results in membrane clearance of ZNRF3. These data suggest that R-spondin enhances Wnt signalling by inhibiting ZNRF3. Our study provides new mechanistic insights into the regulation of Wnt receptor turnover, and reveals ZNRF3 as a tractable target for therapeutic exploration.     

Exclusion of germ plasm proteins from somatic lineages by cullin-dependent degradation

In many animals, establishment of the germ line depends on segregation of a specialized cytoplasm, or 'germ plasm', to a small number of germline precursor cells during early embryogenesis. Germ plasm asymmetry involves targeting of RNAs and proteins to a specific region of the oocyte and/or embryo. Here we demonstrate that germ plasm asymmetry also depends on degradation of germline proteins in non-germline (somatic) cells. We show that five CCCH finger proteins, components of the Caenorhabditis elegans germ plasm, are targeted for degradation by the novel CCCH-finger-binding protein ZIF-1. ZIF-1 is a SOCS-box protein that interacts with the E3 ubiquitin ligase subunit elongin C. Elongin C, the cullin CUL-2, the ring finger protein RBX-1 and the E2 ubiquitin conjugation enzyme UBC5 (also known as LET-70) are all required in vivo for CCCH finger protein degradation. Degradation is activated in somatic cells by the redundant CCCH finger proteins MEX-5 and MEX-6, which are counteracted in the germ line by the PAR-1 kinase. We propose that segregation of the germ plasm involves both stabilization of germline proteins in the germ line and cullin-dependent degradation in the soma.     

A ubiquitin ligase transfers preformed polyubiquitin chains from a conjugating enzyme to a substrate

In eukaryotic cells, many short-lived proteins are conjugated with Lys 48-linked ubiquitin chains and degraded by the proteasome. Ubiquitination requires an activating enzyme (E1), a conjugating enzyme (E2) and a ligase (E3). Most ubiquitin ligases use either a HECT (homologous to E6-associated protein C terminus) or a RING (really interesting new gene) domain to catalyse polyubiquitination, but the mechanism of E3 catalysis is poorly defined. Here we dissect this process using mouse Ube2g2 (E2; identical at the amino acid level to human Ube2g2) and human gp78 (E3), an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated conjugating system essential for the degradation of misfolded ER proteins. We demonstrate by expressing recombinant proteins in Escherichia coli that Ube2g2/gp78-mediated polyubiquitination involves preassembly of Lys 48-linked ubiquitin chains at the catalytic cysteine of Ube2g2. The growth of Ube2g2-anchored ubiquitin chains seems to be mediated by an aminolysis-based transfer reaction between two Ube2g2 molecules that each carries a ubiquitin moiety in its active site. Intriguingly, polyubiquitination of a substrate can be achieved by transferring preassembled ubiquitin chains from Ube2g2 to a lysine residue in a substrate.     

TRIM25 RING-finger E3 ubiquitin ligase is essential for RIG-I-mediated antiviral activity

Retinoic-acid-inducible gene-I (RIG-I; also called DDX58) is a cytosolic viral RNA receptor that interacts with MAVS (also called VISA, IPS-1 or Cardif) to induce type I interferon-mediated host protective innate immunity against viral infection. Furthermore, members of the tripartite motif (TRIM) protein family, which contain a cluster of a RING-finger domain, a B box/coiled-coil domain and a SPRY domain, are involved in various cellular processes, including cell proliferation and antiviral activity. Here we report that the amino-terminal caspase recruitment domains (CARDs) of RIG-I undergo robust ubiquitination induced by TRIM25 in mammalian cells. The carboxy-terminal SPRY domain of TRIM25 interacts with the N-terminal CARDs of RIG-I; this interaction effectively delivers the Lys 63-linked ubiquitin moiety to the N-terminal CARDs of RIG-I, resulting in a marked increase in RIG-I downstream signalling activity. The Lys 172 residue of RIG-I is critical for efficient TRIM25-mediated ubiquitination and for MAVS binding, as well as the ability of RIG-I to induce antiviral signal transduction. Furthermore, gene targeting demonstrates that TRIM25 is essential not only for RIG-I ubiquitination but also for RIG-I-mediated interferon- production and antiviral activity in response to RNA virus infection. Thus, we demonstrate that TRIM25 E3 ubiquitin ligase induces the Lys 63-linked ubiquitination of RIG-I, which is crucial for the cytosolic RIG-I signalling pathway to elicit host antiviral innate immunity.