The GTPase-activating protein Rap1GAP uses a catalytic asparagine

Rap1 is a Ras-like guanine-nucleotide-binding protein (GNBP) that is involved in a variety of signal-transduction processes. It regulates integrin-mediated cell adhesion and might activate extracellular signal-regulated kinase. Like other Ras-like GNBPs, Rap1 is regulated by guanine-nucleotide-exchange factors (GEFs) and GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs). These GAPs increase the slow intrinsic GTPase reaction of Ras-like GNBPs by many orders of magnitude and allow tight regulation of signalling. The activation mechanism involves stabilization of the catalytic glutamine of the GNBP and, in most cases, the insertion of a catalytic arginine of GAP into the active site. Rap1 is a close homologue of Ras but does not possess the catalytic glutamine essential for GTP hydrolysis in all other Ras-like and Galpha proteins. Furthermore, RapGAPs are not related to other GAPs and apparently do not use a catalytic arginine residue. Here we present the crystal structure of the catalytic domain of the Rap1-specific Rap1GAP at 2.9 A. By mutational analysis, fluorescence titration and stopped-flow kinetic assay, we demonstrate that Rap1GAP provides a catalytic asparagine to stimulate GTP hydrolysis. Implications for the disease tuberous sclerosis are discussed.     

逆转录转座子LINE-1的活性调控及其在癌症中的作用

逆转座子长散布核元件-1(LINE-1)是一种跳跃基因,约占人类基因组的17%。LINE-1采用"复制-粘贴"的方式,以RNA为媒介,在基因组中进行转座易位。一般地,细胞中LINE-1的转座活性受到严格调控。而在肿瘤细胞中,LINE-1异常活化,以逆转座依赖或非依赖的方式,影响基因组的稳定性:前者可以改变靶基因表达、引起染色质重排或协助其他转座子(如SINEs等)进行转座;后者为表观遗传的方式,通过产生内源的调节性RNAs、形成LINE-1嵌合性转录、形成新的剪切位点或启动位点来改变临近基因的表达等。本文主要介绍LINE-1的组成及其转座活性调控,并讨论LINE-1转座在肿瘤中的功能,以期为LINE-1的深入研究、肿瘤的形成机制及治疗探索提供一些参考。     

耐热酵母中海藻糖代谢途径对热胁迫的响应

海藻糖对酵母的耐热性有重要的作用：既是细胞保护剂,又是热激转录因子Hsf1p的正调节子.因此研究耐热酵母在热胁迫下海藻糖代谢途径的响应,有助于理解酵母的热响应机制,并为获得耐热的酿酒酵母提供理论基础.本文从转录及物质代谢角度对热胁迫下耐热酵母中海藻糖的代谢响应进行了研究.结果表明：在热胁迫下海藻糖代谢相关基因表达水平显著的升高,胞内海藻糖积累后有所下降,在耐热酵母海藻糖相关代谢基因水平和代谢物水平上的响应显示出高度的一致.本文的研究结果支持了热胁迫下酿酒酵母海藻糖作为细胞保护剂以及作为Hsf1p的正调节子的观点,进一步证实了海藻糖在酵母适应高温的过程中起重要作用.     

Chloroplast to nucleus communication triggered by accumulation of Mg-protoporphyrinIX

Plant cells coordinately regulate the expression of nuclear and plastid genes that encode components of the photosynthetic apparatus. Nuclear genes that regulate chloroplast development and chloroplast gene expression provide part of this coordinate control. There is evidence that information also flows in the opposite direction, from chloroplasts to the nucleus. Until now, at least three different signalling pathways have been identified that originate in the plastid and control nuclear gene expression but the molecular nature of these signals has remained unknown. Here we show that the tetrapyrrole intermediate Mg-protoporphyrin (Mg-ProtoIX) acts as a signalling molecule in one of the signalling pathways between the chloroplast and nucleus. Accumulation of Mg-ProtoIX is both necessary and sufficient to regulate the expression of many nuclear genes encoding chloroplastic proteins associated with photosynthesis.