视黄醇X受体小分子配体衍生物对宫颈癌细胞周期及细胞凋亡的影响

为筛选视黄醇X受体α(RXRα)配体XS-23的衍生物中作用于细胞周期的化合物,通过蛋白免疫印迹检测细胞周期G0/G1期检查点关键负调控因子p21 WAF1/CIP1(简称p21)、细胞M期周期蛋白Cyclin B1的表达水平,从中筛选到两个编号分别为05和06的化合物,可导致人宫颈癌HeLa细胞中p21表达上调和Cyclin B1表达下调.用流式细胞术和siRNA干扰技术检测化合物对细胞周期的影响及其RXRα依赖性,结果显示:化合物05和06可引起G0/G1期细胞比例显著增加,同时G2/M期细胞比例显著下降,且化合物05和06引起p21表达水平上调的作用在一定程度上依赖于RXRα.用Annexin V-FITC/PI试剂盒检测细胞凋亡率,同时检测聚腺苷二磷酸核糖聚合酶(PARP)切割蛋白水平及其RXRα依赖性,结果表明:化合物05和06均能够引起HeLa细胞凋亡率显著增加,并导致PARP切割且具有一定的RXRα依赖性.进而用计算机模拟的方法对化合物与RXRα进行分子对接,模拟化合物与RXRα可能的结合位点,结果显示化合物05和06可能与RXRα蛋白的helix12、helix3、helix4形成的表面区域结合.综上,筛选出的化合物05和06可能通过与RXRα表面结合,阻滞HeLa细胞周期于G0/G1期,最终诱导HeLa细胞凋亡.     

内质网应激源和雷帕霉素受体蛋白调控的自噬和凋亡

细胞自噬与凋亡是多细胞体生物维持自身稳态的重要生理反应机制。分别将自噬和凋亡诱导剂Beclin1和Caspases被引入到Kapuy等人建立的模型中,这个模型描述了内质网应激压力的条件,雷帕霉素受体蛋白(mammalian target of rapamycin,mTOR)调控Beclin1控制的自噬与Caspases导向的凋亡。另外,探讨了内质网应激源和mTOR相关的参数对自噬和凋亡的调控。结果显示,虽然mTOR会抑制细胞自噬活性,但内质网应激压力仍然会引发这一过程。当自噬切换到凋亡时,内质网应激压力与mTOR的共同作用下会加速细胞的死亡。     

细胞周期调控因子的研究进展

细胞周期调控是细胞周期在不同时相的调控点受到调节因子的调控，其中有二个调控点最重要，G1／S期，G2／M期，已有二类细胞周期调控因子被发现，分别是细胞周期蛋白依赖性激酶CDK（cell dependent kinase)和细胞周期蛋白（cyclin)，它们之间的相互作用调控细胞周期的进程。     

调节细胞自噬对鱼藤酮诱导PC12细胞损伤的影响

以鱼藤酮处理的PC12细胞为帕金森病体外模型,分别使用雷帕霉素作为自噬途径的促进剂,巴佛洛霉素A1和3-甲基腺嘌呤作为抑制剂,检测调节细胞自噬对细胞凋亡的影响,发现巴佛洛霉素A1极大提高了细胞凋亡率,3-甲基腺嘌呤则可以减轻鱼藤酮诱导的细胞凋亡,而雷帕霉素虽然促进受损细胞凋亡,但降低了受损细胞早期的死亡率.构建pEGFP-LC3 稳定转染的PC12细胞,流式细胞检测结果显示,抑制或促进细胞自噬,细胞内自噬相关蛋白LC3均有明显增加.     

mTOR复合物在细胞迁移中的作用

细胞迁移是一个高度有序且多信号通路协调控制的过程,在个体发育、器官形成、伤口愈合及肿瘤恶性转移过程中具有重要作用.哺乳动物雷帕霉素靶蛋白(mammalian target of rapamycin,mTOR)广泛存在于从酵母到哺乳动物的细胞中,参与调控与细胞生长和代谢密切相关的多种生命过程,其参与形成的复合物在调控细胞迁移过程中发挥重要作用.对雷帕霉素靶蛋白复合物的组成和它们在细胞迁移中的作用的最新研究进行系统阐述.     

白屈菜碱对SGC-7901细胞Cdk1、cyclinB1表达影响

研究白屈菜碱对人胃癌SGC-7901细胞Cdk1、p-Cdk1(Thr14)、cyclinB1蛋白表达,探讨白屈菜碱诱导人胃癌SGC-7901细胞G2/M期阻滞的机制.采用Western blotting法测定白屈菜碱对SGC-7901细胞Cdk1、p-Cdk1(Thr14)、cyclinB1蛋白表达的影响.不同质量浓度的白屈菜碱可显著下调人胃癌SGC-7901细胞内Cdk1与cyclinB1蛋白表达水平,同时显著上调p-Cdk1(Thr14)蛋白的表达水平,并呈一定的剂量依赖性.白屈菜碱可下调SGC-7901细胞内Cdk1和cyclinB1蛋白的表达,上调p-Cdk1(Thr14)蛋白的表达,这可能是白屈菜碱诱导SGC-7901细胞G2/M期阻滞的主要机制之一.     

FKBP12与其抑制剂作用的结合自由能计算

FKBP12(FK506-binding proteins-12)是一种具有神经保护和促神经再生作用的蛋白.文中采用分子动力学模拟取样,运用MM-PBSA方法计算了FKBP12-TST复合物的绝对结合自由能.通过能量分解的方法考察了FKBP12分子主要残基与配体TST之间的相互作用.     

Hsp90抑制剂木犀草苷对非小细胞肺癌的体外抑制活性及作用机理研究

本文利用荧光偏振法(FP)构建分子伴侣Hsp90的筛选平台,筛选得到黄酮类化合物木犀草苷,并用热稳定实验验证了它与蛋白的结合作用;评价了木犀草苷对14株癌细胞的体外增殖抑制作用,发现木犀草苷对非小细胞肺癌有良好的选择性抑制活性;利用细胞克隆形成、western blot以及流式细胞检测技术进一步深入研究其可能的作用机制,发现木犀草苷能剂量依赖性地抑制非小细胞肺癌的增殖;下调Hsp90的客户蛋白Raf-1、HER2的表达;将H460细胞阻滞在G2/M期;诱导细胞凋亡,并且引起Bax的表达上调。实验结果表明,黄酮类化合物木犀草苷可以通过抑制Hsp90的活性进而降解肿瘤细胞内的客户蛋白,诱导H460细胞G2/M期阻滞,上调Bax表达诱导细胞凋亡来发挥抗肿瘤活性。     

5-HMF抑制A375细胞增殖的信号转导通路

通过Caspase活性检测和Western blotting法对ROS介导的A375细胞凋亡和G0/G1细胞周期阻滞中相关蛋白进行分析。结果表明:5-HMF通过清除细胞内ROS激活了DNA损伤介导的P53磷酸化、AKT通路和MAPKs通路,这些通路共同作用于相应的下游底物,激活外源性的死亡受体通路和内源性的线粒体通路导致细胞的凋亡,其中,5-HMF通过上调线粒体中的促凋亡因子、下调抑凋亡因子并活化Bid而激活內源性途径;此外,P53、AKT等也可以抑制或增强G0/G1期主要调控因子的表达,导致G0/G1期阻滞,证明了5-HMF可抑制A375细胞增殖的信号转导通路。     

牛泡沫病毒转录激活因子Borf1影响细胞周期相关基因的表达

Borf1蛋白是牛泡沫病毒编码的转录激活因子,可影响其自身及病毒结构基因的表达.但目前对Borf1在宿主细胞周期上的作用还未见研究报道.通过建立人胚肾293稳定表达Borf1的细胞系来研究其对宿主细胞的影响表明,在细胞内稳定表达Borf1可显著引发细胞在G1/G0的阻滞,并且降低S期细胞的比例.用半定量RT-PCR分析发现,Borf1可在mRNA水平下调周期蛋白cyclin A2,cyclin B1和cyclin E的表达.蛋白水平检测进一步核实这一结果.因此,Borf1通过影响周期相关蛋白表达,在G2-M及G1-S限制位点上发挥作用,进而引发细胞G1期阻抑.     

New insights into mTOR structure and regulation

The mammalian target of rapamycin, mTOR, forms various protein-protein complexes to regulate cell growth in response to the nutrient and energy status of the cell. Recently, the first crystal structure of large HEAT repeat protein mTOR revealed that the FAT domain interacts with the kinase domain through electrostatic effects and hydrophobic interactions. Based on the structure, the previous researches on how FAT domain regulates mTOR activity are reviewed. DEPTOR is currently known as an endogenous mTOR inhibitor, which may interact with roTOR FAT domain to suppress mTOR activity in vivo. The possible interactions of DEPTOR with the mTOR FAT domain are analyzed, too. In addition, the inhibition mechanism of DEPTOR may be similar to members of HEAT-involved RanGTP complex family, providing new mechanistic insights into mTOR kinase regulation.     

The translational landscape of mTOR signalling steers cancer initiation and metastasis

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase is a master regulator of protein synthesis that couples nutrient sensing to cell growth and cancer. However, the downstream translationally regulated nodes of gene expression that may direct cancer development are poorly characterized. Using ribosome profiling, we uncover specialized translation of the prostate cancer genome by oncogenic mTOR signalling, revealing a remarkably specific repertoire of genes involved in cell proliferation, metabolism and invasion. We extend these findings by functionally characterizing a class of translationally controlled pro-invasion messenger RNAs that we show direct prostate cancer invasion and metastasis downstream of oncogenic mTOR signalling. Furthermore, we develop a clinically relevant ATP site inhibitor of mTOR, INK128, which reprograms this gene expression signature with therapeutic benefit for prostate cancer metastasis, for which there is presently no cure. Together, these findings extend our understanding of how the 'cancerous' translation machinery steers specific cancer cell behaviours, including metastasis, and may be therapeutically targeted.     

PML inhibits HIF-1alpha translation and neoangiogenesis through repression of mTOR

Loss of the promyelocytic leukaemia (PML) tumour suppressor has been observed in several human cancers. The tumour-suppressive function of PML has been attributed to its ability to induce growth arrest, cellular senescence and apoptosis. Here we identify PML as a critical inhibitor of neoangiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels) in vivo, in both ischaemic and neoplastic conditions, through the control of protein translation. We demonstrate that in hypoxic conditions PML acts as a negative regulator of the synthesis rate of hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha (HIF-1alpha) by repressing mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). PML physically interacts with mTOR and negatively regulates its association with the small GTPase Rheb by favouring mTOR nuclear accumulation. Notably, Pml-/- cells and tumours display higher sensitivity both in vitro and in vivo to growth inhibition by rapamycin, and lack of PML inversely correlates with phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 and tumour angiogenesis in mouse and human tumours. Thus, our findings identify PML as a novel suppressor of mTOR and neoangiogenesis.     

An oxygen-regulated switch in the protein synthesis machinery

Protein synthesis involves the translation of ribonucleic acid information into proteins, the building blocks of life. The initial step of protein synthesis is the binding of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E) to the 7-methylguanosine (m(7)-GpppG) 5'?cap of messenger RNAs. Low oxygen tension (hypoxia) represses cap-mediated translation by sequestering eIF4E through mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)-dependent mechanisms. Although the internal ribosome entry site is an alternative translation initiation mechanism, this pathway alone cannot account for the translational capacity of hypoxic cells. This raises a fundamental question in biology as to how proteins are synthesized in periods of oxygen scarcity and eIF4E inhibition. Here we describe an oxygen-regulated translation initiation complex that mediates selective cap-dependent protein synthesis. We show that hypoxia stimulates the formation of a complex that includes the oxygen-regulated hypoxia-inducible factor 2α (HIF-2α), the RNA-binding protein RBM4 and the cap-binding eIF4E2, an eIF4E homologue. Photoactivatable ribonucleoside-enhanced crosslinking and immunoprecipitation (PAR-CLIP) analysis identified an RNA hypoxia response element (rHRE) that recruits this complex to a wide array of mRNAs, including that encoding the epidermal growth factor receptor. Once assembled at the rHRE, the HIF-2α-RBM4-eIF4E2 complex captures the 5'?cap and targets mRNAs to polysomes for active translation, thereby evading hypoxia-induced repression of protein synthesis. These findings demonstrate that cells have evolved a program by which oxygen tension switches the basic translation initiation machinery.     

The Lkb1 metabolic sensor maintains haematopoietic stem cell survival

Haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) can convert between growth states that have marked differences in bioenergetic needs. Although often quiescent in adults, these cells become proliferative upon physiological demand. Balancing HSC energetics in response to nutrient availability and growth state is poorly understood, yet essential for the dynamism of the haematopoietic system. Here we show that the Lkb1 tumour suppressor is critical for the maintenance of energy homeostasis in haematopoietic cells. Lkb1 inactivation in adult mice causes loss of HSC quiescence followed by rapid depletion of all haematopoietic subpopulations. Lkb1-deficient bone marrow cells exhibit mitochondrial defects, alterations in lipid and nucleotide metabolism, and depletion of cellular ATP. The haematopoietic effects are largely independent of Lkb1 regulation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signalling. Instead, these data define a central role for Lkb1 in restricting HSC entry into cell cycle and in broadly maintaining energy homeostasis in haematopoietic cells through a novel metabolic checkpoint.     

Endocytosis-mediated downregulation of LIN-12/Notch upon Ras activation in Caenorhabditis elegans

The coordination of signals from different pathways is important for cell fate specification during animal development. Here, we define a novel mode of crosstalk between the epidermal growth factor receptor/Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade and the LIN-12/Notch pathway during Caenorhabditis elegans vulval development. Six vulval precursor cells (VPCs) are initially equivalent but adopt different fates as a result of an inductive signal mediated by the Ras pathway and a lateral signal mediated by the LIN-12/Notch pathway. One consequence of activating Ras is a reduction of LIN-12 protein in P6.p (ref. 2), the VPC believed to be the source of the lateral signal. Here we identify a 'downregulation targeting signal' (DTS) in the LIN-12 intracellular domain, which encompasses a di-leucine-containing endocytic sorting motif. The DTS seems to be required for internalization of LIN-12, and on Ras activation it might mediate altered endocytic routing of LIN-12, leading to downregulation. We also show that if LIN-12 is stabilized in P6.p, lateral signalling is compromised, indicating that LIN-12 downregulation is important in the appropriate specification of cell fates in vivo.