Modulation of protein biophysical properties by chemical glycosylation: biochemical insights and biomedical implications

Glycosylation constitutes one of the most important posttranslational modifications employed by biological systems to modulate protein biophysical properties. Due to the direct biochemical and biomedical implications of achieving control over protein stability and function by chemical means, there has been great interest in recent years towards the development of chemical strategies for protein glycosylation. Since current knowledge about glycoprotein biophysics has been mainly derived from the study of naturally glycosylated proteins, chemical glycosylation provides novel insights into its mechanistic understanding by affording control over glycosylation parameters. This review presents a survey of the effects that natural and chemical glycosylation have on the fundamental biophysical properties of proteins (structure, dynamics, stability, and function). This is complemented by a mechanistic discussion of how glycans achieve such effects and discussion of the implications of employing chemical glycosylation as a tool to exert control over protein biophysical properties within biochemical and biomedical applications. Received 15 December 2006; received after revision 28 March 2007; accepted 25 April 2007     

Regulation of insulin receptor function

Resistance to the biological actions of insulin contributes to the development of type 2 diabetes and risk of cardiovascular disease. A reduced biological response to insulin by tissues results from an impairment in the cascade of phosphorylation events within cells that regulate the activity of enzymes comprising the insulin signaling pathway. In most models of insulin resistance, there is evidence that this decrement in insulin signaling begins with either the activation or substrate kinase activity of the insulin receptor (IR), which is the only component of the pathway that is unique to insulin action. Activation of the IR can be impaired by post-translational modifications of the protein involving serine phosphorylation, or by binding to inhibiting proteins such as PC-1 or members of the SOCS or Grb protein families. The impact of these processes on the conformational changes and phosphorylation events required for full signaling activity, as well as the role of these mechanisms in human disease, is reviewed in this article. Received 3 August 2006; received after revision 1 December 2006; accepted 8 January 2007     

用N-(3-P)NEM标记毛发角蛋白研究毛发中低硫蛋白和高硫蛋白的状态

本文用一种特异性标记蛋白质巯基的N-(3-P)NEM为荧光探针标记毛发角蛋白,经SDS-PAGE后,通过荧光薄层扫描确定N-(3-P)NEM与含巯基蛋白结合的部位。结果表明,毛发角蛋白中的低硫蛋白分子量在45,000～63,000范围,约占总蛋白量的49.6％～68.2％;高硫蛋白分子量在4,000～20,000范围,约占总蛋白量的18.9％～36.2％。除低硫和高硫蛋白以外,毛发角蛋白中还可能存在一种极低硫蛋白,分子量位于22,000～32,000范围。对人与5种动物的毛发角蛋白组分进行比较,证实人与动物的毛发角蛋白的主要差异在高硫蛋白,不同种属的动物毛发角蛋白中低硫蛋白和高硫蛋白的含量也不相同。作者认为毛发角蛋白中含巯基蛋白的差异可为动物分类学和法医学在进行毛发比较鉴别方面提供新的重要信息。     

GDM对球类系男生Hb、WBC数及大强度训练后upr的影响

本研究以上海体院球类系６０名男生作为实验对象，将他们随机分为实验组和对照组，两组各３０人．实验组饮用ＧＤＭ饮料，对照组饮用安慰剂．分别测定服用前后Ｈｂ，ＷＢＣ数，并在服用前后进行相同大强度训练后测定尿蛋白含量．结果表明：试验组服用ＧＤＭ四周后Ｈｂ明显升高，ＷＢＣ数量有所提高，而且等大强度运动后尿蛋白净值明显下降；而服用安慰剂组，四周后Ｈｂ及ＷＢＣ数无显著性差异．说明ＧＤＭ有助于球类系男生运动能力的提高，同时能够增强机体免疫能力和抗疲劳抗负荷能力．     

变性剂诱导的多结构域蛋白质变性现象的研究

从蛋白质变性的构象渐变模型出发，分析了多结构域蛋白质变性过程的特点，用吸附动力学方法得到了可描述多个结构域变性的关系表示式，特别对典型双结构域蛋白质变性过程予以较详细的讨论。通过对比理论计算结果与实验观测结果，发现在一定参数条件下两者符合较好，从构象渐变的观点，对双结构域蛋白质变性过程中出现双S形变性曲线的原因做出了解释，同时对变性过程中可能出现的一些情况进行了预测和分析。     

高核酸高蛋白酵母选育及发酵生态学研究

通过紫外线嘧啶复合处理选育到一株高核酸高蛋白酵母，并进行了营子及其它培养条件的选择性试验，确定了优化的培养条件，摇瓶培养核酸１４．７５％，蛋白质含量达６３．６７％。１．５Ｌ发酵罐发酵试验能很好地重现摇瓶效果及冰箱保存活试验证明该菌株有好的遗传稳定性。     

Glycogen synthase kinase 3β and Alzheimer’s disease: pathophysiological and therapeutic significance

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder associated with cognitive and behavioral dysfunction and is the leading cause of dementia in the elderly. Several studies have implicated molecular and cellular signaling cascades involving the serine-threonine kinase, glycogen synthase kinase β(GSK-3β) in the pathogenesis of AD. GSK-3β may play an important role in the formation of neurofibrillary tangles and senile plaques, the two classical pathological hallmarks of AD. In this review, we discuss the interaction between GSK-3β and several key molecules involved in AD, including the presenilins, amyloid precursor protein, tau, and β-amyloid. We identify the signal transduction pathways involved in the pathogenesis of AD, including Wnt, Notch, and the PI3 kinase/Akt pathway. These may be potential therapeutic targets in AD. Received 19 December 2005; received after revision 24 January 2006; accepted 6 February 2006     

葛根素治疗不稳定性心绞痛71例临床观察

目的探讨在常规治疗基础上应用葛根素注射液治疗不稳定性心绞痛(UA)的疗效。方法对于入院确诊为不稳定性心绞痛的患者,随机分为两组:对照组为常规抗凝组,低分子肝素5000u皮下注射,1次/12h,共5d,阿斯匹林肠溶片0.3g,1次/d,3d后改为0.1g,1次/d,长期服用;治疗组为葛根素组,葛根素300mg静脉滴注,1次/d,其余治疗同对照组。结果治疗组控制症状及改善异常心电图方面均优于对照组,并使C-反应蛋白(CRP)浓度更快下降,与对照组相比,差异有显著性(P<0.05)。结论在抗凝及抗血小板基础上加用葛根素,治疗UA疗效优于常规抗凝治疗。