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     

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     

Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase regulatory mechanisms and inhibition in treating diabetes, heart ischemia, and cancer

The fraction of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC) in the active form is reduced by the activities of dedicated PD kinase isozymes (PDK1, PDK2, PDK3 and PDK4). Via binding to the inner lipoyl domain (L2) of the dihydrolipoyl acetyltransferase (E2 60mer), PDK rapidly access their E2-bound PD substrate. The E2-enhanced activity of the widely distributed PDK2 is limited by dissociation of ADP from its C-terminal catalytic domain, and this is further slowed by pyruvate binding to the N-terminal regulatory (R) domain. Via the reverse of the PDC reaction, NADH and acetyl-CoA reductively acetylate lipoyl group of L2, which binds to the R domain and stimulates PDK2 activity by speeding up ADP dissociation. Activation of PDC by synthetic PDK inhibitors binding at the pyruvate or lipoyl binding sites decreased damage during heart ischemia and lowered blood glucose in insulin-resistant animals. PDC activation also triggers apoptosis in cancer cells that selectively convert glucose to lactate. Received 25 August 2006; received after revision 20 November 2006; accepted 20 December 2006     

乳腺癌PKCs表达与其分化程度的相关性

为了研究蛋白激酶C（PKC）和乳腺癌分化及转移的相关性，采用免疫组化SABC方法检测48例人乳腺癌的PKC蛋白表达，包括PKCα、βI、η和ξ等蛋白。结果表明，与分化低的乳腺癌对比，分化高的乳腺癌PKC蛋白表达水平提高。在临床I－II和III级的乳腺癌中，PKCη蛋白表达率分别为61．5％和9．1％，具有显著意义（P＜0．05），PKCξ蛋白表达率分别为92．3％和27．3％，具有极显著意义（P＜0．01）。另外，在乳腺癌未转移的病例中，PKCs蛋白表达水平普遍较高，其中PKCξ与肿转移相关性极显著（P＜0．01）。此外，PKCs蛋白表达水平与肿瘤患者年龄无关。以上结果提示，PKCη和PKCξ有可能作为评价临床乳腺癌分化和转移程度的指标之一。     

Changes in glycosaminoglycan sulfation and protein kinase C subcellular distribution during differentiation of the human colon tumor cell line Caco-2

Summary During the spontaneous differentiation (day 5 to day 15 of the culture) of Caco-2 cells, the sulfation of cell layer glycosaminoglycans increased, whereas protein kinase C activity was concomitantly redistributed from the membrane to the cytosol. The protein kinase C activators, 4-phorbol 12-myristate, 13-acetate and 1,2-dioctanoyl-glycerol inhibited glycosaminoglycan sulfation. By contrast, 4-phorbol 12, 13 didecanoate was ineffective.These results suggest that membrane-bound PKC may exert a modulatory effect on glycosaminoglycan sulfation, and this effect is gradually attenuated as Caco-2 cell differentiation progresses.     

Effect of protein kinase C activation and depletion on insulin stimulation of glycogen synthesis in cultured hepatoma cells

Summary Insulin stimulation of glycogen synthesis was nearly abolished in hepatoma cells shortly treated with 4 ß-phorbol 12 \-myristate, 13 -acetate (protein kinase C activation) but remained unmodified in cells chronically treated with the phorbol ester (protein kinase C depletion). Thus, although exogenous activation of protein kinase C results in an inhibition of insulin action, protein kinase C depletion has no influence on this process. The results suggest that, in hepatoma cells, no endogenous activation of protein kinase C may occur in response to the signal triggered by insulin.     

腺病毒载体介导胸苷激酶基因/ACV对大鼠脑胶质瘤的离体和活体杀伤作用

建立缺陷型重组腺病毒载体介导的胸苷激酶基因治疗系统（Adtk／ACV）,进行离休和活体治疗大鼠C6脑胶质瘤研究．将质粒pAdtk与pJM17共转染腺病毒包装细胞──293细胞,同源重组后制备纯化的Adtk并以PCR证实;Adtk对离休C6细胞的杀伤作用随着Adtk滴度和ACV剂量增加而增强,并有旁观者效应,而未转染C6细胞和AdLacZ转染C6细胞均未被杀伤;扫描电镜下见Adtk／ACV处理的细胞呈明显病理改变;ACV可有效杀伤Adtk／C6细胞．在大鼠脑立体定向仪引导下于右额叶接种2×106个C6细胞,分别于第3,6,8和10天原位注射Adtk,同时腹腔注射ACV（100mg／（kg·d-1））,3d组、6d组、8d组大鼠成活期在90d以上,组织学检查未发现肿瘤细胞．10d组成活期（28．5±4．6）d,而C6未治疗组和AdLacZ／ACV治疗组成活期分别为（1．8±3．1）d和（14．0±2．2）d．本文建立的Adtk／ACV在离体和活体水平对大鼠C6脑胶质瘤有强烈的杀伤作用,效果确实,应用方便,ACV价格便宜,有潜在临床应用价值．     

细胞分裂素对大豆叶片衰老过程中蛋白激酶基因表达的影响

利用真核生物催化丝氨酸／苏氨酸残基磷酸化的蛋白激酶ＶＩ和Ⅷ保守区设计兼并引物,进行ＲＴ－ＰＣＲ扩增反应,研究大豆叶片衰老过程中蛋白激酶基因表达的变化及外源细胞分裂素处理的作用。结果表明人工合成的细胞分裂素－６ＢＡ预处理很可能在转录水平上正向调节一些蛋白激酶基因的表达,而诱导衰老处理则起负调控作用。     

Roles of protein kinase C in oocyte meiotic maturation and fertilization

Protein kinase C (PKC) is a superfamily of Ser/Thr protein kinases that is distributed widely in eukaryotes. It plays key regulatory roles at multiple steps of oocyte meiotic maturation and fertilization. During the process of meiotic maturation, the activation of PKC in cumulus cells stimulates meiotic maturation, whereas the activation of PKC in oocytes results in the inhibition of germinal vesicle breakdown. PKC activity increases following the meiotic maturation, and decreases at the transition of metaphase/anaphase in meiosis I, so as to facilitate the release of the first polar body and the entry of meiosis II. In fertilization of mammalian oocytes, PKC may act as one of the downstream targets of Ca2+ to stimulate the cortical granule exocytosis, release the oocytes from MII arrest and to induce pronucleus formation. PKC is also involved in the regulation of maturation promoting factor (MPF) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Several PKC isoforms have been identified in mammalian oocytes, and there is evidence showing that classical PKCs may be the principal mediator of oocyte cortical reaction.     

纳豆激酶基因克隆及其在大肠杆菌中活性表达研究

以纳豆芽孢杆菌基因组DNA为模板，PCR扩增了纳豆激酶基因（natto kinase gene）中编码前肽、成熟肽的核苷酸序列（pro-NK），构建大肠杆菌表达质粒pTYB102，转化大肠杆菌ER2566。在IPTG诱导下，分别在15℃（14h）、30℃（3h）、37℃（2h）条件下培养，pTYB102均能表达出有活性的纳豆激酶。实验证实纳豆激酶基因得到活性表达需要Pro序列。SDS－PAGE表明，15℃和30℃和37℃培养表达的杂蛋白更少。薄层扫描测定表达的纳豆激酶占菌体总蛋白30％以上。