Self-incompatibility in Papaver targets soluble inorganic pyrophosphatases in pollen

In higher plants, sexual reproduction involves interactions between pollen and pistil. A key mechanism to prevent inbreeding is self-incompatibility through rejection of incompatible ('self') pollen. In Papaver rhoeas, S proteins encoded by the stigma interact with incompatible pollen, triggering a Ca2+-dependent signalling network resulting in pollen tube inhibition and programmed cell death. The cytosolic phosphoprotein p26.1, which has been identified in incompatible pollen, shows rapid, self-incompatibility-induced Ca2+-dependent hyperphosphorylation in vivo. Here we show that p26.1 comprises two proteins, Pr-p26.1a and Pr-p26.1b, which are soluble inorganic pyrophosphatases (sPPases). These proteins have classic Mg2+-dependent sPPase activity, which is inhibited by Ca2+, and unexpectedly can be phosphorylated in vitro. We show that phosphorylation inhibits sPPase activity, establishing a previously unknown mechanism for regulating eukaryotic sPPases. Reduced sPPase activity is predicted to result in the inhibition of many biosynthetic pathways, suggesting that there may be additional mechanisms of self-incompatibility-mediated pollen tube inhibition. We provide evidence that sPPases are required for growth and that self-incompatibility results in an increase in inorganic pyrophosphate, implying a functional role for Pr-p26.1.     

器官发育与程序化细胞死亡

介绍了2002年诺贝尔生理医学奖的获奖内容，讨论了程序化细胞死亡的分子作用机制，探讨了这一基础研究对于治疗癌症等分子性疾病的重要作用。     

Phagocytosis promotes programmed cell death in C. elegans.

In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans programmed cell death requires the killer genes egl-1, ced-4 and ced-3 (refs 1 and 2), and the engulfment of dying cells requires the genes ced-1, ced-2, ced-5, ced-6, ced-7, ced-10 and ced-12 (refs 3,4,5). Here we show that engulfment promotes programmed cell death. Mutations that cause partial loss of function of killer genes allow the survival of some cells that are programmed to die, and mutations in engulfment genes enhance the frequency of this cell survival. Furthermore, mutations in engulfment genes alone allow the survival and differentiation of some cells that would normally die. Engulfment genes probably act in engulfing cells to promote death, as the expression in engulfing cells of ced-1, which encodes a receptor that recognizes cell corpses, rescues the cell-killing defects of ced-1 mutants. We propose that engulfing cells act to ensure that cells triggered to undergo programmed cell death by the CED-3 caspase die rather than recover after the initial stages of death.     

Essential role of the mitochondrial apoptosis-inducing factor in programmed cell death

Programmed cell death is a fundamental requirement for embryogenesis, organ metamorphosis and tissue homeostasis. In mammals, release of mitochondrial cytochrome c leads to the cytosolic assembly of the apoptosome-a caspase activation complex involving Apaf1 and caspase-9 that induces hallmarks of apoptosis. There are, however, mitochondrially regulated cell death pathways that are independent of Apaf1/caspase-9. We have previously cloned a molecule associated with programmed cell death called apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF). Like cytochrome c, AIF is localized to mitochondria and released in response to death stimuli. Here we show that genetic inactivation of AIF renders embryonic stem cells resistant to cell death after serum deprivation. Moreover, AIF is essential for programmed cell death during cavitation of embryoid bodies-the very first wave of cell death indispensable for mouse morphogenesis. AIF-dependent cell death displays structural features of apoptosis, and can be genetically uncoupled from Apaf1 and caspase-9 expression. Our data provide genetic evidence for a caspase-independent pathway of programmed cell death that controls early morphogenesis.     

Necroptosis——一种新型程序性死亡机制的研究进展

坏死在众多生理和病理进程中都扮演着重要的作用.最近,一种新型的被称为"necroptosis"的细胞坏死程序受到了人们的普遍关注.从形态学上来讲,necroptosis表现出和坏死相同的特征;然而,它却有自己独特的信号通路,这种通路需要受体相互作用蛋白激酶RIP1和RIP3的参与,形成诱导死亡信号复合体,从而促进细胞程序性坏死,但可以被necrostatins特异性地抑制.Necroptosis有助于免疫系统的调节,癌症的治疗以及多种压力下细胞的应答.本篇综述中我们将总结这种特殊的程序性死亡的信号通路、生物学效应和病理学意义.     

棉铃虫单粒包埋型核型多角体病毒诱发草地贪夜蛾细胞株Sf的程序性死亡

棉铃虫单粒包埋型核型多角体病毒（ＨａＳＮＰＶ）能够诱发草地贪夜蛾Ｓｆ细胞株发生早期死亡现象．依据死亡过程的细胞形态变化，ＤＮＡ降解的梯状电泳特征以及对不同抑制剂敏感性的差异，可以初步断定该死亡现象为程序性死亡．早期死亡伴随着病毒ＤＮＡ复制与子代病毒生成的中止．同时发现野生型ＡＣＭＮＰＶ的共感染能够有效地抑制早期死亡的发生，并对抑制作用的可能性机制进行了探讨．     

WNT7b mediates macrophage-induced programmed cell death in patterning of the vasculature

Macrophages have a critical role in inflammatory and immune responses through their ability to recognize and engulf apoptotic cells. Here we show that macrophages initiate a cell-death programme in target cells by activating the canonical WNT pathway. We show in mice that macrophage WNT7b is a short-range paracrine signal required for WNT-pathway responses and programmed cell death in the vascular endothelial cells of the temporary hyaloid vessels of the developing eye. These findings indicate that macrophages can use WNT ligands to influence cell-fate decisions--including cell death--in adjacent cells, and raise the possibility that they do so in many different cellular contexts.     

Caenorhabditis elegans gene ced-9 protects cells from programmed cell death.

The gene ced-9 of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans acts to protect cells from programmed cell death. A mutation that abnormally activates ced-9 prevents the cell deaths that occur during normal C. elegans development. Conversely, mutations that inactivate ced-9 cause cells that normally live to undergo programmed cell death; these mutations result in embryonic lethality, indicating that ced-9 function is essential for development. The ced-9 gene functions by negatively regulating the activities of other genes that are required for the process of programmed cell death.     

Bcl-2 is an inner mitochondrial membrane protein that blocks programmed cell death

The t(14; 18) chromosomal translocation of human follicular B-cell lymphoma juxtaposes the bcl-2 gene with the immunoglobulin heavy chain locus. The bcl-2 immunoglobulin fusion gene is markedly deregulated resulting in inappropriately elevated levels of bcl-2 RNA and protein. Transgenic mice bearing a bcl-2 immunoglobulin minigene demonstrate a polyclonal expansion of resting yet responsive IgM-IgD B cells which display prolonged cell survival but no increase in cell cycling. Moreover, deregulated bcl-2 extends the survival of certain haematopoietic cell lines following growth-factor deprivation. By using immunolocalization studies we now demonstrate that Bcl-2 is an integral inner mitochondrial membrane protein of relative molecular mass 25,000 (25k). Overexpression of Bcl-2 blocks the apoptotic death of a pro-B-lymphocyte cell line. Thus, Bcl-2 is unique among proto-oncogenes, being localized to mitochondria and interfering with programmed cell death independent of promoting cell division.     

Structure of the CED-4-CED-9 complex provides insights into programmed cell death in Caenorhabditis elegans

Interplay among four genes--egl-1, ced-9, ced-4 and ced-3--controls the onset of programmed cell death in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Activation of the cell-killing protease CED-3 requires CED-4. However, CED-4 is constitutively inhibited by CED-9 until its release by EGL-1. Here we report the crystal structure of the CED-4-CED-9 complex at 2.6 A resolution, and a complete reconstitution of the CED-3 activation pathway using homogeneous proteins of CED-4, CED-9 and EGL-1. One molecule of CED-9 binds to an asymmetric dimer of CED-4, but specifically recognizes only one of the two CED-4 molecules. This specific interaction prevents CED-4 from activating CED-3. EGL-1 binding induces pronounced conformational changes in CED-9 that result in the dissociation of the CED-4 dimer from CED-9. The released CED-4 dimer further dimerizes to form a tetramer, which facilitates the autoactivation of CED-3. Together, our studies provide important insights into the regulation of cell death activation in C. elegans.     

Temporal and spatial changes in Ca2+ distribution during the programmed cell death of tracheary elements

The changes in Ca²⁺ distribution in the tracheary elements (TEs) of the pepper leaves were studied using the cytochemical method of potassium antimonate. At the early stage of TEs formation, the vacuole and the nucleus held large volume, and antimonate Ca²⁺ deposits were observed mainly in the intercellular space and the cell wall. As the thickening of secondary wall occurred, the vacuole, nucleus and other organelles began to rupture, concomitant with the increase of calcium deposits in the cytosol, showing the influx of Ca²⁺ into the cell. With the further rupture of cytoplasm and other organelles, the number of calcium deposits at the non-thickening cell wall increased, but declined at the thickening bands of the secondary wall. When the cytoplasmic contents disappeared completely, the level of Ca²⁺ decreased at the non-thickening wall, but by contrast, increased at the thickening bands of the secondary wall. These observations indicated that the dynamic changes in Ca²⁺ distribution spatially and temporarily might have a close correlation with its distinct roles played during the formation of the secondary walls.     

植物自交不亲和机制的研究进展

自交不亲和性的研究是植物生殖生物学和分子生物学研究的热点之一,本文综述了植物自交不亲和性机制的研究进展,主要介绍了在植物界中广泛存在的自交不亲和的两种类型：孢子体型自交不亲和及配子体型自交不亲和,并综述了这两种类型的遗传控制机理以及近年来在分子水平上的研究进展.     

程序性细胞死亡配体1胞外区原核重组表达、纯化及其多克隆抗体制备

为制备程序性细胞死亡配体1胞外区多肽及其鼠源性多克隆抗体,根据UniProtKB数据库中公布的其胞外区基因序列(标识符:Q9NZQ7-1)和原核表达载体pET-28a(+)Nde I上游和Xho I位点下游的序列,设计合成带有同源臂的特异性引物.以合成的PD-L1胞外区基因为模板,PCR扩增程序性细胞死亡配体1胞外区基因并将其克隆至pET-28a(+)中,构建重组质粒pET-28a(+)-PD-L1-E,转化至大肠杆菌DH5α中,扩增并提取其质粒,然后将质粒转化至大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)中进行诱导表达.亲和层析镍柱纯化重组蛋白后,经十二烷基硫酸钠-聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳和基质辅助激光解吸电离飞行时间质谱鉴定,确认表达蛋白正确.浓缩换液后用重组蛋白免疫Balb/c品系小鼠制备多克隆抗体,经ELISA检测,成功获得抗程序性细胞死亡配体1胞外区血清.该研究对于研发某些肿瘤伴随诊断检测试剂有重要意义.     

The prokaryote messenger c-di-GMP triggers stalk cell differentiation in Dictyostelium

Cyclic di-(3′:5′)-guanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP) is a major prokaryote signalling intermediate that is synthesized by diguanylate cyclases and triggers sessility and biofilm formation. We detected the first eukaryote diguanylate cyclases in all major groups of Dictyostelia. On food depletion, Dictyostelium discoideum amoebas collect into aggregates, which first transform into migrating slugs and then into sessile fruiting structures. These structures consist of a spherical spore mass that is supported by a column of stalk cells and a basal disk. A polyketide, DIF-1, which induces stalk-like cells in vitro, was isolated earlier. However, its role in vivo proved recently to be restricted to basal disk formation. Here we show that the Dictyostelium diguanylate cyclase, DgcA, produces c-di-GMP as the morphogen responsible for stalk cell differentiation. Dictyostelium discoideum DgcA synthesized c-di-GMP in a GTP-dependent manner and was expressed at the slug tip, which is the site of stalk cell differentiation. Disruption of the DgcA gene blocked the transition from slug migration to fructification and the expression of stalk genes. Fructification and stalk formation were restored by exposing DgcA-null slugs to wild-type secretion products or to c-di-GMP. Moreover, c-di-GMP, but not cyclic di-(3′:5′)-adenosine monophosphate, induced stalk gene expression in dilute cell monolayers. Apart from identifying the long-elusive stalk-inducing morphogen, our work also identifies a role for c-di-GMP in eukaryotes.     

植物自交不亲和性的研究进展与展望

植物自交不亲和性主要是由S位点多个等位基因决定的,目前已鉴定出大量S基因,且不亲和反应涉及到花粉与柱头相互识别的一系列复杂过程.本文主要综述了植物自交不亲和性的机制、与不亲和性有关的部分蛋白、对自交不亲和的鉴定以及利用等方面的研究进展,并对植物自交不亲和性的研究与发展前景进行了展望.