Role of Bax and Bak in mitochondrial morphogenesis

Bcl-2 family proteins are potent regulators of programmed cell death. Although their intracellular localization to mitochondria and the endoplasmic reticulum has focused research on these organelles, how they function remains unknown. Two members of the Bcl-2 family, Bax and Bak, change intracellular location early in the promotion of apoptosis to concentrate in focal clusters at sites of mitochondrial division. Here we report that in healthy cells Bax or Bak is required for normal fusion of mitochondria into elongated tubules. Bax seems to induce mitochondrial fusion by activating assembly of the large GTPase Mfn2 and changing its submitochondrial distribution and membrane mobility-properties that correlate with different GTP-bound states of Mfn2. Our results show that Bax and Bak regulate mitochondrial dynamics in healthy cells and indicate that Bcl-2 family members may also regulate apoptosis through organelle morphogenesis machineries.     

Bcl-2蛋白质家族调控细胞凋亡机制的研究进展

细胞凋亡是一种受基因调控的响应凋亡刺激的细胞程序性死亡方式.通过线粒体途径引发的凋亡主要由Bcl-2(B-cell lymphoma 2)蛋白质家族成员之间复杂的相互作用进行调控,然而科学界对其具体的相互作用模式一直存在争议.首先综述了近年来Bcl-2蛋白质家族成员之间相互作用的生物学机制,然后总结了细胞凋亡具有双稳性和该家族成员相互作用模式的数学模型,最后通过对目前流行的3种作用模式(即直接激活模式、间接激活模式、统一模式)进行数值模拟和分岔分析,认为统一模式是更合理的作用模式.以期能更好地理解病理细胞中可能存在的作用机制,从而为因凋亡异常引起的癌症、阿尔兹海默症等疾病的治疗和控制提供思路.     

p63 and p73 are required for p53-dependent apoptosis in response to DNA damage

The tumour-suppressor gene p53 is frequently mutated in human cancers and is important in the cellular response to DNA damage. Although the p53 family members p63 and p73 are structurally related to p53, they have not been directly linked to tumour suppression, although they have been implicated in apoptosis. Given the similarity between this family of genes and the ability of p63 and p73 to transactivate p53 target genes, we explore here their role in DNA damage-induced apoptosis. Mouse embryo fibroblasts deficient for one or a combination of p53 family members were sensitized to undergo apoptosis through the expression of the adenovirus E1A oncogene. While using the E1A system facilitated our ability to perform biochemical analyses, we also examined the functions of p63 and p73 using an in vivo system in which apoptosis has been shown to be dependent on p53. Using both systems, we show here that the combined loss of p63 and p73 results in the failure of cells containing functional p53 to undergo apoptosis in response to DNA damage.     

CCN蛋白家族研究进展

CCN蛋白家族包含多个成员,它们结构相似,富含半胱氮酸。作为分泌蛋白,CCN蛋白能够促进细胞生长、细胞粘附、细胞迁移;诱导细胞凋亡;并调控肿瘤生长、血管发生和软骨内骨化。由于CCN蛋白在癌症和其它疾病预测或／和诊断中的重要性,成为近几年研究的热点。本文将简述近几年在CCN蛋白领域的研究进展。     

Bcl-2家族蛋白和乙肝病毒x蛋白在肝癌组织中的表达和意义

应用免疫组织化学方法检测了34例肝癌组织及其相对应的癌旁组织,探讨了Bcl-2家族中七种基因(包括促凋亡基因Bak、Bad、Bid、Bax和Bcl-xs及抑凋亡基因Bcl-2、Bcl-w)和乙肝病毒三种抗原(包括HBsAg、HBcAg和HBxAg)在肝癌组织中的表达及意义,结果显示:在肝癌组织中HBsAg、HBcAg和HBxA的阳性率分别为58.8％、26.5％和76.5％、Bcl-2七种蛋白的阳性率分别为58.8％(Bak)、55.9％(Bad)、44.1％(Bid)、41.2％(Bax)、29.4％(Bcl-xs)、35.3％(Bcl-w)和41.2％(Bcl-2)。这七种Bcl-2蛋白的表达均位于肝癌细胞的胞浆,多呈弥漫性分布,少数阳性颗粒呈散在性分布,研究发现,Bcl-2家族中抑凋亡基因Bcl-w和Bcl-2在癌组织中表达的阳性率明显高于癌旁组织(P相似文献   

Hax1-mediated processing of HtrA2 by Parl allows survival of lymphocytes and neurons

Cytokines affect a variety of cellular functions, including regulation of cell numbers by suppression of programmed cell death. Suppression of apoptosis requires receptor signalling through the activation of Janus kinases and the subsequent regulation of members of the B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family. Here we demonstrate that a Bcl-2-family-related protein, Hax1, is required to suppress apoptosis in lymphocytes and neurons. Suppression requires the interaction of Hax1 with the mitochondrial proteases Parl (presenilin-associated, rhomboid-like) and HtrA2 (high-temperature-regulated A2, also known as Omi). These interactions allow Hax1 to present HtrA2 to Parl, and thereby facilitates the processing of HtrA2 to the active protease localized in the mitochondrial intermembrane space. In mouse lymphocytes, the presence of processed HtrA2 prevents the accumulation of mitochondrial-outer-membrane-associated activated Bax, an event that initiates apoptosis. Together, the results identify a previously unknown sequence of interactions involving a Bcl-2-family-related protein and mitochondrial proteases in the ability to resist the induction of apoptosis when cytokines are limiting.     

Caspase-12 mediates endoplasmic-reticulum-specific apoptosis and cytotoxicity by amyloid-beta

Apoptosis, or cellular suicide, is important for normal development and tissue homeostasis, but too much or too little apoptosis can also cause disease. The family of cysteine proteases, the so- called caspases, are critical mediators of programmed cell death, and thus far 14 family members have been identified. Some of these, such as caspase-8, mediate signal transduction downstream of death receptors located on the plasma membrane. Others, such as caspase-9, mediate apoptotic signals after mitochondrial damage. Stress in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) can also result in apoptosis. Here we show that caspase-12 is localized to the ER and activated by ER stress, including disruption of ER calcium homeostasis and accumulation of excess proteins in ER, but not by membrane- or mitochondrial-targeted apoptotic signals. Mice that are deficient in caspase-12 are resistant to ER stress-induced apoptosis, but their cells undergo apoptosis in response to other death stimuli. Furthermore, we show that caspase-12-deficient cortical neurons are defective in apoptosis induced by amyloid-beta protein but not by staurosporine or trophic factor deprivation. Thus, caspase-12 mediates an ER-specific apoptosis pathway and may contribute to amyloid-beta neurotoxicity.     

线粒体外膜通道蛋白VDAC与靶向肿瘤细胞凋亡

VDAC(Voltage-dependent anion channel)是位于线粒体外膜上的一种主要通道蛋白,参与线粒体内外物质和能量的运输,在线粒体与细胞其它部位的通讯中起重要调节作用.近年来研究发现,VDAC也是线粒体与其它蛋白质相互作用的功能结合位点,可与多种凋亡调节蛋白(如HK-Ⅰ/Ⅱ、Bcl-2家族蛋白、tubulin、MAP2/4等)以及非蛋白调节因子相互作用,参与调控细胞凋亡.因此,VDAC成为线粒体凋亡通路中一种关键的靶蛋白.本文对近年来VDAC在肿瘤细胞凋亡中的作用机制进行简要综述.     

先秦时期中原地区的宁氏与宁城--隋唐岭南宁氏家族祖根探论

宁氏在东周时期是卫国的重要公族,在卫国的政治、军事、外交领域具有重要的影响.宁氏最早的封邑在今修武县,因在卫国失势而开始外迁.隋唐时期宁氏族人在广西分布广泛.广西宁氏,实际上也来自中原地区.     

TNF-RII and c-IAP1 mediate ubiquitination and degradation of TRAF2

Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is a proinflammatory mediator that exerts its biological functions by binding two TNF receptors (TNF-RI and TNF-RII), which initiate biological responses by interacting with adaptor and signalling proteins. Among the signalling components that associate with TNF receptors are members of the TNF-R-associated factor (TRAF) family. TRAF2 is required for TNF-alpha-mediated activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), contributes to activation of NF-kappaB, and mediates anti-apoptotic signals,. TNF-RI and TNF-RII signalling complexes also contain the anti-apoptotic ('inhibitor of apoptosis') molecules c-IAP1 and c-IAP2 (refs 5, 6), which also have RING domain-dependent ubiquitin protein ligase (E3) activity. The function of IAPs in TNF-R signalling is unknown. Here we show that binding of TNF-alpha to TNF-RII induces ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of TRAF2. Although c-IAP1 bound TRAF2 and TRAF1 in vitro, it ubiquitinated only TRAF2. Expression of wild-type c-IAP1, but not an E3-defective mutant, resulted in TRAF2 ubiquitination and degradation. Moreover, E3-defective c-IAP1 prevented TNF-alpha-induced TRAF2 degradation and inhibited apoptosis. These findings identify a physiologic role for c-IAP1 and define a mechanism by which TNF-RII-regulated ubiquitin protein ligase activity can potentiate TNF-induced apoptosis.     

D8p的连通3度Cayley有向图的正规性

称有限群G的Cayley（有向）图X是正规的,如果G的右正则表示R（G）正规于图X的全自同构群Aut（X）.该文主要研究8p阶二面体群G∶=D8p=〈a,b a4p=b2=1,b-1ab=a-1〉的连通3度Cayley有向图X∶=Cay（G,S）的正规性.并证明：（1）若p=2时,Cayley（有向）图X不正规当且仅当S~{b,a,a5}和S~{b,ba,bak}（k=3,4,5,6）.（2）若p为奇素数,Cayley（有向）图X不正规当且仅当S~{b,a,a2p＋1}和S~{b,ba,bak}（k=2p,2p＋1）.     

靖藩后裔诗书继世 百年望族文星灿烂——清代临桂朱氏书香家族

介绍清代广西著名的书香望族——临桂朱氏。朱氏为明代藩王——靖江王后裔，在清代以诗书传家，科第联翩，簪缨不绝，且在诗文创作及治学著述方面成就突出，涌现出众多的诗人词客、文人学者，其中有在广西文学史上颇具影响之卓然名家——朱依真、朱琦。     

脑创伤后NF-kB的作用及其细胞凋亡的基因调控

目的：探讨核因子kB（NF-kB）在脑创伤后的作用及细胞凋亡的调控基因。方法：对近年来有关NF—kB在脑创伤后的作用及细胞凋亡的调控基因的文献进行总结。结果．NF-kB在脑创伤中的作用为双重性，脑创伤后细胞凋亡的调控基因为bcl-2基因家族和Caspase基因家族。结论：NF-kB在脑创伤中是诱导细胞死亡还是促进细胞死亡，还具有分歧，bcl-2基因族和Caspase基因家族在脑创伤中的细胞凋亡起着重要调节作用。     

论清代广西临桂陈氏家族的文化特点与文学创作——“清代广西文学家族研究”之七

清代广西临桂出现了一个以陈宏谋、陈兰森、陈元焘、陈继昌等为代表的文学家族,其成员在科举和政治上所取得的成就在清代广西无出其右,在文学创作上也有一定的成就,但是其文学创作上的成就远不如在科举和政治上取得的成就。之所以如此,与这一家族的文化特点有密切关系。因此,这在清代广西的文学家族中具有相当的典型性。     

杨树GABA支路3个基因家族的鉴定和表达分析

【目的】 γ-氨基丁酸(GABA)与植物的生长发育有着密切的联系。结合前期对GABA抑制杨树不定根发育的研究,对GABA支路基因家族的特征和表达模式进行研究,为进一步解释其在不定根发育中的作用奠定基础。【方法】从银白杨(Populus alba)×P. glandulosa ‘84K’(‘84K’杨)基因组中鉴定出GABA支路的PopGAD、PopGABA-T和PopSSADH 3个基因家族成员,并利用生物信息学方法分析其特征,以及与其他物种相关基因家族的亲缘关系;利用qRT-PCR研究外源GABA及其降解抑制剂vigabatrin(VGB)对各基因表达的影响。【结果】①PopGAD、PopGABA-T和PopSSADH 3个基因家族成员数量依次为6、2和2个,启动子序列中主要包含与光、激素和环境等响应相关元件。②系统进化分析表明,PopGAD家族中PopGAD6与家族其他成员亲缘关系较远;PopGABA-T和PopSSADH家族中的两个基因成员亲缘关系较近。③基因表达分析表明,不定根生长过程中GABA支路基因总体上在根中表达量高于茎和叶。外源GABA或VGB处理对PopGAD和PopGABA-T两个基因家族成员在根、茎和叶中的表达量影响程度不同,但对 PopSSADH基因家族的表达则无明显影响。【结论】 GABA支路3个基因家族在‘84K’杨树响应光、激素和环境胁迫等方面具有重要作用。外源GABA和VGB处理对PopGAD和PopGABA-T家族成员的影响较大,并且均在根中表达量最高,表明这两个基因家族在不定根生长过程中发挥着重要调控功能。这为深入解析GABA在树木不定根发生中的作用机制奠定了基础。     

Bcl-2 family proteins regulate the release of apoptogenic cytochrome c by the mitochondrial channel VDAC.

During transduction of an apoptotic (death) signal into the cell, there is an alteration in the permeability of the membranes of the cell's mitochondria, which causes the translocation of the apoptogenic protein cytochrome c into the cytoplasm, which in turn activates death-driving proteolytic proteins known as caspases. The Bcl-2 family of proteins, whose members may be anti-apoptotic or pro-apoptotic, regulates cell death by controlling this mitochondrial membrane permeability during apoptosis, but how that is achieved is unclear. Here we create liposomes that carry the mitochondrial porin channel (also called the voltage-dependent anion channel, or VDAC) to show that the recombinant pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and Bak accelerate the opening of VDAC, whereas the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-x(L) closes VDAC by binding to it directly. Bax and Bak allow cytochrome c to pass through VDAC out of liposomes, but passage is prevented by Bcl-x(L). In agreement with this, VDAC1-deficient mitochondria from a mutant yeast did not exhibit a Bax/Bak-induced loss in membrane potential and cytochrome c release, both of which were inhibited by Bcl-x(L). Our results indicate that the Bcl-2 family of proteins bind to the VDAC in order to regulate the mitochondrial membrane potential and the release of cytochrome c during apoptosis.     

新发现和正在研究中的细胞凋亡蛋白抑制剂(综述)

自从杆状病毒中分离出凋亡蛋白抑制剂 (inhibitorofapoptosisproteins ,IAPs)后 ,发现的凋亡蛋白抑制剂的种类和数量逐渐增多。迄今为止 ,在人体新发现的IAPs有HIAP - 1(humanIAP -1)、HIAP - 2 (humanIAP - 2 )、XIAP(Xchromosome -likedIAP)、ML -IAP(melanocytesIAP)、Survivin和Livin等。对IAPs的发现、定位、结构、分布和作用等方面的研究进展进行介绍     

A flagellin-induced complex of the receptor FLS2 and BAK1 initiates plant defence

Plants sense potential microbial invaders by using pattern-recognition receptors to recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). In Arabidopsis thaliana, the leucine-rich repeat receptor kinases flagellin-sensitive 2 (FLS2) (ref. 2) and elongation factor Tu receptor (EFR) (ref. 3) act as pattern-recognition receptors for the bacterial PAMPs flagellin and elongation factor Tu (EF-Tu) (ref. 5) and contribute to resistance against bacterial pathogens. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms that link receptor activation to intracellular signal transduction. Here we show that BAK1 (BRI1-associated receptor kinase 1), a leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinase that has been reported to regulate the brassinosteroid receptor BRI1 (refs 6,7), is involved in signalling by FLS2 and EFR. Plants carrying bak1 mutations show normal flagellin binding but abnormal early and late flagellin-triggered responses, indicating that BAK1 acts as a positive regulator in signalling. The bak1-mutant plants also show a reduction in early, but not late, EF-Tu-triggered responses. The decrease in responses to PAMPs is not due to reduced sensitivity to brassinosteroids. We provide evidence that FLS2 and BAK1 form a complex in vivo, in a specific ligand-dependent manner, within the first minutes of stimulation with flagellin. Thus, BAK1 is not only associated with developmental regulation through the plant hormone receptor BRI1 (refs 6,7), but also has a functional role in PRR-dependent signalling, which initiates innate immunity.     

农村留守儿童家庭教育的现状、问题与对策——以重庆市双竹镇三所小学为例

在农民工流动不可逆转的大背景下,大量滞留在农村的留守儿童家庭教育问题突出.主要表现为:亲子教育缺位、教育期望出现偏差、临时监护人监护责任浅层化、教育能力低下、教育方法简单粗暴、教育内容片面等.因此,家庭、学校、政府、社会均应采取相应对策,合力解决农村留守儿童家庭教育中存在的问题.     

干扰素诱导的IFI-200蛋白家族研究进展

IFI-200蛋白家族是一组高度保守的干扰素诱导蛋白,家族中的每个成员其C-末端含有一个或几个特征性200氨基酸结构域.到目前为止,已发现有10个IFI-200蛋白家族成员,其中6个成员来源于小鼠,包括p202a、p202b、p203、p204、p205和p206,另外4个成员来源于人体,分别是IFI16、MNDA、AI M2和IFIX.IFI-200蛋白家族成员已知参与细胞生长、细胞衰老、细胞分化及细胞死亡的调控.但是,最近愈来愈多的证据显示IFI-200家族成员在人类肿瘤及自身免疫疾病中起作用.