细菌铁(Ⅲ)结合蛋白:结构与机理(英文)

铁是生命体必需的微量元素,在大多数环境中铁是有限的资源.高效摄取铁是入侵属主的微生物生存和毒力的关键.许多致病细菌进化出一个特异的铁吸收系统,利用特定的外膜受体和周质铁离子结合蛋白(FBP或FbpA)从属主偷取铁离子.FBP在高效摄取铁的过程中,无论从自由铁源摄取铁或从属主体内转铁蛋白和乳铁蛋白摄取结合的铁,都起着至关重要的作用.FBP的铁结合机制在不同物种间高度保守.结构数据显示,FBP的三维折叠类似于哺乳动物转铁蛋白(TF)的一叶,铁(Ⅲ)在FBP的两个结构域之间的间隙结合但其铁结合位点较其在转铁蛋白中更暴露于溶剂.该小综述总结了FBP铁转运系统,主要讨论了铁结合蛋白的结构和配位化学特征以及铁转运及调控机理.     

Evidence for the bilobal nature of diferric rabbit plasma transferrin.

Plasma transferrin is involved in iron transport within the circulatory system of vertebrates, and provides an iron source for haemoglobin synthesis and other metabolic requirements. However, despite extensive studies by spectroscopic, biochemical and physiological techniques, the nature of iron binding and the mechanisms of uptake and release of iron are not fully understood. Plasma transferrins are monomeric glycoproteins with a molecular weight of approximately 80,000 (ref. 2); they have two similar and very strong binding sites for Fe(III), together with two associated anion binding sites. Fragmentation studies on various transferrins have shown that the polypeptide chain is composed of two domains formed from the N-terminal and C-terminal halves of the polypeptide chain. Each domain contains one metal binding site. The marked sequence similarities which exist between the two halves may reflect a doubling of an ancestral structural gene during the phylogenetic development of the protein. Preliminary crystallographic investigations of diferric rabbit plasma transferrin have been reported from this laboratory. We now report initial studies of the X-ray structure determination of dife-ric rabbit plasma transferrin which have led to a 6-A resolution electron density map.     

人转铁蛋白基因的克隆及序列分析

目的:克隆人转铁蛋白基因并对其编码序列进行分析.方法:以人胎肝cDNA为模板,利用PCR方法克隆人转铁蛋白基因;通过与基因组序列对比分析基因组结构;通过TargetP 1.1和SignalP 3.0预测信号肽;通过Clustal X(1.81)进行蛋白序列联配.结果:PCR扩增了一个长2 160 bp的基因片断,序列分析表明其覆盖了完整编码框,编码由698个氨基酸组成的人转铁蛋白.进一步分析发现人转铁蛋白基因有19个外显子和18个内含子,编码人转铁蛋白N端具有19个氨基酸组成的信号肽序列.人转铁蛋白与猩猩、猴子、兔子和老鼠的转铁蛋白氨基酸相似率分别为94%、91%、78%、73%.生物信息分析表明,人转铁蛋白含有高度保守的参与蛋白二硫键形成的半胱氨酸以及铁离子结合位点,有两个序列较同源的结构域.结论:成功克隆人转铁蛋白基因,人转铁蛋白与其它物种转铁蛋白同源.     

Crystal structure of the hereditary haemochromatosis protein HFE complexed with transferrin receptor

HFE is related to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I proteins and is mutated in the iron-overload disease hereditary haemochromatosis. HFE binds to the transferrin receptor (TfR), a receptor by which cells acquire iron-loaded transferrin. The 2.8 A crystal structure of a complex between the extracellular portions of HFE and TfR shows two HFE molecules which grasp each side of a twofold symmetric TfR dimer. On a cell membrane containing both proteins, HFE would 'lie down' parallel to the membrane, such that the HFE helices that delineate the counterpart of the MHC peptide-binding groove make extensive contacts with helices in the TfR dimerization domain. The structures of TfR alone and complexed with HFE differ in their domain arrangement and dimer interfaces, providing a mechanism for communicating binding events between TfR chains. The HFE-TfR complex suggests a binding site for transferrin on TfR and sheds light upon the function of HFE in regulating iron homeostasis.     

淡水养殖鱼类血清转铁蛋白耐低氧特性的研究

用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳、含铁蛋白质专一染色法及利凡诺 ( Rivanol)溶液沉淀法确定了鲤鱼、鲫鱼等 1 2种淡水养殖鱼的血清转铁蛋白在聚丙烯酰胺凝胶中的位置 ,鉴定出 8类鲤鱼、6类鲫鱼和 3类白鲢的血清转铁蛋白的特异类型 ,并分析了转铁蛋白多态体的表现型和基因型 .测定了鲤鱼、鲫鱼、白鲢和鳙鱼的血清铁浓度、铁结合能力及铁饱和度 .通过分析淡水养殖鱼类耗氧量及窒息点临界含氧量与血清转铁蛋白的关系 ,证实了鱼类转铁蛋白具有耐低氧的特性 .     

Structure of porphobilinogen deaminase reveals a flexible multidomain polymerase with a single catalytic site.

The three-domain structure of porphobilinogen deaminase, a key enzyme in the biosynthetic pathway of tetrapyrroles, has been defined by X-ray analysis at 1.9 A resolution. Two of the domains structurally resemble the transferrins and periplasmic binding proteins. The dipyrromethane cofactor is covalently linked to domain 3 but is bound by extensive salt-bridges and hydrogen-bonds within the cleft between domains 1 and 2, at a position corresponding to the binding sites for small-molecule ligands in the analogous proteins. The X-ray structure and results from site-directed mutagenesis provide evidence for a single catalytic site. Interdomain flexibility may aid elongation of the polypyrrole product in the active-site cleft of the enzyme.     

Neurotransmitter/sodium symporter orthologue LeuT has a single high-affinity substrate site

Neurotransmitter/sodium symporters (NSSs) couple the uptake of neurotransmitter with one or more sodium ions, removing neurotransmitter from the synaptic cleft. NSSs are essential to the function of chemical synapses, are associated with multiple neurological diseases and disorders, and are the targets of therapeutic and illicit drugs. LeuT, a prokaryotic orthologue of the NSS family, is a model transporter for understanding the relationships between molecular mechanism and atomic structure in a broad range of sodium-dependent and sodium-independent secondary transporters. At present there is a controversy over whether there are one or two high-affinity substrate binding sites in LeuT. The first-reported crystal structure of LeuT, together with subsequent functional and structural studies, provided direct evidence for a single, high-affinity, centrally located substrate-binding site, defined as the S1 site. Recent binding, flux and molecular simulation studies, however, have been interpreted in terms of a model where there are two high-affinity binding sites: the central, S1, site and a second, the S2 site, located within the extracellular vestibule. Furthermore, it was proposed that the S1 and S2 sites are allosterically coupled such that occupancy of the S2 site is required for the cytoplasmic release of substrate from the S1 site. Here we address this controversy by performing direct measurement of substrate binding to wild-type LeuT and to S2 site mutants using isothermal titration calorimetry, equilibrium dialysis and scintillation proximity assays. In addition, we perform uptake experiments to determine whether the proposed allosteric coupling between the putative S2 site and the S1 site manifests itself in the kinetics of substrate flux. We conclude that LeuT harbours a single, centrally located, high-affinity substrate-binding site and that transport is well described by a simple, single-substrate kinetic mechanism.     

Structure of the Fc fragment of human IgE bound to its high-affinity receptor Fc epsilonRI alpha

The initiation of immunoglobulin-E (IgE)-mediated allergic responses requires the binding of IgE antibody to its high-affinity receptor, Fc epsilonRI. Crosslinking of Fc epsilonRI initiates an intracellular signal transduction cascade that triggers the release of mediators of the allergic response. The interaction of the crystallizable fragment (Fc) of IgE (IgE-Fc) with Fc epsilonRI is a key recognition event of this process and involves the extracellular domains of the Fc epsilonRI alpha-chain. To understand the structural basis for this interaction, we have solved the crystal structure of the human IgE-Fc-Fc epsilonRI alpha complex to 3.5-A resolution. The crystal structure reveals that one receptor binds one dimeric IgE-Fc molecule asymmetrically through interactions at two sites, each involving one C epsilon3 domain of the IgE-Fc. The interaction of one receptor with the IgE-Fc blocks the binding of a second receptor, and features of this interaction are conserved in other members of the Fc receptor family. The structure suggests new approaches to inhibiting the binding of IgE to Fc epsilonRI for the treatment of allergy and asthma.     

Structural basis for iron piracy by pathogenic Neisseria

Neisseria are obligate human pathogens causing bacterial meningitis, septicaemia and gonorrhoea. Neisseria require iron for survival and can extract it directly from human transferrin for transport across the outer membrane. The transport system consists of TbpA, an integral outer membrane protein, and TbpB, a co-receptor attached to the cell surface; both proteins are potentially important vaccine and therapeutic targets. Two key questions driving Neisseria research are how human transferrin is specifically targeted, and how the bacteria liberate iron from transferrin at neutral pH. To address these questions, we solved crystal structures of the TbpA-transferrin complex and of the corresponding co-receptor TbpB. We characterized the TbpB-transferrin complex by small-angle X-ray scattering and the TbpA-TbpB-transferrin complex by electron microscopy. Our studies provide a rational basis for the specificity of TbpA for human transferrin, show how TbpA promotes iron release from transferrin, and elucidate how TbpB facilitates this process.     

血清转铁蛋白受体的研究进展及临床意义

血清转铁蛋白受体(sT fR)是完整的细胞受体的一个可溶性节段,通过酶免疫法或免疫浊度法可从血清中检出。sT fR反映机体贮存铁的数量以及所需铁的数量,是判断机体是否缺铁的一项敏感指标。sT fR可以定量评价骨髓幼红细胞的生成,尤其适用于评价各类骨髓红系显著增生的溶血性贫血。     

Zn(Ⅱ)、Mn(Ⅱ)竞争结合人血清蛋白研究

用平衡透析法在生理pH值（7．43）条件下，研究了等摩尔比的Zn（Ⅱ）与Mn（Ⅱ）离子竞争结合人血清白蛋白（HSA）。Scatchard图分析表明，Zn（Ⅱ）与Mn（Ⅱ）在HSA中没有共同的强结合位点，在竞争和非竞争结合时，Zn（Ⅱ）的强结合位点数目均为1，Mn（Ⅱ）的强结合位点数目均为2。Hill图分析说明Zn（Ⅱ）与Mn（Ⅱ）之间具有一定的正协同效应。     

The mast cell binding site on human immunoglobulin E

Antibodies of the immunoglobulin E isotype sensitize mast cells and basophils for antigen-induced mediator release by binding through the Fc portion to a high-affinity receptor (Fc epsilon R1, Ka = 10(9)M-1) on the cell surface causing the clinical manifestations of type I hypersensitivity. As the amino acid sequence of the human epsilon chain is now known, attempts have been made to map the Fc epsilon R1 binding site on IgE to a fragment smaller than Fc epsilon using proteolytic cleavage products, none of which proved to be active. Cleavage between the C epsilon 2 and C epsilon 3 domains released two inactive fragments, suggesting that the junction between these segments could be important in receptor binding. This region is protected against protease digestion in the rat IgE complex with the receptor of rat basophilic leukaemia cells. Here we report the mapping of the mast cell receptor binding site on human IgE to a sequence of 76 amino acids at the C epsilon 2/C epsilon 3 junction. Recombinant peptides containing this sequence inhibit passive sensitization of skin mast cells in vivo and sensitize mast cells to degranulation by anti-IgE in vitro almost as efficiently as a myeloma IgE. Fragments containing the separate domains are inactive. Additional sequences are required for rapid assembly of fragments into disulphide-linked dimers, suggesting that a single chain can form the active site. In a three-dimensional model of the human Fc epsilon, the two identical segments are far apart. Each folds to generate a cleft between the C epsilon 2 and C epsilon 3 domains on the surface of the Fc epsilon. The docking of IgE on to mast cells could take place within this cleft.     

Different rhinovirus serotypes neutralized by antipeptide antibodies

Recently, Rossman et al. have described the three-dimensional structure of a human rhinovirus. A possible host cell surface receptor binding site was identified with a cleft on each icosahedral face. Two highly conserved amino-acid sequences found in rhino-, polio-, and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) viruses are located near the base of this site and could be important in maintaining its topology. We have prepared site-specific antibodies to two synthetic peptides which include these sequences. The antibodies bind to the predicted capsid proteins of rhinovirus and neutralize approximately 60% of 48 rhinovirus serotypes tested. These results could provide a route to a rhinovirus vaccine effective against most of the numerous serotypes of this virus.     

Structure of a human common cold virus and functional relationship to other picornaviruses

We report the first atomic resolution structure of an animal virus, human rhinovirus 14. It is strikingly similar to known icosahedral plant RNA viruses. Four neutralizing immunogenic regions have been identified. These, and corresponding antigenic sequences of polio and foot-and-mouth disease viruses, reside on external protrusions. A large cleft on each icosahedral face is probably the host cell receptor binding site.     

Equilibrium dialysis study on the interaction between Cu(Ⅱ) and HSA or BSA

The interaction of Cu(Ⅱ) and human serum albumin (HSA) or bovine serum albumin (BSA) at physiological pH is studied by equilibrium dialysis. The successive stability constants are obtained by non-linear least square methods fitting Bjerrum formula. For both the Cu(Ⅱ)-HSA and Cu(Ⅱ)-BSA systems, the order of magnitude of K 1 and K 2 was found to be ≈10 4 mol -1·dm 3. There are about twenty stoichiometry binding sites found in one HSA or BSA molecule. They can be divided into two or three sets. Results of equilibrium dialysis experiments suggest that there exists one strong metal binding site in both Cu(Ⅱ)-HSA and Cu(Ⅱ)-BSA. It is the imidazol group nitrogen atoms of His 3 that are primarily concerned with copper binding site. After reaching dialysis equilibrium, there is the interaction among the different binding sites, the values of K all deviate from the simple statistical effect except for K-1 and K-2 in both Cu(Ⅱ)-HSA and Cu(Ⅱ)-BSA systems, and the positive cooperative effect is found.     

Structural basis for recognition of the tra mRNA precursor by the Sex-lethal protein

The Sex-lethal (Sxl) protein of Drosophila melanogaster regulates alternative splicing of the transformer (tra) messenger RNA precursor by binding to the tra polypyrimidine tract during the sex-determination process. The crystal structure has now been determined at 2.6 A resolution of the complex formed between two tandemly arranged RNA-binding domains of the Sxl protein and a 12-nucleotide, single-stranded RNA derived from the tra polypyrimidine tract. The two RNA-binding domains have their beta-sheet platforms facing each other to form a V-shaped cleft. The RNA is characteristically extended and bound in this cleft, where the UGUUUUUUU sequence is specifically recognized by the protein. This structure offers the first insight, to our knowledge, into how a protein binds specifically to a cognate RNA without any intramolecular base-pairing.     

A component of innate immunity prevents bacterial biofilm development

Antimicrobial factors form one arm of the innate immune system, which protects mucosal surfaces from bacterial infection. These factors can rapidly kill bacteria deposited on mucosal surfaces and prevent acute invasive infections. In many chronic infections, however, bacteria live in biofilms, which are distinct, matrix-encased communities specialized for surface persistence. The transition from a free-living, independent existence to a biofilm lifestyle can be devastating, because biofilms notoriously resist killing by host defence mechanisms and antibiotics. We hypothesized that the innate immune system possesses specific activity to protect against biofilm infections. Here we show that lactoferrin, a ubiquitous and abundant constituent of human external secretions, blocks biofilm development by the opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This occurs at lactoferrin concentrations below those that kill or prevent growth. By chelating iron, lactoferrin stimulates twitching, a specialized form of surface motility, causing the bacteria to wander across the surface instead of forming cell clusters and biofilms. These findings reveal a specific anti-biofilm defence mechanism acting at a critical juncture in biofilm development, the time bacteria stop roaming as individuals and aggregate into durable communities.     

Transferrin receptor on endothelium of brain capillaries

The blood/brain barrier prevents the passive diffusion of proteins and metabolites from cerebral blood vessels into tissue spaces around neuronal and glial cells. To provide nutrients for these cells, transport mechanisms must exist and indeed have been demonstrated for metabolites. We now show that monoclonal antibodies against rat and human transferrin receptors label blood capillaries in the brain but not in other tissues. In the rat this labelling occurs after injection of antibody into the blood, thus the receptors seem to be accessible at the endothelial surface. It is possible that transferrin receptors are expressed on these cells to allow transport of transferrin (and thus iron) into brain tissues.