Rapid gating and anion permeability of an intracellular aquaporin

Aquaporin (AQP) water-channel proteins are freely permeated by water but not by ions or charged solutes. Although mammalian aquaporins were believed to be located in plasma membranes, rat AQP6 is restricted to intracellular vesicles in renal epithelia. Here we show that AQP6 is functionally distinct from other known aquaporins. When expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes, AQP6 exhibits low basal water permeability; however, when treated with the known water channel inhibitor, Hg2+, the water permeability of AQP6 oocytes rapidly rises up to tenfold and is accompanied by ion conductance. AQP6 colocalizes with H+-ATPase in intracellular vesicles of acid-secreting alpha-intercalated cells in renal collecting duct. At pH less than 5.5, anion conductance is rapidly and reversibly activated in AQP6 oocytes. Site-directed mutation of lysine to glutamate at position 72 in the cytoplasmic mouth of the pore changes the cation/anion selectivity, but leaves low pH activation intact. Our results demonstrate unusual biophysical properties of an aquaporin, and indicate that anion-channel function may now be explored in a protein with known structure.     

Expression of aquaporin-1 in SMMC-7221 liver carcinoma cells promotes cell migration

Aquaporins (AQPs) are membrane water channels that play pivotal roles in physiological and pathophysi- ological processes in diverse mammalian organs[1―3]. Recent studies indicated a novel role of AQPs in cell migration. Mice lacking AQP1, the endothelia…     

The tobacco aquaporin NtAQP1 is a membrane CO2 pore with physiological functions

Aquaporins, found in virtually all living organisms, are membrane-intrinsic proteins that form water-permeable complexes. The mammalian aquaporin AQP1 has also shown CO2 permeability when expressed heterologously in Xenopus oocytes, although whether this is a biochemical curiosity or of physiological significance is a matter of debate. Here we report that, in the same expression system, a CO2 permeability comparable to that of the human AQP1 is observed for the tobacco plasma membrane aquaporin NtAQP1. NtAQP1 facilitates CO2 membrane transport in the homologous plant system at the cellular level, and has a significant function in photosynthesis and in stomatal opening. NtAQP1 overexpression heightens membrane permeability for CO2 and water, and increases leaf growth. The results indicate that NtAQP1-related CO2 permeability is of physiological importance under conditions where the CO2 gradient across a membrane is small, as is the case between the atmosphere and the inside of a plant cell.     

Structural basis of water-specific transport through the AQP1 water channel.

Water channels facilitate the rapid transport of water across cell membranes in response to osmotic gradients. These channels are believed to be involved in many physiological processes that include renal water conservation, neuro-homeostasis, digestion, regulation of body temperature and reproduction. Members of the water channel superfamily have been found in a range of cell types from bacteria to human. In mammals, there are currently 10 families of water channels, referred to as aquaporins (AQP): AQP0-AQP9. Here we report the structure of the aquaporin 1 (AQP1) water channel to 2.2 A resolution. The channel consists of three topological elements, an extracellular and a cytoplasmic vestibule connected by an extended narrow pore or selectivity filter. Within the selectivity filter, four bound waters are localized along three hydrophilic nodes, which punctuate an otherwise extremely hydrophobic pore segment. This unusual combination of a long hydrophobic pore and a minimal number of solute binding sites facilitates rapid water transport. Residues of the constriction region, in particular histidine 182, which is conserved among all known water-specific channels, are critical in establishing water specificity. Our analysis of the AQP1 pore also indicates that the transport of protons through this channel is highly energetically unfavourable.     

Aquaporin-0 membrane junctions reveal the structure of a closed water pore

The lens-specific water pore aquaporin-0 (AQP0) is the only aquaporin known to form membrane junctions in vivo. We show here that AQP0 from the lens core, containing some carboxy-terminally cleaved AQP0, forms double-layered crystals that recapitulate in vivo junctions. We present the structure of the AQP0 membrane junction as determined by electron crystallography. The junction is formed by three localized interactions between AQP0 molecules in adjoining membranes, mainly mediated by proline residues conserved in AQP0s from different species but not present in most other aquaporins. Whereas all previously determined aquaporin structures show the pore in an open conformation, the water pore is closed in AQP0 junctions. The water pathway in AQP0 also contains an additional pore constriction, not seen in other known aquaporin structures, which may be responsible for pore gating.     

积雪草苷调控miR-342-5p/AQP3轴保护IL-1β诱导的软骨细胞损伤

目的 探讨积雪草昔(Ass)对白细胞介素1B(IL-1B)诱导的软骨细胞损伤的影响及作用机制。方法 不同 浓度的Ass作用IL-1B诱导软骨细胞24 h,流式细胞仪检测细胞凋亡,酶联免疫吸附法检测细胞培养上清液中白细 胞介素-6(IL-6)和肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)水平,实时荧光定量PCR检测细胞中miR-342-5p和水通道蛋白3 (AQP3)mRNA表达水平,Western Blot法检测B淋巴细胞瘤-2 (Bcl-2)、B淋巴细胞瘤-2相关蛋白(Bax)和AQP3蛋 白表达水平。双荧光素酶报告基因实验验证miR-342-5p与AQP3靶向关系。转染miR-342-5p抑制剂或AQP3过表达载体至软骨细胞,上述相同方法检测抑制miR-342-5p表达或AQP3过表达对IL-1β诱导的软骨细胞凋亡及IL- 6和TNF-α表达的影响。结果 Ass可抑制IL-1β诱导的软骨细胞凋亡率、Bax蛋白、IL-6和TNF-α表达及miR- 342-5p表达(P <0. 05),促进Bcl-2蛋白、AQP3 mRNA和蛋白表达(P <0.05)。miR-342-5p在软骨细胞中负调控 AQP3表达。抑制miR-342-5p或AQP3过表达后,IL-1&诱导的软骨细胞凋亡率、Bax蛋白、IL-6和TNF-α表达降低 (P <0. 05) ,Bcl-2蛋白表达升高(P <0.05)。抑制AQP3表达逆转了抑制miR-342-5p对IL-1β诱导的软骨细胞凋 亡、Bax和Bcl-2蛋白及IL-6和TNF-α表达的影响。结论 Ass可抑制IL-1β诱导软骨细胞凋亡和炎症反应,其可 能通过调控miR-342-5p/AQP3保护软骨细胞损伤。     

Structural determinants of water permeation through aquaporin-1

Human red cell AQP1 is the first functionally defined member of the aquaporin family of membrane water channels. Here we describe an atomic model of AQP1 at 3.8A resolution from electron crystallographic data. Multiple highly conserved amino-acid residues stabilize the novel fold of AQP1. The aqueous pathway is lined with conserved hydrophobic residues that permit rapid water transport, whereas the water selectivity is due to a constriction of the pore diameter to about 3 A over a span of one residue. The atomic model provides a possible molecular explanation to a longstanding puzzle in physiology-how membranes can be freely permeable to water but impermeable to protons.     

Impairment of angiogenesis and cell migration by targeted aquaporin-1 gene disruption

Aquaporin-1 (AQP1) is a water channel protein expressed widely in vascular endothelia, where it increases cell membrane water permeability. The role of AQP1 in endothelial cell function is unknown. Here we show remarkably impaired tumour growth in AQP1-null mice after subcutaneous or intracranial tumour cell implantation, with reduced tumour vascularity and extensive necrosis. A new mechanism for the impaired angiogenesis was established from cell culture studies. Although adhesion and proliferation were similar in primary cultures of aortic endothelia from wild-type and from AQP1-null mice, cell migration was greatly impaired in AQP1-deficient cells, with abnormal vessel formation in vitro. Stable transfection of non-endothelial cells with AQP1 or with a structurally different water-selective transporter (AQP4) accelerated cell migration and wound healing in vitro. Motile AQP1-expressing cells had prominent membrane ruffles at the leading edge with polarization of AQP1 protein to lamellipodia, where rapid water fluxes occur. Our findings support a fundamental role of water channels in cell migration, which is central to diverse biological phenomena including angiogenesis, wound healing, tumour spread and organ regeneration.     

汉滩病毒受体与细胞因子TNFRⅠ真核表达载体的构建及稳定转染细胞系的建立

摘要 目的：构建带有荧光标签的汉滩病毒受体整合素β3与细胞因子TNFRⅠ的稳定转染细胞系。方法：构建目的基因的真核表达载体pIRES2-EGFP-β3和pIRES2-DsRed-TNFRⅠ(EC),并转染CHO细胞,直接荧光观察报告基因和荧光定量RT-PCR检测目的基因mRNA表达。结果：转染重组质粒pIRES2-EGFP-β3的细胞可检测到荧光报告基因和目的基因β3 mRNA的表达,转染pIRES2-DsRed-TNFRⅠ(EC)的细胞可检测到荧光报告基因和目的基因TNFRⅠmRNA的表达。结论：成功构建真核表达整合素β3与TNFRⅠ的稳定细胞系。     

高湿环境中大鼠肾脏AQP2与V2 R的表达及意义

目的研究水通道蛋白-2(AQP2)与加压素受体-2(V2R)在高湿环境下在大鼠肾脏中的表达及其意义.方法选择50只SD大鼠,随机将其分成研究组和对照组,每组各25只.研究组大鼠每日放入人工气候箱,对照组大鼠放置于常温常湿环境下,观察两组大鼠AQP2和V2R的蛋白表达水平.结果两组大鼠在血尿素氮(BUN)、血肌酐(SCr)、肾髓质AQP2和V2R mRNA水平、AQP2、V2R的蛋白表达和AQP2的磷酸化水平方面相比,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05).结论通过本研究发现,高湿环境对大鼠肾脏有一定伤害,能降低V2R和AQP2的表达水平和AQP2磷酸化水平,说明V2R和AQP2可能参与了高湿环境对大鼠肾脏损害的过程.     

大鼠禁水应激下丘脑室旁核c-fos与肾水通道蛋白2表达的变化

时大鼠禁水1 d、2 d和3 d后取血,测定其血清中多种无机离子和尿素氮浓度的变化.应用免疫组织化学方法观察禁水过程中c-fos在下丘脑室旁(PVN)中的表达及水通道蛋白2(AQP2)在肾脏中的表达.结果表明,禁水处理1 d,2 d和3 d后各组大鼠血清中Na+,Cl-,Mg2+,P3+均呈不同程度升高,血清中Ca2+...     

低表达长非编码RNA MALAT1对人宫颈癌HeLa细胞体外生长和迁移的影响

设计3个针对MALAT1不同靶序列的小干扰RNA(small interfering RNA, siRNA), 筛选出有效的siRNA序列, 设计并构建短发夹RNA(short hairpin RNA, shRNA)干扰质粒, 转染到HeLa细胞中, 构建低表达MALAT1的稳定细胞株.通过细胞的生长曲线和细胞划痕实验验证降低MALAT1对HeLa细胞增殖和迁移的影响.结果显示MALAT1表达水平在HeLa细胞中得到有效地降低, 低表达MALAT1的HeLa细胞生长速度和迁移速度减小.表明MALAT1在HeLa细胞中具有调控细胞增殖和迁移的能力     

RNA干扰沉默PID1基因在C2C12细胞中表达的研究

 构建和筛选对PID1（phosphotyrosine interaction domain containing 1, PID1）基因有RNA干扰作用的PID1-shRNA表达载体。据小鼠PID1 cDNA序列,优化设计了4条shRNA及1条阴性干扰序列,插入pGPU6/GFP/Neo载体中,得到pGPU6/GFP/Neo-PID1-1、pGPU6/GFP/Neo-PID1-2、pGPU6/GFP/Neo-PID1-3、pGPU6/GFP/Neo PID1 4和pGPU6/GFP/Neo-PID1-NC。干扰载体转染C2C12细胞,以RT-PCR和Western blot技术检测shRNA对C2C12细胞中PID1 mRNA和蛋白表达的下调作用。结果表明：靶向PID1基因的4个shRNA重组质粒载体经测序分析,其shRNA编码序列与预期设计的完全一致,经酶切鉴定和测序分析证实,靶向PID1基因的shRNA重组质粒载体构建成功。进一步将构建的4个表达载体分别转染C2C12细胞,24h后细胞中PID1基因mRNA表达水平依次下调 (23.58±1.87)%、(75.44±0.77)%、(70.52±0.41)% 和 (56.60±3.13)%。48 h后细胞中PID1蛋白表达水平依次降低 (30.15±5.05)%、(71.86±4.85)%、(67.93±2.28)% 和 (56.81±2.01)%。所筛选出的pGPU6/GFP/Neo-PID1-2、pGPU6/GFP/Neo-PID1-3和pGPU6/GFP/Neo-PID1-4三个表达载体均能高效地抑制转染细胞PID1 mRNA和蛋白的表达,为进一步研究PID1基因的功能奠定了基础。     

人PSF真核表达载体构建及其在CHO细胞中的表达

目的是构建人PSF基因真核表达载体pEGFP-N1-PSF,并在检测其在CHO细胞株中的表达情况。应用DNA重组技术和PCR方法从人宫颈癌Hela细胞中扩增PSF基因,插入pEGFP-N1真核表达载体,构建重组质粒pEGFP-N1-PSF并测序鉴定。将pEGFP-N1-PSF瞬时转染CHO细胞,通过Western blot和RT-PCR方法检测PSF的表达,荧光显微镜下观察绿色荧光蛋白表达。结果 CHO细胞转染pEGFP-N1-PSF真核表达载体后,RT-PCR和Western blot实验发现,在RNA和蛋白水平有PSF的表达,在荧光显微镜下可以观察到融合蛋白EGFP/PSF的表达。成功构建pEGFP-N1-PSF真核表达载体,证实其在CHO细胞中可以表达。     

结核分枝杆菌HSP65-hIL-2融合基因稳定转染细胞系的建立

建立可稳定表达结核分枝杆菌HSP65-hIL-2融合蛋白的稳定转染P815细胞系. 在阳离子脂质体作用下,将HSP65-hIL-2真核表达质粒转染与BALB/c 遗传背景一致的P815细胞(H-2d).G418筛选阳性克隆,RT-PCR和间接免疫荧光法检测目的蛋白的转录和表达. 阳性克隆细胞经RT-PCR检测到HSP65-hIL-2融合基因特异性的mRNA表达;用鼠抗人的IL-2 mAb进行间接免疫荧光检测,可在转染的P815细胞浆中观察到较强的绿色特异性荧光,而未转染细胞则为阴性.成功获得稳定表达HSP65-hIL-2融合蛋白的稳定转染细胞系,为其疫苗的CTL研究提供了合适的靶细胞.     

真核生物多顺反子表达载体的构建及在Hela细胞中的表达

利用DNA重组技术将抗肿瘤血管生成的内皮抑素基因endostatin插入含有FHIT(抗肿瘤人脆性组氨酸三联体基因)和EGFP的pIRES2-FHIT-EGFP载体中构建了真核多顺反子表达载体pES-IRES-FHIT-IRES-EGFP,用脂质体法转染Hela细胞后,用G418筛选出稳定转染的细胞.经RT-PCR、RT-PCR southern blot、northern blot和免疫细胞化学分析,结果证明单顺反子和三顺反子在RNA水平都得到表达.在蛋白表达水平上,荧光观察和免疫细胞化学分析结果显示Endostatin、FHIT和EGFP在Hela细胞中均得到表达,为基因药物和肿瘤多基因治疗奠定了基础.     

淋巴囊肿病病毒主要衣壳蛋白基因片段在真核细胞中的初步表达

将淋巴囊肿病病毒（Lymphocystis disease virus,LCDV）主要衣壳蛋白（Majoy capsid protein,MCP）0.6kb基因片段克隆入真核表达载体pEGFP-N2,得到阳性重组质粒pEGFP-N2-LCDV0.6,用脂质体法将其转染入真核细胞CHO,并进行瞬时表达,荧光显微镜观察及特异性RT-PCR检测结果表明：已成功将目的片断LCDV MCP 0.6kb转染到CHO细胞,并得到了初步表达。此研究为LCDV基因工程疫苗的研制提供了实验资料。     

特低渗储层孔隙结构对CO2驱特征影响

由于强烈的成岩作用,特低渗储层孔隙结构特征复杂,核磁共振实验结果表明,渗透率相近的岩心具有不同的孔隙结构,实验特低渗岩心孔隙结构特征表现为双峰分散型、双峰偏细歪度型及双峰偏粗歪度型;通过核磁共振方法研究了孔隙结构对水驱及后续CO2驱特征的影响,结果表明,不同孔隙结构岩心CO2驱提高采收率机理不同,对于双峰偏细歪度型岩心,CO2驱主要驱替小孔隙中的富集原油,提高了微观波及效率;对于双峰偏粗歪度岩心,CO2驱主要驱替大、中孔隙中的残余油滴和油膜,提高了驱油效率,实验结果为CO2驱提高采收率机理研究及油藏优选提供了参考。     

C-terminal truncated glucose transporter is locked into an inward-facing form without transport activity

The facilitated glucose transporters comprise a structurally related family of proteins predicted to have 12 membrane-spanning domains, with the amino terminus, a relatively large middle loop and the carboxy-terminus all oriented towards the cytoplasm. An alternating conformation model has been proposed to explain the mechanism of facilitated glucose transport. To understand the structure-function relationships, especially the role of the intracellular C-terminal domain, we have modified the rabbit equivalent of the erythroid-type transporter, GLUT1 (ref. 18), using complementary DNA to code for a deletion mutant that lacks most (37 out of 42 amino acids) of the intracellular C-terminal domain. This deletion mutant is expressed at the cell surface of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, but is functionally inactive, probably because it has lost its capacity to alternate in conformation and so is locked into an inward-facing form.