Location of exit channel for nascent protein in 80S ribosome

Ribosomes crystallize on endoplasmic reticulum membranes in oocytes of the southern Italian lizard, Lacerta sicula, during winter. Electron crystallographic studies of the crystals have been made to elucidate the arrangement of the ribosomal subunits on the membrane surface. We have now obtained more extensive and better ordered crystals of the same habit, grown from chick embryo ribosomes, and report here on their native structure preserved by rapid freezing of the crystals in thin aqueous films. The three-dimensional map reveals new details of the protein and ribosomal RNA distribution within the ribosome. Most striking is a region of low density within the large subunit which extends from the subunit interface towards an area on the membrane-facing surface identified by others as the exit site of the nascent protein. This region of low density appears to delineate the path taken by the growing polypeptide through the ribosome to the external surface.     

Fringe forms a complex with Notch

The Fringe protein of Drosophila and its vertebrate homologues function in boundary determination during pattern formation. Fringe has been proposed to inhibit Serrate-Notch signalling but to potentiate Delta-Notch signalling. Here we show that Fringe and Notch form a complex through both the Lin-Notch repeats and the epidermal growth factor repeats 22-36 (EGF22-36) of Notch when they are co-expressed. The Abruptex59b (Ax59b) and AxM1 mutations, which are caused by missense mutations in EGF repeats 24 and 25, respectively, abolish the Fringe-Notch interaction through EGF22-36, whereas the l(1)N(B) mutation in the third Lin-Notch repeat of Notch abolishes the interaction through Lin-Notch repeats. Ax mutations also greatly affect the Notch response to ectopic Fringe in vivo. Results from in vitro protein mixing experiments and subcellular colocalization experiments indicate that the Fringe-Notch complex may form before their secretion. These findings explain how Fringe acts cell-autonomously to modulate the ligand preference of Notch and why the Fringe-Notch relationship is conserved between phyla and in the development of very diverse structures.     

Trigger factor and DnaK cooperate in folding of newly synthesized proteins.

The role of molecular chaperones in assisting the folding of newly synthesized proteins in the cytosol is poorly understood. In Escherichia coli, GroEL assists folding of only a minority of proteins and the Hsp70 homologue DnaK is not essential for protein folding or cell viability at intermediate growth temperatures. The major protein associated with nascent polypeptides is ribosome-bound trigger factor, which displays chaperone and prolyl isomerase activities in vitro. Here we show that delta tig::kan mutants lacking trigger factor have no defects in growth or protein folding. However, combined delta tig::kan and delta dnaK mutations cause synthetic lethality. Depletion of DnaK in the delta tig::kan mutant results in massive aggregation of cytosolic proteins. In delta tig::kan cells, an increased amount of newly synthesized proteins associated transiently with DnaK. These findings show in vivo activity for a ribosome-associated chaperone, trigger factor, in general protein folding, and functional cooperation of this protein with a cytosolic Hsp70. Trigger factor and DnaK cooperate to promote proper folding of a variety of E. coli proteins, but neither is essential for folding and viability at intermediate growth temperatures.     

Non-mitochondrial complex I proteins in a hydrogenosomal oxidoreductase complex

Trichomonas vaginalis is a unicellular microaerophilic eukaryote that lacks mitochondria yet contains an alternative organelle, the hydrogenosome, involved in pyruvate metabolism. Pathways between the two organelles differ substantially: in hydrogenosomes, pyruvate oxidation is catalysed by pyruvate:ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PFOR), with electrons donated to an [Fe]-hydrogenase which produces hydrogen. ATP is generated exclusively by substrate-level phosphorylation in hydrogenosomes, as opposed to oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria. PFOR and hydrogenase are found in eubacteria and amitochondriate eukaryotes, but not in typical mitochondria. Analyses of mitochondrial genomes indicate that mitochondria have a single endosymbiotic origin from an alpha-proteobacterial-type progenitor. The absence of a genome in trichomonad hydrogenosomes precludes such comparisons, leaving the endosymbiotic history of this organelle unclear. Although phylogenetic reconstructions of a few proteins indicate that trichomonad hydrogenosomes share a common origin with mitochondria, others do not. Here we describe a novel NADH dehydrogenase module of respiratory complex I that is coupled to the central hydrogenosomal fermentative pathway to form a hydrogenosomal oxidoreductase complex that seems to function independently of quinones. Phylogenetic analyses of hydrogenosomal complex I-like proteins Ndh51 and Ndh24 reveal that neither has a common origin with mitochondrial homologues. These studies argue against a vertical origin of trichomonad hydrogenosomes from the proto-mitochondrial endosymbiont.     

A gamma-chain complex forms a functional receptor on cloned human lymphocytes with natural killer-like activity

We have recently derived from human fetal blood (25 wks) a series of cloned cell lines that were selected for their ability to kill the conventional natural killer (NK) target cell K562. It was found that a fraction of these clones express CD3 proteins but not the monomorphic Ti alpha beta determinant recognized by WT31 antibody. One interleukin-2-dependent CD3+ WT31- clone, termed F6C7, was used for immunization of mice to generate monoclonal antibodies directed at a potentially novel recognition receptor. It was shown that F6C7 cells, which transcribe Ti beta but not Ti alpha genes, surface-express a clonotypic structure, termed NKFi. Immunoprecipitations performed with anti-NKFi monoclonal antibody (mAb) indicated that the corresponding molecule is resolved in SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) as a single band of relative molecular mass approximately 85,000 (Mr approximately 85K). After reduction, a major band was detected at 44K and a faint band was present at 41K. The present study was designed to characterize this structure. It was found that NKFi represents either two 44K disulphide-linked gamma (TCR) chains, or possibly one gamma chain associated to an additional undetected molecule, and that the 41K material corresponds to a partially glycosylated fraction of the gamma protein. Anti-NKFi mAb both induces a specific autocrine proliferative response and blocks cytotoxic function, demonstrating that gamma chains serve as functional receptor structures on subpopulations of normal human lymphocytes.     

水杨醛β-丙氨酸希夫碱复合双金属配合物催化分子氧氧化环己烯的性能研究

合成了水杨醛β-丙氨酸希夫碱复合双金属配合物(SACo/Cu、SACo/Mn、SACo/Fe),并用FT-IR,ICP,XPS进行了结构表征.以分子氧做氧化剂,考察了复合双金属配合物对环己烯选择性氧化催化性能,探论了温度、时间、催化剂用量与底物比、溶剂及添加剂等因素对该反应的影响.     

氨基酸希夫碱铜配合物的合成及催化烯烃氧化性能

合成了苯丙氨酸水杨醛希夫碱铜配合物, 对其进行了热重分析、红外光谱分析, 测定了金属铜的含量, 初步研究了铜配合物对烯烃的催化氧化性能     

麻疯树核糖体失活蛋白Curcin和Curcin C与腺苷及腺嘌呤的互作方式分析

麻疯树核糖体失活蛋白Curcin和Curcin C均具N-糖苷酶活性,然而两者的体外翻译抑制能力却具有明显差异,这暗示着两者的N-糖苷酶活性也存在差异.为了探究造成这一差异的结构基础,本研究使用trRosetta对两种蛋白进行了三级结构的预测,通过PROCHECK和Qmean对预测得到的三级结构模型进行了质量评估,利用Chem3D对小分子配体腺嘌呤和腺苷进行了结构优化,借助UCSF Chimera对Curcin及Curcin C活性位点的氨基酸组成进行了预测.最终使用分子对接软件AutoDock将预测得到的模型与小分子腺嘌呤及腺苷进行分子对接.对接结果显示,两种蛋白与腺嘌呤的相互作用模式具有较高的相似性,但Curcin的关键氨基酸Arg并未参与到与配体的相互作用.此外Curcin C与腺嘌呤和腺苷之间的结合能都低于Curcin,且其和腺苷与腺嘌呤之间结合能的差值也要高于Curcin.这一结果暗示着Curcin和Curcin C之间的活性差异与其活性位点处的结构特征有关,Curcin C中的关键氨基酸Arg与腺嘌呤及腺苷的结合位点更为靠近,从而导致Curcin C与底物之间的结合能更低,...     

TCP1 complex is a molecular chaperone in tubulin biogenesis.

A role in folding of newly translated proteins in the cytosol of eukaryotes has been proposed for t-complex polypeptide-1 (TCP1), although its molecular targets have not yet been identified. Tubulin is a major cytosolic protein whose assembly into microtubules is critical to many cellular processes. Although numerous studies have focused on the expression of tubulin, little is known about the processes whereby newly translated tubulin subunits acquire conformations that enable them to form alpha-beta-heterodimers. We examined the biogenesis of alpha- and beta-tubulin in rabbit reticulocyte lysate, and report here that newly translated tubulin subunits entered a 900K complex in a protease-sensitive conformation. Addition of Mg-ATP, but not nonhydrolysable analogues, released the tubulin subunits as assembly-competent protein with a conformation that was relatively protease-resistant. The 900K complex purified from reticulocyte lysate contained as its major constituent a 58K protein that cross-reacted with a monoclonal antiserum against mouse TCP1. We conclude that TCP1 functions as a cytosolic chaperone in the biogenesis of tubulin.     

Two tobacco DNA-binding proteins with homology to the nuclear factor CREB

The 35S promoter of the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) contains a tandem repeat of the sequence TGACG in the region -83 to -63. This 21-base pair (bp) sequence, called as-1, is involved in root expression of the 35S promoter. When inserted in a promoter of a gene expressed specifically in photosynthetic tissues, as-1 confers high level expression in roots. We have described a factor, ASF-1, that binds specifically to as-1 in vitro. There is a good correlation between ASF-1 binding affinity to as-1 related sequences in vitro and the function of these sequences in vivo. These results strongly suggest that ASF-1 is responsible for the function of as-1. Here we report the isolation of tobacco complementary DNA clones encoding two TGACG-sequence-specific binding-proteins (TGA1a and TGA1b). Sequence analysis of the cDNA clones shows that both proteins contain a basic region that shows high homology to a stretch of basic amino acids in the nuclear factors CREB, GCN4, and c-Jun to a 'leucine-zipper' region. On the basis of binding specificity we propose TGA1a to be a good candidate for ASF-1.     

Identification of a ribosome receptor in the rough endoplasmic reticulum

Attachment of ribosomes to the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum is one of the crucial first steps in the transport and secretion of intracellular proteins in mammalian cells. The process is mediated by an integral membrane protein of relative molecular mass 180,000 (Mr 180K), having a large (at least 160K) cytosolic domain that, when proteolytically detached from the membrane, can competitively inhibit the binding of ribosomes to intact membranes. Isolation of this domain has led to the identification, purification and characterization of the intact ribosome receptor, as well as its functional reconstitution into lipid vesicles.     

Statistical approaches in QTL mapping and molecular breeding for complex traits

Most of the important agronomic traits in crops,such as yield and quality,are complex traits affected by multiple genes with gene × gene interaction as well as gene × environment interaction.Understanding the genetic architecture of complex traits is a long-term task for quantitative geneticists and plant breeders who wish to design efficient breeding programs.Conventionally,the genetic properties of traits can be revealed by partitioning the total variation into variation components caused by specific genetic effects.With recent advances in molecular genotyping and high-throughput technology,the unraveling of the genetic architecture of complex traits by analyzing quantitative trait locus (QTL) has become possible.The improvement of complex traits has also been achieved by pyramiding individual QTL.In this review,we describe some statistical methods for QTL mapping that can be used to analyze QTL × QTL interaction and QTL × environment interaction,and discuss their applications in crop breeding for complex traits.     

直接转矩控制变频调速系统的逆变器触发系统逻辑设计

从直接转矩控制原理出发,分别分析了异步电动机在正转和反转过程中磁链开关状态值与逆变器开关状态值间的逻辑关系及对应关系,并找到了正、反转切换时上述二方面存在的区别和联系.通过P/N控制器和转矩调节器实现对逆变器触发系统的正确控制.     

Structure of the Escherichia coli ribosomal termination complex with release factor 2

Termination of protein synthesis occurs when the messenger RNA presents a stop codon in the ribosomal aminoacyl (A) site. Class I release factor proteins (RF1 or RF2) are believed to recognize stop codons via tripeptide motifs, leading to release of the completed polypeptide chain from its covalent attachment to transfer RNA in the ribosomal peptidyl (P) site. Class I RFs possess a conserved GGQ amino-acid motif that is thought to be involved directly in protein-transfer-RNA bond hydrolysis. Crystal structures of bacterial and eukaryotic class I RFs have been determined, but the mechanism of stop codon recognition and peptidyl-tRNA hydrolysis remains unclear. Here we present the structure of the Escherichia coli ribosome in a post-termination complex with RF2, obtained by single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). Fitting the known 70S and RF2 structures into the electron density map reveals that RF2 adopts a different conformation on the ribosome when compared with the crystal structure of the isolated protein. The amino-terminal helical domain of RF2 contacts the factor-binding site of the ribosome, the 'SPF' loop of the protein is situated close to the mRNA, and the GGQ-containing domain of RF2 interacts with the peptidyl-transferase centre (PTC). By connecting the ribosomal decoding centre with the PTC, RF2 functionally mimics a tRNA molecule in the A site. Translational termination in eukaryotes is likely to be based on a similar mechanism.     

Identification of a mitochondrial receptor complex required for recognition and membrane insertion of precursor proteins

The mitochondrial import receptors MOM19 and MOM72 form a complex with two other proteins of the mitochondrial outer membrane, MOM38 and MOM22. This receptor complex is involved in recognition, membrane insertion and translocation of precursor proteins with MOM38 constituting (at least part of) the general insertion site GIP.     

In vitro formation of a complex between cytoskeletal proteins of the human erythrocyte.

The formation of a high-molecular weight complex between spectrin and F-actin depends on the presence of a third cytoskeletal constituent, protein 4.1. Electron microscopy shows that in this ternary complex the actin filaments are linked by bridges, which have the appearance of spectrin. The spectrin must be in the tetrameric state for such bridges to form: the dimer is evidently univalent, for it binds but forms no cross-links. G-actin also fails to form extended complexes. It is inferred that in the native cytoskeleton the spectrin is tetrameric and associated with 4.1 and probably oligomers of actin.     

直接转矩控制变频调速系统的逆变器触发系统逻辑设计

从直接转矩控制原理出发，分别分析了异步电动机在正转和反转过程中磁链开关状态值与逆变器开关状态值间的逻辑关系及对应关系，并找到了正、反转切换时上述二方面存在的区别和联系。通过Ｐ／Ｎ控制器和转矩调节器实现对逆变器触发系统的正确控制。