Isolation, characterization and functional analysis of a cdc48 homologue from tobacco BY-2 cells

The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe was used to identify genes from tobacco BY-2 cells that may play roles in cell cycle regulation. A cDNA encoding a protein homologous to the yeast CDC48 was isolated and the gene was designated as NtCDC48. The cDNA contains an open reading frame coding for a predicted protein of 808 amino acids which comprises of two typical ATPase modules (aa 245?374 and aa 518?646). Overexpression of NtCDC48 in tobacco BY-2 cells led to an increase in the mitotic index as well as to the formation of diffused mitotic spindles. NtCDC48-GFP fusion proteins are distributed ubiquitously through G1 to M phases, yet their subcellular localization varied regularly along with the cell cycle progression. These results indicate that NtCDC48 may play an important role in the regulation of cell cycle in BY-2 cells.     

活体烟草BY-2悬浮细胞微丝骨架的标记

微丝骨架是细胞骨架的重要成员,在细胞的多项生理活动中发挥着重要作用.本论文利用荧光标记鬼笔环肽技术和GFP融合蛋白技术,对活体烟草BY-2悬浮细胞中微丝骨架的标记方法进行了探索,结果表明,10nmol/L的Alexa488-Phalloidin为细胞微丝骨架标记的最佳浓度,利用PCR等技术构建pPZP-NtFABD2-GFP植物表达载体后,转化烟草BY-2悬浮细胞,激光共聚焦扫描显微镜观察发现,NtFABD2-GFP融合蛋白能够清晰地显示活体烟草悬浮细胞内的微丝骨架.这些结果为进一步深入研究微丝骨架在活体植物细胞中的功能奠定了基础.     

Phytophthora elicitor PB90 induced apoptosis in suspension cultures of tobacco

The protein elicitor PB90 secreted by Phytophthora boehmeriae is an efficient elicitor inducing the hypersensitive response and systemic acquired resistance in tobacco plants. Here, we observed cell death in suspension-cultured cells of Nicotiana tabacum BY-2 with PB90 treatment using Trypan blue staining method. And this cell death could be suppressed by cycloheximide, an inhibitor of proteins synthesis, which implies that PB90-induced celldeath was an active cell death process requiring new protein synthesis. DAPI staining revealed that PB90 induce rapid chromatin condensation, margination, apoptotic bodies‘ formation and DNA laddering, further TUNEL assay also observed the specific breakage of 3 ‘-OH ends. All of the above common morphological characteristics indicated that PB90 induced apoptosis in suspension cultures of tobacco, suggesting that hypersensitive response induced by PB90 is an apoptotic process.     

Cloning and enzymology analysis of farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase gene from a superior strain of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Artemisia annua</Emphasis> L.

A cDNA(af1) encoding farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase AaFPS1(FPS,EC2.5.1.1/EC2.5.1.10) from a high yield Artemisia annua strain 025 has heen cloned from its cDNA library .Sequence analysis showed that the cDNA encoded a protein of 343 amino acid (aa) residues with molecular weight of 39 kD.Deduced aa sequence of the cDNA was similar to FPS from other plants,yeast and mammals,containing 5 conserved domains found in both prenyl trans-ferase and polyprenyl synthase,The expression of the cDNA in Escherichia coli showed measurable specific activity of FPS in vitro.The enzyme was purified by ion exchange chromatography and its kinetics was measured ,These results would further promote the molecular regulation of artemisnin biosynthesis.     

Regulation of mitosis by cyclic accumulation of p80cdc25 mitotic inducer in fission yeast

The coordination of somatic cell division with cell size must be accomplished by the accumulation of mitotic inducers or the dilution, in the course of cell growth, of mitotic inhibitors. In fission yeast (Schizosaccharomyces pombe), cell size at mitosis is determined by expression of the cdc25+ and nim1+ inducer genes and of the inhibitor gene wee1+, which between them regulate the M-phase protein kinase p34cdc2. We now report that both the phosphoprotein product of cdc25+ (p80cdc25, with apparent relative molecular mass 80,000) and the corresponding messenger RNA increase in concentration as cells proceed through interphase, peaking at mitosis. We propose that the cell-cycle timing of mitosis in somatic cells is regulated by the cyclic accumulation of the cdc25 mitotic inducer, which on reaching a critical level results in activation of p34cdc2 protein kinase. Accumulation of this inducer could play a part in coordinating cell division with growth.     

Distinct nuclear and spindle pole body population of cyclin-cdc2 in fission yeast.

Cyclins, as subunits of the protein kinase encoded by the cdc2 gene are major controlling elements of the eukaryotic cell cycle. The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe has a B-type cyclin, which is a nuclear protein encoded by the cdc13 gene. Here we demonstrate the presence of two spatially distinct cdc13 cyclin populations in the nucleus of S. pombe, one of which is associated with the mitotic spindle poles. Both populations colocalize with the product of the cdc2 gene (p34cdc2). Treatment of cells with the antimicrotubule drug thiabendazole prevents cyclin degradation and blocks the tyrosine dephosphorylation and activation of cdc2. These results suggest a key regulatory role of the cdc2-cyclin complex in the initiation of mitotic spindle formation and also that mitotic microtubule function is required for cdc2 activation.     

Wee1(+)-like gene in human cells.

The wee1+ gene is a mitotic inhibitor controlling the G2 to M transition of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe and encodes a protein kinase with both serine- and tyrosine-phosphorylating activities. We have cloned a human gene (WEE1Hu) similar to wee1+ by transcomplementation of a yeast mutant. WEE1Hu encodes a protein homologous to the S. pombe wee1+ and mik1+ (a functionally redundant sibling of wee1+) kinases and effectively rescues a wee1 mutation. We report here that overexpression of WEE1Hu in fission yeast generates very elongated cells as a result of inhibition of the G2-M transition in the cell cycle. In addition, we detected a 3-kilobase-long WEE1Hu messenger RNA in all the human cell lines we examined. We conclude that a wee1(+)-like gene exists and is expressed in human cells.     

Driving the cell cycle with a minimal CDK control network

Control of eukaryotic cell proliferation involves an extended regulatory network, the complexity of which has made it difficult to understand the basic principles of the cell cycle. To investigate the core engine of the mitotic cycle we have generated a minimal control network in fission yeast that efficiently sustains cellular reproduction. Here we demonstrate that orderly progression through the major events of the cell cycle can be driven by oscillation of an engineered monomolecular cyclin-dependent protein kinase (CDK) module lacking much of the canonical regulation. We show further that the CDK oscillator acts as the primary organizer of the cell cycle, imposing timing and directionality to a system of two CDK activity thresholds that define independent cell cycle phases. We propose that this simple core architecture forms the basic control of the eukaryotic cell cycle.     

Cell cycle oscillation of phosphatase inhibitor-2 in rat fibroblasts coincident with p34cdc2 restriction

Attention has focused on the regulation of the eucaryotic cell division cycle since the protein kinase p34cdc2 was identified as a key enzyme in mitotic induction. The level of this kinase remains constant throughout the cell cycle but its activity alters, particularly before M phase. Although the factors regulating cdc2 activity are still unknown, there is increasing evidence that it is influenced by p34cdc2 dephosphorylation. Protein phosphatase inhibitor-2 (I2) is a specific inhibitor of phosphatase type-1, which with type-2A is one of the two principal Ser(P) and Thr(P) phosphatases. Here we show that the level of I2, assayed by immunofluorescence staining, activity measurements, western immunoblotting and metabolic labelling, oscillates during the cell cycle in rat fibroblasts, peaking at S phase and mitosis. Moreover, when we inhibited I2 in vivo by microinjection of anti-I2 antibodies in S-phase cells, the pseudo-mitotic cellular response to injected p34cdc2 was restored, indicating that I2 might have a role in the modulation of p34cdc2 activity.     

APC-dependent proteolysis of the mitotic cyclin Clb2 is essential for mitotic exit

Cyclin degradation is central to regulation of the cell cycle. Mitotic exit was proposed to require degradation of the S phase cyclin Clb5 by the anaphase-promoting complex activated by Cdc20 (APC(Cdc20)). Furthermore, Clb5 degradation was thought to be necessary for effective dephosphorylation and activation of the APC regulatory subunit Cdh1 (also known as Hct1) and the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor Sic1 by the phosphatase Cdc14, allowing mitotic kinase inactivation and mitotic exit. Here we show, however, that spindle disassembly and cell division occur without significant APC(Cdc20)-mediated Clb5 degradation, as well as in the absence of both Cdh1 and Sic1. We find instead that destruction-box-dependent degradation of the mitotic cyclin Clb2 is essential for mitotic exit. APC(Cdc20) may be required for an essential early phase of Clb2 degradation, and this phase may be sufficient for most aspects of mitotic exit. Cdh1 and Sic1 may be required for further inactivation of Clb2-Cdk1, regulating cell size and the length of G1.     

Phosphorylation-dependent binding of mitotic cyclins to Cdc6 contributes to DNA replication control

Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) limit the activation of DNA replication origins to once per cell cycle by preventing the assembly of pre-replicative complexes (pre-RCs) during S, G2 and M phases of the cell cycle in the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. CDKs inhibit each pre-RC component (ORC, Cdc6, Cdt1/Mcm2-7) by different mechanisms. We show here that the mitotic CDK, Clb2/Cdc28, binds tightly to an amino-terminal domain (NTD) of Cdc6, and that Cdc6 in this complex is unable to assemble pre-RCs. We present evidence indicating that this Clb2-dependent mechanism contributes to preventing re-replication in vivo. CDK interaction with the NTD of Cdc6 is mediated by the cyclin subunit Clb2, and could be reconstituted with recombinant Clb2 protein and synthetic NTD peptides. Tight Clb2 binding occurred only when the NTD was phosphorylated on CDK consensus sites. Human CDKs containing cyclins A, B and E also bound specifically to phospho-NTD peptides. We propose that direct binding of cyclins to phosphopeptide motifs may be a widespread phenomenon contributing to the targeting of CDKs to substrates.     

细胞周期与细胞凋亡共同的调控分子--Survivin蛋白(综述)

细胞周期与细胞凋亡是有着紧密联系的生命活动。尽管凋亡调控蛋白常常牵涉到细胞周期的调控，但是细胞周期与细胞凋亡共同的的调控分子却很少见。一个新的抗凋亡蛋白——Survivin蛋白，最近被发现同时具有调控细胞凋亡和细胞周期的双重功能，这为细胞周期与细胞凋亡之间存在紧密联系提供了有力的证据。另一方面，它的表达和分布特点对细胞增殖非常有利，提示Survivin蛋白可能是快速增殖细胞(如癌细胞)重要的测控分子。     

烟草悬浮系培养与细胞器的分离

通过诱导BY-2型烟草叶片愈伤组织,进一步建立烟草细胞悬浮系．酶解去壁从细胞悬浮系中获得原生质体,用含有0．5％Triton X-100的CSK缓冲液破裂细胞膜,释放出细胞器,再通过不连续的蔗糖,Percou梯度进行速率区带离心,分离纯化出细胞核和叶绿体,通过分离、纯化细胞核的对照实验证明不同培养条件对烟草细胞悬浮系的生长和周期具有显著影响。     

Catalysis of guanine nucleotide exchange on Ran by the mitotic regulator RCC1

The product of the gene RCC1 (regulator of chromosome condensation) in a BHK cell line is involved in the control of mitotic events. Homologous genes have been found in Xenopus, Drosophila and yeast. A human genomic DNA fragment and complementary DNA that complement a temperature-sensitive mutation of RCC1 in BHK21 cells encode a protein of relative molecular mass 45,000 (Mr 45K) which is located in the nucleus and binds to chromatin. We have recently isolated a protein from HeLa cells that strongly binds an anti-RCC1 antibody and has the same molecular mass, DNA-binding properties, and amino-acid sequence as the 205 residues already identified. HeLa cell RCC1 is complexed to a protein of Mr 25K. We have shown that this 25K protein has a sequence homologous to the translated reading frame of TC4, a cDNA found by screening a human teratocarcinoma cDNA library with oligonucleotides coding for a ras consensus sequence, and that the protein binds GDP and GTP. We have referred to this protein as the Ran protein (ras-related nuclear protein). In addition to the fraction of Ran protein complexed to RCC1, a 25-fold molar excess of the protein over RCC1 was found in the nucleoplasm of HeLa cells. Here we show that RCC1 specifically catalyses the exchange of guanine nucleotides on the Ran protein but not on the protein c-Ha-ras p21 (p21ras).     

应用酵母双杂交技术筛选与p53相互作用的蛋白质

应用酵母双杂交技术筛选与p53发生相互作用的蛋白质,有助于进一步阐明其在肿瘤发生、发展中发挥重要作用的调控机制。采用酵母双杂交技术,以p53C末端（62-393aa）作为诱饵筛选人乳腺cDNA文库,寻找能与之相互作用的蛋白质．并运用报告基因等实验提供的信息,经过重复验证排除假阳性以确定最后的阳性克隆。以p53C末端（62～393aa）作为诱饵最终筛选出了一个阳性克隆,经测序及生物信息学分析,这一个阳性克隆为：PIAS3（Protein inhibitor of activated stat3）。说明了PIAS3蛋白能与p53（62-393aa）发生特异性的相互作用。     

Phosphorylation of two small GTP-binding proteins of the Rab family by p34cdc2

Entry of a cell into mitosis induces a series of structural and functional changes including arrest of intracellular transport. Knowledge of how the mitotic cycle is driven progressed substantially with the identification of the p34cdc2 protein kinase as a subunit of maturation-promoting factor, the universal regulating component of the mitotic cycle. Activation of the kinase at the onset of mitosis is thought to trigger the important mitotic events by phosphorylating key proteins. Small guanine nucleotide-binding proteins have been implicated in regulating transport pathways. For instance, two small Ras-related GTP-binding proteins, Sec4p and Ypt1p, control distinct stages of the secretory pathway in budding yeast. The GTP-binding proteins of the Rab family in rats and humans display strong homologies with Sec4p and Ypt1p, and might therefore also be involved in regulating intracellular transport. Indeed, distinct Rab proteins are located in the exocytotic and endocytotic compartments. Interruption of vesicular transport during mitosis might involve modification of these proteins. We now present biochemical evidence for a mitosis-specific p34cdc2 phosphorylation of Rab1Ap and Rab4p. By contrast, Rab2p and Rab6p are not phosphorylated. We also show that the distribution of Rab1Ap and Rab4p between cytosolic and membrane-bound forms is different in interphase and mitotic cells. This may provide a clue to the mechanism by which phosphorylation could affect membrane traffic during mitosis.     

Complementation used to clone a human homologue of the fission yeast cell cycle control gene cdc2

A human homologue of the cdc2 gene has been cloned by expressing a human cDNA library in fission yeast and selecting for clones that can complement a mutant of cdc2. The predicted protein sequence of the human homologue is very similar to that of the yeast cdc2 gene. These data indicate that elements of the mechanism by which the cell cycle is controlled are likely to be conserved between yeast and humans.