蚕豆上、下表皮气孔运动光/暗响应机制

比较了光/暗对蚕豆上、下表皮气孔运动的调节作用.结果显示:光/暗调控的蚕豆上、下表皮气孔运动均涉及保卫细胞H2O2、NO、Ca2+、促分裂原活化蛋白激酶激酶(MAPKK)、钙依赖蛋白激酶(CDPK)和酪氨酸蛋白磷酸酶(PTP)的变化,下表皮气孔对光/暗更敏感,而且暗中下表皮保卫细胞H2O2、NO、Ca2+、CDPK和PTP水平高于上表皮保卫细胞.另外,胞内Ca2+库Ca2+释放对暗诱导下表皮保卫细胞Ca2+增加的效应显著大于对暗诱导上表皮保卫细胞Ca2+增加的效应.     

Ca2+促进丝瓜离体生根（英）

Ca2+信使系统是植物体内重要的信号通路,它将许多细胞外信号转化为细胞内的信号以影响许多蛋白激酶活性,从而引起植物生长发育的多种反应.在正常Ca2+浓度下,仅激素处理不能生根的丝瓜外植体,处以不同Ca2+浓度处理时,随Ca2+浓度升高,外植体生根数明显加快并增多,且有少量植株叶腋处异化生根,在一定程度上改变了腋芽的发育方向,这说明Ca2+改变了卷须芽或花芽的发育方向,使其发育为根.但Ca2+超过一定浓度后会影响外植体的正常营养生长.     

植物中钙解码机制的研究进展

Ca2＋作为重要的第二信使,在植物生长发育中起着非常重要的作用．目前已经鉴定的植物Ca2＋传感器蛋白有：钙调素（CaM）、类钙调素蛋白（CMLs）、钙依赖型蛋白激酶（CDPKs）和类钙调磷酸酶B亚基蛋白（CBLs）及其互作蛋白激酶（CIPKs）,这些传感器蛋白多以基因家族形式存在,并且在植物中能够形成错综复杂的钙离子信号传递网络系统．主要从植物Ca2＋传感器蛋白的生化特性、生理功能和靶蛋白3个方面,综述了植物解码钙信号机制的最新研究进展．     

CBL-CIPK信号系统在植物应答逆境胁迫中的作用与机制

植物在长期适应中演化形成感知、传导和应答逆境胁迫的精细调控机制,CBL—CIPK信号系统是近年来兴起、植物特有的依赖于Ca2＋信号参与逆境胁迫调控的信号网络．CBLs感知逆境Ca2＋信号,结合Ca2＋后与蛋白激酶CIPKs特异作用,激活的CBL—CIPK复合体通过翻译后磷酸化下游靶蛋白,或调节转录因子及胁迫应答基因,实现不同细胞水平、组织部位抗逆性的调控．该系统具有特异性、多样性和复杂性,同时存在不同信号途径的交叉作用．目前响应高盐、低K＋和高pHCBL～CIPK信号途径研究取得重要进展,有望通过基因工程结合分子设计育种途径快速高效提高作物抗逆性．但仍有待于鉴定出更多的CBL—CIPK信号成分,特别是鉴定特殊生境植物的信号成分,并解析其在逆境胁迫响应中的功能．     

钙——钙调素热激信号转导途径研究进展

植物细胞内存在一条新的热激信号转导途径.热激引起细胞内自由钙离子浓度([Ca2+];)迅速上升,而磷脂酶C/1,3,5-三磷酸肌醇(PLC/IP3)信号系统的参与是热激引起[Ca2+]i升高的因素之一.热激也提高钙调素(CaM)基因表达和CaM蛋白的积累,钙调素基因AtCaM3是Ca2+-CaM热激信号转导途径中的重要成员.钙调素下游信号分子研究表明:AtCaM3通过CaM结合的蛋白激酶AtcBK3或CaM结合的蛋白磷酸酶AtPP7改变热激因子AtHSFAla的磷酸化状态以调节AtHSFAla的活性,进而影响热激蛋白基因的表达,最终影响植株的耐热性.     

植物盐胁迫的信号传导途径

植物耐盐性研究具有重要意义.近年来,植物盐胁迫信号传导途径一直是植物耐盐性研究的热点.目前已阐明的盐胁迫信号传导途径有酵母和植物中的MAPK(mitogen-actirated protein kinase)途径、拟南芥中缓解离子胁迫的SOS(salt overIy sensitive)途径以及其他蛋白激酶参与的信号传导途径,其中包括钙依赖而钙调素不依赖的蛋白激酶、受体蛋白激酶、糖原合成酶的激酶和组蛋白激酶.因此,植物的耐盐性是个非常复杂的问题,可能是由多种信号分子参与的网络体系.大量转基因实验证明,信号传导途径中的某些组分可改善植物的耐盐性.因此,深入研究植物的盐胁迫信号传导是提高植物耐盐性的前提和基础.     

植物Ca2+-CaM信号系统及其调控研究进展

Ca2 信号通路是植物中信号转导已确认的主要途径.CaM(钙调蛋白)是目前已知胞内Ca2 信号受体中最重要的一种,它参与了多种生理活动的调节.文章对钙在植物细胞中的存在形式、钙作为植物信号转导中第二信使的作用、植物钙调蛋白的结构和生理功能等问题进行了综述和探讨.     

钙调素参与离子通道和受体功能的调控

离子通道和受体是神经细胞信号发生及传递的结构基础.近年来的研究证明,离子通道和受体的功能受到细胞内及细胞外许多化学物质和信号分子的调控.越来越多的证据表明,正是这些以离子通道和受体为靶标的调控机制决定了中枢神经系统功能的复杂性和可塑性.在众多复杂的调控机制中,Ca 2+ 信号途径对于神经细胞的正常活动和病理改变均是至关重要的.经离子通道和受体内流的Ca 2+ 可对Ca 2+ 内流进行反馈调控,或是调控其他离子通道和受体的功能,它们的共同特点是都有Ca 2+ /钙调素(CaM)的参与.Ca 2+ /CaM通过对离子通道和受体进行反馈调控来保持通道之间的功能协调性和胞内的Ca 2+ 平衡.文中阐述了Ca 2+ /CaM参与调控离子通道和受体功能的分子过程,进一步说明了细胞编码Ca 2+信号的机理.     

蛋白激酶与植物渗透胁迫耐受研究进展

蛋白激酶是一类能使其他蛋白质磷酸化的酶.在植物中,蛋白激酶几乎参与植物生命周期中一切生理调节过程.渗透胁迫是植物生长发育过程中常见的非生物胁迫,植物对渗透胁迫耐受的机理一直是研究的重点.本文着眼于植物渗透胁迫反应,详细介绍了分裂原激活蛋白激酶(MAPK)、钙依赖而钙调素不依赖的蛋白激酶(CDPK)、受体蛋白激酶(RPK)、核糖体蛋白激酶、转录调控蛋白激酶等多种蛋白激酶在植物逆境信号识别与转导中的作用,综述其研究进展及前景.分析了当前在植物抗渗透胁迫蛋白激酶研究中存在的问题,进而对解决问题的途径进行了探讨.     

活性氧与NO在SO2诱导蚕豆气孔运动中的作用

以蚕豆叶表皮为材料,研究SO2胁迫时叶面气孔运动及其调节途径.研究发现,用浓度1～200μmol/L的SO2衍生物(亚硫酸钠与亚硫酸氢钠混合液)处理蚕豆叶下表皮后,气孔开度明显减小,气孔保卫细胞内活性氧(ROS)、一氧化氮(NO)和钙离子(Ca2+)水平显著升高.采用抗氧化剂抗坏血酸和过氧化氢酶,钙离子干扰剂EGTA和LaCl3,以及NO合成抑制剂NaN3与NO清除剂c-PTIO,分别与SO2衍生物同时作用时,SO2诱发的气孔关闭效应得到有效缓解,保卫细胞内ROS、NO和Ca2+水平随之改变.抗氧化剂和NO干扰剂能阻止SO2诱导的胞内ROS、NO和Ca2+水平升高;EGTA和LaCl3能降低SO2诱导的胞内NO和Ca2+升高,但不影响ROS水平.研究结果表明,较高浓度SO2能诱导气孔关闭,SO2胁迫诱导ROS和NO合成增加,ROS和NO通过钙信号系统调节气孔开度.     

Activation of chloride channels in normal and cystic fibrosis airway epithelial cells by multifunctional calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase.

Cystic fibrosis is associated with defective regulation of apical membrane chloride channels in airway epithelial cells. These channels in normal cells are activated by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and protein kinase C. In cystic fibrosis these kinases fail to activate otherwise normal Cl- channels. But Cl- flux in cystic fibrosis cells, as in normal cells, can be activated by raising intracellular Ca2+ (refs 5-10). We report here whole-cell patch clamp studies of normal and cystic fibrosis-derived airway epithelial cells showing that Cl- channel activation by Ca2+ is mediated by multifunctional Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase. We find that intracellular application of activated kinase and ATP activates a Cl- current similar to that activated by a Ca2+ ionophore, that peptide inhibitors of either the kinase or calmodulin block Ca2(+)-dependent activation of Cl- channels, and that a peptide inhibitor of protein kinase C does not block Ca2(+)-dependent activation. Ca2+/calmodulin activation of Cl- channels presents a pathway with therapeutic potential for circumventing defective regulation of Cl- channels in cystic fibrosis.     

Cholecystokinin induces a decrease in Ca2+ current in snail neurons that appears to be mediated by protein kinase C

Three distinct classes of protein kinases have been shown to regulate Ca2+ current in excitable tissues. Cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase mediates the action of noradrenaline on the Ca2+ current of cardiac muscle cells. Cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase mediates the serotonin-induced modulation of the Ca2+ current in identified snail neurons. The Ca2+/diacylglycerol-dependent protein kinase (protein kinase C) has also been found to regulate Ca2+ currents of neurons. However, no neurotransmitter has yet been shown to regulate Ca2+ current through the activation of protein kinase C. We now report that cholecystokinin, a widely occurring neuropeptide which is present in molluscan neuron, modulates the Ca2+ current in identified neurons of the snail Helix aspersa, and that this effect appears to be mediated by protein kinase C. Specifically, sulphated cholecystokinin octapeptide 26-33 (CCK8), activators of protein kinase C, and intracellular injection of protein kinase C, all shorten the Ca2+-dependent action potential and decrease the amplitude of the Ca2+ current in these cells. All these effects are not reversible within the duration of the experiments. Moreover, intracellular injections of low concentrations of protein kinase C, which are ineffective by themselves, enhance the effectiveness of low concentrations of CCK8 on the Ca2+ current.     

Nitric oxide regulates the heart by spatial confinement of nitric oxide synthase isoforms

Subcellular localization of nitric oxide (NO) synthases with effector molecules is an important regulatory mechanism for NO signalling. In the heart, NO inhibits L-type Ca2+ channels but stimulates sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ release, leading to variable effects on myocardial contractility. Here we show that spatial confinement of specific NO synthase isoforms regulates this process. Endothelial NO synthase (NOS3) localizes to caveolae, where compartmentalization with beta-adrenergic receptors and L-type Ca2+ channels allows NO to inhibit beta-adrenergic-induced inotropy. Neuronal NO synthase (NOS1), however, is targeted to cardiac SR. NO stimulation of SR Ca2+ release via the ryanodine receptor (RyR) in vitro, suggests that NOS1 has an opposite, facilitative effect on contractility. We demonstrate that NOS1-deficient mice have suppressed inotropic response, whereas NOS3-deficient mice have enhanced contractility, owing to corresponding changes in SR Ca2+ release. Both NOS1-/- and NOS3-/- mice develop age-related hypertrophy, although only NOS3-/- mice are hypertensive. NOS1/3-/- double knockout mice have suppressed beta-adrenergic responses and an additive phenotype of marked ventricular remodelling. Thus, NOS1 and NOS3 mediate independent, and in some cases opposite, effects on cardiac structure and function.     

Protein kinase C regulation of the receptor-coupled calcium signal in histamine-secreting rat basophilic leukaemia cells

It has been proposed that protein kinase C mediates cellular responses evoked by external stimuli, leading to alterations in internal free calcium concentrations. We have shown previously that histamine-secreting rat basophilic leukaemia cells (RBL-2H3), which degranulate on aggregation of the receptors for immunoglobulin IgE, contain a Ca2+- and phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (kinase C). The partially purified enzyme is activated directly by the tumour-promoting phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). In intact RBL cells, TPA potentiates histamine release induced by the Ca2+-ionophore A23187 (similar to the synergy reported for platelets, neutrophils and rat peritoneal mast cells). Although TPA at concentrations below 15 nM synergizes with the antigen, higher TPA concentrations inhibit secretion. This selective inhibition suggested that kinase C is involved in both the activation and termination of the secretory process. To examine this possibility, we have determined the effect of TPA on changes in free cytosolic Ca2+ concentration during antigen-induced release. We report here that TPA completely blocks the increase in Ca2+ concentration induced by antigen. Our results strongly suggest that protein kinase C is involved in the regulation of receptor-dependent Ca2+ signalling.     

Multiple intracellular signallings involved in regulation of on channels by GH releasing or inhibitory hormones in pituitary somatotropes

Influx of Ca2-via Ca2+ channels is the major step triggering exocytosis of pituitary somatotropes to release growth hormone (GH). Voltage-gated Ca2+ and K+ channels, the primary determinants of the influx of Ca2+ in somatotropes, are regulated by GH-releasing hornone (GHRH) and somatostatin (SRIF) through G protein-coupled signalling systems. Using whole-cell patch-clamp techniques, the changes of the Ca2+ and K+ currents in primary cultured somatotropes were recorded and signalling systems were studied using pharmacological reagents and intracellular dialysis of non-permeable molecules including antibodies and antisense oligonucleotides. GHRH increased both L-and T-types Ca2+ currents and decreased transient (I4) and delayed rectified (Ik) K+ currents. The increase in Ca2+ currents by GHRH was mediated by cAMP/protein kinase A system but the decrease in K+ currents required normal function of protein kinase C system. The GHRH-induced alteration of Ca2+ and K+ currents augments the influx of Ca2+ , leading to an increase in the [ Ca2+ ]I and the GH secretion. In contrary, a significant reduction in Ca2+ currents and increase in K currents were obtained in response to SRIF. The ion channel response to SRIF was demonstrated as a membrane delimited pathway and can be recorded by classic whole-cell configuration, Intracellular dialysis of anti-αi3 antibodies attenuated the increase in K + currents by SRIF whereas anti-αo antibodies blocked the reduction in the Ca2+ current by SRIF. Dialysis of antisense oligonucleotides specific for αo2 sub-units also attenuated the inhibition of SRIF on the Ca2+current. The Gi3 protein mediated the increase in K + currents and the Go2 protein mediated the reduction in the Ca2 +current by SRIF. The SRIF-induced alteration of Ca2 + and K + currents diminished the influx of Ca2+ , leading to a decrease in the [ Ca2+ ]I and the GH secretion. It is therefore concluded that multiple signalling systems are employed in the ion channel response to GHRH or SRIF in somatotropes, which leads to an increase or decrease in the GH secretion.     

Differential expression of calmodulin-binding proteins in B, T lymphocytes and thymocytes

Changes in intracellular free Ca2+ are involved in the transmembrane signalling of different cells, including lymphocytes. Since calmodulin (CaM) is a primary receptor for Ca2+ (ref. 4), it may mediate the activation of crucial enzymes after antigen-induced increases in cytosolic Ca2+. Using a biotinylated-CaM (Bio-CaM) detection procedure to identify such proteins, we found that a peptide of relative molecular mass 59,000 (59K) was the predominant soluble CaM-binding protein (CaM-BP) in T cells and B lymphocytes from murine spleen; immunoblotting experiments identified it as a subunit of the CaM-dependent phosphatase, 'calcineurin' (CN). Smaller amounts of larger CaM-BPs, thought to be cytoskeletal-binding proteins, were also detected. CaM-BPs were expressed differentially, with B lymphocytes having four times more of the CN-like protein than T lymphocytes, while in thymocytes, a 65K polypeptide was the major CaM-BP. However, limited proteolysis analysis suggested that this thymus-specific peptide may be a precursor of CN. These data suggest that Ca2+-stimulated protein dephosphorylation may be an important and highly regulated function in lymphoid cells.     

Regulation of Ca2+ channel expression at the cell surface by the small G-protein kir/Gem

Voltage-dependent calcium (Ca2+) channels are involved in many specialized cellular functions, and are controlled by intracellular signals such as heterotrimeric G-proteins, protein kinases and calmodulin (CaM). However, the direct role of small G-proteins in the regulation of Ca2+ channels is unclear. We report here that the GTP-bound form of kir/Gem, identified originally as a Ras-related small G-protein that binds CaM, inhibits high-voltage-activated Ca2+ channel activities by interacting directly with the beta-subunit. The reduced channel activities are due to a decrease in alpha1-subunit expression at the plasma membrane. The binding of Ca2+/CaM to kir/Gem is required for this inhibitory effect by promoting the cytoplasmic localization of kir/Gem. Inhibition of L-type Ca2+ channels by kir/Gem prevents Ca2+-triggered exocytosis in hormone-secreting cells. We propose that the small G-protein kir/Gem, interacting with beta-subunits, regulates Ca2+ channel expression at the cell surface.     

Long-term potentiation in the hippocampus is blocked by tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

Long-term potentiation (LTP) in the hippocampus is thought to contribute to memory formation. In the Ca1 region, LTP requires the NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor-dependent influx of Ca2+ and activation of serine and threonine protein kinases. Because of the high amount of protein tyrosine kinases in hippocampus and cerebellum, two regions implicated in learning and memory, we examined the possible additional requirement of tyrosine kinase activity in LTP. We first examined the specificity in brain of five inhibitors of tyrosine kinase and found that two of them, lavendustin A and genistein, showed substantially greater specificity for tyrosine kinase from hippocampus than for three serine-threonine kinases: protein kinase A, protein kinase C, and Ca2+/calmodulin kinase II. Lavendustin A and genistein selectively blocked the induction of LTP when applied in the bath or injected into the postsynaptic cell. By contrast, the inhibitors had no effect on the established LTP, on normal synaptic transmission, or on the neurotransmitter actions attributable to the actions of protein kinase A or protein kinase C. These data suggest that tyrosine kinase activity could be required postsynaptically for long-term synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus. As Ca2+ calmodulin kinase II or protein kinase C seem also to be required, the tyrosine kinases could participate postsynaptically in a kinase network together with serine and threonine kinases.