Thermostability of subtilisin nattokinase obtained by site-directed mutagenesis

To study the thermostability of Nattokinase(subtilisin NAT,NK),three double mutant plasmids(pET-28a-NKG61C/S98C,pET-28a-NKT22C/S87C,pET-28a-NKS24C/S87C)were constructed by site-directed mutagenesis.Target enzymes were detected using SDS-PAGE and disulfide bond formation was detected using Western blotting analysis.Thermostability was tested by rates of inactivation at certain temperature.The results showed that disulfide bond was not formed within two cysteines and the thermostability of three double mutants was not increased compared with the wild-type NK.The thermostability of NK performed in Ca2+was stronger than in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid(EDTA).But when the temperature reached 62℃,the enzymes rapidly denatured and inactivated even in the presence of Ca2+.Although the thermostability of mutants was not increased,this study shows a tendency of improving thermostability of NK in protein engineering.     

Primary structure of alpha-subunit precursor of Torpedo californica acetylcholine receptor deduced from cDNA sequence

DNA sequences complementary to the Torpedo californica electroplax mRNA coding for the alpha-subunit precursor of the acetylcholine receptor were cloned. The nucleotide sequence of the cloned cDNA indicates that the precursor consists of 461 amino acids including a prepeptide of 24 amino acids. Possible sites for acetylcholine binding and antigenic determinants on the alpha-subunit molecule are discussed.     

Isolation of a cDNA clone coding for a possible neural nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha-subunit

We have isolated a complementary DNA clone containing sequences homologous to those encoding the alpha-subunit of a mouse muscle nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. Based on the structural similarities between the encoded protein and the muscle acetylcholine receptor alpha-subunit, and the presence of hybridizing RNA species in the brain, we propose that this clone codes for a neural nicotinic acetylcholine receptor alpha-subunit.     

Expression of functional acetylcholine receptor from cloned cDNAs

The cloned cDNAs encoding the four subunits of the Torpedo californica acetylcholine receptor, each carried by a simian virus 40 vector, direct the synthesis of the functional receptor in a combined expression system consisting of COS monkey cells and Xenopus oocytes. Our results suggest that all four subunits are required to elicit a normal nicotinic response to acetylcholine, whereas only the alpha-subunit is indispensable for alpha-bungarotoxin binding activity.     

Transforming activity of polyoma virus middle-T antigen probed by site-directed mutagenesis

The ability of polyoma virus to transform cells results primarily from the action of one of the virus-coded early proteins, called middle-T antigen. Middle-T has an associated tyrosine-specific protein kinase activity that can be measured in vitro and results in the phosphorylation of middle-T itself. Almost all mutants so far tested that lack the ability to transform cells, also lack associated kinase activity. Attempts to map within middle-T the tyrosine residue(s) that are phosphorylated in vitro suggest that a likely site of phosphorylation is tyrosine 315 (refs 8-10 and unpublished results). The amino acid sequence preceding Tyr 315 includes a tract of six contiguous glutamic acid residues and bears some homology with that preceding the tyrosine phosphorylated in vivo in pp60v-src, the transforming protein of Rous sarcoma virus, and with a region in the polypeptide hormone, gastrin, preceding a tyrosine that is sulphated. Furthermore, although surprisingly large tracts of middle-T may be removed without affecting its transforming activity, mutants that lack the sequences corresponding to amino acids 311-318 inclusive are transformation defective. Because the likely site of phosphorylation, the homology with pp60v-src and gastrin and the sequence apparently required for transformation all overlap, it has generally been accepted that this region of middle-T may form part of an essential region, possibly an active site on the protein. Here we have used techniques of site-directed and site-specific mutagenesis to probe the sequence requirements in more detail. Contrary to expectation, the results obtained strongly suggest that Tyr 315 and conservation of the surrounding amino acid sequence are not essential for transformation.     

Proline isomerism in staphylococcal nuclease characterized by NMR and site-directed mutagenesis

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies have shown that two distinct folded conformations of staphylococcal nuclease coexist in solution and that these two states can interconvert directly without passing through an unfolded state. These experiments have also revealed that the two forms have very different folding kinetics, although the possibility that one component is an obligatory intermediate for the folding of the other form could be discounted. Here we report NMR data which show that alternative unfolded states are also distinguishable. These observations led us to hypothesize that cis/trans isomerism at a single peptide bond between a proline and its preceding residue might be the origin of the conformational multiplicity. Proline 117 was identified as a likely candidate for the site concerned and a mutant protein, in which Pro 117 was replaced by Gly, was constructed in order to test this. Alternative conformations are not observed in the spectrum of this mutant, lending powerful support to this hypothesis.     

Concentration of acetylcholine receptor mRNA in synaptic regions of adult muscle fibres

Acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) are highly concentrated in the small fraction (approximately 0.1%) of the skeletal muscle fibre surface that comprises the postsynaptic membrane of the neuromuscular junction (Fig. 1a). In adult murine muscle, for example, AChRs are packed at a density of over 15,000 per micron2 in postsynaptic membrane, whereas their density is less than 30 per micron2 in extrasynaptic membrane. Because synaptic AChRs turn over they must be replaced, and it is interesting to consider where the new AChRs that maintain synaptic aggregates are synthesized. One possibility is that AChRs are synthesized uniformly along the length of the multinucleated muscle fibre; in this case, AChRs might be redistributed to or selectively stabilized at the synapse, as probably occurs during synapse formation. Alternatively, AChRs might be preferentially synthesized near synapses, a possibility that would suggest that innervation can influence not only where AChRs are inserted or accumulate but also where they are synthesized. In support of this second possibility, we report here that AChR messenger RNA is more abundant near to than far from synapses in adult muscle fibres.     

Location of a delta-subunit region determining ion transport through the acetylcholine receptor channel

The combination of complementary DNA expression and single-channel current analysis provides a powerful tool for studying the structure-function relationship of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) (refs 1-5). We have previously shown that AChR channels consisting of subunits from different species, expressed in the surface membrane of Xenopus oocytes, can be used to relate functional properties to individual subunits. Here we report that, in extracellular solution of low divalent cation concentration, the bovine AChR channel has a smaller conductance than the Torpedo AChR channel. Replacement of the delta-subunit of the Torpedo AChR by the bovine delta-subunit makes the channel conductance similar to that of the bovine AChR channel. To locate the region in the delta-subunit responsible for this difference, we have constructed chimaeric delta-subunit cDNAs with different combinations of the Torpedo and bovine counterparts. The conductances of AChR channels containing chimaeric delta-subunits suggest that a region comprising the putative transmembrane segment M2 and the adjacent bend portion between segments M2 and M3 is involved in determining the rate of ion transport through the open channel.     

Molecular dynamics simulation of site-directed mutagenesis of HIV-1 Tattrans-activator

The Cys-rich domain, core region and basic domain are highly conserved and very important to thetrans-activation activity of HIV-1 Tattrans-activator. The three-dimensional structures of 6 mutants of HIV-1 Tat protein were constructed with the methods of molecular dynamics simulation. The variations of the structures of the mutants have been analyzed and the factors that led to abolishment oftrans-activation activity have been discussed.     

计算机辅助木糖还原酶定点突变的生物信息学分析

木糖还原酶（xylose reductase,XR）是木糖代谢生成乙醇途径中一个重要的酶,目前利用纤维素生成酒精的关键问题之一：木糖代谢过程中XR和木糖醇脱氢酶（xylitol dehydrogenase,XDH）的氧化还原不平衡。本研究借助生物信息学手段（酶三维结构建模、酶和辅酶分子对接）,充分分析数据库资源,找到了一些可能影响XR酶活性或辅酶依赖性的关键氨基酸。毕赤氏酵母XR与NADP之间有Lys21（K）、Val222（V）、Glu223（E）、Phe236（F）和Thr273（T）;毕赤氏酵母XR与NAD之间有Val222（V）、Glu223（E）、Phe236（F）、Glu237（E）和Thr273（T）;热带假丝酵母XR与NADP之间有Asn278（N）和Arg282（R）。对比两种辅酶与毕赤氏酵母XR形成氢键的氨基酸,如果使毕赤氏酵母XR只与辅酶NAD结合,则可以将Lys21替换成其它的氨基酸,因Lys21在所有XR序列中完全保守,需要进行氨基酸替代模拟计算预实验,在确保酶三维结构不变及NAD可以结合XR的前提条件下替代Lys21;如果使毕赤氏酵母XR只与辅酶NADP结合,则可以将Glu237（不完全保守）替换成其它的氨基酸。另外,还可以根据需要将这些形成氢键的氨基酸进行组合替代。要改变热带假丝酵母XR的NADP依赖性,可以替代Asn278（N）和/或Arg282（R）（不完全保守）。本研究为进一步酶的理性设计（提高活性及改变辅酶依赖性）并在分子水平上对木糖还原酶进行改造打下了基础。     

Functional modulation of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor by tyrosine phosphorylation

Tyrosine-specific protein phosphorylation has been implicated in the regulation of cell transformation and proliferation. However, recent studies have shown that the expression of protein tyrosine kinases in adult brain is very high, suggesting that tyrosine-specific protein phosphorylation may also have a role in the regulation of neuronal function. Although a number of substrate proteins are phosphorylated on tyrosine residues, the functional alteration of proteins by tyrosine phosphorylation has previously been convincingly demonstrated only for protein tyrosine kinases. The nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, a neurotransmitter-gated ion channel, is phosphorylated by a protein tyrosine kinase in post-synaptic membranes in vitro and in vivo. We demonstrate here that this tyrosine phosphorylation increases the rate of the rapid phase of desensitization of the nicotinic receptor, as measured by single channel recording of purified nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, when reconstituted in lipid vesicles. These data provide direct evidence for the regulation of ion channel properties by tyrosine phosphorylation. The results, which demonstrate a functional role of tyrosine phosphorylation in the nervous system, suggest a widespread role for tyrosine phosphorylation in neuronal signal transduction.     

Quaternary structure of the acetylcholine receptor

The five membrane-spanning subunits of the acetylcholine receptor have been resolved in electron microscope images and are shown to lie at pentagonally symmetrical positions around the channel over a large fraction of their length. The channel consists of a wide synaptic portion and a narrow portion extending through the membrane into the interior of the cell.     

Homology of Ti alpha-subunit of a T-cell antigen-MHC receptor with immunoglobulin

Human T-cell receptors for antigen and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) determinants have now been defined on inducer, suppressor, and class 1 and class 2 MHC-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes as T3-associated clonotypic molecules (Ti) of relative molecular mass 90,000 (90K) composed of one 49-54K alpha- and one 43K beta-subunit which are disulphide-linked. In the case of the Ti beta-subunit, N-terminal amino acid sequencing and molecular cloning techniques led recently to identification of the Ti beta-gene and showed that T-specific V, D, J and C segments fuse to form an active beta-gene. So far, however, there have been little structural data available on the Ti alpha-subunit. Here we have derived the amino acid sequence of a portion of the Ti alpha-subunit by CNBr fragmentation. Sequence analysis reveals approximately 40% homology between the Ti alpha-subunit fragment and the third framework of the variable region of immunoglobulin light and heavy chains, supporting the notion that the Ti alpha-subunit is a member of the immunoglobulin-Ti beta-gene family.     

烟碱型乙酰胆碱受体激动剂的3D-QSAR研究

对34个烟碱型乙酰胆碱受体激动剂采用比较分子场分析法(CoMFA)进行了结构与活性的关系研究,构建了CoMFA模型,该模型交叉验证相关系数为0.540,非交叉验证相关系数为0.952,证明该模型有较好的拟合能力和预报能力.通过等势图直观地给出了分子周围立体场(38.4 %)和静电场(61.6 %)对化合物活性的影响,为设计高活性的杀虫剂提供了理论依据.     

Immunochemical tests of acetylcholine receptor subunit models

Acetylcholine receptors of fish electric organs and mammalian skeletal muscle comprise four structurally homologous glycoprotein subunits in the mole ratio alpha 2 beta gamma delta (refs 1-4). All four subunits have leader sequences and are exposed on both sides of the membrane. From amino acid sequencing, three groups have predicted that each subunit has four hydrophobic alpha-helical transmembranous domains. Because the N-terminus of each subunit is thought to remain on the extracellular surface after cleavage of the leader sequence, this model predicts that the N- and C- termini are both on the extracellular side. An alternative model proposed by two other groups predicts that there is, in addition, a fifth amphipathic transmembranous domain which would place the C-terminus on the cytoplasmic side. Here, using anti-subunit sera and monoclonal antibodies and their reaction with synthetic subunit peptides, we demonstrate that the C-terminus is in fact on the cytoplasmic surface. We also show that, contrary to other predictions, the most hydrophilic sequence on the extracellular domain of alpha-subunits is not the main immunogenic region.     

Accurate prediction of the stability and activity effects of site-directed mutagenesis on a protein core.

Theoretical prediction of the structure, stability and activity of proteins, an important unsolved problem in molecular biology, would be of use for guiding site-directed mutagenesis and other protein-engineering techniques. X-ray diffraction studies have provided extensive structural information for many proteins, challenging theorists to develop reliable techniques able to use such knowledge as a base for prediction of mutants' characteristics. Here we report theoretical calculation of stabilization energies for 78 triple-site sequence variants of lambda repressor characterized experimentally by Lim and Sauer. The calculated energies correlate with the mutants' measured activities; active and inactive mutations are discriminated with 92% reliability. They correlate even more directly with the mutants' thermostabilities, correctly identifying two of the mutants to be more stable than the wild type.     

P137G点突变对嗜热细菌木糖异构酶酶活性及热稳定性的影响

利用重叠延伸法对嗜热细菌（Thermus thermphilus）的木糖异构酶基因xylA进行体外P137G定点突变，通过酿酒酵母表达载体XM204将突变基因xylA137引入酿酒酵母H158中，得到重组菌株H158 XI137. 酶活分析表明，H158 XI137在中温条件下的酶活有很大的提高，与对照菌株H158 XI相比，30?℃时的酶活提高1倍，并且拓宽了最适反应pH，但是其热稳定性大大降低. 结果表明，嗜热细菌木糖异构酶137位的Pro对维持其热稳定性起到重要的作用，并且对其酶学性质有很大的影响.