用蛋白内源荧光法考察盐溶液中两种外周蛋白构象的变化

作者借助由278nm和295nm光源激发的蛋白质内源荧光分析，考察了在几种盐溶液(甲醇和NaCl，NaCl，脲，三氯乙酸，CaCl2)中23kD，17kD蛋白构象的变化。结果表明，由295nm波长的光激发时，17kD蛋白荧光发射峰位于328nm处和360nm附近，这表明大部分17kD蛋白的Trp^71处于分子内部；23kD蛋白具有326nm荧光发射峰，表明23kD蛋白所含2个色氨酸残基(Trp^34和Trp^168)处于其分子内部的疏水部位。CaCl2、脲、NaCl、三氯乙酸、甲醇和NaCl对17kD和23kD外周蛋白的内源荧光都有影响，其中CaCl2、甲醇和NaCl的影响较大，脲、NaCl的影响相对较小，这反映了两种蛋白在溶液中的构象易发生改变。     

Progresses in studies of nuclear actin

Actin is a protein abundant in cells. Recently, it has been proved to be universally existent in the nuclei of many cell types. Actin and actin-binding proteins, as well as aetin-related proteins, are necessary for the mediation of the conformation and function of nuclear actin, including the transformation of actin between unpolymerized and polymerized, chromatin remodeling, regulation of gene expression and RNA processing as well as RNA transportation. In this paper, we summarized the progresses in the research of nuclear actin.     

An interspecies conserved antigen ofPlasmodium falciparum containing clusters of asparagine residues

An interspecies conservedPlasmodium asparagine rich antigen, designated as ARK26, was isolated by immunoscreeningP. falciparum genomic DNA expression library with mouse convalescent anti-P. yeolii serum. Partial DNA sequence analysis reveals that ARK26 contains clusters of asparagines and no randomly repeated amino acid sequence motifs are observed. A 65×10³ GST fusion protein is expressed by recombinant plasmid PGEX-5X-1 (ARK26) inE. coli C strain ABLE-K. Computer programs predict that two asparagine rich regions are among the possible antigenic epitopes of p37 encoded by ARK26. Interestingly, the sequence of ARK26 displays significant similarity to yeast and several other species’ mitochondrial genes, and its possible function is discussed. Supported by a fellowship offered by International Center for Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology(ICGEB) Ma Donghui: born in 1969, Graduate student     

美国山核桃不定根形成过程中相关蛋白质 的鉴定及功能分析

美国山核桃是扦插后极难生根的树种,为研究其不定根生根机制,利用MALDI-TOF-MS技术对美国山核桃不定根发育关键时期的差异蛋白进行鉴定分析,发现了48个表达相对差异的蛋白点,选择其中18个差异蛋白进行肽质谱指纹分析并进行同源性比较。结果表明,美国山核桃不定根形成的生理过程中产生了差异蛋白质,其中包括了能量代谢相关蛋白、逆境胁迫相关蛋白和信号传递相关蛋白等差异蛋白。分析可知:能量代谢相关蛋白有ATP合成相关酶类、光合作用相关蛋白及烯醇化酶等; 逆境胁迫相关蛋白与热激蛋白同源; 信号传递相关蛋白主要为细胞色素酶类和血红结合蛋白。     

莫诺苷对脑缺血再灌注大鼠海马细胞周期蛋白表达的影响

目的 观察莫诺苷对脑缺血再灌注大鼠细胞周期相关蛋白表达的影响。方法 Sprague-Dawley大鼠用线栓法制备大脑中动脉栓塞(middle cerebral artery occlusion,MCAO)再灌注模型后,随机分为假手术组、模型组、莫诺苷小剂量组(30 mg/kg体质量)、莫诺苷中剂量组(90 mg/kg体质量)、莫诺苷大剂量组(270 mg/kg体质量)。造模7 d后,用Western blot 方法检测大鼠患侧海马细胞周期相关蛋白CyclinD1及CDK6的表达情况。结果 与假手术组相比,模型组CyclinD1蛋白表达显著增加;与模型组相比,莫诺苷中剂量组与大剂量组CyclinD1显著降低。与假手术组相比,模型组CDK6蛋白表达显著增加;与模型组相比,莫诺苷小、中、大三个剂量组CDK6蛋白表达显著降低。结论 莫诺苷能降低大鼠脑缺血再灌注后CyclinD1和CDK6的表达,从而抑制细胞周期相关蛋白的异常激活,发挥神经保护作用。     

分形在蛋白质结构分析中的应用

通过介绍分形原理和方法在蛋白质分子结构分析中的应用,表明用分形的方法不仅可以对蛋白质分子结构的复杂性给予定量地描述,而且为人们进一步认识蛋白质的性质和特征提供一些有益的启示和新的信息。     

Increased assembly of cytoskeletal proteins associated with the transformation of human liver cells into fibroblast-like cells

A topoisomerase II inhibitor, novobiocin, and a deacetylase inhibitor, butyrate, synergistically transformed human liver cells into fibroblast-like cells. This morphological change was associated with an increased production of procollagen type III peptide and a simultaneous assembly of actin, tubulin, vimentin and cytokeratin. Novobiocin and butyrate had no marked effect on the phosphorylation state of cytokeratin proteins, but synergistically enhanced [³H]acetate uptake. From these results, it can be speculated that protein acetylation plays an important role in inducing the assembly of cytoskeletal proteins and the morphological transformation of human liver cells.     

Telomeres and chromosomal instability

Telomeres are distinctive structures, composed of a repetitive DNA sequence and associated proteins, which enable cells to distinguish chromosome ends from DNA double-strand breaks. Telomere alterations, caused by replication-mediated shortening, direct damage or defective telomere-associated proteins, usually generate chromosomal instability, which is observed in senescence and during the immortalization process. In cancer cells, this chromosome instability could be extended by their ability to repair chromosomes and terminate in break-fusion-bridge cycles. Dysfunctional telomeres can be healed by activation of telomerase or by the alternative mechanism of telomere lengthening. Activation of such telomere maintenance mechanisms may help to preserve the integrity of chromosomes even if they play a role in chromosomal instability. This review focuses on molecular processes involved in telomere maintenance and chromosomal instability associated with dysfunctional telomeres in mammalian cells.Received 24 July 2003; received after revision 5 September 2003; accepted 11 September 2003     

Recognition of bacterial peptidoglycan by the innate immune system

The innate immune system recognizes microorganisms through a series of pattern recognition receptors that are highly conserved in evolution. Peptidoglycan (PGN) is a unique and essential component of the cell wall of virtually all bacteria and is not present in eukaryotes, and thus is an excellent target for the innate immune system. Indeed, higher eukaryotes, including mammals, have several PGN recognition molecules, including CD14, Toll-like receptor 2, a family of peptidoglycan recognition proteins, Nod1 and Nod2, and PGN-lytic enzymes (lysozyme and amidases). These molecules induce host responses to microorganisms or have direct antimicrobial effects.Received 15 January 2003; received after revision 28 February 2003; accepted 26 March 2003