Different patterns of agonist-induced modulation of α1B-adrenoceptor density at different initial expression levels

We compared the norepinephrine (NE) induced α_1B-adrenoceptor (α_1B-AR) expression modulation between two transfected human embryonic kidney (MEK) 293 cell lines in which α_1B-AR densities were (6 336 ± 913) and (773 ± 164) fmol ▪ mg¹, respectively. Treatment of cells with NE (10 μmol ▪ L₁) for 48 h decreased high-level expressed α_1B-AR density, but increased low-level expressed α_1B-AR density. The protein kinase C inhibitor Calphostin C or Ro-31-8220 reversed, and its activator PMA mimicked the NE-induced down-regulation of high-level expressed α_1B-AR. Moreover, PMA induced a down-regulation of low-level expressed α_1B-AR. The endoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺-ATPase inhibitor cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) and the calcium chelator BAPTA/AM did not affect the down-regulation of high-level expressed α_1B-AR, but inhibited the up-regulation of low-level expression α_1B-AR induced by NE. These results suggest that α_1B-adrenoceptor densities at different initial expression levels are differentially regulated by NE and their signal transduction pathways are different.     

乙烯信号转导通路研究

作为5大类植物激素之一的乙烯一直是科学家关注和研究的焦点。虽然结构简单,但是气态激素乙烯在植物的生长发育以及胁迫反应中具有重要的作用。通过近20年的研究,科学家已经描绘出一条近似线性的乙烯信号转导通路。在模式植物拟南芥中,这条通路的最上游是由一个多基因家族编码的乙烯的5个受体ETR1, ETR2, ERS1, ERS2和EIN4。与之相结合并共同定位于内质网上的是一个类似Raf的蛋白激酶CTR1。在没有乙烯存在的条件下,受体和CTR1的结合能够协同抑制下游乙烯信号。在这两类负调控因子的下游是乙烯信号的正调控因子EIN2。如果EIN2基因突变,即使有高浓度乙烯存在,植物黄化苗也将表现出完全的乙烯不敏感表型,显示出EIN2在乙烯信号通路中的核心地位。在EIN2的下游是乙烯信号的转录因子家族EIN3以及EILs,它们在响应乙烯信号之后会起始乙烯相关基因的表达。研究还发现,乙烯的转录因子受泛素化降解途径调控,负责识别及结合EIN3等转录因子的F box蛋白是EBF1和EBF2。EIN5是一种5’→3’外切核酸酶,它能够通过促进EBF1和EBF2的mRNA的降解来拮抗这两个F box蛋白对EIN3的负反馈调控。最近,有研究表明EIN2同样是一个半衰期很短并经由泛素化降解途径调控的蛋白,而执行调控EIN2任务的是另外两个F box蛋白ETP1和ETP2。虽然人们对于乙烯信号转导通路的认识取得了巨大进步,但是该信号通路的精细调节机制以及乙烯信号与其他植物激素信号之间的交叉反应还需进行更为深入的研究。     

T细胞受体激活过程模拟

对免疫系统T细胞受体结合外源多肽段后诱导的一系列受体磷酸化反应过程进行了系统的理论模拟。T细胞受体对于不同外源分子产生敏感而特异的反应, 可以由动力学校验模型进行解释。拓展了早期的动力学校验模型, 放宽和改进了原有模型对去磷酸化速率和以固定顺序进行受体磷酸化这两方面的假设, 得到了更一般的反应网络模型, 从数学模拟角度很好的满足和解释了生理上T细胞所表现出的对外源分子识别的敏感性、特异性和激活时间短等重要性质。     

The role of calcium in aggregation and development ofDictyostelium

Changes in cytosolic Ca²⁺ play an important role in a wide array of cell types and the control of its concentration depends upon the interplay of many cellular constituents. Resting cells maintain cytosolic calcium ([Ca²⁺]_i) at a low level in the face of steep gradients of extracellular and sequestered Ca²⁺. Many different signals can provoke the opening of calcium channels in the plasma membrane or in intracellular compartments and cause rapid influx of Ca²⁺ into the cytosol and elevation of [Ca²⁺]_i. After such stimulation Ca²⁺ ATPases located in the plasma membrane and in the membranes of intracellular stores rapidly return [Ca²⁺]_i to its basal level. Such responses to elevation of [Ca²⁺]_i are a part of an important signal transduction mechanism that uses calcium (often via the binding protein calmodulin) to mediate a variety of cellular actions responsive to outside influences.     

Chemoelectrical signal transduction in olfactory sensory neurons of air-breathing vertebrates

When odorants bind to the sensory cilia of olfactory sensory neurons, the cells respond with an electrical output signal, typically a short train of action potentials. This review describes the present state of knowledge about the olfactory signal transduction process. In the last decade, a set of transduction molecules has been identified which help to explain many aspects of the sensory response. Odor-induced second-messenger production, activation of transduction channels, the central role of the ciliary Ca²⁺ concentration, as well as mechanisms that mediate adaptation, are all qualitatively understood on the basis of a consistent scheme for chemoelectrical transduction. This scheme, although necessarily incomplete, can serve as a working model for further experimentation which may reveal kinetical aspects of signal transduction processes in olfactory sensory neurons.     

Roles of MAP kinase signaling pathway in oocyte meiosis

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) is a family of Ser/Thr protein kinases expressed widely in eukaryotic cells. MAPK is activated by a cascade of protein kinase phosphorylation and plays pivotal roles in regulating meiosis process in oocytes. As an important physical substrate of MAPK, p90^rsk mediates numerous MAPK functions. MAPK was activated at G2/M transition during meiosis. Its activity reached the peak at MⅠ stage and maintained at this level until the time before the pronuclear formation after fertilization. There is complex interplay between MAPK and MPF in the meiosis regulation. Furthermore, other intracellular signal transducers, such as cAMP, protein kinase C and protein phosphotase, ect., also regulated the activity of MAPK at different stages during meiosis in oocytes. In the present article, the roles of MAPK signaling pathway in oocyte meiosis are reviewed and discussed.     

Advances in G-protein coupled receptor research and related bioinformatics study

G-protein coupled recptor(GPCR) is one of the most important protein families for drug target.GPCR agonists and antagonists occupy approximately one third of the world small molecule drug market,Much effort has been invested in GPCR study by both academic institutions and pharmaceutical industries,With seven-transmembrane domains,GPCR plays significant roles in intercellular signal transduction and is involved in a variety of biological pathways.With the availability of sequence data of human and other mammalian genomes,as well as their expressed sequence tag (EST) data,the bioniformatics and genomics approaches can be applied to identifying novel GPCR in the post genomic era .Deorphanizing GPCR or matching ligands with GPCR greatly faciltiates traget validation process and automatically provides a possible compound screening assay ,Similarly,Bioinformatics data mining approach could also be applied to the indentification of GPCR peptided or protein ligands,Here we give a general review of recent advances in the study of GPCR structure,function ,as well as GPCR and ligand identification with the emphasis on the bioinformatics database mining of GPCR and their peptide of protein ligands.     

植物抗病信号传导途径及其相互作用

植物与病原物长期的互作过程中产生了一系列的防卫反应，其中系统获得性抗性(Systemic Acquired Resistance,SAR)和诱导性系统抗性（Induced Systemic Resistance,ISR)是植物抗病信号传导途径中的两 种重要形式。它们分别由植物内源信号分子SA和JA／Et作介导，两种信号的传导途径之间既相互独立相互联系，协同作用，从而使植物出对自身伤害最小却又最有有效的防卫反应。笔就SA－领带性信号传导途径和SA－非领带性信号传导途径的分子生学研究进展，以及两种信号传导途径间的相互作用等方面进行了综述。     

MAPK信号转导通路与HCMV感染

MAPK信号转导通路参与了HCMV的感染过程.MAPK通路中的ERK和p38通路在HCMV复制周期中起重要作用,它通过磷酸化转录因子引起病毒及宿主相关基因的转录,从而调控HCMV的复制.HCMV的包膜糖蛋白及其他多种基因表达产物可通过不同的机制以一定时序激活MAPK通路,调节自身及宿主细胞相应基因表达,以利于病毒完成其生活周期,并参与病毒的致病过程.深入研究MAPK信号转导通路与HCMV感染的关系可为治疗HCMV感染引起的疾病提供新的治疗靶点.