Heterologous expression of G-protein-coupled receptors: comparison of expression systems from the standpoint of large-scale production and purification

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are of prime importance for cell signal transduction mechanisms and are the target of many current and potential drugs. However, structural data on these membrane proteins is still scarce because of their low natural abundance and the low efficiency of most of the expression systems currently available. This review presents the most important expression systems currently employed for heterologous expression of GPCRs; Escherichia coli, yeast, insect cells and mammalian cells. After briefly recalling the specificity, advantages and limitations of each system, particular emphasis is put on the quantitative comparison of these expression systems in terms of overall expression yield, and on the influence of various factors (primary sequence, origin, cell type, N- and C-terminal tags) on the results.     

Amphipols: polymeric surfactants for membrane biology research

Membrane proteins classically are handled in aqueous solutions as complexes with detergents. The dissociating character of detergents, combined with the need to maintain an excess of them, frequently results in more or less rapid inactivation of the protein under study. Over the past few years, we have endeavored to develop a novel family of surfactants, dubbed amphipols (APs). APs are amphiphilic polymers that bind to the transmembrane surface of the protein in a noncovalent but, in the absence of a competing surfactant, quasi-irreversible manner. Membrane proteins complexed by APs are in their native state, stable, and they remain water-soluble in the absence of detergent or free APs. An update is presented of the current knowledge about these compounds and their demonstrated or putative uses in membrane biology.     

Protein folding and degradation in bacteria: to degrade or not to degrade? That is the question

In Escherichia coli protein quality control is carried out by a protein network, comprising chaperones and proteases. Central to this network are two protein families, the AAA+ and the Hsp70 family. The major Hsp70 chaperone, DnaK, efficiently prevents protein aggregation and supports the refolding of damaged proteins. In a special case, DnaK, together with the assistance of the AAA+ protein ClpB, can also refold aggregated proteins. Other Hsp70 systems have more specialized functions in the cell, for instance HscA appears to be involved in the assembly of Fe/S proteins. In contrast to ClpB, many AAA+ proteins associate with a peptidase to form proteolytic machines which remove irreversibly damaged proteins from the cellular pool. The AAA+ component of these proteolytic machines drives protein degradation. They are required not only for recognition of the substrate but also for substrate unfolding and translocation into the proteolytic chamber. In many cases, specific adaptor proteins modify the substrate binding properties of AAA+ proteins. While chaperones and proteases do not appear to directly cooperate with each other, both systems appear to be necessary for proper functioning of the cell and can, at least in part, substitute for one another. RID="*" ID="*"Corresponding author.     

Evidence of undiscovered cell regulatory mechanisms: phosphoproteins and protein kinases in mitochondria

The finding that mitochondria contain substrates for protein kinases lead to the discovery that protein kinases are located in the mitochondria of certain tissues and species. These include pyruvate dyhydrogenase kinase, branched-chain α-ketoacid dehydrogenase kinase, protein kinase A, protein kinase Cδ, stress-activated kinase and A-Raf as well as unidentified kinases. Recent evidence suggests that mitochondrial protein kinases may be involved in physiological processes such as apoptosis and steroidogenesis. Additionally, the novel finding of low-molecular-weight GTP-binding proteins in mitochondria suggests the possibility that these may interact with mitochondrial protein kinases to regulate the activity of mitochondrial effector proteins. The fact that there are components of cellular regulatory systems in mitochondria indicates the exciting possibility of undiscovered systems regulating mitochondrial physiology. Received 19 June 2001; received after revision 7 August 2001; accepted 8 August 2001     

新发现和正在研究中的细胞凋亡蛋白抑制剂(综述)

自从杆状病毒中分离出凋亡蛋白抑制剂 (inhibitorofapoptosisproteins ,IAPs)后 ,发现的凋亡蛋白抑制剂的种类和数量逐渐增多。迄今为止 ,在人体新发现的IAPs有HIAP - 1(humanIAP -1)、HIAP - 2 (humanIAP - 2 )、XIAP(Xchromosome -likedIAP)、ML -IAP(melanocytesIAP)、Survivin和Livin等。对IAPs的发现、定位、结构、分布和作用等方面的研究进展进行介绍     

不同年龄小白鼠全脑不溶蛋白凝胶等电聚焦比较分析

用含有酵母tRNA和小白鼠氨酰tRNA合成酶的异源检测体系,测定到小白鼠脑组织的氨酰tRNA合成酶,运载氨基酸tRNA的活力,随小白鼠年龄和不同氨基酸而异,是否小白鼠全脑的不溶蛋白,也随年龄而有变化。作者用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶等电聚焦技术,对小白鼠全脑的不溶蛋白进行了测定。根据凝胶等电聚焦图谱证实,不同年龄小白鼠全脑不溶蛋白的主要组分是相似的,但在530毫微米波长处的吸光值有明显的差异。这种变化结果是否与该组分的氨基酸组成及其含量有关,有待进一步探究。     

植物热激蛋白研究进展

热激蛋白是一类在有机体受到高温等逆境刺激后大量表达的蛋白,主要参与生物体内新生肽的运输、折叠、组装、定位以及变性蛋白的复性和降解,是细胞内含量最丰富的蛋白质之一,已成为当今分子生物学、蛋白质生物化学和植物抗逆生理学的一个重要研究内容.论述了植物热激蛋白的研究概况、合成及分布、生物学功能、基因表达调控,提出植物热激蛋白今后的研究方向。     

热激蛋白的分子进化研究

热激蛋白是细胞内含量最丰富的蛋白质之一,在各种生物体内广泛分布.近年来对热激蛋白的研究已深入到结构、性质、功能等各面,其研究主要集中在:1)作为分子伴侣协助细胞内肽链的折叠;2)参与MHCⅠ类的分子呈递;3)使抗原通过内吞作用进入靶细胞;4)肿瘤免疫和分子疫苗开发.然而,虽然热激蛋白的研究已成为医学、生物学上的热点,其在分子进化上的研究也日渐增多,但这方面的报道仍然较少,本文主要从热激蛋白分子进化方面作一综述,这对理论研究、生物进化分析上都有着重要的意义.     

不同皮革蛋白的开发利用研究

对不同动物源的铬鞣皮渣及其碱水解产物--皮革蛋白进行了营养成分的分析,并比较了皮革蛋白的体外消化率.结果表明,不同动物源的铬鞣皮渣和皮革蛋白在粗蛋白含量和氨基酸组成方面存在明显差异;不同皮革蛋白均具有良好的消化性,以猪皮蛋白消化性最好,其次为牛皮蛋白,羊皮蛋白的消化性最差.     

Biogenic nanostructured silica

Silicon is by far the most abundant element in the earth crust and also is an essential element for higher plants, yet its biology and mechanisms in plant tolerance of biotic and abiotic stresses are poorly understood. Based on the molecular mechanisms of the biosilicification in marine organisms such as diatoms and sponges, the cell wall template-mediated self-assembly of nanostructured silica in marine organisms and higher plants as well as the related organic molecules are discussed. Understanding of the templating and structure-directed effects of silicon-processing organic molecules not only offers the clue for synthesizing silicon-based materials, but also helps to recognize the anomaly of silicon in plant biology.