Depletion of phosphatidylglycerol head-group induces changes in oxygen evolution and protein secondary structures of photosystemⅡ

The techniques of oxygen electrode polarography and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy were employed to explore the roles of polar head-group of phosphatidylglycerol (PG) molecules in the functional and structural aspects of photosystemⅡ(PSⅡ) through enzymatic approach. It was shown that the depletion of PG by treatment of phospholipase C (PLC) on PSⅡ particles caused the inhibition of oxygen evolving activity in PSⅡ. This effect also gave rise to changes in the protein secondary structures of PSⅡ, that is, an increase in α-helical conformation which is compensated by the loss of β-strand structures. It revealed that the head-group of PG molecules plays an important structural role in the maintenance of normal structure of PSⅡ proteins, which is required to maintain the appropriate physiological activity of the PSⅡ complex such as the oxygen evolving activity. It is suggested that there most probably exist hydrogen-bonding interactions between PG molecules and PSⅡ proteins.     

Protein kinase TTK interacts and co-localizes with CENP-E to the kinetochore of human cells

Spindle checkpoint is an important biochemical signaling cascade during mitosis which monitors the fidelity of chromosome segregation, and is mediated by protein kinases Mps1 and Bub1/BubR1. Our recent studies show that kinesin-related motor protein CENP-E interacts with BubR1 and participates in spindle checkpoint signaling. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying spindle checkpoint signaling, we carried out proteomic dissection of human cell kinetochore and revealed protein kinase TTK, human homologue of yeast Mps1. Our studies show that TTK is localized to the kinetochore of human cells, and interacts with CENP-E, suggesting that TTK may play an important role in chromosome segregation during mitosis.     

去除后肢神经支配对大鼠骨骼肌中钠钾腺苷酶各亚基表达的影响

检测了去除神经支配的大鼠后肢和对侧的对照后肢骨骼肌中钠钾腺苷酶(Na—K—ATPase)各亚基的蛋白质和mRNA的表达，结果表明，去除后肢神经支配4d，在红色骨骼肌中α2和β1亚基的蛋白质表达显著下降(分别下降了46％和77％)，在红色腓肠肌和比目鱼肌中，α2亚基的mRNA水平分别下降了29％和39％，β1亚基的mRNA水平分别下降了80％和52％，在白色骨骼肌中α2亚基的蛋白质和mRNA水平无显著变化；在红色和白色骨骼肌中，α1亚基的蛋白质表达分别增加了20％和15％，同时伴随着更大幅度的mRNA水平的增加，而β2亚基的蛋白质表达未发生显著变化，其mRNA水平在红色腓肠肌中也无显著变化，但在白色腓肠肌中减少了59％．这些结果证实，在去除神经支配的大鼠骨骼肌中，钠钾腺苷酶各亚基的表达受转录和转录后调控，与已报道的胰岛素特异性诱导α2和β1亚基向细胞膜转移的研究结果相吻合．实验中仅α2和β1亚基的蛋白质表达显著下降暗示，在大鼠骨骼肌中，由于去除神经支配造成的胰岛素抵抗使原本受胰岛素调节的钠钾腺苷酶亚基的表达机制受到破坏．     

The composition and distribution of metal clusters in the MoFe protein from a nifZ deletion strain （DJ 194） of Azotobacter vinelandii

Through the anaerobic chromatography on the columns of DEAE 52, Q-Sepharose and Sephacryl S-200, a nitrogenase MoFe protein (△nifZ Av1) was obtained from a nifZ deleted mutant of Azotobacter vinelandii (stain DJ194).The results of Western blotting after anoxic native electrophoresis and SDS-PAGE showed that △nifZ Av1 was similar to wild type MoFe protein (OP Av1) at the electrophoretic mobility, molecular weight and subunit composition. Furthermore, △nifZ Avl was also similar to OP Av1 at the molybdenum content, EPR signal (g≈4.3, 3.65 and 2.01), and the molar extinction coefficient (△ε) of circular dichroism (CD)at 660 nm region. All of these indicated that, besides having the same α2β2 composition as OP Av1, the △nifZ Av1 also contained equal amount of reductive FeMoco in the spin state of S=3/2 to OP Av1. However, the iron content and substrate (C2H2, H^ and N2)-reduction activity of △nifZ Av1 were 74% and 46%-50% of those of OP Av1, respectively. Furthermore, the △ε at around 450 nm, which reflects P-cluster in Av1, was obviously lower than that of OP Av1. It suggested that the difference between △nifZ Avl and OP Av1 resulted from P-cluster rather than FeMoco, and from the half number of P-cluster in △nifZ Av1, but the composition or redoxstate of P-cluster in △nifZ Av1 were not changed. Thus it could propose that △nifZ Av1 is composed of two different αβsubunit pairs. One is a FeMoco-and P-cluster-containing pair, and the other is a P-cluster-deficient but FeMoco-containing pair. Since the deletion of nifZ gene leads to the deficiency of only one of two P-clusters in a α2β2 tetramer, the assembly of P-cluster may not simply depend on one gene product, and so a possible mechanism of NifZ is supposed here.     

Molecular guardians for newborn proteins: ribosome-associated chaperones and their role in protein folding

A central dogma in biology is the conversion of genetic information into active proteins. The biosynthesis of proteins by ribosomes and the subsequent folding of newly made proteins represent the last crucial steps in this process. To guarantee the correct folding of newly made proteins, a complex chaperone network is required in all cells. In concert with ongoing protein biosynthesis, ribosome-associated factors can interact directly with emerging nascent polypeptides to protect them from degradation or aggregation, to promote folding into their native structure, or to otherwise contribute to their folding program. Eukaryotic cells possess two major ribosome-associated systems, an Hsp70/Hsp40-based chaperone system and the functionally enigmatic NAC complex, whereas prokaryotes employ the Trigger Factor chaperone. Recent structural insights into Trigger Factor reveal an intricate cradle-like structure that, together with the exit site of the ribosome, forms a protected environment for the folding of newly synthesized proteins. Received 29 June 2005; received after revision 4 August 2005; accepted 18 August 2005     

The plant thioredoxin system

Thioredoxins are small proteins catalyzing thiol-disulfide interchange and are involved in the regulation of the redox environment of the cell. In plants, the thioredoxin system is particularly complex since at least 20 thioredoxin isoforms are found in the plant model Arabidopsis thaliana. Based upon primary sequence analysis and subcellular localization, thioredoxins can be classified into different groups and subgroups. Different pathways allowing thioredoxin reduction also coexist in the plant involving ferredoxin-thioredoxin reductase, thioredoxin reductases and the glutathione/glutaredoxin system. This review discusses the literature of plant thioredoxins with emphasis on recent findings in the field.Received 7 July 2004; received after revision 11 August 2004; accepted 17 August 2004     

Arginine-rich cell penetrating peptides: from endosomal uptake to nuclear delivery

Delivery of macromolecules into living cells by arginine-rich cell penetrating peptides (AR-CPPs) is an important new avenue for the development of novel therapeutic strategies. However, to date the mechanism of this delivery remains elusive. Recent data implicate endocytosis in the internalization of AR-CPPs and their macromolecular cargo and also indicate limited delivery of macromolecules into the cell cytoplasm and nucleus. Different types of endocytosis – clathrin-dependent endocytosis, raft/caveolin-dependent endocytosis and macropinocytosis – are all implicated in the uptake of AR-CPPs and their cargo into different cells. Cationic AR-CPPs dramatically increase uptake of conjugated molecules through efficient binding to surface proteoglycans. Whether this increase in binding can assure delivery of a sufficient amount of functionally active macromolecules into the cytoplasm and nucleus or whether there is a specific mechanism by which AR-CPPs facilitate the escape of conjugated cargo from endosomes remains to be understood. Received 30 June 2005; received after revision 9 August 2005; accepted 30 August 2005     

Evidence for a novel racemization process of an asparaginyl residue in mouse lysozyme under physiological conditions

We examined chemical reactions in mouse lysozyme after incubation under physiological conditions (pH 7 and 37°C). After incubation for 8 weeks, racemization was observed specifically at Asn127 among the 19 Asp/Asn residues in mouse lysozyme. Furthermore, analysis of the primary structure showed that the racemized residue was not Asp, but Asn, which demonstrates that deamidation and isomerization did not occur. These results mean that this racemization occurs without forming a succinimide intermediate. This is the first example of D-asparaginyl formation in a protein occurring during the racemization process under physiological conditions.Received 16 September 2004; received after revision 26 October 2004; accepted 12 November 2004