Redox regulation of germline and vulval development in Caenorhabditis elegans

In vitro studies have indicated that reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the oxidation of signaling molecules are important mediators of signal transduction. We have identified two pathways by which the altered redox chemistry of the clk-1 mutants of Caenorhabditis elegans acts in vivo on germline development. One pathway depends on the oxidation of an analog of vertebrate low density lipoprotein (LDL) and acts on the germline through the Ack-related tyrosine kinase (ARK-1) kinase and inositol trisphosphate (IP3) signaling. The other pathway is the oncogenic ras signaling pathway, whose action on germline as well as vulval development appears to be modulated by cytoplasmic ROS.     

PML regulates apoptosis at endoplasmic reticulum by modulating calcium release

The promyelocytic leukemia (PML) tumor suppressor is a pleiotropic modulator of apoptosis. However, the molecular basis for such a diverse proapoptotic role is currently unknown. We show that extranuclear Pml was specifically enriched at the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and at the mitochondria-associated membranes, signaling domains involved in ER-to-mitochondria calcium ion (Ca(2+)) transport and in induction of apoptosis. We found Pml in complexes of large molecular size with the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor (IP(3)R), protein kinase Akt, and protein phosphatase 2a (PP2a). Pml was essential for Akt- and PP2a-dependent modulation of IP(3)R phosphorylation and in turn for IP(3)R-mediated Ca(2+) release from ER. Our findings provide a mechanistic explanation for the pleiotropic role of Pml in apoptosis and identify a pharmacological target for the modulation of Ca(2+) signals.     

IP3 receptor types 2 and 3 mediate exocrine secretion underlying energy metabolism

Type 2 and type 3 inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors (IP3R2 and IP3R3) are intracellular calcium-release channels whose physiological roles are unknown. We show exocrine dysfunction in IP3R2 and IP3R3 double knock-out mice, which caused difficulties in nutrient digestion. Severely impaired calcium signaling in acinar cells of the salivary glands and the pancreas in the double mutants ascribed the secretion deficits to a lack of intracellular calcium release. Despite a normal caloric intake, the double mutants were hypoglycemic and lean. These results reveal IP3R2 and IP3R3 as key molecules in exocrine physiology underlying energy metabolism and animal growth.     

Positive regulation of Itk PH domain function by soluble IP4

Pleckstrin homology (PH) domain-mediated protein recruitment to cellular membranes is of paramount importance for signal transduction. The recruitment of many PH domains is controlled through production and turnover of their membrane ligand, phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP3). We show that phosphorylation of the second messenger inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) into inositol 1,3,4,5-tetrakisphosphate (IP4) establishes another mode of PH domain regulation through a soluble ligand. At physiological concentrations, IP4 promoted PH domain binding to PIP3. In primary mouse CD4+CD8+ thymocytes, this was required for full activation of the protein tyrosine kinase Itk after T cell receptor engagement. Our data suggest that IP4 establishes a feedback loop of phospholipase C-gamma1 activation through Itk that is essential for T cell development.     

苏云金芽孢杆菌Vip3Aa10毒素结合肽的筛选及活性测定

【目的】Vip3A是由苏云金芽孢杆菌(Bacillus thuringiensis)在对数生长期产生并分泌到胞外的对鳞翅目昆虫有较广杀虫谱的毒素,其在敏感昆虫中肠上的结合受体尚未得到鉴定。利用噬菌体展示技术,论文试图从肽库中筛选到能与Vip3A毒素特异性结合的多肽,为研究Vip3A毒素的杀虫模式提供线索。【方法】将构建的pET28a-Vip3Aa10表达质粒转化到大肠杆菌BL21（DE3）中,经IPTG诱导表达后,用亲和纯化的方法制备Vip3Aa10,并用胰蛋白酶活化和离子交换层析进一步纯化。以活化的Vip3Aa10毒素为诱饵,经“吸附-洗脱-扩繁”4轮条件逐渐严格的淘选,从噬菌体随机肽库中筛选能特异性地与活化的Vip3Aa10结合的噬菌体。以筛选到的噬菌体基因组DNA为模板,经PCR扩增和测序,获得插入到噬菌体上的外源基因的序列,并推导出相应多肽的氨基酸序列。将化学合成的多肽与活化的Vip3Aa10一起与甜菜夜蛾(Spodoptera exigua)刷状缘膜囊泡共育后,用免疫印迹方法检测多肽对活化的Vip3Aa10与BBMV结合的影响。将合成的多肽与活化的Vip3Aa10一起涂布在饲料表面,晾干后,每孔放1只1龄的甜菜夜蛾幼虫。6 d后统计昆虫死亡情况。【结果】在25℃条件下用IPTG诱导含pET28a-Vip3Aa10质粒的大肠杆菌BL21（DE3）可以表达出可溶性的Vip3Aa10蛋白。经亲和纯化、胰蛋白酶活化以及离子交换层析后,可得到较纯的活化的Vip3Aa10。以活化的Vip3Aa10为诱饵,经过4轮条件逐渐严格的淘选,从十二肽库中筛选出9条多肽,其中3条多肽的丰度较高,分别命名为P12-1、P12-2和P12-3,从七肽库中筛选出5条多肽,其中1条多肽的丰度较高,命名为P7-1。结合试验和杀虫活性测定试验结果表明,P12-2和P7-1多肽能不同程度地抑制Vip3Aa10与甜菜夜蛾刷状缘膜囊泡的结合,以及抑制Vip3Aa10的杀虫活性。【结论】用噬菌体展示技术筛选的多肽P7-1能显著性地抑制Vip3Aa10与刷状缘膜囊泡的结合,可降低35%以上的Vip3Aa10的杀虫活性。     

肌醇脂质和cAMP在血小板活化因子诱导血小板聚集中的作用

目的：探讨肌醇脂质和cAMP两个细胞内第二信使系统在血小板活化因子(PAF)诱导血小板聚集过程中所起到的作用和相互关系。方法：采用PKC激动剂PMA和Ca^2 通道A23187,以及PKA激动剂Sp-cAMPS和抑制剂Rp-cAMPS干预的方法,分析观察这两个信使系统在PAF诱导血小板聚集过程中的作用;采用^3H—Inositol和^14C-Adenine双标记液体闪烁技术测定PAF诱导血小板可逆聚集过程中肌醇-1,4,5-三磷酸酯(IP3)和cAMP的水平变化的方法,分析研究这两个信使系统在PAF诱导血小板聚集过程中的相互关系。结果：(1)PMA和A23187能分别增强PAF的血小板聚集效应,而且两者具有协同作用;(2)Rp-cAMP和Sp-cAMPS两者本身都不能引起血小板聚集,但能分别增强和抑制PAF的聚集效应;(3)IP3和cAMP的水平变化分别与血小板的聚集和解聚过程一致。结论：(1)肌醇脂质信使系统是细胞内转导PAF诱导血小板聚集的主要胞内信使系统。(2)降低血小板内cAMP浓度不能诱导聚集,但能增强肌醇脂质信使系统的聚集效应;升高cAMP水平能拮抗肌醇脂质信使系统的作用,这可能是使可逆相聚集的血小板解聚的一个重要机制。     

Generation of calcium oscillations in fibroblasts by positive feedback between calcium and IP3

A wide variety of nonexcitable cells generate repetitive transient increases in cytosolic calcium ion concentration ([Ca2+]i) when stimulated with agonists that engage the phosphoinositide signalling pathway. Current theories regarding the mechanisms of oscillation disagree on whether Ca2+ inhibits or stimulates its own release from internal stores and whether inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) and diacylglycerol (DG) also undergo oscillations linked to the Ca2+ spikes. In this study, Ca2+ was found to stimulate its own release in REF52 fibroblasts primed by mitogens plus depolarization. However, unlike Ca2+ release in muscle and nerve cells, this amplification was insensitive to caffeine or ryanodine and required hormone receptor occupancy and functional IP3 receptors. Oscillations in [Ca2+]i were accompanied by oscillations in IP3 concentration but did not require functional protein kinase C. Therefore, the dominant feedback mechanism in this cell type appears to be Ca2+ stimulation of phospholipase C once this enzyme has been activated by hormone receptors.     

Inositol hexakisphosphate is bound in the ADAR2 core and required for RNA editing

We report the crystal structure of the catalytic domain of human ADAR2, an RNA editing enzyme, at 1.7 angstrom resolution. The structure reveals a zinc ion in the active site and suggests how the substrate adenosine is recognized. Unexpectedly, inositol hexakisphosphate (IP6) is buried within the enzyme core, contributing to the protein fold. Although there are no reports that adenosine deaminases that act on RNA (ADARs) require a cofactor, we show that IP6 is required for activity. Amino acids that coordinate IP6 in the crystal structure are conserved in some adenosine deaminases that act on transfer RNA (tRNA) (ADATs), related enzymes that edit tRNA. Indeed, IP6 is also essential for in vivo and in vitro deamination of adenosine 37 of tRNAala by ADAT1.     

Toxicity and binding analyses of Bacillus thuringiensis toxin Vip3A in Cry1Ac-resistant and-susceptible strains of Helicoverpa armigera(Hübner)

The Bacillus thuringiensis vegetative insecticidal protein, Vip3 A, represents a new family of Bt toxin and is currently applied to commercial transgenic cotton. To determine whether the Cry1Ac-resistant Helicoverpa armigera is cross-resistant to Vip3 Aa protein, insecticidal activities, proteolytic activations and binding properties of Vip3 Aa toxin were investigated using Cry1Ac-susceptible(96S) and Cry1Ac-resistant H. armigera strain(Cry1Ac-R). The toxicity of Vip3 Aa in Cry1Ac-R slightly reduced compared with 96 S, the resistance ratio was only 1.7-fold. The digestion rate of full-length Vip3 Aa by gut juice extracts from 96 S was little faster than that from Cry1Ac-R. Surface plasmon resonance(SPR) showed there was no significant difference between the binding affinity of Vip3 Aa and BBMVs between 96 S and Cry1Ac-R strains, and there was no significant competitive binding between Vip3 Aa and Cry1 Ac in susceptible or resistant strains. So there had little cross-resistance between Vip3 Aa and Cry1 Ac,Vip3A+Cry proteins maybe the suitable pyramid strategy to control H. armigera in China in the future.     

植物盐胁迫相关信号转导机制的研究

植物的抗盐反应是一个复杂的过程,受许多基因的调控,外界的高Na＋通过IP3诱导胞内Ca2＋的升高,SOS3接收Ca^2＋信号,激活SOS2的激酶活性,SOS2通过调节位于质膜和液泡膜上的Na＋/H＋反向转运体把Na＋运到体外或液泡中,ABA、ROS、AtHK1、MAPK级联反应和LEA也参与盐胁迫造成的渗透胁迫和损伤的反应过程,但是要通过生物学手段利用盐信号传递过程中一些成分提高作物的抗盐能力,还需要对植物盐胁迫相关信号转导机制进行更加深入的研究.     

Effect of phospholipase C-gamma overexpression on PDGF-induced second messengers and mitogenesis

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) stimulates phospholipase C (PLC) activity and the phosphorylation of the gamma isozyme of PLC (PLC-gamma) in vitro and in living cells. The role of PLC-gamma in the phosphoinositide signaling pathway was addressed by examining the effect of overexpression of PLC-gamma on cellular responses to PDGF. Overexpression of PLC-gamma correlated with PDGF-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of PLC-gamma and with PDGF-induced breakdown of phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2). However, neither bradykinin- nor lysophosphatidic acid-induced phosphoinositide metabolism was enhanced in the transfected cells, suggesting that the G protein-coupled phosphoinositide responses to these ligands are mediated by other PLC isozymes. The enhanced PDGF-induced generation of inositol trisphosphate (IP3) did not enhance intracellular calcium signaling or influence PDGF-induced DNA synthesis. Thus, enzymes other than PLC-gamma may limit PDGF-induced calcium signaling and DNA synthesis. Alternatively, PDGF-induced calcium signaling and DNA synthesis may use biochemical pathways other than phosphoinositide metabolism for signal transduction.     

Phosphorylation of proteins by inositol pyrophosphates

The inositol pyrophosphates IP7 and IP8 contain highly energetic pyrophosphate bonds. Although implicated in various biologic functions, their molecular sites of action have not been clarified. Using radiolabeled IP7, we detected phosphorylation of multiple eukaryotic proteins. We also observed phosphorylation of endogenous proteins by endogenous IP7 in yeast. Phosphorylation by IP7 is nonenzymatic and may represent a novel intracellular signaling mechanism.     

Requirement of inositol pyrophosphates for full exocytotic capacity in pancreatic beta cells

Inositol pyrophosphates are recognized components of cellular processes that regulate vesicle trafficking, telomere length, and apoptosis. We observed that pancreatic beta cells maintain high basal concentrations of the pyrophosphate diphosphoinositol pentakisphosphate (InsP7 or IP7). Inositol hexakisphosphate kinases (IP6Ks) that can generate IP7 were overexpressed. This overexpression stimulated exocytosis of insulin-containing granules from the readily releasable pool. Exogenously applied IP7 dose-dependently enhanced exocytosis at physiological concentrations. We determined that IP6K1 and IP6K2 were present in beta cells. RNA silencing of IP6K1, but not IP6K2, inhibited exocytosis, which suggests that IP6K1 is the critical endogenous kinase. Maintenance of high concentrations of IP7 in the pancreatic beta cell may enhance the immediate exocytotic capacity and consequently allow rapid adjustment of insulin secretion in response to increased demand.     

一种基于报文过滤防御ARP欺骗的系统架构

本研究分析了ARP欺骗的基本原理及其常见的攻击方式;讨论了现有防御方法存在的局限性。在此基础上,提出了一种防御ARP欺骗的构想,并设计和开发了一套基于C/S模式的ARP防御系统软件。该系统以局域网内每台主机都有唯一的IP地址与MAC地址相对应为基础,通过在客户端对接收到的ARP报文进行ARP报文头信息检验和服务器端IP-MAC检验,过滤掉存在安全隐患的报文,来实现局域网内主机对ARP欺骗的防御,从而提高网络安全性。该系统适用于安全性较高的中小型局域网络。     

Essential cytoplasmic translocation of a cytokine receptor-assembled signaling complex

Cytokine signaling is thought to require assembly of multicomponent signaling complexes at cytoplasmic segments of membrane-embedded receptors, in which receptor-proximal protein kinases are activated. Indeed, CD40, a tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) family member, forms a complex containing adaptor molecules TRAF2 and TRAF3, ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme Ubc13, cellular inhibitor of apoptosis proteins 1 and 2 (c-IAP1/2), IkappaB kinase regulatory subunit IKKgamma (also called NEMO), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase kinase MEKK1 upon ligation. TRAF2, Ubc13, and IKKgamma were required for complex assembly and activation of MEKK1 and MAPK cascades. However, these kinases were not activated unless the multicomponent signaling complex translocated from CD40 to the cytosol upon c-IAP1/2-induced degradation of TRAF3. This two-stage signaling mechanism may apply to other innate immune receptors, accounting for spatial and temporal separation of MAPK and IKK signaling.     

Bacillus thuringiensis营养期杀虫蛋白Vip3与其转基因植物研究进展

苏云金芽孢杆菌(Bacillus thuringiensis,Bt)是目前应用最多的生物杀虫剂。它能够产生多种杀虫因子,其中,最主要的是杀虫晶体蛋白(Insecticidal Crystal Proteins,ICPs)和营养期杀虫蛋白(Vegetative insectici-dal protein,Vip)。当前,大部分商业化利用的转基因作物均为杀虫晶体蛋白类,随着这些转基因作物种植面积的扩大,害虫对这些较为单一的杀虫蛋白产生抗性已成为一个严峻的问题。Vip3是Vip杀虫蛋白中的一类,不形成蛋白晶体,和ICPs在进化上没有同源性;其对鳞翅目、鞘翅目和同翅目等害虫具有毒杀作用,抗虫谱较广。目前,已经把Vip3基因导入了水稻、玉米和棉花等多种作物中,为作物抗虫育种、延缓害虫产生抗性和减少作物产量损失等带来新的前景。     

Comparative Analysis of Bacillus thuringiensis Vip3Aa57 and Vip3Aa62 Insecticidal Activities

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) exhibits strong insecticidal activity and is harmless to non-target organisms such as human and animals. Bt becomes the most commonly used environment-friendly insecticidal microorganism. However, the insecticidal activities of different Bt strains variy significantly. Therefore, it is particularly important to compare the insecticidal activities of different strains and explore their insecticidal effector mechanisms to expand Bt insecticidal spectrum and enrich transgenic resources. Here, the insecticidal activities of Vip3Aa57 and Vip3Aa62 strains, carrying vegetative insecticidal protein-encoding genes that were inserted into the expression vector pET-21b and transformed into Escherichia coli Rosetta (DE3) strain, expressing 88 ku protein, were compared. Vip3Aa57 protein reportedly displayed body weight inhibition effect on Spodoptera exigua without affecting Heliothis armigera while Vip3Aa62 protein was known to have strong insecticidal activity against S. exigua (LC50=5.124 ng ? mg-1). A low H. armigera activity (LC50=870.1 ng ? mg-1) was observed. The paraffin sectioning results showed that Vip3Aa57 protein affected S. exigua midgut cell morphology. The laser confocal microscopic imaging results showed that Vip3Aa57 bound to receptors in the midgut without damaging the midgut tissue morphology. This study would be conducive for making full use of Bt strains in the soil to compare the insecticidal activities of different Vip insecticidal genes. It could thus provide significant help in revealing the underlying insecticidal mechanisms of Vip3Aa insecticidal genes, developing new insecticidal proteins and delaying pest resistance problems.     

Highly cooperative opening of calcium channels by inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate

The kinetics of calcium release by inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) in permeabilized rat basophilic leukemia cells were studied to obtain insight into the molecular mechanism of action of this intracellular messenger of the phosphoinositide cascade. Calcium release from intracellular storage sites was monitored with fura-2, a fluorescent indicator. The dependence of the rate of calcium release on the concentration of added IP3 in the 4 to 40 nM range showed that channel opening requires the binding of at least three molecules of IP3. Channel opening occurred in the absence of added adenosine triphosphate, indicating that IP3 acts directly on the channel or on a protein that gates it. The channels were opened by IP3 in less than 4 seconds. The highly cooperative opening of calcium channels by nanomolar concentrations of IP3 enables cells to detect and amplify very small changes in the concentration of this messenger in response to hormonal, sensory, and growth control stimuli.