The DNA-binding properties of the major regulatory protein alpha 4 of herpes simplex viruses

The transition from the expression of alpha, the first set of five herpes simplex virus genes expressed after infection, to beta and gamma genes, expressed later in infection, requires the participation of infected cell protein 4 (alpha 4), the major viral regulatory protein. The alpha 4 protein is present in complexes formed by proteins extracted from infected cells and viral DNA fragments derived from promoter domains. This report shows that the alpha 4 protein forms specific complexes with DNA fragments derived from 5' transcribed noncoding domains of late (gamma 2) genes whose expression requires viral DNA synthesis as well as functional alpha 4 protein. Some of the DNA fragments to which alpha 4 binds do not contain homologs of the previously reported DNA binding site consensus sequence, suggesting that alpha 4 may recognize and interact with more than one type of DNA binding site. The alpha 4 proteins can bind to DNA directly. A posttranslationally modified form of the alpha 4 protein designated alpha 4c differs from the alpha 4a and alpha 4b forms with respect to its affinity for DNA fragments differing in the nucleotide sequences of the binding sites.     

Scissors-grip model for DNA recognition by a family of leucine zipper proteins

C/EBP is a sequence-specific DNA binding protein that regulates gene expression in certain mammalian cells. The region of the C/EBP polypeptide required for specific recognition of DNA is related in amino acid sequence to other regulatory proteins, including the Fos and Jun transforming proteins. It has been proposed that these proteins bind DNA via a bipartite structural motif, consisting of a dimerization interface termed the "leucine zipper" and a DNA contact surface termed the "basic region." An evaluation of the properties of conserved amino acids within the basic region of 11 deduced protein sequences, coupled with the observation that they are located at an invariant distance from the leucine zipper, has led to the formulation of a "scissors-grip" model for DNA binding. The architectural features of this model are well suited for interaction with directly abutted, dyadsymmetric DNA sequences. Data supportive of the model were obtained with chemical probes of protein: DNA complexes.     

Zinc finger-DNA recognition: crystal structure of a Zif268-DNA complex at 2.1 A

The zinc finger DNA-binding motif occurs in many proteins that regulate eukaryotic gene expression. The crystal structure of a complex containing the three zinc fingers from Zif268 (a mouse immediate early protein) and a consensus DNA-binding site has been determined at 2.1 angstroms resolution and refined to a crystallographic R factor of 18.2 percent. In this complex, the zinc fingers bind in the major groove of B-DNA and wrap part way around the double helix. Each finger has a similar relation to the DNA and makes its primary contacts in a three-base pair subsite. Residues from the amino-terminal portion of an alpha helix contact the bases, and most of the contracts are made with the guanine-rich strand of the DNA. This structure provides a framework for understanding how zinc fingers recognize DNA and suggests that this motif may provide a useful basis for the design of novel DNA-binding proteins.     

An ancient developmental induction: heat-shock proteins induced in sporulation and oogenesis

Every eukaryotic and prokaryotic organism tested to date synthesizes a small number of heat-shock proteins in response to heat and other forms of stress. A particular pattern of heat-shock gene expression was observed during ascospore development in Saccharomyces: heat-shock proteins hsp26 and hsp84 were strongly induced nor inducible by heat shock. Instead, two proteins related to hsp70 were induced. A strikingly similar pattern of expression occurs during oogenesis in Drosophila, suggesting that it may be one of the earliest developmental pathways to evolve in eukaryotic cells.     

适配体的研究进程与思考*

 适配体（aptamer）是指利用指数富集的配体系统进化（SELEX）技术，从人工合成的寡核苷酸文库中筛选获得的能够与靶分子特异结合的短单链DNA和RNA分子。筛选得到的适配体可以与DNA，RNA，蛋白质或其它靶分子结合，影响这些靶分子的性质，从而起到改变与靶分子相关的生物学功能的效果。而且研究发现，适配体在与靶分子相互作用时，不仅序列，它们所形成的三维结构也尤其重要。同时，适配体在生物医药研究方面显示出广阔的应用前景。介绍了适配体的发展历程，以及一些典型适配体的生物学功效。提出了RNA适配体三维结构在与靶分子进行相互作用时可能发挥重要作用，以期为RNA适配体的筛选提供理论思考。     

适配体的研究进程与思考

适配体（aptamer）是指利用指数富集的配体系统进化（SELEX）技术，从人工合成的寡核苷酸文库中筛选获得的能够与靶分子特异结合的短单链DNA和RNA分子。筛选得到的适配体可以与DNA，RNA，蛋白质或其它靶分子结合，影响这些靶分子的性质，从而起到改变与靶分子相关的生物学功能的效果。而且研究发现，适配体在与靶分子相互作用时，不仅序列，它们所形成的三维结构也尤其重要。同时，适配体在生物医药研究方面显示出广阔的应用前景。介绍了适配体的发展历程，以及一些典型适配体的生物学功效。提出了RNA适配体三维结构在与靶分子进行相互作用时可能发挥重要作用，以期为RNA适配体的筛选提供理论思考。     

Heat shock is lethal to fibroblasts microinjected with antibodies against hsp70

Synthesis of a small group of highly conserved proteins in response to elevated temperature and other agents that induce stress is a universal feature of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Although correlative evidence suggests that these proteins play a role in enhancing survival during and after stress, there is no direct evidence to support this in mammalian cells. To assess the role of the most highly conserved heat shock protein (hsp) family during heat shock, affinity-purified monoclonal antibodies to hsp70 were introduced into fibroblasts by needle microinjection. In addition to impairing the heat-induced translocation of hsp70 proteins into the nucleus after mild heat shock treatment, injected cells were unable to survive a brief incubation at 45 degrees C. Cells injected with control antibodies survived a similar heat shock. These results indicate that functional hsp70 is required for survival of these cells during and after thermal stress.     

A role for a 70-kilodalton heat shock protein in lysosomal degradation of intracellular proteins

A 73-kilodalton (kD) intracellular protein was found to bind to peptide regions that target intracellular proteins for lysosomal degradation in response to serum withdrawal. This protein cross-reacted with a monoclonal antibody raised to a member of the 70-kD heat shock protein (hsp70) family, and sequences of two internal peptides of the 73-kD protein confirm that it is a member of this family. In response to serum withdrawal, the intracellular concentration of the 73-kD protein increased severalfold. In the presence of adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) and MgCl2, the 73-kD protein enhanced protein degradation in two different cell-free assays for lysosomal proteolysis.     

玉米大斑病菌Homeobox转录因子家族全基因组鉴定及其表达规律分析

【目的】从全基因组水平上鉴定玉米大斑病菌(Setosphaeria turcica)Homeobox转录因子家族及其分布,阐明该家族的序列及进化特征,分析该家族基因在病菌不同生长发育时期的表达规律。【方法】利用生物信息学手段搜索玉米大斑病菌全基因组数据库,鉴定Homeobox转录因子家族;采用MEGA 5.0软件进行系统进化树分析;利用在线工具GSDS(gene structure display server)(http://gsds1.cbi.pku.edu.cn/index.php)绘制基因结构图;利用Clustal X 1.83软件分析Homeobox保守结构域(HOX保守结构域)的氨基酸序列特征;利用SOPMA(https://npsa-prabi.ibcp.fr/cgi-bin/npsa_automat.plpage=npsa_sopma.html)对Homeobox蛋白的二级结构进行在线预测;利用实时荧光定量PCR(q RT-PCR)技术分析Homeobox转录因子家族在病菌不同发育时期的表达模式。【结果】在玉米大斑病菌中鉴定了8个Homeobox转录因子家族成员(St HTF1-8),根据基因结构及系统进化特征将其分为4类;亚细胞定位预测分析表明,这8个蛋白全部定位在细胞核中;该家族成员均含有HOX保守结构域,其二级结构具有特征性的"螺旋-转角-螺旋"(helix-turn-helix)结构;利用q RT-PCR技术对该家族成员在菌丝、分生孢子形成、芽管形成、附着胞及侵入丝形成等5个时期的表达规律分析,发现不同基因在病菌不同发育时期具有不同的表达水平,其中St HTF1在菌丝发育、分生孢子及附着胞形成等3个时期的表达水平相对较高,St HTF3、St HTF4在分生孢子形成时期表达水平最高,St HTF6在芽管形成时期的表达水平最高,St HTF2、St HTF5、St HTF7和St HTF8在附着胞形成时期的表达水平均较高。【结论】玉米大斑病菌包括Homeobox转录因子家族包含8个成员,在进化上分为4大类,全部成员均分布在细胞核内,其编码蛋白质均含有保守的HOX结构域及"螺旋-转角-螺旋"空间结构;该基因家族成员在病菌不同发育时期呈现不同的表达规律。     

Pot1, the putative telomere end-binding protein in fission yeast and humans

Telomere proteins from ciliated protozoa bind to the single-stranded G-rich DNA extensions at the ends of macronuclear chromosomes. We have now identified homologous proteins in fission yeast and in humans. These Pot1 (protection of telomeres) proteins each bind the G-rich strand of their own telomeric repeat sequence, consistent with a direct role in protecting chromosome ends. Deletion of the fission yeast pot1+ gene has an immediate effect on chromosome stability, causing rapid loss of telomeric DNA and chromosome circularization. It now appears that the protein that caps the ends of chromosomes is widely dispersed throughout the eukaryotic kingdom.