罗氏沼虾Toll样受体基因cDNA片段的克隆及序列分析

提取罗氏沼虾(Macrobrachium rosenbergii)上海养殖群体活体鳃、肌肉、肝胰腺、血液和雄性腺5种组织的总RNA;应用RT-PCR技术,从鳃组织中克隆到Toll样受体(TLR)基因部分cDNA序列,并进行生物信息学分析。基因序列分析表明:所得罗氏沼虾TLR基因cDNA序列长1 875 bp,包含1 728 bp的开放阅读框,可编码575个氨基酸残基;该部分TLR是一个跨膜蛋白,存在胞外区LRR、LRR-CT、LRR-NT结构域及关键的胞内区TIR结构域,具备Toll样受体家族的典型结构特征;TIR结构域与凡纳滨对虾(Litopenaeus vannamei)和日本囊对虾(Marsupenaeus japonicus)、中国明对虾(Fenneropenaeus chinensis)、斑节对虾(Penaeus monodon)、中华绒螯蟹(Eriocheir sinensis)、拟穴青蟹(Scylla paramamosian)Toll样受体基因TIR区域的氨基酸序列具有很高的相似性。     

Expression and function of calcium-sensing receptor in mouse embryonic stem cells

AIM: To observe the functional expression of calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) in the mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). METHODS: The expression and distribution of CaSR were detected by Western blotting and immunofluorescence observation in 129 mouse ES-D3 cells. The intracellular concentration of free calcium (［Ca2+］i) was determined by confocal laser scanning microscopy. The cell viability was analyzed by MTT assay and flow cytometry. RESULTS: CaSR protein was expressed in mESCs. Extracellular calcium or neomycin significantly increased the expression of CaSR and ［Ca2+］i. Neomycin increased the cell viability, up-regulated the protein expression of p-ERK2. These effects of neomycin were inhibited by NPS2390. CONCLUSION: CaSR is expressed in mESCs. The activation of CaSR is involved in the proliferation of mESCs.     

Mechanisms of hyperglycemia induced by immunosuppressant FK506

AIM：To investigate the effect of immunosuppressant FK506 on serum glucose in rats and to explore its mechanism. METHODS：Sprague-Dawley rats (n=12) were randomly divided into drug group and normal group. The rats in drug group were intraperitoneally injected with FK506 at dose of 1 mg·kg-1·d-1 and the rats in normal group received saline (1 mL·kg-1·d-1, ip) for 14 d. The fasting weight and fasting glucose were regularly measured every 2 d. Visceral fat was isolated from the rats at the end of experiment. The mRNA expression of adiponectin, leptin, visfatin, resistin, retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors γ (PPAR-γ) was determined by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. The protein expression of PPAR-γ and adiponectin was measured by Western blotting. RESULTS：Compared with normal group, the concentration of fasting blood glucose in model group was significantly increased from the 10th day (P<0.05). At day 14, the fasting blood glucose of the model group increased from (5.10±062) mmol/L to (7.73 ± 0.73) mmol/L. No significant change of blood glucose in normal group between the 10th day and the 14th day ［from (4.66 ± 0.32) mmol/L to (5.80±0.10) mmol/L］ was observed. Compared with normal group, the mRNA expression of PPAR-γ, adiponectin and leptin in the adipose tissue of model group was significantly decreased (P<001), whereas the expression of visfatin, resistin and RBP4 was significantly increased (P<005). Compared with normal group, the expression of PPAR-γ and adiponectin in model group was decreased (P<001). CONCLUSION：FK506 may decrease the expression of PPAR-γ to change the expression of adipocytokines and induce hyperglycemia in rats.     

Comparison of arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase and melatonin receptor type 1B immunoreactivity between young adult and aged canine spinal cord

Melatonin affects diverse physiological functions through its receptor and plays an important role in the central nervous system. In the present study, we compared immunoreactivity patterns of arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT), an enzyme essential for melatonin synthesis, and melatonin receptor type 1B (MT2) in the spinal cord of young adult (2~3 years) and aged (10~12 years) beagle dogs using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. AANAT-specific immunoreactivity was observed in the nuclei of spinal neurons, and was significantly increased in aged dog spinal neurons compared to young adult spinal neurons. MT2-specific immunoreactivity was found in the cytoplasm of spinal neurons, and was predominantly increased in the margin of the neuron cytoplasm in aged spinal cord compared to that in the young adult dogs. These increased levels of AANAT and MT2 immunoreactivity in aged spinal cord might be a feature of normal aging and associated with a feedback mechanism that compensates for decreased production of melatonin during aging.     

Changes in estrogen receptor expression in the chick thymus during late embryonic development

In chickens, although estrogen receptors (ER) are reported to be associated with the immunological processes, detailed information about the differences in ER expression in the tissues related to the development of lymphocytes is not fully known, especially during the developmental stage. To learn more about this immunological relationship, we used semi‐quantitative polymerase chain reaction method to detect the ER expression levels in the thymus tissues of chicks during the developmental stage. Furthermore, ER‐expressing cells were detected by immunohistochemistry. The results of this study show that the expression level of ER increased on embryonic day 16 and decreased on day 20. Furthermore, ER expression was significantly higher in male than in female chickens at day 16. The increased expression on day 16 and decreased level on day 20 were also reproduced in the incidence of immunoreactive cells, although there was a 1‐day delay in the elevated incidence of the cells. This study revealed the changes in ER expression and the incidence of ER‐positive cells in the thymus of chickens during the developmental stage.     

Preparation and comparison of biological properties of recombinant carp (Cyprinus carpio) growth hormone and its Cys-123 to Ala mutant

Carp growth hormone (cGH) cDNA, in which Cys-123 was mutated to Ala, was prepared, transferred to the expression vector, expressed in Escherichia coli and the mutant was purified to homogeneity. The mutation only slightly improved yield of the monomeric fraction, indicating that Cys-123 is not involved in improper refolding. As compared to cGH, the mutant (cGH-C123A) exhibited lower binding affinity toward homologous liver receptors and lower bioactivity in a 3T3-F442A preadipocyte bioassay despite the fact that both hormones exhibited almost identical cross-reactivity with anti-cGH antibodies. These results, along with those of a structural comparison to hGH, suggest that Cys-123 is located in the hydrophobic core of the hormone, and is most likely affecting the conformation of the binding site. Dimeric forms of the hormone and its mutant were less active than their respective monomers. Homologous binding experiments using a carp liver microsomal fraction revealed a single receptor population with Kd = 0.77 nM and B_max = 241 fmol/mg microsomal protein.

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Résumé Un ADN complémentaire (cDNA) de l'hormone de croissance de carpe (cGH), dans lequel l'acide aminé Cys-123 a été muté en Ala, a été préparé, inséré dans un vecteur d'expression, et exprimé dans Escherichia coli. Le mutant a ensuite été purifié jusqu'à homogénéité. La mutation améliore seulement faiblement la production de la fraction monomérique, indiquant que le Cys-123 n'est pas impliqué dans un repliement erroné. Comparé à la cGH, sa forme mutée (cGH-C123A) montre une plus faible affinité de liaison vis à vis de récepteurs hépatiques homologues, et une plus faible activité biologique dans un test réalisé sur des préadipocytes 3T3-F442A; cela en dépit du fait que les deux hormones présentent des réactions croisées presque identiques avec un anticorps anti-cGH polyclonale. Ces résultats, associés à une comparaison à la structure de l'hGH, suggèrent que le Cys-123 est localisé dans la partie hydrophobique de l'hormone, et affecte, le plus vraisemblablement, la conformation du site de liaison. Les formes dimériques de l'hormone et de sa forme mutée sont moins actives que leurs monomères respectifs. Les études de liaison homologue, réalisées avec des fractions microsomales de foie, révèlent une population unique de récepteurs de Kd = 0,77 nM et de B_max = 241 fmol/mg de proteine microsomale.

     

蛋白质磷酸化在油菜素内酯信号通路中的作用

油菜素内酯是植物体内一类重要的类固醇激素,参与调控植物生长发育过程。对拟南芥的大量研究基本阐明了BR信号转导网络中的主要通路。在BR信号转导过程中,蛋白质可逆磷酸化参与了多个重要环节的调控。该文综述了植物体内BR信号转导过程中蛋白质磷酸化的作用。     

茶氨酸溴香酰胺对人肝癌细胞体内外生长的抑制作用

以L-茶氨酸作对照,评估本实验室合成的新颖的茶氨酸衍生物-茶氨酸溴香酰胺（TBrC）对人肝癌HepG2细胞系体内外生长的抑制作用,并初步探究其作用的分子机制。采用MTT法检测不同浓度的TBrC对HepG2细胞体外生长的影响,应用蛋白质印迹法检测解析HepG2细胞中与癌细胞凋亡和生长密切相关蛋白的表达和药物可能作用的分子靶点。此外,建立动物肿瘤模型,与对照组茶氨酸和临床常用抗癌药物五氟尿嘧啶组相比较,评价TBrC对荷瘤裸鼠人肝癌HepG2肿瘤生长的抑制效果。实验结果显示,TBrC抑制人肝癌细胞体内外生长的活性超过其母体化合物茶氨酸分别为3倍和4倍以上,对小鼠生长无明显毒性。TBrC比茶氨酸更显著地抑制肝癌细胞生长因子受体c-Met和抗凋亡的Bcl-2等蛋白的表达;此外,TBrC大大上调促进凋亡的Bax蛋白的表达。TBrC抑制c-Met信号传导通路,下调Bcl-2/Bax蛋白比率可能是其作用的分子机制之一。这些结果提示,TBrC具有广泛应用于临床治疗和（或）辅助治疗人肝癌和其他癌症的潜力。     

牙鲆脑中促性腺激素释放激素受体的克隆和鉴定

GnRH（gonadotropin-releasing hormone）是下丘脑-垂体-性腺轴中重要的十肽信息分子，在所有的脊椎动物的生殖神经内分泌调控中具有重要的作用。GnRH成熟的十肽沿着轴突被运送到下丘脑正中隆起（median eminence）末端，然后进入下丘脑垂体门脉循环（hypothalamo hypophyseal portal circulation）（四足动物）或直接通过轴突末梢（大多数硬骨鱼）把信号传递给刺激性腺的细胞，与特异性受体结合，刺激促性腺激素（GtHs，gonadotropins）的合成与释放，参与脊椎动物繁殖的起始和维持正常生殖功能。伴随着GnRH的研究，研究者对鱼类GnRH受体的研究也越来越感兴趣，牙鲆（Paralichthys olivaceus）是中国重要的海水养殖鱼类，本研究从牙鲆脑组织中克隆得到全长的Type Ⅰ GnRH受体，并对其组织特异性表达作了分析，为牙鲆的神经生殖内分泌研究奠定了一定的基础。 在本研究中，以海水养殖牙鲆为材料，从牙鲆脑组织中采用巢式PCR、5′-和3′-RACE技术克隆得到了1671bp牙鲆促性腺激素释放激素受体（GnRH-R）全长cDNA序列，包括147bp的5′-UTR、1248bp的开放阅读框和276bp的3′-UTR，GenBank登录号是DQ011872。牙鲆GnRH-R和其他物种GnRH-R的氨基酸序列的多序列比对结果显示，其存在许多保守的特征，牙鲆GnRH-R显示有3个主要的功能区域：1个N端胞外结构域（1～44个氨基酸残基）、1个大的跨膜结构域（45～324个氨基酸残基）和1个C端细胞质区域（325～415个氨基酸残基）。空间结构预测显示牙鲆GnRH-R跨膜区域包含7个高度保守的跨膜α螺旋（45—64、76—95、114—135、156—176、207—224、267—286、305—324），这些α螺旋是受体锚定到细胞膜上必需的。 氨基酸序列系统进化分析表明，牙鲆GnRH-R与琥珀鱼GnRH-R1具有高度同源性（85％同源性）。已知的硬骨鱼GnRH—R基因的系统进化分析表明，存在两种类型的GnRH-R基因：Type Ⅰ GnRH—R和Tpye Ⅱ GnRH-R基因。在牙鲆GnRH—R的氨基酸序列中，具有Type Ⅰ GnRH—R共有的典型基序：CAFVT（TMⅢ）和DlLEGKVSHSLTH（TMⅦ开始的序列处），表明克隆得到的牙鲆GnRH-R属于Type Ⅰ GnRH—R。 GnRH-R跨膜α螺旋之间的区域形成了胞内或胞外loops，这些区域参与受体信号转导和肽选择性功能上。牙鲆GnRH-R在TMⅢ的细胞质边界处具有一个保守的DRQSA／（DRXXXI／V）基序，这个基序被认为参与G蛋白偶联信号转导和GnRH肽诱导受体的激活；另一个保守的区域是位于TMⅦ内的NPXXY或DPXXY基序同样存在于牙鲆中（DPVIY），这个基序参与到一些GPCRs（包括GnRH-R）的内在化（internalization），同时这个基序特别是基序中的Tyr残基对于受体激活和信号转导起到关键作用。在第三个胞内loop中，鱼类GnRH—R有个保守的Ala残基（在牙鲆中为Ala^250），其也在G蛋白偶联和受体内在化方面具有重要作用。 在哺乳动物或非哺乳动物GnRH-R中，在第一个和第二个胞外loop之间由2个Cys形成1个保守二硫桥，是受体的正确折叠必需的。和其他的GnRH-R一样，牙鲆GnRH-R在第一个和第二个胞外loop之间存在由2个Cys（Cys^112和Cys^190）可以形成的潜在的二硫桥。这个二硫桥的完全缺失将会影响受体的结构完整性和降低鱼类GnRH—R对GnRH肽的选择性。 GnRH-Rs的NH2-末端区域不是很保守，但含有糖基化位点，是GnRH—Rs表达、GnRH—Rs穿梭到细胞胞表面或受体稳定必需的。将mouse的GnRH—R糖基化位点引进到人GnRH-R中，可以增加受体的数量，但不影响受体结合力或肽选择性。牙鲆Type Ⅰ GnRH—R中在NH2-末端含有3个潜在的糖基化位点（N^11SSW、N^15GSS和N^22WTA），此外，在第一个胞外loop和第二个胞外loop中分别存在1个糖基化位点（N^100ITV和N^178VTI），牙鲆Type Ⅰ GnRH—R含有的糖基化位点比哺乳动物要多，牙鲆糖基化位点的数目是否／怎样影响牙鲆GnRH-R的表达、降解率或亲和力，应该进一步研究。 在牙鲆GnRH-R的第一个胞内Ioop中，存在1个和tGnRH-R Ⅲ基序（^80KRKSH^84）一致的基序（^69KRKSH^74），这个基序是Gs识别基序（BBXXB，B代表碱性氨基酸，X代表任何一种氨基酸）。已经证明这个基序和cAMP产生相关，cGnRH-Ⅱ能通过cAMP-PKA途径提高stbGnRH-R在COS7细胞中的活性。 和其他非哺乳动物GnRH-Rs相似，牙鲆GnRH-R含有1个C-末端细胞内尾巴。这种胞内尾巴是鱼类GnRH-Rs功能必需的，在第三个胞内loop中，牙鲆GnRH-R含有2个PKC磷酸化位点（^233SKR^235和^262TLK^264）；在C端尾巴中，存在1个PKC磷酸化位点（^402TAR^404）。牙鲆GnRH-RC-末端尾巴中含有鱼类GnRH-R具有的Src同源区3（SH3）结合区域（PxxP序列）（^340PPAP），能够潜在地传送偶联的能力到丝裂原活化蛋白激酶（MAPKs），GnRH通过PKC和PKA调控GtHα和LHβ转录，二者都集中于MAPK水平。 RT—PCR分析表明，GnRH-R在牙鲆脑和垂体有表达，暗示牙鲆GnRH-R参与到生殖行为如产卵行为；RT-PCR也检测到牙鲆GnRH-R在卵巢和睾丸中有表达，其能与牙鲆cGnRH-Ⅱ和sbGnRH在卵巢中共表达，GnRH肽在卵巢中具有自分泌／旁分泌功能，对牙鲆卵巢中的GnRH受体可能起到调控作用。[中国水产科学，2006，13（4）：536—546]     

Binding characteristics and regulation of the 17,20β,21-trihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (20β-S) receptor on testicular and sperm plasma membranes of spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus)

The binding characteristics of 17,20,21-trihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (20-S) to plasma membranes prepared from the testes and sperm of spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) were investigated using a filtration method to retain the bound 20-S. A single class of high affinity (K_d = 17.9 nM), low capacity (B_max = 0.072 nM g^-1 testes) binding sites was identified by saturation and Scatchard analyses on testicular membranes of spermiating spotted seatrout. A corresponding receptor (K_d = 22.17 nM, B_max = 0.00261 nM ml^-1 milt) was also detected in spermatozoan membrane preparations. The rates of 20-S association and dissociation were rapid, both had T_halfs of less than 1 min. Competition studies indicated that the receptor was highly specific for 20-S. 17,20-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one, which had the highest affinity of the other steroids tested, had a relative binding affinity (RBA) of 14.3%. Progesterone, 11-deoxycortisol and testosterone competed with an order of magnitude less affinity (RBA's of 7.4, 1.8 and 1.1%, respectively). Estradiol displayed low affinity for the receptor (RBA = 0.4%) and cortisol did not cause any displacement at 1000-fold excess concentration. Specific 20-S receptor binding was detected in plasma membranes from testes of both spermiating and non-spermiating seatrout and on spermatozoa. Prolonged incubation of testicular fragments from a spermiating fish with gonadotropin (15 IU ml^-1 human chorionic gonadotropin) or forskolin (10 µM) caused a 2–3 fold increase in membrane receptor binding. Previous studies have shown that gonadotropin-induced upregulation of the 20-S plasma membrane receptor in seatrout ovaries is required for the oocytes to become responsive to 20-S and undergo final maturation. The existence of a 20-S membrane receptor on sperm and its upregulation in the testes by gonadotropin raises the possibility that final maturation of spermatozoa in male seatrout may be regulated by a similar mechanism.