Hypertension. Mutation points to salt recycling pathway

A team of researchers at Yale Medical School has uncovered a gene mutation that leads to early-onset hypertension that may point the way to causes for more common forms of high blood pressure. On page 119, the Yale group reports finding a new mutation in the so-called mineralocorticoid receptor, a protein in kidney cells that is involved in the body's handling of salt. This is the first work to demonstrate how alterations in the receptor could give rise to hypertension; in particular, the findings may explain why some women experience a sharp rise in blood pressure during pregnancy.     

Activation of integrin alphaIIbbeta3 by modulation of transmembrane helix associations

Transmembrane helices of integrin alpha and beta subunits have been implicated in the regulation of integrin activity. Two mutations, glycine-708 to asparagine-708 (G708N)and methionine-701 to asparagine-701, in the transmembrane helix of the beta3 subunit enabled integrin alphaIIbbeta3 to constitutively bind soluble fibrinogen. Further characterization of the G708N mutant revealed that it induced alphaIIbbeta3 clustering and constitutive phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase. This mutation also enhanced the tendency of the transmembrane helix to form homotrimers. These results suggest that homomeric associations involving transmembrane domains provide a driving force for integrin activation. They also suggest a structural basis for the coincidence of integrin activation and clustering.     

Modulation of postendocytic sorting of G protein-coupled receptors

Recycling of the mu opioid receptor to the plasma membrane after endocytosis promotes rapid resensitization of signal transduction, whereas targeting of the delta opioid receptor (DOR) to lysosomes causes proteolytic down-regulation. We identified a protein that binds preferentially to the cytoplasmic tail of the DOR as a candidate heterotrimeric GTP-binding protein (G protein)-coupled receptor-associated sorting protein (GASP). Disruption of the DOR-GASP interaction through receptor mutation or overexpression of a dominant negative fragment of GASP inhibited receptor trafficking to lysosomes and promoted recycling. The GASP family of proteins may modulate lysosomal sorting and functional down-regulation of a variety of G protein-coupled receptors.     

A molecular basis for natural selection at the timeless locus in Drosophila melanogaster

Diapause is a protective response to unfavorable environments that results in a suspension of insect development and is most often associated with the onset of winter. The ls-tim mutation in the Drosophila melanogaster clock gene timeless has spread in Europe over the past 10,000 years, possibly because it enhances diapause. We show that the mutant allele attenuates the photosensitivity of the circadian clock and causes decreased dimerization of the mutant TIMELESS protein isoform to CRYPTOCHROME, the circadian photoreceptor. This interaction results in a more stable TIMELESS product. These findings reveal a molecular link between diapause and circadian photoreception.     

Structure of an agonist-bound human A2A adenosine receptor

Activation of G protein-coupled receptors upon agonist binding is a critical step in the signaling cascade for this family of cell surface proteins. We report the crystal structure of the A(2A) adenosine receptor (A(2A)AR) bound to an agonist UK-432097 at 2.7 angstrom resolution. Relative to inactive, antagonist-bound A(2A)AR, the agonist-bound structure displays an outward tilt and rotation of the cytoplasmic half of helix VI, a movement of helix V, and an axial shift of helix III, resembling the changes associated with the active-state opsin structure. Additionally, a seesaw movement of helix VII and a shift of extracellular loop 3 are likely specific to A(2A)AR and its ligand. The results define the molecule UK-432097 as a "conformationally selective agonist" capable of receptor stabilization in a specific active-state configuration.     

Model structure for the inflammatory protein C5a

The complement cleavage product C5a is a potent stimulant of inflammatory processes; thus, inhibition of C5a activity is of therapeutic interest. The three-dimensional structure of the major portion of C5a was modeled from the homologous C3a crystal structure by comparative modeling techniques. The model shows that core residues of C5a are completely conserved, while external residues differ from C3a. Even though the amino-terminal 12 residues of C3a are disordered in the crystal, this sequence in C5a may form an amphipathic helix. The distribution of species sequence differences in the complete C5a structure suggests a possible receptor binding site.     

Three-dimensional structure of the LDL receptor-binding domain of human apolipoprotein E

Human apolipoprotein E, a blood plasma protein, mediates the transport and uptake of cholesterol and lipid by way of its high affinity interaction with different cellular receptors, including the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor. The three-dimensional structure of the LDL receptor-binding domain of apoE has been determined at 2.5 angstrom resolution by x-ray crystallography. The protein forms an unusually elongated (65 angstroms) four-helix bundle, with the helices apparently stabilized by a tightly packed hydrophobic core that includes leucine zipper-type interactions and by numerous salt bridges on the mostly charged surface. Basic amino acids important for LDL receptor binding are clustered into a surface patch on one long helix. This structure provides the basis for understanding the behavior of naturally occurring mutants that can lead to atherosclerosis.     

Guanosine triphosphatase activating protein (GAP) interacts with the p21 ras effector binding domain

A cytoplasmic protein that greatly enhances the guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) activity of N-ras protein but does not affect the activity of oncogenic ras mutants has been recently described. This protein (GAP) is shown here to be ubiquitous in higher eukaryotes and to interact with H-ras as well as with N-ras proteins. To identify the region of ras p21 with which GAP interacts, 21 H-ras mutant proteins were purified and tested for their ability to undergo stimulation of GTPase activity by GAP. Mutations in nonessential regions of H-ras p21 as well as mutations in its carboxyl-terminal domain (residues 165-185) and purine binding region (residues 117 and 119) did not decrease the ability of the protein to respond to GAP. In addition, an antibody against the carboxyl-terminal domain did not block GAP activity, supporting the conclusion that GAP does not interact with this region. Transforming mutations at positions 12, 59, and 61 (the phosphoryl binding region) abolished GTPase stimulation by GAP. Point mutations in the putative effector region of ras p21 (amino acids 35, 36, and 38) were also insensitive to GAP. However, a point mutation at position 39, shown previously not to impair effector function, did not alter GAP-p21 interaction. These results indicate that GAP interaction may be essential for ras p21 biological activity and that it may be a ras effector protein.     

水稻穗顶端退化突变体paa21的表型分析及基因克隆

【目的】水稻穗顶端退化严重影响产量,鉴定与克隆水稻穗顶端退化相关基因,可以丰富水稻穗发育调控的分子机理,为水稻高产分子设计育种提供理论基础和基因资源。【方法】从粳稻品种武运粳30号EMS突变体库筛选到一份稳定遗传的穗顶端退化突变体panicle apical abortion 21(paa21)。对退化一次枝梗比例、每穗退化粒数占比、每穗粒数、株高、穗长、单株产量等农艺性状进行统计。使用台盼蓝和伊文思蓝染色检测顶端小穗是否发生程序性细胞死亡。测定WT和paa21不同发育时期幼穗和不同穗部位的H₂O₂含量。paa21分别与籼稻II-32B、9311正反交进行遗传分析。利用paa21与籼稻II-32B杂交构建的F₂群体进行基因定位和克隆。使用SWISS-MODEL网站预测野生型和突变体蛋白的三维结构。利用RT-qPCR分析ROS响应标志基因、程序性细胞死亡相关基因、过氧化氢酶相关基因的表达量。【结果】paa21突变体发生严重的穗顶端退化,统计paa21所有一次枝梗退化情况,发现退化小穗主要位于顶端的一次枝梗上。与WT相比,p...     

Alteration of alpha 1 Na+,K(+)-ATPase 86Rb+ influx by a single amino acid substitution

The sodium- and potassium-dependent adenosine triphosphatase (Na+,K(+)-ATPase) maintains the transmembrane Na+ gradient to which is coupled all active cellular transport systems. The R and S alleles of the gene encoding the Na+,K(+)-ATPase alpha 1 subunit isoform were identified in Dahl salt-resistant (DR) and Dahl salt-sensitive (DS) rats, respectively. Characterization of the S allele-specific Na+,K(+)-ATPase alpha 1 complementary DNA identified a leucine substitution of glutamine at position 276. This mutation alters the hydropathy profile of a region in proximity to T3(Na), the trypsin-sensitive site that is only detected in the presence of Na+. This mutation causes a decrease in the rubidium-86 influx of S allele-specific sodium pumps, thus marking a domain in the Na+,K(+)-ATPase alpha subunit important for K+ transport, and supporting the hypothesis of a putative role of these pumps in hypertension.     

Identification of a mutation in porcine ryanodine receptor associated with malignant hyperthermia.

Malignant hyperthermia (MH) causes neurological, liver, and kidney damage and death in humans and major economic losses in the swine industry. A single point mutation in the porcine gene for the skeletal muscle ryanodine receptor (ryr1) was found to be correlated with MH in five major breeds of lean, heavily muscled swine. Haplotyping suggests that the mutation in all five breeds has a common origin. Assuming that this is the causal mutation for MH, the development of a noninvasive diagnostic test will provide the basis for elimination of the MH gene or its controlled inclusion in swine breeding programs.     

Myotonic dystrophy type 2 caused by a CCTG expansion in intron 1 of ZNF9

Myotonic dystrophy (DM), the most common form of muscular dystrophy in adults, can be caused by a mutation on either chromosome 19q13 (DM1) or 3q21 (DM2/PROMM). DM1 is caused by a CTG expansion in the 3' untranslated region of the dystrophia myotonica-protein kinase gene (DMPK). Several mechanisms have been invoked to explain how this mutation, which does not alter the protein-coding portion of a gene, causes the specific constellation of clinical features characteristic of DM. We now report that DM2 is caused by a CCTG expansion (mean approximately 5000 repeats) located in intron 1 of the zinc finger protein 9 (ZNF9) gene. Parallels between these mutations indicate that microsatellite expansions in RNA can be pathogenic and cause the multisystemic features of DM1 and DM2.     

杂交籼稻碾磨品质性状的遗传分析

采用 5×5不完全双列杂交设计,应用包括基因型×环境互作效应的三倍体种子性状遗传分析模型,研究 3种栽培季节下籼型杂交稻碾磨品质性状的遗传.结果表明:杂交稻碾磨品质性状表现主要受遗传控制,遗传方差可解释表型方差的66.8% -98. 6%,且遗传效应均以母体加性效应为主;基因型×环境互作效应对糙米率和精米率的影响较小,但整精米率的互作效应值达 33. 2%; 3个碾磨品质性状均不存在杂种优势.比较亲本对杂种碾磨品质影响的结果表明,不育系对杂交稻碾磨品质的影响显著大于恢复系.     

小菜蛾碱性磷酸酯酶受体表达与分子模拟

【目的】利用原核表达小菜蛾(Plutella xyllostella)中肠膜结合碱性磷酸酯酶(membrane-bound alkaline phosphatase,mALP)并经Ligand blot验证其具有与Cry1Ac毒素结合的能力;通过同源建模和分子对接研究Cry1Ac-mALP的结合模式,预测毒素和受体结合区域及关键氨基酸位点(热点残基),为了解毒素-受体互作机制及分子改造增强Cry毒素活性的研究打下基础。【方法】针对小菜蛾mALP全长设计引物,并以小菜蛾c DNA为模板扩增mALP基因,双酶切后用T4连接酶连接至pET-26b原核表达载体,将构建的pET-26b-mALP载体转化Trans1-T1克隆感受态,挑取克隆并提取质粒后进行PCR、双酶切和测序验证,将验证无误的重组质粒转化E.coliBL21(DE3)表达感受态细胞,进行诱导表达。将诱导表达后的mALP转至PVDF膜上,通过Western blot和Ligand blot分别验证mALP是否成功表达以及是否具有与Cry1Ac毒素结合的能力。对mALP进行同源建模、分子动力学模拟以及模型评价,获得的mALP最佳三维结构与Cry1Ac毒素利用Patch DOCK和Fire Dock程序进行分子对接试验,对确定的最佳毒素-受体复合物进行结合区域和结合氨基酸位点分析,并通过计算机辅助的丙氨酸突变扫描试验确定毒素和受体参与的关键氨基酸残基。【结果】扩增出小菜蛾mALP基因并克隆至pET-26b原核表达载体,转化E.coli BL21(DE3)表达感受态后挑取阳性克隆提取质粒后进行PCR、双酶切和测序均显示构建正确。通过原核表达和Western blot验证成功表达了mALP蛋白,并经Ligand blot试验证实了原核表达的mALP具有和Cry1Ac毒素结合的能力。利用同源建模成功获得了mALP的三维结构,通过Patch DOCK和Fire Dock分子对接程序,获得毒素和受体的对接复合物,通过溶剂可及表面积变化计算和Ligplot分析,确定毒素结构域Ⅱ和结构域Ⅲ均参与了受体结合,并且毒素和受体均以疏水结合和氢键结合模式参与结合,最后通过热点残基预测发现Cry1Ac毒素和mALP中分别有3个氨基酸残基(376ASN、443SER和486SER)和4个氨基酸残基(452ARG、499THR、502TYR和513TYR)是参与互作的关键氨基酸位点。【结论】经原核表达的小菜蛾mALP同样具有与Cry1Ac毒素结合的能力,并利用分子模拟技术预测了小菜蛾mALP三维结构及与Cry1Ac毒素结合模式。     

Structural basis of transcription: separation of RNA from DNA by RNA polymerase II

The structure of an RNA polymerase II-transcribing complex has been determined in the posttranslocation state, with a vacancy at the growing end of the RNA-DNA hybrid helix. At the opposite end of the hybrid helix, the RNA separates from the template DNA. This separation of nucleic acid strands is brought about by interaction with a set of proteins loops in a strand/loop network. Formation of the network must occur in the transition from abortive initiation to promoter escape.     

血肿微创术治疗对脑出血康复及预后的影响

目的探讨影响微创法清除颅内血肿术治疗高血压脑出血的治疗效果厦预后因素．方法对126例高血压脑出血微创清除颅内血肿术的临床资料进行统计学处理．结果126例患者术后存活120例（95．3％），本组死亡6例（4馏％）．生存患者术后3个月随访，用ADL（日常生活能力）评定疗效．ADL1：恢复日常生活34例（26．9％）；AD12：生活自理35例（27．7％）；ADL3：部分生活自理33例（26．1％）；ADL4：卧床不起但有意识21例（16.6％）；ADL5：植物状态3例（2．4％）．结论出血至手术时间、意识与脑菇征、瞳孔改变、中线移位4项因素对微创清除颅内血肿术，治疗高血压脑出血患者具有显著的预后价值，超早期手术是治疗成功的关键．     

The cellular src gene product regulates junctional cell-to-cell communication

Overexpression of the cellular src gene in NIH 3T3 cells causes reduction of cell-to-cell transmission of molecules in the 400- to 700-dalton range. This down-regulation of gap junctional communication correlates with the activity of the gene product, the protein tyrosine kinase pp60c-src. The down-regulation was enhanced by point mutation of Tyr527 (a site that is phosphorylated in pp60c-src and that inhibits kinase activity) or by substitution of the viral-src for the cellular-src carboxyl-terminal coding region. Mutation of Tyr416 (a site phosphorylated upon Tyr527 mutation) suppresses both the down-regulation of communication by Tyr527 mutation and that by gene overexpression. The regulation of communication by src may be important in the control of embryonic development and cellular growth.     

稻瘟病菌效应蛋白与水稻互作研究现状及展望

水稻是世界上最重要的粮食作物之一，水稻安全生产关乎食品安全问题。由稻瘟病菌引起的稻瘟病是一种世界性的真菌病害，给水稻生产造成严重损失。相较于药物防治，抗病品种的培育与应用是控制该病害最为经济有效的方法。然而，田间稻瘟病菌群体复杂多样、杀菌剂过量施用、气候环境变化等因素造成小种变异迅速，品种的抗性往往只能维持 3~5 年。稻瘟病菌通过无毒基因的变异产生新的生理小种，逃逸或抑制水稻的免疫系统，实现侵染致病。目前已在稻瘟菌中鉴定出 26 个无毒基因，其中 14 个已被克隆，其在病原菌的侵染、定殖和干扰寄主免疫反应过程中发挥重要作用，稻瘟菌效应蛋白和水稻抗性蛋白的互作分子机理研究也不断深入。研究稻瘟菌的致病机理及其与水稻互作的分子机制有助于更好地理解病原菌的作用途径和植物抗病基因响应的免疫反应，以制定更高效、绿色的防治措施。本文综述了近年来稻瘟病菌效应蛋白在水稻细胞转运和分泌的过程、效应蛋白与抗病蛋白互作的研究进展和效应蛋白的区域性分布，讨论和展望了当前研究面临的机遇和 挑战，以期为水稻与稻瘟病菌互作的分子机理研究、抗病育种及病害防控策略提供借鉴。     

Two mutant alleles of the insulin receptor gene in a patient with extreme insulin resistance

Insulin receptor complementary DNA has been cloned from an insulin-resistant patient with leprechaunism whose receptors exhibited multiple abnormalities in insulin binding. The patient is a compound heterozygote, having inherited two different mutant alleles of the insulin receptor gene. One allele contains a missense mutation encoding the substitution of glutamic acid for lysine at position 460 in the alpha subunit of the receptor. The second allele has a nonsense mutation causing premature chain termination after amino acid 671 in the alpha subunit, thereby deleting both the transmembrane and tyrosine kinase domains of the receptor. Interestingly, the father is heterozygous for this nonsense mutation and exhibits a moderate degree of insulin resistance. This raises the possibility that mutations in the insulin receptor gene may account for the insulin resistance in some patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.     

From epinephrine to cyclic AMP

Binding of catecholamines to the beta-adrenergic receptor results in the activation of adenylate cyclase and the intracellular formation of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP). In the past 20 years the events that lead from hormone binding at the cell surface receptor site to the synthesis of cAMP at the inner layer of the membrane have been intensively studied. Signal transduction in this system involves the sequential interaction of the beta-adrenergic receptor with the guanine nucleotide-binding protein (Gs) and the adenylate cyclase catalyst (C). The mechanism of signal transduction from the receptor through Gs to C, as well as the role of the adenylate cyclase inhibitory G protein Gi, is discussed.