Rab1 recruitment of p115 into a cis-SNARE complex: programming budding COPII vesicles for fusion

The guanosine triphosphatase Rab1 regulates the transport of newly synthesized proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus through interaction with effector molecules, but the molecular mechanisms by which this occurs are unknown. Here, the tethering factor p115 was shown to be a Rab1 effector that binds directly to activated Rab1. Rab1 recruited p115 to coat protein complex II (COPII) vesicles during budding from the endoplasmic reticulum, where it interacted with a select set of COPII vesicle-associated SNAREs (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors) to form a cis-SNARE complex that promotes targeting to the Golgi apparatus. We propose that Rab1-regulated assembly of functional effector-SNARE complexes defines a conserved molecular mechanism to coordinate recognition between subcellular compartments.     

A bifunctional bacterial protein links GDI displacement to Rab1 activation

Rab guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases) regulate vesicle trafficking in eukaryotic cells by reversibly associating with lipid membranes. Inactive Rab GTPases are maintained in the cytosol by binding to GDP-dissociation inhibitor (GDI). It is believed that specialized proteins are required to displace GDI from Rab GTPases before Rab activation by guanosine diphosphate-guanosine 5'-triphosphate (GDP-GTP) exchange factors (GEFs). Here, we found that SidM from Legionella pneumophila could act as both GEF and GDI-displacement factor (GDF) for Rab1. Rab1 released from GDI was inserted into liposomal membranes and was used as a substrate for SidM-mediated nucleotide exchange. During host cell infection, recruitment of Rab1 to Legionella-containing vacuoles depended on the GDF activity of SidM. Thus, GDF and GEF activity can be promoted by a single protein, and GDF activity can coordinate Rab1 recruitment from the GDI-bound pool.     

Ankyrin repeat proteins comprise a diverse family of bacterial type IV effectors

Specialized secretion systems are used by many bacteria to deliver effector proteins into host cells that can either mimic or disrupt the function of eukaryotic factors. We found that the intracellular pathogens Legionella pneumophila and Coxiella burnetii use a type IV secretion system to deliver into eukaryotic cells a large number of different bacterial proteins containing ankyrin repeat homology domains called Anks. The L. pneumophila AnkX protein prevented microtubule-dependent vesicular transport to interfere with fusion of the L. pneumophila-containing vacuole with late endosomes after infection of macrophages, which demonstrates that Ank proteins have effector functions important for bacterial infection of eukaryotic host cells.     

Legionella effectors that promote nonlytic release from protozoa

Legionella pneumophila, the bacterial agent of legionnaires' disease, replicates intracellularly within a specialized vacuole of mammalian and protozoan host cells. Little is known about the specialized vacuole except that the Icm/Dot type IV secretion system is essential for its formation and maintenance. The Legionella genome database contains two open reading frames encoding polypeptides (LepA and LepB) with predicted coiled-coil regions and weak homology to SNAREs; these are delivered to host cells by an Icm/Dot-dependent mechanism. Analysis of mutant strains suggests that the Lep proteins may enable the Legionella to commandeer a protozoan exocytic pathway for dissemination of the pathogen.     

Host proteasomal degradation generates amino acids essential for intracellular bacterial growth

Legionella pneumophila proliferates in environmental amoeba and human cells within the Legionella-containing vacuole (LCV). The exported AnkB F-box effector of L. pneumophila is anchored into the LCV membrane by host-mediated farnesylation. Here, we report that host proteasomal degradation of Lys(48)-linked polyubiquitinated proteins, assembled on the LCV by AnkB, generates amino acids required for intracellular bacterial proliferation. The severe defect of the ankB null mutant in proliferation within amoeba and human cells is rescued by supplementation of a mixture of amino acids or cysteine, serine, pyruvate, or citrate, similar to rescue by genetic complementation. Defect of the ankB mutant in intrapulmonary proliferation in mice is rescued upon injection of a mixture of amino acids or cysteine. Therefore, Legionella promotes eukaryotic proteasomal degradation to generate amino acids needed as carbon and energy sources for bacterial proliferation within evolutionarily distant hosts.     

Structure of the nucleotide activation switch in glycogen phosphorylase a

Adenosine monophosphate is required for the activation of glycogen phosphorylase b and for release of the inhibition of phosphorylase a by glucose. Two molecules of adenosine monophosphate (AMP) bind to symmetry related sites at the subunit interface of the phosphorylase dimer. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) binds to the same site, but does not promote catalytic activity. The structure of glucose-inhibited phosphorylase a bound to AMP and also of the complex formed with glucose and ATP is described. Crystallographic refinement of these complexes reveals that structural changes are associated with AMP but not ATP binding. The origin of these effects can be traced to different effector binding modes exhibited by AMP and ATP, respectively. The conformational changes associated with AMP binding traverse multiple paths in the enzyme and link the effector and catalytic sites.     

条斑紫菜Rab1基因的克隆与生物信息学分析

Rab蛋白是小分子量GTP结合蛋白家族中的成员之一,它与植物抗逆性密切相关。以拟南芥Rab基因序列为探针,通过筛选条斑紫菜EST数据库中的同源序列,拼接出了其Rab1基因的含有完整开放阅读框(ORF)的cD-NA序列。根据拼接的序列设计引物,利用RT-PCR成功克隆了条斑紫菜Rab1基因的cDNA。T-A克隆后测序结果显示其cDNA含有长615bp的完整ORF,编码产物含203个氨基酸残基,分子量为22.5kDa。条斑紫菜Rab1与拟南芥Rab1聚为一类,它与多种生物的Rab1具有较高的序列一致性。     

Recombinant antibodies to the small GTPase Rab6 as conformation sensors

Here we report an approach, based on antibody phage display, to generate molecular conformation sensors. Recombinant antibodies specific to the guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-bound conformation of the small guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) Rab6, a regulator of membrane traffic, were generated and used to locate Rab6.GTP in fixed cells, and, after green fluorescent protein (GFP) tagging and intracellular expression, to follow Rab6.GTP in vivo. Rab6 was in its GTP-bound conformation on the Golgi apparatus and transport intermediates, and the geometry of transport intermediates was modulated by Rab6 activity. More generally, the same approach could be applied to other molecules that can be locked in a particular conformation in vitro.     

Protrudin induces neurite formation by directional membrane trafficking

Guanosine triphosphatases of the Rab family are key regulators of membrane trafficking, with Rab11 playing a specific role in membrane recycling. We identified a mammalian protein, protrudin, that promoted neurite formation through interaction with the guanosine diphosphate (GDP)-bound form of Rab11. Phosphorylation of protrudin by extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in response to nerve growth factor promoted protrudin association with Rab11-GDP. Down-regulation of protrudin by RNA interference induced membrane extension in all directions and inhibited neurite formation. Thus, protrudin regulates Rab11-dependent membrane recycling to promote the directional membrane trafficking required for neurite formation.     

植物小G蛋白功能的最新研究进展

小G蛋白超家族包括Ras、Rab、Rho、Arf和Ran亚家族,不同成员间在结构和功能方面又呈现明显的多样性。小G蛋白作为重要的分子开关,其结构域主要包括4个鸟苷酸（GTP／GDP）结合域、1个效应区,其鸟苷酸结合域起着关键作用且保守性最高,在植物、动物和酵母中均有较高的保守性。小G蛋白成员凭借其多样性和不同鸟苷酸结合态的功能调控（结合GTP时为活性状态,而结合GDP时为非活性状态）,参与多种细胞生命活动,履行不同的生物学功能,例如基因表达调控,细胞骨架重组,囊泡运输的调节,出芽过程,核一质运输及微管形成。本文主要阐述植物中研究小G蛋白各个家族功能的最新进展。     

Structure of Rab GDP-dissociation inhibitor in complex with prenylated YPT1 GTPase

Rab/Ypt guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases) represent a family of key membrane traffic regulators in eukaryotic cells whose function is governed by the guanosine diphosphate (GDP) dissociation inhibitor (RabGDI). Using a combination of chemical synthesis and protein engineering, we generated and crystallized the monoprenylated Ypt1:RabGDI complex. The structure of the complex was solved to 1.5 angstrom resolution and provides a structural basis for the ability of RabGDI to inhibit the release of nucleotide by Rab proteins. Isoprenoid binding requires a conformational change that opens a cavity in the hydrophobic core of its domain II. Analysis of the structure provides a molecular basis for understanding a RabGDI mutant that causes mental retardation in humans.     

玉米瘤黑粉菌SG200效应蛋白PEP1表达及生物信息学分析

运用生物信息学手段分析pep1基因结构,并根据GenBank中玉米瘤黑粉菌pep1 DNA序列设计引物,从玉米瘤黑粉菌SG200的基因组中扩增得到了pep1基因全长,构建了pET–28a–pep1重组表达质粒,选用大肠埃希菌BL21(DE3)作为宿主菌,以1 mmol/L IPTG诱导表达。SDS–PAGE检测结果表明,诱导表达产物大小与理论值(20 800)一致,说明pET–28a–pep1能够在大肠埃希菌BL21(DE3)中高效表达。     

AMP与ASA对菊花花瓣生理和花期调控的影响

以不同浓度的氨苄西林(AMP)+抗坏血酸(ASA)水溶液对菊花"唐宇金秋"品种在营养生长期和绿蕾期进行全株喷雾处理,测定整个花期花瓣可溶性蛋白、可溶性精含量、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活力、超氧阴离子(O2-)产生速率、丙二醛(MDA)含量、相对电导率及干鲜比的变化.结果表明,不同浓度AMP+ASA组合均能提高花瓣中SOD活力、可溶性蛋白和可溶性糖含量,降低花瓣中O2-产生速率、MDA含量和相对电导率,花期均有不同程度的延长,其中以AMP500 mg/L+ASA200 mg/L处理效果最佳.     

Adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate waves in Dictyostelium discoideum: a demonstration by isotope dilution--fluorography

The distribution of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) in fields of aggregating amoebae of Dictyostelium discoideum was examined by a novel isotope dilution-fluorographic technique. Cellular cyclic AMP was visualized by its competition with exogenous 3H-labeled cyclic AMP for high-affinity binding sites on protein kinase immobilized on a Millipore filter used to blot the monolayer. The cyclic AMP was distributed in spiral or concentric circular wave patterns which centered on the foci of the aggregations. These patterns were correlated with those of cell shape change that propagate through the monolayers: cells in regions of high concentrations of cyclic AMP were elongated (presumably moving up a cyclic AMP gradient), whereas those in regions of low cyclic AMP concentrations were randomly directed. The highest cyclic AMP concentrations were about 10(-6)M. The widths of the regions of elevated cyclic AMP were about 0.3 to 1 millimeter which, assuming a wave velocity of 300 micrometers per minute, suggests that a cell signals for about 1 to 3 minutes. These observations support the hypothesis that the aggregation process in Dictyostelium is mediated by the periodic relay of cyclic AMP signals and suggest a simple scheme for the dynamics of the aggregation process.     

小麦条锈菌效应蛋白基因pst-2511的克隆、 表达和初步结构研究

对小麦条锈菌（Puccinia striiformis f.sp. tritici）效应蛋白pst-2511进行研究,分析其可能形成二级结构的条件,为以后通过核磁方法解析该效应蛋白的三维结构提供基础。构建了小麦条锈菌效应蛋白基因pst-2511的原核表达载体pET-32a-PP-pst-2511,并成功将其在大肠杆菌 BL21(DE3)中进行原核表达;表达出的蛋白用亲和层析法和高效液相色谱法进行纯化,获得可溶性的效应蛋白,用凝胶电泳检测得到单一条带,经质谱鉴定,纯化后的蛋白质分子量与理论值符合。圆二色谱表征该蛋白质的二级结构有α螺旋,且随着三氟乙醇（TFE）浓度的增加,α螺旋比例增加。对效应蛋白pst-2511的初步结构研究及三维结构解析,可以为防止小麦条锈病提供理论依据,同时为深入研究效应蛋白的调控通路以及阐明条锈菌侵染机制和更有效地防止小麦条锈病提供帮助。     

AMPK is a direct adenylate charge-regulated protein kinase

The adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) regulates whole-body and cellular energy balance in response to energy demand and supply. AMPK is an αβγ heterotrimer activated by decreasing concentrations of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and increasing AMP concentrations. AMPK activation depends on phosphorylation of the α catalytic subunit on threonine-172 (Thr(172)) by kinases LKB1 or CaMKKβ, and this is promoted by AMP binding to the γ subunit. AMP sustains activity by inhibiting dephosphorylation of α-Thr(172), whereas ATP promotes dephosphorylation. Adenosine diphosphate (ADP), like AMP, bound to γ sites 1 and 3 and stimulated α-Thr(172) phosphorylation. However, in contrast to AMP, ADP did not directly activate phosphorylated AMPK. In this way, both ADP/ATP and AMP/ATP ratios contribute to AMPK regulation.     

Yield, Leaf Senescence, and Cry1Ac Expression in Response to Removal of Early Fruiting Branches in Transgenic Bt Cotton

Two-year field experiments were conducted at Linqing, Yellow River valley of China, to study the plant response to the removal of early fruiting branches in transgenic Bt （Bacillus thuringiensis） cotton （Gossypium hirsutum L.） from 2003 to 2004. Plants were undamaged and treated by removing two basal fruiting branches （FB） at squaring to form the control and the removal treatment, respectively. The plant height, leaf area （LA）, dry weight of fruiting forms （DWFF）, the number of fruiting nodes （NFN）, photosynthetic （Pn） rate, and levels of leaf chlorophyll （Chl）, N, P, K, and Cry lAc protein in main- stem leaves were measured at a 10- or 20-d interval after FB removal, and the sink/source ratio as indicated by NFN/LA and DWFF/LA was determined. FB removal significantly increased the plant height, LA, and plant biomass in both years. Lint yields were increased 7.5 and 5.2% by removal compared with their controls in 2003 and 2004, respectively. Significant increases in boll size （5.7 and 5.1%） were also observed in removal than in control for both years. Either NFN/LA or DWFF/LA was significantly reduced by removal before 40 d after removal; however, both NFN/LA and DWFF/LA were significantly enhanced by FB removal at 80 d after removal compared to the untreated control. There was no significant difference in fiber quality in the first two harvests between removal and control, but fiber strength and micronarie in the third harvest were significantly improved by FB removal. In terms of leaf Chl, Pn rate, levels of total N, P, and K in late season, leaf senescence was considerably delayed by FB removal. Levels of CrylAc protein in the fully expanded young leaves were considerably higher in FB-excised plants than in control, indicating FB removal enhanced CrylAc expression. It is suggested that the yield and quality improvement with FB removal may be attributed to the increased NFN/LA or DWFF/LA in late season and delayed leaf senescence, respectively. FB removal can be a potential p     

陆地棉GhRab7基因鉴定及酵母中盐胁迫响应分析

Rab参与细胞内囊泡运输的调节,是小G蛋白家族里成员数最多的一类亚家族蛋白,拟南芥、哺乳动物和酵母Rab蛋白功能已经研究的比较清楚,但棉花中Rab蛋白的功能还没有详细的报道。本试验从陆地棉TM-1数据库中检索到24个 Rab7基因,基于这些基因的染色体分布、编码氨基酸个数及分子质量大小,鉴定出19个潜在 GhRab7基因。随后,根据系统进化和序列保守性分析克隆一个 GhRab7基因,该基因编码一个207个氨基酸,分子质量为23.2 ku的Rab类小G蛋白。对其进行高盐条件下异源表达酵母生长抗性试验的结果显示,异源表达 GhRab7的酵母表现出盐胁迫敏感的特征。这些结果说明 GhRab7在棉花应对外界盐胁迫响应时可能发挥重要作用。     

活性污泥的驯化及其降解高浓度苯酚废水的效果

以苯酚为碳源培养驯化活性污泥,使其逐渐适应并能有效降解高浓度(1 500 mg/L)苯酚废水,并对降解期的苯酚浓度、污泥浓度、pH值条件进行了较为系统的研究。结果表明:活性污泥降解苯酚效果良好,24 h内COD去除率达85%以上。污泥投加量6 g/L、水体pH值6条件下,处理初始浓度为855 mg/L的模拟苯酚废水,酚浓度降至5~6 mg/L。     

参薯ADP-ribosylation factor（ARF）基因的生物信息学分析

【目的】对参薯等11种植物的ARF基因进行生物信息学分析,为深入研究植物ARF基因的结构与功能分析奠定基础。【方法】对参薯ARF同源序列进行克隆和序列测定,利用生物信息学相关软件对参薯等11种植物的ARF的核苷酸序列、氨基酸序列、组成成分、疏水性/亲水性、蛋白质二级和三级结构、信号肽、跨膜结构、导肽进行分析。【结果】参薯ARF基因同源片段大小为1200bp。系统进化分析结果表明,参薯等11种植物的ARF氨基酸序列可分为Ⅰ和Ⅱ两大类,细分A、B、C、D、E5个亚族,其中参薯ARF1和蒺藜苜蓿组成一个亚族,参薯ARF2和风信子组成一个亚族。参薯ARF的氨基酸序列中存在GTP/Mg2＋结合位点和G2、G3保守区域,具有两个相同的效应结构域Switch1和Switch2。参薯ARF蛋白结构以无规则卷曲为主,三级空间结构不稳定。ARF蛋白为疏水性、脂溶性蛋白,无信号肽,存在明显跨膜结构域;ARF导肽无明确定位,预测等级为3级。【结论】参薯ARF蛋白结构的特殊性为其执行物质转运和参与信号转导功能奠定基础。