EGF receptor and erbB-2 tyrosine kinase domains confer cell specificity for mitogenic signaling

The epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (EGFR) can efficiently couple with mitogenic signaling pathways when it is transfected into interleukin-3 (IL-3)-dependent 32D hematopoietic cells. When expression vectors for erbB-2, which is structurally related to EGFR, or its truncated counterpart, delta NerbB-2, were introduced into 32D cells, neither was capable of inducing proliferation. This was despite overexpression and constitutive tyrosine kinase activity of their products at levels associated with potent transformation of fibroblast target cells. Thus, EGFR and erbB-2 couple with distinct mitogenic signaling pathways. The region responsible for the specificity of intracellular signal transduction was localized to a 270-amino acid stretch encompassing their respective tyrosine kinase domains. Thus, tissue- or cell-specific regulation of growth factor receptor signaling can occur at a point after the initial interaction of growth factor with receptor. Such specificity in signal transduction may account for the selection of certain oncogenes in some malignancies.     

Guidance of cell migration by EGF receptor signaling during Drosophila oogenesis

Directed cell migration is important for many aspects of normal animal development, but little is known about how cell migrations are guided or the mechanisms by which guidance cues are translated into directed cell movement. Here we present evidence that signaling mediated by the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) guides dorsal migration of border cells during Drosophila oogenesis. The transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha)-like ligand Gurken appears to serve as the guidance cue. To mediate this guidance function, EGFR signals via a pathway that is independent of Raf-MAP kinase and receptor-specific.     

Tyrosine kinase receptor with extensive homology to EGF receptor shares chromosomal location with neu oncogene

A novel potential cell surface receptor of the tyrosine kinase gene family has been identified and characterized by molecular cloning. Its primary sequence is very similar to that of the human epidermal growth factor receptor and the v-erbB oncogene product; the chromosomal location of the gene for this protein is coincident with the neu oncogene, which suggests that the two genes may be identical.     

Epidermal-growth-factor-dependent transformation by a human EGF receptor proto-oncogene

The epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor gene EGFR has been placed in a retrovirus vector to examine the growth properties of cells that experimentally overproduce a full-length EGF receptor. NIH 3T3 cells transfected with the viral DNA or infected with the corresponding rescued retrovirus developed a fully transformed phenotype in vitro that required both functional EGFR expression and the presence of EGF in the growth medium. Cells expressing 4 x 10(5) EGF receptors formed tumors in nude mice, while control cells did not. Therefore, the EGFR retrovirus, which had a titer on NIH 3T3 cells that was greater than 10(7) focus-forming units per milliliter, can efficiently transfer and express this gene, and increased numbers of EGF receptors can contribute to the transformed phenotype.     

The EGF receptor kinase substrate p35 in the floor plate of the embryonic rat CNS

P35 is a calcium- and phospholipid-binding protein that was originally isolated as a substrate for the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor tyrosine kinase and later was found to be related to lipocortin I. Immunohistochemistry was used to localize p35 to a raphe of primitive glial ependymal cells in the median one-third of the floor plate in the central nervous system (CNS) of rat embryos. The p35 appears by embryonic day 12 before the arrival of pioneering ventral commissural axons. The unexpected, discrete distribution of this protein during development opens the question of its role in neural morphogenesis.     

MicroRNA-370-5p inhibits pigmentation and cell proliferation by downregulating mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 8 expression in sheep melanocytes

In mammals, microRNAs (miRNAs) play key roles in multiple biological processes by regulating the expression of target genes.  Studies have found that the levels of miR-370-5p expression differ significantly in the skins of sheep with different hair colors; however, its function remains unclear.  In this study, we investigated the roles of miR-370-5p in sheep melanocytes and found that the overexpression of miR-370-5p significantly inhibited cell proliferation (P<0.01), tyrosinase activity (P=0.001) and significantly reduced (P<0.001) melanin production.  Functional prediction revealed that the 3´-untranslated region (UTR) of MAP3K8 has a putative miR-370-5p binding site, and the interaction between these two molecules was confirmed using luciferase reporter assays.  In situ hybridization assays revealed that MAP3K8 is expressed in the cytoplasm of melanocytes.  The results of quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting analyses revealed that overexpression of miR-370-5p in melanocytes significantly inhibits (P<0.01) MAP3K8 expression via direct targeting of its 3´ UTR.  Inhibition of MAP3K8 expression by siRNA-MAP3K8 transfection induced a significant inhibition (P<0.01) of melanocyte proliferation and significant reduction (P<0.001) in melanin production, which is consistent with our observations for miR-370-5p.  Target gene rescue experiments indicated that the expression of MAP3K8 in melanocytes co-transfected with miR-370-5p and MAP3K8-cDNA (containing sites for the targeted binding to miR-370-5p) was significantly rescued (P≤0.001), which subsequently promoted significant increases in cell proliferation (P<0.001) and melanin production (P<0.01).  Collectively, these findings indicate that miR-370-5p plays a functional role in inhibiting sheep melanocyte proliferation and melanogenesis by downregulating the expression of MAP3K8.       

Separation of IL-4 production from Th cell proliferation by an altered T cell receptor ligand.

In the presence of antigen presenting cells, a murine T helper (Th) cell specific for murine hemoglobin (Hb) responded to its immunogenic peptide by both cytokine (interleukin-4) secretion and proliferation. An altered Hb peptide with a single amino acid substitution induced only cytokine secretion and did not induce proliferation. Interleukin-1 costimulated and restored the Th proliferative response to normal levels. The altered peptide also supported cognate T cell-B cell interactions indicative of T cell helper function. Thus, this result suggests that the T cell receptor has the capacity of differential signaling.     

Cassette of eight exons shared by genes for LDL receptor and EGF precursor

The amino acid sequences of the human low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor and the human precursor for epidermal growth factor (EGF) show 33 percent identity over a stretch of 400 residues. This region of homologous is encoded by eight contiguous exons in each respective gene. Of the nine introns that separate these exons, five are located in identical positions in the two protein sequences. This finding suggests that the homologous region may have resulted from a duplication of an ancestral gene and that the two genes evolved further by recruitment of exons from other genes, which provided the specific functional domains of the LDL receptor and the EGF precursor.     

EGF和FBS对牛孤雌胚胎发育的影响

在卵母细胞体外成熟液中分别添加0,10,30,50ng/mL表皮生长因子(EGF),24h检查成熟率,将成熟的卵母细胞置于5μmol/L离子霉素(Ionomycin)中激活5min后,在含有6-DMAP和CCB的培养液中培养4h,最后移入CR1培养液中培养,并在孤雌激活后第0,2,4,6天添加体积分数10%的胎牛血清(FBS),7～8d后检查囊胚率,探讨牛成熟培养液中添加EGF及FBS对牛孤雌胚体外发育的影响。结果表明,添加30ng/mL的EGF能促进卵母细胞的成熟率和孤雌囊胚的发育率;在第4天添加FBS更有利于胚胎的发育。     

EGF促进绵羊附睾上皮细胞体外增殖的研究

【目的】探讨表皮生长因子(EGF)对体外培养的绵羊附睾上皮细胞(EECs)增殖的影响。【方法】分离培养EECs,利用免疫荧光检测角蛋白18(CK18)对分离的细胞进行鉴定,用CCK-8法测定EGF的最佳作用质量浓度,用RT-PCR检测EECs中附睾分子标记——谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶-5(GPX5)和雄激素受体(AR)基因的表达情况,用流式细胞仪法检测EGF对EECs细胞周期和凋亡的影响。将P_4代EECs分别用表皮生长因子受体(EGFR)抑制剂Gefitinib、磷脂酰肌醇3激酶/蛋白激酶B(PI3K/AKT)信号通路抑制剂LY294002和DMSO(对照组)处理后,再用EGF培养,用流式细胞仪法检测细胞周期和凋亡情况。将P_4代EECs分别用EGF(-)、EGF、EGF+Gefitinib和EGF+LY294002处理后,用Western blot检测细胞中EGFR、AKT和叉头盒蛋白O1(FOXO1)磷酸化水平。【结果】分离培养的EECs可表达CK18,细胞纯度较好;EGF对EECs增殖促进效应呈浓度依赖性,用含50 ng/mL EGF培养基培养的EECs具有最高的增殖潜能,且不同传代EECs细胞均可正常表达GPX5和AR;EGF处理S期EECs细胞比例极显著升高(P0.01),凋亡指数显著降低(P0.05)。与对照组相比,Gefitinib组S期EECs细胞比例极显著降低(P0.01),LY294002组S期细胞比例显著降低(P0.05);Gefitinib组EECs细胞的凋亡指数极显著升高(P0.01),而LY294002组EECs细胞的凋亡指数无显著变化。EGF组中EECs细胞的EGFR、AKT和FOXO1磷酸化水平较高;与EGF组相比,EGF+Gefitinib组中EECs细胞的EGFR、AKT和FOXO1磷酸化水平明显降低,而EGF+LY294002组中EECs细胞的AKT和FOXO1磷酸化水平明显降低。【结论】EGF可增强绵羊EECs体外生长活力,其作用机制可能是EGF通过介导EGFR和PI3K/AKT信号通路上调了FOXO1的磷酸化水平。     

Selective inhibition of leukemia cell proliferation by BCR-ABL antisense oligodeoxynucleotides

To determine the role of the BCR-ABL gene in the proliferation of blast cells of patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia, leukemia blast cells were exposed to synthetic 18-mer oligodeoxynucleotides complementary to two identified BCR-ABL junctions. Leukemia colony formation was suppressed, whereas granulocyte-macrophage colony formation from normal marrow progenitors was unaffected. When equal proportions of normal marrow progenitors and blast cells were mixed, exposed to the oligodeoxynucleotides, and assayed for residual colony formation, the majority of residual cells were normal. These findings demonstrate the requirement for a functional BCR-ABL gene in maintaining the leukemic phenotype and the feasibility of gene-targeted selective killing of neoplastic cells.     

Censoring of autoreactive B cell development by the pre-B cell receptor

Antibody diversity occurs randomly as B cells recombine their immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy- and light-chain genes during development. This process inevitably generates reactivity against self structures, and several mechanisms prevent the development of autoreactive B cells. We report here a role for the pre-B cell receptor, composed of Ig heavy and surrogate light chains, in the negative selection of cells expressing Ig heavy chains with the potential to generate autoantibodies. Surrogate light-chain-deficient (SLC-/-) mice harbored elevated levels of antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) in their serum and showed evidence of escape of pre-B cells expressing prototypic autoantibody heavy chains from negative selection, leading to mature autoantibody secreting CD21-CD23- B cells in the periphery. Thus, the pre-B cell receptor appears to censor the development of certain autoantibody-secreting cells and may represent an important factor in multifactorial autoimmune diseases.     

A novel putative tyrosine kinase receptor encoded by the eph gene

Growth factors and their receptors are involved in the regulation of cell proliferation and also play a key role in oncogenesis. In this study, a novel putative kinase receptor gene, termed eph, has been identified and characterized by molecular cloning. Its primary structure is similar to that of tyrosine kinase receptors thus far cloned and includes a cysteine-rich region in the extracellular domain. However, other features of the sequence distinguish the eph gene product from known receptors with tyrosine kinase activity. Thus the eph protein may define a new class of these molecules. The eph gene is overexpressed in several human carcinomas, suggesting that this gene may be involved in the neoplastic process of some tumors.     

Structural bioinformatics-based design of selective, irreversible kinase inhibitors

The active sites of 491 human protein kinase domains are highly conserved, which makes the design of selective inhibitors a formidable challenge. We used a structural bioinformatics approach to identify two selectivity filters, a threonine and a cysteine, at defined positions in the active site of p90 ribosomal protein S6 kinase (RSK). A fluoromethylketone inhibitor, designed to exploit both selectivity filters, potently and selectively inactivated RSK1 and RSK2 in mammalian cells. Kinases with only one selectivity filter were resistant to the inhibitor, yet they became sensitized after genetic introduction of the second selectivity filter. Thus, two amino acids that distinguish RSK from other protein kinases are sufficient to confer inhibitor sensitivity.     

Perception of brassinosteroids by the extracellular domain of the receptor kinase BRI1

An assay was developed to study plant receptor kinase activation and signaling mechanisms. The extracellular leucine-rich repeat (LRR) and transmembrane domains of the Arabidopsis receptor kinase BRI1, which is implicated in brassinosteroid signaling, were fused to the serine/threonine kinase domain of XA21, the rice disease resistance receptor. The chimeric receptor initiates plant defense responses in rice cells upon treatment with brassinosteroids. These results, which indicate that the extracellular domain of BRI1 perceives brassinosteroids, suggest a general signaling mechanism for the LRR receptor kinases of plants. This system should allow the discovery of ligands for the LRR kinases, the largest group of plant receptor kinases.     

Long-distance signaling in nodulation directed by a CLAVATA1-like receptor kinase

Proliferation of legume nodule primordia is controlled by shoot-root signaling known as autoregulation of nodulation (AON). Mutants defective in AON show supernodulation and increased numbers of lateral roots. Here, we demonstrate that AON in soybean is controlled by the receptor-like protein kinase GmNARK (Glycine max nodule autoregulation receptor kinase), similar to Arabidopsis CLAVATA1 (CLV1). Whereas CLV1 functions in a protein complex controlling stem cell proliferation by short-distance signaling in shoot apices, GmNARK expression in the leaf has a major role in long-distance communication with nodule and lateral root primordia.     

体外Src蛋白酪氨酸激酶抑制剂筛选模型的建立

在体外构建一个以Src蛋白为靶位点的蛋白酪氨酸激酶抑制剂快速筛选模型,为筛选Src蛋白酪氨酸激酶抑制剂奠定基础.基因工程表达GST-v-Src蛋白,收集包涵体蛋白,并经变性复性处理.以生物素化的聚Glu∶Tyr(4∶1)为激酶反应底物、以辣根过氧化物酶(horseradish peroxidase,HRP)标记的磷酸酪氨酸特异性单克隆抗体(HRP-PY20)检测磷酸酪氨酸残基的酶联免疫吸附实验(enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,ELISA)测定获得蛋白的激酶活性,并进行抑制剂筛选.该模型具有靶向性强、快速、简便可行、高通量的特点.用该方法对6种治疗肿瘤配方中常用的中草药进行筛选,筛选出3种中草药水煎剂富含Src蛋白酪氨酸激酶抑制剂成分.     

阻隔法防治草履蚧试验

对草履蚧 [Drosichacorpulenta(Kuwana) ]进行了胶环、毒环、绑扎塑料裙和毒绳等阻隔试验。结果表明 :应用废机油 +羊毛脂 (5∶1 )进行涂环阻隔防治 ,效果最好 ,其粘性持续时间可达 80～ 1 2 0d。利用“阻隔法”防治草履蚧的防治最佳时期应设在草履蚧卵开始孵化后至上树前的 1月上旬至 2月上旬