髓样分化蛋白-2研究进展

髓样分化蛋白-2(Myeloid differentiation protein-2,MD-2)是一种分子量为20～30 kD的分泌蛋白,它结合在Toll样受体4(Tolllike receptor 4,TLR4)胞外区,能与TLR4组成复合体(MD-2/TLR4),在细菌脂多糖(lipopolysaccharide,LPS)的识别及其信号转导中发挥重要作用,MD-2也是目前炎症、感染、免疫等病理过程研究的热点之一。本文对MD-2基因结构、基因表达及MD-2与机体天然免疫等方面研究结果进行综述,以期阐释MD-2的基因与天然免疫的关系,为揭示MD-2基因的功能提供技术参考。     

金菠萝在海南尖峰的引种表现

菠萝新品种金菠萝为海南万钟实业有限公司于2007年从菲律宾引种,在海南尖峰镇试种。通过调查和跟踪试验,总结金菠萝在海南尖峰的引种表现和优质高产高效栽培技术。金菠萝表现为植株高大,叶片较长,叶缘无刺,生长力强;果实呈圆筒形,产量可达60 t/hm~2,可食用部分多;可溶性糖18.83%,可溶性固形物19.44%,Vc 363.19 mg/kg,可滴定酸2.46%,品质极高;全生育期平均16个月,单造大小行栽培管理,四季均可种植。金菠萝适应性极强,可在海南大面积辐射种植。     

Amplification of acetylcholine-binding catenanes from dynamic combinatorial libraries

Directed chemical synthesis can produce a vast range of molecular structures, but the intended product must be known at the outset. In contrast, evolution in nature can lead to efficient receptors and catalysts whose structures defy prediction. To access such unpredictable structures, we prepared dynamic combinatorial libraries in which reversibly binding building blocks assemble around a receptor target. We selected for an acetylcholine receptor by adding the neurotransmitter to solutions of dipeptide hydrazones [proline-phenylalanine or proline-(cyclohexyl)alanine], which reversibly combine through hydrazone linkages. At thermodynamic equilibrium, the dominant receptor structure was an elaborate [2]-catenane consisting of two interlocked macrocyclic trimers. This complex receptor with a 100 nM affinity for acetylcholine could be isolated on a preparative scale in 67% yield.     

Structural basis for tail-anchored membrane protein biogenesis by the Get3-receptor complex

Tail-anchored (TA) proteins are involved in cellular processes including trafficking, degradation, and apoptosis. They contain a C-terminal membrane anchor and are posttranslationally delivered to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane by the Get3 adenosine triphosphatase interacting with the hetero-oligomeric Get1/2 receptor. We have determined crystal structures of Get3 in complex with the cytosolic domains of Get1 and Get2 in different functional states at 3.0, 3.2, and 4.6 angstrom resolution. The structural data, together with biochemical experiments, show that Get1 and Get2 use adjacent, partially overlapping binding sites and that both can bind simultaneously to Get3. Docking to the Get1/2 complex allows for conformational changes in Get3 that are required for TA protein insertion. These data suggest a molecular mechanism for nucleotide-regulated delivery of TA proteins.     

Structural basis of Smad2 recognition by the Smad anchor for receptor activation

The Smad proteins mediate transforming growth factor-beta (TGFbeta) signaling from the transmembrane serine-threonine receptor kinases to the nucleus. The Smad anchor for receptor activation (SARA) recruits Smad2 to the TGFbeta receptors for phosphorylation. The crystal structure of a Smad2 MH2 domain in complex with the Smad-binding domain (SBD) of SARA has been determined at 2.2 angstrom resolution. SARA SBD, in an extended conformation comprising a rigid coil, an alpha helix, and a beta strand, interacts with the beta sheet and the three-helix bundle of Smad2. Recognition between the SARA rigid coil and the Smad2 beta sheet is essential for specificity, whereas interactions between the SARA beta strand and the Smad2 three-helix bundle contribute significantly to binding affinity. Comparison of the structures between Smad2 and a comediator Smad suggests a model for how receptor-regulated Smads are recognized by the type I receptors.     

The vaccine adjuvant monophosphoryl lipid A as a TRIF-biased agonist of TLR4

The inflammatory toxicity of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a component of bacterial cell walls, is driven by the adaptor proteins myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) and Toll-interleukin 1 receptor domain-containing adapter inducing interferon-beta (TRIF), which together mediate signaling by the endotoxin receptor Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). Monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA) is a low-toxicity derivative of LPS with useful immunostimulatory properties, which is nearing regulatory approval for use as a human vaccine adjuvant. We report here that, in mice, the low toxicity of MPLA's adjuvant function is associated with a bias toward TRIF signaling, which we suggest is likely caused by the active suppression, rather than passive loss, of proinflammatory activity of this LPS derivative. This finding may have important implications for the development of future vaccine adjuvants.     

不同菠萝品种的农艺性状和品质的比较分析

对江门地区不同菠萝品种花前阶段的新抽生叶片、茎粗、株高的月生长量进行了比较分析,同时对其中3个菠萝品种的果实品质进行了测定。结果表明：4个品种表现出较为一致的生长规律,在该阶段的新抽生叶片、茎粗和株高的月变化量分别约为1.5个、0.15cm和0.5cm;‘黄金菠萝’’的可溶性糖含量最高,‘金菠萝’次之,‘巴厘’最低。3个品种的有机酸含量含量相近,‘金菠萝’的Vc含量明显高于‘黄金菠萝’和‘’巴厘’’。     

Fluid dynamics in suspension-feeding blackfish

Measurements of flow patterns and water velocities inside the oral cavity of blackfish (Orthodon microlepidotus), made with a fiberoptic endoscope and thermistor flow probe, revealed that gill-arch structures act in blackfish as barriers that direct particle-laden water to the mucus-covered roof of the oral cavity, where particles are retained. Gill-arch structures have previously been assumed to be the site of particle retention in suspension-feeding fishes. Water does not pass between these structures in blackfish, and they do not serve as filters that separate particles from the water. These results emphasize the importance of directly assessing flow velocity and direction inside the oral cavity of vertebrate suspension feeders, particularly at the level of the filtering elements.     

五指山小型猪近交系主动脉内皮细胞体外培养模型的建立和TLR2介导炎症相关因子的表达

【目的】探讨五指山小型猪近交系主动脉内皮细胞体外分离培养和鉴定的方法,研究LPS对内皮细胞TLR2表达的影响及TLR2介导内皮细胞炎症因子的表达情况。【方法】以3—4月龄的五指山小型猪近交系为试验材料,取其胸腹主动脉,采用0.1%I型胶原酶消化分离主动脉内皮细胞。利用细胞吸收DiI-Ac-LDL试验和流式细胞仪检测CD31的特异表达两种方法进行内皮细胞的鉴定。1 μg•mL-1LPS刺激内皮细胞0、6、8和12 h,实时荧光定量PCR检测TLR2和TLR4的表达量;1 μg•mL-1LPS刺激内皮细胞12 h后,10 μg•mL-1LTA孵育0、6和12 h,实时荧光定量PCR检测炎症因子IL-6、IL-8和黏附分子ICAM-1的表达量。【结果】分离得到的主动脉内皮细胞呈铺路石样整齐排列,且生长状态良好;细胞膜上表达CD31分子和Ac-LDL的受体,证实分离得到的细胞是血管内皮细胞。LPS刺激后细胞TLR2 mRNA水平的表达量明显升高（P＜0.05）,而TLR4 mRNA水平表达量无明显变化。添加LTA孵育后,细胞炎症因子IL-6、IL-8和黏附分子ICAM-1的mRNA水平表达量较对照明显升高（P＜0.05）。【结论】成功建立了五指山小型猪近交系主动脉内皮细胞体外培养模型,并检测到TLR2在LPS刺激内皮细胞后表达量升高,能够介导细胞炎症相关因子的表达。     

Designing small-molecule switches for protein-protein interactions

Mutations introduced into human growth hormone (hGH) (Thr175 --> Gly-hGH) and the extracellular domain of the hGH receptor (Trp104 --> Gly-hGHbp) created a cavity at the protein-protein interface that resulted in binding affinity being reduced by a factor of 10(6). A small library of indole analogs was screened for small molecules that bind the cavity created by the mutations and restore binding affinity. The ligand 5-chloro-2-trichloromethylimidazole was found to increase the affinity of the mutant hormone for its receptor more than 1000-fold. Cell proliferation and JAK2 phosphorylation assays showed that the mutant hGH activates growth hormone signaling in the presence of added ligand. This approach may allow other protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid interactions to be switched on or off by the addition or depletion of exogenous small molecules.     

The structure of interleukin-2 complexed with its alpha receptor

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is an immunoregulatory cytokine that binds sequentially to the alpha (IL-2Ralpha), beta (IL-2Rbeta), and common gamma chain (gammac) receptor subunits. Here we present the 2.8 angstrom crystal structure of a complex between human IL-2 and IL-2Ralpha, which interact in a docking mode distinct from that of other cytokine receptor complexes. IL-2Ralpha is composed of strand-swapped "sushi-like" domains, unlike the classical cytokine receptor fold. As a result of this domain swap, IL-2Ralpha uses a composite surface to dock into a groove on IL-2 that also serves as a binding site for antagonist drugs. With this complex, we now have representative structures for each class of hematopoietic cytokine receptor-docking modules.     

Specific lipopolysaccharide found in cystic fibrosis airway Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients develop chronic airway infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA). Pseudomonas aeruginosa synthesized lipopolysaccharide (LPS) with a variety of penta- and hexa-acylated lipid A structures under different environmental conditions. CF patient PA synthesized LPS with specific lipid A structures indicating unique recognition of the CF airway environment. CF-specific lipid A forms containing palmitate and aminoarabinose were associated with resistance to cationic antimicrobial peptides and increased inflammatory responses, indicating that they are likely to be involved in airway disease.     

Allosteric activation of a spring-loaded natriuretic peptide receptor dimer by hormone

Natriuretic peptides (NPs) are vasoactive cyclic-peptide hormones important in blood pressure regulation through interaction with natriuretic cell-surface receptors. We report the hormone-binding thermodynamics and crystal structures at 2.9 and 2.0 angstroms, respectively, of the extracellular domain of the unliganded human NP receptor (NPR-C) and its complex with CNP, a 22-amino acid NP. A single CNP molecule is bound in the interface of an NPR-C dimer, resulting in asymmetric interactions between the hormone and the symmetrically related receptors. Hormone binding induces a 20 angstrom closure between the membrane-proximal domains of the dimer. In each monomer, the opening of an interdomain cleft, which is tethered together by a linker peptide acting as a molecular spring, is likely a conserved allosteric trigger for intracellular signaling by the natriuretic receptor family.     

Structure of human urokinase plasminogen activator in complex with its receptor

The urokinase plasminogen activator binds to its cellular receptor with high affinity and initiates signaling cascades that are implicated in pathological processes including tumor growth, metastasis, and inflammation. We report the crystal structure at 1.9 angstroms of the urokinase receptor complexed with the urokinase amino-terminal fragment and an antibody against the receptor. The three domains of urokinase receptor form a concave shape with a central cone-shaped cavity where the urokinase fragment inserts. The structure provides insight into the flexibility of the urokinase receptor that enables its interaction with a wide variety of ligands and a basis for the design of urokinase-urokinase receptor antagonists.     

脂多糖刺激对断奶仔猪脾脏、胸腺和外周血白细胞PPARγ蛋白表达的影响

 【目的】研究免疫应激对断奶仔猪脾脏、胸腺和外周血白细胞过氧化物酶体增殖物活化受体γ（PPARγ）蛋白表达水平的影响。【方法】选取12头健康断奶仔猪,分成2组,每组6个重复。试验组注射100 μg•kg-1 BW的脂多糖（LPS）建立免疫应激模型,对照组注射等量生理盐水。注射后3 h,采血分离血浆和白细胞待测,然后立即屠宰仔猪,取脾脏和胸腺,通过Western blot 测定脾脏、胸腺和白细胞中PPARγ蛋白表达水平。【结果】LPS刺激仔猪,导致血浆白细胞介素-6﹑肿瘤坏死因子-α、皮质醇和前列腺素E2含量显著升高（P＜0.05）,胰岛素、类胰岛素生长因子-1含量显著降低（P＜0.05）;LPS刺激导致血浆葡萄糖、总蛋白、白蛋白和球蛋白含量显著降低（P＜0.05）;LPS刺激导致脾脏（P＜0.05）、胸腺（P＜0.1）和白细胞（P＜0.05）PPARγ蛋白表达水平升高。【结论】脂多糖剌激可提高仔猪脾脏、胸腺和外周血白细胞PPARγ蛋白的表达,显示PPARγ可能参与仔猪免疫应激的调控,可能成为缓解仔猪免疫应激的一个新靶点。     

Molecular architecture of the multiprotein splicing factor SF3b

The splicing factor SF3b is a multiprotein complex essential for the accurate excision of introns from pre-messenger RNA. As an integral component of the U2 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) and the U11/U12 di-snRNP, SF3b is involved in the recognition of the pre-messenger RNA's branch site within the major and minor spliceosomes. We have determined the three-dimensional structure of the human SF3b complex by single-particle electron cryomicroscopy at a resolution of less than 10 angstroms, allowing identification of protein domains with known structural folds. The best fit of a modeled RNA-recognition motif indicates that the protein p14 is located in the central cavity of the complex. The 22 tandem helical repeats of the protein SF3b155 are located in the outer shell of the complex enclosing p14.     

High-resolution crystal structure of an engineered human beta2-adrenergic G protein-coupled receptor

Heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G protein)-coupled receptors constitute the largest family of eukaryotic signal transduction proteins that communicate across the membrane. We report the crystal structure of a human beta2-adrenergic receptor-T4 lysozyme fusion protein bound to the partial inverse agonist carazolol at 2.4 angstrom resolution. The structure provides a high-resolution view of a human G protein-coupled receptor bound to a diffusible ligand. Ligand-binding site accessibility is enabled by the second extracellular loop, which is held out of the binding cavity by a pair of closely spaced disulfide bridges and a short helical segment within the loop. Cholesterol, a necessary component for crystallization, mediates an intriguing parallel association of receptor molecules in the crystal lattice. Although the location of carazolol in the beta2-adrenergic receptor is very similar to that of retinal in rhodopsin, structural differences in the ligand-binding site and other regions highlight the challenges in using rhodopsin as a template model for this large receptor family.     

Structure of the quaternary complex of interleukin-2 with its alpha, beta, and gammac receptors

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is an immunoregulatory cytokine that acts through a quaternary receptor signaling complex containing alpha (IL-2Ralpha), beta (IL-2Rbeta), and common gamma chain (gc) receptors. In the structure of the quaternary ectodomain complex as visualized at a resolution of 2.3 angstroms, the binding of IL-2Ralpha to IL-2 stabilizes a secondary binding site for presentation to IL-2Rbeta. gammac is then recruited to the composite surface formed by the IL-2/IL-2Rbeta complex. Consistent with its role as a shared receptor for IL-4, IL-7, IL-9, IL-15, and IL-21, gammac forms degenerate contacts with IL-2. The structure of gammac provides a rationale for loss-of-function mutations found in patients with X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency diseases (X-SCID). This complex structure provides a framework for other gammac-dependent cytokine-receptor interactions and for the engineering of improved IL-2 therapeutics.     

The TLR Expression Pattern on Monocyte-Derived Macrophages for Lipopolysaccharid Stimulation of Calves

In this paper, toll-like receptor expression pattern in monocytes-derived macrophages by lipopolysaccharid （LPS） stimulation was examined. Jugular venous blood samples from 4 Japanese calves were obtained and the peripheral blood mononuclear cells （PBMC） were isolated. The PBMC were cultured for 7 d so as to collect monocytes-derived macrophages in Repcell. The PBMC were stimulated by LPS for 24 h and the mRNA expression pattern of TLR and cytokines in monocytes-derived macrophages （Mod-Mφ） was analyzed. Results showed that LPS stimulation of Mod-Mφ could increase the mRNA levels of the genes of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8. In addition, the mRNA levels of the genes of TNF-α and IL-6 in the group of LPS stimulation were most significantly （P 〈 0.01） higher than those in control group and the mRNA levels of TLR1, 3, 5, 8, and 10 were significantly （P 〈 0.05） decreased after LPS stimulation. There was no difference in the mRNA expressions of TLR2, 4, 6, and 7 between the groups of the control and LPS stimulation. Besides, expression of TLR9 was not found. It suggested that monocytes-derived macrophages could respond to LPS and they might take an important role in the innate immunity. The important function of the cells might contribute to better disease treatment.