Role of phosphatidylinositol kinase in PDGF receptor signal transduction

The molecules with which the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor interacts to elicit the biochemical reactions responsible for cell proliferation have not been identified. Antisera directed against specific PDGF receptor peptides coprecipitated a phosphatidylinositol (PI) kinase and the PDGF receptor. Immunoprecipitates from PDGF-stimulated cells contained 10 to 50 times as much PI kinase as those from unstimulated cells. Mutation of the PDGF receptor by deletion of its kinase insert region resulted in a receptor markedly less effective than the wild type in eliciting cell proliferation and defective in PDGF-stimulated PI kinase, but still capable of PDGF-induced receptor autophosphorylation and phosphoinositide hydrolysis. These data show that the PDGF receptor is physically associated with a PDGF-sensitive PI kinase that is distinct from tyrosine kinase and is not required for PDGF-induced PI hydrolysis. The finding that the mutant PDGF receptor missing the kinase insert domain elicited known early biochemical responses to PDGF, but did not associate with or regulate PI kinase, suggests a novel role for the receptor-associated PI kinase in the transmission of mitogenic signals.     

BSKs mediate signal transduction from the receptor kinase BRI1 in Arabidopsis

Brassinosteroids (BRs) bind to the extracellular domain of the receptor kinase BRI1 to activate a signal transduction cascade that regulates nuclear gene expression and plant development. Many components of the BR signaling pathway have been identified and studied in detail. However, the substrate of BRI1 kinase that transduces the signal to downstream components remains unknown. Proteomic studies of plasma membrane proteins lead to the identification of three homologous BR-signaling kinases (BSK1, BSK2, and BSK3). The BSKs are phosphorylated by BRI1 in vitro and interact with BRI1 in vivo. Genetic and transgenic studies demonstrate that the BSKs represent a small family of kinases that activate BR signaling downstream of BRI1. These results demonstrate that BSKs are the substrates of BRI1 kinase that activate downstream BR signal transduction.     

Inhibition of PDGF beta receptor signal transduction by coexpression of a truncated receptor.

A mutated form of the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) beta receptor lacking most of its cytoplasmic domain was tested for its ability to block wild-type PDGF receptor function. PDGF induced the formation of complexes consisting of wild-type and truncated receptors. Such complexes were defective in autophosphorylation. When truncated receptors were expressed in excess compared to wild-type receptors, stimulation by PDGF of receptor autophosphorylation, association of phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase with the receptor, and calcium mobilization were blocked. Thus, a truncated receptor can inactivate wild-type receptor function by forming ligand-dependent receptor complexes (probably heterodimers) that are incapable of mediating the early steps of signal transduction.     

植株间伤害信息的传递:信号分子及感受机制

植物在遭受到机械损伤或昆虫取食后释放出的伤诱导挥发物,除了具有防御功能外,还可作为伤害信息在植株间传递,引起群体诱导抗性的产生.文中就伤诱导挥发物在植株间传递伤害信息的存在证据、伤害信息分子的可能标准以及植物对伤害信息的感知进行了综述.     

B cell receptor signal transduction in the GC is short-circuited by high phosphatase activity

Germinal centers (GCs) generate memory B and plasma cells, which are essential for long-lived humoral immunity. GC B cells with high-affinity B cell receptors (BCRs) are selectively expanded. To enable this selection, BCRs of such cells are thought to signal differently from those with lower affinity. We show that, surprisingly, most proliferating GC B cells did not demonstrate active BCR signaling. Rather, spontaneous and induced signaling was limited by increased phosphatase activity. Accordingly, both SH2 domain-containing phosphatase-1 (SHP-1) and SH2 domain-containing inositol 5 phosphatase were hyperphosphorylated in GC cells and remained colocalized with BCRs after ligation. Furthermore, SHP-1 was required for GC maintenance. Intriguingly, GC B cells in the cell-cycle G(2) period regained responsiveness to BCR stimulation. These data have implications for how higher-affinity B cells are selected in the GC.     

Early signal transduction by the antigen receptor without commitment to T cell activation

The T lymphocyte antigen-receptor complex mediates antigen-specific cell activation, at least in part, through the production of inositolphospholipid-derived second messengers. Little is known about how second messenger events, typically measured within minutes of ligand binding, eventually lead to distal biologic responses such as expression of lymphokine genes. Several monoclonal antibodies directed against the receptor complex were tested for their ability to elicit transmembrane signaling in the parental Jurkat line and in a somatic mutant (J.CaM1) with a deficient receptor function. One antibody elicited substantial early Ca2+ mobilization responses in both cells but was unable to promote expression of the interleukin-2 gene in J.CaM1. In J.CaM1 there was a diminished production of phosphatidylinositol second messengers, and the elevation in intracellular free Ca2+ was transient. Thus, short-term Ca2+ mobilization does not always indicate complete signal transmission and lead to a full cellular response.     

Allosteric mechanisms of signal transduction

Forty years ago, a simple model of allosteric mechanisms (indirect interactions between distinct sites), used initially to explain feedback-inhibited enzymes, was presented by Monod, Wyman, and Changeux. We review the MWC theory and its applications for the understanding of signal transduction in biology, and also identify remaining issues that deserve theoretical and experimental substantiation.     

Diversity of G proteins in signal transduction

The heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide-binding proteins (G proteins) act as switches that regulate information processing circuits connecting cell surface receptors to a variety of effectors. The G proteins are present in all eukaryotic cells, and they control metabolic, humoral, neural, and developmental functions. More than a hundred different kinds of receptors and many different effectors have been described. The G proteins that coordinate receptor-effector activity are derived from a large gene family. At present, the family is known to contain at least sixteen different genes that encode the alpha subunit of the heterotrimer, four that encode beta subunits, and multiple genes encoding gamma subunits. Specific transient interactions between these components generate the pathways that modulate cellular responses to complex chemical signals.     

Turnover of inositol phospholipids and signal transduction

Various extracellular informational signals such as those from a group of hormones and some neurotransmitters appear to be passed from the cell surface into the cell interior by two routes, protein kinase C activation and Ca2+ mobilization. Both routes usually become available as the result of an interaction of a single ligand and a receptor and act synergistically to evoke subsequent cellular responses such as release reactions. The signal-dependent breakdown of inositol phospholipids, particularly phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate, now appears to be a key event for initiating these processes.     

Phosphorelay and transcription control in cytokinin signal transduction

The past decade has seen substantial advances in knowledge of molecular mechanisms and actions of plant hormones, but only in the past few years has research on cytokinins begun to hit its stride. Cytokinins are master regulators of a large number of processes in plant development, which is known to be unusually plastic and adaptive, as well as resilient and perpetual. These characteristics allow plants to respond sensitively and quickly to their environments. Recent studies have demonstrated that cytokinin signaling involves a multistep two-component signaling pathway, resulting in the development of a canonical model of cytokinin signaling that is likely representative in plants. This Viewpoint outlines this general model, focusing on the specific example of Arabidopsis, and introduces the STKE Connections Maps for both the canonical module and the specific Arabidopsis Cytokinin Signaling Pathway.     

植物氮磷营养的长距离信号转导

植物应对土壤多变的营养环境需整合和协调地上部和根系的养分感知信息,通过精细而复杂的信号转导机制,调控植物养分应答和生长发育进程。长距离信号转导机制的实现需经由维管系统进行信号分子的长距离运输(故称长距离信号)。在众多矿质营养元素中,氮和磷是限制植物生产力的主要元素。研究表明,蛋白质、小肽和microRNAs等多种分子均可作为长距离信号分子参与调控系统性氮磷信号转导。本文总结了目前鉴定到的氮磷营养长距离信号分子及相关信号转导机制,概述了光对氮磷长距离信号转导的影响,并对长距离信号未来研究方向进行了展望。     

Coordinate regulation and sensory transduction in the control of bacterial virulence

Genes and operons that encode bacterial virulence factors are often subject to coordinate regulation. These regulatory systems are capable of responding to various environmental signals that may be encountered during the infectious cycle. For some pathogens, proteins that mediate sensory transduction and virulence control are similar to components of other bacterial information processing systems. Understanding the molecular mechanisms governing global regulation of pathogenicity is essential for understanding bacterial infectious diseases.     

Role of 4.5S RNA in assembly of the bacterial signal recognition particle with its receptor

The mechanism by which a signal recognition particle (SRP) and its receptor mediate protein targeting to the endoplasmic reticulum or to the bacterial plasma membrane is evolutionarily conserved. In Escherichia coli, this reaction is mediated by the Ffh/4.5S RNA ribonucleoprotein complex (Ffh/4.5S RNP; the SRP) and the FtsY protein (the SRP receptor). We have quantified the effects of 4.5S RNA on Ffh-FtsY complex formation by monitoring changes in tryptophan fluorescence. Surprisingly, 4.5S RNA facilitates both assembly and disassembly of the Ffh-FtsY complex to a similar extent. These results provide an example of an RNA molecule facilitating protein-protein interactions in a catalytic fashion.     

植物中紫外光及蓝光信号转导的研究进展

以拟南芥为例，简要论述了近年来有关紫外光及蓝光信号转导方面的研究进展，其中，着重从ＣＨＳ基因表达的调节、ＵＶ－Ｂ和ＵＶ－Ａ／蓝光光信号转导途径研究及其相互作用等小方面进行介绍。     

植物激素的信号转导系统研究进展

植物激素是调节植物生长、发育和抗逆性的重要物质 .蛋白质激酶的磷酸化级联放大系统在激素的信号转导中起重要作用 .乙烯早期信号转导的 ETR1系统类似原核生物的信号转导的双组分系统 .本文综述了有关植物激素的信号转导系统的研究进展 ,并提出了今后研究的思路     

Control of yeast mating signal transduction by a mammalian beta 2-adrenergic receptor and Gs alpha subunit

To facilitate functional and mechanistic studies of receptor-G protein interactions, [corrected] the human beta 2-adrenergic receptor (h beta-AR) has been expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This was achieved by placing a modified h beta-AR gene under control of the galactose-inducible GAL1 promoter. After induction by galactose, functional h beta-AR was expressed at a concentration several hundred times as great as that found in any human tissue. As determined from competitive ligand binding experiments, h beta-AR expressed in yeast displayed characteristic affinities, specificity, and stereoselectivity. Partial activation of the yeast pheromone response pathway by beta-adrenergic receptor agonists was achieved in cells coexpressing h beta-AR and a mammalian G protein (Gs) alpha subunit-demonstrating that these components can couple to each other and to downstream effectors when expressed in yeast. This in vivo reconstitution system provides a new approach for examining ligand binding and G protein coupling to cell surface receptors.     

钙依赖蛋白激酶与植物钙离子的信号转导

钙离子所依赖的蛋白激酶(CDPKs)在植物钙信号转导过程中发挥着关键作用。本文就CDPK的结构以及生物学功能等方面做了较为详尽的阐述。     

核黄素启动植物生长信号通路的初步研究

报道了核黄素促进植物生长的效应及分子反应。在实验室内对7种粮食、蔬菜和经济作物使用核黄素后，植物生长量增加23.8%-85.4%。在田间试验中，烟草使用核黄素后，生长量提高35.9%-108%。烤烟叶产量提高44.7%-110.3%。在拟南芥上，核黄素处理可以诱导PR-3b、PDF1.2、ETR1和EIN2基因的表达；PR-3b和PDF1.2是乙烯信号通路的分子标志，乙烯/茉莉酸信号传导可以调控植物生长发育；ETR1和EIN2是乙烯信号通路上，下游的关键调控基因，其产物分别作为乙烯的受体和转录调控因子起作用。根据以上这些结果，核黄素启动了植物生长信号传导通路的分子反应，促进了植物生长。