Adipsin: a circulating serine protease homolog secreted by adipose tissue and sciatic nerve

Adipsin is a serine protease homolog whose primary structure was predicted from the nucleotide sequence of a differentiation-dependent adipocyte messenger RNA. Immunoblots probed with antisera to synthetic peptides identify two forms of adipsin that are synthesized and secreted by 3T3 adipocytes. These proteins of 44 and 37 kilodaltons are converted to 25.5 kilodaltons by enzymatic deglycosylation. Although adipsin is principally synthesized in adipose tissue, it is also produced by sciatic nerve and is found in the bloodstream. Because of the apparent restriction of adipsin synthesis to tissues highly active in lipid metabolism, its presence in serum, and its modulation in altered metabolic states, this molecule may play a previously unrecognized role in systemic lipid metabolism or energy balance.     

Regulation of interferon regulatory factor-3 by the hepatitis C virus serine protease

Persistent infections with hepatitis C virus (HCV) are likely to depend on viral inhibition of host defenses. We show that the HCV NS3/4A serine protease blocks the phosphorylation and effector action of interferon regulatory factor-3 (IRF-3), a key cellular antiviral signaling molecule. Disruption of NS3/4A protease function by mutation or a ketoamide peptidomimetic inhibitor relieved this blockade and restored IRF-3 phosphorylation after cellular challenge with an unrelated virus. Furthermore, dominant-negative or constitutively active IRF-3 mutants, respectively, enhanced or suppressed HCV RNA replication in hepatoma cells. Thus, the NS3/4A protease represents a dual therapeutic target, the inhibition of which may both block viral replication and restore IRF-3 control of HCV infection.     

Crystal versus solution structures of enzymes: NMR spectroscopy of a crystalline serine protease

The hydrogen-bonding status of His57 in the catalytic triad (Asp-His-Ser) of serine protease has important mechanistic implications for this class of enzymes. Recent nitrogen-15 nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies of alpha-lytic protease find His57 and Ser195 to be strongly hydrogen-bonded, a result that conflicts with the corresponding crystallographic studies, thereby suggesting that the crystal and solution structures may differ. This discrepancy is addressed and resolved in a nitrogen-15 NMR study of the enzyme in the crystalline state. The results show that the His-Ser and Asp-His interactions are identical in crystals and solutions, but that in crystals His57 titrates with a pKa of 7.9, nearly one pKa unit higher than in solution. This elevated pKa accounts for the absence of the His-Ser hydrogen bond in previous x-ray studies.     

Activation of endothelial cell protease activated receptor 1 by the protein C pathway

The coagulant and inflammatory exacerbation in sepsis is counterbalanced by the protective protein C (PC) pathway. Activated PC (APC) was shown to use the endothelial cell PC receptor (EPCR) as a coreceptor for cleavage of protease activated receptor 1 (PAR1) on endothelial cells. Gene profiling demonstrated that PAR1 signaling could account for all APC-induced protective genes, including the immunomodulatory monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), which was selectively induced by activation of PAR1, but not PAR2. Thus, the prototypical thrombin receptor is the target for EPCR-dependent APC signaling, suggesting a role for this receptor cascade in protection from sepsis.     

Prevention of fungal infection of plants by specific inhibition of cutinase

Specific antibodies prepared against cutinase from Fusarium solani pisi and diisopropylfluorophosphate, a potent inhibitor of this enzyme, prevented infection of the host (pea epicotyl) by this organism, without affecting the viability of the spores. This finding shows that enzymatic penetration of cuticle is involved in pathogenesis.     

Regulation of JNK by Src during Drosophila development

In Drosophila, the Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK) homolog Basket (Bsk) is required for epidermal closure. Mutants for Src42A, a Drosophila c-src protooncogene homolog, are described. Src42A functions in epidermal closure during both embryogenesis and metamorphosis. The severity of the epidermal closure defect in the Src42A mutant depended on the amount of Bsk activity, and the amount of Bsk activity depended on the amount of Src42A. Thus, activation of the Bsk pathway is required downstream of Src42A in epidermal closure. This work confirms mammalian studies that demonstrated a physiological link between Src and JNK.     

总状毛霉丝氨酸蛋白酶基因结构和功能的生物信息学分析

利用PCR和RACE(cDNA末端快速扩增)技术从总状毛霉中克隆获得1个丝氨酸蛋白酶新基因,利用生物信息学方法对该基因序列、编码的酶序列以及酶性质和结构进行预测。结果表明:该基因编码区序列长1 421bp,由3个外显子和2个内含子组成,编码由429个氨基酸残基组成的多肽;对该多肽的组成和进化分析表明,其成熟肽属于蛋白酶K家族的胞外蛋白酶;通过同源建模结构分析表明,该酶没有二硫键,有152个氢键和29个盐键,酶的Glu190、Ala192和Asp215残基与一个Ca2+相结合,酶活性位点残基Asp44和Ser241溶剂可及表面积较大,分别达到0.211 42和3.309 32;该酶的底物结合区域中,S1和S4口袋结构明显,S2次之,S3最不明显,部分组成S1和S4口袋的氨基酸残基不保守,这可能使该酶具有独特的水解性。上述结果可为该蛋白酶基因的异源表达和结构与功能关系等方面的研究提供参考。     

Distinguishing nitrogen deficiency and fungal infection of winter wheat by laser-induced fluorescence

One of the most important tasks in precision farming is the site-specific application of fertilisers and pesticides in heterogeneous large-area fields. For such site-specific crop management, effective remote sensing methods for the detection of crop diseases and nutrient deficiencies are required. The aim of the present work was to compare laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) parameters from nitrogen-deficient and pathogen (rust and mildew)-infected winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) plants and to assess the potential of LIF to detect and discriminate between these types of stress. Both long term nitrogen deficiency and pathogen infection resulted in an increase of the ratio of fluorescence at 686 and 740 nm (F686/F740) accompanied by a reduction of leaf chlorophyll content to approximately 35 μg cm⁻². A linear negative correlation between chlorophyll content and F686/F740 ratio (r² = 0.78) was found for leaves with chlorophyll content ranging between 17 and 52 μg cm⁻². Since chlorophyll breakdown appeared an unspecific symptom to both nitrogen deficiency and pathogen infection, it was not possible to discriminate between these types of stress only by means of the F686/F740 ratio. Specific for the pathogen-infected leaves was a large heterogeneity in the records of their spectral parameters caused by inhomogeneous, discrete lesions of fungi infection. Nitrogen-deficient plants with homogeneous reduction in chlorophyll content showed, in contrast, more uniform readings of the spectral parameters. Thus, mildew- and rust-infected plants, grown under sufficient nitrogen fertilisation could be distinguished from those grown under reduced nitrogen supply by the higher variance of their spectral readings. The simultaneous scanning multipoint mode measurements of LIF and laser light reflection characteristics with parallel estimation of their heterogeneity is proposed for the discrimination between nitrogen deficiency and pathogen infection under field conditions.     

缢蛏丝氨酸蛋白酶基因的序列特征及其表达分析

含有clip结构域的丝氨酸蛋白酶是一类新的丝氨酸蛋白酶家族,可能参与非特异性免疫防御功能。从缢蛏(Sinonovacula constricta)cDNA文库中筛选出一条丝氨酸蛋白酶同源EST序列,然后通过5’RACE扩增、测序,拼接得到全长为1 228 bp的cDNA序列,包括66 bp的5’非翻译区和160 bp的3’非翻译区,以及1 002 bp的开放阅读框。阅读框共编码333个氨基酸,含有17个氨基酸的信号肽序列,并含有发卡结构域(clip domain)和胰蛋白酶样丝氨酸蛋白酶结构域(Tryp_SPc domain)。在clip结构域中包含6个半胱氨酸残基形成的3个二硫键,在Tryp_SPc结构域中包含His-Asp-Ser催化三联体(HDS)。该缢蛏丝氨酸蛋白酶基因被命名为ScSP。实时荧光定量PCR(qRT-PCR)分析表明,ScSP在缢蛏的外套膜、水管、鳃、斧足、性腺、肝胰腺6个组织中均有表达,尤其在肝胰腺中表达显著高于其他组织,其次为性腺组织,而水管,外套膜和鳃中表达量最低。缢蛏经鳗弧菌(Vibrio anguillarum)诱导感染后4 h和8 h,肝胰腺中的ScSP基因表达量显著上调。缢蛏丝氨酸蛋白酶的序列特征与表达分析揭示了ScSP是含有clip结构域的丝氨酸蛋白酶基因,参与了非特异性免疫防御,为进一步研究该基因的结构和功能奠定了基础。     

毛果杨丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制子PtrSPI的抗虫能力分析

[目的]研究毛果杨丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制子PtrSPI的抗虫功能,为开发新型林木抗虫生物农药奠定基础.[方法]本研究通过研究毛果杨丝氨酸蛋白酶抑制子基因PtrSPI的启动子及其在舞毒蛾幼虫取食胁迫下的表达模式,分析PtrSPI基因功能;利用真核重组蛋白PtrSPI饲喂舞毒蛾幼虫,观察记录幼虫的取食量、体质量和死亡率,并测定取...     

Prevention of apoptosis by a baculovirus gene during infection of insect cells

Programmed cell death is an active process of self destruction that is important in both the development and maintenance of multicellular animals. The molecular mechanisms controlling activation or suppression of programmed cell death are largely unknown. Apoptosis, a morphologically and biochemically defined type of programmed cell death commonly seen in vertebrates, was found to be initiated during baculovirus replication in insect cells. A specific viral gene product, p35, was identified as being responsible for blocking the apoptotic response. Identification of the function of this gene will allow further definition of the molecular pathways involved in the regulation of programmed cell death and may identify the role of apoptosis in invertebrate viral defense systems.     

Autophagic fungal cell death is necessary for infection by the rice blast fungus

Rice blast is caused by the fungus Magnaporthe grisea, which elaborates specialized infection cells called appressoria to penetrate the tough outer cuticle of the rice plant Oryza sativa. We found that the formation of an appressorium required, sequentially, the completion of mitosis, nuclear migration, and death of the conidium (fungal spore) from which the infection originated. Genetic intervention during mitosis prevented both appressorium development and conidium death. Impairment of autophagy, by the targeted mutation of the MgATG8 gene, arrested conidial cell death but rendered the fungus nonpathogenic. Thus, the initiation of rice blast requires autophagic cell death of the conidium.     

家蚕丝氨酸蛋白酶基因BmSP25转录分析及其免疫响应

[目的]分析家蚕丝氨酸蛋白酶(SP)基因序列BmSP25及转录情况,明确其表达规律对防御家蚕核型多角体病毒(BmNPV)入侵的免疫应答机制,为揭示BmSPs在家蚕免疫应答方面的功能作用提供理论依据.[方法]克隆BmSP25基因序列,对该基因编码蛋白的氨基酸序列、分子量、结构域等进行生物信息学分析;利用GeneDoc和MEGA 5.0对BmSP25氨基酸序列进行多序列比对及系统发育进化树分析,采用半定量RT-PCR对家蚕不同组织和发育时期的BmSP25基因转录情况进行分析,并以实时荧光定量PCR检测BmSP25基因在BmNPV感染家蚕中肠组织中的转录水平.[结果]BmSP25基因的ORF全长885 bp,编码294个氨基酸,其中第1~17位氨基酸为信号肽,去信号肽的分子量为29.1 kD,理论等电点为7.8.BmSP25蛋白由4个α螺旋、15个β折叠和一些无规则卷曲构成;其氨基酸序列同源性比对分析发现,BmSP25(BGIBMGA008514-PA)与蓓带夜蛾SP序列(GenBank登录号ADM35105)的同源性最高,为62.1%.BmSP25基因在家蚕中肠组织中特异表达,且在整个幼虫时期呈持续性表达.BmSP25基因在家蚕感染BmNPV后发生明显变化,至感染6 h时呈下调趋势,而在感染3、12和24 h时均呈明显上调表达.[结论]BmSP25在防御BmNPV入侵家蚕的免疫应答过程中发挥重要作用.鉴于昆虫SP具有高度保守的底物特异性位点,因此可利用底物类似物、基因定点突变等方式来预防农林害虫.     

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.     

稳定表达人TMPRSS2蛋白质悬浮生长MDCK细胞系的构建

为了构建能稳定表达人Ⅱ型跨膜型丝氨酸蛋白酶(TMPRSS2)的重组MDCK细胞,并考察该重组细胞株对禽流感H9亚型病毒的增殖能力,采用基因工程的方法,将TMPRSS2基因克隆入真核表达载体中获得重组表达载体p IRES-TMPRSS2。采用25 000线性PEI进行悬浮生长MDCK细胞的转染操作,经两轮G418抗性筛选获得能够稳定表达该蛋白质的重组MDCK-Sus-TMPRSS2细胞。RT-PCR、Western blot以及间接免疫荧光检测(IFA)的结果显示,TMPRSS2已在该重组细胞株中正常表达。该重组细胞的悬浮比生长速率达到0.438 d-1;在3 L反应器中,最大细胞密度可达到1 ml6.83×106个。在对6株禽流感H9亚型病毒的连续盲传试验中,经MDCK-Sus-TMPRSS2细胞盲传的子代病毒可以获得较高的血凝效价和半数组织感染滴度。     

温和气单胞菌TL97528株丝氨酸蛋白酶基因片段克隆与序列分析

中华鳖(Trionyx sinensis)细菌性疾病主要由气单胞菌感染引起的,通过脱脂奶平板检测及酶活性试验得出温和气单胞菌TL97528株分泌的胞外蛋白酶为丝氨酸蛋白酶,而丝氨酸蛋白酶是气单胞菌的主要毒力因子。根据已发表的嗜水气单胞菌的丝氨酸蛋白酶基因序列保守区域设计引物,PCR扩增出一长度为809 bp大小的特异片段,该序列在Genbank上的登录号为FJ357446。对该序列进行分析发现,已发表的温和气单胞菌(Aeromonas sobria)丝氨酸蛋白酶基因(GenBank登录号为AF253471)同源性为98%、与其他几株已发表的嗜水气单胞菌(Aeromonas hydrophila)丝氨酸蛋白酶基因(GenBank登录号分别为AF126213、AY841795、DQ127822、CP000462、CP000644、AF159142)同源性分别为98%、82%、82%、82%、81%、81%,与杀鲑气单胞菌(Aeromonas salmonicida)丝氨酸蛋白酶基因(GenBank登录号为X67043)同源性为80%。用DNAstar软件分析,与鳖源温和气单胞菌TK961010株的同源性为98%,...     

温和气单胞菌TL97528株丝氨酸蛋白酶基因片段克隆与序列分析

中华鳖(Trionyx sinensis)细菌性疾病主要由气单胞菌感染引起的,通过脱脂奶平板检测及酶活性试验得出温和气单胞菌TL97528株分泌的胞外蛋白酶为丝氨酸蛋白酶,而丝氨酸蛋白酶是气单胞菌的主要毒力因子。根据已发表的嗜水气单胞菌的丝氨酸蛋白酶基因序列保守区域设计引物,PCR扩增出一长度为809 bp大小的特异片段,该序列在Genbank上的登录号为FJ357446。对该序列进行分析发现,已发表的温和气单胞菌(Aeromonas sobria)丝氨酸蛋白酶基因(GenBank登录号为AF253471)同源性为98%、与其他几株已发表的嗜水气单胞菌(Aeromonas hydrophila)丝氨酸蛋白酶基因(GenBank登录号分别为AF126213、AY841795、DQ127822、CP000462、CP000644、AF159142)同源性分别为98%、82%、82%、82%、81%、81%,与杀鲑气单胞菌(Aeromonas salmonicida)丝氨酸蛋白酶基因(GenBank登录号为X67043)同源性为80%。用DNAstar软件分析,与鳖源温和气单胞菌TK961010株的同源性为98%,...     

The three-dimensional structure of Asn102 mutant of trypsin: role of Asp102 in serine protease catalysis

The structure of the Asn102 mutant of trypsin was determined in order to distinguish whether the reduced activity of the mutant at neutral pH results from an altered active site conformation or from an inability to stabilize a positive charge on the active site histidine. The active site structure of the Asn102 mutant of trypsin is identical to the native enzyme with respect to the specificity pocket, the oxyanion hole, and the orientation of the nucleophilic serine. The observed decrease in rate results from the loss of nucleophilicity of the active site serine. This decreased nucleophilicity may result from stabilization of a His57 tautomer that is unable to accept the serine hydroxyl proton.