Tat protein from human immunodeficiency virus forms a metal-linked dimer

Tat, the transactivating protein from HIV, forms a metal-linked dimer with metal ions bridging cysteine-rich regions from each monomer. This novel arrangement is distinct from the "zinc finger" domain observed in other eukaryotic regulatory proteins. Ultraviolet absorption spectra show that Tat binds two Zn2+ or two Cd2+ ions per monomer, and electrophoresis of the Tat-metal complexes demonstrates that the protein forms metal-linked dimers. Partial proteolysis and circular dichroism spectra suggest that metal binding has its primary effects in the cysteine-rich region and relatively little effect on the folding of other regions. These results suggest new directions for biological studies and new approaches to drug design.     

P1 of strawberry vein banding virus,a multilocalized protein,functions as a movement protein and interacts with the coat protein

Although the complete nucleotide sequence of strawberry vein banding virus (SVBV) has been determined and bioinformatic analysis has revealed that the SVBV genome could encode seven proteins, the precise function of each protein is unclear. This study provided evidence that the P1 protein of SVBV (SVBV-P1) possesses the following features. Bioinformatic and subcellular localization analyses showed that SVBV-P1 is localized in the cytoplasm and cell walls of epidermal cells in Nicotiana benthamiana, and it forms inclusion bodies associated with microtubules and the endoplasmic reticulum. Dilution experiments demonstrated that SVBV-P1 could move from the original agro-infiltrated cells to adjacent cells in N. benthamiana leaves. Further trans-complementation experiments demonstrated that SVBV-P1 could facilitate the intercellular movement of a movement-deficient potato virus X mutant in N. benthamiana leaves. Finally, yeast two-hybrid and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays revealed that SVBV-P1 could interact with the SVBV coat protein, which is a major component of Caulimovirus virions. Results of the electrophoretic mobility shift assay indicated that SVBV-P1 lacks DNA-binding capability. In summary, the results suggest that SVBV-P1 is probably a movement protein of SVBV, providing new insights into the function of movement proteins of the Caulimovirus genus.     

Human immunodeficiency virus may encode a novel protein on the genomic DNA plus strand

The genome of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is known to contain eight open reading frames (ORFs) on the minus strand of the double-stranded DNA replicative intermediate. Data presented here indicate that the DNA plus strand of HIV contains a previously unidentified ORF in a region complementary to the envelope gene sequence. This ORF could encode a protein of approximately 190 amino acid residues with a relative molecular mass of 20 kilodaltons if translation began from the first initiation codon. The predicted protein is highly hydrophobic and thus could be membrane associated. It is possible, therefore, that the HIV genome encodes a protein on antisense messenger RNA.     

Molecular cloning of a feline leukemia virus that induces fatal immunodeficiency disease in cats

A replication-defective variant of feline leukemia virus was molecularly cloned directly from infected tissue and found to induce a rapid and fatal immunodeficiency syndrome in cats. Studies with cloned viruses also showed that subtle mutational changes would convert a minimally pathogenic virus into one that would induce an acute form of immunodeficiency. The data suggest that acutely pathogenic viruses may be selected against by current methods for isolation of the human and simian immunodeficiency viruses.     

Human T-lymphotropic virus type 4 and the human immunodeficiency virus in West Africa

A new human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV-4) was recently described in healthy people from Senegal. This virus has many properties in common with members of the human T-lymphotropic viruses, particularly the human immunodeficiency virus or HIV, the etiologic agent of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), but does not appear to be associated with immunodeficiency-related disorders. In the present study, serum samples were obtained from 4248 individuals from six West African countries, including Senegal, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, and Ivory Coast. These samples, collected during 1985-1987, were from people categorized as healthy control, sexually active risk, and disease populations. All samples were analyzed for reactivity to HTLV-4 and HIV by radioimmunoprecipitation-sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting. Evidence for HTLV-4 infection was found in five of the six countries. The seroprevalence varied markedly from country to country. Healthy sexually active individuals in the risk category had the highest levels of HTLV-4 infection compared to individuals in the healthy control category and the disease category, the latter including AIDS patients. The seroprevalence of HIV infection in most of these countries was quite low, although tightly associated with the rare cases of AIDS. The biology of HTLV-4 infection thus differs from that of HIV in Central Africa or the United States and Europe. The presence of these viruses and their different pathogenicities in several countries of West Africa indicate the necessity for serologic assays that will distinguish between them. Further studies of their origin and distribution as well as of their biology will be important in advancing our understanding of AIDS.     

BAFF-R, a newly identified TNF receptor that specifically interacts with BAFF

B cell homeostasis has been shown to critically depend on BAFF, the B cell activation factor from the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family. Although BAFF is already known to bind two receptors, BCMA and TACI, we have identified a third receptor for BAFF that we have termed BAFF-R. BAFF-R binding appears to be highly specific for BAFF, suggesting a unique role for this ligand-receptor interaction. Consistent with this, the BAFF-R locus is disrupted in A/WySnJ mice, which display a B cell phenotype qualitatively similar to that of the BAFF-deficient mice. Thus, BAFF-R appears to be the principal receptor for BAFF-mediated mature B cell survival.     

人类免疫缺陷病毒单克隆抗体在小麦胚乳中的表达

为了建立利用小麦生产抗人类免疫缺陷病毒(HIV)单克隆抗体的方法,将植物胚乳特异启动子AsGlo分别与该抗体的重链(HC)和轻链(LC)连接构建小麦表达载体,以基因枪法转入小麦品种扬麦158。转基因T0～T3代PCR鉴定表明,HC和LC在小麦基因组中共整合和稳定遗传。RT-PCR分析表明,IgG重链和轻链基因可在小麦胚乳中正常转录。酶联免疫吸附(ELISA)进一步证实了IgG在小麦胚乳中的积累和抗原结合活性,表明IgG蛋白能够在小麦胚乳中稳定表达,可利用小麦种子生产抗HIV抗体。     

Functional regions of the envelope glycoprotein of human immunodeficiency virus type 1

The envelope of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) plays a central role in the process of virus entry into the host cell and in the cytopathicity of the virus for lymphocytes bearing the CD4 molecule. Mutations that affect the ability of the envelope glycoprotein to form syncytia in CD4+ cells can be divided into five groups: those that decrease the binding of the envelope protein to the CD4 molecule, those that prevent a post-binding fusion reaction, those that disrupt the anchorage of the envelope glycoprotein in the membrane, those that affect the association of the two subunits of the envelope glycoprotein, and those that affect post-translational proteolytic processing of the envelope precursor protein. These findings provide a functional model of the HIV envelope glycoprotein.     

Characterization of a human TAR RNA-binding protein that activates the HIV-1 LTR

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) gene expression is activated by Tat, a virally encoded protein. Tat trans-activation requires viral (trans-activation--responsive; TAR) RNA sequences located in the R region of the long terminal repeat (LTR). Existing evidence suggests that Tat probably cooperates with cellular factors that bind to TAR RNA in the overall trans-activation process. A HeLa complementary DNA was isolated and characterized that encodes a TAR RNA-binding protein (TRBP). TRBP activated the HIV-1 LTR and was synergistic with Tat function.     

Isolation of a cDNA from the virus responsible for enterically transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis

Major epidemic outbreaks of viral hepatitis in underdeveloped countries result from a type of non-A, non-B hepatitis distinct from the parenterally transmitted form. The viral agent responsible for this form of epidemic, or enterically transmitted non-A, non-B hepatitis (ET-NANBH), has been serially transmitted in cynomolgus macaques (cynos) and has resulted in typical elevation in liver enzymes and the detection of characteristic virus-like particles (VLPs) in both feces and bile. Infectious bile was used for the construction of recombinant complementary DNA libraries. One clone, ET1.1, was exogenous to uninfected human and cyno genomic liver DNA, as well as to genomic DNA from infected cyno liver. ET1.1 did however, hybridize to an approximately 7.6-kilobase RNA species present only in infected cyno liver. The translated nucleic acid sequence of a portion of ET1.1 had a consensus amino acid motif consistent with an RNA-directed RNA polymerase; this enzyme is present in all positive strand RNA viruses. Furthermore, ET1.1 specifically identified similar sequences in complementary DNA prepared from infected human fecal samples collected from five geographically distinct ET-NANBH outbreaks. Therefore, ET1.1 represents a portion of the genome of the principal viral agent, to be named hepatitis E virus, which is responsible for epidemic outbreaks of ET-NANBH.     

牦牛PLIN2基因的克隆及其在卵巢不同发情阶段的表达

\t\t\t\t\t目的\t\t\t\t\t揭示PLIN2基因对宣和猪生长性状的影响。\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t方法\t\t\t\t\t以357头宣和猪为试验材料,采用PCR产物直接测序法检测了PLIN2基因的5′-UTR和3′-UTR多态性,分析了各SNP位点不同基因型的生长性状差异。\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t结果\t\t\t\t\t在5′-UTR检测到2个SNP位点(G158A、T491G)、3′-UTR检出1个SNP位点(G5689A),上述3个SNP位点分别以GG、TT和GG基因型频率最高,G、T和G为优势等位基因;除G158A位点未达到Hardy-Weinberg平衡状态(P<0.01)外,其余2个突变位点均处于平衡状态(P>0.05),且杂合度较高、遗传多样性较为丰富。在6月龄体重、4—6月龄日增重和70日龄—6月龄日增重上,G158A位点的GG型、T491G位点的TT型和G5689A位点的GG型均显著高于同位点其他基因型(P<0.01或P<0.05);且3个SNP位点不同单倍型组合对生长性状的影响呈现了明显的协同作用,即GTG/GTG组合的6月龄体重、4—6月龄日增重和70日龄—6月龄日增重最高(P<0.01或P<0.05)。\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t结论\t\t\t\t\t研究结果从PLIN2基因多态性角度印证了宣和猪新品种选育工作的有效性,初步证实PLIN2基因与宣和猪生长性状间存在显著关联。\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t     

A yeast gene that is essential for release from glucose repression encodes a protein kinase

The SNF1 gene plays a central role in carbon catabolite repression in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, namely that SNF1 function is required for expression of glucose-repressible genes. The nucleotide sequence of the cloned SNF1 gene was determined, and the predicted amino acid sequence shows that SNF1 encodes a 72,040-dalton polypeptide that has significant homology to the conserved catalytic domain of mammalian protein kinases. Specific antisera were prepared and used to identify the SNF1 protein. The protein was shown to transfer phosphate from adenosine triphosphate to serine and threonine residues in an in vitro autophosphorylation reaction. These findings indicate that SNF1 encodes a protein kinase and suggest that protein phosphorylation plays a critical role in regulation by carbon catabolite repression in eukaryotic cells.     

PRRSV体外感染PAMs对IFN-γ mRNA转录水平的影响

\t\t\t\t\t目的\t\t\t\t\t为探讨猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒（PRRSV）体外感染猪肺泡巨噬细胞（PAMs）后对IFN-γ及其关键信号分子IRF3和IRF7 mRNA转录的影响。\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t方法\t\t\t\t\t从健康仔猪肺脏中无菌分离PAMs,分为对照组和 PRRSV组,于PRRSV感染后的6、12、24、48和60 h收集各组PAMs及其上清液,应用ELISA检测细胞培养上清液中IFN-γ的质量浓度和荧光定量 PCR检测不同组中PRRSV、IFN-γ、IRF3和IRF7的 mRNA转录情况。\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t结果\t\t\t\t\tPRRSV组IFN-γ的质量浓度与正常对照组相比无显著性差异;与对照组相比,PRRSV组IFN-γ mRNA转录量在24 h和48 h显著升高（P<0.01）、48h后降低,IRF3（P<0.05）和IRF7（P<0.01）mRNA转录水平在60 h显著降低。\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t结论\t\t\t\t\tPRRSV感染PAMs过程中对IFN-γ mRNA的转录呈现先抑制再激活后抑制的现象,在一定程度上是通过调控IRF3和IRF7的转录水平来实现的。\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t