Conformational switch of syntaxin-1 controls synaptic vesicle fusion

During synaptic vesicle fusion, the soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor-attachment protein receptor (SNARE) protein syntaxin-1 exhibits two conformations that both bind to Munc18-1: a "closed" conformation outside the SNARE complex and an "open" conformation in the SNARE complex. Although SNARE complexes containing open syntaxin-1 and Munc18-1 are essential for exocytosis, the function of closed syntaxin-1 is unknown. We generated knockin/knockout mice that expressed only open syntaxin-1B. Syntaxin-1B(Open) mice were viable but succumbed to generalized seizures at 2 to 3 months of age. Binding of Munc18-1 to syntaxin-1 was impaired in syntaxin-1B(Open) synapses, and the size of the readily releasable vesicle pool was decreased; however, the rate of synaptic vesicle fusion was dramatically enhanced. Thus, the closed conformation of syntaxin-1 gates the initiation of the synaptic vesicle fusion reaction, which is then mediated by SNARE-complex/Munc18-1 assemblies.     

N- to C-terminal SNARE complex assembly promotes rapid membrane fusion

Assembly of the soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs) syntaxin 1, SNAP-25, and synaptobrevin 2 is thought to be the driving force for the exocytosis of synaptic vesicles. However, whereas exocytosis is triggered at a millisecond time scale, the SNARE-mediated fusion of liposomes requires hours for completion, which challenges the idea of a key role for SNAREs in the final steps of exocytosis. We found that liposome fusion was dramatically accelerated when a stabilized syntaxin/SNAP-25 acceptor complex was used. Thus, SNAREs do have the capacity to execute fusion at a speed required for neuronal secretion, demonstrating that the maintenance of acceptor complexes is a critical step in biological fusion reactions.     

Transmembrane segments of syntaxin line the fusion pore of Ca2+-triggered exocytosis

The fusion pore of regulated exocytosis is a channel that connects and spans the vesicle and plasma membranes. The molecular composition of this important intermediate structure of exocytosis is unknown. Here, we found that mutations of some residues within the transmembrane segment of syntaxin (Syx), a plasma membrane protein essential for exocytosis, altered neurotransmitter flux through fusion pores and altered pore conductance. The residues that influenced fusion-pore flux lay along one face of an alpha-helical model. Thus, the fusion pore is formed at least in part by a circular arrangement of 5 to 8 Syx transmembrane segments in the plasma membrane.     

Distinct kinetic changes in neurotransmitter release after SNARE protein cleavage

Neurotransmitter release is triggered by calcium ions and depends critically on the correct function of three types of SNARE [soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein (SNAP) receptor] proteins. With use of the large calyx of Held presynaptic terminal from rats, we found that cleavage of different SNARE proteins by clostridial neurotoxins caused distinct kinetic changes in neurotransmitter release. When elevating calcium ion concentration directly at the presynaptic terminal with the use of caged calcium, cleavage of SNAP-25 by botulinum toxin A (BoNT/A) produced a strong reduction in the calcium sensitivity for release, whereas cleavage of syntaxin using BoNT/C1 and synaptobrevin using tetanus toxin (TeNT) produced an all-or-nothing block without changing the kinetics of remaining vesicles. When stimulating release by calcium influx through channels, a difference between BoNT/C1 and TeNT emerged, which suggests that cleavage of synaptobrevin modifies the coupling between channels and release-competent vesicles.     

Reconstitution of Ca2+-regulated membrane fusion by synaptotagmin and SNAREs

We investigated the effect of synaptotagmin I on membrane fusion mediated by neuronal SNARE proteins, SNAP-25, syntaxin, and synaptobrevin, which were reconstituted into vesicles. In the presence of Ca2+, the cytoplasmic domain of synaptotagmin I (syt) strongly stimulated membrane fusion when synaptobrevin densities were similar to those found in native synaptic vesicles. The Ca2+ dependence of syt-stimulated fusion was modulated by changes in lipid composition of the vesicles and by a truncation that mimics cleavage of SNAP-25 by botulinum neurotoxin A. Stimulation of fusion was abolished by disrupting the Ca2+-binding activity, or by severing the tandem C2 domains, of syt. Thus, syt and SNAREs are likely to represent the minimal protein complement for Ca2+-triggered exocytosis.     

An autoinhibitory mechanism for nonsyntaxin SNARE proteins revealed by the structure of Ykt6p

Ykt6p is a nonsyntaxin SNARE implicated in multiple intracellular membrane trafficking steps. Here we present the structure of the NH2-terminal domain of Ykt6p (Ykt6pN, residues 1 to 140). The structure of Ykt6pN differed entirely from that of syntaxin and resembled the overall fold of the actin regulatory protein, profilin. Like some syntaxins, Ykt6p adopted a folded back conformation in which Ykt6pN bound to its COOH-terminal core domain. The NH2-terminal domain plays an important biological role in the function of Ykt6p, which in vitro studies revealed to include influencing the kinetics and proper assembly of SNARE complexes.     

山羊白细胞介素-18成熟蛋白的表达

 【目的】为了阐明重组蛋白的活性，置备具有生物学活性的重组白细胞介素18，应用于畜牧业生产。【方法】将含有山羊白细胞介素（gIL）-18基因的重组质粒pET-32a（+）在大肠杆菌BL21（DE3）中以1mmol•L-1 IPTG诱导4h或者更长时间进行表达。【结果】经SDS-PAGE试验检测到了gIL-18与pET载体融合表达的重组蛋白。以该重组蛋白与佐剂混合后，免疫小鼠制备多克隆血清。经Western-blotting 试验证实该重组蛋白具有免疫原性。经过包涵体变性、层析柱纯化和复性，证实该蛋白具有诱导MDBK细胞分泌IFN-γ和刺激PBMC增殖的生物学活性。这表明重组蛋白保留了天然蛋白大部分的生物学活性。另外，该重组蛋白还可以保护小鼠抵御PRV强毒的攻击。【结论】这为gIL-18作为免疫佐剂和免疫治疗剂的实际应用奠定了基础。     

烟草花叶病毒运动蛋白的表达及特异性抗体制备

从烟草花叶病毒(Tobacco mosaic virus,TMV)感染的发病烟草叶片中提取总RNA,通过RT-PCR扩增得到其运动蛋白基因,将扩增产物克隆到pMD18-T载体上.DNA序列分析表明,所得运动蛋白基因全长为807 bp,与已报道的TMV-U1株系核苷酸和氨基酸同源性均为100%.将目的基因亚克隆到原核表达载体pET-29a上,并转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3),IPTG诱导4 h后蛋白表达量达到最大,超声波显示所得融合蛋白以不可溶形式存在.SDS-PAGA检测蛋白表达情况,表达产物与目的蛋白大小一致,割胶免疫注射家兔得到抗体,ELISA测定效价为25600,Western-blot检测证明在烟草叶片被侵染早期MP得到表达,且抗体特异性良好.     

Mitochondrial fusion intermediates revealed in vitro

The events that occur during the fusion of double-membraned mitochondria are unknown. As an essential step toward determining the mechanism of mitochondrial fusion, we have captured this event in vitro. Mitochondrial outer and inner membrane fusion events were separable and mechanistically distinct, but both required guanosine 5'-triphosphate hydrolysis. Homotypic trans interactions of the ancient outer transmembrane guanosine triphosphatase, Fzo1, were required to promote the fusion of mitochondrial outer membranes, whereas electrical potential was also required for fusion of inner membranes. Our conclusions provide fundamental insights into the molecular events driving mitochondrial fusion and advance our understanding of the evolution of mitochondrial fusion in eukaryotic cells.     

Enhancement of SIV infection with soluble receptor molecules

The CD4 receptor on human T cells has been shown to play an integral part in the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection process. Recombinant soluble human CD4 (rCD4) was tested for its ability to inhibit SIVagm, an HIV-like virus that naturally infects African green monkeys, in order to define T cell surface receptors critical for SIVagm infection. The rCD4 was found to enhance SIVagm infection of a human T cell line by as much as 18-fold, whereas HIV-1 infection was blocked by rCD4. Induction of syncytium formation and de novo protein synthesis were observed within the first 24 hours after SIVagm infection, whereas this process took 4 to 6 days in the absence of rCD4. This enhancing effect could be inhibited by monoclonal antibodies directed to rCD4. The enhancing effect could be abrogated with antibodies from naturally infected African green monkeys with inhibitory titers of from 1:2,000 to 1:10,000; these antibodies did not neutralize SIVagm infection in the absence of rCD4. Viral enhancement of SIVagm infection by rCD4 may result from the modulation of the viral membrane through gp120-CD4 binding, thus facilitating secondary events involved in viral fusion and penetration.     

Synaptic assembly of the brain in the absence of neurotransmitter secretion

Brain function requires precisely orchestrated connectivity between neurons. Establishment of these connections is believed to require signals secreted from outgrowing axons, followed by synapse formation between selected neurons. Deletion of a single protein, Munc18-1, in mice leads to a complete loss of neurotransmitter secretion from synaptic vesicles throughout development. However, this does not prevent normal brain assembly, including formation of layered structures, fiber pathways, and morphologically defined synapses. After assembly is completed, neurons undergo apoptosis, leading to widespread neurodegeneration. Thus, synaptic connectivity does not depend on neurotransmitter secretion, but its maintenance does. Neurotransmitter secretion probably functions to validate already established synaptic connections.     

中年CD-1小鼠背海马syntaxin 1水平的改变

应用免疫组化技术检测13月龄(中年)和5月龄CD-1小鼠背海马突触前蛋白syntaxin 1的表达水平.结果显示,13月龄小鼠齿状回、CA1及CA3区各层syntaxin 1的相对含量较5月龄均显著下降.表明中年CD-1小鼠背海马syntaxin 1含量全面下调.     

灰飞虱原肌球蛋白的基因克隆、原核表达及多克隆抗体制备

【目的】通过筛选灰飞虱cDNA酵母表达文库发现原肌球蛋白（tropomyosin,Tm）能与水稻黑条矮缩病毒（Rice black-streaked dwarf virus,RBSDV）P10蛋白发生互作。研究旨在克隆灰飞虱原肌球蛋白基因（Tm）,将其在原核细胞中进行表达,纯化Tm蛋白,免疫大白兔并制备其多克隆抗体,为进一步分析Tm在灰飞虱与RBSDV互作过程中的作用提供抗体条件。【方法】根据与之高度同源的Tm基因信息确定灰飞虱Tm的开放阅读框（open reading frame,ORF）。提取灰飞虱总RNA,采用RT-PCR方法从灰飞虱中克隆Tm的ORF,连接至pMD-18T载体后进行测序分析,利用DNAstar软件分析该基因序列及其编码的蛋白特性。将测序验证正确的Tm通过EcoR V和BamH I限制性内切酶酶切连接至原核表达载体pET-32a (+)。重组质粒转化大肠杆菌BL21 (DE3),经终浓度为0.4 mmol?L^-1的IPTG诱导表达4 h后检测Tm融合蛋白的表达情况。离心收集诱导表达的大肠杆菌菌液,进行超声波破碎处理,收集上清及沉淀,采用SDS-PAGE分析融合蛋白的表达。利用Ni-NTA Agarose纯化上清中的可溶性融合蛋白,经100 mmol?L^-1咪唑洗脱和0.01 mol?L^-1 PBST溶液透析后获取纯化的Tm融合蛋白,免疫大白兔,制备多克隆抗血清,并采用间接ELISA法检测抗血清效价。纯化的Tm融合蛋白及灰飞虱总蛋白经SDS-PAGE分离后,用制备的Tm多克隆抗体进行Western blotting检测,分析抗体的特异性。【结果】序列分析显示,灰飞虱Tm的ORF大小为852 bp。采用RT-PCR克隆获得此ORF并进行测序分析,结果表明扩增所得灰飞虱Tm的ORF长为852 bp,编码283个氨基酸,理论分子量大小为32.6 kD。序列比对结果发现所编码蛋白在不同物种间保守。将Tm ORF克隆入pET-32a (+)表达载体后在大肠杆菌BL21 (DE3)中进行诱导表达,表达产物经SDS-PAGE分析显示,融合蛋白大小约为55 kD,主要以可溶性蛋白形式表达,在包涵体中也有少量表达。纯化上清中的可溶性Tm融合蛋白,免疫大白兔,制备了多克隆抗体。抗体效价测定结果显示该抗体具有较好的灵敏度,效价大于1﹕409 600。采用制备的Tm多克隆抗体检测纯化的Tm融合蛋白及灰飞虱总蛋白,分别检测到1条约55 kD和约37 kD的特异性条带,表明该抗体有较强的特异性。【结论】克隆获得了灰飞虱Tm的ORF,并在大肠杆菌BL21 (DE3)中进行了诱导表达,纯化获得了Tm融合蛋白,制备了高效价的Tm多克隆抗体。     

重组鸡白细胞介素2的诱导表达与生物学活性测定

 将去除信号肽的鸡IL-2基因编码框克隆到原核表达载体pBAD/His B，实现了重组鸡IL-2(rchIL-2)蛋白在大肠杆菌中的高效表达。SDS-PAGE分析显示，表达蛋白的分子量约为18 kD。用rchIL-2为抗原制备了单克隆抗体和多克隆抗体，建立了检测rchIL-2含量的抗原捕获ELISA，探讨了天然chIL-2蛋白的体外表达动力学。非变性条件下纯化的rchIL-2 (0.4 ng) 对Con A活化的鸡T淋巴细胞具有明显的增殖活性，而对鸭及鹅的T淋巴细胞无增殖活性。抗chIL-2多克隆抗体可完全中和rchIL-2和天然chIL-2蛋白的生物学活性，而单克隆抗体无中和rchIL-2和天然chIL-2蛋白生物学活性的功能。这些研究结果证实，大肠杆菌表达的rchIL-2及其多克隆抗体拥有生物学功能，而获得的单克隆抗体不具有chIL-2的中和特性。     

Anatomy and dynamics of a supramolecular membrane protein cluster

Most plasmalemmal proteins organize in submicrometer-sized clusters whose architecture and dynamics are still enigmatic. With syntaxin 1 as an example, we applied a combination of far-field optical nanoscopy, biochemistry, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) analysis, and simulations to show that clustering can be explained by self-organization based on simple physical principles. On average, the syntaxin clusters exhibit a diameter of 50 to 60 nanometers and contain 75 densely crowded syntaxins that dynamically exchange with freely diffusing molecules. Self-association depends on weak homophilic protein-protein interactions. Simulations suggest that clustering immobilizes and conformationally constrains the molecules. Moreover, a balance between self-association and crowding-induced steric repulsions is sufficient to explain both the size and dynamics of syntaxin clusters and likely of many oligomerizing membrane proteins that form supramolecular structures.     

重组人PRL-3蛋白的表达、鉴定和酶动力学分析

目的构建融合蛋白pColdII-His-PRL-3表达质粒,并进行诱导表达、纯化、鉴定和酶动力学分析。方法 2＋通过基因重组技术构建pColdII-His-PRL-3融合蛋白表达载体,并在ArcticExpress E.Coli中表达融合蛋白。经Ni-NTA层析纯化,PRL-3蛋白用SDS-PAGE和Western blot初步鉴定,基质辅助激光解吸/电离直角型飞行时间质谱（MALDI-TOF-TOF）确证,并进行酶动力学分析。结果重组载体pColdII-His-PRL-3包含正确的PRL-3编码序列,经IPTG诱导后能正确表达融合蛋白,Westernblot显示表达蛋白具有抗原性,质谱分析结果显示目的蛋白氨基酸序列与-1PRL-3蛋白完全相符。PRL-3酶的米氏常数Km为6.59μmol/L,催化常数Kcat为0.44min。结论构建的pColdII-His-PRL-3重组载体可表达具有酶活性的PRL-3蛋白,为PRL-3酶抑制剂的筛选奠定了基础。     

重组抗LMP1单链抗体/鱼精蛋白截短体融合蛋白的基因构建及表达

目的体外拼装人抗EB病毒编码的潜伏膜蛋白1单链抗体(LMP1 scFv)/截断的鱼精蛋白截短体(truncatedprotamine,tP)融合基因,将其克隆至原核表达载体pET32a,并在大肠杆菌中诱导表达LMP1 scFv/tP融合蛋白。方法设计融合基因LMP1 scFv/tP,在LMP1 scFv/tP的5’和3’端设计EcoRⅠ和HindⅢ酶切位点;在DNAWORKS程序指导下设计成22个相互互补的寡核苷酸序列,经PCR扩增获得融合基因LMP1 scFv/tP,再将目的基因片段亚克隆至pMD 18-Tsi mple载体中,经过酶切鉴定和测序验证。进一步将目的基因片段克隆至原核表达载体pET32a,在大肠杆菌中诱导表达融合蛋白并经SDS-PAGE和western blot验证。结果各寡核苷酸片段经PCR扩增后可见明确的产物带,将获得的LMP1 scFv/tP融合基因构建至原核表达载体pET32a,经IPTG诱导后成功表达目的蛋白。结论成功获得LMP1 scFv/tp融合基因,并在大肠杆菌中成功诱导表达LMP1 scFv/tP融合蛋白,为该融合蛋白用于LMP1相关肿瘤的基因治疗奠定基础。     

Mediation of the attachment or fusion step in vesicular transport by the GTP-binding Ypt1 protein

The function of the guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-binding protein Ypt1 in regulating vesicular traffic was studied in a cell-free system that reconstitutes transport from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi. Blocking the Ypt1 protein activity resulted in accumulation of vesicles that act as an intermediate passing between the two compartments. The Ypt1 protein was found on the outer side of these vesicles. The transport process is completed by fusion of these vesicles with the acceptor compartment, and Ypt1 protein activity was needed for this step. Thus, a specific GTP-binding protein is required for either attachment or fusion (or both) of secretory vesicles with the acceptor compartment during protein secretion.     

鸡新城疫病毒F基因部分片段克隆表达及其抗体制备

[目的]为进一步研究新城疫病毒的分子结构和基因疫苗奠定基础。[方法]用自行设计的l对引物,通过RT-PCR从接毒的SPF鸡胚的尿囊液中克隆了新城疫病毒F基因部分片段,将该基因片段插入含谷胱甘肽(GST)基因的质粒pGEX-4T-1,构建了重组质粒,对提取的融合蛋白进行亲和层析纯化和琼扩、ELISA及W estern-blot检测。[结果]通过克隆和PCR扩增获得新城疫病毒F基因的部分片段,大小为509 bp;对构建的重组质粒pGEX-4T-1-F509经诱导表达,获得分子大小约为44 000 bp的融合蛋白,其中F基因的部分片段大小约18 000 bp;经亲和层析,获得纯化GST-F509融合蛋白,进一步用该蛋白免疫小鼠,制备了鼠源抗鸡新城疫病毒F蛋白抗体。[结论]琼脂扩散试验、ELISA及W estern-blot检测表明,该融合蛋白中的F片段具有良好的抗原性。     

鹅副粘病毒M基因主要抗原位点片段的原核表达及鉴定

根据GenBank中发表的GPMV SF02株M基因核苷酸序列设计合成一对引物,通过RT-PCR扩增JS/1/97/G0株M基因主要抗原位点片段M1,将其克隆入pMD18-T载体,序列测定和分析表明,所扩增的M1基因核苷酸长为444 bp,共编码148个氨基酸.将M1同载体PGEX-6P-1连接后,转化入E.coli BL21(DE3)PlysS,经IPTG诱导表达出目标蛋白,与预计相符.对表达的M1蛋白进行Western blot鉴定,表明所表达的M1蛋白可以与GPMV SF02株阳性血清发生特异性反应.