陆地棉GhRab7基因鉴定及酵母中盐胁迫响应分析

Rab参与细胞内囊泡运输的调节,是小G蛋白家族里成员数最多的一类亚家族蛋白,拟南芥、哺乳动物和酵母Rab蛋白功能已经研究的比较清楚,但棉花中Rab蛋白的功能还没有详细的报道。本试验从陆地棉TM-1数据库中检索到24个 Rab7基因,基于这些基因的染色体分布、编码氨基酸个数及分子质量大小,鉴定出19个潜在 GhRab7基因。随后,根据系统进化和序列保守性分析克隆一个 GhRab7基因,该基因编码一个207个氨基酸,分子质量为23.2 ku的Rab类小G蛋白。对其进行高盐条件下异源表达酵母生长抗性试验的结果显示,异源表达 GhRab7的酵母表现出盐胁迫敏感的特征。这些结果说明 GhRab7在棉花应对外界盐胁迫响应时可能发挥重要作用。     

Neurodegeneration prevented by lentiviral vector delivery of GDNF in primate models of Parkinson's disease

Lentiviral delivery of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (lenti-GDNF) was tested for its trophic effects upon degenerating nigrostriatal neurons in nonhuman primate models of Parkinson's disease (PD). We injected lenti-GDNF into the striatum and substantia nigra of nonlesioned aged rhesus monkeys or young adult rhesus monkeys treated 1 week prior with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). Extensive GDNF expression with anterograde and retrograde transport was seen in all animals. In aged monkeys, lenti-GDNF augmented dopaminergic function. In MPTP-treated monkeys, lenti-GDNF reversed functional deficits and completely prevented nigrostriatal degeneration. Additionally, lenti-GDNF injections to intact rhesus monkeys revealed long-term gene expression (8 months). In MPTP-treated monkeys, lenti-GDNF treatment reversed motor deficits in a hand-reach task. These data indicate that GDNF delivery using a lentiviral vector system can prevent nigrostriatal degeneration and induce regeneration in primate models of PD and might be a viable therapeutic strategy for PD patients.     

Hereditary early-onset Parkinson's disease caused by mutations in PINK1

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. We previously mapped a locus for a rare familial form of PD to chromosome 1p36 (PARK6). Here we show that mutations in PINK1 (PTEN-induced kinase 1) are associated with PARK6. We have identified two homozygous mutations affecting the PINK1 kinase domain in three consanguineous PARK6 families: a truncating nonsense mutation and a missense mutation at a highly conserved amino acid. Cell culture studies suggest that PINK1 is mitochondrially located and may exert a protective effect on the cell that is abrogated by the mutations, resulting in increased susceptibility to cellular stress. These data provide a direct molecular link between mitochondria and the pathogenesis of PD.     

Subthalamic GAD gene therapy in a Parkinson's disease rat model

The motor abnormalities of Parkinson's disease (PD) are caused by alterations in basal ganglia network activity, including disinhibition of the subthalamic nucleus (STN), and excessive activity of the major output nuclei. Using adeno-associated viral vector-mediated somatic cell gene transfer, we expressed glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), the enzyme that catalyzes synthesis of the neurotransmitter GABA, in excitatory glutamatergic neurons of the STN in rats. The transduced neurons, when driven by electrical stimulation, produced mixed inhibitory responses associated with GABA release. This phenotypic shift resulted in strong neuroprotection of nigral dopamine neurons and rescue of the parkinsonian behavioral phenotype. This strategy suggests that there is plasticity between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission in the mammalian brain that could be exploited for therapeutic benefit.     

A bifunctional bacterial protein links GDI displacement to Rab1 activation

Rab guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases) regulate vesicle trafficking in eukaryotic cells by reversibly associating with lipid membranes. Inactive Rab GTPases are maintained in the cytosol by binding to GDP-dissociation inhibitor (GDI). It is believed that specialized proteins are required to displace GDI from Rab GTPases before Rab activation by guanosine diphosphate-guanosine 5'-triphosphate (GDP-GTP) exchange factors (GEFs). Here, we found that SidM from Legionella pneumophila could act as both GEF and GDI-displacement factor (GDF) for Rab1. Rab1 released from GDI was inserted into liposomal membranes and was used as a substrate for SidM-mediated nucleotide exchange. During host cell infection, recruitment of Rab1 to Legionella-containing vacuoles depended on the GDF activity of SidM. Thus, GDF and GEF activity can be promoted by a single protein, and GDF activity can coordinate Rab1 recruitment from the GDI-bound pool.     

Molecular pathways of neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a complex disorder with many different causes, yet they may intersect in common pathways, raising the possibility that neuroprotective agents may have broad applicability in the treatment of PD. Current evidence suggests that mitochondrial complex I inhibition may be the central cause of sporadic PD and that derangements in complex I cause alpha-synuclein aggregation, which contributes to the demise of dopamine neurons. Accumulation and aggregation of alpha-synuclein may further contribute to the death of dopamine neurons through impairments in protein handling and detoxification. Dysfunction of parkin (a ubiquitin E3 ligase) and DJ-1 could contribute to these deficits. Strategies aimed at restoring complex I activity, reducing oxidative stress and alpha-synuclein aggregation, and enhancing protein degradation may hold particular promise as powerful neuroprotective agents in the treatment of PD.     

Functional links between Aβ toxicity, endocytic trafficking, and Alzheimer's disease risk factors in yeast

Aβ (beta-amyloid peptide) is an important contributor to Alzheimer's disease (AD). We modeled Aβ toxicity in yeast by directing the peptide to the secretory pathway. A genome-wide screen for toxicity modifiers identified the yeast homolog of phosphatidylinositol binding clathrin assembly protein (PICALM) and other endocytic factors connected to AD whose relationship to Aβ was previously unknown. The factors identified in yeast modified Aβ toxicity in glutamatergic neurons of Caenorhabditis elegans and in primary rat cortical neurons. In yeast, Aβ impaired the endocytic trafficking of a plasma membrane receptor, which was ameliorated by endocytic pathway factors identified in the yeast screen. Thus, links between Aβ, endocytosis, and human AD risk factors can be ascertained with yeast as a model system.     

Recombinant antibodies to the small GTPase Rab6 as conformation sensors

Here we report an approach, based on antibody phage display, to generate molecular conformation sensors. Recombinant antibodies specific to the guanosine triphosphate (GTP)-bound conformation of the small guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) Rab6, a regulator of membrane traffic, were generated and used to locate Rab6.GTP in fixed cells, and, after green fluorescent protein (GFP) tagging and intracellular expression, to follow Rab6.GTP in vivo. Rab6 was in its GTP-bound conformation on the Golgi apparatus and transport intermediates, and the geometry of transport intermediates was modulated by Rab6 activity. More generally, the same approach could be applied to other molecules that can be locked in a particular conformation in vitro.     

De-AMPylation of the small GTPase Rab1 by the pathogen Legionella pneumophila

The bacterial pathogen Legionella pneumophila exploits host cell vesicle transport by transiently manipulating the activity of the small guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) Rab1. The effector protein SidM recruits Rab1 to the Legionella-containing vacuole (LCV), where it activates Rab1 and then AMPylates it by covalently adding adenosine monophosphate (AMP). L. pneumophila GTPase-activating protein LepB inactivates Rab1 before its removal from LCVs. Because LepB cannot bind AMPylated Rab1, the molecular events leading to Rab1 inactivation are unknown. We found that the effector protein SidD from L. pneumophila catalyzed AMP release from Rab1, generating de-AMPylated Rab1 accessible for inactivation by LepB. L. pneumophila mutants lacking SidD were defective for Rab1 removal from LCVs, identifying SidD as the missing link connecting the processes of early Rab1 accumulation and subsequent Rab1 removal during infection.     

Rab1 recruitment of p115 into a cis-SNARE complex: programming budding COPII vesicles for fusion

The guanosine triphosphatase Rab1 regulates the transport of newly synthesized proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus through interaction with effector molecules, but the molecular mechanisms by which this occurs are unknown. Here, the tethering factor p115 was shown to be a Rab1 effector that binds directly to activated Rab1. Rab1 recruited p115 to coat protein complex II (COPII) vesicles during budding from the endoplasmic reticulum, where it interacted with a select set of COPII vesicle-associated SNAREs (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors) to form a cis-SNARE complex that promotes targeting to the Golgi apparatus. We propose that Rab1-regulated assembly of functional effector-SNARE complexes defines a conserved molecular mechanism to coordinate recognition between subcellular compartments.     

条斑紫菜Rab1基因的克隆与生物信息学分析

Rab蛋白是小分子量GTP结合蛋白家族中的成员之一,它与植物抗逆性密切相关。以拟南芥Rab基因序列为探针,通过筛选条斑紫菜EST数据库中的同源序列,拼接出了其Rab1基因的含有完整开放阅读框(ORF)的cD-NA序列。根据拼接的序列设计引物,利用RT-PCR成功克隆了条斑紫菜Rab1基因的cDNA。T-A克隆后测序结果显示其cDNA含有长615bp的完整ORF,编码产物含203个氨基酸残基,分子量为22.5kDa。条斑紫菜Rab1与拟南芥Rab1聚为一类,它与多种生物的Rab1具有较高的序列一致性。     

Biomedicine. Combating Parkinson's disease--step three

The degeneration of dopamine neurons in the nigrostriatal pathway of the brain results in the debilitating motor deficits of Parkinson's disease. In a Perspective, Olson discusses a new study (Kordower et al.) demonstrating that injection of a lentiviral vector containing the gene encoding GDNF (a trophic factor for dopamine neurons) into the nigrostriatal pathway of monkeys with PD prevents neuronal loss and reverses some of the motor deficits of this disease.     

不同产脂能力猪脂肪合成相关基因表达谱分析

旨在筛查不同产脂能力猪脂肪合成的相关差异表达基因,分析其与猪THRSP基因表达的关联性。实验采集5头瘦肉型和3头脂肪型猪的肝脏,提取总RNA,利用基因表达谱芯片技术检测猪肝脏全基因组表达谱,分析THRSP基因与脂肪代谢相关差异表达基因之间的关联性。结果表明,相对瘦肉型猪,脂肪型猪脂肪酸合酶(FASN)、葡萄糖转运蛋白4(GLUT4)(P0.01)和乙酰辅酶A羧化酶α(ACACA)(P0.05)基因的表达显著上调,小GTP酶中Rab32和Rab4a显著上调,Rab27a则表现显著下调(P0.05);相关性分析显示GLUT4、FASN和ACACA基因表达的变化与THRSP基因呈显著正相关,Rab27a基因为显著负相关,Rab32和Rab4a基因则相关性不明显。     

莲种胚发育过程中胚胎晚期丰度蛋白基因表达量与种子含水量相关性分析

通过莲胚形态观察、生理指标测定、蛋白质谱鉴定与基因表达量分析，筛选出莲胚脱水成熟过程中显著富集的LEA蛋白(late embriogenesis abundant protein)，并分析其基因表达量与含水量的相关性。结果表明，莲胚发育成熟共需约30 d，形态发育15~18 d，随后进入脱水成熟阶段。在种胚脱水阶段种胚含水量由80%下降到6.7%，细胞内蛋白含量上升2.75倍。对不同脱水阶段莲胚进行蛋白单向电泳，筛选出7条显著富集的蛋白条带，其中包含7种LEA家族蛋白:EMB564-like、Dehydrin Rab18、Lea14-A与4种D-34类蛋白。Dehydrin Rab18、D-34、D-34-like-1表达量随莲胚脱水而递增，与种子含水量呈负相关；EMB564-like、Lea14-A、D-34-like-2、D-34-like-3基因表达水平呈单峰曲线，在莲胚发育20 d时达到峰值。其中Dehydrin Rab18、EMB564-like与D-34-like-2在莲胚脱水阶段上调表达幅度最大，表达量分别是莲胚脱水前的38.7、11.5、19.0倍，可能与莲胚的逆境保护与耐储存机制相关。     

Haplotypic Structure and Allelic Variation of rab17, an ABA-Responsive Gene, in a Mini Core Set of Chinese Diversified Maize Inbred Lines

Drought stress is one of the most important factors limiting maize production. Rab17 is an ABA-responsive gene and associated with drought tolerance. In order to identify haplotypic structure and mine allelic variants at tab17 locus, nucleotide diversity and linkage disequilibrium （LD） structure of rab17 were evaluated among a mini core set of Chinese diversified maize inbred lines. Totally, 19 SNP and 18 insertion/deletions （InDels） were identified, among which 81% were in non-coding regions and 19% in coding regions. The results showed that a high level of diversity appeared within 1 kb upstream of the rabl 7 locus, and declined quickly downstream of the gene region. Rapid decay of linkage disequilibrium of rabl 7 region with distance within 1 kb was detected. Functional markers which can be developed based on haplotype 14 are expected to have contribution to molecular breeding for drought tolerance.     

血管紧张素Ⅲ受体AT1R、AT2R和ERK1在大鼠主动脉损伤中的表达及其意义

目的探讨大鼠主动脉损伤后血管紧张素受体（AT1R、AT2R）和胞外信号调控激酶1（ERK1）表达及其意义。方法 36只SD大鼠随机分为正常组、单纯损伤组、PD123319（AT2R拮抗剂）组、缬沙坦（AT1R拮抗剂）组、PD98059（ERK1拮抗剂）组、缬沙坦＋PD98059组,其中后4组在主动脉球囊损伤模型制作前、后给予相应的受体拮抗剂。造模后7d处死,用RT-PCR和Western blotting检测降主动脉中层及内膜中AT1R、AT2R和ERK1表达。结果单纯损伤组、PD123319组和PD98059组AT1R表达明显高于正常组、缬沙坦组和缬沙坦＋PD98059组（P〈0.01）。PD123319组AT2R表达明显高于其它4组（P〈0.01）。与单纯损伤组比较,缬沙坦组、PD98059组及缬沙坦＋PD98059组ERK1表达明显下调（P〈0.01）。结论 AT2R可能通过下调AT1R激活的ERK1来抑制新生内膜形成,AT2R可望成为治疗血管成形术后再狭窄的新靶点。     

帕金森病模型大鼠脑内CDNF表达变化

为了探讨帕金森病(PD)发病过程中大脑多巴胺能神经营养因子(CDNF)表达的变化,以大鼠为模型,研究了帕金森病CDNF及相关基因的表达变化,从而为基因治疗帕金森病提供理论依据。实验采用单侧黑质内单点注射6-羟多巴胺的方法制备帕金森病大鼠模型;运用免疫组织化学、Western blot及Q-PCR方法检测CDNF和多巴胺合成限速酶—酪氨酸羟化酶(TH)在模型大鼠黑质中表达的变化。研究结果发现,PD模型大鼠脑黑质区CDNF和TH阳性细胞数明显减少;进一步研究表明,与正常大鼠相比,模型大鼠CDNF m RNA表达水平虽未见显著改变(P0.05),但CDNF及TH蛋白表达极显著降低(P0.01)。提示帕金森病的发病可能与黑质中CDNF和TH表达量降低,进而抑制多巴胺合成有关。     

Haplotypic Structure and Allelic Variation of rab17,an ABA-Responsive Gene,in a Mini Core Set of Chinese Diversified Maize Inbred Lines

Drought stress is one of the most important factors limiting maize production. Rab17 is an ABA-responsive gene and associated with drought tolerance. In order to identify haplotypic structure and mine allelic variants at rab17 locus, nucleotide diversity and linkage disequilibrium (LD) structure of rab17 were evaluated among a mini core set of Chinese diversified maize inbred lines. Totally, 19 SNP and 18 insertion/deletions (InDels) were identified, among which 81% were in non-coding regions and 19% in coding regions. The results showed that a high level of diversity appeared within 1 kb upstream of the rab17 locus, and declined quickly downstream of the gene region. Rapid decay of linkage disequilibrium of rab17 region with distance within 1 kb was detected. Functional markers which can be developed based on haplotype 14 are expected to have contribution to molecular breeding for drought tolerance.     

猪I型补体受体与C3b活性片段相互结合的体外检测

【目的】检测猪红细胞类补体受体I型（Complement receptor 1-like,CR1-like）与C3b活性片段能否发生结合,以期为阐明猪红细胞发挥免疫粘附功能的分子机理提供科学数据。【方法】利用前期已构建的CR1-like_(3-6)、CR1-like_(8-11)功能域片段的重组质粒建立酵母双杂交检测体系,运用酵母共转化的方法将诱饵质粒（重组pGBKT7-CR1-like）与捕获质粒（重组pGADT7-C3b）共同转入Y2HGold酵母细胞中,分别利用一缺平板SD/-Leu、SD/-Trp和二缺平板SD/-Leu/-Trp（DDO）严格筛选共转化成功的酵母细胞,再根据报告因子是否表达来鉴别转化子在SD/-Leu/-Trp/X-α-Gal（DDO/X）、SD/-Leu/-Trp/X-α-Gal/Aba（DDO/X/A）二缺培养板上的生长情况,并结合菌落的颜色变化现象综合判定CR1-like活性片段与补体C3b在酵母细胞中是否发生相互结合;然后运用免疫沉淀技术分离酵母细胞中CR1-like与C3b结合复合物,并对该复合物的特异性进行Western blot鉴定。【结果】试验成功将pGBKT7-CR1-like与pGADT7-C3b基因共转入Y2HGold酵母细胞。共转化的酵母克隆在SD/-Leu、SD/-Trp、DDO平板上能够正常生长,在DDO/X、DDO/X/A平板上正常生长且菌落呈现蓝色,由此表明,试验中酵母双杂交系统建立成功,并通过试验获得了阳性酵母克隆。共同转化了pGBKT7-CR1-like和pGADT7-C3b质粒的酵母菌落PCR反向鉴定结果显示,在共转化的酵母菌中含有目的基因CR1-like_(3-6)和CR1-like_(8-11),共转化组的质粒酶切后出现C3b基因片段,与设计大小一致,说明重组质粒成功共转化入酵母细胞中。免疫沉淀试验中应用pGBKT7载体的标签抗体c-Myc沉淀酵母细胞中的融合蛋白,以c-Myc为一抗进行Western blot检测发现,单独转化了pGBKT7-CR1-like_(3-6)和pGBKT7-CR1-like_(8-11)的融合蛋白在50 kD处出现特异性条带;共转化pGBKT7-CR1-like_(3-6) + pGADT7-C3b和共转化pGBKT7-CR1-like_(8-11) + pGADT7-C3b的酵母融合蛋白在83 kD处出现特异性条带;以HA单克隆抗体为一抗进行Western blot检测时,在pGBKT7-CR1-like_(3-6)和pGBKT7-CR1-like_(8-11)融合蛋白中没有出现特异性条带,只有3、4泳道中共转化的酵母融合蛋白在83 kD处出现特异性条带,表明在Y2HGold酵母细胞中存在CR1-like与C3b识别结合的复合物。使用CR1-like单克隆抗体沉淀酵母细胞中的融合蛋白,以CR1-like单克隆抗体为一抗进行Western blot检测发现,单独转化了pGBKT7-CR1-like_(3-6)和pGBKT7-CR1-like_(8-11)的融合蛋白在50 kD处出现特异性条带;共转化pGBKT7-CR1-like_(3-6) + pGADT7-C3b和共转化pGBKT7-CR1-like_(8-11) + pGADT7-C3b的酵母融合蛋白在83 kD处出现特异性条带;以C3单克隆抗体为一抗进行Western blot检测发现,在pGBKT7-CR1-like_(3-6)和pGBKT7-CR1-like_(8-11)融合蛋白中没有出现特异性条带,泳道3、4所示只有共转化的酵母融合蛋白在83 kD处出现特异性条带,表明在Y2HGold酵母细胞中存在具有生物活性的CR1-like与C3b识别结合的复合物。通过多个单克隆抗体杂交结果,可看出诱饵质粒的表达产物CR1-like_(3-6)、CR1-like_(8-11)片段与捕获质粒的表达产物C3b片段可在酵母细胞内发生结合。【结论】猪红细胞CR1-like发挥免疫粘附功能的识别配体为C3b,为猪红细胞CR1-like功能域分子结构的进一步解析提供了重要数据依据。