Chimeric alpha 2-,beta 2-adrenergic receptors: delineation of domains involved in effector coupling and ligand binding specificity

The alpha 2 and beta 2 adrenergic receptors, both of which are activated by epinephrine, but which can be differentiated by selective drugs, have opposite effects (inhibitory and stimulatory) on the adenylyl cyclase system. The two receptors are homologous with each other, rhodopsin, and other receptors coupled to guanine nucleotide regulatory proteins and they contain seven hydrophobic domains, which may represent transmembrane spanning segments. The function of specific structural domains of these receptors was determined after construction and expression of a series of chimeric alpha 2-,beta 2-adrenergic receptor genes. The specificity for coupling to the stimulatory guanine nucleotide regulatory protein lies within a region extending from the amino terminus of the fifth hydrophobic domain to the carboxyl terminus of the sixth. Major determinants of alpha 2- and beta 2-adrenergic receptor agonist and antagonist ligand binding specificity are contained within the seventh membrane spanning domain. Chimeric receptors should prove useful for elucidating the structural basis of receptor function.     

Two mutant alleles of the insulin receptor gene in a patient with extreme insulin resistance

Insulin receptor complementary DNA has been cloned from an insulin-resistant patient with leprechaunism whose receptors exhibited multiple abnormalities in insulin binding. The patient is a compound heterozygote, having inherited two different mutant alleles of the insulin receptor gene. One allele contains a missense mutation encoding the substitution of glutamic acid for lysine at position 460 in the alpha subunit of the receptor. The second allele has a nonsense mutation causing premature chain termination after amino acid 671 in the alpha subunit, thereby deleting both the transmembrane and tyrosine kinase domains of the receptor. Interestingly, the father is heterozygous for this nonsense mutation and exhibits a moderate degree of insulin resistance. This raises the possibility that mutations in the insulin receptor gene may account for the insulin resistance in some patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.     

Structure and diversity of the human T-cell receptor beta-chain variable region genes

In order to characterize the variability of the expressed human T-cell receptor (TCR) beta-chain repertoire and contrast this variability to the known murine beta-chain repertoire, 15 independent complementary DNA (cDNA) clones containing TCR beta-chain variable region (V beta) genes were isolated from a human tonsil cDNA library. The nucleotide and derived amino acid sequences of these 15 V beta genes were analyzed together with 7 previously defined sequences. Fifteen different human V beta genes could be identified from 22 independent sequences. By means of DNA hybridization and sequence homology comparisons, it was possible to group these 15 genes into ten distinct V beta subfamilies, each containing from one to seven members. Minimal polymorphism was noted between individuals, except in multimember subfamilies. The amino acid sequences of these genes contain conserved amino acids that are also shared by murine TCR V beta genes and immunoglobulins; no features were found that distinguish human V beta genes from their murine counterparts. Evaluation of secondary structure showed that maximum variability coincides with generally hydrophilic portions of the amino acid sequence, while specific hydrophobic regions were conserved in all V beta genes examined.     

猪T细胞受体β链基因的克隆及生物信息学分析

以GenBank上登载的猪的T细胞受体β(pTCR-β)基因为参考序列,用RT-PCR法从猪的外周血淋巴细胞中克隆了TCR-β链基因,并进行生物信息学分析.结果表明:pTCR-β基因含有一个完整的开放阅读框架(ORF),大小为849bp,编码283个氨基酸,且含有一段27个氨基酸的信号肽序列,与参考序列相比,在核苷酸序列上的同源性为80.4%,在氨基酸序列上的同源性为70.3%;生物信息学结构预测发现2个结构域,一个为IG结构域,由第32-138位共107个氨基酸残基组成;另一个为IG-LIKE结构域,由第164-211位共48个氨基酸残基组成.     

Nucleotide sequence and expression of the diphtheria tox228 gene in Escherichia coli

The complete nucleotide sequence of the diphtheria tox228 gene encoding the nontoxic serologically related protein CRM228 has been determined. A comparison of the predicted amino acid sequence with the available amino acid sequences from the wild-type toxin made it possible to deduce essentially the entire nucleotide sequence of the wild-type tox gene. The signal peptide of pro-diphtheria toxin and the putative tox promoter have been identified, a highly symmetrical nucleotide sequence downstream of the toxin gene has been detected; this region may be the corynebacteriophage beta attachment site (attP). The cloned toxin gene was expressed at a low level in Escherichia coli.     

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.     

Molecular characterization of the human beta 3-adrenergic receptor

Since the classification of beta-adrenergic receptors (beta-ARs) into beta 1 and beta 2 subtypes, additional beta-ARs have been implicated in the control of various metabolic processes by catecholamines. A human gene has been isolated that encodes a third beta-AR, here referred to as the "beta 3-adrenergic receptor." Exposure of eukaryotic cells transfected with this gene to adrenaline or noradrenaline promotes the accumulation of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate; only 2 of 11 classical beta-AR blockers efficiently inhibited this effect, whereas two others behaved as beta 3-AR agonists. The potency order of beta-AR agonists for the beta 3-AR correlates with their rank order for stimulating various metabolic processes in tissues where atypical adrenergic sites are thought to exist. In particular, novel beta-AR agonists having high thermogenic, antiobesity, and antidiabetic activities in animal models are among the most potent stimulators of the beta 3-AR.     

Cloning of human androgen receptor complementary DNA and localization to the X chromosome

The androgen receptor (AR) mediates the actions of male sex steroids. Human AR genomic DNA was cloned from a flow-sorted human X chromosome library by using a consensus nucleotide sequence from the DNA-binding domain of the family of nuclear receptors. The AR gene was localized on the human X chromosome between the centromere and q13. Cloned complementary DNA, selected with an AR-specific oligonucleotide probe, was expressed in monkey kidney (COS) cells and yielded a high-affinity androgen-binding protein with steroid-binding specificity corresponding to that of native AR. A predominant messenger RNA species of 9.6 kilobases was identified in human, rat, and mouse tissues known to contain AR and was undetectable in tissues lacking AR androgen-binding activity, including kidney and liver from androgen-insensitive mice. The deduced amino acid sequence of AR within the DNA-binding domain has highest sequence identity with the progesterone receptor.     

延边黄牛转铁蛋白受体2基因克隆与序列分析

【目的】克隆延边黄牛转铁蛋白受体2（transferrin receptor 2,TFR2）基因,并分析该基因在不同组织器官中的表达分布。【方法】通过提取肝脏组织总RNA,采用RT-PCR及RACE方法克隆延边黄牛TfR2基因,采用生物信息学软件进行序列分析,用半定量PCR（SqRT-PCR）方法分析TfR2基因在不同组织器官中的表达分布规律。【结果】①成功克隆出了延边黄牛TfR2基因完整ORF区及3′UTR区（GenBank登录号：GU553087）,该基因全长2 901 bp,ORF区2 412 bp,编码803个氨基酸;②延边黄牛TfR2基因核苷酸序列与其它物种的同源性在80%以上,不同物种间TfR2基因氨基酸序列,尤其是影响其功能的关键氨基酸位点高度保守;③各物种TfR2蛋白功能结构域同样高度保守;④牛TfR2基因主要在肝脏中表达,其它组织,如脾脏、心脏、肾脏和肠道（十二指肠）中也存在少量表达。【结论】不同物种间TfR2基因具有高度同源性,功能结构域及组织分布规律具有高度保守性。     

A chemoattractant receptor controls development in Dictyostelium discoideum

During the early stages of its developmental program, Dictyostelium discoideum expresses cell surface cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cyclic AMP) receptors. It has been suggested that these receptors coordinate the aggregation of individual cells into a multicellular organism and regulate the expression of a large number of developmentally regulated genes. The complementary DNA (cDNA) for the cyclic AMP receptor has now been cloned from lambda gt-11 libraries by screening with specific antiserum. The 2-kilobase messenger RNA (mRNA) that encodes the receptor is undetectable in growing cells, rises to a maximum at 3 to 4 hours of development, and then declines. In vitro transcribed complementary RNA, when hybridized to cellular mRNA, specifically arrests in vitro translation of the receptor polypeptide. When the cDNA is expressed in Dictyostelium cells, the undifferentiated cells specifically bind cyclic AMP. Cell lines transformed with a vector that expresses complementary mRNA (antisense) do not express the cyclic AMP receptor protein. These cells fail to enter the aggregation stage of development during starvation, whereas control and wild-type cells aggregate and complete the developmental program within 24 hours. The phenotype of the antisense transformants suggests that the cyclic AMP receptor is essential for development. The deduced amino acid sequence of the receptor reveals a high percentage of hydrophobic residues grouped in seven domains, similar to the rhodopsins and other receptors believed to interact with G proteins. It shares amino acid sequence identity and is immunologically cross-reactive with bovine rhodopsin. A model is proposed in which the cyclic AMP receptor crosses the bilayer seven times with a serine-rich cytoplasmic carboxyl terminus, the proposed site of ligand-induced receptor phosphorylation.     

猪Sirtuin3基因的克隆与进化分析

从猪十二指肠肠道组织提取总RNA,采用RT-PCR方法克隆了猪Sirtuin3基因,并与GenBank中的9个其他物种的核酸序列进行了同源性分析,采用邻接法构建了分子系统进化树。结果表明克隆的猪Sirtuin3基因长999bp,编码332个氨基酸,前21个为信号肽;猪Sirtuin3与牛、人的同源性最高,分别为86．3％、79．6％,分子进化树也表明猪的Sirtuin3与牛、人的亲缘关系最近。     

cDNA expression cloning of the IL-1 receptor, a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily

Interleukin-1 alpha and -1 beta (IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta) are cytokines that participate in the regulation of immune responses, inflammatory reactions, and hematopoiesis. A direct expression strategy was used to clone the receptor for IL-1 from mouse T cells. The product of the cloned complementary DNA binds both IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta in a manner indistinguishable from that of the native T cell IL-1 receptor. The extracellular, IL-1 binding portion of the receptor is 319 amino acids in length and is composed of three immunoglobulin-like domains. The cytoplasmic portion of the receptor is 217 amino acids long.     

Single subunits of the GABAA receptor form ion channels with properties of the native receptor

The alpha and beta subunits of the gamma-aminobutyric acidA (GABAA) receptor were expressed individually in Xenopus oocytes by injection of RNA synthesized from their cloned DNAs. GABA-sensitive chloride channels were detected several days after injection with any one of three different alpha RNAs (alpha 1, alpha 2, and alpha 3) or with beta RNA. The channels induced by each of the alpha-subunit RNAs were indistinguishable, they had multiple conductance levels (10, 19, 28, and 42 picosiemens), and their activity was potentiated by pentobarbital and inhibited by picrotoxin. The beta channels usually expressed poorly but showed similar single channel conductance levels (10, 18, 27, and 40 picosiemens), potentiation by pentobarbital and inhibition by picrotoxin. The finding that both alpha and beta subunits, examined separately, form GABA-sensitive ion channels with permeation properties and regulatory sites characteristic of the native receptor suggests that the amino acid sequences that confer these properties are within the homologous domains shared by the subunits.     

Beta-adrenergic receptor kinase: primary structure delineates a multigene family

The beta-adrenergic receptor kinase (beta-ARK), which specifically phosphorylates only the agonist-occupied form of the beta-adrenergic and closely related receptors, appears to be important in mediating rapid agonist-specific (homologous) desensitization. The structure of this enzyme was elucidated by isolating clones from a bovine brain complementary DNA library through the use of oligonucleotide probes derived from partial amino acid sequence. The beta-ARK cDNA codes for a protein of 689 amino acids (79.7 kilodaltons) with a protein kinase catalytic domain that bears greatest sequence similarity to protein kinase C and the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cyclic AMP)--dependent protein kinase. When this clone was inserted into a mammalian expression vector and transfected into COS-7 cells, a protein that specifically phosphorylated the agonist-occupied form of the beta 2-adrenergic receptor and phosphorylated, much more weakly, the light-bleached form of rhodopsin was expressed. RNA blot analysis revealed a messenger RNA of four kilobases with highest amounts in brain and spleen. Genomic DNA blot analysis also suggests that beta-ARK may be the first sequenced member of a multigene family of receptor kinases.     

3个品种鸡α干扰素基因的克隆与序列分析*

 根据GenBank中鸡α干扰素（IFN-α）基因序列设计1对引物,应用PCR技术直接从鸡肝组织基因组中扩增罗曼鸡、海兰鸡及固始鸡α干扰素基因,并进行克隆和测序。结果表明,获得了3个品种鸡IFN-α全基因序列,长度均为582bp,编码193个氨基酸残基。3个品种鸡IFN-α基因及推导的氨基酸序列比较结果显示,海兰鸡和罗曼鸡IFN-α基因序列完全一致,而固始鸡与海兰鸡和罗曼鸡IFN-α基因核苷酸同源性99.3%,有4个碱基发生非同义变异,氨基酸同源性为97.9％。克隆的3个品种鸡IFN-α基因序列与GenBank上发表的7条鸡IFN-α基因序列进行比较分析发现,核苷酸同源性在98.1%～100%之间,氨基酸同源性在96.9%～100%之间。     

狸猫α-干扰素全基因的克隆及生物信息学分析

根据猫α-干扰素基因核苷酸序列,设计并合成了1对引物,PCR扩增狸猫α-干扰素全基因,并克隆、测序。用DNAStar软件及在线分析方法对克隆的IFN-α基因核苷酸及其推导氨基酸序列进行分析,并与人和其他种动物的IFN-α基因进行同源性和进化分析。结果表明,获得了狸猫α-干扰素全基因序列,其大小为631 bp,编码194个氨基酸的多肽,推导氨基酸序列有1个潜在的N-糖基化位点和7个潜在的O-糖基化位点。IFN-α基因存在种属的差异性,亲缘关系越近,同源性越高。狸猫IFN-α基因的成功克隆为进一步研究猫IFN-α基因表达、生物学活性和应用奠定基础。     

2个新的鳞翅目OR83b类化感蛋白基因的克隆和序列分析

【目的】分离和克隆昆虫触角中一类非常保守的嗅觉受体蛋白基因全序列。【方法】采用简并引物反转录多聚酶链式反应(RT-PCR)和cDNA末端快速扩增(RACE)技术克隆基因,用生物信息学方法对获得的cDNA全序列及推导的氨基酸序列进行分析。【结果】从甜菜夜蛾(Spodoptera exigua Hübner)和斜纹夜蛾[Spodoptera litura(Fabricius)]雄蛾触角中扩增得到2个分别为1906bp和2483bp的OR83类化感蛋白基因的cDNA,开放阅读框(ORF)编码473个氨基酸,命名为SexiOR2和SlitOR2。通过在GenBank中进行序列的同源性比较,发现这2个鳞翅目化感蛋白新序列与已知蛾类昆虫的OR83b类化感蛋白氨基酸序列具较高的同源性。【结论】明确了所获得的2个鳞翅目蛋白新序列属于OR83b类化感蛋白。     

小菜蛾三个普通气味受体基因的克隆及表达谱

【目的】克隆小菜蛾（Plutella xylostella）触角中3个气味受体基因,明确这3个气味受体在不同组织中的表达分布,进而推测这3个基因的功能,为进一步深入研究奠定基础。【方法】通过新一代高通量测序技术对小菜蛾成虫触角进行转录组测序,获得小菜蛾的转录组数据信息,通过对高质量序列的拼接组装、基因鉴定和功能注释,并通过Blastx基于数据库进行相似性比对分析,预测小菜蛾的气味受体候选基因;设计引物通过克隆得到3条普通气味受体基因的全长序列,并利用半定量RT-PCR研究其在雌、雄成虫9个不同组织中的表达。【结果】根据预测的基因序列,设计特异引物,克隆得到3条普通气味受体基因的全长序列,分别命名为PxylOR16、PxylOR17和PxylOR18（GenBank登录号分别为KF717601-KF717603）。PxylOR16开放阅读框全长为1 218 bp,编码406个氨基酸;PxylOR17开放阅读框全长为1 200 bp,编码400个氨基酸;PxylOR18开放阅读框全长为 1 191 bp,编码397个氨基酸。选择已报道的鳞翅目昆虫家蚕（Bombyx mori）、烟芽夜蛾（Heliothis virescens）和棉铃虫（Helicoverpa armigera）的气味受体,以及已报道的小菜蛾的6条性信息素受体与1条非典型气味受体与本实验克隆得到的3个气味受体进行序列比对和进化树分析,结果显示这3个气味受体基因与非典型气味受体和性信息素受体同源性低,而与其他的普通气味受体聚类在一起,且PxylOR16、PxylOR17和PxylOR18彼此同源性较低。半定量的结果显示,3个普通气味受体基因均在触角中表达量最大,在其他嗅觉感器,如喙、下唇须和头部中也有一定量的表达,雌、雄间无显著差异。另外,PxylOR17在雌蛾生殖器中,PxylOR18在雌蛾腹中也有一定表达。但3种气味受体基因在雌、雄蛾的胸、足和翅等组织中均不表达。【结论】鉴定和克隆了3个小菜蛾气味受体基因,明确这些气味受体基因在小菜蛾不同组织中的表达水平,通过进化树分析、序列比对和组织表达谱分析确定PxylOR16、PxylOR17和PxylOR18为3条普通气味受体,且在功能上高度分化。根据半定量RT-PCR的结果,推测这3个基因可能参与了普通气味分子的识别过程,此外PxylOR17和PxylOR18还可能参与了信息素的产生和释放过程。     

Insulin-resistant diabetes due to a point mutation that prevents insulin proreceptor processing

A point mutation in the human insulin receptor gene in a patient with type A insulin resistance alters the amino acid sequence within the tetrabasic processing site of the proreceptor molecule from Arg-Lys-Arg-Arg to Arg-Lys-Arg-Ser. Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphocytes from this patient synthesize an insulin receptor precursor that is normally glycosylated and inserted into the plasma membrane but is not cleaved to mature alpha and beta subunits. Insulin binding to these cells is severely reduced but can be increased about fivefold by gentle treatment with trypsin, accompanied by the appearance of normal alpha subunits. These results indicate that proteolysis of the proreceptor is necessary for its normal full insulin-binding sensitivity and signal-transducing activity and that a cellular protease that is more stringent in its specificity than trypsin is required to process the receptor precursor.     

萨能奶山羊乳腺组织5-HTR2基因的克隆与序列分析

以容易获取并具代表性的乳腺组织——奶山羊乳腺为载体,进行哺乳动物乳腺组织中5-HTR2基因的克隆,为下一步研究奶牛乳腺组织中5-HTR基因的分布及生物学特性提供理论基础.根据GenBank其他物种5- HT受体- 2(5 - HTR2)基因序列的同源序列,对奶山羊5-HTR2基因设计1对克隆引物,从奶山羊乳腺组织提取总...