间歇低氧对大鼠肝脏GSK-3及mTOR表达的影响

目的 测定间歇低氧大鼠肝脏糖原合成酶激酶-3(GSK-3)及哺乳动物雷帕霉素靶蛋白(mTOR)的表达,观察间歇低氧对胰岛素信号转导通路的影响.方法 将24只健康雄性Sprague-Dawley大鼠按照随机数字表法分成间歇空气组(NC组)、间歇低氧4周组(IH4组)、间歇低氧8周组(IH8组),每组8只.于上午9:00至下午5:00将IH4组及IH8组暴露于间歇低氧舱内,NC组则给予间歇压缩空气.检测各组大鼠空腹血糖、空腹胰岛素(FINS),并以稳态模型评估-胰岛素敏感指数(HOMA-IS)及稳态模型评估-胰岛素抵抗指数(HOMA-IR)评价胰岛素抵抗;免疫组化法测定大鼠肝脏GSK-3及mTOR的表达,以平均灰度值评价二者的蛋白表达量.结果 与NC组相比,IH4组、IH8组HOMA-IS降低,空腹血糖、FINS、HOMA-IR升高,以IH8组更为显著(F值分别为62.52,100.37,68.90,8549,P均＜0.01);与NC组相比,IH4组、IH8组GSK-3及mTOR蛋白表达均升高,以IH8组更明显(F值分别为72.25,148.01,P均＜0.01).Pearson相关分析显示GSK-3、mTOR平均灰度值与HOMA-IS呈正相关(r =0.786,0.811,P均＜0.01),与HOMA-IR呈负相关(r=-0.882,-0.889,P均＜0.01).结论 间歇低氧暴露使大鼠肝脏GSK-3、mTOR表达增加,从而引起胰岛素抵抗.     

间歇低氧对大鼠胰岛素抵抗及骨骼肌细胞GLUT4、Akt2的影响

目的 检测不同间歇低氧暴露时间对骨骼肌葡萄糖转运蛋白(GLUT)4与蛋白激酶B(PKB/Akt)2表达的影响,探讨二者在间歇低氧导致胰岛素抵抗中的作用.方法 选取健康雄性Sprague-Dawley大鼠40只,按照随机数字表法分为5组:常氧对照组(NC组),间歇低氧2周组(IH2组),间歇低氧4周组(IH4组),间歇低氧6周组(IH6组),间歇低氧8周组(IH8组),每组8只.IH2组、IH4组、IH6组、IH8组每天给予8h间歇低氧暴露(9:00～17:00),NC组室内环境正常饲养.检测各组空腹血糖和空腹胰岛素水平,计算稳态模型评估-胰岛素抵抗指数(HOMA-IR).采用免疫组织化学法检测大鼠骨骼肌GLUT4及Akt2蛋白的表达,蛋白表达量用平均灰度值表示,并分析GLUT4与Akt2的相关性.结果 与NC组相比,IH2组、IH4组、IH6组、IH8组空腹血糖、HOMA-IR升高,骨骼肌GLUT4与Akt2灰度值升高,并且随间歇低氧暴露时间的延长而升高明显(F =87.67～288.63,P均＜0.05);与NC组相比,IH2组、IH4组、IH6组、IH8组空腹胰岛素升高,其中IH2组、IH4组、IH6组,随间歇低氧暴露时间的延长而升高明显,IH8组较IH6组下降(F=86.04,P＜0.01).Pearson相关分析显示GLUT4与Akt2的表达呈正相关(r=0.895,P ＜0.05).结论 随着间歇低氧暴露时间的延长胰岛素抵抗程度增加,GLUT4与Akt2蛋白表达水平下降,二者在间歇低氧导致胰岛素抵抗的过程中起协同作用.     

间歇低氧大鼠肝细胞GLUT-2、GCK表达与胰岛素抵抗的相关性研究

目的 检测葡萄糖转运蛋白-2(GLUT-2)、葡萄糖激酶(GCK)在间歇低氧大鼠模型肝细胞中表达的变化,探讨间歇低氧引起胰岛素抵抗的相关机制.方法 24只6周龄健康雄性SpragueDawley(SD)大鼠按照随机数字表法分为对照组、间歇低氧4周组(IH4组)和间歇低氧8周组(IH8组),每组8只.间歇低氧组按预设通气模式每天给予间歇低氧暴露8h,对照组给予间歇压缩空气,暴露时间同IH4组.实验结束后测定各组大鼠空腹血糖、空腹胰岛素,计算稳态模型评估-胰岛素抵抗指数(HOMA-IR)及胰岛素敏感性指数(ISI).免疫组织化学染色观察肝细胞GLUT-2、GCK蛋白表达变化,并利用平均灰度值对蛋白进行定量分析.结果 与对照组相比,IH4组及IH8组空腹血糖、空腹胰岛素、HOMA-IR均升高,ISI均降低,且IH8组更明显(F=161.92、51.46、126.99、83.87,P均＜0.05).与对照组相比,IH4组及I-H8组肝细胞GLUT-2、GCK蛋白表达均降低,且IH8组更显著(F=184.91、240.85,P均＜0.05).Pearson相关分析显示,GLUT-2、GCK平均灰度值与ISI呈负相关(r=-0.886、-0.906,P均＜0.05),与HOMA-tR呈正相关(r=0.894、0.869,P均＜0.05).结论 间歇低氧暴露使大鼠肝细胞GLUT-2、GCK蛋白表达下调,可能参与间歇低氧条件下胰岛素抵抗的发生.     

p38和CARP的表达与大鼠心肌梗死后心肌重塑的关系

目的探讨p38丝裂原激活的蛋白激酶（p38）和心锚重复蛋白（CARP）的表达与大鼠心肌梗死（MI）后心肌重塑的关系。方法结扎大鼠冠脉前降支致MI,术后2 h存活大鼠随机分为MI组、p38抑制剂SB203580组（SB组）和假手术组（Sham组）。测定各组第1、7和28天左心室质量指数（LVWI）、心肌细胞横切面面积（CSA）。RT-PCR法测定p38和CARP在心脏的表达。结果与Sham组相比,MI组LVWI和CSA在第7、28天时明显增加（P均〈0.05）,各时间点磷酸化p38（p-p38）表达均明显升高（P均〈0.05）,CARP在第1、7天时表达明显升高（P均〈0.05）。与MI组相比,SB组LVWI在第7天时明显降低（P〈0.01）;CSA在第1天时增大（P〈0.01）,第7、28天时明显缩小（P均〈0.01）;p-p38在第1天时表达降低,CARP在第7天表达降低（P〈0.01）。结论MI后早期p38和CARP即被激活,并促进随后心肌重塑的发展,抑制p38可以抑制CARP,改善心肌重塑。     

间歇低氧大鼠脂肪因子chemerin的表达与糖脂代谢关系研究

目的通过检测间歇低氧大鼠血清chemerin的表达水平,探讨脂肪因子chemerin在OSAHS相关糖脂代谢紊乱中的作用。方法选取健康雄性Wistar大鼠24只随机分4组:常氧+普通饮食组(NC+ND组)、常氧+高脂饮食组(NC+HFD组)、间歇低氧+普通饮食组(IH+ND组)、间歇低氧+高脂饮食组(IH+HFD组)。ND组给予基础饲料喂养,HFD组予以高脂饲料喂养。IH组暴露于8h/d的间歇低氧环境中,同时NC组给予间歇压缩空气。检测大鼠血清总胆固醇(TC)、甘油三酯(TG)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)、空腹血糖(FPG)、空腹胰岛素(FINS)水平,用稳态模型胰岛素抵抗指数(IRI)及胰岛素敏感指数(ISI)系统评价胰岛素抵抗,ELISA法检测大鼠血清chemerin的表达。结果与NC+ND组比较,IH+ND组大鼠FPG、FINS、IRI、TC、TG、LDL-C升高有统计学意义(P0.01);IH+HFD组大鼠血清FPG、TC、LDL-C水平高于IH+ND组,血清FINS、IRI水平高于NC+HFD组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。与NC+ND组比较,IH+ND组大鼠血清chemerin水平升高有统计学意义(P0.01);IH+HFD组大鼠血清chemerin水平高于IH+ND组和NC+HFD组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.01)。Pearson分析显示:IH组大鼠血清chemerin与FPG(r=0.751,P0.01)、FINS(r=0.764,P0.01)、IRI(r=0.765,P0.01)、TC(r=0.791,P0.01)、LDL-C(r=0.818,P0.01)呈正相关,与ISI(r=-0.692,P0.01)呈负相关。结论间歇低氧大鼠存在血糖、血脂代谢紊乱,且间歇低氧合并高脂饮食时,大鼠糖脂代谢紊乱更为严重;间歇低氧大鼠血清chemerin水平有升高趋势,合并高脂饮食时这种趋势更为显著;血清chemerin水平变化与糖脂代谢紊乱相关,脂肪因子chemerin可作为OSAHS相关糖脂代谢紊乱的预测因子之一。     

慢性间歇低氧对大鼠肝细胞IRS-2、 FoxO1表达的影响

目的 观察慢性间歇低氧条件下,大鼠肝细胞形态学变化及胰岛素受体底物-2 (IRS-2)、叉头框蛋白O1(FoxO1)的蛋白表达,并探讨IRS-2、FoxO1与胰岛素抵抗的相关性.方法 取24只6周龄健康雄性Sprauge-Dawley大鼠,采用随机数字表法分为正常对照组(NC组)、慢性间歇低氧4周组(CIH4组)、慢性间歇低氧8周组(CIH8组),每组8只.CIH4组和CIH8组暴露于间歇低氧舱内:最低氧浓度6％ ～ 8％,持续时间8 h/d.NC组无间歇低氧暴露正常饲养,CIH4组、CIH8组和NC组分别于第4周、第8周及第8周禁食12 h后测定空腹血糖、空腹胰岛素水平,并采用稳态模型评估-胰岛素抵抗指数(HOMA-IR)和胰岛素敏感性指数(ISI)评价胰岛素抵抗,对肝组织行HE染色观察形态学变化,采用免疫组织化学方法测定肝细胞IRS-2、FoxO1蛋白表达,以平均灰度值表示其蛋白表达量,二者成反比关系.结果 与NC组相比,CIH4组、CIH8组空腹血糖、胰岛素、HOMA-IR升高,ISI降低,且CIH8组更为显著,差异有统计学意义(F=50.23 ～90.26,P均＜0.05).与NC组相比,CIH4组与CIH8组IRS-2蛋白表达降低,FoxO1蛋白表达增高且在核内重新分布,CIH8组更为显著,差异有统计学意义(F=69.46,618.94,P均＜0.05).Pearson相关分析显示:HMOA-IR与IRS-2平均灰度值呈正相关(r=0.857,P＜0.05),与FoxO1平均灰度值呈负相关(r=-0.926,P＜0.05),ISI与IRS-2平均灰度值呈负相关(r=-0.823,P＜0.05),与FoxO1平均灰度值呈正相关(r=0.848,P＜0.05).结论 慢性间歇低氧条件下,大鼠肝细胞受损并发生胰岛素抵抗,同时IRS-2和FoxO1蛋白表达异常,且随暴露时间延长肝细胞损伤程度及胰岛素抵抗程度均逐渐加重.     

慢性低氧对肺动脉高压大鼠肺血管ERK 1/2、p38MAPK表达的影响

目的：通过建立慢性低氧性肺动脉高压大鼠模型,研究慢性低氧对大鼠肺血管细胞外信号调节蛋白激酶(ERK1/2)、p38MAPK蛋白表达的影响。方法建立慢性常压低氧肺动脉高压大鼠模型,将雄性SD大鼠随机分为正常对照组、低氧1d、3d、7d、14d和21d组,应用免疫组织化学技术检测肺动脉高压形成过程中大鼠肺血管 ERK1/2、p38MAPK 蛋白表达水平。结果①RVSP 和 RV/(LV+S)比值较正常对照组明显增加(P<0.05),低氧后3 d、7 d、14 d和21 d后大鼠肺血管明显增厚;②ERK1/2、p38MAPK蛋白广泛分布于肺血管内皮细胞、平滑肌细胞和成纤维细胞中,且随着低氧时间的延长,ERK1/2、p38MAPK蛋白表达量增加。结论 ERK1/2、p38MAPK 蛋白表达量的上调可能参与了慢性低氧诱导的大鼠肺动脉高压肺血管重塑的发生、发展过程。     

2型糖尿病大鼠胸主动脉磷酸化p38丝裂素活化蛋白激酶蛋白表达及利拉鲁肽对其干预作用的研究

目的探讨p38丝裂素活化蛋白激酶(MAPK)与糖尿病大血管病变的关系及利拉鲁肽对其的干预作用。方法 24只Wistar大鼠分为正常对照组(NC)和实验组(EXP)。EXP组予高糖高脂饮食联合小剂量STZ腹腔注射建立T2DM大鼠模型。将成模大鼠随机分为糖尿病组(DM)和利拉鲁肽组(LIR),每组各7只。LIR组予利拉鲁肽(100μg/kg,2次/d)皮下注射,共8周;DM组和NC组予等量生理盐水皮下注射。实验结束后,测定各组相关指标;HE染色观察胸主动脉形态,免疫组织化学法检测胸主动脉磷酸化p38MAPK、核因子-κB(NF-κB)和单核细胞趋化蛋白-1(MCP-1)蛋白表达水平。结果 HE染色可见DM组胸主动脉呈动脉粥样硬化表现。DM组胸主动脉磷酸化p38MAPK、NF-κB和MCP-1蛋白表达水平较NC组升高(P=0.000),LIR组较DM组降低(P=0.017)。Spearman相关分析显示,胸主动脉磷酸化p38 MAPK与NF-κB、MCP-1蛋白表达呈正相关。DM组血糖、TG、TC、LDL-C、血清细胞间黏附分子-1(ICAM-1)、血管内皮黏附分子-1(VCAM-1)、NF-κB水平较NC组升高(P=0.000),较LIR组降低(P0.01)。结论在大鼠实验中,p38MAPK信号通路参与了糖尿病大血管病变的发生;利拉鲁肽可能通过下调血管p38MAPK磷酸化水平、抑制炎症反应、调脂等发挥了对糖尿病大血管病变的保护作用。     

川芎嗪对压力超负荷诱导大鼠心肌肥厚信号转导系统MAPK通路的影响

目的观察川芎嗪对压力超负荷诱导大鼠心肌肥厚信号转导系统丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(MAPK)通路的影响。方法选取清洁级健康雄性SD大鼠78只,随机分为对照组(13只)及造模组(65只)。造模组采用主动脉弓缩窄法建立心肌肥厚模型,对照组予以假手术。将造模成功的大鼠随机分为模型组、缬沙坦组及低浓度川芎嗪组、中浓度川芎嗪组、高浓度川芎嗪组,各13只。模型组及对照组给予蒸馏水灌胃;缬沙坦组给予缬沙坦溶液灌胃;低浓度川芎嗪组、中浓度川芎嗪组、高浓度川芎嗪组分别给予川芎嗪溶液5 mg/mL、10 mg/mL、20 mg/mL灌胃。各组大鼠均给药8周。测定并比较各组超声心动图指标、心脏质量指数(HMI)、左心室质量指数(LVMI)、心肌纤维横径及心肌组织磷酸化细胞外信号调节激酶(p-ERK)、磷酸化丝裂原活化蛋白激酶p38(p-p38)表达水平。结果与模型组比较,各给药组大鼠左室射血分数(LVEF)、左室短轴缩短率(FS)升高,心肌组织p-p38表达水平升高,且低浓度川芎嗪组中浓度川芎嗪组高浓度川芎嗪组和缬沙坦组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。与模型组比较,各给药组大鼠左室后壁厚度(LVWT)、室间隔厚度(IVS)、HMI、LVMI降低,心肌纤维横径缩短,心肌组织p-ERK蛋白表达水平降低,且低浓度川芎嗪组中浓度川芎嗪组高浓度川芎嗪组和缬沙坦组,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论川芎嗪可剂量依赖性改善压力超负荷性心肌肥厚大鼠心脏功能,抑制心肌肥厚,其作用机制可能与调节MAPK信号转导通路ERK、p38蛋白表达有关。     

PTP-1B 及 IRS-1在慢性间歇低氧大鼠肝细胞中的表达

目的：探讨慢性间歇低氧(CIH)对大鼠肝细胞蛋白酪氨酸磷酸酶-1B(protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B,PTP-1B)及胰岛素受体底物-1(insulin receptor substrate-1,IRS-1)蛋白表达量的影响及其导致胰岛素抵抗发生的可能机制。方法选取健康雄性 SD 大鼠24只,按随机数字表法分为正常对照组(NC 组)、慢性间歇低氧4周组(CIH4组)、慢性间歇低氧8周组(CIH8组),每组8只。NC 组无间歇低氧暴露正常饲养,CIH4组及 CIH8组于上午9时至下午5时放入间歇低氧仓暴露于间歇低氧环境中,舱内最低氧浓度为6%~7%。分别于第4周及第8周检测大鼠空腹血糖及空腹胰岛素水平,用稳态模型胰岛素抵抗指数(HOMA-IR)以及胰岛素敏感指数(insulin sensitive index,ISI)评价胰岛素抵抗, SABC 法免疫组织化学试剂盒检测 CIH 大鼠肝细胞 PTP-1B 及 IRS-1蛋白表达,以平均灰度值表示PTP-1B 及 IRS-1的蛋白表达量,并做统计学分析。结果与 NC 组比较,CIH4组及 CIH8组空腹血糖、空腹胰岛素及 HOMA-IR 升高,ISI 降低,差异有统计学意义(P <0.05),且 CIH8组更为显著;与 NC 组相比较,CIH4组及 CIH8组 PTP-1B 蛋白表达增加,IRS-1蛋白表达减少,差异有统计学意义(P <0.05),Pearson 相关分析显示,HOMA-IR 与 PTP-1B 平均灰度值呈负相关、与 IRS-1平均灰度值呈正相关;ISI 与 PTP-1B 平均灰度值呈正相关、与 IRS-1平均灰度值呈负相关。结论①CIH 暴露使大鼠空腹血糖及胰岛素水平升高且发生胰岛素抵抗,随着 CIH 暴露时间的延长,胰岛素抵抗程度加重。②CIH 导致大鼠肝细胞 PTP-1B 蛋白表达增加,IRS-1蛋白表达减少,PTP-1B 及 IRS-1可能共同参与了 CIH 大鼠胰岛素抵抗的发生发展。     

A HORMA domain in Atg13 mediates PI 3-kinase recruitment in autophagy

Autophagy-related 13 (Atg13) is a key early-acting factor in autophagy and the major locus for nutrient-dependent regulation of autophagy by Tor. The 2.3-Å resolution crystal structure of the N-terminal domain of Atg13 reveals a previously unidentified HORMA (Hop1p, Rev1p and Mad2) domain similar to that of the spindle checkpoint protein Mad2. Mad2 has two different stable conformations, O-Mad2 and C-Mad2, and the Atg13 HORMA structure corresponds to the C-Mad2 state. The Atg13 HORMA domain is required for autophagy and for recruitment of the phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase subunit Atg14 but is not required for Atg1 interaction or Atg13 recruitment to the preautophagosomal structure. The Atg13 HORMA structure reveals a pair of conserved Arg residues that constitute a putative phosphate sensor. One of the Arg residues is in the region corresponding to the “safety belt” conformational switch of Mad2, suggesting conformational regulation of phosphate binding. These two Arg residues are essential for autophagy, suggesting that the Atg13 HORMA domain could function as a phosphoregulated conformational switch.     

Membrane protein thermodynamic stability may serve as the energy sink for sorting in the periplasm

Thermodynamic stabilities are pivotal for understanding structure–function relationships of proteins, and yet such determinations are rare for membrane proteins. Moreover, the few measurements that are available have been conducted under very different experimental conditions, which compromises a straightforward extraction of physical principles underlying stability differences. Here, we have overcome this obstacle and provided structure–stability comparisons for multiple membrane proteins. This was enabled by measurements of the free energies of folding and the m values for the transmembrane proteins PhoP/PhoQ-activated gene product (PagP) and outer membrane protein W (OmpW) from Escherichia coli. Our data were collected in the same lipid bilayer and buffer system we previously used to determine those parameters for E. coli outer membrane phospholipase A (OmpLA). Biophysically, our results suggest that the stabilities of these proteins are strongly correlated to the water-to-bilayer transfer free energy of the lipid-facing residues in their transmembrane regions. We further discovered that the sensitivities of these membrane proteins to chemical denaturation, as judged by their m values, was consistent with that previously observed for water-soluble proteins having comparable differences in solvent exposure between their folded and unfolded states. From a biological perspective, our findings suggest that the folding free energies for these membrane proteins may be the thermodynamic sink that establishes an energy gradient across the periplasm, thus driving their sorting by chaperones to the outer membranes in living bacteria. Binding free energies of these outer membrane proteins with periplasmic chaperones support this energy sink hypothesis.     

Experimental detection of knotted conformations in denatured proteins

Structures that contain a knot formed by the path of the polypeptide backbone represent some of the most complex topologies observed in proteins. How or why these topological knots arise remains unclear. By developing a method to experimentally trap and detect knots in nonnative polypeptide chains, we find that two knotted methyltransferases, YibK and YbeA, can exist in a trefoil-knot conformation even in their chemically unfolded states. The unique denatured-state topology of these molecules explains their ability to efficiently fold to their native knotted structures in vitro and offers insights into the potential role of knots in proteins. Furthermore, the high prevalence of the denatured-state knots identified here suggests that they are either difficult to untie or that threading of any untied molecules is rapid and spontaneous. The occurrence of such knotted topologies in unfolded polypeptide chains raises the possibility that they could play an important, and as yet unexplored, role in folding and misfolding processes in vivo.     

Local feature frequency profile: a method to measure structural similarity in proteins

Measures of structural similarity between known protein structures provide an objective basis for classifying protein folds and for revealing a global view of the protein structure universe. Here, we describe a rapid method to measure structural similarity based on the profiles of representative local features of C(alpha) distance matrices of compared protein structures. We first extract a finite number of representative local feature (LF) patterns from the distance matrices of all protein fold families by medoid analysis. Then, each C(alpha) distance matrix of a protein structure is encoded by labeling all its submatrices by the index of the nearest representative LF patterns. Finally, the structure is represented by the frequency distribution of these indices, which we call the LF frequency (LFF) profile of the protein. The LFF profile allows one to calculate structural similarity scores among a large number of protein structures quickly, and also to construct and update the "map" of the protein structure universe easily. The LFF profile method efficiently maps complex protein structures into a common Euclidean space without prior assignment of secondary structure information or structural alignment.     

Method to measure strong protein-protein interactions in lipid bilayers using a steric trap

Measuring high affinity protein-protein interactions in membranes is extremely challenging because there are limitations to how far the interacting components can be diluted in bilayers. Here we show that a steric trap can be employed for stable membrane interactions. We couple dissociation to a competitive binding event so that dissociation can be driven by increasing the affinity or concentration of the competitor. The steric trap design used here links monovalent streptavidin binding to dissociation of biotinylated partners. Application of the steric trap method to the well-characterized glycophorin A transmembrane helix (GpATM) reveals a dimer that is dramatically stabilized by 4-5 kcal/mol in palmitoyloleoylphosphatidylcholine bilayers compared to detergent. We also find larger effects of mutations at the dimer interface in bilayers compared to detergent suggesting that the dimer is more organized in a membrane environment. The high affinity we measure for GpATM in bilayers indicates that a membrane vesicle many orders of magnitude larger than a bacterial cell would be required to measure the dissociation constant using traditional dilution methods. Thus, steric trapping can open new biological systems to experimental scrutiny in natural bilayer environments.     

Structural basis of oligomerization in septin-like GTPase of immunity-associated protein 2 (GIMAP2)

GTPases of immunity-associated proteins (GIMAPs) are a distinctive family of GTPases, which control apoptosis in lymphocytes and play a central role in lymphocyte maturation and lymphocyte-associated diseases. To explore their function and mechanism, we determined crystal structures of a representative member, GIMAP2, in different nucleotide-loading and oligomerization states. Nucleotide-free and GDP-bound GIMAP2 were monomeric and revealed a guanine nucleotide-binding domain of the TRAFAC (translation factor associated) class with a unique amphipathic helix α7 packing against switch II. In the absence of α7 and the presence of GTP, GIMAP2 oligomerized via two distinct interfaces in the crystal. GTP-induced stabilization of switch I mediates dimerization across the nucleotide-binding site, which also involves the GIMAP specificity motif and the nucleotide base. Structural rearrangements in switch II appear to induce the release of α7 allowing oligomerization to proceed via a second interface. The unique architecture of the linear oligomer was confirmed by mutagenesis. Furthermore, we showed a function for the GIMAP2 oligomer at the surface of lipid droplets. Although earlier studies indicated that GIMAPs are related to the septins, the current structure also revealed a strikingly similar nucleotide coordination and dimerization mode as in the dynamin GTPase. Based on this, we reexamined the relationships of the septin- and dynamin-like GTPases and demonstrate that these are likely to have emerged from a common membrane-associated dimerizing ancestor. This ancestral property appears to be critical for the role of GIMAPs as nucleotide-regulated scaffolds on intracellular membranes.     

Molecular in situ topology of Aczonin/Piccolo and associated proteins at the mammalian neurotransmitter release site

The protein machinery of neurotransmitter exocytosis requires efficient orchestration in space and time, for speed and precision of neurotransmission and also for synaptic ontogeny and plasticity. However, its spatial organization in situ is virtually unknown. Aczonin/Piccolo is a putative organizer protein of mammalian active zones. We determined by immunogold electron microscopy (EM) (i) the spatial arrangement (i.e., topology) of 11 segments of the Aczonin polypeptide in situ, and correlated it to (ii) the positioning of Aczonin-interacting domains of Bassoon, CAST/ELKS, Munc13, and RIM and (iii) the ultrastructurally defined presynaptic macromolecular aggregates known as dense projections and synaptic ribbons. At conventional synapses, Aczonin assumes a compact molecular topology within a layer 35 to 80 nm parallel to the plasma membrane (PM), with a "trunk" sitting on the dense projection top and a C-terminal "arm" extending down toward the PM and sideward to the dense projection periphery. At ribbon synapses, Aczonin occupies the whole ribbon area. Bassoon colocalizes with Aczonin at conventional synapses but not at ribbon synapses. At both conventional and ribbon synapses, CAST, Munc13, and RIM are segregated from Aczonin, closer to the PM, and Aczonin is positioned such that it may control the access of neurotransmitter vesicles to the fusion site.     

uPA、P-选择素蛋白在乳腺癌中的表达及意义

目的 探讨uPA与P-选择素蛋白在乳腺癌浸润、转移中的作用以及二者的关系。方法　采用免疫组化SP法检测uPA与P-选择素蛋白在乳腺纤维腺瘤、乳腺导管内癌及浸润性导管癌组织中的表达。结果 随着乳腺组织的恶性转化、浸润及淋巴结转移,uPA、P-选择素蛋白均呈高表达趋势(P<0.05),二者之间有明显的相关性(r=0.547,P<0.01)。结论 uPA与P-选择素蛋白参与了乳腺癌的浸润及淋巴结转移,联合检测二者,对乳腺癌的预后判断有一定的参考价值。     

Decrease in mitochondrial oxidative protein damage parameters in the streptozotocin-diabetic rat

BACKGROUND: Many authors have shown that hyperglycemia leads to an increase in oxidative protein damage in diabetes. The aim of this study was to reveal the susceptibility of mitochondria from liver, pancreas, kidney, and skeletal muscle of diabetic Sprague-Dawley rats, a model of type 1 diabetes, to oxidative protein damage. METHODS: Mitochondrial fractions were obtained by differential centrifugation. To show the effect of hyperglycemia in promoting oxidative protein damage, we determined mitochondrial protein carbonyl, total thiol, nitrotyrosine, advanced oxidation protein products, and lipid hydroperoxide levels. The levels of the studied markers, except nitrotyrosine, were determined by colorimetric methods. Nitrotyrosine levels were measured by ELISA. All values were compared with those of the controls by using the Mann-Whitney U-test. RESULTS: Nitrotyrosine and lipid hydroperoxide levels were decreased and other parameters were not changed in liver mitochondria of diabetic rats. Protein carbonyl, nitrotyrosine, advanced oxidation protein products, and lipid hydroperoxide levels were decreased and total thiol levels were not changed in pancreas mitochondria of diabetic rats. Only advanced oxidation protein products and lipid hydroperoxide levels were decreased in kidney mitochondria of diabetic rats. The levels of the same parameters were not significantly different in muscle mitochondria of diabetic rats. CONCLUSIONS: The decrease in mitochondrial oxidative protein damage in diabetes may correspond to either an increase in antioxidant defense mechanisms or a different adaptive response of the cells to the increased extramitochondrial oxidative stress in diabetes. The mitochondrial oxidative protein damage-lowering mechanisms in diabetes remain to be clarified.     

Control over overall shape and size in de novo designed proteins

We recently described general principles for designing ideal protein structures stabilized by completely consistent local and nonlocal interactions. The principles relate secondary structure patterns to tertiary packing motifs and enable design of different protein topologies. To achieve fine control over protein shape and size within a particular topology, we have extended the design rules by systematically analyzing the codependencies between the lengths and packing geometry of successive secondary structure elements and the backbone torsion angles of the loop linking them. We demonstrate the control afforded by the resulting extended rule set by designing a series of proteins with the same fold but considerable variation in secondary structure length, loop geometry, β-strand registry, and overall shape. Solution NMR structures of four designed proteins for two different folds show that protein shape and size can be precisely controlled within a given protein fold. These extended design principles provide the foundation for custom design of protein structures performing desired functions.Protein design holds promise for applications ranging from therapeutics to biomaterials, with recent progress in designing small molecule binding proteins (1, 2), inhibitors of protein–protein interactions (3, 4), and self-assembling nanomaterials (5–7). Most of these efforts have repurposed naturally occurring scaffolds, which are likely not optimal starting points for creating new functions because they generally contain sequence and structural idiosyncrasies that arose during evolutionary optimization for their natural functions (8). Robust design of new functional proteins would be considerably enabled by the capability of precisely designing from scratch arbitrary protein structures.We previously described general principles that allowed the de novo design of ideal protein structures with five different folds (9). In this paper, we focus on the “variations on a theme” problem of precisely controlling structural variation within the same fold. To achieve such control, we begin by characterizing the coupling between loop backbone geometry and the packing of the flanking secondary elements. We then use the resulting extended set of design principles to systematically vary structure for two different folds and describe the experimental characterization of five of these de novo designed proteins.