Regulation and quality control by Lon-dependent proteolysis

After their first discovery in Escherichia coli, Lon homologues were found to be widely distributed among prokaryotes to eukaryotes. The ATP-dependent Lon protease belongs to the AAA⁺ (ATPases associated with a variety of cellular activities) superfamily, and is involved in both general quality control by degrading abnormal proteins and in the specific control of several regulatory proteins. As such, this enzyme has a pivotal role in quality control and cellular physiology. This review focuses on mechanisms of degradation both from the protease and substrate points of view, and discusses the role of Lon in global regulation, stress response and virulence.     

转录因子MAZ对c1orf109基因转录表达调控的体外研究

目的:本文旨在研究转录因子Myc相关锌指蛋白(MAZ)在体外对人类1号染色体开放阅读框109(c1orf109)基因的转录表达调控。方法:体外条件下,采用凝胶电泳迁移实验筛选c1orf109基因启动子区MAZ的结合位点,并利用本室构建的由c1orf109启动子驱动的增强型绿色荧光蛋白报告载体与MAZ和转录因子特化蛋白1(Sp1)的表达质粒共转染He La细胞,24 h后,用激光共聚焦显微镜和流式细胞术检测c1orf109基因的转录表达情况。结果:c1orf109启动子区可与MAZ结合,且有与Sp1共享的结合位点;MAZ与Sp1皆可抑制c1orf109的转录表达,且Sp1的抑制作用大于MAZ(P0.05)。结论:MAZ与Sp1两个转录因子共同调控c1orf109基因在生理及病理条件的表达,且调控方向一致。这种冗余机制调控方式的存在提示该基因的精确表达调控对于细胞行使其生物学功能可能具有重要意义     

Regulation of gene expression dynamics during developmental transitions by the Ikaros transcription factor

The DNA-binding protein Ikaros is a potent tumor suppressor and hematopoietic regulator. However, the mechanisms by which Ikaros functions remain poorly understood, due in part to its atypical DNA-binding properties and partnership with the poorly understood Mi-2/NuRD complex. In this study, we analyzed five sequential stages of thymocyte development in a mouse strain containing a targeted deletion of Ikaros zinc finger 4, which exhibits a select subset of abnormalities observed in Ikaros-null mice. By examining thymopoiesis in vivo and in vitro, diverse abnormalities were observed at each developmental stage. RNA sequencing revealed that each stage is characterized by the misregulation of a limited number of genes, with a strong preference for stage-specific rather than lineage-specific genes. Strikingly, individual genes rarely exhibited Ikaros dependence at all stages. Instead, a consistent feature of the aberrantly expressed genes was a reduced magnitude of expression level change during developmental transitions. These results, combined with analyses of the interplay between Ikaros loss of function and Notch signaling, suggest that Ikaros may not be a conventional activator or repressor of defined sets of genes. Instead, a primary function may be to sharpen the dynamic range of gene expression changes during developmental transitions via atypical molecular mechanisms that remain undefined.     

激活蛋白1信号通路对肿瘤实质和间质相互作用的调控

肿瘤和正常组织的一个重要区别就是失控性生长,在这个过程中,转录因子的持续激活起着重要的作用.激活蛋白(AP)-1是转录因子中的一种,它参与调节机体内多种基因的表达,在正常组织的发育、增殖及肿瘤的发生、发展、浸润、转移中起重要作用[1].肿瘤的发生是肿瘤实质和其间质相互作用的结果,在这个相互作用中,AP-1信号通路控制着肿瘤的发展.