Conserved residues in yeast initiator tRNA calibrate initiation accuracy by regulating preinitiation complex stability at the start codon

Eukaryotic initiator tRNA (tRNA_i) contains several highly conserved unique sequence features, but their importance in accurate start codon selection was unknown. Here we show that conserved bases throughout tRNA_i, from the anticodon stem to acceptor stem, play key roles in ensuring the fidelity of start codon recognition in yeast cells. Substituting the conserved G31:C39 base pair in the anticodon stem with different pairs reduces accuracy (the Sui⁻ [suppressor of initiation codon] phenotype), whereas eliminating base pairing increases accuracy (the Ssu⁻ [suppressor of Sui⁻] phenotype). The latter defect is fully suppressed by a Sui⁻ substitution of T-loop residue A54. These genetic data are paralleled by opposing effects of Sui⁻ and Ssu⁻ substitutions on the stability of methionylated tRNA_i (Met-tRNA_i) binding (in the ternary complex [TC] with eIF2-GTP) to reconstituted preinitiation complexes (PICs). Disrupting the C3:G70 base pair in the acceptor stem produces a Sui⁻ phenotype and also reduces the rate of TC binding to 40S subunits in vitro and in vivo. Both defects are suppressed by an Ssu⁻ substitution in eIF1A that stabilizes the open/P_OUT conformation of the PIC that exists prior to start codon recognition. Our data indicate that these signature sequences of tRNA_i regulate accuracy by distinct mechanisms, promoting the open/P_OUT conformation of the PIC (for C3:G70) or destabilizing the closed/P_IN state (for G31:C39 and A54) that is critical for start codon recognition.     

硒酵母联合308nm准分子激光治疗白癜风的临床疗效观察

目的探讨硒酵母联合308nm准分子激光治疗白癜风的临床疗效。方法 200例白癜风患者按治疗方式分为两组：100例硒酵母联合308nm准分子激光治疗患者为观察组,同期100例单纯308nm准分子激光治疗患者为对照组。比较两组患者过氧化氢酶（CAT）、谷胱甘肽-过氧化物酶（GSH-PX）、丙二醛（MDA）、脂质过氧化物（LPO）、免疫球蛋白G（IgG）及其亚类、临床疗效。结果连续治疗16周后,观察组患者血清GSH-PX、CAT明显高于对照组（P〈0.05）;观察组患者MDA、LPO明显低于对照组（P〈0.05）。观察组患者IgG、IgG1、IgG2a、IgG2b和IgG3的抗体水平显著升高,与对照组比较差异具有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。对照组治疗总有效率为64.0%,观察组总有效率为84.0%,观察组疗效明显优于对照组（P〈0.05）。结论硒酵母联合308nm准分子激光治疗白癜风疗效确切,值得临床推广使用。     

Intronic sequence elements impede exon ligation and trigger a discard pathway that yields functional telomerase RNA in fission yeast

The fission yeast telomerase RNA (TER1) precursor harbors an intron immediately downstream from its mature 3′ end. Unlike most introns, which are removed from precursor RNAs by the spliceosome in two sequential but tightly coupled transesterification reactions, TER1 only undergoes the first cleavage reaction during telomerase RNA maturation. The mechanism underlying spliceosome-mediated 3′ end processing has remained unclear. We now demonstrate that a strong branch site (BS), a long distance to the 3′ splice site (3′ SS), and a weak polypyrimidine (Py) tract act synergistically to attenuate the transition from the first to the second step of splicing. The observation that a strong BS antagonizes the second step of splicing in the context of TER1 suggests that the BS–U2 snRNA interaction is disrupted after the first step and thus much earlier than previously thought. The slow transition from first to second step triggers the Prp22 DExD/H-box helicase-dependent rejection of the cleaved products and Prp43-dependent “discard” of the splicing intermediates. Our findings explain how the spliceosome can function in 3′ end processing and provide new insights into the mechanism of splicing.     

EEC‐ and ADULT‐Associated TP63 Mutations Exhibit Functional Heterogeneity Toward P63 Responsive Sequences

TP63 germ‐line mutations are responsible for a group of human ectodermal dysplasia syndromes, underlining the key role of P63 in the development of ectoderm‐derived tissues. Here, we report the identification of two TP63 alleles, G134V (p.Gly173Val) and insR155 (p.Thr193_Tyr194insArg), associated to ADULT and EEC syndromes, respectively. These alleles, along with previously identified G134D (p.Gly173Asp) and R204W (p.Arg243Trp), were functionally characterized in yeast, studied in a mammalian cell line and modeled based on the crystal structure of the P63 DNA‐binding domain. Although the p.Arg243Trp mutant showed both complete loss of transactivation function and ability to interfere over wild‐type P63, the impact of p.Gly173Asp, p.Gly173Val, and p.Thr193_Tyr194insArg varied depending on the response element (RE) tested. Interestingly, p.Gly173Asp and p.Gly173Val mutants were characterized by a severe defect in transactivation along with interfering ability on two DN‐P63α‐specific REs derived from genes closely related to the clinical manifestations of the TP63‐associated syndromes, namely PERP and COL18A1. The modeling of the mutations supported the distinct functional effect of each mutant. The present results highlight the importance of integrating different functional endpoints that take in account the features of P63 proteins' target sequences to examine the impact of TP63 mutations and the associated clinical variability.     

Screening of APP interaction proteins by DUALmembrane yeast two-hybrid system

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the most common forms of neurodegenerative disease. There is a growing interest in the amyloid precursor protein (APP) over the years due to its involvement in AD. Besides its role in pathological mechanisms of AD, APP participates in many signaling pathways as well. APP functions through protein-protein interactions, and in this report staufen 1 (STAU1) is demonstrated to have interaction with APP, using yeast two-hybrid screening and co-immunoprecipitation in mammalian system. STAU1 belongs to the double-stranded RNA binding protein family and can mediate mRNA degradation in mammalian system, implicating that APP may be involved in the regulation of mRNA as well.     

酵母双杂交筛选Clathrin相互作用蛋白

目的 应用酵母双杂交技术从小鼠肺cDNA文库中筛选与Clathrin相互作用蛋白,进一步阐明Clathrin在急性肺损伤和急性呼吸窘迫症（ALI/ARDS）发生时肺泡上皮极性损伤中的具体作用机制。方法 首先构建酵母双杂交pSos-Clathrin诱饵载体,酶切鉴定,然后确定Clathrin诱饵蛋白无自激活特性并检测了Clathrin诱饵蛋白的表达;最后筛选小鼠肺cDNA文库并对筛选得到的阳性克隆进行回转验证,对回转验证结果为阳性的文库克隆质粒送检测序,分析克隆序列。结果 酵母双杂交筛选小鼠肺cDNA文库得到4个与Clathrin相互作用蛋白,分别是：腺苷酸环化酶关联蛋白1,细丝蛋白α,DAP凋亡诱导蛋白激酶2和G蛋白耦联受体激酶6。结论 Clathrin参与细胞极性调节、炎症损伤和细胞凋亡等过程。