Research progress in transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 of sensory nervous system

The transient receptor potential vanilloid subfamily member 1 (TRPV1) is a protein mainly expressed in sensory neurons and fibers, such as in trigeminal ganglion and dorsal root ganglion, and has been indicated to be involved in several physiological and pathological processes. Studies on thermal activation have revealed that phosphorylation is involved in TRPV1 activation and 2 putative phosphorylation sites, Ser residues 502 (Ser-502) and Ser residues 800 (Ser-800), have been recently confirmed to possess the capability of resensitizing TRPV1. In addition to acidification, alkalization has also been proved to be a highly effective stimulator for TRPV1. TRPV1 could be regulated by various physical and chemical modulators, as well as the chronic pain. TRPV1 plays a crucial role in the transmission of pain signals, especially under inflammation and the neoplasm conditions, and it can also modulate nociceptive afferents by reinforcing morphine tolerance. The present review mainly focused on the structural and functional complexities of TRPV1, together with its activation and modulation by a wide variety of physical and chemical stimuli. Its pharmacological manipulation (sensitization/desensitization) and therapeutical targets were also discussed.     

Multisystem manifestations of mitochondrial disorders

Mitochondria are cytoplasmic organelles in eukaryotic cells that accomplish several distinct vital functions, including oxidative phosphorylation, metabolic anaplerotic and degradative pathways, and integration of signaling for apoptosis. Impaired oxidative phosphorylation, the common final pathway of mitochondrial metabolism, results in a variety of clinical manifestations, and the term mitochondrial disorders is currently ascribed to (mostly) genetic diseases of the respiratory chain associated with mitochondrial DNA mutation or nuclear DNA mutations. Genetic disorders with impaired oxidative phosphorylation are extremely heterogeneous, as their clinical presentation ranges from lesions of single tissues or specialized structures, such as the optic nerve in the mitochondrial DNA-associated Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy and in the nuclear DNA-associated dominant optic atrophy, to more widespread pathologies, including myopathies, peripheral neuropathies, encephalomyopathies, cardiopathies, or complex multisystem disorders. The age at onset ranges from neonatal to adult life. This review focuses on mitochondrial diseases that find significant expression outside the central nervous system and the peripheral neuromuscular system, and manifest with substantial clinical signs and symptoms in tissues and organs such as the heart, endocrine system, liver, kidney, blood, and gastrointestinal tract. The available information on putative genotype–phenotype correlations and the related pathogenic mechanisms are summarized when appropriate. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

PTMap—A sequence alignment software for unrestricted, accurate, and full-spectrum identification of post-translational modification sites

We present sequence alignment software, called PTMap, for the accurate identification of full-spectrum protein post-translational modifications (PTMs) and polymorphisms. The software incorporates several features to improve searching speed and accuracy, including peak selection, adjustment of inaccurate mass shifts, and precise localization of PTM sites. PTMap also automates rules, based mainly on unmatched peaks, for manual verification of identified peptides. To evaluate the quality of sequence alignment, we developed a scoring system that takes into account both matched and unmatched peaks in the mass spectrum. Incorporation of these features dramatically increased both accuracy and sensitivity of the peptide- and PTM-identifications. To our knowledge, PTMap is the first algorithm that emphasizes unmatched peaks to eliminate false positives. The superior performance and reliability of PTMap were demonstrated by confident identification of PTMs on 156 peptides from four proteins and validated by MS/MS of the synthetic peptides. Our results demonstrate that PTMap is a powerful algorithm capable of identification of all possible protein PTMs with high confidence.     

RSK1 drives p27Kip1 phosphorylation at T198 to promote RhoA inhibition and increase cell motility

p90 ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK1) is an effector of both Ras/MEK/MAPK and PI3K/PDK1 pathways. We present evidence that RSK1 drives p27 phosphorylation at T198 to increase RhoA-p27 binding and cell motility. RSK1 activation and p27pT198 both increase in early G₁. As for many kinase–substrate pairs, cellular RSK1 coprecipitates with p27. siRNA to RSK1 and RSK1 inhibition both rapidly reduce cellular p27pT198. RSK1 overexpression increases p27pT198, p27-cyclin D1-Cdk4 complexes, and p27 stability. Moreover, RSK1 transfectants show mislocalization of p27 to cytoplasm, increased motility, and reduced RhoA-GTP, phospho-cofilin, and actin stress fibers, all of which were reversed by shRNA to p27. Phosphorylation by RSK1 increased p27pT198 binding to RhoA in vitro, whereas p27T157A/T198A bound poorly to RhoA compared with WTp27 in cells. Coprecipitation of cellular p27-RhoA was increased in cells with constitutive PI3K activation and increased in early G₁. Thus T198 phosphorylation not only stabilizes p27 and mislocalizes p27 to the cytoplasm but also promotes RhoA-p27 interaction and RhoA pathway inhibition. These data link p27 phosphorylation at T198 and cell motility. As for other PI3K effectors, RSK1 phosphorylates p27 at T198. Because RSK1 is also activated by MAPK, the increased cell motility and metastatic potential of cancer cells with PI3K and/or MAPK pathway activation may result in part from RSK1 activation, leading to accumulation of p27T198 in the cytoplasm, p27:RhoA binding, inhibition of RhoA/Rock pathway activation, and loss of actomyosin stability.     

脑缺血再灌注后NMDA受体亚基2B酪氨酸磷酸化的调节机制(英文)

目的:研究沙土鼠脑缺血再灌注后海马突触体N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸(NMDA)受体亚基2B(NR2B)酪氨酸磷酸化调节的机制。方法:沙土鼠双侧颈总动脉结扎形成前脑缺血模型;NR2B酪氨酸磷酸化通过免疫沉淀和免疫印渍分析。结果:脑缺血15分钟导致蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化水平明显下降;再灌注引起包括180kDa蛋白在内的多种蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化水平快速(再灌注15分钟)、持续(至少48小时)升高。免疫沉淀和免疫印渍证实,180 kDa条带为NR2B。缺血15分钟,再灌注6小时,NR2B酪氨酸磷酸化明显高于对照组,为对照组的1.8倍,而NR2B蛋白表达量则无变化。缺血前腹腔注射非竞争性NR拮抗剂氯胺酮或L-型电压门控钙通道(L-type VGCC)阻滞药硝苯地平,对NR2B酪氨酸磷酸化水平升高有明显的拮抗作用,而对NR2B蛋白表达量均无影响。在此条件下,非NMDA受体拮抗剂6,7-二硝基喹恶啉土卫四(DNQX)对NR2B酪氨酸磷酸化水平无影响。酪氨酸蛋白磷酸酶(PTP)抑制剂钒酸钠使脑缺血再灌注诱导的NR2B酪氨酸磷酸化进一步增加,而酪氨酸蛋白激酶(PTK)抑制剂金雀异黄素则使其减少。Src能与NR2B免疫共沉淀。结论:沙土鼠脑缺血再灌注NR2B的酪氨酸磷酸化的升高是通过NR和L-type VGCC介导的;PTK和PTP参与脑缺血再灌注NR2B酪氨酸磷酸化的调节,与NR2B以物理方式结合的Src可能在这种     

The intracellular activation of lamivudine (3TC) and determination of 2'-deoxycytidine-5'-triphosphate (dCTP) pools in the presence and absence of various drugs in HepG2 cells

AIMS: Lamivudine (3TC, 2'-deoxy-3'-thiacytidine) requires intracellular metabolism to its active 5'-triphosphate, 3TC-5'-triphosphate (3TCTP), to inhibit the replication of hepatitis B virus (HBV). We have investigated the activation of 3TC, in the presence and absence of a range of compounds, in HepG2 cells. The intracellular levels of the endogenous competitor of 3TCTP, 2'-deoxycytidine-5'-triphosphate (dCTP), were also determined and 3TCTP/dCTP ratios calculated. METHODS: The effects of a number of compounds on 3TC (3H; 1 microM) phosphorylation were investigated by radiometric h.p.l.c. dCTP levels were determined using a template primer extension assay. 3TCTP/dCTP ratios were calculated from these results. RESULTS: The phosphorylation of 3TC was significantly increased in the presence of either hydroxyurea (HU), methotrexate (MTX), or fludarabine (FLU). For example, at 100 microM HU, control 3TCTP levels were increased to 361% of control, whereas at 100 microM FLU, control 3TCTP levels were increased to 155%. dCTP pools were significantly reduced in the presence of HU and FLU, at 100 microM concentrations only. However, for all the above three compounds investigated, the ratio of 3TCTP/dCTP was favourably enhanced (e.g. at 1 microM MTX, 255% of control). Neither ganciclovir (GCV), lobucavir (LCV), penciclovir (PCV), adefovir dipivoxil (ADV), nor foscarnet (FOS) had any significant effects on 3TC phosphorylation or dCTP pools. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the activity of 3TC may be potentiated when combined with one of the modulators studied. The lack of an interaction between 3TC and the other anti-HBV agents is reassuring. These in vitro studies can be used as an initial screen to examine potential interactions at the phosphorylation level.