Bre1与Rad6形成的复合物的表达、纯化和结晶

目的：建立Bre1及Rad6的表达和纯化方法,构建Bre1-Rad6的复合物,寻找复合物的结晶条件,为使用X射线晶体学的方法解析复合物的结构奠定基础。方法：使用大肠杆菌表达系统表达蛋白质;使用共纯化的方法组装复合物;使用气象扩散的方法结晶复合物。结果：建立了来源于Lodderomyces elongisporus的Bre1(LeBre1)氮端与Rad6相互作用的结构域（RBD）和Rad6(LeRad6)在大肠杆菌中大量表达的方法;通过使用共纯化的方法,成功组装了LeBre1 RBD-Rad6复合物,并进一步通过两步凝胶过滤层析纯化的方法精细纯化,获得了纯度超过95%的蛋白复合物;使用气象扩散的方法结晶复合物,在18℃通过对1 000多个结晶条件的筛选,确定了复合物的两种结晶条件,进一步对该条件优化,获得了质量相对较好的晶体。结论：成功的构建了LeBre1 RBD-Rad6复合物的表达、纯化和结晶的方法,为使用X射线晶体学方法解析复合物的结构奠定了基础。     

THAP11通过抑制p53的泛素化影响食管癌细胞的增殖和凋亡

目的：探讨死亡相关蛋白(thanatos-associated protein,THAP)11对食管癌细胞增殖和凋亡的影响及其潜在 的机制。方法：采用蛋白质印迹法检测人食管上皮细胞Het-1A和人食管癌细胞(Eca109,TE-1和Ec 9706)中THAP11的 表达。将食管癌TE-1细胞分为空白对照(NC)组、阴性对照(LV-LC)组、TRA P11(LV-TRA P11)组,按分组处理细胞后, 采用MTT 法检测细胞活力,流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡,caspases试剂盒检测caspase-3和caspase-9的活性。采用体外泛素 化实验检测TE-1细胞的p53泛素化水平。结果：与Het-1A细胞相比,食管癌细胞中THAP11的表达显著下降(P<0.05)。 LV-THAP11转染食管癌细胞后,细胞活力降低(P<0.05),凋亡率升高(P<0.05),caspase-3和caspase-9活性升高(P<0.05)。 THAP11能够提高食管癌细胞中p53蛋白的表达(P<0.05)。与LV-LC组相比,转染THAP11后食管癌细胞中p53的表达上调 (P<0.05),MDM2调节的p53的泛素化也被抑制。结论：THAP11通过抑制p53的泛素化抑制食管癌细胞的增殖,促进食管 癌细胞的凋亡。     

Reconstruction of an active SOCS3-based E3 ubiquitin ligase complex in vitro: identification of the active components and JAK2 and gp130 as substrates

Abstract

SOCS3 (suppressor of cytokine signaling 3) inhibits the intracellular signaling cascade initiated by exposure of cells to cytokines. SOCS3 regulates signaling via two distinct mechanisms: directly inhibiting the catalytic activity of Janus kinases (JAKs) that initiate the intracellular signaling cascade and catalysing the ubiquitination of signaling components by recruiting components of an E3 ubiquitin ligase complex. Here we investigate the latter mode-of-action biochemically by reconstructing a SOCS3-based E3 ubiquitin ligase complex in vitro using fully purified, recombinant components and examining its ability to promote the ubiquitination of molecules involved in the cytokine signaling cascade. We show that SOCS3 is an active substrate recruitment module for a Cullin5-based E3 ligase and have defined the core protein components required for ubiquitination. SOCS3-induced polyubiquitination was rapid and could proceed through a number of different ubiquitin lysines. SOCS3 catalyzed the ubiquitination of both the IL-6 receptor common chain (gp130) and JAK2.     

The deubiquitinase OTUB1 augments NF-κB-dependent immune responses in dendritic cells in infection and inflammation by stabilizing UBC13

Dendritic cells (DCs) are indispensable for defense against pathogens but may also contribute to immunopathology. Activation of DCs upon the sensing of pathogens by Toll-like receptors (TLRs) is largely mediated by pattern recognition receptor/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling and depends on the appropriate ubiquitination of the respective signaling molecules. However, the ubiquitinating and deubiquitinating enzymes involved and their interactions are only incompletely understood. Here, we reveal that the deubiquitinase OTU domain, ubiquitin aldehyde binding 1 (OTUB1) is upregulated in DCs upon murine Toxoplasma gondii infection and lipopolysaccharide challenge. Stimulation of DCs with the TLR11/12 ligand T. gondii profilin and the TLR4 ligand lipopolysaccharide induced an increase in NF-κB activation in OTUB1-competent cells, resulting in elevated interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) production, which was also observed upon the specific stimulation of TLR2, TLR3, TLR7, and TLR9. Mechanistically, OTUB1 promoted NF-κB activity in DCs by K48-linked deubiquitination and stabilization of the E2-conjugating enzyme UBC13, resulting in increased K63-linked ubiquitination of IRAK1 (IL-1 receptor-associated kinase 1) and TRAF6 (TNF receptor-associated factor 6). Consequently, DC-specific deletion of OTUB1 impaired the production of cytokines, in particular IL-12, by DCs over the first 2 days of T. gondii infection, resulting in the diminished production of protective interferon-γ (IFN-γ) by natural killer cells, impaired control of parasite replication, and, finally, death from chronic T. encephalitis, all of which could be prevented by low-dose IL-12 treatment in the first 3 days of infection. In contrast, impaired OTUB1-deficient DC activation and cytokine production by OTUB1-deficient DCs protected mice from lipopolysaccharide-induced immunopathology. Collectively, these findings identify OTUB1 as a potent novel regulator of DCs during infectious and inflammatory diseases.     

泛素连接酶LNX1促进外源PBK的泛素化和降解

 目的 研究LNX1对其相互作用蛋白PBK的泛素化和降解。方法 克隆、原核表达、纯化了一系列重组人LNX1截断体蛋白和LNX1全长蛋白;在体外泛素化体系中研究其对PBK的泛素化,哺乳动物细胞内研究其对外源PBK的泛素化和降解。结果 在体外泛素化体系中LNX1泛素化PBK,并研究了不同LNX1截断体对PBK泛素化的影响;发现在哺乳动物细胞内外源LNX1促进外源PBK的泛素化,进而导致其通过蛋白酶体降解。结论 研究发现了LNX1对外源PBK的泛素化和降解,为研究LNX1的生理功能提供了重要线索。     

Loss of Drosophila Ataxin-7, a SAGA subunit,reduces H2B ubiquitination and leads to neural and retinal degeneration

The Spt–Ada–Gcn5–acetyltransferase (SAGA) chromatin-modifying complex possesses acetyltransferase and deubiquitinase activities. Within this modular complex, Ataxin-7 anchors the deubiquitinase activity to the larger complex. Here we identified and characterized Drosophila Ataxin-7 and found that reduction of Ataxin-7 protein results in loss of components from the SAGA complex. In contrast to yeast, where loss of Ataxin-7 inactivates the deubiquitinase and results in increased H2B ubiquitination, loss of Ataxin-7 results in decreased H2B ubiquitination and H3K9 acetylation without affecting other histone marks. Interestingly, the effect on ubiquitination was conserved in human cells, suggesting a novel mechanism regulating histone deubiquitination in higher organisms. Consistent with this mechanism in vivo, we found that a recombinant deubiquitinase module is active in the absence of Ataxin-7 in vitro. When we examined the consequences of reduced Ataxin-7 in vivo, we found that flies exhibited pronounced neural and retinal degeneration, impaired movement, and early lethality.     

E3泛素连接酶接头蛋白SPOP抑制前列腺癌的研究进展

前列腺癌（prostate cancer,Pca）是男性最常见的肿瘤之一,发病率和病死率呈逐年上升趋势,发生发展的遗传因素复杂多样。随着靶向治疗广泛应用于临床,新靶点的探索与研究在Pca的精准治疗中至关重要。研究发现E3泛素连接酶斑点型锌指结构蛋白（speckle-type POZ protein,SPOP）在Pca的发生发展中起重要抑制作用。本文重点介绍SPOP的结构、功能及其在Pca中的突变情况及相关底物;总结SPOP抑制Pca发生发展的分子机制：调控雄激素受体（androgen receptor,AR）介导的信号通路,DNA损伤修复及免疫应答;探讨SPOP在Pca中的临床意义及研究中存在的机遇与挑战。     

Metabolism of minor isoforms of prion proteins Cytosolic prion protein and transmembrane prion protein

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy or prion disease is triggered by the conversion from cellular prion protein to pathogenic prion protein. Growing evidence has concentrated on prion protein confi...     

Proper ubiquitination effect on the fertilisation outcome post‐ICSI

Ubiquitin is an 8.5‐kDa protein that tags outlived proteins for degradation by the proteasome. It also marks defective spermatozoa during epididymal passage and has been proposed as a biomarker of sperm quality. This study evaluates the relationship between sperm ubiquitination, protamine deficiency, semen parameters and fertilisation rate in infertile individuals undergoing the intracytoplasmic sperm insemination (ICSI) procedure. Semen samples from 73 ICSI candidates were collected and analysed according to World Health Organization criteria. A portion of each sample was evaluated for sperm ubiquitination using the sperm ubiquitin tag immunoassay (SUTI) with flow cytometry, and protamine deficiency by chromomycin A3 (CMA3) staining. In addition, the relationship between the fertilisation rate and sperm ubiquitination was calculated in ICSI candidates. The intensity of ubiquitination showed a significant negative correlation with sperm concentration (r = ?0.255, P = 0.032) and a positive correlation with fertilisation rate (r = 0.384, P = 0.013) post‐ICSI. No correlation was observed between protamine deficiency and the percentage of ubiquitination or ubiquitination intensity. The results of this study suggest that sperm ubiquitination prior to capacitation may be considered as a marker of defective spermatozoon. Spermatozoa that undergo proper ubiquitination may have a higher chance for fertilisation, because they are made redundant by the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway in the epididymis compared to hypo‐ubiquitinated spermatozoa.