同源建模方法预测蛋白质突变结构的适用性分析

通过从Protein Data Bank(PDB)结构数据库中提取单氨基酸突变的晶体结构,构建了一组无冗余的测试数据集,对目前应用最广泛的两款同源建模预测软件(SWISS-MODEL和MODELLER)进行了测试分析,发现它们对蛋白质的整体结构预测效果良好,均方根偏差小于0.5埃(RMSD0.5),但在突变导致结构显著变化(RMSD1.5)的情况下却均不能得到准确结果.分类统计显示,发生在蛋白质结构内部和极性氨基酸之间的突变结构变化小,两款软件预测效果较好(RMSD1.0).突变导致结构显著变化的可能性不高(5%),但它对蛋白质功能的影响不可忽视,因此应用同源建模方法对于蛋白质突变的模拟并不完全适用,还需要开发新方法来提高准确性.     

导致人视网膜色素变性的RPGR基因突变

用ＰＣＲ－ＳＳＣＰ和ＤＮＡ测序的方法在两个ＸＬＲＰ家系ＲＰＧＲ基因的１２号和９号外显子内各发现一个未报道的突变。这两个突变引起了严重的视网膜色素变性。     

Complete mutagenesis of the HIV-1 protease

Retroviruses encode a protease which needs to be active for the production of infectious virions. A disabling mutation in the protease results in the production of non-infectious virus particles and examination of proteins from these mutant virions reveals unprocessed Gag and Gag-Pol precursor proteins, the substrates of the viral protease. Each amino acid of the HIV-1 protease was individually mutated using a simple mutagenesis procedure which is capable of introducing and identifying missense mutations in each residue of a protein. Phenotypic screening of these mutants in a heterologous assay system reveals three regions within the protease where multiple consecutive amino-acid residues are sensitive to mutation. These results show that random mutagenesis can be used to identify functionally important regions within a protein. Mutants with conditional phenotypes have also been identified within this collection.     

A cluster of cystic fibrosis mutations in the first nucleotide-binding fold of the cystic fibrosis conductance regulator protein.

The gene responsible for cystic fibrosis (CF) has recently been identified and is predicted to encode a protein of 1,480 amino acids called the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). Several functional regions are thought to exist in the CFTR protein, including two areas for ATP-binding, termed nucleotide-binding folds (NBFs), a regulatory (R) region that has many possible sites for phosphorylation by protein kinases A and C, and two hydrophobic regions that probably interact with cell membranes. The most common CF gene mutation leads to omission of phenylalanine residue 508 in the putative first NBF, indicating that this region is functionally important. To determine whether other mutations occur in the NBFs of CFTR, we determined the nucleotide sequences of exons 9, 10, 11 and 12 (encoding the first NBF) and exons 20, 21 and 22 (encoding most of the second NBF) from 20 Caucasian and 18 American-black CF patients. One cluster of four mutations was discovered in a 30-base-pair region of exon 11. Three of these mutations cause amino-acid substitutions at residues that are highly conserved among the CFTR protein, the multiple-drug-resistance proteins and ATP-binding membrane-associated transport proteins. The fourth mutation creates a premature termination signal. These mutations reveal a functionally important region in the CFTR protein and provide further evidence that CFTR is a member of the family of ATP-dependent transport proteins.     

A new way of enhancing the thermostability of proteases

Thermostability of enzyme can be enhanced by single amino acid substitutions. Recent advances in genetic engineering have made it possible to create novel proteins in a predictable manner where structural information for the protein is available. This 'protein engineering' has already been used to enhance enzyme thermostability, but it is usually not clear which amino acid substitutions should be made. We consider that the following approach should be helpful in engineering proteins with enhanced thermostability: highly conserved residues should be left unchanged; the sequences of known mesophilic and thermophilic proteins should be used to suggest the kinds of changes likely to increase thermostability; and substitutions should be made that increase internal hydrophobicity and that stabilize helices for strong internal packing. We describe here the use of this approach to alter the thermostability of the thermostable neutral protease of Bacillus stearothermophilus, the sequence of which is known. Surprisingly we find that a single mutation that decreases thermostability can require two mutations that increase stability to compensate for it. The effects on stability are not additive, suggesting cooperativity.     

Bag3 P215L基因突变小鼠的繁殖与基因型鉴定

BAG3是一种多功能蛋白,在多种疾病的发生发展中起决定性作用.临床研究表明,BAG3蛋白的第209位残基脯氨酸到亮氨酸p. Pro209Leu (c. 626C T)的杂合子突变能够引起一种罕见的肌原纤维肌病.为进一步研究BAG3 P209L突变引起的相关疾病,建立了Bag3 P215L突变的小鼠模型(小鼠的Bag3蛋白序列中对应突变的脯氨酸位于第215位残基上).将Bag3 P215L杂合突变的雄鼠和雌鼠进行繁殖交配,将得到纯合子、杂合子及野生型3种基因型小鼠.出生后3～4周龄的小鼠剪尾,采用了NaOH法、KCl法和改良SDS法共3种方法提取基因组DNA,然后进行PCR扩增、琼脂糖凝胶电泳和DNA测序.用改良SDS法能更为稳定有效地提取DNA,从而成功进行Bag3 P215L小鼠的繁育和基因型鉴定.为进一步研究BAG3 P209L突变引起的相关疾病提供了理想的动物模型.     

Imaging bacteriorhodopsinlike molecules of claretmembranes from Tibet halobacteria xz515 by atomic force microscope

HalobacteriaH.sp.xz 515 was isolated from a salt lake in Tibet. Although proton release-and-uptake across claret membrane is in reverse order compared to bacteriorhodopsin in purple membrane fromHalobacterium Salinarum, and its efficiency of proton pump is much lower, AFM image shows that the molecules are still arranged in a two-dimensional hexagonal lattice of trimers. Primary structure of Cto G-helix of the archaerhodopsin shows that it has only 56% homology with bacteriorhodopsin. But the interactive amino acid residues at the interface between B and D-helixes are conserved. These amino acid residues are believed to play a significant role in the stability of protein oligomers.     

A camelid antibody fragment inhibits the formation of amyloid fibrils by human lysozyme

Amyloid diseases are characterized by an aberrant assembly of a specific protein or protein fragment into fibrils and plaques that are deposited in various organs and tissues, often with serious pathological consequences. Non-neuropathic systemic amyloidosis is associated with single point mutations in the gene coding for human lysozyme. Here we report that a single-domain fragment of a camelid antibody raised against wild-type human lysozyme inhibits the in vitro aggregation of its amyloidogenic variant, D67H. Our structural studies reveal that the epitope includes neither the site of mutation nor most residues in the region of the protein structure that is destabilized by the mutation. Instead, the binding of the antibody fragment achieves its effect by restoring the structural cooperativity characteristic of the wild-type protein. This appears to occur at least in part through the transmission of long-range conformational effects to the interface between the two structural domains of the protein. Thus, reducing the ability of an amyloidogenic protein to form partly unfolded species can be an effective method of preventing its aggregation, suggesting approaches to the rational design of therapeutic agents directed against protein deposition diseases.     

人囊性纤维化跨膜电导调节子蛋白的变异模式研究

【目的】编码囊性纤维化跨膜电导调节子（Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator，CFTR）蛋白的基因突变可引起囊性纤维化，但该蛋白错义点突变的变异模式尚无报道。【方法】先用氨基酸对可预测性为指标将人CFTR蛋白及其178个错义点突变的氨基酸序列转换成标量序列，然后分析变异前后被替换掉的和替换出的氨基酸对的变化。【结果】97．19％的变异发生在不可预测的氨基酸对；87．08％的变异涉及1个或2个被替换掉的氨基酸对，其实际频率大干预测频率；15．17％的变异带来1个或2个替换出的氨基酸对，它们在正常的CFTR蛋白是不存在的；共有122个变异导致替换出的氨基酸对的实际频率小干预测频率。【结论】不可预测的氨基酸对对变异更敏感，变异的趋势是缩小氨基酸对实际频率和预测频率之间的差距，使氨基酸对的构成更加随机化，而人CFTR蛋白的这种退行性变导致了囊性纤维化。     

Key residues involved in calcium-binding motifs in EGF-like domains

Many extracellular proteins with diverse functions contain domains similar to epidermal growth factor (EGF), a number of which have a consensus Asp/Asn, Asp/Asn, Asp*/Asn*, Tyr/Phe (where the asterisk denotes a beta-hydroxylated residue). These include the coagulation factors IX and X, proteins with two EGF-like domains, the first of which contains the consensus residues. The first EGF-like domain of human factor IX contains a calcium-binding site, which is believed to be responsible for one of the high-affinity sites detected in this protein. Similar results have been obtained for bovine factor X. We have now used protein engineering and 1H-NMR techniques to investigate the importance of individual consensus residues for ligand binding. Measurement of a calcium-dependent Tyr 69 shift in the isolated first EGF-like domain from human factor IX demonstrates that Asp 47, Asp 49, and Asp 64 are directly involved in this binding. Gln 50, whose importance has previously been overlooked, is also involved in this binding. Two mutations in this domain, Asp 47----Glu, and Asp 64----Asn, present in patients with haemophilia B, reduce calcium binding to the domain greater than 4-fold and greater than 1,000-fold, respectively. Furthermore, the defective calcium binding of Asn 64 can be partially rescued by the compensatory mutation Gln 50----Glu. This latter mutation, when introduced singly more than doubles the affinity of the domain for calcium. This study thus defines residues involved in a new type of calcium-binding site and provides strong circumstantial evidence for calcium-binding motifs in many extracellular proteins, including the developmentally important proteins of Drosophila, notch, delta and crumbs.     

Neuroglobin mutation associated with hypoxia adaptation in Tibet chicken

Globin protein family plays an important role in storing and transporting oxygen. As a newly reported globin, the revealed function of neuroglobin includes binding and storing oxygen as well as facilitating the utilization of oxygen in neuronal cells. In the present study, mutations in exons of chicken Ngb gene were identified with the method of sequencing and created restriction site PCR in Tibet chicken and other four lowland chicken breeds. The mutations of Lys-2224(E4)-Asn and Ser-2279(E4)-Gly were identified in exon 4 of the gene. The Lys-2224(E4)-Asn mutation existed only in Tibet chicken and the mutation frequencies increased with increasing altitude. Analysis of the haplotype and diplotype of the two mutations in Tibet chicken populations of different altitudes showed that the frequencies of TG haplotype and TTGG diplotype also increased with increasing altitude, while the reverse tendency was found on GGAA diplotype. Under the hypoxic simulation incubation, the main haplotype was TG in living embryos and GA in dead embryos. The results showed that the Lys-2224(E4)-Asn mutation may be a specific mutation associated with hypoxia adaptation in Tibet chicken.     

Neuroglobin mutation associated with hypoxia adaptation in Tibet chicken

Globin protein family plays an important role in storing and transporting oxygen. As a newly reported globin, the revealed function of neuroglobin includes binding and storing oxygen as well as facilitating the utilization of oxygen in neuronal cells. In the present study, mutations in exons of chicken Ngb gene were identified with the method of sequencing and created restriction site PCR in Tibet chicken and other four lowland chicken breeds. The mutations of Lys-2224(E4)-Asn and Ser-2279(E4)-Gly were identified in exon 4 of the gene. The Lys-2224(E4)-Asn mutation existed only in Tibet chicken and the mutation frequencies increased with increasing altitude. Analysis of the haplotype and diplotype of the two mutations in Tibet chicken populations of different altitudes showed that the frequencies of TG haplotype and TTGG diplotype also increased with increasing altitude, while the reverse tendency was found on GGAA diplotype. Under the hypoxic simulation incubation, the main haplotype was TG in living embryos and GA in dead embryos. The results showed that the Lys-2224(E4)-Asn mutation may be a specific mutation associated with hypoxia adaptation in Tibet chicken.     

Structural basis for signal transduction by the Toll/interleukin-1 receptor domains

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and the interleukin-1 receptor superfamily (IL-1Rs) are integral to both innate and adaptive immunity for host defence. These receptors share a conserved cytoplasmic domain, known as the TIR domain. A single-point mutation in the TIR domain of murine TLR4 (Pro712His, the Lps(d) mutation) abolishes the host immune response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and mutation of the equivalent residue in TLR2, Pro681His, disrupts signal transduction in response to stimulation by yeast and gram-positive bacteria. Here we report the crystal structures of the TIR domains of human TLR1 and TLR2 and of the Pro681His mutant of TLR2. The structures have a large conserved surface patch that also contains the site of the Lps(d) mutation. Mutagenesis and functional studies confirm that residues in this surface patch are crucial for receptor signalling. The Lps(d) mutation does not disturb the structure of the TIR domain itself. Instead, structural and functional studies indicate that the conserved surface patch may mediate interactions with the down-stream MyD88 adapter molecule, and that the Lps(d) mutation may abolish receptor signalling by disrupting this recruitment.     

基于表面重塑方法的抗体HAb18可变区人源化设计

在分析抗体空间结构特点和残基间相互作用基础上,利用计算机辅助的分子设计和表面残基替换法进行鼠源抗体人源化设计。在抗体同源模建的基础上,利用序列分析和结构分析确定鼠源抗体可变区中外露的非人样差异残基,参考分子内、间氢键相互作用,最终选定将要突变的残基位点。使用这种方法对一株抗人肝癌细胞的单克隆抗体HAb18进行了人源化改造设计,并将候选位点分为三类,以便于在实验中依次突变,寻找降低鼠源抗体免疫原性和保持其生物功能之间适宜的平衡点。结果表明表面重塑方法可以有效地减少抗体人源化设计中CDR空间构象的变化,维持抗体生物活性,为试验提供有力的理论依据。     

Structural basis of IAP recognition by Smac/DIABLO

Apoptosis is an essential process in the development and homeostasis of all metazoans. The inhibitor-of-apoptosis (IAP) proteins suppress cell death by inhibiting the activity of caspases; this inhibition is performed by the zinc-binding BIR domains of the IAP proteins. The mitochondrial protein Smac/DIABLO promotes apoptosis by eliminating the inhibitory effect of IAPs through physical interactions. Amino-terminal sequences in Smac/DIABLO are required for this function, as mutation of the very first amino acid leads to loss of interaction with IAPs and concomitant loss of Smac/DIABLO function. Here we report the high-resolution crystal structure of Smac/DIABLO complexed with the third BIR domain (BIR3) of XIAP. Our results show that the N-terminal four residues (Ala-Val-Pro-Ile) in Smac/DIABLO recognize a surface groove on BIR3, with the first residue Ala binding a hydrophobic pocket and making five hydrogen bonds to neighbouring residues on BIR3. These observations provide a structural explanation for the roles of the Smac N terminus as well as the conserved N-terminal sequences in the Drosophila proteins Hid/Grim/Reaper. In conjunction with other observations, our results reveal how Smac may relieve IAP inhibition of caspase-9 activity. In addition to explaining a number of biological observations, our structural analysis identifies potential targets for drug screening.     

Mutation of the beta-amyloid precursor protein in familial Alzheimer's disease increases beta-protein production.

Progressive cerebral deposition of the 39-43-amino-acid amyloid beta-protein (A beta) is an invariant feature of Alzheimer's disease which precedes symptoms of dementia by years or decades. The only specific molecular defects that cause Alzheimer's disease which have been identified so far are missense mutations in the gene encoding the beta-amyloid precursor protein (beta-APP) in certain families with an autosomal dominant form of the disease (familial Alzheimer's disease, or FAD). These mutations are located within or immediately flanking the A beta region of beta-APP, but the mechanism by which they cause the pathological phenotype of early and accelerated A beta deposition is unknown. Here we report that cultured cells which express a beta-APP complementary DNA bearing a double mutation (Lys to Asn at residue 595 plus Met to Leu at position 596) found in a Swedish FAD family produce approximately 6-8-fold more A beta than cells expressing normal beta-APP. The Met 596 to Leu mutation is principally responsible for the increase. These data establish a direct link between a FAD genotype and the clinicopathological phenotype. Further, they confirm the relevance of the continuous A beta production by cultured cells for elucidating the fundamental mechanism of Alzheimer's disease.     

Effect of Residue Mutation on the Electrostatic Potential in EcCIC

The effect of mutation of strongly conserved porelining residues in the chloride channel EcClC on the electrostatic potential and binding free energy of the chloride ion was studied using explicit protein-membrane structures. Electrostatic potential distribution and binding free energy of the chloride ion at different binding sites in the wild-type and mutated EcClC were calculated with APBS. The potential data reveal that the electrostatic potential around the selectivity filter, especially around the site Sext and Scen becomes more negative as the residue R147 was mutated to C147. The electrostatic binding free energy shows that the binding free energy of the chloride ion at all binding sites becomes more positive as R147 was mutated. It follows that mutation of R147 decreases ion stabilization at binding sites and affects channel＇s gating.     

Genetic and structural analyses suggest that a novel SPG3A mutation causes severe phenotypes of hereditary spastic paraplegia

Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) (MIM# 182600, etc.) is a group of heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorders, characterized by lower limb spasticity, hy- perreflexia, progressive spastic gait abnormalities and an extensor-plantar response[1]. The genot…     

Structural basis for recognition and repair of the endogenous mutagen 8-oxoguanine in DNA

Spontaneous oxidation of guanine residues in DNA generates 8-oxoguanine (oxoG). By mispairing with adenine during replication, oxoG gives rise to a G x C --> T x A transversion, a frequent somatic mutation in human cancers. The dedicated repair pathway for oxoG centres on 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase (hOGG1), an enzyme that recognizes oxoG x C base pairs, catalysing expulsion of the oxoG and cleavage of the DNA backbone. Here we report the X-ray structure of the catalytic core of hOGG1 bound to oxoG x C-containing DNA at 2.1 A resolution. The structure reveals the mechanistic basis for the recognition and catalytic excision of DNA damage by hOGG1 and by other members of the enzyme superfamily to which it belongs. The structure also provides a rationale for the biochemical effects of inactivating mutations and polymorphisms in hOGG1. One known mutation, R154H, converts hOGG1 to a promutator by relaxing the specificity of the enzyme for the base opposite oxoG.