植物体内干旱信号的传递与基因表达

干旱是严重影响植物生长发育的重要环境胁迫因子之一。干旱能影响植物的水分状态,使植物缺水遭受伤害。近年来,相继从拟南芥等植物中克隆出了一些受干旱诱导的基因,如蛋白激酶基因、光合基因、渗透调节基因、功能蛋白基因（如LEA基因）等。干旱等胁迫信号经历一系列的传递过程,最后诱导这些特定基因的表达。在植物体中,可能存在依赖ABA型和不依赖ABA型两条干旱信号的传递途径。近年来从高等植物中分离出一系列调控干旱相关基因表达的转录因子,通过转录因子之间以及与其它相关蛋白之间的相互作用,激活或抑制干旱等胁迫因子诱导的基因表达。     

An Integrated Computer System for Studying the Regulation of Eukaryotic Gene Expression

The review describes several modules of the GeneExpress integrated computer system concerning the regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes. Approaches to the presentation of experimental data in databases are considered. The employment of GeneExpress in computer analysis and modeling of the organization and function of genetic systems is illustrated with examples. GeneExpress is available at http://wwwmgs.bionet.nsc.ru/mgs/gnw/.     

Bioinformatics analyses for signal transduction networks

Research in signaling networks contributes to a deeper understanding of organism living activities. With the development of experimental methods in the signal transduction field, more and more mechanisms of signaling pathways have been discovered. This paper introduces such popular bioin-formatics analysis methods for signaling networks as the common mechanism of signaling pathways and database resource on the Internet, summerizes the methods of analyzing the structural properties of networks, including structural Motif finding and automated pathways generation, and discusses the modeling and simulation of signaling networks in detail, as well as the research situation and tendency in this area. Now the investigation of signal transduction is developing from small-scale experiments to large-scale network analysis, and dynamic simulation of networks is closer to the real system. With the investigation going deeper than ever, the bioinformatics analysis of signal transduction would have immense space for development and application.     

Valvulogenesis: the moving target

Valvulogenesis is an extremely complex process by which a fragile gelatinous matrix is populated and remodelled during embryonic development into thin fibrous leaflets capable of maintaining unidirectional flow over a lifetime. This process occurs during exposure to constantly changing haemodynamic forces, with a success rate of approximately 99%. Defective valvulogenesis results in impaired cardiac function and lifelong complications. This review integrates what is known about the roles of genetics and mechanics in the development of valves and how changes in either result in impaired morphogenesis. It is hoped that appropriate developmental cues and phenotypic endpoints could help engineers and clinicians in their efforts to regenerate living valve alternatives.     

微囊蛋白基因及其与疾病关系研究进展

微囊蛋白(caveolin)基因家族已鉴定出3个成员:微囊蛋白-1、微囊蛋白-2、微囊蛋白-3,并被定位于抑癌基因位点区域.微囊蛋白-1是细胞质膜微囊的标记蛋白,其中间疏水区域在细胞膜内形成发夹结构,并使其N端区域与C端区域在细胞膜内表面聚合形成支架结构.微囊蛋白-1与微囊蛋白-2以组成异源寡聚体的形式存在,在脂肪细胞、内皮细胞和成纤维细胞中表达最丰富,微囊蛋白-3则特异表达于肌肉.离体与活体研究结果均表明微囊蛋白-1可能具有抑癌功能,并可能在细胞信号传导中起刹车作用.微囊蛋白-1基因敲除小鼠心血管NO与Ca²⁺信号途径受损、功能异常,肺泡上皮细胞出现异常扩增,脂质代谢失衡,身体消瘦.微囊蛋白-2基因敲除小鼠肺功能与耐力均严重受损,与微囊蛋白-1基因敲除小鼠的表型非常相似.微囊蛋白-3为维持心脏正常功能所必需,可能还与一些肌肉营养不良症有关.     

Redox Control of Signal Transduction,Gene Expression and Cellular Senescence

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) act as subcellular messengers in such complex cellular processes as mitogenic signal transduction, gene expression, regulation of cell proliferation, replicative senescence, and apoptosis. They serve to maintain cellular homeostasis and their production is under strict control. However, the mechanisms whereby ROS act are still obscure. Here we review recent advances in our understanding of signaling mechanisms and recent data about the involvement of ROS in: (i) the regulation of the mitogenic transduction elements, particularly protein kinases and phosphatases; (ii) the regulation of gene expression; and (iii) the induction of replicative senescence and the role, if any, in aging and age-related disorders.     

蛋白质的入核运送和它在基因表达中的调节作用

蛋白质进入细胞核是由蛋白质分子内部的核定位信号（nuclear localization signal, NLS）引导的.NLS蛋白首先与NLS受体结合,然后在多种胞浆因子及核孔复合物蛋白的作用下穿过核孔、转位入核.蛋白质上存在NLS并不一定总能够引导蛋白质入核.当NLS被修饰或遮掩时,它们便不能被核转运装置所识别.因而,NLS的遮掩被解除之前,蛋白质一直被扣留在胞浆中.以调节转录因子的入核运送来控制转录因子的活性是基因表达调节的一个新概念,也是细胞生长和分化的另一水平的调节.     

基因网络研究进展

分子生物学的深入发展揭示了复杂的生命现象是大量基因相互作用的结果,传统的以描述为主的生物学和分解分析的研究方法受到挑战.随着DNA芯片和分子阵列技术的应用,快速检测生物基因组的表达已成为可能.在生命科学领域,基因网络作为一种系统的、定量的研究方法正在受到重视,该方法建立在分子生物学、非线性数学和信息学等多学科交叉的基础上.基因网络是动力系统模型,具有稳定性、层次性等一系列非线性系统的特性.通过基因表达的大量数据,结合一定的分析和计算方法可以构建合适的基因网络拓扑结构模拟系统的行为.反过来,利用已建立的基因网络可以指导进一步的实验.计算机工具和Internet资源是基因网络研究的重要手段.基因网络研究将在后基因组研究中发挥重要的作用.     

囊胚形成的基因表达与调控(英文)

囊胚形成是胚胎早期发育过程中一个重要阶段 ,涉及几个重要的生理事件 ,即细胞融合 (compaction ,亦称致密化作用 )、囊胚腔出现、囊胚腔扩张及滋养层和内细胞团的分化。在细胞间连接蛋白的作用下 ,各种细胞间连接方式逐步建立起来 ,在合子型基因组表达调控下 ,促进了最终囊胚的形成。细胞间连接蛋白和细胞粘附相关蛋白参与组建各种细胞间连接 ,参与细胞融合、囊胚腔形成、滋养层分化和囊胚扩张等过程。通过顶部的紧密连接、侧部的缝隙连接和桥粒 ,建立起细胞的连接复合体。在人胚胎 8 细胞之前 ,卵裂球细胞界限明显 ,可能以中间连接方式相互作用 ;8 细胞期发生致密化作用 ,通过紧密连接将细胞分成顶部和基部 ,使得胚胎处于半封闭状态 ,促进胚胎内部积液 ,形成囊胚腔。细胞融合的同时也产生缝隙连接。桥粒最初出现在人胚胎达到 3 2 细胞阶段 ,桥粒连接参与囊胚腔形成以及在囊胚扩张时维持滋养层的稳定性。桥粒由一些跨膜粘蛋白组成 ,包括参与细胞内粘附的桥粒子和桥粒球以及一些细胞质内蛋白 (如desmoplakins,plakoglobin ,plakophilin) ,由细胞内蛋白质形成空斑结构并介导细胞角蛋白丝固定。对植入前牛胚胎的研究表明 ,只有DcII,DcIII和plako三种桥粒蛋白参与桥粒组建。在鼠囊胚中DcII的表达部位位于     

重建基因调控网络

分子生物学的主要挑战是如何更好的理解基因间的调控机理。重建基因网络有助于探索生命系统的本质问题。这里对研究基因调控网络的起源、发展动向、目的和方法及目前所面临的挑战进行了综述。     

Feedback inhibition of the unfolded protein response by GADD34-mediated dephosphorylation of eIF2alpha

Phosphorylation of the alpha subunit of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 (eIF2alpha) on serine 51 integrates general translation repression with activation of stress-inducible genes such as ATF4, CHOP, and BiP in the unfolded protein response. We sought to identify new genes active in this phospho-eIF2alpha-dependent signaling pathway by screening a library of recombinant retroviruses for clones that inhibit the expression of a CHOP::GFP reporter. A retrovirus encoding the COOH terminus of growth arrest and DNA damage gene (GADD)34, also known as MYD116 (Fornace, A.J., D.W. Neibert, M.C. Hollander, J.D. Luethy, M. Papathanasiou, J. Fragoli, and N.J. Holbrook. 1989. Mol. Cell. Biol. 9:4196-4203; Lord K.A., B. Hoffman-Lieberman, and D.A. Lieberman. 1990. Nucleic Acid Res. 18:2823), was isolated and found to attenuate CHOP (also known as GADD153) activation by both protein malfolding in the endoplasmic reticulum, and amino acid deprivation. Despite normal activity of the cognate stress-inducible eIF2alpha kinases PERK (also known as PEK) and GCN2, phospho-eIF2alpha levels were markedly diminished in GADD34-overexpressing cells. GADD34 formed a complex with the catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase 1 (PP1c) that specifically promoted the dephosphorylation of eIF2alpha in vitro. Mutations that interfered with the interaction with PP1c prevented the dephosphorylation of eIF2alpha and blocked attenuation of CHOP by GADD34. Expression of GADD34 is stress dependent, and was absent in PERK(-)/- and GCN2(-)/- cells. These findings implicate GADD34-mediated dephosphorylation of eIF2alpha in a negative feedback loop that inhibits stress-induced gene expression, and that might promote recovery from translational inhibition in the unfolded protein response.     

人细胞骨架调节蛋白基因NELIN cDNA的克隆及特征分析

为寻找和研究心血管系统有关的重要功能基因及表达模式,构建了正常成人心脏和主动脉cDNA文库,并在大规模表达序列标签（ESTs）测定和筛选新的cDNAs全长的基础上,筛选出一个新的基因（GenBank登记号AF114264）。该基因的cDNA全长为2736bp,含有一个1344bp的开放读码框,由于其推测的氨基酸序列与鼠源微管连接蛋白（nexilin）具有很高同源性,所以暂将其命名为NELIN（nexilin-like protein)。Northern印迹和RT－PCR结果表明,该基因的心脏、骨骼肌、动脉和静脉中表达,且该表达有一定的时空特异性,查询GeneMap‘99,该基因定位在梁色体1p31－1p32。结构域分析表明,NELIN很可能参与调节粘着斑和张力纤维形成,并参与粘着斑的信号转导。     

Discrete logic modelling as a means to link protein signalling networks with functional analysis of mammalian signal transduction

Large‐scale protein signalling networks are useful for exploring complex biochemical pathways but do not reveal how pathways respond to specific stimuli. Such specificity is critical for understanding disease and designing drugs. Here we describe a computational approach—implemented in the free CNO software—for turning signalling networks into logical models and calibrating the models against experimental data. When a literature‐derived network of 82 proteins covering the immediate‐early responses of human cells to seven cytokines was modelled, we found that training against experimental data dramatically increased predictive power, despite the crudeness of Boolean approximations, while significantly reducing the number of interactions. Thus, many interactions in literature‐derived networks do not appear to be functional in the liver cells from which we collected our data. At the same time, CNO identified several new interactions that improved the match of model to data. Although missing from the starting network, these interactions have literature support. Our approach, therefore, represents a means to generate predictive, cell‐type‐specific models of mammalian signalling from generic protein signalling networks.     

PAF受体及其信号传导

血小板激活因子是一种强力的磷脂介质,普遍认为它经其特异受体而起作用．最近已克隆出PAF膜受体的cDNA．文章综述了有关PAF受体及其信号传导研究的新进展.