Molecular Mechanisms of the Deregulation of Muscle Contraction Induced by the R90P Mutation in Tpm3.12 and the Weakening of This Effect by BDM and W7

Point mutations in the genes encoding the skeletal muscle isoforms of tropomyosin can cause a range of muscle diseases. The amino acid substitution of Arg for Pro residue in the 90th position (R90P) in γ-tropomyosin (Tpm3.12) is associated with congenital fiber type disproportion and muscle weakness. The molecular mechanisms underlying muscle dysfunction in this disease remain unclear. Here, we observed that this mutation causes an abnormally high Ca²⁺-sensitivity of myofilaments in vitro and in muscle fibers. To determine the critical conformational changes that myosin, actin, and tropomyosin undergo during the ATPase cycle and the alterations in these changes caused by R90P replacement in Tpm3.12, we used polarized fluorimetry. It was shown that the R90P mutation inhibits the ability of tropomyosin to shift towards the outer domains of actin, which is accompanied by the almost complete depression of troponin’s ability to switch actin monomers off and to reduce the amount of the myosin heads weakly bound to F-actin at a low Ca²⁺. These changes in the behavior of tropomyosin and the troponin–tropomyosin complex, as well as in the balance of strongly and weakly bound myosin heads in the ATPase cycle may underlie the occurrence of both abnormally high Ca²⁺-sensitivity and muscle weakness. BDM, an inhibitor of myosin ATPase activity, and W7, a troponin C antagonist, restore the ability of tropomyosin for Ca²⁺-dependent movement and the ability of the troponin–tropomyosin complex to switch actin monomers off, demonstrating a weakening of the damaging effect of the R90P mutation on muscle contractility.     

虾类原肌球蛋白提取和活性的保持

蛋白质分离纯化的主要目的是研究其结构和理化性质,因此在分离纯化过程中应尽量保持原有的结构和性质。本文主要综述了甲壳类动物的主要过敏原-原肌球蛋白(Tropomyosin,TM)的结构,以及影响其结构稳定性的因素。同时讨论了分离纯化的方法及条件对原肌球蛋白结构和过敏原活性的影响,为提取高纯度且保留原有结构和活性的原肌球蛋白提供参考。     

拟穴青蟹原肌球蛋白抗原表位适配体小肽的筛选与鉴定

目的筛选对拟穴青蟹过敏原原肌球蛋白(tropomyosin,TM)抗原表位具有特异性结合能力的适配体小肽,并鉴定适配体小肽对TM的免疫结合活性的抑制作用。方法采用ExPASy peptide cutter软件预测TM分子中胰蛋白酶酶切位点,结合TM线性表位设计反义小肽,经AutoDock 4.0软件模拟分子对接,筛选得到适配体小肽。采用抑制性ELISA的方法,检测筛选的适配体小肽对TM与特异性IgG抗体结合活性的抑制作用。结果 TM氨基酸序列中有25个胰蛋白酶酶切位点,设计TM的31条反义小肽,利用分子对接筛选得到12个适配体小肽。抑制性ELISA结果显示,12条适配体小肽均能明显抑制TM与IgG抗体的特异性结合,其中适配体小肽5抑制能力最强,其抑制率为36.2%。结论通过分子对接筛选得到能明显抑制TM免疫结合活性的适配体小肽,为降低TM致敏性的研究提供理论参考。     

The Orientations of Large Aspect‐Ratio Coiled‐Coil Proteins Attached to Gold Nanostructures

Methods for patterning biomolecules on a substrate at the single molecule level have been studied as a route to sensors with single‐molecular sensitivity or as a way to probe biological phenomena at the single‐molecule level. However, the arrangement and orientation of single biomolecules on substrates has been less investigated. Here, the arrangement and orientation of two rod‐like coiled‐coil proteins, cortexillin and tropomyosin, around patterned gold nanostructures is examined. The high aspect ratio of the coiled coils makes it possible to study their orientations and to pursue a strategy of protein orientation via two‐point attachment. The proteins are anchored to the surfaces using thiol groups, and the number of cysteine residues in tropomyosin is varied to test how this variation affects the structure and arrangement of the surface‐attached proteins. Molecular dynamics studies are used to interpret the observed positional distributions. Based on initial studies of protein attachment to gold post structures, two 31‐nm‐long tropomyosin molecules are aligned between the two sidewalls of a trench with a width of 68 nm. Because the approach presented in this study uses one of twenty natural amino acids, this method provides a convenient way to pattern biomolecules on substrates using standard chemistry.     

电子束辐照对中华管鞭虾原肌球蛋白免疫原性及其构象的影响

提取中华管鞭虾肉中的原肌球蛋白（tropomyosin,TM）,采用不同电子束辐照剂量（0、1、3、5、7、9?kGy）处理,分别用免疫印迹法和间接酶联免疫吸附测定法检测TM与免疫球蛋白G（immunoglobulin G,IgG）的结合能力,采用圆二色光谱和荧光光谱法检测TM二级结构及其表面疏水性,探究电子束辐照引发的TM结构变化与免疫原性的关系。结果显示：电子束辐照会降低TM的含量;随辐照剂量的增加,TM分子中的α-螺旋含量降低,β-折叠和无规卷曲含量增加,分子表面疏水性增强,同时TM与IgG的结合能力下降。电子束辐照处理能改变中华管鞭虾TM的构象,从而降低其免疫原性。本研究结果为应用电子束辐照降低中华管鞭虾肉的潜在致敏性提供理论依据。     

菲律宾蛤仔过敏原原肌球蛋白的鉴定与分子克隆

目的了解菲律宾蛤仔中过敏原的情况,对其主要过敏原进行鉴定和分子克隆。方法采用聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳和免疫印迹验证原肌球蛋白,双向电泳对蛋白等电点进一步确定。利用差示扫描量热法对蛋白的热性能测定以及蛋白克隆和测序来分析原肌球蛋白。结果菲律宾蛤仔原肌球蛋白的分子量在37 k Da左右,等电点为5.1,热稳定性较强。原肌球蛋白的基因序列全长为855 bp,编码284个氨基酸,对序列进行同源对比,相似性较高。结论本实验证实了原肌球蛋白为菲律宾蛤仔的过敏原,为认识菲律宾蛤仔过敏原提供基础数据。     

扇贝过敏原荧光免疫层析检测方法的构建与应用

目的 构建一种简便、快速、可降低非特异性荧光干扰的时间分辨免疫层析检测方法,实现快速检测扇贝中原肌球蛋白(tropomyosin,TM)过敏原。方法 本研究采用双抗体夹心免疫层析法,以含有铕(Eu)纳米微粒的荧光微球作为标签偶联兔抗TM多克隆抗体,制备荧光探针并对其进行表征。以4 mg/mL兔多克隆抗体作为T线,羊抗兔免疫球蛋白G (immunoglobulin g,IgG)作为C线组装免疫层析试纸条。结果 本研究组建的试纸条视觉检出限为0.05μg/mL,仪器检出限为0.01μg/mL。试纸条除对虾蟹有交叉反应外,对其他10余种物种无明显交叉反应。加标样品批内和批间变异系数分别为3.71%～7.94%和12.09%～12.80%,在不含TM的4种食物基质中加入浓度由低到高的TM,检测结果与实际加标情况相符。结论 本检测方法准确性良好、灵敏度高、特异性强,可在多种食物基质中实现对扇贝TM的快速检测。     

7,8-Dihydroxiflavone Protects Adult Rat Axotomized Retinal Ganglion Cells through MAPK/ERK and PI3K/AKT Activation

We analyze the 7,8-dihydroxyflavone (DHF)/TrkB signaling activation of two main intracellular pathways, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/ERK and phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/AKT, in the neuroprotection of axotomized retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Methods: Adult albino Sprague-Dawley rats received left intraorbital optic nerve transection (IONT) and were divided in two groups. One group received daily intraperitoneal DHF (5 mg/kg) and another vehicle (1%DMSO in 0.9%NaCl) from one day before IONT until processing. Additional intact rats were employed as control (n = 4). At 1, 3 or 7 days (d) after IONT, phosphorylated (p)AKT, p-MAPK, and non-phosphorylated AKT and MAPK expression levels were analyzed in the retina by Western blotting (n = 4/group). Radial sections were also immunodetected for the above-mentioned proteins, and for Brn3a and vimentin to identify RGCs and Müller cells (MCs), respectively (n = 3/group). Results: IONT induced increased levels of p-MAPK and MAPK at 3d in DHF- or vehicle-treated retinas and at 7d in DHF-treated retinas. IONT induced a fast decrease in AKT in retinas treated with DHF or vehicle, with higher levels of phosphorylation in DHF-treated retinas at 7d. In intact retinas and vehicle-treated groups, no p-MAPK or MAPK expression in RGCs was observed. In DHF- treated retinas p-MAPK and MAPK were expressed in the ganglion cell layer and in the RGC nuclei 3 and 7d after IONT. AKT was observed in intact and axotomized RGCs, but the signal intensity of p-AKT was stronger in DHF-treated retinas. Finally, MCs expressed higher quantities of both MAPK and AKT at 3d in both DHF- and vehicle-treated retinas, and at 7d the phosphorylation of p-MAPK was higher in DHF-treated groups. Conclusions: Phosphorylation and increased levels of AKT and MAPK through MCs and RGCs in retinas after DHF-treatment may be responsible for the increased and long-lasting RGC protection afforded by DHF after IONT.