Bovine Brain Diacylglycerol Lipase: Substrate Specificity and Activation by Cyclic AMP-dependent Protein Kinase

Diacylglycerol lipase (EC 3.1.1.3) was purified from bovine brain microsomes using multiple column chromatographic techniques. The purified enzyme migrates as a single band on SDS-PAGE and has an apparent molecular weight of 27 kDa. Substrate specificity experiments using mixed molecular species of 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycerols indicate that low concentrations of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ have no direct effect on enzymic activity and 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycerols are the preferred substrate over 1,3-diacyl-sn-glycerols. The enzyme hydrolyzes stearate in preference to palmitate from the sn-1 position of 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycerols. 1-O-Alkyl-2-acyl-sn-glycerols are not a substrate for the purified enzyme. The native enzyme had a V _max value of 616 nmol/min mg protein. Phosphorylation by cAMP-dependent protein kinase resulted in a threefold increase in catalytic throughput (V _max = 1,900 nmol/min mg protein). The substrate specificity and catalytic properties of the bovine brain diacylglycerol lipase suggest that diacylglycerol lipase may regulate protein kinase C activity and 2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycerol levels by rapidly altering the intracellular concentration of diacylglycerols.     

Functional classification of protein kinase binding sites using Cavbase

Increasingly, drug-discovery processes focus on complete gene families. Tools for analyzing similarities and differences across protein families are important for the understanding of key functional features of proteins. Herein we present a method for classifying protein families on the basis of the properties of their active sites. We have developed Cavbase, a method for describing and comparing protein binding pockets, and show its application to the functional classification of the binding pockets of the protein family of protein kinases. A diverse set of kinase cavities is mutually compared and analyzed in terms of recurring functional recognition patterns in the active sites. We are able to propose a relevant classification based on the binding motifs in the active sites. The obtained classification provides a novel perspective on functional properties across protein space. The classification of the MAP and the c-Abl kinases is analyzed in detail, showing a clear separation of the respective kinase subfamilies. Remarkable cross-relations among protein kinases are detected, in contrast to sequence-based classifications, which are not able to detect these relations. Furthermore, our classification is able to highlight features important in the optimization of protein kinase inhibitors. Using small-molecule inhibition data we could rationalize cross-reactivities between unrelated kinases which become apparent in the structural comparison of their binding sites. This procedure helps in the identification of other possible kinase targets that behave similarly in "binding pocket space" to the kinase under consideration.     

甲基化寡核苷酸灭活死亡相关蛋白激酶1基因对白血病K562细胞增殖的影响

目的 探讨互补甲基化寡核苷酸诱导灭活K562白血病细胞死亡相关蛋白激酶1基因(DAPK1)及对其增殖的影响.方法 应用Lipo2000将与DAPK1基因启动子序列互补的甲基化寡核苷酸转染进K562白血病细胞,分别应用甲基化特异性聚合酶链反应(MSP)和反转录PCR(RT-PCR)检测转染前后DAPK1基因启动子甲基化状态和mRNA表达改变.应用噻唑蓝(MTT)法检测转染前后细胞增殖变化.结果 正常组K562细胞的DAPK1基因启动子表现为未甲基化状态,可检测到相应mRNA表达;对照组寡核苷酸转染后,DAPK1基因启动子表现为未甲基化状态,mRNA表达和细胞增殖速度与正常组无明显差异;互补甲基化寡核苷酸转染后,DAPK1基因启动子呈甲基化状态,mRNA呈低表达状态,细胞增殖速度较正常组、甲基化对照寡核苷酸转染组显著增加.结论 互补甲基化寡核苷酸可诱导灭活K562白血病细胞DAPK1基因并抑制其mRNA表达,促进细胞增殖.     

Glucose signalling pathway controls the programmed ribosomal frameshift efficiency in retroviral-like element Ty3 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Ty3 elements of S. cerevisiae contain two overlapping coding regions, GAG3 and POL3, which are functional homologues of retroviral gag and pol genes, respectively. Pol3 is translated as a Gag3-Pol3 fusion protein dependent on a +1 programmed frameshift at a site with the overlap between the two genes. We show that the Ty3 frameshift frequency varies up to 10-fold in S. cerevisiae cells depending on carbon source. Frameshift efficiency is significantly lower in cells growing on glucose as carbon source than in cells growing on poor alternative carbon sources (glycerol/lactate or galactose). Our results indicate that Ty3 programmed ribosomal frameshift efficiency in response to glucose signalling requires two protein kinases: Snf1p and cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA). Increased frameshifting on alternative carbon sources also appears to require cytoplasmic localization of Snf1p, mediated by the Sip2p protein. In addition to the two required protein kinases, our results implicate that Stm1p, a ribosome-associated protein involved in nutrient sensing, is essential for the carbon source-dependent regulation of Ty3 frameshifting. These data indicate that Ty3 programmed ribosomal frameshift is not a constitutive process but that it is regulated in response to the glucose-signalling pathway.     

Hepatic steatosis by dietary-conjugated linoleic acid is accompanied by accumulation of diacylglycerol and increased membrane-associated protein kinase C ε in mice

Scope : Conjugated linoleic acid reduces weight gain and adipose mass while inducing liver enlargement, hepatic steatosis, and insulin resistance in mice. The objective of this study was to determine if hepatic steatosis induced by conjugated linoleic acid would predict for hepatic diacylglycerol accumulation, increased membrane‐associated protein kinase C ε, and hyperglycemia. Methods and results : Six‐wk‐old C57Bl/6 male mice were fed a high‐saturated fat diet for 3 wk and were then randomized to high‐saturated fat diet with or without conjugated linoleic acid (1.5% wt). Following a 6‐wk intervention, hepatic triacylglycerol, diacylglycerol, membrane‐associated protein kinase C ε, and gluconeogenic gene expression were determined. Fasting glucose was determined at baseline and at the end of the study. Conjugated linoleic acid increased hepatic triacylglycerol and diacylglycerol concentration in association with increased membrane‐associated protein kinase C ε. Diacylglycerol concentration proved to be a better predictor than triacylglycerol concentration for the change from baseline in fasting glucose concentration and final insulin concentration. The increase in diacylglycerol concentration was also associated with increased hepatic gluconeogenic gene expression in conjugated linoleic acid‐treated animals. Conclusion : Our data suggest that conjugated linoleic acid can initiate the pathophysiology responsible for hepatic insulin resistance. Additional studies are needed to determine if the accumulation of hepatic diacylglycerol by conjugated linoleic acid leads to hepatic insulin resistance.     

Combined 3D-QSAR and Docking Modelling Study on Indolocarbazole Series Compounds as Tie-2 Inhibitors

Tie-2, a kind of endothelial cell tyrosine kinase receptor, is required for embryonic blood vessel development and tumor angiogenesis. Several compounds that showed potent activity toward this attractive anticancer drug target in the assay have been reported. In order to investigate the structure-activity correlation of indolocarbazole series compounds and modify them to improve their selectivity and activity, 3D-QSAR models were built using CoMFA and CoMSIA methods and molecular docking was used to check the results. Based on the common sketch align, two good QSAR models with high predictabilities (CoMFA model: q(2) = 0.823, r(2) = 0.979; CoMSIA model: q(2) = 0.804, r(2) = 0.967) were obtained and the contour maps obtained from both models were applied to identify the influence on the biological activity. Molecular docking was then used to confirm the results. Combined with the molecular docking results, the detail binding mode between the ligands and Tie-2 was elucidated, which enabled us to interpret the structure-activity relationship. These satisf actory results not only offered help to comprehend the action mechanism of indolocarbazole series compounds, but also provide new information for the design of new potent inhibitors.     

凡德他尼重要中间体7-羟基-4-(4-溴-2-氟苯胺基)-6-甲氧基喹唑啉的合成

以4-羟基-3-甲氧基苯甲酸为起始原料,经过酯化、保护羟基、硝化、还原、环合、氯化、与4-溴-2-氟苯胺缩合、钯碳脱保护合成凡德他尼(Vandetanib)的重要中间体7-羟基-4-(4-溴-2-氟苯胺基)-6-甲氧基喹唑啉,总收率42.6%。     

熊果酸对血管内皮细胞增殖的影响及其机制

目的研究熊果酸(Ursolic acid,UA)对人脐静脉血管内皮细胞(Human umbilical vein endothelial cells,HUVECs)增殖及ERK1、c-Jun、c-Myc、Cyclin D1基因mRNA和蛋白表达的影响,探讨熊果酸抑制血管生长的机制。方法体外培养HU-VECs,用不同浓度熊果酸(31.5、62.5、125、250、500μg/ml)处理不同时间(12、24、48 h),MTT法检测细胞增殖抑制率。用125μg/ml熊果酸和100μmol/L PD98059(ERK抑制剂)处理HUVECs 48 h;不同浓度熊果酸处理24 h;125μg/ml熊果酸处理不同时间,RT-PCR和Western blot分别检测HUVECs中ERK1、c-Jun、c-Myc、Cyclin D1基因mRNA的转录水平和蛋白的表达水平。结果不同浓度的熊果酸对HUVECs的增殖均有明显的抑制作用,且呈剂量和时间依赖性;经熊果酸和PD98059处理的HUVECs中ERK1、c-Jun、c-Myc、Cyclin D1基因mRNA和蛋白的表达水平均明显降低,且呈剂量和时间依赖性。结论熊果酸可通过抑制ERK信号转导通路而抑制血管内皮细胞增殖。     

单纯疱疹病毒胸苷激酶基因联合更昔洛韦治疗肿瘤的机制

单纯疱疹病毒胸苷激酶基因(HSV-TK)与抗病毒药物更昔洛韦(GCV)组成的药物敏感基因疗法在肿瘤基因治疗领域中引人注目,它产生的旁观者效应在一定程度上弥补了基因载体转染率不高的问题,在肿瘤自杀基因疗法中发挥着重要的作用,现对HSV-TK/GCV治疗肿瘤机制及其应用趋势作一综述。