Bcl-2蛋白与Bcl-xL蛋白活性腔比较和底物选择性

Bcl-2蛋白与Bcl-x_L蛋白是Bcl-2蛋白家族抗凋亡亚家族最主要的两个成员, 是目前抗肿瘤药物研究很具前景的新靶点. 两者具有类似的结构和功能, 但在很多方面也存在差异, 如高表达的肿瘤谱有所不同; 与其他抗凋亡亚家族成员的结合具有一定的选择性; 在不同凋亡刺激下对细胞的保护作用也有较大差异等. 本文通过对两者的氨基酸序列联配和活性腔结构比较, 表面静电性质的计算和比较, 及对几类底物选择性的研究, 明确了它们活性腔特性的主要差异所在及对底物选择性的影响. 研究结果为理解Bcl-2蛋白与Bcl-x_L蛋白功能差异的分子机制及设计合成具有良好选择性的小分子抑制剂打下了坚实基础.     

Bcl-2蛋白结合底物时的诱导契合及高效抑制剂的柔性对接研究

Bcl-2蛋白是目前抗肿瘤药物研究很具前景的新靶点. Bcl-2蛋白与底物作用的活性腔生理情况下是蛋白与蛋白作用接触面大而平坦, 与底物结合时发生明显的诱导契合. 通过分析和比较Bcl-2蛋白和其高同源的Bcl-x_L蛋白的自由状态及与底物复合时的9个相关三维结构模型, 明确了蛋白及活性腔的骨架结构特征, 活性腔内的重要位点和关键残基, 及它们结合底物时发生的诱导契合. 基于以上认识, 采用柔性对接的方法得到了高亲和力的小分子抑制剂与Bcl-2蛋白的合理结合模式, 为以后设计合成新型高效Bcl-2蛋白抑制剂打下了坚实基础.     

负载金属催化剂Ir(γ-Al2O3)对阿维菌素选择加氢反应研究

分别采用氢气、NaBH₄、醇水混合溶剂还原, PVP(聚乙烯吡咯烷酮)保护和微乳液法制备了γ-Al₂O₃负载的Ir金属催化剂, 通过XPS、XRD、TEM对催化剂的结构进行了表征, 考察了催化剂对阿维菌素选择加氢制备伊维菌素的性能, 探讨了催化剂制备方法对催化剂活性和选择性的影响. 实验结果表明, 在不同金属催化剂Ru/γ-Al₂O₃、Pd/γ-Al₂O₃、Pt/γ-Al₂O₃、Ir/γ-Al₂O₃中, Ir/γ-Al₂O₃的活性和选择性最好. 用PVP保护的Ir/γ-Al₂O₃, 其催化活性和选择性比没有PVP保护的催化剂有显著提高; 采用微乳液法制备的Ir/γ-Al₂O₃催化剂显示出最好的活性, 但反应选择性比PVP保护的催化剂差.     

铕(III)对伴清蛋白溶液构象的影响

用TNS疏水探针研究了脱铁伴清蛋白(apoOTf)和不同形式的铕伴清蛋白(Eu_N-OTf, Eu₂-OTf)的表面疏水暴露程度, 依次为apoOTf＞Eu_N-OTf＞Eu₂-OTf, 表明Eu^3＋与脱铁伴清蛋白N端结合引起蛋白构象变化大, 与C端结合引起蛋白构象变化小. 此外, 由盐酸胍对3种蛋白变性实验, 发现Eu^3＋与脱铁伴清蛋白的结合稳定了蛋白的结构, 稳定性依次为apoOTf＜Eu_N-OTf＜Eu₂-OTf. 离子强度效应也充分表明3种蛋白内部疏水基团相互作用依apoOTf＜Eu_N-OTf＜Eu₂-OTf顺序增大, 稳定性也依次增大. 本研究对进一步探讨Eu^3＋的生物效应提供理论依据.     

Cr-Cu/SiO2催化剂上顺酐和1,4-丁二醇的耦合反应

研究了Cr-Cu/SiO₂催化剂上顺酐加氢反应和1,4-丁二醇脱氢反应耦合制备重要的精细化学品γ-丁内酯. 耦合反应显著提高了顺酐转化率和γ-丁内酯选择性. Cr修饰提高了催化剂的脱氢活性, 抑止了催化剂的过度加氢活性, 使1,4-丁二醇的转化率和γ-丁内酯选择性显著提高. Cr修饰量为w＝5%的Cr-Cu/SiO₂催化剂上耦合反应的原料转化率为100%, γ-丁内酯选择性达98.8%. XRD, XPS等研究表明, Cr修饰促进了催化剂上铜元素的分散, 氧化铬对氧化铜有给电子作用, Cr修饰的Cr-Cu/SiO₂催化剂还原后比Cu/SiO₂具有更多的Cu^＋, 这有利于催化剂脱氢活性和γ-丁内酯选择性的提高.      

新型长侧链双羧基功能单体N-(p-乙烯基苄基)-N,N-二[2-(3-羧基丙酰氧基)乙基]胺的合成及其对牛血清白蛋白印迹识别的应用

设计合成了一种新型功能单体N-(p-乙烯基苄基)-N,N-二[2-(3-羧基丙酰氧基)乙基]胺. 采用质子核磁共振、红外光谱及元素分析对单体分子的结构进行了表征, 利用荧光猝灭法和同步荧光法研究了单体与牛血清白蛋白的结合机理, 结果表明在pH 7.4离子强度为0.5 mol•L^－1条件下, 单体与牛血清白蛋白中的色氨酸残基形成稳定的复合物, 其结合比为2∶1, 表观结合常数K_A＝2.239×10¹¹ L²•mol^－2. 以该单体为功能单体, 牛血清白蛋白为模板分子, N,N'-亚甲基双丙烯酰胺为交联剂和多孔聚偏二氟乙烯膜为支持膜, 在水介质中制备了一个分子印迹聚合物复合膜. 渗透实验表明, 这个印迹复合膜对模板分子牛血清白蛋白的渗透量要远高于对照的人血清白蛋白和卵蛋白, 通过与非分子印迹膜对照也说明了此分子印迹复合膜对模板分子高的渗透选择性.     

吸附-微生物脱硫原位耦合工艺的吸附剂选择

吸附-生物原位耦合脱硫工艺是耦合了吸附脱硫的速率快和生物脱硫的选择性高的优点的新型油品脱硫工艺. 该耦合工艺通过在脱硫微生物表面组装脱硫吸附剂来实现. 比较了常用脱硫吸附剂γ-Al₂O₃、Na-Y分子筛和活性炭在与德氏假单胞杆菌R-8进行吸附-微生物催化原位耦合脱硫工艺中的应用效果. 其中, Na-Y分子筛抑制细胞的脱硫活性, 活性炭吸附了底物二苯并噻吩(DBT)之后难以解吸, 因此, 二者均不适用于耦合脱硫工艺. γ-Al₂O₃由于能够快速地从油相中吸附DBT, 然后将DBT解吸下来传递给R-8细菌进行生物降解, 加快了DBT的传质速率, 从而有效地提高了脱硫速率. 研究还发现纳米结构的γ-Al₂O₃与R-8耦合脱硫的效果优于普通尺寸的γ-Al₂O₃, 所以认为纳米γ-Al₂O₃是原位耦合脱硫较好的吸附剂选择.     

SbOx+SnO2中间层对Ti/MnO2电极性能的影响

采用热分解方法制备了含SbO_x+SnO₂中间层的钛基二氧化锰电极. 在0.5 mol·L^-1 H₂SO₄溶液中对添加和没有添加SbO_x+SnO₂中间层的二氧化锰阳极进行了加速电解试验. 采用极化曲线和循环伏安曲线测量电极的析氯反应. 用循环伏安曲线和电化学阻抗谱来分析电极电解过程中内部结构和表面的变化. 结果表明, 二氧化锰阳极钝化失效的主要原因是绝缘的TiO₂层的生成和变厚. 引入中间层可以降低钛基体和活性涂层间的电阻, 并且在电解过程中, 可以显著延缓接触电阻的升高, 从而可以显著提高其寿命.     

Rh(PPh3)3Cl/有机融盐催化烯烃硅氢加成反应

研究了Rh(PPh₃)₃Cl/二烷基咪唑六氟磷酸盐或烷基吡啶六氟磷酸盐催化三乙基氢硅烷与烯烃的硅氢加成反应. 实验结果表明, 二烷基咪唑六氟磷酸盐或烷基吡啶六氟磷酸盐的存在既有利于提高加成反应的转化率和β加成物的选择性, 又有利于反应结束后产物与催化剂的分离. C₁₆PyPF₆作为催化剂的载体, Rh(PPh₃)₃Cl催化苯乙烯与三乙基氢硅烷加成反应的转化率为95.7%, β加成物的选择性为87.8%, α加成物的选择性为0.001%, 脱氢加成产物的选择性为9.2%. 同时, 此催化剂重复使用7次以后仍具有较高的活性.     

M/(MgO)y(CeO2)1－y(M=Ni、Co、Cu)催化剂的催化甲烷燃烧性能

采用溶胶凝胶法制备了M/(MgO)_y(CeO2)_1－y(M=Ni、Co、Cu)催化剂. 研究了催化剂Ni/(MgO)y(CeO₂)_1－y催化活性与Ce含量的关系, 当y＝0.9时, 催化剂的活性和稳定性最好. 对比研究了(MgO)_0.9(CeO2)_0.1为载体, 负载Ni、Co、Cu活性组分的催化剂催化甲烷燃烧性能. 结果表明, 负载Cu的催化剂活性最好, 但二次评价后催化剂已烧结；负载Ni的催化剂活性与负载Cu的催化剂相差不大, 且稳定性最好, 经1000 ℃焙烧的Ni/(MgO)_0.9(CeO2)_0.1催化剂比表面仍有14.32 m₂•g^－1, 具有较高的催化活性和很好的热稳定性；负载Co的催化剂活性不如前两者, 稳定性居中, 但比表面降低得最少, 抗烧结能力强.     

Molecular dynamics study of peptide segments of the BH3 domain of the proapoptotic proteins Bak, Bax, Bid and Hrk bound to the Bcl-xL and Bcl-2 proteins

Overexpression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL proteins, both inhibitors of apoptosis or programmed cell death, is related to the generation and development of several types of cancer as well as to an elevated resistance to chemotherapeutic treatments. Given that synthetic peptide fragments of the BH3 domain are capable to bind to both proteins and induce apoptosis in cell-free systems and HeLa cells, small molecule non-peptide mimics of these peptides can be considered as a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of diseases associated to a deficient apoptosis or resistant to the treatments with chemotherapeutic drugs. This strategy is supported by experimental evidences about the death of transformed cells and sensibilization of tumoral cells by the inhibition of the antiapoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. In the current work, these proteins complexed with X(16BH3), where X designates the proapoptotic proteins Bak, Bax, Bid and Hrk, have been modeled in order to establish a pharmacophoric hypothesis that must be present in any ligand capable of binding with the antiapoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. The pharmacophore is also used to explain the structural features of a set of new small molecule inhibitors of these antiapoptotic proteins.     

Structural studies of apoptosis and ion transport regulatory proteins in membranes

Solid-state NMR spectroscopy is being used to determine the structures of membrane proteins involved in the regulation of apoptosis and ion transport. The Bcl-2 family includes pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins that play a major regulatory role in mitochondrion-dependent apoptosis or programmed cell death. The NMR data obtained for (15)N-labeled anti-apoptotic Bcl-xL in lipid bilayers are consistent with membrane association through insertion of the two central hydrophobic alpha-helices that are also required for channel formation and cytoprotective activity. The FXYD family proteins regulate ion flux across membranes, through interaction with the Na(+), K(+)-ATPase, in tissues that perform fluid and solute transport or that are electrically excitable. We have expressed and purified three FXYD family members, Mat8 (mammary tumor protein), CHIF (channel-inducing factor) and PLM (phospholemman), for structure determination by NMR in lipids. The solid-state NMR spectra of Bcl-2 and FXYD proteins, in uniaxially oriented lipid bilayers, give the first view of their membrane-associated architectures.     

NMR solution structure of a photoswitchable apoptosis activating Bak peptide bound to Bcl-xL

The Bcl-2 family of proteins includes the major regulators and effectors of the intrinsic apoptosis pathway. Cancers are frequently formed when activation of the apoptosis mechanism is compromised either by misregulated expression of prosurvival family members or, more frequently, by damage to the regulatory pathways that trigger intrinsic apoptosis. Short peptides derived from the pro-apoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family can activate mechanisms that ultimately lead to cell death. The recent development of photocontrolled peptides that are able to change their conformation and activity upon irradiation with an external light source has provided new tools to target cells for apoptosis induction with temporal and spatial control. Here, we report the first NMR solution structure of a photoswitchable peptide derived from the proapoptotic protein Bak in complex with the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-x(L). This structure provides insight into the molecular mechanism, by which the increased affinity of such photopeptides compared to their native forms is achieved, and offers a rationale for the large differences in the binding affinities between the helical and nonhelical states.     

Influence of Apoptin on Up-regulation of the Expression of Bad and Bax

The chicken anemia virus protein, apoptin, which manifests selectivity and specificity to tumor cells, induces a p53-independent and Bcl-2-insensitive type of apoptosis in various human tumor cells. In this study, the apoptin gene was cloned from the total DNA of chicken anemia virus, and the recombinant vector was constructed. We used oligonucleotide microarray to study the changes of four genes, including Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Bad and Bax. The post-transfection with the recombinant was also studied. The pro-apoptotic genes(Bad and Bax) and anti-apoptosis genes(Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL) were up-regulated in contrast to the controls. According to the published data, either Bcl-2 or Bcl-xL can form non-functional heterodimers by Bad and Bax binding together, resulting in blocking partly the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria. However, apoptosis could be inhibited by neither the endogenous Bcl-xL nor Bcl-2 over-expression. The experiments show that the apoptin-induced apoptotic pathway is related to the up-regulation of Bad and Bax. Bad was up-regulated by apoptin; then this up-regulated product of Bad was in favor of displacing Bax from binding to Bcl-xL or Bcl-2. Consequently. Bax exerted a pro-apoptotic dysfunction to mitochondria, thereby inducing the release of cytochrome c. Finally, apoptin induced the apoptosis of HHCC cells. These results indicate that the oligonucleotide microarray can reveal the genes related to the apoptosis induced by apoptin in HHCC cells.     

Probing Gallate-Mediated Selectivity and High-Affinity Binding of Epigallocatechin Gallate: a Way-Forward in the Design of Selective Inhibitors for Anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 Proteins

Selective inhibition is a key focus in the design of chemotherapeutic compounds that can abrogate the oncogenic activities of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins. Although recent efforts have led to the development of highly selective BH3 mimetics, setbacks such as toxicities have limited their use in cancer therapy. Epigallocatechingallate (EGCG) has been widely reported to selectively inhibit Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL compared to other green tea phenols due to its gallate group. Herein, we investigate the interaction dynamics of EGCG at the hydrophobic grooves of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL and the consequential effects on their BH4 domains. Arg143 and Asp108 (Bcl-2), and Glu96 and Tyr195 (Bcl-xL) formed high-affinity hydrogen interactions with the gallate group while non-gallate groups of EGCG formed weak interactions. EGCG-bound proteins showed systemic perturbations of BH4 domains coupled with the burial of crucial surface-exposed residues such as Lys17 (Bcl-2) and Asp11 (Bcl-xL); hence, a distortion of non-canonical domain interactions. Interactions of gallate group of EGCG with key hydrophobic groove residues underlie EGCG selectivity while concurrent BH4 domain perturbations potentiate EGCG inhibitory activities. Findings will aid the optimization and design of selective inhibitors that could suppress anti-apoptotic activities of Bcl2-family proteins with minimal toxicities.

     

Synthesis and biological evaluation of 5’-phenyl-3’H-spiro-[indoline-3,2’-[1,3,4]oxadiazol]-2-one analogs

A series of 5'-phenyl-3'H-spiro[indoline-3,2'-[1,3,4]thiadiazol]-2-one analogs were synthesized and their Bcl-2 protein inhibitory activities were studied. The lead compound was originally identified using a fluorescence polarization-based competitive binding assay. Among the 10 compounds investigated, 1k showed good binding affinities to Bcl-xL and Mcl-1, with inhibition constants of 8.9 mmol/L and 3.4 μmol/L, respectively. While compound 1c achieved tight binding affinities to Bcl-xL (Ki = 0.16 μmol/L), has the potential to be a new lead compound.     

(alpha/beta+alpha)-peptide antagonists of BH3 domain/Bcl-x(L) recognition: toward general strategies for foldamer-based inhibition of protein-protein interactions

The development of molecules that bind to specific protein surface sites and inhibit protein-protein interactions is a fundamental challenge in molecular recognition. New strategies for approaching this challenge could have important long-term ramifications in biology and medicine. We are exploring the concept that unnatural oligomers with well-defined conformations ("foldamers") can mimic protein secondary structural elements and thereby block specific protein-protein interactions. Here, we describe the identification and analysis of helical peptide-based foldamers that bind to a specific cleft on the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-xL by mimicking an alpha-helical BH3 domain. Initial studies, employing a fluorescence polarization (FP) competition assay, revealed that among several alpha/beta- and beta-peptide foldamer backbones only alpha/beta-peptides intended to adopt 14/15-helical secondary structure display significant binding to Bcl-xL. The most tightly binding Bcl-xL ligands are chimeric oligomers in which an N-terminal alpha/beta-peptide segment is fused to a C-terminal alpha-peptide segment ((alpha/beta + alpha)-peptides)). Sequence-affinity relationships were probed via standard and nonstandard techniques (alanine scanning and hydrophile scanning, respectively), and the results allowed us to construct a computational model of the ligand/Bcl-xL complex. Analytical ultracentrifugation with a high-affinity (alpha/beta + alpha)-peptide established 1:1 ligand:Bcl-xL stoichiometry under FP assay conditions. Binding selectivity studies with the most potent (alpha/beta + alpha)-peptide, conducted via surface plasmon resonance measurements, revealed that this ligand binds tightly to Bcl-w as well as to Bcl-xL, while binding to Bcl-2 is somewhat weaker. No binding could be detected with Mcl-1. We show that our most potent (alpha/beta + alpha)-peptide can induce cytochrome C release from mitochondria, an early step in apoptosis, in cell lysates, and that this activity is dependent upon inhibition of protein-protein interactions involving Bcl-xL.     

Computational investigation of 4,5-diphenyl-1H-pyrrole-3-carboxylic acid derivatives as B-cell lymphoma-extra large (Bcl-xL) inhibitors by using 3D-QSAR,molecular docking,and molecular dynamics simulations

Structural Chemistry - B-cell lymphoma-extra large (Bcl-xL) can inhibit apoptosis via heterodimerization with pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins, and is over-expressed in many different types of...     

Structure-based modeling of turnover of Bcl-2 family proteins bound to voltage-dependent anion channel 2 (VDAC2): Implications for the mechanisms of proapoptotic activation of Bak and Bax in vivo

Mitochondrial Outer Membrane (MOM) Permeabilization (MOMP) is a critical event in the mitochondrial types of apoptosis. MOMP is controled by the proteins of the Bcl-2 family and its two proapoptotic members Bak and Bax are the key effectors of MOMP. Voltage-dependent anion channel 2 (VDAC2) is an integral membrane protein that plays an important role in the regulation of Bak and Bax apoptotic function, but underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. In the present article, the mechanisms of MOMP regulation mediated by VDAC2 were explored using structure-based modeling. We show that Bak, prior to an apoptotic stimulus, possesses two low-energy conformations of high shape – and polar complementarity in respect to VDAC2, resulting in two high-affinity modes of Bak binding to VDAC2, one with Bak fully residing in the cytosol and the other with Bak α9 helix inserted into the membrane. Even higher binding affinity of VDAC2 for tBid (truncated Bid/p15) was established, suggesting the tBid-mediated displacement of Bak from the VDAC2/Bak complex resulting in the formation of the VDAC2/tBid complex. The structural analysis of the interaction of this complex with Bax revealed a very high binding affinity of this complex for Bax, suggesting the recruitment of Bax to the MOM by this complex under apoptotic conditions. Besides, we revealed one more low-energy structure of Bax of high binding affinity towards the VDAC2/tBid complex and with helix α9 inserted into the membrane.