小分子细胞自噬诱导剂用于治疗神经退行性疾病

大量突变和错误折叠的蛋白质在细胞内聚集是神经退行性疾病产生的基础，研究发现一些小分子可以通过引起细胞自噬而降解细胞内聚集的突变蛋白，为治疗神经退行性疾病提供了新的方法，本文对神经退行性疾病的发病机理，细胞自噬的机理以及对神经退行性疾病的作用进行了综述。     

无序蛋白质在生物分子凝聚相形成与调控中的作用

生物分子凝聚形成生物体内的多种无膜细胞器,其独特的物理化学性质使其具有多样的生物学功能,包括感知外界环境的变化、调节蛋白在细胞内的浓度、调控信号转导途径以及选择性富集特定蛋白质和RNA等。同时,生物分子凝聚相的错误形成与调控会导致多种人类疾病,如神经退行性疾病、癌症和病毒性疾病等。无序蛋白质在生物分子凝聚相的形成和调控中发挥了重要作用。本文通过总结分析无序蛋白在生物分子凝聚相形成中的作用以及化学小分子对生物分子凝聚相的调控,探讨了通过靶向无序蛋白进行配体设计来获得调控生物分子凝聚相化学探针及药物的可能性,并展望了揭示无序蛋白及化学分子调控生物凝聚相机制应重点关注的问题。     

甲状腺结合前清蛋白的理论研究

甲状腺结合前清蛋白TTR是一种具有重要生理功能的蛋白质,它是约30种与淀粉样疾病相关的非同源蛋白中的一种。与TTR相关的淀粉样疾病主要有：家族淀粉化心肌疾病,家族淀粉化神经系统疾病,老年系统性淀粉样病变,以及中枢神经系统选择性淀粉化疾病等。这些疾病是由TTR四聚体解聚过程中错误折叠形成cross-β-sheet结构形态的淀粉样纤维所导致。本文介绍了TTR的生理功能及结构特征,并综述了到目前为止用分子动力学模拟、分子对接和定量构效关系等方法在研究TTR淀粉样机理及TTR和小分子相互作用过程中的计算化学研究成果,为基于TTR结构的TTR淀粉样抑制剂药物分子的设计和筛选提供有力参考。     

Tau蛋白的翻译后修饰与阿尔茨海默病

阿尔茨海默病（Alzheimer disease,AD）是一种常见的神经退行性疾病,由过度磷酸化Tau蛋白聚集形成的神经纤维缠结是该病主要的病理特征之一,Tau蛋白的异常磷酸化与Tau蛋白的聚集及AD的进程相关.越来越多的证据表明,Tau蛋白的异常聚集与Tau蛋白相关神经退行性疾病的发生和发展及Tau蛋白的其他翻译后修饰有一定的关系,如糖基化、乙酰化、截断、肽脯氨酸异构化、泛素化等.本文重点综述Tau蛋白翻译后修饰与AD相互关系的研究进展.     

翻译后修饰Tau蛋白及其化学全/半合成

Tau蛋白是一种微管相关蛋白,有6种亚型,由352~441氨基酸组成。Tau蛋白的错误折叠和聚集与Tau蛋白病(Tauopathies),如阿尔茨海默病(AD)密切相关。目前在临床患者样本中可检测到具有各种翻译后修饰的Tau蛋白,这些翻译后修饰可能是AD发病机制的关键因素。本文综述了Tau蛋白常见的翻译后修饰,尤其是退行性疾病相关的翻译后修饰,以及化学全/半合成制备具有特定位点修饰、均一的Tau蛋白的进展。通过回顾翻译后修饰Tau蛋白的研究,可以更深入理解翻译后修饰对Tau蛋白的生理和病理作用,阐明翻译后修饰的调控机制,为相关疾病诊疗研究打下基础。     

人类朊蛋白的动力学稳定性研究（英文）

朊蛋白病是一种能在人类或者动物之间传播的致命的神经退行性疾病.尤其是人类朊蛋白疾病在近几年蔓延迅速,已经威胁到人类的健康.在本文中,我们使用分子动力学(MD)和流体分子动力学(FMD)模拟相结合的方法研究了人类朊蛋白(hPrPc)的动力学稳定性.我们通过FMD模拟产生了两个典型的hPrPc的变性结构,并进一步研究了在自然状态下这两个变性结构重折叠的过程,从关键残基、二级结构、残基-残基相互作用图等方面详细讨论了hPrPc的解折叠和重折叠路径.研究发现hPrPc的三个α-螺旋结构组成了一个疏水核心,在蛋白质的解折叠和重折叠过程中发挥了重要的作用.刚性的疏水核心就像是脚手架一般为hPrPc的重折叠提供便利.在重折叠过程中,π-螺旋和310螺旋出现几率较高,并且β-折叠的延长也更多地出现在完全解折叠的hPrPc体系中.     

小热休克蛋白Mj HSP16.5对多肽纤维生长的抑制及对成熟纤维的解聚作用

包括老年痴呆症在内的许多疾病与蛋白质或多肽的淀粉样聚集(纤维化)有关. 由于这类疾病的机制尚不清楚, 因此还没有有效的预防和治疗手段. 研究各种因素如小热休克蛋白对蛋白质或多肽淀粉样聚集的影响对开发防治相关疾病的药物具有重要意义. 甲状腺素运载蛋白(TTR)及其突变体很容易形成淀粉样纤维, 并与多种疾病相关. Mj HSP16.5是一种来源于嗜热古细菌ethanococcus jannaschii的小热休克蛋白, 它在酸性条件下具有非常高的分子伴侣活性. 本文研究了Mj HSP16.5对WTTR肽(在N端添加了色氨酸的TTR 105-115片段, 序列为WYTIAALLSPYS)纤维化的影响, 发现Mj HSP16.5能够显著地抑制WTTR肽纤维的生长, 且在Mj HSP16.5存在下, WTTR肽形成的纤维比正常条件下形成的要显著细小. 尤其是Mj HSP16.5还可以使已经成熟的WTTR肽纤维解离. 结果表明, Mj HSP16.5抑制多肽纤维的机理可能在于其能够与多肽纤维及纤维种子结合.     

基于金属的神经退行性疾病治疗策略*

本文综述了金属离子在神经退行性疾病中的重要作用以及针对该类疾病金属治疗药物的研究进展。以老年痴呆症和帕金森氏症为代表,结合本课题组的初步研究结果,讨论了金属离子在蛋白质聚集与氧化应激反应中的重要作用,暗示金属螯合策略应成为治疗该类疾病的首选策略,并介绍了数种已用于或即将用于临床实验的金属螯合制剂;还介绍了烷基化神经退行性疾病相关蛋白的金属结合位点,可以显著抑制该蛋白质聚集体的形成和活性氧的产生,这可能是继螯合策略后一种更有发展潜力的神经退行性疾病治疗方法。     

姜黄素抑制金属离子诱导的丝素蛋白构象转变及其作用机理

以丝素蛋白(SF)为神经退行性疾病相关蛋白的模型蛋白, 分析了姜黄素(Curcumin)对Zn(Ⅱ)和Cu(Ⅱ)离子诱导的丝素蛋白构象转变的干预作用及其作用机理, 试图探讨姜黄素在神经退行性疾病中的预防与治疗作用. 结果表明, 姜黄素可通过与Cu(Ⅱ)和Zn(Ⅱ)离子络合, 干预金属离子诱导的丝素蛋白构象转变, 并且所形成的络合物Cu(Ⅱ)-Curcumin可抑制丝素蛋白的构象转变, 但是Zn(Ⅱ)-Curcumin络合物不具有这种能力. 因此, 基于姜黄素对于金属离子诱导的丝素蛋白构象转变具有良好的干预作用, 可以将姜黄素作为神经退行性疾病预防和治疗的潜在候选药物.     

硒蛋白R——一个独特的甲硫氨酸亚砜还原酶

硒蛋白是一类以硒代半胱氨酸为活性中心的蛋白质,利用硒氢基的强还原性,硒蛋白在生物体内发挥重要的抗氧化功能。目前发现,人类基因组中有25种硒蛋白的编码基因,其中硒蛋白R是唯一一个含有硒代半胱氨酸的甲硫氨酸亚砜还原酶,它位于细胞质及细胞核中,由于其空间结构和硒元素的强亲核性,硒蛋白R能特异性还原R型甲硫氨酸亚砜中被氧化的硫元素。硒蛋白R能够与肌动蛋白、瞬时电位通道蛋白及β-淀粉样蛋白等多种蛋白质相互作用,可能在中枢神经系统中具有重要的功能,并与神经退行性疾病的发生发展具有密切关系。     

Multivalent-Interaction-Driven Assembly of Discrete,Flexible, and Asymmetric Supramolecular Protein Nano-Prisms

Current approaches to design monodisperse protein assemblies require rigid, tight, and symmetric interactions between oligomeric protein units. Herein, we introduce a new multivalent-interaction-driven assembly strategy that allows flexible, spaced, and asymmetric assembly between protein oligomers. We discovered that two polygonal protein oligomers (ranging from triangle to hexagon) dominantly form a discrete and stable two-layered protein prism nanostructure via multivalent interactions between fused binding pairs. We demonstrated that protein nano-prisms with long flexible peptide linkers (over 80 amino acids) between protein oligomer layers could be discretely formed. Oligomers with different structures could also be monodispersely assembled into two-layered but asymmetric protein nano-prisms. Furthermore, producing higher-order architectures with multiple oligomer layers, for example, 3-layered nano-prisms or nanotubes, was also feasible.     

Detection of discriminative sequence motifs in proteins obtained from prokaryotes grown at various temperatures

Recent investigations on the stability of proteins have demonstrated various structural factors, but few have considered sequence factors such as protein motifs. These motifs represent highly conserved regions and describe critical regions that may only exist on proteins that remain functional at high temperatures. This investigation presents a method for identifying and comparing corresponding mesophilic and thermophilic sequence motifs between protein families. Discriminative motifs that are conserved only in the mesophilic or thermophilic subfamily are identified. Analysis of the results shows that, although the subfamilies of most protein families share similar motifs, some discriminative motifs are present in particular thermophilic/mesophilic subfamilies. The thermophilic discriminative motifs are conserved only in thermophilic organisms, revealing that physiochemical principles support thermostability.     

Chitin-binding antifungal protein from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ficus carica</Emphasis> latex

A low-molecular-weight protein with antifungal activity was isolated from freshly collected latex of the Inzhir tree (Ficus carica L.) by successive affinity chromatography over chitin, cation-exchange chromatography over SP-Sephadex C-50, and reversed-phase HPLC. The molecular weight of 6481 and the partial N-terminus sequence of the protein were determined (MALDI-TOFMS). __________ Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 2, pp. 171–173, March–April, 2008.     

An Off‐Pathway Folding Intermediate of an Acyl Carrier Protein Domain Coexists with the Folded and Unfolded States under Native Conditions

A protein can exist in multiple states under native conditions and those states with low populations are often critical to biological function and self‐assembly. To investigate the role of the minor states of an acyl carrier protein, NMR techniques were applied to determine the number of minor states and characterize their structures and kinetics. The acyl carrier protein from Micromonospora echinospora was found to exist in one major folded state (95.2 %), one unfolded state (4.1 %), and one intermediate state (0.7 %) under native conditions. The three states are in dynamic equilibrium and the intermediate state very likely adopts a native‐like structure and is an off‐pathway folding product. The intermediate state may mediate the formation of oligomers in vitro and play an important role in the recognition of partner enzymes in vivo.     

Substitution of an Internal Disulfide Bridge with a Diselenide Enhances both Foldability and Stability of Human Insulin

Insulin analogues, mainstays in the modern treatment of diabetes mellitus, exemplify the utility of protein engineering in molecular pharmacology. Whereas chemical syntheses of the individual A and B chains were accomplished in the early 1960s, their combination to form native insulin remains inefficient because of competing disulfide pairing and aggregation. To overcome these limitations, we envisioned an alternative approach: pairwise substitution of cysteine residues with selenocysteine (Sec, U). To this end, Cys^A6 and Cys^A11 (which form the internal intrachain A6–A11 disulfide bridge) were each replaced with Sec. The A chain[C6U, C11U] variant was prepared by solid-phase peptide synthesis; while sulfitolysis of biosynthetic human insulin provided wild-type B chain-di-S-sulfonate. The presence of selenium atoms at these sites markedly enhanced the rate and fidelity of chain combination, thus solving a long-standing challenge in chemical insulin synthesis. The affinity of the Se-insulin analogue for the lectin-purified insulin receptor was indistinguishable from that of WT-insulin. Remarkably, the thermodynamic stability of the analogue at 25 °C, as inferred from guanidine denaturation studies, was augmented (ΔΔG_u ≈0.8 kcal mol⁻¹). In accordance with such enhanced stability, reductive unfolding of the Se-insulin analogue and resistance to enzymatic cleavage by Glu-C protease occurred four times more slowly than that of WT-insulin. 2D-NMR and X-ray crystallographic studies demonstrated a native-like three-dimensional structure in which the diselenide bridge was accommodated in the hydrophobic core without steric clash.     

Cellular Synthesis and X‐ray Crystal Structure of a Designed Protein Heterocatenane

Herein, we report the biosynthesis of protein heterocatenanes using a programmed sequence of multiple post‐translational processing events including intramolecular chain entanglement, in situ backbone cleavage, and spontaneous cyclization. The approach is general, autonomous, and can obviate the need for any additional enzymes. The catenane topology was convincingly proven using a combination of SDS‐PAGE, LC‐MS, size exclusion chromatography, controlled proteolytic digestion, and protein crystallography. The X‐ray crystal structure clearly shows two mechanically interlocked protein rings with intact folded domains. It opens new avenues in the nascent field of protein‐topology engineering.     

Screening the molecular surface of human anticoagulant protein C: A search for interaction sites

Protein C (PC), a 62 kDa multi-modular zymogen, is activated to an anticoagulant serine protease (activated PC or APC) by thrombin bound to thrombomodulin on the surface of endothelial cells. PC/APC interacts with many proteins and the characterisation of these interactions is not trivial. However, molecular modelling methods help to study these complex biological processes and provide basis for rational experimental design and interpretation of the results. PC/APC consists of a Gla domain followed by two EGF modules and a serine protease domain. In this report, we present two structural models for full-length APC and two equivalent models for full-length PC, based on the X-ray structures of Gla-domainless APC and of known serine protease zymogens. The overall elongated shape of the models is further cross-validated using size exclusion chromatography which allows evaluation of the Stokes radius (r_s for PC = 33.15 Å r_s for APC = 34.19 Å), frictional ratio and axial ratio. We then propose potential binding sites at the surface of PC/APC using surface hydrophobicity as a determinant of the preferred sites of intermolecular recognition. Most of the predicted binding sites are consistent with previously reported experimental data, while some clusters highlight new regions that should be involved in protein-protein interactions.     

SpyTag/SpyCatcher Cyclization Confers Resilience to Boiling on a Mesophilic Enzyme

SpyTag is a peptide that spontaneously forms an amide bond with its protein partner SpyCatcher. SpyTag was fused at the N terminus of β‐lactamase and SpyCatcher at the C terminus so that the partners could react to lock together the termini of the enzyme. The wild‐type enzyme aggregates above 37 °C, with irreversible loss of activity. Cyclized β‐lactamase was soluble even after heating at 100 °C; after cooling, the catalytic activity was restored. SpyTag/SpyCatcher cyclization led to a much larger increase in stability than that achieved through point mutation or alternative approaches to cyclization. Cyclized dihydrofolate reductase was similarly resilient. Analyzing unfolding through calorimetry indicated that cyclization did not increase the unfolding temperature but rather facilitated refolding after thermal stress. SpyTag/SpyCatcher sandwiching represents a simple and efficient route to enzyme cyclization, with potential to greatly enhance the robustness of biocatalysts.