抗冻蛋白抗冻机制的分子模拟研究

抗冻蛋白能使生物体在寒冷环境下生存,具有极大的潜在应用价值。近年来,人们对抗冻蛋白开展了广泛的研究,但其抗冻机理还未明确。本文阐述了抗冻蛋白的功能特性和结构特征,并从结构的角度对其抗冻机制方面的分子模拟研究成果进行了综述。另一方面,对目前已知晶体结构的29个野生型抗冻蛋白的结构特性进行了分析,发现在整个抗冻蛋白表面和在冰结合位点处都存在亲水残基与水形成氢键和疏水残基与类冰结构特异性结合的特点。然后,探讨了抗冻蛋白的二级结构、冰结合位点残基的疏水性与抗冻活性之间的关系。最后,从结构的角度讨论了抗冻蛋白的机制和影响抗冻活性的因素并简要总结了仿生抗冻材料设计和应用的研究进展。     

溶菌酶热变性的DSC研究

用差示扫描量热法研究了固体溶菌酶的热变性以及水溶液中不同变性剂与浓度对溶菌酶变性的影响. 结果表明, 溶剂水的存在及变性剂尿素和盐酸胍的加入使溶菌酶的变性温度降低, 变性焓减小; 同时, 在一定的浓度范围内, 溶菌酶的变性温度和变性焓随变性剂浓度的增大而降低. 盐酸胍的变性效果较尿素强, 这是由于盐酸胍与蛋白质分子间除了氢键作用外还存在着静电作用.     

两种昆虫抗冻蛋白抗冻活性差异的分子基础

云杉蚜虫(Choristoneura fumiferana)体内可产生一种抗冻蛋白(AFP), 能够保护其在寒冷的冬季安全越冬, 这类昆虫抗冻蛋白(简称 CfAFP)存在多种异构体, 其中CfAFP-501和CfAFP-337均呈现相似的左手β-螺旋结构. 实验测定, 相比CfAFP-337仅多出两个插入螺旋环的CfAFP-501的抗冻活性竟然是CfAFP-337的3倍左右. 蛋白异构体CfAFP-501显著增强的抗冻活性和它的插入环数不成比例, 当然也不能简单归因于两个插入环所导致的与冰晶作用部位及接触面积的增加. 为了探讨两种昆虫抗冻蛋白异构体抗冻活性差异的分子基础, 深入了解抗冻蛋白作用特点的普遍规律, 分别使用分子力学、分子动力学模拟和量子力学方法来系统研究蛋白及其切割体与冰晶结合的结构特征及相互作用. 结果表明, CfAFP-501中多数螺旋环比CfAFP-337具有更强的冰晶相互作用和破坏冰晶中水分子的成键的能力, 由于螺旋长度增加导致CfAFP-501中各b-螺旋环之间协同效应的增强, 是其具有显著增强的抗冻活性的主要来源. 这种协同作用对具有b-螺旋结构的抗冻蛋白起十分关键的作用和重要贡献.     

苏氨酸在昆虫抗冻蛋白抗冻活性中的作用

设计系列昆虫抗冻蛋白CfAFP突变体, 通过分子动力学模拟确定各突变体与冰晶的最佳作用模式, 并用半经验分子轨道方法AM1和PM3研究了其与冰晶的相互作用. 结果表明, TXT面上的苏氨酸在蛋白与冰晶相互识别和结合过程中十分关键, 对CfAFP与冰晶间相互作用的贡献大, 用其它疏水或亲水氨基酸残基替换都将削弱抗冻蛋白与冰晶的相互作用强度, 从而降低蛋白的抗冻活性. 但是, 在维系蛋白和冰晶结构匹配的基础上, 疏水基团的增加加强了抗冻蛋白与冰晶的结合, 从而增加蛋白的抗冻活性.     

调制式DSC在高聚物研究中的应用

综述了一种新的热分析技术－－调制式差示扫描量热示（Modulated Differentail Scanning Calorimetry）。对其工作原理，优点及在高聚物研究中的应用作了简介。     

水合醛缩酶热变性的DSC研究

本文采用差示扫描量热法(DSC),研究了水合醛缩酶在含水量h从0.08g/g至2.28g/g范围内的热变性行为。实验结果表明,当h=0.08g/g时,水合醛缩酶样品的温度扫描热谱图呈现了两个吸热峰,其中低温峰很小,高温峰很大。随着h的增大,低温峰变得更小,高温峰则出现了分峰现象。当h=0.22g/g时,低温峰消失,高温峰则分裂成了两个独立的吸热峰。随着h的继续增大,其中前峰的位置不断移向低温,直至h_0.65g/g时,才不再变化。后峰的位置则始终保持不变。当再进行第二次温度扫描时,前峰消失,而后峰却能再现。本文给出了两峰在不同含水量时的转变温度、转变焓和转变焓之和,以及它们与含水量的关系。最后,对上述诸峰的起因作了分析讨论,认为低温峰可能起因于水合醛缩酶结晶的熔化作用,前峰和后峰可能起因于醛缩酶中两种A亚基的热变性。     

冬小麦麸皮抗冻蛋白一级结构的研究

冬小麦麸皮抗冻蛋白(TaAFP)的一级结构是研究其高级结构和功能的基础.本研究结合N-末端测序技术和肽指纹图谱技术,测定TaAFP的一级结构,并对其同源性进行分析.MALDI-TOF-MS质谱分析显示TaAFP的分子量为13637.711 Da.使用Trypsin(胰蛋白酶)、Hydroxylamine(羟胺)和Chymotrypsin(胰凝乳蛋白酶)分别对TaAFP酶解,并对各个酶解片段的肽指纹图谱进行解析和连接,最终确定TaAFP的一级结构为MARKVIALAFLLLLTISLSKSNAARVKYNGGESGGGGGGGGGGGGGGNGSG-SGSGYGYNYGKGGGQSGGGQGGGGGGGGGGGSNGSGSGSGYGYGYGQGNGGAQGQGSGGGGGGGGGGGGGGSGQGSGSGYGYGYGKGGGGGGGGGGDGGGGGGGGSAYVGRHE,测定覆盖度达到了100%.序列比对分析以及同源性分析结果显示,TaAFP是一种与植物细胞壁和抵抗寒冷相关的蛋白质.     

含能材料HMX-RDX的热行为研究

采用差示扫描量热法研究了含能材料1,3,5,7-四硝基-1,3,5,7-四氮杂环辛烷-环三甲撑三硝胺(HMX-RDX)的热行为。结果表明,当m(HMX)∶m(RDX)=25∶75时HMX和RDX达到了共熔。随着RDX含量的增加,HMX-RDX的晶型转变温度有所升高,晶型转化的热焓逐渐减少,共熔热焓却随之增加,共熔温度基本保持不变。     

高灵敏度DSC技术的突破性进展

差示扫描量热技术(DSC)的发展已有半个世纪的历史.热流型DSC基于Boersma原理(1955年):仪器的热阻与样品无关,因此热流可以定量测定.功率补偿型DSC基于Watson和O'Neill在1963年提出的原理,测量输入到样品和参比之间的功率差.     

Differential Scanning Calorimetric and Circular Dichroistic Studies on Plant Antifreeze Proteins

Antifreeze protein (AFP) can lower the freezing point by inhibiting the growth of ice crystals. In this article, the thermal hysteresis activity (THA) of a plant AFP was measured with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). As is shown, when the amount of ice in the sample was less than 5% THA of this AFP reached as high as 0.35°C. The secondary structure of this AFP was studied with circular dichroism (CD). The CD spectrum from 195to 240 nm indicated a well-defined secondary structure consisting 11% α-helix, 34%antiparallel β-sheet and 55% random coil. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Thermodynamic Properties of Linear Protein Solutions: an Application to Type I Antifreeze Protein Solutions

A statistical thermodynamic theory of linear protein solutions was proposed with the aid of a lattice model and applied to type I antifreeze protein(AFPI) solutions. The numerical results for several AFPI solutions show that the Gibbs function of the solution has a minimum at a certain protein concentration, but the protein chemical potential increases with increasing the concentration. The influences of temperature and protein chain length on the AFPI chemical potential were also discussed. The evaluation for the colligative depression of the freezing point confirms that the antifreeze action should be recognized as non-colligative. The theoretical deduction for the concentration dependence of the thermal hysteresis activity coincides qualitatively with the previous experimental and theoretical results.     

Analysis of DSC Data Relating to Proteins Undergoing Irreversible Thermal Denaturation

New approaches to the analysis of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) data relating to proteins undergoing irreversible thermal denaturation have been demonstrated. The experimental approaches include obtaining a set of DSC curves at various scanning rates and protein concentrations, and also reheating experiments. The mathematical methods of analysis include construction of a linear anamorphosis and simultaneous fitting of a theoretical expression for the dependence of the excess heat capacity on temperature to a set of experimental DSC curves. Different kinetic models are discussed: the one-step irreversible model, the model including two consecutive irreversible steps, the Lumry and Eyring model with a fast equilibrating first step, and the whole kinetic Lumry and Eyring model. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

基于差示扫描量热技术的生物质热解两步连续反应模型研究

采用差示扫描量热分析仪对我国的一种生物质试样在空气气氛中进行了实验, 发现试样从常温到923 K高温的低速升温过程中, 经历了两步明显的放热过程. 对放热机理的分析表明, 第一步主要是由半纤维素和纤维素的有氧热解过程控制, 第二步放热过程则受木质素热解和炭的氧化反应的共同作用. 采用等转化率方法和优化计算方法, 对热解过程的动力学模型进行了研究, 结果表明, 两步连续反应机理可用于描述生物质在空气气氛中热解的放热动力学.     

Cerium-mediated Free Radicals in Contractile Proteins. EPR and DSC study

The effect of free radicals obtained in hydroxyl and cerium(IV)-nitrilotriacetic acid free radical generating systems on contractile proteins (actin, myosin and their complexes in glycerinated muscle fibres) was studied using differential scanning calorimetry and spin trapping electron paramagnetic resonance technique. The analysis of spectra showed that selective attack of thiol groups – Cys-257 and Cys-374 residues of actin, and among others Cys-707 residue of myosin – and random attack of sidechains of the main proteins of muscle tissue produced structural and functional changes, which affected the ATP hydrolysis cycle and very likely the dynamics of actin. The melting curves obtained on protein systems support the view that global conformational changes accompany the local damage of free radicals. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Interaction of Antifreeze Proteins with Hydrocarbon Hydrates

Recombinant antifreeze proteins (AFPs), representing a range of activities with respect to ice growth inhibition, were investigated for their abilities to control the crystal formation and growth of hydrocarbon hydrates. Three different AFPs were compared with two synthetic commercial inhibitors, poly‐N‐vinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and HIW85281, by using multiple approaches, which included gas uptake, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) temperature ramping, and DSC isothermal observations. A new method to assess the induction period before heterogeneous nucleation and subsequent hydrate crystal growth was developed and involved the dispersal of water in the pore space of silica gel beads. Although hydrate nucleation is a complex phenomenon, we have shown that it can now be carefully quantified. The presence of AFPs delayed crystallization events and showed hydrate growth inhibition that was superior to that of one of the benchmark commercial inhibitors, PVP. Nucleation and growth inhibition were shown to be independent processes, which indicates a difference in the mechanisms required for these two inhibitory actions. In addition, there was no apparent correlation between the assayed activities of the three AFPs toward hexagonal ice and the cubic structure II (sII) hydrate, which suggests that there are distinctive differences in the protein interactions with the two crystal surfaces.     

DSC Study of the Effects of High Pressure and Spray-Drying Treatment on Porcine Plasma

One use of blood generated in abattoirs is to obtain dehydrated plasma which can be used as a functional ingredient in the preparation of foods. High hydrostatic pressure is a new technique for improvement of the sanitary quality of food products or their ingredients. The changes caused in the proteins by treatment can affect their functional properties, and differential scanning calorimetry DSC was therefore applied to detect possible conformational changes in the plasma proteins. The DSC results in the present study show that spray-drying does not appreciably affect the protein structure, but high-pressure treatment seems to have a denaturing effect. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.