It has been almost 20 years since the first report of a WRKY transcription factor, SPF1, from sweet potato. Great progress has been made since then in establishing the diverse biological roles of WRKY transcription fa...It has been almost 20 years since the first report of a WRKY transcription factor, SPF1, from sweet potato. Great progress has been made since then in establishing the diverse biological roles of WRKY transcription factors in plant growth, development, and responses to biotic and abiotic stress. Despite the functional diversity, almost all ana-lyzed WRKY proteins recognize the TrGACC/T W-box sequences and, therefore, mechanisms other than mere recognition of the core W-box promoter elements are necessary to achieve the regulatory specificity of WRKY transcription factors. Research over the past several years has revealed that WRKY transcription factors physically interact with a wide range of proteins with roles in signaling, transcription, and chromatin remodeling. Studies of WRKY-interacting proteins have provided important insights into the regulation and mode of action of members of the important family of transcrip-tion factors. It has also emerged that the slightly varied WRKY domains and other protein motifs conserved within each of the seven WRKY subfamilies participate in protein-protein interactions and mediate complex functional interactions between WRKY proteins and between WRKY and other regulatory proteins in the modulation of important biologi- cal processes. In this review, we summarize studies of protein-protein interactions for WRKY transcription factors and discuss how the interacting partners contribute, at different levels, to the establishment of the complex regulatory and functional network of WRKY transcription factors.展开更多
The WD40 domain exhibits aβ-propeller architecture,often comprising seven blades.The WD40 domain is one of the most abundant domains and also among the top interacting domains in eukaryotic genomes.In this review,we ...The WD40 domain exhibits aβ-propeller architecture,often comprising seven blades.The WD40 domain is one of the most abundant domains and also among the top interacting domains in eukaryotic genomes.In this review,we will discuss the identification,definition and architecture of the WD40 domains.WD40 domain proteins are involved in a large variety of cellular processes,in which WD40 domains function as a protein-protein or protein-DNA interaction platform.WD40 domain mediates molecular recognition events mainly through the smaller top surface,but also through the bottom surface and sides.So far,no WD40 domain has been found to display enzymatic activity.We will also discuss the different binding modes exhibited by the large versatile family of WD40 domain proteins.In the last part of this review,we will discuss how post-translational modifications are recognized by WD40 domain proteins.展开更多
Ethylene insensitive 2 （EIN2）, an integral membrane protein of the ER network, has been identified as the central regulator of the ethylene signaling pathway. Still, the mechanism by which the ethylene signal is tra...Ethylene insensitive 2 （EIN2）, an integral membrane protein of the ER network, has been identified as the central regulator of the ethylene signaling pathway. Still, the mechanism by which the ethylene signal is transferred from the receptors to EIN2 has not been solved yet. Here, we show that protein phosphorylation is a key mechanism to control the interaction of EIN2 and the receptors. In vivo and in vitro fluorescence studies reveal that the kinase domain of the receptors is essential for the interaction. Cyanide, an ethylene agonist, which is known to reduce auto-phosphorylation of the ethylene receptor ethylene resistant 1 （ETR1） or a mutation in the kinase domain of ETR1 that prevents autophosphorylation （H353A）, increases the affinity of the receptors for EIN2. On the other hand, mimicking permanent auto-phosphorylation of ETR1 as in the mutant H353E releases the EiN2-ETR1 interaction from the control by the plant hormone. Based on our data, we propose a novel model on the integration of EIN2 in the ethylene signaling cascade.展开更多
In complex, constantly changing environments, plants have developed astonishing survival strategies. These elaborated strategies rely on rapid and precise gene regulation mediated by transcription factors （TFs）. TFs...In complex, constantly changing environments, plants have developed astonishing survival strategies. These elaborated strategies rely on rapid and precise gene regulation mediated by transcription factors （TFs）. TFs represent a large fraction of plant genomes and among them, MYBs and basic helix-loop-helix （bHLHs） have unique inherent properties specific to plants. Proteins of these two TF families can act as homo- or heterodimers, associate with proteins from other protein families, or form MYB/bHLH complexes to regulate distinct cellular processes. The ability of MYBs and bHLHs to interact with multiple protein part- ners has evolved to keep up with the increased metabolic complexity of multi-cellular organisms. Associ- ation and disassociation of dynamic TF complexes in response to developmental and environmental cues are controlled through a plethora of regulatory mechanisms specifically modulating TF activity. Regulation of TFs at the protein level is critical for efficient and precise control of their activity, and thus provides the mechanistic basis for a rapid on-and-off switch of TF activity. In this review, examples of post-translational modifications, protein-protein interactions, and subcellular mobilization of TFs are discussed with regard to the relevance of these regulatory mechanisms for the specific activation of MYBs and bHLHs in response to a given environmental stimulus.展开更多
In recent years,a large number of differentially expressed genes have been identified in human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell(hUMSC)transplants for the treatment of ischemic cerebral infarction.These genes are i...In recent years,a large number of differentially expressed genes have been identified in human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell(hUMSC)transplants for the treatment of ischemic cerebral infarction.These genes are involved in various biochemical processes,but the role of microRNAs(miRNAs)in this process is still unclear.From the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)database,we downloaded two microarray datasets for GSE78731(messenger RNA(mRNA)profile)and GSE97532(miRNA profile).The differentially expressed genes screened were compared between the hUMSC group and the middle cerebral artery occlusion group.Gene ontology enrichment and pathway enrichment analyses were subsequently conducted using the online Database for Annotation,Visualization,and Integrated Discovery.Identified genes were applied to perform weighted gene co-suppression analyses,to establish a weighted co-expression network model.Furthermore,the protein-protein interaction network for differentially expressed genes from turquoise modules was built using Cytoscape(version 3.40)and the most highly correlated subnetwork was extracted from the protein-protein interaction network using the MCODE plugin.The predicted target genes for differentially expressed miRNAs were also identified using the online database starBase v3.0.A total of 3698 differentially expressed genes were identified.Gene ontology analysis demonstrated that differentially expressed genes that are related to hUMSC treatment of ischemic cerebral infarction are involved in endocytosis and inflammatory responses.We identified 12 differentially expressed miRNAs in middle cerebral artery occlusion rats after hUMSC treatment,and these differentially expressed miRNAs were mainly involved in signaling in inflammatory pathways,such as in the regulation of neutrophil migration.In conclusion,we have identified a number of differentially expressed genes and differentially expressed mRNAs,miRNA-mRNAs,and signaling pathways involved in the hUMSC treatment of ischemic cerebral infarction.Bioinformatics and 展开更多
Rice tillering is one of the most important agronomic traits that determine grain yields.Our previous study has demonstrated that the MONOCULM1 （MOC1） gene is a key component that controls the formation of rice till...Rice tillering is one of the most important agronomic traits that determine grain yields.Our previous study has demonstrated that the MONOCULM1 （MOC1） gene is a key component that controls the formation of rice tiller buds.To further elucidate the molecular mechanism of MOC1 involved in the regulation of rice tillering,we performed a yeast-two-hybrid screening to identify MOC1 interacting proteins （MIPs）.Here we reported that MIP1 interacted with MOC1 both in vitro and in vivo.The overexpression of MIP1 resulted in enhanced tillering and reduced plant height.In-depth characterization of the context of MIP1 and MOC1 would further our understanding of molecular regulatory mechanisms of rice tillering.展开更多
An increasing body of evidence shows that the lipid droplet,a neutral lipid storage organelle,plays a role in lipid metabolism and energy homeostasis through its interaction with mitochondria.However,the cellular func...An increasing body of evidence shows that the lipid droplet,a neutral lipid storage organelle,plays a role in lipid metabolism and energy homeostasis through its interaction with mitochondria.However,the cellular functions and molecular mechanisms of the interaction remain ambiguous.Here we present data from transmission electron microscopy,fluorescence imaging,and reconstitution assays,demonstrating that lipid droplets physically contact mitochondria in vivo and in vitro.Using a bimolecular fluorescence complementation assay in Saccharomyces cerevisiae,we generated an interactomic map of protein-protein contacts of lipid droplets with mitochondria and peroxisomes.The lipid droplet proteins Erg6 and Pet10 were found to be involved in 75%of the interactions detected.Interestingly,interactions between 3 pairs of lipid metabolic enzymes were detected.Collectively,these data demonstrate that lipid droplets make physical contacts with mitochondria and peroxisomes,and reveal specific molecular interactions that suggest active participation of lipid droplets in lipid metabolism in yeast.展开更多
Detecting protein-protein interactions(PPIs) provides fundamental information for understanding biochemical processes such as the transduction of signals from one cellular location to another; however, traditional bio...Detecting protein-protein interactions(PPIs) provides fundamental information for understanding biochemical processes such as the transduction of signals from one cellular location to another; however, traditional biochemical techniques cannot provide sufficient spatio-temporal information to elucidate these molecular interactions in living cells. Over the past decade, several new techniques have enabled the identification and characterization of PPIs. In this review, we summarize three main techniques for detecting PPIs in vivo, focusing on their basic principles and applications in biological studies. We place a special emphasis on their advantages and limitations, and, in particular, we introduced some uncommon new techniques, such as single-molecule FRET(smFRET), FRET-fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy(FRET-FLIM), cytoskeleton-based assay for protein-protein interaction(CAPPI) and single-molecule protein proximity index(smPPI), highlighting recent improvements to the established techniques. We hope that this review will provide a valuable reference to enable researchers to select the most appropriate technique for detecting PPIs.展开更多
The influenza virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase is a heterotrimeric complex (PA, PB1 and PB2) with multiple enzymatic activities for catalyzing viral RNA transcription and replication. The roles of PB1 and PB2 have b...The influenza virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase is a heterotrimeric complex (PA, PB1 and PB2) with multiple enzymatic activities for catalyzing viral RNA transcription and replication. The roles of PB1 and PB2 have been clearly defined, but PA is less well understood. The critical role of the polymerase complex in the influenza virus life cycle and high sequence conservation suggest it should be a major target for therapeutic intervention. However, until very recently, functional studies and drug discovery targeting the influenza polymerase have been hampered by the lack of three-dimensional structural information. We will review the recent progress in the structure and function of the PA subunit of influenza polymerase, and discuss prospects for the development of anti-influenza therapeutics based on available structures.展开更多
Organization of proteins into complexes is crucial for many cellular functions. Recently, the SUT1 protein was shown to form homodimeric complexes, to be associated with lipid raft-like microdomains in yeast as well a...Organization of proteins into complexes is crucial for many cellular functions. Recently, the SUT1 protein was shown to form homodimeric complexes, to be associated with lipid raft-like microdomains in yeast as well as in plants and to undergo endocytosis in response to brefeldin A. We therefore aimed to identify SUTl-interacting proteins that might be involved in dimerization, endocytosis, or targeting of SUT1 to raft-like microdomains. Therefore, we identified potato membrane proteins, which are associated with the detergent-resistant membrane （DRM） fraction. Among the proteins identified, we clearly confirmed StSUT1 as part of DRM in potato source leaves. We used the yeast two-hybrid split ubiq- uitin system （SUS） to systematically screen for interaction between the sucrose transporter StSUT1 and other membrane- associated or soluble proteins in vivo. The SUS screen was followed by immunoprecipitation using affinity-purified StSUTl-specific peptide antibodies and mass spectrometric analysis of co-precipitated proteins. A large overlap was ob- served between the StSUTl-interacting proteins identified in the co-immunoprecipitation and the detergent-resistant membrane fraction. One of the SUTl-interacting proteins, a protein disulfide isomerase （PDI）, interacts also with other sucrose transporter proteins. A potential role of the PDI as escort protein is discussed.展开更多
The development of cancer is a pathological process involving multiple environmental carcinogenic factors and genetic alterations.For decades,cancer researchers have focused on genomic and transcriptomic analyses.The ...The development of cancer is a pathological process involving multiple environmental carcinogenic factors and genetic alterations.For decades,cancer researchers have focused on genomic and transcriptomic analyses.The completion of the Human Genome Project has opened the door to the post-genome era and oncoproteomics.Proteins play a critical role in tumorigenesis and influence the differences between normal cells and malignant cells.This report proposes the concept that cancer is a proteomic disease.This concept is based on examining protein expression profiles,post-translational modifications,and protein-protein interactions in carcinogenesis using recent advances in comparative,functional and structural proteomics.This approach provides a new way of viewing carcinogenesis,presents new clues in biomarker discovery for cancer diagnosis and therapy,and reveals important scientific findings and their significance to clinical applications.展开更多
The 90-kilo Dalton(kD) heat shock protein(Hsp90) is a ubiquitous,ATP-dependent molecular chaperone whose primary function is to ensure the proper folding of several hundred client protein substrates.Because many of th...The 90-kilo Dalton(kD) heat shock protein(Hsp90) is a ubiquitous,ATP-dependent molecular chaperone whose primary function is to ensure the proper folding of several hundred client protein substrates.Because many of these clients are overexpressed or become mutated during cancer progression,Hsp90 inhibition has been pursued as a potential strategy for cancer as one can target multiple oncoproteins and signaling pathways simultaneously.The first discovered Hsp90 inhibitors,geldanamycin and radicicol,function by competitively binding to Hsp90’s N-terminal binding site and inhibiting its ATPase activity.However,most of these N-terminal inhibitors exhibited detrimental activities during clinical evaluation due to induction of the pro-survival heat shock response as well as poor selectivity amongst the four isoforms.Consequently,alternative approaches to Hsp90 inhibition have been pursued and include C-terminal inhibition,isoform-selective inhibition,and the disruption of Hsp90 protein-protein interactions.Since the Hsp90 protein folding cycle requires the assembly of Hsp90 into a large heteroprotein complex,along with various co-chaperones and immunophilins,the development of small molecules that prevent assembly of the complex offers an alternative method of Hsp90 inhibition.展开更多
ALG-2(a gene product of PDCD6) is a 22-kD protein containing five serially repetitive EF-hand structures and belongs to the penta-EF-hand(PEF) family,including the subunits of typical calpains.ALG-2 is the most conser...ALG-2(a gene product of PDCD6) is a 22-kD protein containing five serially repetitive EF-hand structures and belongs to the penta-EF-hand(PEF) family,including the subunits of typical calpains.ALG-2 is the most conserved protein among the PEF family members and its homologs are widely found in eukaryotes.X-ray crystal structures of various PEF proteins including ALG-2 have common features:presence of eightα-helices and dimer formation via paired EF5s that are positioned in anti-parallel orientation.ALG-2 forms a homodimer and a heterodimer with its closest paralog peflin.Like calmodulin,a well-known four-EF-hand protein,ALG-2 interacts with various proteins in a Ca2+-dependent fashion,but the binding motifs are completely different.With some exceptions,ALG-2-interacting proteins commonly contain Pro-rich regions,and ALG-2 recognizes at least two distinct Pro-containing motifs:PPYP(X) nYP(X,variable;n=4 in ALIX and PLSCR3) and PXPGF(represented by Sec31A) .A shorter alternatively spliced isoform,lacking two residues and designated ALG-2 GF122,does not bind ALIX but maintains binding capacity to Sec31A.X-ray crystal structural analyses have revealed that binding of calcium ions induces the configuration of the side chain of R125 so that it opens Pocket 1,which accepts PPYP,but Pocket 1 remains closed in the case of ALG-2 GF122.ALG-2 dimer has two ligand-binding sites,each in a monomer molecule,and appears to function as a Ca2+-dependent adaptor protein to either stabilize a preformed complex or to bridge two proteins on scaffolds in systems of the endosomal sorting complex required for transport(ESCRT) and ER-to-Golgi transport.展开更多
BACKGROUND Studies show that the antifibrotic mechanism of taurine may involve its inhibition of the activation and proliferation of hepatic stellate cells(HSCs). Since the molecular mechanism of taurine-mediated anti...BACKGROUND Studies show that the antifibrotic mechanism of taurine may involve its inhibition of the activation and proliferation of hepatic stellate cells(HSCs). Since the molecular mechanism of taurine-mediated antifibrotic activity has not been fully unveiled and is little studied, it is imperative to use "omics" methods to systematically investigate the molecular mechanism by which taurine inhibits liver fibrosis.AIM To establish a network including transcriptomic and protein-protein interaction data to elucidate the molecular mechanism of taurine-induced HSC apoptosis.METHODS We used microarrays, bioinformatics, protein-protein interaction(PPI) network,and sub-modules to investigate taurine-induced changes in gene expression in human HSCs(LX-2). Subsequently, all of the differentially expressed genes(DEGs) were subjected to gene ontology function and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway enrichment analysis. Furthermore, the interactions of DEGs were explored in a human PPI network, and sub-modules of the DEGs interaction network were analyzed using Cytoscape software.RESULTS A total of 635 DEGs were identified in taurine-treated HSCs when compared with the controls. Of these, 304 genes were statistically significantly up-regulated, and 331 down-regulated. Most of these DEGs were mainly located on the membrane and extracellular region, and are involved in the biological processes of signal transduction, cell proliferation, positive regulation of extracellular regulated protein kinases 1(ERK1) and ERK2 cascade, extrinsic apoptotic signaling pathway and so on. Fifteen significantly enriched pathways with DEGs were identified, including mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK) signaling pathway, peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor signaling pathway,estrogen signaling pathway, Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation, cyclic adenosine monophosphate signaling pathway and so on. By integrating the transcriptomics and human PPI data, nine critical genes, including MMP2, MMP9, MMP21,TIMP3, KLF10, CX3CR1, TGF展开更多
Chemical synapses are asymmetric intercellular junc. tions through which neurons send nerve impulses to communicate with other neurons or excitable cells. The appropriate formation of synapses, both spatially and temp...Chemical synapses are asymmetric intercellular junc. tions through which neurons send nerve impulses to communicate with other neurons or excitable cells. The appropriate formation of synapses, both spatially and temporally, is essential for brain function and depends on the intercellular protein-protein interactions of cell adhesion molecules （CAMs） at synaptic clefts. The CAM proteins link pre- and post-synaptic sites, and play essential roles in promoting synapse formation and maturation, maintaining synapse number and type, accumulating neurotransmitter receptors and ion chan- nels, controlling neuronal differentiation, and even regulating synaptic plasticity directly. Alteration of the interactions of CAMs leads to structural and functional impairments, which results in many neurological disorders, such as autism, Alzheimer＇s disease and schizophrenia. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the functions of CAMs during development and in the mature neural system, as well as in the pathogenesis of some neurological disorders. Here, we review the function of the major classes of CAMs, and how dysfunction of CAMs relates to several neurological disorders.展开更多
Exosomes exhibit complex biological functions and mediate a variety of biological processes,such as promoting axonal regeneration and functional recove ry after injury.Long non-coding RNAs(IncRNAs)have been reported t...Exosomes exhibit complex biological functions and mediate a variety of biological processes,such as promoting axonal regeneration and functional recove ry after injury.Long non-coding RNAs(IncRNAs)have been reported to play a crucial role in axonal regeneration.Howeve r,the role of the IncRNA-microRNAmessenger RNA(mRNA)-competitive endogenous RNA(ceRNA)network in exosome-mediated axonal regeneration remains unclear.In this study,we performed RNA transcriptome sequencing analysis to assess mRNA expression patterns in exosomes produced by cultured fibroblasts(FC-EXOs)and Schwann cells(SCEXOs).Diffe rential gene expression analysis,Gene Ontology analysis,Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis,and protein-protein intera ction network analysis were used to explo re the functions and related pathways of RNAs isolated from FC-EXOs and SC-EXOs.We found that the ribosome-related central gene Rps5 was enriched in FC-EXOs and SC-EXOs,which suggests that it may promote axonal regeneration.In addition,using the miRWalk and Starbase prediction databases,we constructed a regulatory network of ceRNAs targeting Rps5,including 27 microRNAs and five IncRNAs.The ceRNA regulatory network,which included Ftx and Miat,revealed that exsosome-derived Rps5 inhibits scar formation and promotes axonal regeneration and functional recovery after nerve injury.Our findings suggest that exosomes derived from fibro blast and Schwann cells could be used to treat injuries of peripheral nervous system.展开更多
Objective To deduce all potential ligands undiscovered experimentally by searching all the proteins containing same C-termini, which can bind a certain PDZ domain. Methods We developed a JAVA program for searching sho...Objective To deduce all potential ligands undiscovered experimentally by searching all the proteins containing same C-termini, which can bind a certain PDZ domain. Methods We developed a JAVA program for searching short exact sequence matches at C-terminus. According to the known C-termini, which PDZ domains recognized experimentally, Swissprot database has been searched by this program for all potential ligands. Results Some PDZ domains may have more potential ligand proteins, which are undiscovered yet experimentally. These bioinformatic results also provide clues for studying functions of hypothetical proteins and PDZ domains’ protein interactions in many different organisms. Conclusion The results may provide useful clues for discovering potential functions of hypothetical proteins and new functions of known proteins.展开更多
Essential proteins are vital to the survival of a cell. There are various features related to the essentiality of proteins, such as biological and topological features. Many computational methods have been developed t...Essential proteins are vital to the survival of a cell. There are various features related to the essentiality of proteins, such as biological and topological features. Many computational methods have been developed to identify essential proteins by using these features. However, it is still a big challenge to design an effective method that is able to select suitable features and integrate them to predict essential proteins. In this work, we first collect 26 features, and use SVM-RFE to select some of them to create a feature space for predicting essential proteins, and then remove the features that share the biological meaning with other features in the feature space according to their Pearson Correlation Coefficients（PCC）. The experiments are carried out on S. cerevisiae data. Six features are determined as the best subset of features. To assess the prediction performance of our method, we further compare it with some machine learning methods, such as SVM, Naive Bayes, Bayes Network, and NBTree when inputting the different number of features. The results show that those methods using the 6 features outperform that using other features, which confirms the effectiveness of our feature selection method for essential protein prediction.展开更多
Plasmodium (P.) falciparum is a pathogen that causes severe forms of malaria. Protein interactions have been shown to occur between P. falciparum and human erythrocytes in human blood. The Band 3 Anion Transporter (B3...Plasmodium (P.) falciparum is a pathogen that causes severe forms of malaria. Protein interactions have been shown to occur between P. falciparum and human erythrocytes in human blood. The Band 3 Anion Transporter (B3AT) protein is considered the main invasive pathway for the parasite in erythrocytes that causes clinical symptoms for malaria in humans. The interactions between P. falciparum parasites and erythrocytes along this receptor have previously been explored. Short linear motifs (SLIMs) are short linear mediator sequences that involve several biological processes, acting as mediators of protein interactions identifiable by computational tools such as SLiMFinder. For a given protein, the identification of SLIMs allows predicting its interactors. Using the SLIMs approach, protein-protein interaction network analyses between P. falciparum and its human host, were used to identify a tryptophan-rich protein, A5K5E5_PLAVS as an essential interactor of B3AT. To better understand the interaction mechanism, a guided protein-protein docking approach based on SLIM motifs was performed for human B3AT and A5K5E5_PLAVS. The highlights of this important interaction between P. falciparum and its human host have the potential to pave the way to identify new therapeutic candidates.展开更多
Abstract The aggregation of amyloid β-protein （Aβ） is tightly linked to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer＇s disease. Previous studies have found that three peptide inhibitors （i.e., KLVFF, VVIA, and LPFFD） can inhi...Abstract The aggregation of amyloid β-protein （Aβ） is tightly linked to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer＇s disease. Previous studies have found that three peptide inhibitors （i.e., KLVFF, VVIA, and LPFFD） can inhibit Aβ aggregation and alleviate Aβ-induced neurotoxicity. How- ever, atomic details of binding modes and binding affinities between these peptide inhibitors and Aβ have not been revealed. Here, using molecular dynamics simulations and molecular mechanics Poisson Boltzmann surface area （MM/PBSA） analysis, we examined the effect of three peptide inhibitors （KLVFF, VVIA, and LPFFD） on their sequence-specific interactions with Aβ and the molecular basis of their inhibition. All inhibitors exhibit varied binding affinity to Aβ, in which KLVFF has the highest binding affinity, whereas LPFFD has the least. MM/PBSA analysis further revealed that different peptide inhibitors have different modes of interaction with Aβ, consequently hotspot binding residues, and underlying driving forces. Specific residue-based interactions between inhibitors and Aβ were determined and compared for illustrating different binding and inhibition mechanisms. This work provides structure-based binding information for further modifica- tion and optimization of these three peptide inhibitors to enhance their binding and inhibitory abilities against Aβ aggregation.展开更多
文摘It has been almost 20 years since the first report of a WRKY transcription factor, SPF1, from sweet potato. Great progress has been made since then in establishing the diverse biological roles of WRKY transcription factors in plant growth, development, and responses to biotic and abiotic stress. Despite the functional diversity, almost all ana-lyzed WRKY proteins recognize the TrGACC/T W-box sequences and, therefore, mechanisms other than mere recognition of the core W-box promoter elements are necessary to achieve the regulatory specificity of WRKY transcription factors. Research over the past several years has revealed that WRKY transcription factors physically interact with a wide range of proteins with roles in signaling, transcription, and chromatin remodeling. Studies of WRKY-interacting proteins have provided important insights into the regulation and mode of action of members of the important family of transcrip-tion factors. It has also emerged that the slightly varied WRKY domains and other protein motifs conserved within each of the seven WRKY subfamilies participate in protein-protein interactions and mediate complex functional interactions between WRKY proteins and between WRKY and other regulatory proteins in the modulation of important biologi- cal processes. In this review, we summarize studies of protein-protein interactions for WRKY transcription factors and discuss how the interacting partners contribute, at different levels, to the establishment of the complex regulatory and functional network of WRKY transcription factors.
基金This research was supported by the Structural Genomics Consortium,a registered charity(No.1097737)that receives funds fromthe Canadian Institutes for Health Research,the Canadian Foundation for Innovation,Genome Canada through the Ontario GenomicsInstitute,Glaxo Smith Kline,Karolinska Institutet,the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation,the Ontario lnnovation Trust,the Ontario Ministry for Research and Innovation,Merck&Co.,Inc.,the Novartis Research Foundation,the Swedish Agency for Innovation Systems,the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research and the Wellcome Trust.
文摘The WD40 domain exhibits aβ-propeller architecture,often comprising seven blades.The WD40 domain is one of the most abundant domains and also among the top interacting domains in eukaryotic genomes.In this review,we will discuss the identification,definition and architecture of the WD40 domains.WD40 domain proteins are involved in a large variety of cellular processes,in which WD40 domains function as a protein-protein or protein-DNA interaction platform.WD40 domain mediates molecular recognition events mainly through the smaller top surface,but also through the bottom surface and sides.So far,no WD40 domain has been found to display enzymatic activity.We will also discuss the different binding modes exhibited by the large versatile family of WD40 domain proteins.In the last part of this review,we will discuss how post-translational modifications are recognized by WD40 domain proteins.
文摘Ethylene insensitive 2 （EIN2）, an integral membrane protein of the ER network, has been identified as the central regulator of the ethylene signaling pathway. Still, the mechanism by which the ethylene signal is transferred from the receptors to EIN2 has not been solved yet. Here, we show that protein phosphorylation is a key mechanism to control the interaction of EIN2 and the receptors. In vivo and in vitro fluorescence studies reveal that the kinase domain of the receptors is essential for the interaction. Cyanide, an ethylene agonist, which is known to reduce auto-phosphorylation of the ethylene receptor ethylene resistant 1 （ETR1） or a mutation in the kinase domain of ETR1 that prevents autophosphorylation （H353A）, increases the affinity of the receptors for EIN2. On the other hand, mimicking permanent auto-phosphorylation of ETR1 as in the mutant H353E releases the EiN2-ETR1 interaction from the control by the plant hormone. Based on our data, we propose a novel model on the integration of EIN2 in the ethylene signaling cascade.
文摘In complex, constantly changing environments, plants have developed astonishing survival strategies. These elaborated strategies rely on rapid and precise gene regulation mediated by transcription factors （TFs）. TFs represent a large fraction of plant genomes and among them, MYBs and basic helix-loop-helix （bHLHs） have unique inherent properties specific to plants. Proteins of these two TF families can act as homo- or heterodimers, associate with proteins from other protein families, or form MYB/bHLH complexes to regulate distinct cellular processes. The ability of MYBs and bHLHs to interact with multiple protein part- ners has evolved to keep up with the increased metabolic complexity of multi-cellular organisms. Associ- ation and disassociation of dynamic TF complexes in response to developmental and environmental cues are controlled through a plethora of regulatory mechanisms specifically modulating TF activity. Regulation of TFs at the protein level is critical for efficient and precise control of their activity, and thus provides the mechanistic basis for a rapid on-and-off switch of TF activity. In this review, examples of post-translational modifications, protein-protein interactions, and subcellular mobilization of TFs are discussed with regard to the relevance of these regulatory mechanisms for the specific activation of MYBs and bHLHs in response to a given environmental stimulus.
基金supported by the National Key Research&Development Program of China,No.2016YFC1301600Program for Jilin University Science and Technology Innovation Team,No.2017TD-12(both to YY)
文摘In recent years,a large number of differentially expressed genes have been identified in human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell(hUMSC)transplants for the treatment of ischemic cerebral infarction.These genes are involved in various biochemical processes,but the role of microRNAs(miRNAs)in this process is still unclear.From the Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO)database,we downloaded two microarray datasets for GSE78731(messenger RNA(mRNA)profile)and GSE97532(miRNA profile).The differentially expressed genes screened were compared between the hUMSC group and the middle cerebral artery occlusion group.Gene ontology enrichment and pathway enrichment analyses were subsequently conducted using the online Database for Annotation,Visualization,and Integrated Discovery.Identified genes were applied to perform weighted gene co-suppression analyses,to establish a weighted co-expression network model.Furthermore,the protein-protein interaction network for differentially expressed genes from turquoise modules was built using Cytoscape(version 3.40)and the most highly correlated subnetwork was extracted from the protein-protein interaction network using the MCODE plugin.The predicted target genes for differentially expressed miRNAs were also identified using the online database starBase v3.0.A total of 3698 differentially expressed genes were identified.Gene ontology analysis demonstrated that differentially expressed genes that are related to hUMSC treatment of ischemic cerebral infarction are involved in endocytosis and inflammatory responses.We identified 12 differentially expressed miRNAs in middle cerebral artery occlusion rats after hUMSC treatment,and these differentially expressed miRNAs were mainly involved in signaling in inflammatory pathways,such as in the regulation of neutrophil migration.In conclusion,we have identified a number of differentially expressed genes and differentially expressed mRNAs,miRNA-mRNAs,and signaling pathways involved in the hUMSC treatment of ischemic cerebral infarction.Bioinformatics and
基金supported by the grant from the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (No. 2005CB1208)
文摘Rice tillering is one of the most important agronomic traits that determine grain yields.Our previous study has demonstrated that the MONOCULM1 （MOC1） gene is a key component that controls the formation of rice tiller buds.To further elucidate the molecular mechanism of MOC1 involved in the regulation of rice tillering,we performed a yeast-two-hybrid screening to identify MOC1 interacting proteins （MIPs）.Here we reported that MIP1 interacted with MOC1 both in vitro and in vivo.The overexpression of MIP1 resulted in enhanced tillering and reduced plant height.In-depth characterization of the context of MIP1 and MOC1 would further our understanding of molecular regulatory mechanisms of rice tillering.
基金supported by grants from the National Basic Research Program of China(Grant Nos.2009CB919000 and 2010CB833703)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.30871229 and 30971431)the 21C Frontier Functional Proteomics Project(FPR08A1-060)funded by the Ministry of Education,Science and Technology,Republic of Korea.
文摘An increasing body of evidence shows that the lipid droplet,a neutral lipid storage organelle,plays a role in lipid metabolism and energy homeostasis through its interaction with mitochondria.However,the cellular functions and molecular mechanisms of the interaction remain ambiguous.Here we present data from transmission electron microscopy,fluorescence imaging,and reconstitution assays,demonstrating that lipid droplets physically contact mitochondria in vivo and in vitro.Using a bimolecular fluorescence complementation assay in Saccharomyces cerevisiae,we generated an interactomic map of protein-protein contacts of lipid droplets with mitochondria and peroxisomes.The lipid droplet proteins Erg6 and Pet10 were found to be involved in 75%of the interactions detected.Interestingly,interactions between 3 pairs of lipid metabolic enzymes were detected.Collectively,these data demonstrate that lipid droplets make physical contacts with mitochondria and peroxisomes,and reveal specific molecular interactions that suggest active participation of lipid droplets in lipid metabolism in yeast.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31530084,31761133009)the Programme of Introducing Talents of Discipline to Universities(111 project,B13007)
文摘Detecting protein-protein interactions(PPIs) provides fundamental information for understanding biochemical processes such as the transduction of signals from one cellular location to another; however, traditional biochemical techniques cannot provide sufficient spatio-temporal information to elucidate these molecular interactions in living cells. Over the past decade, several new techniques have enabled the identification and characterization of PPIs. In this review, we summarize three main techniques for detecting PPIs in vivo, focusing on their basic principles and applications in biological studies. We place a special emphasis on their advantages and limitations, and, in particular, we introduced some uncommon new techniques, such as single-molecule FRET(smFRET), FRET-fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy(FRET-FLIM), cytoskeleton-based assay for protein-protein interaction(CAPPI) and single-molecule protein proximity index(smPPI), highlighting recent improvements to the established techniques. We hope that this review will provide a valuable reference to enable researchers to select the most appropriate technique for detecting PPIs.
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 30599432)National Key Basic Research Program of China (Grant Nos. 2006 CB10901, 2006CB806503, 2007CB914301, 2006AA02A300 and 2007CB914304)
文摘The influenza virus RNA-dependent RNA polymerase is a heterotrimeric complex (PA, PB1 and PB2) with multiple enzymatic activities for catalyzing viral RNA transcription and replication. The roles of PB1 and PB2 have been clearly defined, but PA is less well understood. The critical role of the polymerase complex in the influenza virus life cycle and high sequence conservation suggest it should be a major target for therapeutic intervention. However, until very recently, functional studies and drug discovery targeting the influenza polymerase have been hampered by the lack of three-dimensional structural information. We will review the recent progress in the structure and function of the PA subunit of influenza polymerase, and discuss prospects for the development of anti-influenza therapeutics based on available structures.
文摘Organization of proteins into complexes is crucial for many cellular functions. Recently, the SUT1 protein was shown to form homodimeric complexes, to be associated with lipid raft-like microdomains in yeast as well as in plants and to undergo endocytosis in response to brefeldin A. We therefore aimed to identify SUTl-interacting proteins that might be involved in dimerization, endocytosis, or targeting of SUT1 to raft-like microdomains. Therefore, we identified potato membrane proteins, which are associated with the detergent-resistant membrane （DRM） fraction. Among the proteins identified, we clearly confirmed StSUT1 as part of DRM in potato source leaves. We used the yeast two-hybrid split ubiq- uitin system （SUS） to systematically screen for interaction between the sucrose transporter StSUT1 and other membrane- associated or soluble proteins in vivo. The SUS screen was followed by immunoprecipitation using affinity-purified StSUTl-specific peptide antibodies and mass spectrometric analysis of co-precipitated proteins. A large overlap was ob- served between the StSUTl-interacting proteins identified in the co-immunoprecipitation and the detergent-resistant membrane fraction. One of the SUTl-interacting proteins, a protein disulfide isomerase （PDI）, interacts also with other sucrose transporter proteins. A potential role of the PDI as escort protein is discussed.
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant Nos.2001CB510207 and 2011CB910704)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos.30800419,30973289 and 30972970)+1 种基金Science and Technology Foundation of Hengyang (Grant No.2010kj10)grants for Outstanding Scholars of New Era from Ministry of Education of China (Grant No.NCET-07-0861)
文摘The development of cancer is a pathological process involving multiple environmental carcinogenic factors and genetic alterations.For decades,cancer researchers have focused on genomic and transcriptomic analyses.The completion of the Human Genome Project has opened the door to the post-genome era and oncoproteomics.Proteins play a critical role in tumorigenesis and influence the differences between normal cells and malignant cells.This report proposes the concept that cancer is a proteomic disease.This concept is based on examining protein expression profiles,post-translational modifications,and protein-protein interactions in carcinogenesis using recent advances in comparative,functional and structural proteomics.This approach provides a new way of viewing carcinogenesis,presents new clues in biomarker discovery for cancer diagnosis and therapy,and reveals important scientific findings and their significance to clinical applications.
基金Financial support comes from the National Institutes of Health (CA213566, USA)。
文摘The 90-kilo Dalton(kD) heat shock protein(Hsp90) is a ubiquitous,ATP-dependent molecular chaperone whose primary function is to ensure the proper folding of several hundred client protein substrates.Because many of these clients are overexpressed or become mutated during cancer progression,Hsp90 inhibition has been pursued as a potential strategy for cancer as one can target multiple oncoproteins and signaling pathways simultaneously.The first discovered Hsp90 inhibitors,geldanamycin and radicicol,function by competitively binding to Hsp90’s N-terminal binding site and inhibiting its ATPase activity.However,most of these N-terminal inhibitors exhibited detrimental activities during clinical evaluation due to induction of the pro-survival heat shock response as well as poor selectivity amongst the four isoforms.Consequently,alternative approaches to Hsp90 inhibition have been pursued and include C-terminal inhibition,isoform-selective inhibition,and the disruption of Hsp90 protein-protein interactions.Since the Hsp90 protein folding cycle requires the assembly of Hsp90 into a large heteroprotein complex,along with various co-chaperones and immunophilins,the development of small molecules that prevent assembly of the complex offers an alternative method of Hsp90 inhibition.
文摘ALG-2(a gene product of PDCD6) is a 22-kD protein containing five serially repetitive EF-hand structures and belongs to the penta-EF-hand(PEF) family,including the subunits of typical calpains.ALG-2 is the most conserved protein among the PEF family members and its homologs are widely found in eukaryotes.X-ray crystal structures of various PEF proteins including ALG-2 have common features:presence of eightα-helices and dimer formation via paired EF5s that are positioned in anti-parallel orientation.ALG-2 forms a homodimer and a heterodimer with its closest paralog peflin.Like calmodulin,a well-known four-EF-hand protein,ALG-2 interacts with various proteins in a Ca2+-dependent fashion,but the binding motifs are completely different.With some exceptions,ALG-2-interacting proteins commonly contain Pro-rich regions,and ALG-2 recognizes at least two distinct Pro-containing motifs:PPYP(X) nYP(X,variable;n=4 in ALIX and PLSCR3) and PXPGF(represented by Sec31A) .A shorter alternatively spliced isoform,lacking two residues and designated ALG-2 GF122,does not bind ALIX but maintains binding capacity to Sec31A.X-ray crystal structural analyses have revealed that binding of calcium ions induces the configuration of the side chain of R125 so that it opens Pocket 1,which accepts PPYP,but Pocket 1 remains closed in the case of ALG-2 GF122.ALG-2 dimer has two ligand-binding sites,each in a monomer molecule,and appears to function as a Ca2+-dependent adaptor protein to either stabilize a preformed complex or to bridge two proteins on scaffolds in systems of the endosomal sorting complex required for transport(ESCRT) and ER-to-Golgi transport.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81360595 and No.81860790Guangxi Natural Science Foundation Program,No.KJT13066+2 种基金the Bagui Scholars Foundation Program of Guangxithe Special-term Experts Foundation Program of Guangxithe Project of Guangxi Young Teacher Fundamental Ability Promotion,No.2017KY0298
文摘BACKGROUND Studies show that the antifibrotic mechanism of taurine may involve its inhibition of the activation and proliferation of hepatic stellate cells(HSCs). Since the molecular mechanism of taurine-mediated antifibrotic activity has not been fully unveiled and is little studied, it is imperative to use "omics" methods to systematically investigate the molecular mechanism by which taurine inhibits liver fibrosis.AIM To establish a network including transcriptomic and protein-protein interaction data to elucidate the molecular mechanism of taurine-induced HSC apoptosis.METHODS We used microarrays, bioinformatics, protein-protein interaction(PPI) network,and sub-modules to investigate taurine-induced changes in gene expression in human HSCs(LX-2). Subsequently, all of the differentially expressed genes(DEGs) were subjected to gene ontology function and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway enrichment analysis. Furthermore, the interactions of DEGs were explored in a human PPI network, and sub-modules of the DEGs interaction network were analyzed using Cytoscape software.RESULTS A total of 635 DEGs were identified in taurine-treated HSCs when compared with the controls. Of these, 304 genes were statistically significantly up-regulated, and 331 down-regulated. Most of these DEGs were mainly located on the membrane and extracellular region, and are involved in the biological processes of signal transduction, cell proliferation, positive regulation of extracellular regulated protein kinases 1(ERK1) and ERK2 cascade, extrinsic apoptotic signaling pathway and so on. Fifteen significantly enriched pathways with DEGs were identified, including mitogen-activated protein kinase(MAPK) signaling pathway, peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor signaling pathway,estrogen signaling pathway, Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation, cyclic adenosine monophosphate signaling pathway and so on. By integrating the transcriptomics and human PPI data, nine critical genes, including MMP2, MMP9, MMP21,TIMP3, KLF10, CX3CR1, TGF
文摘Chemical synapses are asymmetric intercellular junc. tions through which neurons send nerve impulses to communicate with other neurons or excitable cells. The appropriate formation of synapses, both spatially and temporally, is essential for brain function and depends on the intercellular protein-protein interactions of cell adhesion molecules （CAMs） at synaptic clefts. The CAM proteins link pre- and post-synaptic sites, and play essential roles in promoting synapse formation and maturation, maintaining synapse number and type, accumulating neurotransmitter receptors and ion chan- nels, controlling neuronal differentiation, and even regulating synaptic plasticity directly. Alteration of the interactions of CAMs leads to structural and functional impairments, which results in many neurological disorders, such as autism, Alzheimer＇s disease and schizophrenia. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the functions of CAMs during development and in the mature neural system, as well as in the pathogenesis of some neurological disorders. Here, we review the function of the major classes of CAMs, and how dysfunction of CAMs relates to several neurological disorders.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,No.81870975(to SZ)。
文摘Exosomes exhibit complex biological functions and mediate a variety of biological processes,such as promoting axonal regeneration and functional recove ry after injury.Long non-coding RNAs(IncRNAs)have been reported to play a crucial role in axonal regeneration.Howeve r,the role of the IncRNA-microRNAmessenger RNA(mRNA)-competitive endogenous RNA(ceRNA)network in exosome-mediated axonal regeneration remains unclear.In this study,we performed RNA transcriptome sequencing analysis to assess mRNA expression patterns in exosomes produced by cultured fibroblasts(FC-EXOs)and Schwann cells(SCEXOs).Diffe rential gene expression analysis,Gene Ontology analysis,Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis,and protein-protein intera ction network analysis were used to explo re the functions and related pathways of RNAs isolated from FC-EXOs and SC-EXOs.We found that the ribosome-related central gene Rps5 was enriched in FC-EXOs and SC-EXOs,which suggests that it may promote axonal regeneration.In addition,using the miRWalk and Starbase prediction databases,we constructed a regulatory network of ceRNAs targeting Rps5,including 27 microRNAs and five IncRNAs.The ceRNA regulatory network,which included Ftx and Miat,revealed that exsosome-derived Rps5 inhibits scar formation and promotes axonal regeneration and functional recovery after nerve injury.Our findings suggest that exosomes derived from fibro blast and Schwann cells could be used to treat injuries of peripheral nervous system.
基金Supported by the National Natural Sciences Foundation of China(General Program: 3037030 30270657 and Key Program: 30230150) Early Phase Study Supported by the Key Basic Research Project (2002-CCA04100) the National High Technology Research and Devel
文摘Objective To deduce all potential ligands undiscovered experimentally by searching all the proteins containing same C-termini, which can bind a certain PDZ domain. Methods We developed a JAVA program for searching short exact sequence matches at C-terminus. According to the known C-termini, which PDZ domains recognized experimentally, Swissprot database has been searched by this program for all potential ligands. Results Some PDZ domains may have more potential ligand proteins, which are undiscovered yet experimentally. These bioinformatic results also provide clues for studying functions of hypothetical proteins and PDZ domains’ protein interactions in many different organisms. Conclusion The results may provide useful clues for discovering potential functions of hypothetical proteins and new functions of known proteins.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.61232001,61502166,61502214,61379108,and 61370024)Scientific Research Fund of Hunan Provincial Education Department(Nos.15CY007 and 10A076)
文摘Essential proteins are vital to the survival of a cell. There are various features related to the essentiality of proteins, such as biological and topological features. Many computational methods have been developed to identify essential proteins by using these features. However, it is still a big challenge to design an effective method that is able to select suitable features and integrate them to predict essential proteins. In this work, we first collect 26 features, and use SVM-RFE to select some of them to create a feature space for predicting essential proteins, and then remove the features that share the biological meaning with other features in the feature space according to their Pearson Correlation Coefficients（PCC）. The experiments are carried out on S. cerevisiae data. Six features are determined as the best subset of features. To assess the prediction performance of our method, we further compare it with some machine learning methods, such as SVM, Naive Bayes, Bayes Network, and NBTree when inputting the different number of features. The results show that those methods using the 6 features outperform that using other features, which confirms the effectiveness of our feature selection method for essential protein prediction.
文摘Plasmodium (P.) falciparum is a pathogen that causes severe forms of malaria. Protein interactions have been shown to occur between P. falciparum and human erythrocytes in human blood. The Band 3 Anion Transporter (B3AT) protein is considered the main invasive pathway for the parasite in erythrocytes that causes clinical symptoms for malaria in humans. The interactions between P. falciparum parasites and erythrocytes along this receptor have previously been explored. Short linear motifs (SLIMs) are short linear mediator sequences that involve several biological processes, acting as mediators of protein interactions identifiable by computational tools such as SLiMFinder. For a given protein, the identification of SLIMs allows predicting its interactors. Using the SLIMs approach, protein-protein interaction network analyses between P. falciparum and its human host, were used to identify a tryptophan-rich protein, A5K5E5_PLAVS as an essential interactor of B3AT. To better understand the interaction mechanism, a guided protein-protein docking approach based on SLIM motifs was performed for human B3AT and A5K5E5_PLAVS. The highlights of this important interaction between P. falciparum and its human host have the potential to pave the way to identify new therapeutic candidates.
文摘Abstract The aggregation of amyloid β-protein （Aβ） is tightly linked to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer＇s disease. Previous studies have found that three peptide inhibitors （i.e., KLVFF, VVIA, and LPFFD） can inhibit Aβ aggregation and alleviate Aβ-induced neurotoxicity. How- ever, atomic details of binding modes and binding affinities between these peptide inhibitors and Aβ have not been revealed. Here, using molecular dynamics simulations and molecular mechanics Poisson Boltzmann surface area （MM/PBSA） analysis, we examined the effect of three peptide inhibitors （KLVFF, VVIA, and LPFFD） on their sequence-specific interactions with Aβ and the molecular basis of their inhibition. All inhibitors exhibit varied binding affinity to Aβ, in which KLVFF has the highest binding affinity, whereas LPFFD has the least. MM/PBSA analysis further revealed that different peptide inhibitors have different modes of interaction with Aβ, consequently hotspot binding residues, and underlying driving forces. Specific residue-based interactions between inhibitors and Aβ were determined and compared for illustrating different binding and inhibition mechanisms. This work provides structure-based binding information for further modifica- tion and optimization of these three peptide inhibitors to enhance their binding and inhibitory abilities against Aβ aggregation.
