A novel short neurotoxin, cobrotoxin c, from monocellate cobra (Naja kaouthia) venom: isolation and purification, primary and secondary structure determination, and tertiary structure modeling

A novel short neurotoxin, cobrotoxin c (CBT C) was isolated from the venom of monocellate cobra (Naja kaouthia) using a combination of ion-exchange chromatography and FPLC. Its primary structure was determined by Edman degradation. CBT C is composed of 61 amino acid residues. It differs from cobrotoxin b (CBT B) by only two amino acid substitutions, Thr/Ala11 and Arg/Thr56, which are not located on the functionally important regions by sequence similarity. However, the LD50 is 0.08 mg/g to mice, i.e. approximately five-fold higher than for CBT B. Strikingly, a structure-function relationship analysis suggests the existence of a functionally important domain on the outside of Loop III of CBT C. The functionally important basic residues on the outside of Loop III might have a pairwise interaction with alpha subunit, instead of gamma or delta subunits of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR). (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.

GPIb is involved in platelet aggregation induced by mucetin, a snake C-type lectin protein from Chinese habu (Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus) venom

Mucetin (Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus venom activator, TMVA) is a potent platelet activator purified from Chinese habu (Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus) venom. It belongs to the snake venom heterodimeric C-type lectin family and exists in several multimeric forms. We now show that binding to platelet glycoprotein (GP) lb is involved in mucetin-induced platelet aggregation. Antibodies against GPIb as well as the GPIb-blocking C-type lectin echicetin inhibited mucetin-induced platelet aggregation. Binding of GPIb was confirmed by affinity chromatography and Western blotting. Antibodies against GPVI inhibited convulxin- but not mucetin-induced aggregation. Signalling by mucetin involved rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of a number of proteins including Syk, Src, LAT and PLCgamma2. Mucetininduced phosphorylation of the Fcgamma chain of platelet was greatly promoted by inhibition of alpha(llb)beta(3) by the peptidomimetic EMD 132338, suggesting that phosphatases downstream Of alpha(llb)beta(3) activation are involved in dephosphorylation of Fcgamma. Unlike other multimeric snake C-type lectins that act via GPIb and only agglutinate platelets, mucetin activates alpha(llb)beta(3). Inhibition Of alpha(llb)beta(3) strongly reduced the aggregation response to mucetin, indicating that activation Of alpha(llb)beta(3) and binding of fibrinogen are involved in mucetin-induced platelet aggregation. Apyrase and aspirin also inhibit platelet aggregation induced by mucetin, suggesting that ADP and thromboxaneA(2) are involved in autocrine feedback. Sequence and structural comparison with closely related members of this protein family point to features that may be responsible for the functional differences.

B itte r an d Sw e e t /Um am i Ta s te Re c ep to rs w ith D iffe ren tly Evo lu tio n a ry Pa thw ays

通过生物信息学和系统发育学分析,研究了苦味受体和甜味/鲜味受体的进化途径。结果显示,苦味受体 和甜味/鲜味受体在进化上具有远相关,并且具有不同的进化途径,提示这可能是导致这些受体具有不同功能,传 导不同味觉的原因。

Molecular phylogeny of Nycticebus inferred from mitochondrial genes

Researchers are still discussing the classification of Nycticebus. We established a molecular phylogeny covering all recognized taxa in Nycticebus to provide information for further evaluation. We sequenced partial D-loop (ca. 390 bp) and cytochrome b gen

Phylogeny and biogeography of the Petaurista philippensis complex (Rodentia : Sciuridae), inter- and intraspecific relationships inferred from molecular and morphometric analysis

With modified DNA extraction and Purification protocols, the complete cytochrome b gene sequences (1140 bp) were determined from degraded museum specimens. Molecular analysis and morphological examination of cranial characteristics of the giant flying squirrels of Petaurista philippensis complex (P. grandis, P. hainana, and P. yunanensis) and other Petaurista species yielded new insights into long-standing controversies in the Petaurista systematics. Patterns of genetic variations and morphological differences observed in this study indicate that P. hainana, P. albiventer, and P. yunanensis can be recognized as distinct species, and P. grandis and P. petaurista are conspecific populations. Phylogenetic relationships reconstructed by using parsimony, likelihood, and Bayesian methods reveal that, with P. leucogenys as the basal branch, all Petaurista groups formed two distinct clades. Petaurista philippensis, P. hainana, P. yunanensis, and P. albiventer are clustered in the same clade, while P. grandis shows a close relationship to P. petaurista. Deduced divergence times based on Bayesian analysis and the transversional substitution at the third codon suggest that the retreating of glaciers and upheavals or movements of tectonic plates in the Pliocene-Pleistocene were the major factors responsible for the present geographical distributions of Petaurista groups. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Polymorphisms in the C-type lectin genes cluster in chromosome 19 and predisposition to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) infection

Background: Polymorphisms of CLEC4M have been associated with predisposition for infection by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV). DC-SIGNR, a C-type lectin encoded by CLEC4M, is a receptor for the virus. A variable number tandem

HIV-1 C���型密码子优化gp120基因重组腺病毒载体的构建及表达

目的 构建含有HIV-1 C���型gp120基因重组腺病毒载体,并在293细胞中表达gp120蛋白.方法 PCR扩增,获得HIV-1 C���型gp120片段,定向克隆入腺病毒转移载体pTrack-CMV,线性化后转化至含有腺病毒骨架载体pAd-easy-1的大肠埃希菌BJ5183,获得重组子prAd-gp120,PacⅠ酶切纯化后转染293细胞,包装成复制缺陷型重组腺病毒vAd-gp120.结果 经PCR、酶切及DNA���序,插入片段大小、方向正确,获得了具有感染力的vAd-gp120重组腺病毒;通过Western 印迹检测,重组腺病毒在293细胞中表达出分子量为120 kD的蛋白.结论 成功构建了含有HIV-1 C���型gp120基因重组腺病毒载体,并获得该基因的表达.

分子进化研究 Ⅰ: 细胞色素C���子进化的模糊聚类分析法研究

运用模糊聚类分析的原理和方法, 就29种动物细胞色素C���级结构间的进化 关系进行了研究, 作出了相应的分子系统树, 并运用硬划分对该树进行了修改。 与其他一些研究结果进行了 比较和讨论。图3表1参12

蛋白激酶C���HIV复制中的作用与药物发现

蛋白激酶C ( PKC)是一类磷脂依赖的丝氨酸/苏氨酸 蛋白激酶, PKC���中枢神经系统疾病及心血管紊乱等多种人 类疾病中都发挥了重要作用。研究发现, PKC���以通过多种 途径刺激H IV病毒的活化,并磷酸化病毒复制周期中的多 种蛋白,如P17gag、Nef、Rev和Vif等,这些蛋白的磷酸化在 病毒复制周期中起到了不可忽视的作用。了解PKC���H IV 及细胞间的复杂关系,开发抑制PKC���白激酶的药物从而 达到抑制H IV复制的目的,或激活PKC���而减少或消除体 内潜伏的H IV病毒库是对PKC���抗H IV研究中应用提出的 两个主要方向,对于开发新型抗H IV药物有重要意义。

Structure and anti-HIV activity of micrandilactones B and C, new nortriterpenoids possessing a unique skeleton from Schisandra micrantha

Two new highly oxygenated nortriterpenoids with a unique norcycloartane skeleton, micrandilactones B and C (1-2), were isolated from Schisandra micrantha; micrandilactone C ( 2) exhibited an EC50 value of 7.71 mu g/mL (SI > 25.94) against HIV-1 replication with minimal cytotoxicity, and the potent anti-HIV-1 activity and unique structural features of 2 make it a promising lead for therapeutic development of a new generation of anti-HIV drug.

Przewalskin A: A new C-23 terpenoid with a 6/6/7 carbon ring skeleton from Salvia przewalskii maxim

Przewalskin A (1), a novel C-23 terpenoid with a 6/6/7 carbon ring skeleton, was isolated from Salvia przewalskii. Its structure was determined by comprehensive 1D NMR, 2D NMR, and MS spectroscopic analysis and subsequently confirmed by a single-crystal X

An inhibitor of c-Jun N-terminal kinases (CEP-11004) counteracts the anti-HIV-1 action of trichosanthin

Trichosanthin (TCS) is a type I ribosome-inactivating protein possessing multiple biological and pharmacological activities. One of its major actions is inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication. The mechanism is still not clear. It is

中国株丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)感染猕猴后5^NTR-C���基因组的cDNA���列分析

从2份受丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)感染的献血员血清(CX1、CX2)、第一代感染HCV猕猴血清(CX3)、第二代感染HCV猕猴血清(CX4)中提取RNA, 用自行设计的HCV 5^非编码区和核心区C5^NTR-C���引物进行逆转录PCR, 经扩增克隆并序列分析, 结果显示: CX1 cDNA���长779bp, CX2 cDNA 778bp, CX3 cDNA 776bp, CX4 cDNA 777bp。CX1株和CX4株均在5^NTR nt-216有一C���插入, CX3和CX4区nt385-387处的3个碱基缺失; CX1株与CX2、CX3、CX4比较同源性分别为98.07%、96.15%、95.25%; CX2与CX3、CX4的同源性分别为96.28%、95.76%; CX3与CX4的同源性为97.56%。

Complete genomic sequences for hepatitis C virus subtypes 6e and 6g isolated from Chinese patients with injection drug use and HIV-1 co-infection

In one of our recent studies, two HCV genotype 6 variants were identified in patients from Hong Kong and Guangxi in southern China, with injection drug use and HIV-1 co-infection. We report the complete genomic sequences for these two variants: GX004 and

小鼠双尾C���白Bicc1多克隆抗体的制备及细胞内定位的初步研究

目的:制备小鼠双尾C���白Bicc1的多克隆抗体并确定其在细胞内定位.方法:根据生物信息学分析结果, PCR扩增小鼠Bicc1编码61E-199A���cDNA���段.将该片段克隆到GST融合蛋白表达载体上, 在IPTG诱导下产生Bicc1-N抗原.纯化目的蛋白并制备兔抗Bicc1蛋白多克隆抗体.Western blot鉴定抗体特异性, 并以间接免疫荧光法初步分析该蛋白在细胞内定位.结果:成功构建Bicc1-N片段原核表达载体, 在大肠杆菌中实现可溶性表达, 制备小鼠Bicc1蛋白的多克隆抗体, 并证实该蛋白主要表达于细胞质内.结论:成功制备了高效价并特异的兔抗Bicc1多克隆抗体, 为进一步研究Bicc1基因产物的生物功能奠定了基础.