Cloning of cDNAs encoding C-type lectins from Elapidae snakes Bungarus fasciatus and Bungarus multicinctus

A number of C-type lectins with various biological activities have been purified and characterized from Viperidae snake venoms. In contrast, only a few reports could be found in literature concerning the C-type lectins in Elapidae snake venoms. Based on t

Stejnulxin, a novel snake C-type lectin-like protein from Trimeresurus stejnegeri venom is a potent platelet agonist acting specifically via GPVl

Stejnulxin, a novel snake C-type lectin-like protein with potent platelet activating activity, was purified and characterized from Trimeresurus stejnegeri venom. Under non-reducing conditions, it migrated on a SDS-polyacrylamide gel with an apparent molecular mass of 120 kDa. On reduction, it separated into three polypeptide subunits with apparent molecular masses of 16 kDa (alpha), 20 kDa (beta(1)) and 22 kDa (beta(2)), respectively. The complete amino acid sequences of its subunits were deduced from cloned cDNAs. The N-terminal sequencing and cDNA cloning indicated that beta(1) and beta(2) subunits of stejnulxin have identical amino acid sequences and each contains two N-glycosylation sites. Accordingly, the molecular mass difference between 1 and 2 is caused by glycosylation heterogenity. The subunit amino acid sequences of stejnulxin are similar to those of convulxin, with sequence identities of 52.6% and 66.4% for the U. and beta, respectively. Stejnulxin induced human platelet aggregation in a dose-dependent manner. Antibodies against UNA inhibited the aggregation response to stejnulxin, indicating that activation of alpha(IIb)beta(3) and binding of fibrinogen are involved in stejnulxin-induced platelet aggregation. Antibodies against GPIbalpha or alpha(2)beta(1) as well as echicetin or rhodocetin had no significant effect on stejnulxin-induced platelet aggregation. However, platelet activation induced by stejnulxin was blocked by anti-GPVI antibodies. In addition, stejnulxin induced a tyrosine phosphorylation profile in platelets that resembled that produced by convulxin. Biotinylated stejnulxin bound specifically to platelet membrane GPVI.

TMVA, a snake C-type lectin-like protein from Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus venom, activates platelet via GPIb

TMVA is a C-type lectin-like protein with potent platelet activating activity from Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus venom. In the absence of von Willebrand factor (vWF), TMVA dose-dependently induced aggregation of washed platelets. Anti-GP Ib monoclonal antib

Characterization and molecular cloning of dabocetin, a potent antiplatelet C-type lectin-like protein from Daboia russellii siamensis venom

A novel C-type lectin-like protein, dabocetin, was purified from Daboia russellii siamensis venom. On SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, it showed a single band with an apparent molecular weight of 28 kDa and two distinct bands with the apparent mole

Molecular and functional characterization of a c-type lysozyme from the Asian corn borer, Ostrinia furnacalis

Some lepidopteran lysozymes have been reported to display activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, in contrast to most lysozymes that are active only against Gram-positive bacteria. OstrinLysC, a c-type lysozyme, was purified from the As

菜花烙铁头蛇毒C－型凝集素基因的克隆与序列分析

从菜花烙铁头蛇(Trimeresurus jerdonii)的毒腺中提取mRNA,采用RT－PCR技术进行体外扩增，将扩增产物克隆到PMD18－T载体中，最后筛选出一个编码凝集素的基因，命名为TJL。由TJL基因序列推导的氨基酸序列中包含分别由23和135个氨基酸残基组成的信号肽和成熟肽。氨基酸序列比较分析表明，TJL含有半乳糖结合位点和钙离子结合位点，与蝰科蛇互凝集素TSL、PAL、APL和RSL的同源性较高(87.4%～90.4%)，与眼镜蛇科蛇互凝集素BML的同源性较低(61.5%)。

Purification and cloning of a novel C-type lectin-like protein with platelet aggregation activity from Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus venom

TMVA, a novel C-type lectin-like protein that induces platelet aggregation in a dose-dependent manner, was purified from the venom of Trimeresurus mucrosquamatus. It consists of two subunits, alpha (15,536 Da) and beta (14,873 Da). The mature amino acid sequences of the a (135 amino acids) and beta subunits (123 amino acids) were deduced from cloned cDNAs. Both of the sequences show great similarity to C-type lectin-like venom proteins, including a carbohydrate recognition domain. The cysteine residues of TMVA are conserved at positions corresponding to those of flavocetin-A and convulxin, including the additional Cys135 in the alpha subunit and Cys3 in the beta subunit. SDS-PAGE, mass spectrometry analysis and amino acid sequence showed that native TMVA exists as two convertible multimers Of (alphabeta)(2) and (alphabeta)(4) with molecular weights of 63,680 and 128,518 Da, respectively. The (alphabeta)(2) complex is stabilized by an interchain disulfide bridge between the two alphabeta-heterodimers, whereas the stabilization of the (alphabeta)(4) complex seems to involve non-covalent interactions between the (alphabeta)(2) complexes. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

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。

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亚型密码子优化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亚型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亚型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测序,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亚型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分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一级结构间的进化 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在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在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可以通过多种 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与H IV 及细胞间的复杂关系,开发抑制PKC蛋白激酶的药物从而 达到抑制H IV复制的目的,或激活PKC从而减少或消除体 内潜伏的H IV病毒库是对PKC在抗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。