Strategies for insect population control are currently targeting chemical communication at the molecular level. The diamondback moth Plutella xylostella represents one of the most serious pests in agriculture, however...Strategies for insect population control are currently targeting chemical communication at the molecular level. The diamondback moth Plutella xylostella represents one of the most serious pests in agriculture, however detailed information on the proteins mediating olfaction in this species is still poor. This species is endowed with a repertoire of a large number of olfactory receptors and odorant binding proteins（OBPs）. As a contribution to map the specificities of these chemical sensors in the moth and eventually unrave l the complexity of chemodetection, we have measured the affinities of three selected OBPs to a series of potential odorants. Three proteins are highly divergent in their amino acid sequences and show markedly different expression profiles. In fact, PxylOBP3 is exclusively expressed in the antennae of both sexes, PxylOBP9 is male specific and present only in antennae and reproductive organs, while PxylOBP19, an unusual OBP with nine cysteines, is ubiquitously present in all the organs examined. Such expression pattern suggests that the last two proteins may be involved in non-chemosensory functions. Despite such differences, the three OBPs exhibit similar binding spectra, together with high selectivity. Among the 26 natural compounds tested, only two proved to be good ligands, retinol and coniferyl aldehyde. This second compound is particularly interesting being part of the chemical pathway leading to regeneration of lignin, one of the defense strategies of the plant against insect attack, and might find applications as a repellent for P. xylostella and other pests.展开更多
The soybean aphid,Aphis glycines,is an extreme specialist and an important invasive pest that relies on olfaction for behaviors such as feeding,mating,and foraging.Odorant-binding proteins(OBPs)play a vital role in ol...The soybean aphid,Aphis glycines,is an extreme specialist and an important invasive pest that relies on olfaction for behaviors such as feeding,mating,and foraging.Odorant-binding proteins(OBPs)play a vital role in olfaction by binding to volatile compounds and by regulating insect sensing of the environment.In this work we used rapid amplification of complementary DNA ends technology to identify and characterize 10 genes encoding A.glycines OBPs(AglyOBPs)belonging to 3 subfamilies,including 4 classic OBPs,5 Plus-C OBPs,and one Minus-C OBP.Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction demonstrated variable specific expression patterns for the 10 genes based on developmental stage and aphid tssue sampled.Expression levels of 7 AglyOBPs(2,3,4,5,7,9,and 10)were highest in the 4th instar,indicating that the 4th nymphal instar is an important developmental period during which soybean aphids regulate feeding and search for host plants.Tissue-specific expression results demonstrated that AglyOBP2,7,and 9 exhibited significantly higher expression levels in antennae.Meanwhile,ligand-binding analysis of5 OBPs demonstrated binding of AglyOBP2 and AglyOBP3 to a broad spectrum of volatiles released by green leaf plants,with bias toward 6-to 8-carbon chain volatiles and strong binding of AglyOBP7 to trans-B-farnesene.Taken together,our findings build a foundation of knowledge for use in the study of molecular olfaction mechanisms and prov ide insights to guide future soybean aphid research.展开更多
Background:Excessive use of inorganic trace minerals(ITMs)in swine production leads to high fecal mineral excretion and environmental risks,while most studies on organic trace minerals(OTMs)focus on single elements,wi...Background:Excessive use of inorganic trace minerals(ITMs)in swine production leads to high fecal mineral excretion and environmental risks,while most studies on organic trace minerals(OTMs)focus on single elements,with limited data on the synergistic effects and molecular mechanisms of combined OTMs(Fe,Cu,Mn,Zn)in growing-finishing pigs.Methods:This study aimed to investigate the effects of graded levels of micromineral proteinates(combined OTMs)on growth performance,mineral metabolism,and mRNA expression of mineral regulatory proteins.A total of 360 crossbred Duroc×Landrace×Large White pigs(initial body weight 47.1±4.8 kg)were randomly assigned to 6 dietary treatments:basal diet without microminerals(CON),basal diet with ITMs at commercially recommended levels(IT),and basal diets with 15%(OT 15%),25%(OT 25%),35%(OT 35%)commercially recommended levels(CRL)of combined micromineral proteinates.After a 70-day feeding trial,samples were analyzed using ICP-OES,ELISA,and RT-qPCR.Results:Results showed that reduced levels(15-35%CRL)of micromineral proteinates did not significantly affect average daily gain,average daily feed intake,or feed conversion ratio(gain-to-feed ratio)compared to IT(P>0.05),but significantly increased plasma Cu(1.73-1.83μg/mL)and Zn(1.72-1.97μg/mL)concentrations(P<0.05)and elevated activities of Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase(32.9-35.9 U/L)and manganese superoxide dismutase(20.5-24.1 U/L)compared to CON(P<0.05),with no significant differences from IT(P>0.05).Fecal excretion of Fe,Cu,Mn,and Zn was significantly reduced by 35-50%in OT 15%-OT 35%groups compared to IT(P<0.05).OT 25%group exhibited the highest apparent absorptivity of Fe(38.5%),Cu(27.8%),and Zn(42.4%)(P<0.05),which was associated with significantly regulated mRNA expression of mineral regulatory proteins:upregulated DMT1,FPN1,ZIP4,and MT1A in the duodenum,and modulated HAMP,ATP7B,ZIP14,and ZnT1 in the liver(P<0.05).Conclusion:In conclusion,dietary supplementation with 25%CRL or less of combined micromineral proteinates can fully meet the nutritional needs of growing-finishing pigs,improve mineral absorptivity,and reduce fecal mineral excretion by regulating intestinal and hepatic mineral transport and homeostatic proteins,providing a sustainable alternative to high-dose ITMs.展开更多
Odorant-binding proteins （OBPs） are soluble proteins mediating chemorecep- tion in insects. In previous research, we investigated the molecular mechanisms adopted by aphids to detect the alarm pheromone （E）-fl-far...Odorant-binding proteins （OBPs） are soluble proteins mediating chemorecep- tion in insects. In previous research, we investigated the molecular mechanisms adopted by aphids to detect the alarm pheromone （E）-fl-farnesene and we found that the recogni- tion of this and structurally related molecules is mediated by OBP3 and OBP7. Here, we show the differential expression patterns of 5 selected OBPs （OBP 1, OBP3, OBP6, OBPT, OBPS） obtained performing quantitative RT-PCR and immunolocalization experiments in different body parts of adults and in the 5 developmental instars, including winged and unwinged morphs, of the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum. The results provide an overall picture that allows us to speculate on the relationship between the differential expression of OBPs and their putative function. The expression of OBP3, OBP6, and OBP7 in the antennal sensilla suggests a ehemosensory fimction for these proteins, whereas the con- stant expression level of OBP8 in all instars could suggest a conserved role. Moreover, OBP1 and OBP3 are also expressed in nonsensory organs. A light and scanning electron microscopy study of sensilla on different body parts of aphid, in particular antennae, legs, mouthparts, and coruicles-cauda, completes this research providing a guide to facilitate the mapping of OBP expression profiles.展开更多
Sitodiplosis mosellana,a periodic but devastating wheat pest,relies on wheat spike volatiles as a cue in sclecing hosts for oviposition.Insect odorant-binding proteins(OBPs)are thought to play essential roles in filte...Sitodiplosis mosellana,a periodic but devastating wheat pest,relies on wheat spike volatiles as a cue in sclecing hosts for oviposition.Insect odorant-binding proteins(OBPs)are thought to play essential roles in filtering,binding and transporting hydropho-bic odorant molecules to specific receptors.To date,the molecular mechanisms underlying S.mosellana olfaction are poorly understood.Here,three S.mosellana antenna-specific OBP genes,SmosOBPII,16 and 21,were cloned and bacterially expressed.Binding properties of the recombinant proteins to 28 volatiles emitted from wheat spikes were in-vestigated using fluorescence competitive binding assays.Sequence analysis suggested that these SmosOBPs belong to the Classic OBP subfamily.Ligand-binding analysis showed that all three SmosOBPs preferentially bound alcohol,ester and ketone com-pounds,and SmosOBP11 and 16 also selectively bound terpenoid compounds.In par-ticular,the three SmosOBPs had high binding affinities(Ki<20μmol/L)to 3-hexanol and cis-3-hexenylacetate that elicited strong electroantennogram(EAG)response fromfemale antennae.In addition,SmosOBP11 displayed significantly higher binding(Ki<8μmo/L)than SmosOBP16 and 21 to l-octen-3-ol,D-panthenol,a-pinene and heptyl acetate which elicited significant EAG response,suggesting that SmosOBP11 plays a ma-jor role in recognition and transportation of these volatiles.These findings have provided important insight into the molecular mechanism by which S.mosellana specifically rec-ognizes plant volatiles for host selection,and have facilitated identification of effective volatile attractants that are potentially useful for pest monitoring and trapping.展开更多
Olfaction plays a major role in host-seeking behaviour of mosquitoes. An informat- ics-based genome-wide analysis of odorant-binding protein (OBP) homologues is under- taken, and 32 putative OBP genes in total in the ...Olfaction plays a major role in host-seeking behaviour of mosquitoes. An informat- ics-based genome-wide analysis of odorant-binding protein (OBP) homologues is under- taken, and 32 putative OBP genes in total in the whole genome sequences of Anopheles gam- biae are identified. Tissue-specific expression patterns of all A. gambiae OBP candidates are determined by semi-quantitative Reverse Transcription (RT)-PCR using mosquito actin gene a internal expression control standard. The results showed that 20 OBP candidates had strong expression in mosquito olfactory tissues (female antennae), which indicate that OBPs may play an important role in regulating mosquito olfactory behaviours. Species-specific expression pat- terns of all putative anopheline OBPs are also studied in two of the most important malaria vec- tors in A. gambiae complex, i.e. A. gambiae and A. arabiensis, which found 12 of the putative OBP genes examined displayed species-differential expression patterns. The cumulative relative expression intensity of the OBPs in A. arabiensis antennae was higher than that in A. gambiae (the ratio is 1441.45:1314.12), which might be due to their different host preference behaviour. While A. gambiae is a highly anthropophilic mosquito, A. arabiensis is more opportunistic (Vary- ing from anthropophilic to zoophilic). So the latter should need more OBPs to support its host selection preference. Identification of mosquito OBPs and verification of their tissue- and spe- cies-specific expression patterns represent the first step towards further molecular analysis of mosquito olfactory mechanism, such as recombinant expression and ligand identification.展开更多
The full-length sequence of the odorant binding protein 5 gene,HarmOBP5,was obtained from an antennae cDNA library of cotton bollworm,Helicoverpa armigera （Hübner）.The cDNA contains a 444 bp open reading frame,...The full-length sequence of the odorant binding protein 5 gene,HarmOBP5,was obtained from an antennae cDNA library of cotton bollworm,Helicoverpa armigera （Hübner）.The cDNA contains a 444 bp open reading frame,encoding a protein with 147 amino acids,namely HarmOBP5.HarmOBP5 was expressed in Escherichia coli and the recombinant protein was purified by affinity chromatography.SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis demonstrated that the purified protein can be used for further investigation of its binding characteristics.Competitive binding assays with 113 odorant chemicals indicated that HarmOBP5 has strong affinity to some special plant volatiles,including （E）-β-farnesene,ethyl butyrate,ethyl heptanoate,and acetic acid 2-methylbutyl ester.Based on three-dimensional （3D） model of AaegOBP1 from Aedes aegypti,a 3D model of HarmOBP5 was predicted.The model revealed that some key binding residues in HarmOBP5 may play important roles in odorant perception of H.armigera.This study provides clues for better understanding physiological functions of OBPs in H.armigera and other insects.展开更多
Background Post-weaning diarrhea(PWD)in piglets,often caused by F4^(+)enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli(ETEC),poses significant challenges in pig production.Traditional solutions like antibiotics and zinc oxide face in...Background Post-weaning diarrhea(PWD)in piglets,often caused by F4^(+)enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli(ETEC),poses significant challenges in pig production.Traditional solutions like antibiotics and zinc oxide face increasing restrictions due to growing concerns over antibiotic resistance and environmental sustainability.This study investigates the application of bivalent heavy chain variable domain(V_(H)H)constructs(BL1.2 and BL2.2)targeting ETEC virulence factors,administered in feed to mitigate ETEC-induced PWD in weaned piglets.Results The supplementation of BL1.2 and BL2.2 in both mash and pelleted feed significantly reduced the diarrhea incidence and fecal shedding of F4^(+)ETEC in challenged piglets.Pelleted feed containing V_(H)H constructs helped to preserve gut barrier integrity by maintaining levels of the tight junction protein occludin in the small intestine.Additionally,the constructs maintained blood granulocyte counts at a similar level to the non-challenged control group,including neutrophils,and ameliorated the acute phase protein response after challenge.Notably,even at low feed intake immediately after weaning,V_(H)H constructs helped maintain piglet health by mitigating ETEC-induced inflammation and the resulting diarrhea.Conclusions Our findings demonstrated that using V_(H)H constructs as feed additives could serve as an effective strategy to help manage ETEC-associated PWD,by reducing F4^(+)ETEC gut colonization and supporting gut barrier function of weaned piglets.The high stability of these V_(H)H constructs supports their incorporation into industrial feed manufacturing processes,offering a more sustainable preventive strategy compared to traditional antimicrobial interventions,which could contribute to sustainable farming practices.展开更多
The awn can contribute to photosynthesis and carbohydrates,enhancing grain yield in wheat.We mapped QAwn.sxau-5A,a major QTL for awn development in wheat(Triticum aestivum).This QTL was delimited to a 994-kb interval ...The awn can contribute to photosynthesis and carbohydrates,enhancing grain yield in wheat.We mapped QAwn.sxau-5A,a major QTL for awn development in wheat(Triticum aestivum).This QTL was delimited to a 994-kb interval at the B1 locus on chromosome 5A,which included the candidate gene encoding a zinc finger protein(TraesCS5A01G542800)as an awn length inhibitor(ALI).The Ali-A1 allele for the awnless trait showed abundant sequence differences in the promoter regions compared to the ali-A1 allele for the long-awn trait.The results of the swap experiment on the promoters from the two ALI-A1 alleles showed that the two promoters caused a difference in the protein level,indicating the gene was regulated at the transcript level.However,the ali-A1 allele contained an SNP that caused a premature stop codon in its coding region,resulting in a truncated protein compared to the functional Ali-A1 protein.The Ali-A1 protein contained two ethylene-responsive element binding factor-associated amphiphilic repression(EAR)motifs,one at the N terminus(EAR-N)and the other at the C terminus(EAR-C),and they were involved in interactions with the wheat co-repressor protein TOPLESS(TPL1).The ali-A1 protein retained the EAR-N motif but lost the EAR-C motif,resulting in the attenuated ability to interact with TPL1.The tpl1 mutant produced a longer awn compared to the wild type.Ali-A1 repressed the transcription of two downstream genes,TaLRP-A1 and TaARF-B1,involved in endogenous auxin concentrations and auxin responses in wheat.We concluded that the awn length is regulated not only by the ALI-A1 gene at transcript levels but also by Ali-A1 and TPL1 at the protein level in wheat.展开更多
Recognizing essential proteins within bacteriophages is fundamental to uncovering their replication and survival mechanisms and contributes to advances in phage-based antibacterial therapies.Despite notable progress,e...Recognizing essential proteins within bacteriophages is fundamental to uncovering their replication and survival mechanisms and contributes to advances in phage-based antibacterial therapies.Despite notable progress,existing computational techniques struggle to represent the interplay between sequence-derived and structuredependent protein features.To overcome this limitation,we introduce GLM-EP,a unified framework that fuses protein language models with equivariant graph neural networks.Bymerging semantic embeddings extracted from amino acid sequences with geometry-aware graph representations,GLM-EP enables an in-depth depiction of phage proteins and enhances essential protein identification.Evaluation on diverse benchmark datasets confirms that GLM-EP surpasses conventional sequence-based and independent deep-learning methods,yielding higher F1 and AUROC outcomes.Component-wise analysis demonstrates that GCNII,EGNN,and the gated multi-head attention mechanism function in a complementary manner to encode complex molecular attributes.In summary,GLM-EP serves as a robust and efficient tool for bacteriophage genomic analysis and provides valuable methodological perspectives for the discovery of antibiotic-resistance therapeutic targets.The corresponding code repository is available at:https://github.com/MiJia-ID/GLM-EP(accessed on 01 November 2025).展开更多
BACKGROUND Ovarian cancer(OC)is the most lethal gynecological cancer among females,and its early diagnosis could help for better outcomes of the patients.AIM To investigate the utility of serum insulin-like growth fac...BACKGROUND Ovarian cancer(OC)is the most lethal gynecological cancer among females,and its early diagnosis could help for better outcomes of the patients.AIM To investigate the utility of serum insulin-like growth factors-binding proteins 2(IGFBP2),secreted phosphoprotein 1(SPP1),thrombospondin 1 protein(TSP1)and D-dimer levels in addition to currently used biomarkers[cancer antigen 125(CA125)and human epididymis protein 4(HE4)]in the diagnosis of epithelial OC(EOC).METHODS This is a case-control study that included fifty females diagnosed with EOC,10 females with benign ovarian masses recruited from the Egyptian National Cancer Institute,and 30 healthy females as a control group.All subjects were assessed for serum HE4,CA125,IGFBP2,TSP1 and SPP1 measurement by enzyme-linkedimmunosorbent assay.RESULTS There was a statistically significant difference in serum levels between EOC,benign ovarian masses,and healthy control groups regarding CA125 and SPP1(P<0.001 for both markers),while HE4 and IGFBP2 increased significantly in EOC compared to healthy control groups(P<0.001 for all markers)with no significant difference between EOC and benign ovarian masses groups.However,there was no statistically significant difference among EOC,benign ovarian masses,and healthy control groups regarding the TSP1 serum levels(P=0.051).Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed that combined assessment of SPP1 with CA125 or TSP1 increased the diagnosis of EOC patients to a sensitivity,specificity,and area under curve of(93.3%,100%,0.968;respectively,P<0.001).CONCLUSION SPP1 may be a potential marker for the differentiation between benign and malignant ovarian masses,while IGFBP2 can differentiate between healthy females and females with ovarian masses.Combining SPP1 with CA125 or TSP1 provides high sensitivity and specificity for the detection of EOC patients.展开更多
Intrinsically disordered proteins(IDPs)and their regions(IDRs)play crucial roles in cellular func-tions despite their lack of stable three-dimensional structures.In this study,we investigate the interac-tions between ...Intrinsically disordered proteins(IDPs)and their regions(IDRs)play crucial roles in cellular func-tions despite their lack of stable three-dimensional structures.In this study,we investigate the interac-tions between the C-terminal do-main of protein 4.1G(4.1G CTD)and the nuclear mitotic apparatus protein(NuMA)under varying pH and salt ion conditions to under-stand the regulatory mechanisms affecting their binding.4.1G CTD and NuMA bind effec-tively under neutral and alkaline conditions,but their interaction is disrupted under acidic conditions(pH 3.6).The protonation of positively charged residues at the C-terminal of 4.1G CTD under acidic conditions leads to increased electrostatic repulsion,weakening the overall binding free energy.Secondary structure analysis shows that specific regions of 4.1G CTD re-main stable under both pH conditions,but the C-terminal region(aa 990−1000)and the N-terminal region of NuMA(aa 1800−1810)exhibit significant reductions in secondary struc-ture probability under acidic conditions.Contact map analysis and solvent-accessible surface area analysis further support these findings by showing a reduced contact probability be-tween these regions under pH 3.6.These results provide a comprehensive understanding of how pH and ionic strength regulate the binding dynamics of 4.1G CTD and NuMA,emphasiz-ing the regulatory role of electrostatic interactions.展开更多
Introduction:Diet intervention,especially supplementation with high-quality protein,is considered to be a critical strategy in sarcopenia.However,different sources and types of protein have different health impacts.Ob...Introduction:Diet intervention,especially supplementation with high-quality protein,is considered to be a critical strategy in sarcopenia.However,different sources and types of protein have different health impacts.Objectives:The aim of this study is to explore the differences in the ameliorative effects and mechanisms of different sources and types of proteins on sarcopenia,providing an optimal path for the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia.Methods:A sarcopenia model was established by intraperitoneal injection of dexamethasone(5 mg/kg).Sixty male C57BL/6 mice(8 months old)were randomly divided into the normal control,sarcopenia,goat whey protein,goat milk casein,bovine whey protein,and bovine milk casein groups.Animals were treated for 8 consecutive weeks.Organism-level and molecular phenotypes,16S rRNA gene sequencing,and untargeted metabolomics profiling based on GC-TOF/MS were employed to investigate the correlation between host metabolism,microbial metabolism,autophagy and inflammation and their influence on sarcopenia in C57BL/6 male mice.Results:All 4 proteins increased muscle mass,and goat whey protein improved muscle strength in sarcopenic mice.Goat and bovine milk proteins promoted muscle regeneration by increasing MyoD1 and MyoG expression,and the former had a more distinct effect in inducing autophagy and decreasing inflammation than the latter.In addition,goat whey protein and casein could modulate hostmicrobial arginine co-metabolism.Notably,goat milk proteins responded well to sarcopenia comorbidities,including sarcopenic obesity,osteosarcopenia,and osteoarthritis.Conclusion:The study confirmed that goat milk proteins were more effective than bovine milk proteins for the control of sarcopenia.Moreover,we found that whey protein and casein could modulate host-microbial arginine co-metabolism,which shows their potential as precision nutritional supplements for the management of sarcopenia.Our study provides theoretical support for the prevention and control of sarcopenia.展开更多
This article summarizes recent advances in the understanding of RNA-binding proteins(RBPs),with a focus on their roles in exercise-induced mRNA regulation and their implications for schizophrenia(SZ).RBPs are critical...This article summarizes recent advances in the understanding of RNA-binding proteins(RBPs),with a focus on their roles in exercise-induced mRNA regulation and their implications for schizophrenia(SZ).RBPs are critical regulators of mRNA stability,splicing,transport,translation,and degradation,directly influencing gene expression through sequence-and structure-specific binding.In the nervous system,RBPs sustain synaptic plasticity,neural development,and neuronal homeostasis.Emerging evidence shows that exercise modulates the expression and activity of RBPs,thereby influencing mRNA translation and neurotransmitter signaling,which may underlie its beneficial effects on brain function.Dysregulation of specific RBPs has been identified in SZ,implicating them in disrupted synaptic transmission,impaired plasticity,and neuroinflammation.RBPs involved in memory and emotional regulation show marked dysfunction in SZ patients.Some RBPs have been proposed as potential biomarkers for early diagnosis and treatment monitoring.Moreover,therapeutic modulation of RBPs,through pharmacological or behavioral interventions such as exercise,may restore neuronal function by targeting post-transcriptional gene regulation.Exercise,as a non-invasive modulator of RBP expression,holds promise as an adjunctive strategy in SZ treatment,particularly in early stages.Further research into RBP-mediated pathways may offer novel insights into SZ pathophysiology and inform the development of targeted interventions.展开更多
Bromodomain(BRD)-containing proteins are central mediators of gene regulation,serving as key components of chromatin remodeling complexes and histone recognition scaffolds.By specifically recognizing acetylated lysine...Bromodomain(BRD)-containing proteins are central mediators of gene regulation,serving as key components of chromatin remodeling complexes and histone recognition scaffolds.By specifically recognizing acetylated lysine residues on histones(Kac)via their conserved BRD,these proteins influence chromatin structure and gene expression.Although their overarching role is well-established,the precise molecular functions and mechanisms of individual BRD proteins remain incompletely characterized.The ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila,a unicellular eukaryote with a transcriptionally active macronucleus enriched in histone acetylation,is an excellent model for exploring the significance of BRD-containing proteins.In this comprehensive review,all BRD-containing proteins encoded in the T.thermophila genome are systematically examined,including their expression profiles,histone acetylation targets,interacting proteins,and potential roles.This review lays the groundwork for future investigations into the complex roles of BRD proteins in chromatin remodeling and transcription regulation,offering insights into basic eukaryotic biology and the molecular mechanisms underlying BRD-linked diseases.展开更多
Chemical modification of native peptides and proteins is a versatile strategy to facilitate late-stage diversification for functional studies.Among the proteogenic amino acids,lysine is extensively involved in posttra...Chemical modification of native peptides and proteins is a versatile strategy to facilitate late-stage diversification for functional studies.Among the proteogenic amino acids,lysine is extensively involved in posttranslational modifications and the binding of ligands to target proteins,making its selective modification attractive.However,lysine’s high natural abundance and solvent accessibility,as well as its relatively low reactivity to cysteine,necessitate addressing chemoselectivity and regioselectivity for the Lys modification of native proteins.Although Lys chemoselective modification methods have been well developed,achieving site-selective modification of a specific Lys residue remains a great challenge.In this review,we discussed the challenges of Lys selective modification,presented recent examples of Lys chemoselective modification,and summarized the currently known methods and strategies for Lys site-selective modification.We also included an outlook on potential solutions for Lys site-selective labeling and its potential applications in chemical biology and drug development.展开更多
Meiotic resumption in mammalian oocytes involves nuclear and organelle structural changes,notably the chromatin configuration transition from a non-surrounding nucleolus(NSN)to surrounding nucleolus(SN)in germinal ves...Meiotic resumption in mammalian oocytes involves nuclear and organelle structural changes,notably the chromatin configuration transition from a non-surrounding nucleolus(NSN)to surrounding nucleolus(SN)in germinal vesicle oocytes.In the current study,we found that nuclear speckles(NSs),a subnuclear structure mainly composed of serine-arginine(SR)proteins,changed from a diffuse spotted distribution in mouse NSN oocytes to an aggregated pattern in SN oocytes.We also found that the SR protein-specific kinase 1(SRPK1),an enzyme that phosphorylates SR proteins,co-localized with NSs at the SN stage,and that NSN oocytes failed to transition to SN oocytes after the inhibition of SRPK1 activity.Furthermore,the typical structure of the chromatin ring around the nucleolus in SN oocytes collapsed after treatment with an SRPK1 inhibitor.Mechanistically,phosphorylated SR proteins were found to be related to chromatin as shown by a salt extraction experiment,and in situ DNaseⅠassay showed that the accessibility of chromatin was enhanced in SN oocytes when SRPK1 was inhibited,accompanied by a decreased repressive modification on histone and the abnormal recurrence of a transcriptional signal.In conclusion,our results indicated that SRPK1-regulated phosphorylation of SR proteins was involved in the NSN-SN transition and played an important role in maintaining the condensed nucleus of SN oocytes via interacting with chromatin.展开更多
Vesicles of lipid bilayer can adopt a variety of shapes due to different coating proteins.The ability of proteins to reshape membrane is typically characterized by inducing spontaneous curvature of the membrane at the...Vesicles of lipid bilayer can adopt a variety of shapes due to different coating proteins.The ability of proteins to reshape membrane is typically characterized by inducing spontaneous curvature of the membrane at the coated area.BAR family proteins are known to have a crescent shape and can induce membrane curvature along their concaved body axis but not in the perpendicular direction.We model this type of proteins as a rod-shaped molecule with an orientation and induce normal curvature along its orientation in the tangential plane of the membrane surface.We show how a ring of these proteins reshapes an axisymmetric vesicle when the protein curvature or orientation is varied.A discontinuous shape transformation from a protrusion shape without a neck to a one with a neck is found.Increasing the rigidity of the protein ring is able to smooth out the transition.Furthermore,we show that varying the protein orientation is able to induce an hourglass-shaped neck,which is significantly narrower than the reciprocal of the protein curvature.Our results offer a new angle to rationalize the helical structure formed by many proteins that carry out membrane fission functions.展开更多
Biomolecular condensates,also known as membraneless organelles,play a crucial role in cellular organization by concentrating or sequestering biomolecules.Despite their importance,synthetically mimicking these organell...Biomolecular condensates,also known as membraneless organelles,play a crucial role in cellular organization by concentrating or sequestering biomolecules.Despite their importance,synthetically mimicking these organelles using non-peptidic small organic molecules has posed a significant challenge.The present study reports the discovery of D008,a self-assembling small molecule that sequesters a unique subset of RNA-binding proteins.Analysis and screening of a comprehensive collection of approximately 1 million compounds in the Chinese National Compound Library(Shanghai)identified 44 self-assembling small molecules in aqueous solutions.Subsequent screening of the focused library,coupled with proteome analysis,led to the discovery of D008 as a small organic molecule with the ability to condensate a specific subset of RNA-binding proteins.In vitro experiments demonstrated that the D008-induced sequestration of RNA-binding proteins impeded mRNA translation.D008 may offer a unique opportunity for studying the condensations of RNA-binding proteins and for developing an unprecedented class of small molecules that control gene expression.展开更多
HCLS1-associated protein X-1(HAX1)is a multifunctional mitochondrial protein involved in the regulation of apoptosis,a crucial process of programmed cell death,and mRNA processing.Despite its significance,limited stru...HCLS1-associated protein X-1(HAX1)is a multifunctional mitochondrial protein involved in the regulation of apoptosis,a crucial process of programmed cell death,and mRNA processing.Despite its significance,limited structural data is available for HAX1,hindering a comprehensive understanding of its biological function.Notably,the caseinolytic mitochondrial matrix peptidase chaperone subunit B(CLPB)has been identified as an interacting partner of HAX1,yet the biophysical properties and binding affinity governing their interaction remain poorly defined.In this study,we present a thorough biophysical characterization of full-length human HAX1 and CLPB,accomplished through recombinant expression and purification.By employing size exclusion chromatography,dynamic light scattering,and circular dichroism spectroscopy,we successfully established their biophysical properties,revealing contrasting structural features,with CLPB displaying a-helical content and HAX1 exhibiting a disordered nature.Moreover,we employed solutionstate nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)spectroscopy to probe their binding affinity.Our findings demonstrate the formation of stable multimeric complexes between HAX1 and CLPB,and we quantified a dissociation constant in the low range of micro-molar for their high affinity interaction.These results lay the foundation for further in-depth investigations into the dynamics and energetics governing the HAX1-CLPB interaction,ultimately contributing to a comprehensive understanding of their functional mechanisms.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31230062 and 31321004)the Beijing Natural Science Foundation of China (6132028)the State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (SKLOF201502)
文摘Strategies for insect population control are currently targeting chemical communication at the molecular level. The diamondback moth Plutella xylostella represents one of the most serious pests in agriculture, however detailed information on the proteins mediating olfaction in this species is still poor. This species is endowed with a repertoire of a large number of olfactory receptors and odorant binding proteins（OBPs）. As a contribution to map the specificities of these chemical sensors in the moth and eventually unrave l the complexity of chemodetection, we have measured the affinities of three selected OBPs to a series of potential odorants. Three proteins are highly divergent in their amino acid sequences and show markedly different expression profiles. In fact, PxylOBP3 is exclusively expressed in the antennae of both sexes, PxylOBP9 is male specific and present only in antennae and reproductive organs, while PxylOBP19, an unusual OBP with nine cysteines, is ubiquitously present in all the organs examined. Such expression pattern suggests that the last two proteins may be involved in non-chemosensory functions. Despite such differences, the three OBPs exhibit similar binding spectra, together with high selectivity. Among the 26 natural compounds tested, only two proved to be good ligands, retinol and coniferyl aldehyde. This second compound is particularly interesting being part of the chemical pathway leading to regeneration of lignin, one of the defense strategies of the plant against insect attack, and might find applications as a repellent for P. xylostella and other pests.
基金We gratefully acknowledge Dr.Tao Zhong(Shenyang Academy of Agricultural Sciences,China)for his con-structive reviews of the manuscript.This、work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Hei-longjiang(C2018060)Heilongjiang Postdoctoral Fund(LBH-Z16187)+2 种基金Scientific Research Project of Hei-longjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences(2017ZC10,2017SJ032 and 2018JJPY004)National Key Research and Development Program(2017YFE0111000),National Natural Science Foundation ofChina(31771823)Ma-jor Project of Research and Development of Applied Tech-nology in Heilongjiang Province(GA18B101).
文摘The soybean aphid,Aphis glycines,is an extreme specialist and an important invasive pest that relies on olfaction for behaviors such as feeding,mating,and foraging.Odorant-binding proteins(OBPs)play a vital role in olfaction by binding to volatile compounds and by regulating insect sensing of the environment.In this work we used rapid amplification of complementary DNA ends technology to identify and characterize 10 genes encoding A.glycines OBPs(AglyOBPs)belonging to 3 subfamilies,including 4 classic OBPs,5 Plus-C OBPs,and one Minus-C OBP.Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction demonstrated variable specific expression patterns for the 10 genes based on developmental stage and aphid tssue sampled.Expression levels of 7 AglyOBPs(2,3,4,5,7,9,and 10)were highest in the 4th instar,indicating that the 4th nymphal instar is an important developmental period during which soybean aphids regulate feeding and search for host plants.Tissue-specific expression results demonstrated that AglyOBP2,7,and 9 exhibited significantly higher expression levels in antennae.Meanwhile,ligand-binding analysis of5 OBPs demonstrated binding of AglyOBP2 and AglyOBP3 to a broad spectrum of volatiles released by green leaf plants,with bias toward 6-to 8-carbon chain volatiles and strong binding of AglyOBP7 to trans-B-farnesene.Taken together,our findings build a foundation of knowledge for use in the study of molecular olfaction mechanisms and prov ide insights to guide future soybean aphid research.
基金financially supported by the Hainan Province Science and Technology Special Fund(Grant no:ZDYF2024XDNY187).
文摘Background:Excessive use of inorganic trace minerals(ITMs)in swine production leads to high fecal mineral excretion and environmental risks,while most studies on organic trace minerals(OTMs)focus on single elements,with limited data on the synergistic effects and molecular mechanisms of combined OTMs(Fe,Cu,Mn,Zn)in growing-finishing pigs.Methods:This study aimed to investigate the effects of graded levels of micromineral proteinates(combined OTMs)on growth performance,mineral metabolism,and mRNA expression of mineral regulatory proteins.A total of 360 crossbred Duroc×Landrace×Large White pigs(initial body weight 47.1±4.8 kg)were randomly assigned to 6 dietary treatments:basal diet without microminerals(CON),basal diet with ITMs at commercially recommended levels(IT),and basal diets with 15%(OT 15%),25%(OT 25%),35%(OT 35%)commercially recommended levels(CRL)of combined micromineral proteinates.After a 70-day feeding trial,samples were analyzed using ICP-OES,ELISA,and RT-qPCR.Results:Results showed that reduced levels(15-35%CRL)of micromineral proteinates did not significantly affect average daily gain,average daily feed intake,or feed conversion ratio(gain-to-feed ratio)compared to IT(P>0.05),but significantly increased plasma Cu(1.73-1.83μg/mL)and Zn(1.72-1.97μg/mL)concentrations(P<0.05)and elevated activities of Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase(32.9-35.9 U/L)and manganese superoxide dismutase(20.5-24.1 U/L)compared to CON(P<0.05),with no significant differences from IT(P>0.05).Fecal excretion of Fe,Cu,Mn,and Zn was significantly reduced by 35-50%in OT 15%-OT 35%groups compared to IT(P<0.05).OT 25%group exhibited the highest apparent absorptivity of Fe(38.5%),Cu(27.8%),and Zn(42.4%)(P<0.05),which was associated with significantly regulated mRNA expression of mineral regulatory proteins:upregulated DMT1,FPN1,ZIP4,and MT1A in the duodenum,and modulated HAMP,ATP7B,ZIP14,and ZnT1 in the liver(P<0.05).Conclusion:In conclusion,dietary supplementation with 25%CRL or less of combined micromineral proteinates can fully meet the nutritional needs of growing-finishing pigs,improve mineral absorptivity,and reduce fecal mineral excretion by regulating intestinal and hepatic mineral transport and homeostatic proteins,providing a sustainable alternative to high-dose ITMs.
文摘Odorant-binding proteins （OBPs） are soluble proteins mediating chemorecep- tion in insects. In previous research, we investigated the molecular mechanisms adopted by aphids to detect the alarm pheromone （E）-fl-farnesene and we found that the recogni- tion of this and structurally related molecules is mediated by OBP3 and OBP7. Here, we show the differential expression patterns of 5 selected OBPs （OBP 1, OBP3, OBP6, OBPT, OBPS） obtained performing quantitative RT-PCR and immunolocalization experiments in different body parts of adults and in the 5 developmental instars, including winged and unwinged morphs, of the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum. The results provide an overall picture that allows us to speculate on the relationship between the differential expression of OBPs and their putative function. The expression of OBP3, OBP6, and OBP7 in the antennal sensilla suggests a ehemosensory fimction for these proteins, whereas the con- stant expression level of OBP8 in all instars could suggest a conserved role. Moreover, OBP1 and OBP3 are also expressed in nonsensory organs. A light and scanning electron microscopy study of sensilla on different body parts of aphid, in particular antennae, legs, mouthparts, and coruicles-cauda, completes this research providing a guide to facilitate the mapping of OBP expression profiles.
基金This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.31371933)the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2018YFD0200402)Science and Technology Planning Project of Yangling Demonstration Zone,China(Grant No.2018NY-07).
文摘Sitodiplosis mosellana,a periodic but devastating wheat pest,relies on wheat spike volatiles as a cue in sclecing hosts for oviposition.Insect odorant-binding proteins(OBPs)are thought to play essential roles in filtering,binding and transporting hydropho-bic odorant molecules to specific receptors.To date,the molecular mechanisms underlying S.mosellana olfaction are poorly understood.Here,three S.mosellana antenna-specific OBP genes,SmosOBPII,16 and 21,were cloned and bacterially expressed.Binding properties of the recombinant proteins to 28 volatiles emitted from wheat spikes were in-vestigated using fluorescence competitive binding assays.Sequence analysis suggested that these SmosOBPs belong to the Classic OBP subfamily.Ligand-binding analysis showed that all three SmosOBPs preferentially bound alcohol,ester and ketone com-pounds,and SmosOBP11 and 16 also selectively bound terpenoid compounds.In par-ticular,the three SmosOBPs had high binding affinities(Ki<20μmol/L)to 3-hexanol and cis-3-hexenylacetate that elicited strong electroantennogram(EAG)response fromfemale antennae.In addition,SmosOBP11 displayed significantly higher binding(Ki<8μmo/L)than SmosOBP16 and 21 to l-octen-3-ol,D-panthenol,a-pinene and heptyl acetate which elicited significant EAG response,suggesting that SmosOBP11 plays a ma-jor role in recognition and transportation of these volatiles.These findings have provided important insight into the molecular mechanism by which S.mosellana specifically rec-ognizes plant volatiles for host selection,and have facilitated identification of effective volatile attractants that are potentially useful for pest monitoring and trapping.
文摘Olfaction plays a major role in host-seeking behaviour of mosquitoes. An informat- ics-based genome-wide analysis of odorant-binding protein (OBP) homologues is under- taken, and 32 putative OBP genes in total in the whole genome sequences of Anopheles gam- biae are identified. Tissue-specific expression patterns of all A. gambiae OBP candidates are determined by semi-quantitative Reverse Transcription (RT)-PCR using mosquito actin gene a internal expression control standard. The results showed that 20 OBP candidates had strong expression in mosquito olfactory tissues (female antennae), which indicate that OBPs may play an important role in regulating mosquito olfactory behaviours. Species-specific expression pat- terns of all putative anopheline OBPs are also studied in two of the most important malaria vec- tors in A. gambiae complex, i.e. A. gambiae and A. arabiensis, which found 12 of the putative OBP genes examined displayed species-differential expression patterns. The cumulative relative expression intensity of the OBPs in A. arabiensis antennae was higher than that in A. gambiae (the ratio is 1441.45:1314.12), which might be due to their different host preference behaviour. While A. gambiae is a highly anthropophilic mosquito, A. arabiensis is more opportunistic (Vary- ing from anthropophilic to zoophilic). So the latter should need more OBPs to support its host selection preference. Identification of mosquito OBPs and verification of their tissue- and spe- cies-specific expression patterns represent the first step towards further molecular analysis of mosquito olfactory mechanism, such as recombinant expression and ligand identification.
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China(2012CB114104)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(30871640,31071694)+1 种基金the National High-Tech R&D Program of China(2008AA02Z307)the International Cooperation and Exchange Foundation of NSFC-RS of China(31111130203).
文摘The full-length sequence of the odorant binding protein 5 gene,HarmOBP5,was obtained from an antennae cDNA library of cotton bollworm,Helicoverpa armigera （Hübner）.The cDNA contains a 444 bp open reading frame,encoding a protein with 147 amino acids,namely HarmOBP5.HarmOBP5 was expressed in Escherichia coli and the recombinant protein was purified by affinity chromatography.SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis demonstrated that the purified protein can be used for further investigation of its binding characteristics.Competitive binding assays with 113 odorant chemicals indicated that HarmOBP5 has strong affinity to some special plant volatiles,including （E）-β-farnesene,ethyl butyrate,ethyl heptanoate,and acetic acid 2-methylbutyl ester.Based on three-dimensional （3D） model of AaegOBP1 from Aedes aegypti,a 3D model of HarmOBP5 was predicted.The model revealed that some key binding residues in HarmOBP5 may play important roles in odorant perception of H.armigera.This study provides clues for better understanding physiological functions of OBPs in H.armigera and other insects.
基金financially supported by the Green Development and Demonstration Programme(GUDP)(case number 34009-19-1585)。
文摘Background Post-weaning diarrhea(PWD)in piglets,often caused by F4^(+)enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli(ETEC),poses significant challenges in pig production.Traditional solutions like antibiotics and zinc oxide face increasing restrictions due to growing concerns over antibiotic resistance and environmental sustainability.This study investigates the application of bivalent heavy chain variable domain(V_(H)H)constructs(BL1.2 and BL2.2)targeting ETEC virulence factors,administered in feed to mitigate ETEC-induced PWD in weaned piglets.Results The supplementation of BL1.2 and BL2.2 in both mash and pelleted feed significantly reduced the diarrhea incidence and fecal shedding of F4^(+)ETEC in challenged piglets.Pelleted feed containing V_(H)H constructs helped to preserve gut barrier integrity by maintaining levels of the tight junction protein occludin in the small intestine.Additionally,the constructs maintained blood granulocyte counts at a similar level to the non-challenged control group,including neutrophils,and ameliorated the acute phase protein response after challenge.Notably,even at low feed intake immediately after weaning,V_(H)H constructs helped maintain piglet health by mitigating ETEC-induced inflammation and the resulting diarrhea.Conclusions Our findings demonstrated that using V_(H)H constructs as feed additives could serve as an effective strategy to help manage ETEC-associated PWD,by reducing F4^(+)ETEC gut colonization and supporting gut barrier function of weaned piglets.The high stability of these V_(H)H constructs supports their incorporation into industrial feed manufacturing processes,offering a more sustainable preventive strategy compared to traditional antimicrobial interventions,which could contribute to sustainable farming practices.
基金supported by the Grand Science and Technology Special Project in Shanxi Province(202201140601025-2)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32201749)supported by the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative Competitive Grant 2022-68013-36439(WheatCAP)from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
文摘The awn can contribute to photosynthesis and carbohydrates,enhancing grain yield in wheat.We mapped QAwn.sxau-5A,a major QTL for awn development in wheat(Triticum aestivum).This QTL was delimited to a 994-kb interval at the B1 locus on chromosome 5A,which included the candidate gene encoding a zinc finger protein(TraesCS5A01G542800)as an awn length inhibitor(ALI).The Ali-A1 allele for the awnless trait showed abundant sequence differences in the promoter regions compared to the ali-A1 allele for the long-awn trait.The results of the swap experiment on the promoters from the two ALI-A1 alleles showed that the two promoters caused a difference in the protein level,indicating the gene was regulated at the transcript level.However,the ali-A1 allele contained an SNP that caused a premature stop codon in its coding region,resulting in a truncated protein compared to the functional Ali-A1 protein.The Ali-A1 protein contained two ethylene-responsive element binding factor-associated amphiphilic repression(EAR)motifs,one at the N terminus(EAR-N)and the other at the C terminus(EAR-C),and they were involved in interactions with the wheat co-repressor protein TOPLESS(TPL1).The ali-A1 protein retained the EAR-N motif but lost the EAR-C motif,resulting in the attenuated ability to interact with TPL1.The tpl1 mutant produced a longer awn compared to the wild type.Ali-A1 repressed the transcription of two downstream genes,TaLRP-A1 and TaARF-B1,involved in endogenous auxin concentrations and auxin responses in wheat.We concluded that the awn length is regulated not only by the ALI-A1 gene at transcript levels but also by Ali-A1 and TPL1 at the protein level in wheat.
基金supported in part by funds from the Ministry of Science and Technology(2022FY101104).
文摘Recognizing essential proteins within bacteriophages is fundamental to uncovering their replication and survival mechanisms and contributes to advances in phage-based antibacterial therapies.Despite notable progress,existing computational techniques struggle to represent the interplay between sequence-derived and structuredependent protein features.To overcome this limitation,we introduce GLM-EP,a unified framework that fuses protein language models with equivariant graph neural networks.Bymerging semantic embeddings extracted from amino acid sequences with geometry-aware graph representations,GLM-EP enables an in-depth depiction of phage proteins and enhances essential protein identification.Evaluation on diverse benchmark datasets confirms that GLM-EP surpasses conventional sequence-based and independent deep-learning methods,yielding higher F1 and AUROC outcomes.Component-wise analysis demonstrates that GCNII,EGNN,and the gated multi-head attention mechanism function in a complementary manner to encode complex molecular attributes.In summary,GLM-EP serves as a robust and efficient tool for bacteriophage genomic analysis and provides valuable methodological perspectives for the discovery of antibiotic-resistance therapeutic targets.The corresponding code repository is available at:https://github.com/MiJia-ID/GLM-EP(accessed on 01 November 2025).
文摘BACKGROUND Ovarian cancer(OC)is the most lethal gynecological cancer among females,and its early diagnosis could help for better outcomes of the patients.AIM To investigate the utility of serum insulin-like growth factors-binding proteins 2(IGFBP2),secreted phosphoprotein 1(SPP1),thrombospondin 1 protein(TSP1)and D-dimer levels in addition to currently used biomarkers[cancer antigen 125(CA125)and human epididymis protein 4(HE4)]in the diagnosis of epithelial OC(EOC).METHODS This is a case-control study that included fifty females diagnosed with EOC,10 females with benign ovarian masses recruited from the Egyptian National Cancer Institute,and 30 healthy females as a control group.All subjects were assessed for serum HE4,CA125,IGFBP2,TSP1 and SPP1 measurement by enzyme-linkedimmunosorbent assay.RESULTS There was a statistically significant difference in serum levels between EOC,benign ovarian masses,and healthy control groups regarding CA125 and SPP1(P<0.001 for both markers),while HE4 and IGFBP2 increased significantly in EOC compared to healthy control groups(P<0.001 for all markers)with no significant difference between EOC and benign ovarian masses groups.However,there was no statistically significant difference among EOC,benign ovarian masses,and healthy control groups regarding the TSP1 serum levels(P=0.051).Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed that combined assessment of SPP1 with CA125 or TSP1 increased the diagnosis of EOC patients to a sensitivity,specificity,and area under curve of(93.3%,100%,0.968;respectively,P<0.001).CONCLUSION SPP1 may be a potential marker for the differentiation between benign and malignant ovarian masses,while IGFBP2 can differentiate between healthy females and females with ovarian masses.Combining SPP1 with CA125 or TSP1 provides high sensitivity and specificity for the detection of EOC patients.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.22073018,No.22377015).
文摘Intrinsically disordered proteins(IDPs)and their regions(IDRs)play crucial roles in cellular func-tions despite their lack of stable three-dimensional structures.In this study,we investigate the interac-tions between the C-terminal do-main of protein 4.1G(4.1G CTD)and the nuclear mitotic apparatus protein(NuMA)under varying pH and salt ion conditions to under-stand the regulatory mechanisms affecting their binding.4.1G CTD and NuMA bind effec-tively under neutral and alkaline conditions,but their interaction is disrupted under acidic conditions(pH 3.6).The protonation of positively charged residues at the C-terminal of 4.1G CTD under acidic conditions leads to increased electrostatic repulsion,weakening the overall binding free energy.Secondary structure analysis shows that specific regions of 4.1G CTD re-main stable under both pH conditions,but the C-terminal region(aa 990−1000)and the N-terminal region of NuMA(aa 1800−1810)exhibit significant reductions in secondary struc-ture probability under acidic conditions.Contact map analysis and solvent-accessible surface area analysis further support these findings by showing a reduced contact probability be-tween these regions under pH 3.6.These results provide a comprehensive understanding of how pH and ionic strength regulate the binding dynamics of 4.1G CTD and NuMA,emphasiz-ing the regulatory role of electrostatic interactions.
基金supported by the Beijing Natural Science Foundation(7232236)the National Key R&D Program of China(2022YFF1100104)。
文摘Introduction:Diet intervention,especially supplementation with high-quality protein,is considered to be a critical strategy in sarcopenia.However,different sources and types of protein have different health impacts.Objectives:The aim of this study is to explore the differences in the ameliorative effects and mechanisms of different sources and types of proteins on sarcopenia,providing an optimal path for the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia.Methods:A sarcopenia model was established by intraperitoneal injection of dexamethasone(5 mg/kg).Sixty male C57BL/6 mice(8 months old)were randomly divided into the normal control,sarcopenia,goat whey protein,goat milk casein,bovine whey protein,and bovine milk casein groups.Animals were treated for 8 consecutive weeks.Organism-level and molecular phenotypes,16S rRNA gene sequencing,and untargeted metabolomics profiling based on GC-TOF/MS were employed to investigate the correlation between host metabolism,microbial metabolism,autophagy and inflammation and their influence on sarcopenia in C57BL/6 male mice.Results:All 4 proteins increased muscle mass,and goat whey protein improved muscle strength in sarcopenic mice.Goat and bovine milk proteins promoted muscle regeneration by increasing MyoD1 and MyoG expression,and the former had a more distinct effect in inducing autophagy and decreasing inflammation than the latter.In addition,goat whey protein and casein could modulate hostmicrobial arginine co-metabolism.Notably,goat milk proteins responded well to sarcopenia comorbidities,including sarcopenic obesity,osteosarcopenia,and osteoarthritis.Conclusion:The study confirmed that goat milk proteins were more effective than bovine milk proteins for the control of sarcopenia.Moreover,we found that whey protein and casein could modulate host-microbial arginine co-metabolism,which shows their potential as precision nutritional supplements for the management of sarcopenia.Our study provides theoretical support for the prevention and control of sarcopenia.
文摘This article summarizes recent advances in the understanding of RNA-binding proteins(RBPs),with a focus on their roles in exercise-induced mRNA regulation and their implications for schizophrenia(SZ).RBPs are critical regulators of mRNA stability,splicing,transport,translation,and degradation,directly influencing gene expression through sequence-and structure-specific binding.In the nervous system,RBPs sustain synaptic plasticity,neural development,and neuronal homeostasis.Emerging evidence shows that exercise modulates the expression and activity of RBPs,thereby influencing mRNA translation and neurotransmitter signaling,which may underlie its beneficial effects on brain function.Dysregulation of specific RBPs has been identified in SZ,implicating them in disrupted synaptic transmission,impaired plasticity,and neuroinflammation.RBPs involved in memory and emotional regulation show marked dysfunction in SZ patients.Some RBPs have been proposed as potential biomarkers for early diagnosis and treatment monitoring.Moreover,therapeutic modulation of RBPs,through pharmacological or behavioral interventions such as exercise,may restore neuronal function by targeting post-transcriptional gene regulation.Exercise,as a non-invasive modulator of RBP expression,holds promise as an adjunctive strategy in SZ treatment,particularly in early stages.Further research into RBP-mediated pathways may offer novel insights into SZ pathophysiology and inform the development of targeted interventions.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32200399 to Y.W.,32125006 to S.G.)Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province(ZR2024ZD40 to S.G.,ZR2024MC112 to Y.W.)+4 种基金Young Talent of Lifting Engineering for Science and Technology in Shandong,China(SDAST2024QTA008 to Y.W.)Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(202441014 to Y.W.)Postdoctoral Fellowship Program of the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(CPSF)(GZC20232503 to Y.L.)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2024M753050 to Y.L.)Laoshan Laboratory(LSKJ202203203 to S.G.)。
文摘Bromodomain(BRD)-containing proteins are central mediators of gene regulation,serving as key components of chromatin remodeling complexes and histone recognition scaffolds.By specifically recognizing acetylated lysine residues on histones(Kac)via their conserved BRD,these proteins influence chromatin structure and gene expression.Although their overarching role is well-established,the precise molecular functions and mechanisms of individual BRD proteins remain incompletely characterized.The ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila,a unicellular eukaryote with a transcriptionally active macronucleus enriched in histone acetylation,is an excellent model for exploring the significance of BRD-containing proteins.In this comprehensive review,all BRD-containing proteins encoded in the T.thermophila genome are systematically examined,including their expression profiles,histone acetylation targets,interacting proteins,and potential roles.This review lays the groundwork for future investigations into the complex roles of BRD proteins in chromatin remodeling and transcription regulation,offering insights into basic eukaryotic biology and the molecular mechanisms underlying BRD-linked diseases.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.82373722,22077144)Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(No.2023JJ30527)+2 种基金Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(No.2023B1515040006)Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Construction Foundation(No.2023B1212060022)Key Research and Development Program of Guangdong Province(No.2020B1111110003).
文摘Chemical modification of native peptides and proteins is a versatile strategy to facilitate late-stage diversification for functional studies.Among the proteogenic amino acids,lysine is extensively involved in posttranslational modifications and the binding of ligands to target proteins,making its selective modification attractive.However,lysine’s high natural abundance and solvent accessibility,as well as its relatively low reactivity to cysteine,necessitate addressing chemoselectivity and regioselectivity for the Lys modification of native proteins.Although Lys chemoselective modification methods have been well developed,achieving site-selective modification of a specific Lys residue remains a great challenge.In this review,we discussed the challenges of Lys selective modification,presented recent examples of Lys chemoselective modification,and summarized the currently known methods and strategies for Lys site-selective modification.We also included an outlook on potential solutions for Lys site-selective labeling and its potential applications in chemical biology and drug development.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.32070838 and 82301874)Open Fund of State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine,Nanjing Medical University(Grant No.SKLRM K202102)。
文摘Meiotic resumption in mammalian oocytes involves nuclear and organelle structural changes,notably the chromatin configuration transition from a non-surrounding nucleolus(NSN)to surrounding nucleolus(SN)in germinal vesicle oocytes.In the current study,we found that nuclear speckles(NSs),a subnuclear structure mainly composed of serine-arginine(SR)proteins,changed from a diffuse spotted distribution in mouse NSN oocytes to an aggregated pattern in SN oocytes.We also found that the SR protein-specific kinase 1(SRPK1),an enzyme that phosphorylates SR proteins,co-localized with NSs at the SN stage,and that NSN oocytes failed to transition to SN oocytes after the inhibition of SRPK1 activity.Furthermore,the typical structure of the chromatin ring around the nucleolus in SN oocytes collapsed after treatment with an SRPK1 inhibitor.Mechanistically,phosphorylated SR proteins were found to be related to chromatin as shown by a salt extraction experiment,and in situ DNaseⅠassay showed that the accessibility of chromatin was enhanced in SN oocytes when SRPK1 was inhibited,accompanied by a decreased repressive modification on histone and the abnormal recurrence of a transcriptional signal.In conclusion,our results indicated that SRPK1-regulated phosphorylation of SR proteins was involved in the NSN-SN transition and played an important role in maintaining the condensed nucleus of SN oocytes via interacting with chromatin.
基金support from the the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.12474199(RM)and 12374213(YC))Fundamental Research Funds for Central Universities of China(Grant No.20720240144(RM))111 Project(Grant No.B16029).
文摘Vesicles of lipid bilayer can adopt a variety of shapes due to different coating proteins.The ability of proteins to reshape membrane is typically characterized by inducing spontaneous curvature of the membrane at the coated area.BAR family proteins are known to have a crescent shape and can induce membrane curvature along their concaved body axis but not in the perpendicular direction.We model this type of proteins as a rod-shaped molecule with an orientation and induce normal curvature along its orientation in the tangential plane of the membrane surface.We show how a ring of these proteins reshapes an axisymmetric vesicle when the protein curvature or orientation is varied.A discontinuous shape transformation from a protrusion shape without a neck to a one with a neck is found.Increasing the rigidity of the protein ring is able to smooth out the transition.Furthermore,we show that varying the protein orientation is able to induce an hourglass-shaped neck,which is significantly narrower than the reciprocal of the protein curvature.Our results offer a new angle to rationalize the helical structure formed by many proteins that carry out membrane fission functions.
基金supported by JSPS(No.22H00350 to M.U.)Ministry of Health&Welfare,Republic of Korea(Korea Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health Industry Development Institute,No.HI19C1234 to H.K.)+3 种基金JST(the Establishment of University Fellowships towards the Creation of Science Technology Innovation,No.JPMJFS2123 to K.T.)supported and inspired by the International Collaborative Research Program of Institute for Chemical Research,Kyoto University(No.2024-84)Kyoto University On-Site Lab(Fudan-Kyoto Shanghai Lab)the international and interdisciplinary environments of JSPS CORE-to-CORE Program“Asian Chemical Biology Initiative”.
文摘Biomolecular condensates,also known as membraneless organelles,play a crucial role in cellular organization by concentrating or sequestering biomolecules.Despite their importance,synthetically mimicking these organelles using non-peptidic small organic molecules has posed a significant challenge.The present study reports the discovery of D008,a self-assembling small molecule that sequesters a unique subset of RNA-binding proteins.Analysis and screening of a comprehensive collection of approximately 1 million compounds in the Chinese National Compound Library(Shanghai)identified 44 self-assembling small molecules in aqueous solutions.Subsequent screening of the focused library,coupled with proteome analysis,led to the discovery of D008 as a small organic molecule with the ability to condensate a specific subset of RNA-binding proteins.In vitro experiments demonstrated that the D008-induced sequestration of RNA-binding proteins impeded mRNA translation.D008 may offer a unique opportunity for studying the condensations of RNA-binding proteins and for developing an unprecedented class of small molecules that control gene expression.
基金supported by grants from the Special Foundation of President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.,YZJJ2020QN27,YZJJ2021QN33)Anhui Provincial Natural Science Foundation(Grant No.,2108085MC79).
文摘HCLS1-associated protein X-1(HAX1)is a multifunctional mitochondrial protein involved in the regulation of apoptosis,a crucial process of programmed cell death,and mRNA processing.Despite its significance,limited structural data is available for HAX1,hindering a comprehensive understanding of its biological function.Notably,the caseinolytic mitochondrial matrix peptidase chaperone subunit B(CLPB)has been identified as an interacting partner of HAX1,yet the biophysical properties and binding affinity governing their interaction remain poorly defined.In this study,we present a thorough biophysical characterization of full-length human HAX1 and CLPB,accomplished through recombinant expression and purification.By employing size exclusion chromatography,dynamic light scattering,and circular dichroism spectroscopy,we successfully established their biophysical properties,revealing contrasting structural features,with CLPB displaying a-helical content and HAX1 exhibiting a disordered nature.Moreover,we employed solutionstate nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)spectroscopy to probe their binding affinity.Our findings demonstrate the formation of stable multimeric complexes between HAX1 and CLPB,and we quantified a dissociation constant in the low range of micro-molar for their high affinity interaction.These results lay the foundation for further in-depth investigations into the dynamics and energetics governing the HAX1-CLPB interaction,ultimately contributing to a comprehensive understanding of their functional mechanisms.
