Rig-I蛋白C端Helicase结构域的原核表达、纯化及其多克隆抗体制备

目的:为Rig-I蛋白结构与模式识别功能的深入研究提供灵敏、高效的免疫学检测试剂。方法:PCR法克隆小鼠Rig-I基因Helicase区编码序列(726～2240bp,编码241～746位氨基酸),构建带组氨酸标签的原核表达载体pET15b-mRig-I-H,阳性克隆经酶切、测序鉴定后转化E.coliBL21进行诱导表达。目的蛋白电泳分离并割胶纯化后免疫家兔制备抗血清。抗血清用ELISA、Western blot、细胞免疫荧光方法进行鉴定。结果:目的蛋白在大肠杆菌中获得了高效表达,制备的抗Rig-I抗体效价达到1∶100000,Western blot、细胞免疫荧光结果显示该抗体能够有效地对细胞内Rig-I蛋白的表达水平进行检测。结论:成功地对mRig-I-H进行了原核表达、纯化,抗mRig-I-H的多克隆抗体具有较高的特异性,为进一步研究Rig-I尤其是Helicase区的结构与功能奠定了坚实的基础。

鸭RIG-Ⅰ蛋白C端helicase结构域和RD结构域的原核表达及其单克隆抗体的制备

利用PCR技术将鸭维甲酸诱导基因Ⅰ(RIG-Ⅰ)helicase区和RD区部分编码序列分别进行扩增,并分别命名为c、d段;克隆到p ET30a原核表达载体,构建了重组原核表达质粒p ET30a-c和p ET30a-d,通过转化BL21(DE3)感受态菌、IPTG诱导、镍柱纯化表达蛋白,将纯化的c、d蛋白免疫小鼠制备单克隆抗体(m Ab),采用ELISA、Western blot和间接免疫荧光试验对单克隆抗体进行鉴定分析。获得鼠抗鸭RIG-Ⅰ单克隆抗体有14株与原核分段表达的c、d蛋白有良好的反应性,其中3株与真核表达的RIG-Ⅰ蛋白有良好的反应性。制备的鼠抗鸭RIG-Ⅰ单克隆抗体为RIG-Ⅰ在抗病毒天然免疫信号转导途径的研究奠定了基础。

Structural elucidation of SARS-CoV-2 vital proteins: Computational methods reveal potential drug candidates against main protease, Nsp12 polymerase and Nsp13 helicase

Recently emerged SARS-CoV-2 caused a major outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)and instigated a widespread fear,threatening global health safety.To date,no licensed antiviral drugs or vaccines are available against COVID-19 although several clinical trials are under way to test possible therapies.During this urgent situation,computational drug discovery methods provide an alternative to tiresome high-throughput screening,particularly in the hit-to-lead-optimization stage.Identification of small molecules that specifically target viral replication apparatus has indicated the highest potential towards antiviral drug discovery.In this work,we present potential compounds that specifically target SARS-CoV-2 vital proteins,including the main protease,Nsp12 RNA polymerase and Nsp13 helicase.An integrative virtual screening and molecular dynamics simulations approach has facilitated the identification of potential binding modes and favourable molecular interaction profile of corresponding compounds.Moreover,the identification of structurally important binding site residues in conserved motifs located inside the active site highlights relative importance of ligand binding based on residual energy decomposition analysis.Although the current study lacks experimental validation,the structural information obtained from this computational study has paved way for the design of targeted inhibitors to combat COVID-19 outbreak.

Heat shock protein 90 promotes RNA helicase DDX5 accumulation and exacerbates hepatocellular carcinoma by inhibiting autophagy

Objective:Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC),the main type of liver cancer,has a high morbidity and mortality,and a poor prognosis.RNA helicase DDX5,which acts as a transcriptional co-regulator,is overexpressed in most malignant tumors and promotes cancer cell growth.Heat shock protein 90(HSP90)is an important molecular chaperone in the conformational maturation and stabilization of numerous proteins involved in cell growth or survival.Methods:DDX5 m RNA and protein expression in surgically resected HCC tissues from 24 Asian patients were detected by quantitative real-time PCR and Western blot,respectively.The interaction of DDX5-HSP90 was determined by molecular docking,immunoprecipitation,and laser scanning confocal microscopy.The autophagy signal was detected by Western blot.The cell functions and signaling pathways of DDX5 were determined in 2 HCC cell lines.Two different murine HCC xenograft models were used to determine the function of DDX5 and the therapeutic effect of an HSP90 inhibitor.Results:HSP90 interacted directly with DDX5 and inhibited DDX5 protein degradation in the AMPK/ULK1-regulated autophagy pathway.The subsequent accumulation of DDX5 protein induced the malignant phenotype of HCC by activating theβ-catenin signaling pathway.The silencing of DDX5 or treatment with HSP90 inhibitor both blocked in vivo tumor growth in a murine HCC xenograft model.High levels of HSP90 and DDX5 protein were associated with poor prognoses.Conclusions:HSP90 interacted with DDX5 protein and subsequently protected DDX5 protein from AMPK/ULK1-regulated autophagic degradation.DDX5 and HSP90 are therefore potential therapeutic targets for HCC.

Effects of Mercury on the Structure and Activity of BLM642-1290 Recombinant Helicase

Objective Bloom’s syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by genomic instability and a predisposition to many cancers. Mutations of the BLM gene （encoding a BLM helicase） may form a structure of the etiology of this disease. As a global pollutant, mercury poses a major threat to human health. The current study was conducted to elucidate the effects of Hg^2＋ on the structure and activity of BLM642‐1290 recombinant helicase, and to further explore the molecular mechanisms of mercury toxicity to the DNA helicase. Methods The effects of Hg^2＋ on biological activity and structure of BLM642‐1290 recombinant helicase were determined by fluorescence polarized, ultraviolet spectroscopic, and free‐phosphorus assay technologies, respectively. Results The helicase activity, the DNA‐binding activity, and the ATPase activity of BLM642‐1290 recombinant helicase were inhibited by Hg^2＋ treatment. The LMCT （ligand‐to‐metal charge transition） peaks of the helicase were enhanced with the increase of the Hg^2＋ level. The LMCT peaks of the same concentration of helicase gradually increased over time. Conclusions The biological activity of BLM642‐1290 recombinant helicase is inhibited by Hg^2＋ treatment. The conformation of the helicase is significantly altered by Hg^2＋ . There exist two binding sites between Hg^2＋ and the helicase, which are located in the amino acid residues 1063‐1066 and 940‐944 of the helicase, respectively.

Potent in vitro Interference of Fleroxacin in DNA-binding,Unwinding and ATPase Activities of Bloom Helicase

Objective To study the effect of fleroxacin （FLRX） on biological properties of Bloom （BLM） helicase catalytic core （BLM 642-2290 helicase） in vitro and the molecular mechanism of interaction between the two molecules. Methods DNA-binding and unwinding activities of BLM 642-1290 helicase were assayed by fluorescence polarization and gel retardation assay under conditions that the helicase was subjected to different concentrations of FLRX. Effect of FLRX on helicase ATPase activity was analyzed by phosphorus-free assay based on a colorimetric estimation of ATP hydrolysis-produced inorganic phosphate. Molecular mechanism of interaction between the two molecules was assayed by ultraviolet and fluorescence spectra. Results The DNA unwinding and ATPase activities of BLM 642-1290 helicase were inhibited whereas the DNA-binding activity was promoted in vitro. A BLM-FLRX complex was formed through one binding site, electrostatic and hydrophobic interaction force. Moreover, the intrinsic fluorescence of the helicase was quenched by FLRX as a result of non-radioactive energy transfer. The biological activity of helicase was affected by FLRX, which may be through an allosteric mechanism and stabilization of enzyme conformation in low helicase activity state, disruption of the coupling of ATP hydrolysis to unwinding, and blocking helicase translocation on DNA strands. Conclusion FLRX may affect the biological activities and conformation of BLM 642-1290 helicase, and DNA helicase may be used as a promising drug target for some diseases.

Identification of the DEAD-box RNA helicase family members in grapevine reveals that VviDEADRH25a confers tolerance to drought stress

Grapevine growing areas are increasingly affected by drought,which has greatly limited global wine production and quality.DEAD-box is one of the largest subfamilies of the RNA helicase family,and its members play key roles in the growth and development of plants and their stress responses.Previous studies have shown the potential of DEAD-box genes in the drought stress responses of Arabidopsis and tomato,rice,and other crop species.However,information about DEAD-box genes in grapevine remains limited.In this report,a total of 40 DEAD-box genes were identified in grapevine and their protein sequence characteristics and gene structures were analyzed.By comparing the expression profiles of VviDEADRHs in response to drought stress in different grapevine varieties,nine candidate genes(VviDEADRH10c,-13,-22,-25a,-25b,-33,-34,-36,and-39)were screened based on expression profiling data.Combined with qRTPCR results,Vvi DEADRH25a was selected for functional verification.Heterologous overexpression of Vvi DEADRH25a in Arabidopsis showed the transgenic plants were more sensitive to drought stress than the control.Both electrolyte permeability and malondialdehyde content were significantly increased in transgenic plants,whereas the chlorophyll content and superoxide dismutase(SOD),peroxidase(POD),catalase(CAT),and ascorbate peroxidase(APX)enzyme activities were significantly decreased.Furthermore,VviDEADRH25a-overexpressing plants showed down-regulated expression levels of several drought stress-related marker genes,namely At COR15a,At RD29A,At ERD15,and At P5CS1,which indicated that they participated in the drought stress response.In summary,this study provides new insights into the structure,evolution,and participation of DEAD-box RNA helicase genes in the response to drought stress in grapevines.

RNA helicase DDX20 as a surrogate marker of statin activity in invasive breast cancer

OBJECTIVE To evaluate if RNA helicase DDX20,highly expressed in triple negative breast cancer(TNBC)cells,could serve as a surrogate marker for simvastatin treatment response.METHODS We first assessed correlation between 17 mevalonate pathway-related genes and expression of DDX20 in a cohort of 1325 breast cancer tumors.TNBC cells,MDA-MB-231,were then treated with simvastatin and mevalonate pathway intermediates to assess the alteration in DDX20 expression.In the mouse model,MDA-MB-231 cells were injected to tail veins of mice,groups of 8mice each were injected intraperioneally with vehicle or simvastatin 25mg·kg-1 3times a week for 6weeks.The number of metastatic colonies formed was quantified and immunohistochemical(IHC)staining of DDX20 was carried out in the lung tissues.RESULTS Among the 17 genes evaluated,positive correlation with DDX20 expression was observed in eight of them,with HMGCR having the highest correlation.Our in vitro experiments show exposure of breast cancer cells to simvastatin lead to a Rho-dependent decrease in gene expression of DDX20,leading to decreased tumor proliferation in a mevalonate pathway-dependent manner.Conversely,ectopic overexpression of DDX20 significantly abrogated the anti-metastatic activity of simvastatin.A similar observation is seen in the mouse model,where simvastatin-injected mice show significantly fewer visible lung metastases compared to placebo-fed mice.IHC staining on these lung tissues showed decreased DDX20 expression in simvastatin-injected group,corroborating our observations in vitro.CONCLUSION DDX20 is a potential surrogate marker for simvastatin treatment response in breast cancer and a long term implication of our findings is the possibility of an effective combinatorial therapeutic intervention using statins(to suppress DDX20 gene expression)and a suitable firstline agent″for the kill″of invasive breast cancer.

Computational biology approach to uncover hepatitis C virus helicase operation

Hepatitis C virus(HCV)helicase is a molecular motor that splits nucleic acid duplex structures during viral replication,therefore representing a promising target for antiviral treatment.Hence,a detailed understanding of the mechanism by which it operates would facilitate the development of efficient drug-assisted therapies aiming to inhibit helicase activity.Despite extensive investigations performed in the past,a thorough understanding of the activity of this important protein was lacking since the underlying internal conformational motions could not be resolved.Here we review investigations that have been previously performed by us for HCV helicase.Using methods of structure-based computational modelling it became possible to follow entire operation cycles of this motor protein in structurally resolved simulations and uncover the mechanism by which it moves along the nucleic acid and accomplishes strand separation.We also discuss observations from that study in the light of recent experimental studies that confirm our findings.

Helicase activity and substrate specificity of RecQ5β

RecQ5β is an essential DNA helicase in humans, playing important roles in DNA replication, repair, recombination and transcription. The unwinding activity and substrate specificity of RecQ5β is still elusive. Here, we used stopped-flow kinetic method to measure the unwinding and dissociation kinetics of RecQ5β with several kinds of DNA substrates, and found that RecQ5β could well unwind ss/ds DNA, forked DNA and Holiday junction, but was compromised in unwinding blunt DNA and G-quadruplex. Rec5β has the preferred unwinding specificity for certain DNA substrates containing the junction point, which may improve the binding affinity and unwinding activity of RecQ5β. Moreover, from a comparison with the truncated RecQ5β～（1-467）, we discovered that the C-terminal domain might strongly influence the unwinding activity and binding affinity of RecQ5β. These results may shed light on the physiological functions and working mechanisms of RecQ5β helicase.

Post-transcriptional regulation of DEAD-box RNA helicases in hematopoietic malignancies

Hematopoiesis represents a meticulously regulated and dynamic biological process.Genetic aberrations affecting blood cells,induced by various factors,frequently give rise to hematological tumors.These instances are often accompanied by a multitude of abnormal post-transcriptional regulatory events,including RNA alternative splicing,RNA localization,RNA degradation,and storage.Notably,post-transcriptional regulation plays a pivotal role in preserving hematopoietic homeostasis.The DEAD-Box RNA helicase genes emerge as crucial post-transcriptional regulatory factors,intricately involved in sustaining normal hematopoiesis through diverse mechanisms such as RNA alternative splicing,RNA modification,and ribosome assembly.This review consolidates the existing knowledge on the role of DEAD-box RNA helicases in regulating normal hematopoiesis and underscores the pathogenicity of mutant DEADBox RNA helicases in malignant hematopoiesis.Emphasis is placed on elucidating both the positive and negative contributions of DEAD-box RNA helicases within the hematopoietic system.

DEAD-box RNA helicases with special reference to p68:Unwinding their biology,versatility,and therapeutic opportunity in cancer

In the era of advancement,the entire world continues to remain baffled by the increased rate of progression of cancer.There has been an unending search for novel thera-peutic targets and prognostic markers to curb the oncogenic scenario.The DEAD-box RNA he-licases are a large family of proteins characterized by their evolutionary conserved D-E-A-D(Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp)domain and merit consideration in the oncogenic platform.They perform multidimensional functions in RNA metabolism and also in the pathology of cancers.Their bio-logical role ranges from ribosome biogenesis,RNA unwinding,splicing,modification of second-ary and tertiary RNA structures to acting as transcriptional coactivators/repressors of various important oncogenic genes.They also play a crucial role in accelerating oncogenesis by pro-moting cell proliferation and metastasis.DDX5(p68)is one of the archetypal members of this family of proteins and has gained a lot of attention due to its oncogenic attribute.It is found to be overexpressed in major cancer types such as colon,brain,breast,and prostate cancer.It exhibits its multifaceted nature by not only coactivating genes implicated in cancers but also mediating crosstalk across major signaling pathways in cancer.Therefore,in this review,we aim to illustrate a comprehensive overview of DEAD-box RNA helicases especially p68 by focusing on their multifaceted roles in different cancers and the various signaling pathways affected by them.Further,we have also briefly discoursed the therapeutic interventional approaches with the DEAD-box RNA helicases as the pharmacological targets for designing in-hibitors to pave way for cancer therapy.

The DEAD-box RNA helicase ZmRH48 is required for the splicing of multiple mitochondrial introns,mitochondrial complex biosynthesis,and seed development in maize

RNA helicases participate in nearly all aspects of RNA metabolism by rearranging RNAs or RNA–protein complexes in an adenosine triphosphatedependent manner.Due to the large RNA helicase families in plants,the precise roles of many RNA helicases in plant physiology and development remain to be clarified.Here,we show that mutations in maize(Zea mays)DEAD-box RNA helicase48(Zm RH48)impair the splicing of mitochondrial introns,mitochondrial complex biosynthesis,and seed development.Loss of Zm RH48 function severely arrested embryogenesis and endosperm development,leading to defective kernel formation.Zm RH48 is targeted to mitochondria,where its deficiency dramatically reduced the splicing efficiency of five cis-introns(nad5 intron 1;nad7 introns 1,2,and 3;and ccm Fc intron 1)and one trans-intron(nad2 intron 2),leading to lower levels of mitochondrial complexes I andⅢ.Zm RH48 interacts with two unique pentatricopeptide repeat(PPR)proteins,PPR-SMR1 and SPR2,which are required for the splicing of over half of all mitochondrial introns.PPR-SMR1 interacts with SPR2,and both proteins interact with P-type PPR proteins and Zm-m CSF1 to facilitate intron splicing.These results suggest that Zm RH48 is likely a component of a splicing complex and is critical for mitochondrial complex biosynthesis and seed development.

SARS-Coronavirus-2 Nsp13 Possesses NTPase and RNA Helicase Activities That Can Be Inhibited by Bismuth Salts

The ongoing outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019(COVID-19)has become a global public health emergency.SARScoronavirus-2(SARS-CoV-2),the causative pathogen of COVID-19,is a positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the family Coronaviridae.For RNA viruses,virus-encoded RNA helicases have long been recognized to play pivotal roles during viral life cycles by facilitating the correct folding and replication of viral RNAs.Here,our studies show that SARS-CoV-2-encoded nonstructural protein 13(nsp13)possesses the nucleoside triphosphate hydrolase(NTPase)and RNA helicase activities that can hydrolyze all types of NTPs and unwind RNA helices dependently of the presence of NTP,and further characterize the biochemical characteristics of these two enzymatic activities associated with SARS-CoV-2 nsp13.Moreover,we found that some bismuth salts could effectively inhibit both the NTPase and RNA helicase activities of SARS-CoV-2 nsp13 in a dose-dependent manner.Thus,our findings demonstrate the NTPase and helicase activities of SARS-CoV-2 nsp13,which may play an important role in SARS-CoV-2 replication and serve as a target for antivirals.

The DEAD-Box RNA Helicase DDX1 Interacts with the Viral Protein 3D and Inhibits Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus Replication

Foot-and-mouth disease virus(FMDV)can infect domestic and wild cloven-hoofed animals.The non-structural protein 3D plays an important role in FMDV replication and pathogenesis.However,the interaction partners of 3D,and the effects of those interactions on FMDV replication,remain incompletely elucidated.In the present study,using the yeast two-hybrid system,we identified a porcine cell protein,DEAD-box RNA helicase 1(DDX1),which interacted with FMDV 3D.The DDX1-3D interaction was further confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation experiments and an indirect immunofluorescence assay(IFA)in porcine kidney 15(PK-15)cells.DDX1 was reported to either inhibit or facilitate viral replication and regulate host innate immune responses.However,the roles of DDX1 during FMDV infection remain unclear.Our results revealed that DDX1 inhibited FMDV replication in an ATPase/helicase activity-dependent manner.In addition,DDX1 stimulated IFN-p activation in FMDV-infected cells.Together,our results expand the body of knowledge regarding the role of DDX1 in FMDV infection.

Structural basis of Zika virus helicase in recognizing its substrates

The recent explosive outbreak of Zika virus （ZlKV） infection has been reported in South and Central America and the Caribbean. Neonatal microcephaly associated with ZIKV infection has already caused a public health emergency of international concern. No specific vaccines or drugs are currently available to treat ZIKV infection. The ZIKV helicase, which plays a pivotal role in viral RNA replication, is an attractive tar- get for therapy. We determined the crystal structures of ZIKV helicase-ATP-Mnz＋ and ZlKV helicase-RNA. This is the first structure of any flavivirus helicase bound to ATP. Comparisons with related flavivirus helicases have shown that although the critical P-loop in the active site has variable conformations among different species, it adopts an identical mode to recognize ATPIMn2＋. The structure of ZlKV helicase-RNA has revealed that upon RNA binding, rotations of the motor domains can cause significant conformational changes. Strikingly, although ZlKV and dengue virus （DENV） apo-helicases share conserved residues for RNA binding, their different manners of motor domain rotations result in distinct individual modes for RNA recognition. It suggests that flavivirus helicases could have evolved a conserved engine to convert chemical energy from nucleoside triphosphate to mechanical energy for RNA unwinding, but different motor domain rotations result in variable RNA recognition modes to adapt to individual viral replication.

The interaction between the helicase DHX33 and IPS-1 as a novel pathway to sense double-stranded RNA and RNA viruses in myeloid dendritic cells

In eukaryotes, there are at least 60 members of the DExD/H helicase family, many of which are able to sense viral nucleic acids. By screening all known family members, we identified the helicase DHX33 as a novel double-stranded RNA （dsRNA） sensor in myeloid dendritic cells （mDCs）. The knockdown of DHX33 using small heteroduplex RNA （shRNA） blocked the ability of mDCs to produce type I interferon （IFN） in response to poly hC and reovirus. The HELICc domain of DHX33 was shown to bind poly hC. The interaction between DHX33 and IPS-1 is mediated by the HELICc region of DHX33 and the C-terminal domain of IPS-1 （also referred to MAVS and VISA）. The inhibition of DHX33 expression by RNA interference blocked the poly hC-induced activation of MAP kinases, NF-KB and IRF3. The interaction between the helicase DHX33 and IPS-1 was independent of RIG-I/MDA5 and may be a novel pathway for sensing poly I-C and RNA viruses in mDCs.

The RNA helicase DDX46 inhibits innate immunity by entrapping m^6 A-demethylated antiviral transcripts in the nucleus

With the support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China,the research team directed by Prof.Cao Xuetao(曹雪涛)at the National Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology&Department of Immunology,Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences,and the National Key Laboratory of Medical Immunology,Second Military Medical University,recently reported that RNA helicase DDX46is

Pan-cancer analysis identifies RNA helicase DDX1 as a prognostic marker

The DEAD-box RNA helicase(DDX)family plays a critical role in the growth and development of multiple organisms.DDX1 is involved in mRNA/rRNA processing and mature,virus replication and transcription,hormone metabolism,tumo-rigenesis,and tumor development.However,how DDX1 functions in various cancers remains unclear.Here,we explored the potential oncogenic roles of DDX1 across 33 tumors with The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)and the Genotype-Tissue Expression(GTEx)databases.DDX1 is highly expressed in breast cancer(BRCA),cholangiocarcinoma(CHOL),and colon adenocarcinoma(COAD),but it is lowly expressed in renal cancers,including kidney renal clear cell carcinoma(KIRC),kidney chromophobe(KICH),and kidney renal papillary cell carcinoma(KIRP).Low expression of DDX1 in KIRC is cor-related with a good prognosis of overall survival(OS)and disease-free survival(DFS).Highly expressed DDX1 is linked to a poor prognosis of OS for adrenocortical carcinoma(ACC),bladder urothelial carcinoma(BLCA),KICH,and liver hepatocellular carcinoma(LIHC).Also,the residue Ser481 of DDX1 had an enhanced phosphorylation level in BRCA and ovarian cancer(OV)but decreased in KIRC.Immune infiltration analysis exhibited that DDX1 expression affected CD8+T cells,and it was significantly associated with MSI(microsatellite instability),TMB(tumor mutational burden),and ICT(immune checkpoint blockade therapy)in tumors.In addition,the depletion of DDX1 dramatically affected the cell viability of human tumor-derived cell lines.DDX1 could affect the DNA repair pathway and the RNA transport/DNA replication processes during tumorigenesis by analyzing the CancerSEA database.Thus,our pan-cancer analysis revealed that DDX1 had complicated impacts on different cancers and might act as a prognostic marker for cancers such as renal cancer.

How two helicases work together within the TFIIH complex, a perspective from structural studies of XPB and XPD helicases

Xeroderma pigmentosum group B （XPB） and D （XPD） are two DNA helicases inside the transcription factor TFIIH complex required for both transcription and DNA repair. The importance of these helicases is underscored by the fact that mutations of XPB and XPD cause diseases with extremely high sensitivity to UV-light and high risk of cancer, premature aging, etc. This mini-review focuses on recent developments in both structural and functional characterization of these XP heficases to illustrate their distinguished biological roles within the architectural restriction of the TFIIH complex. In particular, molecular mechanisms of DNA unwinding by these helicases for promoter opening during transcription initiation and bubble-creation around the lesion during DNA repair are described based on the integration of the crystal structures of XPB and XPD helicases into the architecture of the TFIIH complex.