10月16日,，日本一研究小組在15日的《歐洲分子生物學組織通訊》網(wǎng)絡版上發(fā)表論文說,，他們破解了對生殖細胞形成具有重要作用的一種蛋白質(zhì)結(jié)構。
“Nanos”是眾多動物形成生殖細胞所必需的蛋白質(zhì),，這種蛋白質(zhì)一旦出現(xiàn)異常就會導致不孕,，因此對其結(jié)構的成功破解有助于探究不孕癥的原因。
橫濱市立大學和三重大學聯(lián)合研究小組通過技術手段,，使鯉科斑馬魚的“Nanos”蛋白質(zhì)在大腸桿菌中大量表達,，然后提煉出該蛋白質(zhì)并使其結(jié)晶,。之后，研究人員利用高強度X射線設備成功對該蛋白質(zhì)的結(jié)構進行了分析,。結(jié)果發(fā)現(xiàn),，“Nanos”的結(jié)構不同于已知的任何一種蛋白質(zhì)。
參與這項研究的橋本博表示,，對“Nanos”的研究有望獲得飛躍性進展，希望成果能夠幫助解開生殖細胞形成的具體機制,。（生物谷Bioon.com）
生物谷推薦英文摘要：
EMBO doi:10.1038/embor.2010.155
Crystal structure of zinc-finger domain of Nanos and its functional implications
Hiroshi Hashimoto1, Kodai Hara1,*,?, Asami Hishiki1,*, Shigeta Kawaguchi1, Naoki Shichijo1, Keishi Nakamura2, Satoru Unzai1, Yutaka Tamaru2, Toshiyuki Shimizu3 & Mamoru Sato1
1 Graduate School of Nanobioscience, Yokohama City University, 1-7-29 Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
2 Graduate School of Bioresources, Mie University, 1577 Kurimamachiya, Tsu, Mie 514-8507, Japan
3 Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
Nanos is an RNA-binding protein that is involved in the development and maintenance of germ cells. In combination with Pumilio, Nanos binds to the 3′ untranslated region of a messenger RNA and represses its translation. Nanos has two conserved Cys-Cys-His-Cys zinc-finger motifs that are indispensable for its function. In this study, we have determined the crystal structure of the zinc-finger domain of zebrafish Nanos, for the first time revealing that Nanos adopts a novel zinc-finger structure. In addition, Nanos has a conserved basic surface that is directly involved in RNA binding. Our results provide the structural basis for further studies to clarify Nanos function.
