Glycosylated VCAM-1 isoforms revealed in 2D western blots of HUVECs treated with tumoral soluble factors of breast cancer cells

Background  

Several common aspects of endothelial phenotype, such as the expression of cell adhesion molecules, are shared between metastasis and inflammation. Here, we analyzed VCAM-1 variants as biological markers of these two types of endothelial cell activation. With the combination of 2-DE and western blot techniques and the aid of tunicamycin, we analyzed N-glycosylation variants of VCAM-1 in primary human endothelial cells stimulated with either TNF or tumoral soluble factors (TSF's) derived from the human breast cancer cell line ZR75.30.     

Identification of α-type subunits of the Xenopus 20S proteasome and analysis of their changes during the meiotic cell cycle

Background  

The 26S proteasome is the proteolytic machinery of the ubiquitin-dependent proteolytic system responsible for most of the regulated intracellular protein degradation in eukaryotic cells. Previously, we demonstrated meiotic cell cycle dependent phosphorylation of α4 subunit of the 26S proteasome. In this study, we analyzed the changes in the spotting pattern separated by 2-D gel electrophoresis of α subunits during Xenopus oocyte maturation.     

Mitochondrial activities in human cultured skin fibroblasts contaminated by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mycoplasma hyorhinis</Emphasis>

Background  

Mycoplasma contaminations are a recurrent problem in the use of cultured cells, including human cells, especially as it has been shown to impede cell cycle, triggering cell death under various conditions. More specific consequences on cell metabolism are poorly known.     

NMR characterisation of the minimal interacting regions of centrosomal proteins 4.1R and NuMA1: effect of phosphorylation

Background  

Some functions of 4.1R in non-erythroid cells are directly related with its distinct sub-cellular localisation during cell cycle phases. During mitosis, 4.1R is implicated in cell cycle progression and spindle pole formation, and co-localizes with NuMA1. However, during interphase 4.1R is located in the nucleus and only partially co-localizes with NuMA1.     

Synthesis and anticancer activity of some 1,5-diaryl-3-(3,4,5-trihydroxyphenyl)-1H-pyrazolo[4,3-e][1,2,4]triazines

Abstract  

The deregulation of cell cycle components in cancer cells has provided a rationale for the development of small molecule inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases as novel anticancer drugs. A series of 1,5-diaryl-3-(3,4,5-trihydroxyphenyl)-1H-pyrazolo[4,3-e][1,2,4]triazines was synthesized and their kinase inhibitory activity and cytotoxicity against several cancer cell lines has been evaluated. Some of the compounds of the series exhibited induction of caspase-dependent cell death and inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2).     

Biochemical characterization of Cdk2-Speedy/Ringo A2

Background  

Normal cell cycle progression requires the precise activation and inactivation of cyclin-dependent protein kinases (CDKs), which consist of a CDK and a cyclin subunit. A novel cell cycle regulator called Speedy/Ringo shows no sequence similarity to cyclins, yet can directly bind to and activate CDKs. Speedy/Ringo proteins, which bind to and activate Cdc2 and Cdk2 in vitro, are required for the G2 to M transition during Xenopus oocyte maturation and for normal S-phase entry in cultured human cells.     

Comparison of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mycobacterium tuberculosis</Emphasis> isocitrate dehydrogenases (ICD-1 and ICD-2) reveals differences in coenzyme affinity,oligomeric state,pH tolerance and phylogenetic affiliation

Background  

M.tb icd-1 and M.tb icd-2, have been identified in the Mycobacterium tuberculosis genome as probable isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICD) genes. Earlier we demonstrated that the two isoforms can elicit B cell response in TB patients and significantly differentiate TB infected population from healthy, BCG-vaccinated controls. Even though immunoassays suggest that these proteins are closely related in terms of antigenic determinants, we now show that M.tb icd-1 and M.tb icd-2 code for functional energy cycle enzymes and document the differences in their biochemical properties, oligomeric assembly and phylogenetic affiliation.     

Chemosensitization of Cancer Cells via Gold Nanoparticle‐Induced Cell Cycle Regulation

We have previously shown that plasmonic nanoparticles conjugated with nuclear‐targeting and cytoplasm‐targeting peptides (NLS and RGD, respectively) are capable of altering the cell cycle of human oral squamous carcinoma cells (HSC‐3). In the present work, we show that this regulation of the cell cycle can be exploited to enhance the efficacy of a common chemotherapeutic agent, 5‐Fluorouracil, by pretreating cells with gold nanoparticles. Utilizing flow cytometry cell cycle analysis, we were able to quantify the 5‐Fluorouracil efficacy as an accumulation of cells in the S phase with a depletion of cells in the G2/M phase. Two gold nanoparticle sizes were tested in this work; 30 nm with a surface plasmon resonance at 530 nm and 15 nm with a surface plasmon resonance at 520 nm. The 30 nm nuclear‐targeted gold nanoparticles (NLS‐AuNPs) showed the greatest 5‐Fluorouracil efficacy enhancement when 5‐Fluorouracil treatment (500 μm , 48 h) is preceded by a 24‐h treatment with nanoparticles. In conclusion, we show that nuclear‐targeted 30 nm gold nanoparticles enhance 5‐Fluorouracil drug efficacy in HSC‐3 cells via regulation of the cell cycle, a chemosensitization technique that could potentially be expanded to different cell lines and different chemotherapies.     

Reconstitution of licensed replication origins on Xenopus sperm nuclei using purified proteins

Background  

In order to ensure precise chromosome duplication, eukaryotes "license" their replication origins during late mitosis and early G1 by assembling complexes of Mcm2-7 onto them. Mcm2-7 are essential for DNA replication, but are displaced from origins as they initiate, thus ensuring that no origin fires more than once in a single cell cycle.     

Identification and characterization of endonuclein binding proteins: evidence of modulatory effects on signal transduction and chaperone activity

Background  

We have previously identified endonuclein as a cell cycle regulated WD-repeat protein that is up-regulated in adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. Now, we aim to investigate its biomedical functions.     

The PEST sequence does not contribute to the stability of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator.

Background  

Endoplasmic reticulum retention of misfolded cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) mutants and their rapid degradation is the major cause of cystic fibrosis (CF). An important goal is to understand the mechanism of how the misfolded proteins are recognized, retained, and targeted for degradation.     

The yeast <Emphasis Type="Italic">ISN1</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">YOR155c</Emphasis>) gene encodes a new type of IMP-specific 5'-nucleotidase

Background  

The purine salvage enzyme inosine 5'-monophosphate (IMP)-specific 5'-nucleotidase catalyzes degradation of IMP to inosine. Although this enzymatic activity has been purified and characterized in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the gene encoding IMP 5'-nucleotidase had not been identified.     

Knockdown of GGCT inhibits cell proliferation and induces late apoptosis in human gastric cancer

Background

Gamma glutamylcyclotransferase (GGCT) has been proved to be involved in various cancers, but the biological function of GGCT in gastric cancer is still largely unknown.

Methods

The expression level of GGCT was evaluated by informatics analyses based on the Oncomine database. GGCT gene was then effectively knocked down via lentivirus mediated short hairpin RNA (shRNA) system. Then a series of functional assays, including MTT, colony formation and flow cytometry analysis were conducted on gastric cancer cells following GGCT knockdown.

Results

We found GGCT is commonly up-regulated in gastric cancer tissues. Furthermore, MTT analysis showed that GGCT depletion significantly inhibited cell proliferation in MGC80-3 and AGS cells. Colony formation assay revealed that depletion of GGCT reduced the colony formation ability in gastric cancer cells. What’s more, cell cycle analysis showed that depletion of GGCT induced gastric cancer cell cycle arrested G2/M phase. More importantly, cell apoptosis analysis further revealed that GGCT inhibition induced early and late cell apoptosis in gastric cancer.

Conclusion

This study suggests GGCT is essential for gastric cancer proliferation and its downregulation may provide a potential anticancer therapy for gastric cancer.

     

Protein kinase A type I activates a CRE-element more efficiently than protein kinase A type II regardless of C subunit isoform

Background  

Protein kinase A type I (PKAI) and PKAII are expressed in most of the eukaryotic cells examined. PKA is a major receptor for cAMP and specificity is achieved partly through tissue-dependent expression and subcellular localization of subunits with different biochemical properties. In addition posttranslational modifications help fine tune PKA activity, distribution and interaction in the cell. In spite of this the functional significance of two forms of PKA in one cell has not been fully determined. Here we have tested the ability of PKAI and PKAII formed by expression of the regulatory (R) subunits RIα or RIIα in conjunction with Cα1 or Cβ2 to activate a co-transfected luciferace reporter gene, controlled by the cyclic AMP responsive element-binding protein (CREB) in vivo.     

Effect of Photobiomodulation on C2C12 Myoblasts Cultivated in M1 Macrophage-conditioned Media

Moderate levels of a proinflammatory macrophages phenotype are indispensable and play an important role in the skeletal muscle repair process since this response depends on their secreted products concentration to influence and modulate muscle inflammation as well as the differentiation of myoblasts. This study investigated the effects of photobiomodulation (PBM) on undifferentiated and differentiation-induced C2C12 myoblasts cultivated in different concentrations of M1 phenotype macrophage-conditioned media of J774 cells (MCM1) also submitted to PBM using the same irradiation parameters. Irradiation was performed once with low-level laser (780 nm, 70 mW, 1 J) and was evaluated cell viability, proliferation and differentiation, nitric oxide (NO) synthesis and IL-6 and TNF-α protein levels 24 and 48 h after C2C12 irradiation. PBM treatment in undifferentiated myoblasts exhibited lower IL-6 levels in the presence of nonirradiated MCM1 at both concentrations. Myoblasts in proliferation condition cultivated with irradiated MCM1 showed lower IL-6 and TNF-α levels after 48 h in the presence of both concentrations evaluated. PBM induced a decrease in the synthesis of NO on undifferentiated and differentiation-induced myoblasts. PBM was able to reduce the level of proinflammatory protein and markers, which are important to allow the differentiation of myoblasts during the muscle repair process.