Cancer Initiation,Progression and Resistance: Are Phytocannabinoids from Cannabis sativa L. Promising Compounds?

Cannabis sativa L. is a source of over 150 active compounds known as phytocannabinoids that are receiving renewed interest due to their diverse pharmacologic activities. Indeed, phytocannabinoids mimic the endogenous bioactive endocannabinoids effects through activation of CB1 and CB2 receptors widely described in the central nervous system and peripheral tissues. All phytocannabinoids have been studied for their protective actions towards different biological mechanisms, including inflammation, immune response, oxidative stress that, altogether, result in an inhibitory activity against the carcinogenesis. The role of the endocannabinoid system is not yet completely clear in cancer, but several studies indicate that cannabinoid receptors and endogenous ligands are overexpressed in different tumor tissues. Recently, in vitro and in vivo evidence support the effectiveness of phytocannabinoids against various cancer types, in terms of proliferation, metastasis, and angiogenesis, actions partially due to their ability to regulate signaling pathways critical for cell growth and survival. The aim of this review was to report the current knowledge about the action of phytocannabinoids from Cannabis sativa L. against cancer initiation and progression with a specific regard to brain, breast, colorectal, and lung cancer as well as their possible use in the therapies. We will also report the known molecular mechanisms responsible for such positive effects. Finally, we will describe the actual therapeutic options for Cannabis sativa L. and the ongoing clinical trials.     

属间远缘杂交水稻耐旱性生理特性的比较研究

采用在ＹＯＳＨＩＤＡ水稻专用培养营养液中添加一定量的ＰＥＧ ６０００的方法，比较研究了模拟干旱胁迫条件下属间远缘杂交新型水稻品种“远诱１号”（Ｙ）及其水稻亲本“圭６３０”（Ｇ）、高梁亲本“桃长红”（Ｔ）以及生产推广杂交组合“汕优６３”（Ｓ）等试验材料某些生态生理特性的差异。研究结果表明，在－１．０ＭＰａ的高渗胁迫下，Ｙ、Ｇ、Ｔ的萌发系数均有不同程度的下降，正常培养条件下的萌发系数ＧＣ分别为３６．９     

Dibutyltin-3-hydroxyflavone titrates a dissociable component (cofactor) of mitochondrial ATP synthase: An energy-transfer component linked to the ubiquinone pool

Dibutyltin-3-hydroxyflavone, Bu₂Sn(of), is a new fluorescence probe inhibitor of F₁F₀-ATPase and oxidative phosphorylation which inhibits by titration of an unidentified component of F₀. Its site of action is closely related to that of the trialkyltins and of venturicidin. This F₀ component is part of a pool of this component which is present in the heart mitochondrial inner membrane at levels of 5–7 nmol (mg protein)^?1 [18 ± 3 Bu₂Sn(of) sites per mol F₁F₀-ATPase]. However, ATPase activity in submitochondrial particles is near maximally inhibited by titration of approx. three Bu₂Sn(of) sites per mol F₁F₀-ATPase. Over 60% (60–80%) of the Bu₂Sn(of) interaction sites can be lost during the purification of F₁F₀-ATPase from submitochondrial particles. The number of Bu₂Sn(of) interaction sites in various F₁F₀-ATPase preparations is variable. The high numbers of Bu₂Sn(of) sites per mol F₁F₀-ATPase for heart mitochondria (18–21) and submitochondrial particles (15–19.5) decline in ATP synthase (11–15) to the low values obtained in Complex V (7–10.5) and the minimal values observed in highly purified F₁F₀?ATPase (3.5–5.6), thus indicating a variable dissociable component or cofactor of ATP synthase. The Bu₂Sn(of) interaction site, a component of ATP synthase, is responsive to the redox status of the respiratory chain and the interaction with Bu₂Sn(of) is with the reduced form of this component. Fluorescence titration studies show that this component is in redox equilibrium with the ubiquinone pool of the respiratory chain. It is proposed that this redox component serves as an inhibitor titratable cofactor pool which cycles through an F₀ interaction site (or sites) via a system which serves as an energy-transfer link between the respiratory chain and ATP synthase.     

一个在水稻胚胎中差异表达基因的分离鉴定

通过筛选水稻开花后48～50h的原胚和120～122h的分化胚的cDNA文库,得到一个在胚胎发育过程中表达有差异的克隆,命名为OsEES,测序结果显示OsEES含有一个预测的亚精氨合成酶结构域,编码一个大小约38×103(pI6.5)的蛋白.同时RNA原位杂交的结果显示开花48～50h的原胚中的信号强度明显大于开花120～122h的分化胚,表明OsEES可能在水稻胚胎发生过程中起到一定的调控作用.     

试剂加入次序不同造成镉对肝脂质过氧化的诱导或拮抗作用

采用TBA检测方法，体外观察了CaCl2对大鼠线粒体脂质过氧化产物丙二醛(MDA)生成的毒性作用和对半胱氨酸-Fe^2 诱导的线粒体脂质过氧化的影响。结果表明，1 μmol／L～1mol／L CdCl2均能诱导肝线粒体的脂质过氧化，使MDA含量增加，但只有CdCl2浓度高于1 mmol／L时，诱导作用才与对照组有显著性差异。在Fe^2 -Cd^2 半胱氨酸共同对肝线粒体作用时，由于试剂加入顺序的不同，100～1000 mmol／L CdCl2对线粒体脂质过氧化可产生诱导或拮抗作用。结果提示，CdCl2可直接诱导线粒体脂质过氧化，在做几种金属离子体外协同对肝脂质过氧化影响的实验时，应考虑试剂加入顺序所产生的不同影响。     

线粒体热化学研究──Ⅳ．鱼类肝脏线粒体代谢的微量热学研究

线粒体热化学研究──Ⅳ．鱼类肝脏线粒体代谢的微量热学研究谭安民，刘义，谢昌礼，屈松生，顾贫，邓凤姣（武汉大学化学系武汉４３００７２）（武汉大学生命科学院武汉）关键词鱼肝脏，线粒体，微量热学，热化学线粒体在能量代谢的过程中，除一部分能量用于合成ＡＴＰ外...     

2-Deoxy-d-glucose Promotes Buforin IIb-Induced Cytotoxicity in Prostate Cancer DU145 Cells and Xenograft Tumors

Inhibition of the glycolytic pathway is a critical strategy in anticancer therapy because of the role of aerobic glycolysis in cancer cells. The glycolytic inhibitor 2-Deoxy-d-glucose (2-DG) has shown potential in combination with other anticancer agents. Buforin IIb is an effective antimicrobial peptide (AMP) with broad-spectrum anticancer activity and selectivity. The efficacy of combination treatment with 2-DG and buforin IIb in prostate cancer remains unknown. Here, we tested the efficacy of buforin IIb as a mitochondria-targeting AMP in the androgen-independent human prostate cancer cell line DU145. Combining 2-DG with buforin IIb had a synergistic toxic effect on DU145 cells and mouse xenograft tumors. Combination treatment with 2-DG and buforin IIb caused stronger proliferation inhibition, greater G1 cell cycle arrest, and higher apoptosis than either treatment alone. Combination treatment dramatically decreased L-lactate production and intracellular ATP levels, indicating severe inhibition of glycolysis and ATP production. Flow cytometry and confocal laser scanning microscopy results indicate that 2-DG may increase buforin IIb uptake by DU145 cells, thereby increasing the mitochondria-targeting capacity of buforin IIb. This may partly explain the effect of combination treatment on enhancing buforin IIb-induced apoptosis. Consistently, 2-DG increased mitochondrial dysfunction and upregulated Bax/Bcl-2, promoting cytochrome c release to initiate procaspase 3 cleavage induced by buforin IIb. These results suggest that 2-DG sensitizes prostate cancer DU145 cells to buforin IIb. Moreover, combination treatment caused minimal hemolysis and cytotoxicity to normal WPMY-1 cells. Collectively, the current study demonstrates that dual targeting of glycolysis and mitochondria by 2-DG and buforin IIb may be an effective anticancer strategy for the treatment of some advanced prostate cancer.     

The interaction of coordinationally unsaturated 2,9-dimethylphenanthroline cobalt complex with adenine nucleotides

The study of complex formation between adenosine triphosphate (ATP) or adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and coordinationally unsaturated cobalt complex with 2, 9-dimethyl-o-phenanthroline (L) showed the possibility of formation of relatively stable mixed ligand complex CoL·ATP (log=4.45). The latter may be formed under the oxidative phosphorylation conditions in mitochondria. The presence of ATP in the complex provides the specific inhibition of the ATPase active center.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 4, pp. 744–748, April, 1994.     

A microcalorimetric study of the action of mercuric chloride on the metabolism of mitochondria isolated from Cyprinus carpio liver tissue

After the occurrence of 'Minamata disease' in 1950, mercury aroused much more attention, and lots of studies concerned have been made. The purpose of the present paper is to study the effect of mercuric chloride on the mitochondria suspension isolated from the liver tissue of Cyprinus carpio from the direct viewpoint of energy by using the microcalorimetric method. The metabolic thermogenic curves of the mitochondria suspension at 25°C were obtained, and the mitochondria metabolic thermokinetic equations were established, from which we obtained the thermodynamic and thermokinetic parameters: thermogenic rate constant (k), heat output (Q), average heat power (P_av), etc. Experimental results indicated that low concentration of mercuric chloride (5 nmol Hg²⁺/(mg protein)) stimulates the thermogenesis of mitochondria, suggesting a strong effect of uncoupling action, while high concentration of mercuric chloride (20 nmol Hg²⁺/(mg protein)) inhibits the metabolism of mitochondria completely, suggesting a fatal effect on the phosphorylation system. The effect of Hg²⁺ on mitochondria is concentration-depended, from which the probable reaction mechanism of Hg²⁺ to the mitochondria was proposed. So the microcalorimetric method can be used in the toxicology research.     

Studying dispersoid systems

Summary Measurements of energy transformation in mitochondria are done on a capillary differential titration calorimeter CTD2156. It is important to mention that a sediment is quickly formed by the mitochondria suspension without mixing by means of a vibrating needle. During the measurements, the vibrating needle is located inside the working volume of the chamber. The design of the calorimeter is substantiated theoretically. It provides a new mode of a reagent input in the measuring volume of the calorimetric chambers. It expands the spectrum of tasks that can be solved using this instrument. In the capillary calorimeter the calorimetric chambers unit is simple and small in size. These advantages of capillary chambers provide an opportunity to unite 20 capillary calorimetric chambers in one calorimetric block. It allows designing a multi-channel titration calorimeter. There are obvious advantages of such a calorimeter over other instruments in screening researches and in researches of objects maintaining stability only for a short time.