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Moutsiopoulou A, Broyles D, Joda H, Dikici E, Kaur A, Kaifer A, Daunert S, Deo SK. Bioluminescent Protein-Inhibitor Pair in the Design of a Molecular Aptamer Beacon Biosensing System. Anal Chem 2020; 92:7393-7398. [PMID: 32410446 PMCID: PMC7955708 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.0c00518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Although bioluminescent molecular beacons designed around resonance quenchers have shown higher signal-to-noise ratios and increased sensitivity compared with fluorescent beacon systems, bioluminescence quenching is still comparatively inefficient. A more elegant solution to inefficient quenching can be realized by designing a competitive inhibitor that is structurally very similar to the native substrate, resulting in essentially complete substrate exclusion. In this work, we designed a conjugated anti-interferon-γ (IFN-γ) molecular aptamer beacon (MAB) attached to a bioluminescent protein, Gaussia luciferase (GLuc), and an inhibitor molecule with a similar structure to the native substrate coelenterazine. To prove that a MAB can be more sensitive and have a better signal-to-noise ratio, a bioluminescence-based assay was developed against IFN-γ and provided an optimized, physiologically relevant detection limit of 1.0 nM. We believe that this inhibitor approach may provide a simple alternative strategy to standard resonance quenching in the development of high-performance molecular beacon-based biosensing systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angeliki Moutsiopoulou
- University of Miami, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Miami, Florida 33136, United States
- University of Miami, Department of Chemistry, Coral Gables, Florida 33146, United States
| | - David Broyles
- University of Miami, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Miami, Florida 33136, United States
| | - Hamdi Joda
- University of Miami, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Miami, Florida 33136, United States
| | - Emre Dikici
- University of Miami, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Miami, Florida 33136, United States
| | - Avinash Kaur
- University of Miami, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Miami, Florida 33136, United States
| | - Angel Kaifer
- University of Miami, Department of Chemistry, Coral Gables, Florida 33146, United States
| | - Sylvia Daunert
- University of Miami, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Miami, Florida 33136, United States
- Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Biomedical Nanotechnology Institute of the University of Miami, Miami, Florida 33136, United States
- University of Miami Clinical and Translational Science Institute, Miami, Florida 33136, United States
| | - Sapna K Deo
- University of Miami, Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Miami, Florida 33136, United States
- Dr. John T. Macdonald Foundation Biomedical Nanotechnology Institute of the University of Miami, Miami, Florida 33136, United States
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2
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Fliervoet LAL, Zhang H, van Groesen E, Fortuin K, Duin NJCB, Remaut K, Schiffelers RM, Hennink WE, Vermonden T. Local release of siRNA using polyplex-loaded thermosensitive hydrogels. Nanoscale 2020; 12:10347-10360. [PMID: 32369076 DOI: 10.1039/d0nr03147j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
One of the challenges for the clinical translation of RNA interference (RNAi)-based therapies concerns the deposition of therapeutically effective doses of the nucleic acids, like siRNA, at a local tissue level without severe off-target effects. To address this issue, hydrogels can be used as matrices for the local and sustained release of the siRNA cargo. In this study, the formation of polyplexes based on siRNA and poly(2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate) (PDMAEMA)-based polymers was investigated, followed by their loading in a thermosensitive hydrogel to promote local siRNA release. A multifunctional NPD triblock copolymer consisting of a thermosensitive poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM, N), a hydrophilic poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG, P), and a cationic PDMAEMA (D) block was used to study the binding properties with siRNA taking the non-thermosensitive PD polymer as control. For both polymers, small polyplexes with sizes ranging from 10-20 nm were formed in aqueous solution (HBS buffer, 20 mM HEPES, 150 mM NaCl, pH 7.4) when prepared at a N/P charge ratio of 5 or higher. Formulating the siRNA into NPD or PD polyplexes before loading into the thermosensitive PNIPAM-PEG-PNIPAM hydrogel resulted in a more controlled and sustained release compared to free siRNA release from the hydrogel. The polyplexes were released for 128 hours in HBS, when changing the release medium twice a day, while free siRNA was completely released within 50 hours with already 40% being released after changing the release medium just once. The release of the polyplexes was dependent on the dissolution rate of the hydrogel matrix. Moreover, intact polyplexes were released from the hydrogels with a similar size as before loading, suggesting that the hydrogel material did not compromise the polyplex stability. Finally, it was shown that the released polyplexes were still biologically active and transfected FaDu cells, which was observed by siRNA-induced luciferase silencing in vitro. This study shows the development of an injectable thermosensitive hydrogel to promote local and sustained release of siRNA, which can potentially be used to deliver siRNA for various applications, such as the treatment of tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lies A L Fliervoet
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), Faculty of Science, Utrecht University, PO Box 80082, 3508 TB Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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3
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Salim L, Islam G, Desaulniers JP. Targeted delivery and enhanced gene-silencing activity of centrally modified folic acid-siRNA conjugates. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:75-85. [PMID: 31777918 PMCID: PMC6943128 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz1115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Revised: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the major hurdles in RNAi research has been the development of safe and effective delivery systems for siRNAs. Although various chemical modifications have been proposed to improve their pharmacokinetic behaviour, their delivery to target cells and tissues presents many challenges. In this work, we implemented a receptor-targeting strategy to selectively deliver siRNAs to cancer cells using folic acid as a ligand. Folic acid is capable of binding to cell-surface folate receptors with high affinity. These receptors have become important molecular targets for cancer research as they are overexpressed in numerous cancers despite being expressed at low levels in normal tissues. Employing a post-column copper-catalyzed alkyne-azide cycloaddition (CuAAC), we report the synthesis of siRNAs bearing folic acid modifications at different positions within the sense strand. In the absence of a transfection carrier, these siRNAs were selectively taken up by cancer cells expressing folate receptors. We show that centrally modified folic acid-siRNAs display enhanced gene-silencing activity against an exogenous gene target (∼80% knockdown after 0.75 μM treatment) and low cytotoxicity. In addition, these siRNAs achieved potent dose-dependent knockdown of endogenous Bcl-2, an important anti-apoptotic gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lidya Salim
- Faculty of Science, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Oshawa, Ontario L1G 0C5, Canada
| | - Golam Islam
- Faculty of Science, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Oshawa, Ontario L1G 0C5, Canada
| | - Jean-Paul Desaulniers
- Faculty of Science, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, Oshawa, Ontario L1G 0C5, Canada
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4
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Ding LF, Su J, Pan ZH, Zhang ZJ, Li XN, Song LD, Wu XD, Zhao QS. Cytotoxic sesquiterpenoids from the leaves of Magnolia grandiflora. Phytochemistry 2018; 155:182-190. [PMID: 30145456 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2018.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Revised: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 08/12/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Nine previously undescribed sesquiterpenoids, named magnograndins A-I, as well as fourteen known ones, were obtained from the 70% acetone extract of the leaves of Magnolia grandiflora. Their structures were ascertained based on the spectroscopic evidences. The assignment of the relative configuration of magnograndin A was further confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. 1β,10α-Epoxyparthenolide, parthenolide, and micheliolide exhibited potent cytotoxic activity against MDA-MB-468, AGS, HCT116, Hela, and MDA-MB-231 human cancer cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 1.76 to 16.11 μM. 1β,10α-Epoxyparthenolide and micheliolide potently inhibited NF-κB transcriptional activity with IC50 of 13.92 and 8.95 μM, respectively. The expression levels of NF-κB downstream protein p65 and XIAP were clearly down-regulated in 1β,10α-epoxyparthenolide and micheliolide treated cells, which demonstrated the inhibition of NF-κB signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin-Fen Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China; School of Pharmaceutical Science & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Pharmacology for Natural Products, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Jia Su
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Zheng-Hong Pan
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Functional Phytochemicals Research and Utilization, Guangxi Institute of Botany, Guilin 541006, China
| | - Zhi-Jun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Xiao-Nian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Liu-Dong Song
- School of Pharmaceutical Science & Yunnan Key Laboratory of Pharmacology for Natural Products, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Xing-De Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China.
| | - Qin-Shi Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China.
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Kim Y, Kang YG, Choe JY, Lee D, Shin C, Hong SW, Lee DK. RNA Interference-Mediated Gene Silencing by Branched Tripodal RNAs Does Not Require Dicer Processing. Nucleic Acid Ther 2018; 28:44-49. [PMID: 29195056 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2017.0681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Specific gene silencing through RNA interference (RNAi) holds great promise as the next-generation therapeutic development platform. Previously, we have shown that branched, tripodal interfering RNA (tiRNA) structures could simultaneously trigger RNAi-mediated gene silencing of three target genes with 38 nt-long guide strands associated with Argonaute 2. Herein, we show that the branched RNA structure can trigger effective gene silencing in Dicer knockout cell line, demonstrating that the Dicer-mediated processing is not required for tiRNA activity. The finding of this study confirms the flexibility of the structure of RNAi triggers as well as the length of the guide strand in RNAi-mediated gene silencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanghee Kim
- 1 Global Research Laboratory for RNAi Medicine, Department of Chemistry, Sungkyunkwan University , Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Gyu Kang
- 1 Global Research Laboratory for RNAi Medicine, Department of Chemistry, Sungkyunkwan University , Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Yong Choe
- 1 Global Research Laboratory for RNAi Medicine, Department of Chemistry, Sungkyunkwan University , Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Dooyoung Lee
- 2 Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University , Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Chanseok Shin
- 2 Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University , Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sun Woo Hong
- 3 OliX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. , Suwon, Republic of Korea
| | - Dong-Ki Lee
- 1 Global Research Laboratory for RNAi Medicine, Department of Chemistry, Sungkyunkwan University , Suwon, Republic of Korea
- 3 OliX Pharmaceuticals, Inc. , Suwon, Republic of Korea
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6
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Bosmans RPG, Briels JM, Milroy LG, de Greef TFA, Merkx M, Brunsveld L. Supramolecular Control over Split-Luciferase Complementation. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2016; 55:8899-903. [PMID: 27356091 PMCID: PMC5113697 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201602807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2016] [Revised: 05/17/2016] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Supramolecular split-enzyme complementation restores enzymatic activity and allows for on-off switching. Split-luciferase fragment pairs were provided with an N-terminal FGG sequence and screened for complementation through host-guest binding to cucurbit[8]uril (Q8). Split-luciferase heterocomplex formation was induced in a Q8 concentration dependent manner, resulting in a 20-fold upregulation of luciferase activity. Supramolecular split-luciferase complementation was fully reversible, as revealed by using two types of Q8 inhibitors. Competition studies with the weak-binding FGG peptide revealed a 300-fold enhanced stability for the formation of the ternary heterocomplex compared to binding of two of the same fragments to Q8. Stochiometric binding by the potent inhibitor memantine could be used for repeated cycling of luciferase activation and deactivation in conjunction with Q8, providing a versatile module for in vitro supramolecular signaling networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralph P G Bosmans
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Institute of Complex Molecular Systems, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Den Dolech 2, 5612, AZ, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen M Briels
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Institute of Complex Molecular Systems, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Den Dolech 2, 5612, AZ, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Lech-Gustav Milroy
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Institute of Complex Molecular Systems, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Den Dolech 2, 5612, AZ, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Tom F A de Greef
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Institute of Complex Molecular Systems, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Den Dolech 2, 5612, AZ, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Maarten Merkx
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Institute of Complex Molecular Systems, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Den Dolech 2, 5612, AZ, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Luc Brunsveld
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Institute of Complex Molecular Systems, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, Den Dolech 2, 5612, AZ, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
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7
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Evans MR, Wei S, Posner BA, Unger RH, Roth MG. An AlphaScreen Assay for the Discovery of Synthetic Chemical Inhibitors of Glucagon Production. J Biomol Screen 2016; 21:325-32. [PMID: 26676097 PMCID: PMC5226228 DOI: 10.1177/1087057115622201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2015] [Accepted: 11/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Glucose homeostasis is primarily controlled by two opposing hormones, insulin and glucagon, and diabetes results when insulin fails to inhibit glucagon action. Recent efforts to control glucagon in diabetes have focused on antagonizing the glucagon receptor, which is effective in lowering blood glucose levels but leads to hyperglucogonemia in rodents. An alternative strategy would be to control glucagon production with small molecules. In pursuit of this goal, we developed a homogeneous AlphaScreen assay for measuring glucagon in cell culture media and used this in a high-throughput screen to discover synthetic compounds that inhibited glucagon secretion from an alpha cell-like cell line. Some of these compounds inhibited transcription of the glucagon gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R Evans
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Shuguang Wei
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Bruce A Posner
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Roger H Unger
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA Department of Medical Service, Veteran's Administration North Texas Health Care System, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Michael G Roth
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA Touchstone Diabetes Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
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8
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Cui JM, Kang LP, Zhao Y, Zhao JY, Zhang J, Pang X, Yu HS, Jia DX, Liu C, Yu LY, Ma BP. Steroidal Saponins from the Rhizomes of Aspidistra typica. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0150595. [PMID: 26937954 PMCID: PMC4777403 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0150595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2015] [Accepted: 02/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Eleven new furostanol saponins, typaspidosides B-L (1–11), one new spirostanol saponin, typaspidoside M (12), and five known spirostanol saponins, 25S-atropuroside (13), neoaspidistrin (14), (25S)-pratioside D1 (15), 25S-aspidistrin (16) and 25S-neosibiricoside (17) were isolated from the rhizomes of Aspidistra typica Baill. The structures of the new compounds were established using 1D and 2D NMR (1H-1H COSY, HMQC, HMBC and ROESY) spectroscopy, high resolution mass spectrometry, and chemical methods. The aglycones of 1–3 (unusual furostanol saponins with opened E ring type), 9 and 10 (the methoxyl substituent at C-23 position) were found, identified from natural products for the first time. Moreover, the anti-HIV activities of the isolated steroidal glycosides were assessed, and compounds 13, 14, 16 and 17 exhibited high active against HIV-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiang-Ming Cui
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing, 100850, PR China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, 410013, China
| | - Li-Ping Kang
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Dao-di Herbs, National Resource Center for Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yang Zhao
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing, 100850, PR China
| | - Jian-Yuan Zhao
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Ovation Health Science and Technology Co. Ltd., ENN Group, Langfang, 065001, China
| | - Xu Pang
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - He-Shui Yu
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing, 100850, PR China
| | - De-Xian Jia
- Ovation Health Science and Technology Co. Ltd., ENN Group, Langfang, 065001, China
| | - Chao Liu
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing, 100850, PR China
| | - Li-Yan Yu
- Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Bai-Ping Ma
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing, 100850, PR China
- * E-mail:
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9
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Möller K, Müller K, Engelke H, Bräuchle C, Wagner E, Bein T. Highly efficient siRNA delivery from core-shell mesoporous silica nanoparticles with multifunctional polymer caps. Nanoscale 2016; 8:4007-4019. [PMID: 26819069 DOI: 10.1039/c5nr06246b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
A new general route for siRNA delivery is presented combining porous core-shell silica nanocarriers with a modularly designed multifunctional block copolymer. Specifically, the internal storage and release of siRNA from mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) with orthogonal core-shell surface chemistry was investigated as a function of pore-size, pore morphology, surface properties and pH. Very high siRNA loading capacities of up to 380 μg per mg MSN were obtained with charge-matched amino-functionalized mesoporous cores, and release profiles show up to 80% siRNA elution after 24 h. We demonstrate that adsorption and desorption of siRNA is mainly driven by electrostatic interactions, which allow for high loading capacities even in medium-sized mesopores with pore diameters down to 4 nm in a stellate pore morphology. The negatively charged MSN shell enabled the association with a block copolymer containing positively charged artificial amino acids and oleic acid blocks, which acts simultaneously as capping and endosomal release agent. The potential of this multifunctional delivery platform is demonstrated by highly effective cell transfection and siRNA delivery into KB-cells. A luciferase reporter gene knock-down of up to 80-90% was possible using extremely low cell exposures with only 2.5 μg MSN containing 0.5 μg siRNA per 100 μL well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Möller
- Department of Chemistry and Center for NanoScience, University of Munich (LMU), Butenandtstrasse 5-13, 81377 Munich, Germany.
| | - Katharina Müller
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Center for NanoScience, University of Munich (LMU), Butenandtstrasse 5-13, 81377 Munich, Germany.
| | - Hanna Engelke
- Department of Chemistry and Center for NanoScience, University of Munich (LMU), Butenandtstrasse 5-13, 81377 Munich, Germany.
| | - Christoph Bräuchle
- Department of Chemistry and Center for NanoScience, University of Munich (LMU), Butenandtstrasse 5-13, 81377 Munich, Germany.
| | - Ernst Wagner
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Center for NanoScience, University of Munich (LMU), Butenandtstrasse 5-13, 81377 Munich, Germany.
| | - Thomas Bein
- Department of Chemistry and Center for NanoScience, University of Munich (LMU), Butenandtstrasse 5-13, 81377 Munich, Germany.
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10
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Wada SI, Urase T, Hasegawa Y, Ban K, Sudani A, Kawai Y, Hayashi J, Urata H. Aib-containing peptide analogs: cellular uptake and utilization in oligonucleotide delivery. Bioorg Med Chem 2015; 22:6776-80. [PMID: 25468041 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2014.10.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2014] [Revised: 10/28/2014] [Accepted: 10/30/2014] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
α-Aminoisobutyric acid (Aib)-containing peptide analogs derived from TV-XIIa, a cell-penetrating peptide (CPP), were synthesized to explore structure-activity relationships. The replacement of Aib at position 1, 5, or 9 in the TV-XIIa amino acid sequence with alanine (Ala) suppressed the cellular uptake,whereas the simultaneous substitution of the two proline (Pro) residues at positions 6 and 10 with Aib(P-IV) considerably increased the cellular uptake. In order to explore the potential use of the Aib-containing peptide analogs for the cellular delivery of oligonucleotides (ODNs), we synthesized a covalent conjugate (P-IV-AON) of a 15-mer antisense ODN, which is complementary to luciferase gene, with P-IV, and the antisense effect of the P-IV-AON conjugate on luciferase expression in A549 cells was examined. Luciferase expression was decreased in the presence of the conjugate upon treatment with the reaction buffer at the concentrations of 5 and 10 μM.
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11
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Mallinger A, Crumpler S, Pichowicz M, Waalboer D, Stubbs M, Adeniji-Popoola O, Wood B, Smith E, Thai C, Henley AT, Georgi K, Court W, Hobbs S, Box G, Ortiz-Ruiz MJ, Valenti M, De Haven
Brandon A, TePoele R, Leuthner B, Workman P, Aherne W, Poeschke O, Dale T, Wienke D, Esdar C, Rohdich F, Raynaud F, Clarke P, Eccles SA, Stieber F, Schiemann K, Blagg J. Discovery of potent, orally bioavailable, small-molecule inhibitors of WNT signaling from a cell-based pathway screen. J Med Chem 2015; 58:1717-35. [PMID: 25680029 PMCID: PMC4767141 DOI: 10.1021/jm501436m] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
WNT signaling is frequently deregulated in malignancy, particularly in colon cancer, and plays a key role in the generation and maintenance of cancer stem cells. We report the discovery and optimization of a 3,4,5-trisubstituted pyridine 9 using a high-throughput cell-based reporter assay of WNT pathway activity. We demonstrate a twisted conformation about the pyridine-piperidine bond of 9 by small-molecule X-ray crystallography. Medicinal chemistry optimization to maintain this twisted conformation, cognisant of physicochemical properties likely to maintain good cell permeability, led to 74 (CCT251545), a potent small-molecule inhibitor of WNT signaling with good oral pharmacokinetics. We demonstrate inhibition of WNT pathway activity in a solid human tumor xenograft model with evidence for tumor growth inhibition following oral dosing. This work provides a successful example of hypothesis-driven medicinal chemistry optimization from a singleton hit against a cell-based pathway assay without knowledge of the biochemical target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélie Mallinger
- Cancer Research
UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit at The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW7 3RP, U.K.
| | - Simon Crumpler
- Cancer Research
UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit at The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW7 3RP, U.K.
| | - Mark Pichowicz
- Cancer Research
UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit at The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW7 3RP, U.K.
| | - Dennis Waalboer
- Cancer Research
UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit at The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW7 3RP, U.K.
| | - Mark Stubbs
- Cancer Research
UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit at The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW7 3RP, U.K.
| | - Olajumoke Adeniji-Popoola
- Cancer Research
UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit at The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW7 3RP, U.K.
| | - Bozena Wood
- School
of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3XQ, U.K.
| | - Elizabeth Smith
- Cancer Research
UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit at The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW7 3RP, U.K.
| | - Ching Thai
- Cancer Research
UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit at The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW7 3RP, U.K.
| | - Alan T. Henley
- Cancer Research
UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit at The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW7 3RP, U.K.
| | | | - William Court
- Cancer Research
UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit at The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW7 3RP, U.K.
| | - Steve Hobbs
- Cancer Research
UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit at The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW7 3RP, U.K.
| | - Gary Box
- Cancer Research
UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit at The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW7 3RP, U.K.
| | - Maria-Jesus Ortiz-Ruiz
- Cancer Research
UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit at The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW7 3RP, U.K.
| | - Melanie Valenti
- Cancer Research
UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit at The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW7 3RP, U.K.
| | - Alexis De Haven
Brandon
- Cancer Research
UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit at The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW7 3RP, U.K.
| | - Robert TePoele
- Cancer Research
UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit at The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW7 3RP, U.K.
| | | | - Paul Workman
- Cancer Research
UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit at The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW7 3RP, U.K.
| | - Wynne Aherne
- Cancer Research
UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit at The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW7 3RP, U.K.
| | | | - Trevor Dale
- School
of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3XQ, U.K.
| | - Dirk Wienke
- Merck KGaA, Merck
Serono, 64293 Darmstadt, Germany
| | | | | | - Florence Raynaud
- Cancer Research
UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit at The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW7 3RP, U.K.
| | - Paul
A. Clarke
- Cancer Research
UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit at The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW7 3RP, U.K.
| | - Suzanne A. Eccles
- Cancer Research
UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit at The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW7 3RP, U.K.
| | | | | | - Julian Blagg
- Cancer Research
UK Cancer Therapeutics Unit at The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW7 3RP, U.K.
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12
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Vavilala DT, Ponnaluri VKC, Kanjilal D, Mukherji M. Evaluation of anti-HIF and anti-angiogenic properties of honokiol for the treatment of ocular neovascular diseases. PLoS One 2014; 9:e113717. [PMID: 25422886 PMCID: PMC4244131 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0113717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2014] [Accepted: 10/30/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathological activation of the hypoxia-inducible-factor (HIF) pathway leading to expression of pro-angiogenic genes, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), is the fundamental cause of neovascularization in ocular ischemic diseases and cancers. We have shown that pure honokiol inhibits the HIF pathway and hypoxia-mediated expression of pro-angiogenic genes in a number of cancer and retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell lines. The crude extracts, containing honokiol, from Magnolia plants have been used for thousands of years in the traditional oriental medicine for a number of health benefits. We have recently demonstrated that daily intraperitoneal injection of honokiol starting at postnatal day (P) 12 in an oxygen induced retinopathy mouse model significantly reduced retinal neovascularization at P17. Here, we evaluate the mechanism of HIF inhibition by honokiol in RPE cells. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments, we demonstrate that honokiol inhibits binding of HIF to hypoxia-response elements present on VEGF promoter. We further show using a number of in vitro angiogenesis assays that, in addition to anti-HIF effect, honokiol manifests potent anti-angiogenic effect on human retinal micro vascular endothelial cells. Our results suggest that honokiol possesses potent anti-HIF and anti-angiogenic properties. These properties of honokiol make it an ideal therapeutic agent for the treatment of ocular neovascular diseases and solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Divya Teja Vavilala
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, United States of America
| | - V. K. Chaithanya Ponnaluri
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Debolina Kanjilal
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Mridul Mukherji
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Missouri-Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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13
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Salimgareeva MK, Sadovnikov SV, Farafontova EI, Zaĭnullina LF, Vakhitov VA, Vakhitova IV. [Cellular test systems for the search for transcription factor activity modulators]. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 50:219-25. [PMID: 25272742 DOI: 10.7868/s0555109914020159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Test systems for monitoring activities and the search for substances activating or inhibiting transcription factors as biotargets have been designed on the basis of luciferase constructs containing binding sites for transcription factors CREB, NFAT, NF-kB, p53, STAT1, GAS, VDR, HSF1, and HIF1alpha. An assessment of the functional activity of reporter constructs has been carried out using their transient transfection into HEK293 cells followed by treatment with specific inducers. The functional activity of all reporter constructs was observed based on the increased luciferase expression. In order to evaluate the efficiency of the suggested test systems, aspirin was used. Incubation of cells transfected with the above-mentioned constructs treated with aspirin was accompanied by the suppression of NF-kB, HIF1alpha, GAS, VDR, and HSF binding activity. The findings revealed for NF-kB, NFAT, and STAT1 confirm the published data concerning the mechanisms of aspirin action. The detected effects of this drug on the HIF1alpha, GAS, VDR, and CREB activity have been demonstrated for the first time.
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14
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Gaziova Z, Baumann V, Winkler AM, Winkler J. Chemically defined polyethylene glycol siRNA conjugates with enhanced gene silencing effect. Bioorg Med Chem 2014; 22:2320-6. [PMID: 24613624 PMCID: PMC3994277 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2014.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2013] [Accepted: 02/06/2014] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The therapeutic application of siRNA suffers from poor bioavailability caused by rapid degradation and elimination. The covalent attachment of PEG is a universal concept to increase molecular size and enhance the pharmacokinetic properties of biomacromolecules. We devised a facile approach for attachment of PEG molecules with a defined molecular weight, and successful purification of the resulting conjugates. We directly conjugated structurally defined PEG chains with twelve ethylene glycol units to the 3'-terminal hydroxyl group of both sense and antisense strands via an aminoalkyl linker. The conjugates were easily purified by HPLC and successful PEGylation and molecule integrity were confirmed by ESI-MS. The evaluation of in vitro gene knockdown of two different targets in MCF-7 breast cancer cells showed stable pharmacologic activity when combined with a standard transfection reagent. Sense strand PEGylation even increased the silencing potency of a CRCX4-siRNA which had modest activity in its wild-type form. The results indicate that PEG chains at the 3'-terminus of both strands of siRNA are well tolerated by the RNAi effector. The attachment of short, chemically defined PEG chains is a feasible approach to improve the pharmacokinetic properties of siRNA, and can be combined with other targeted and untargeted delivery vehicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuzana Gaziova
- University of Vienna, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Volker Baumann
- University of Vienna, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Anna-Maria Winkler
- University of Vienna, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Johannes Winkler
- University of Vienna, Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Althanstraße 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
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15
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Wang Y, Li Y, Wang D, Li Y, Chang A, Chan WK. Suppression of the hypoxia inducible factor-1 function by redistributing the aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator from nucleus to cytoplasm. Cancer Lett 2012; 320:111-21. [PMID: 22306343 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2012.01.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2011] [Revised: 01/12/2012] [Accepted: 01/26/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator (ARNT) heterodimerizes with hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), followed by upregulation of genes that are essential for carcinogenesis. We utilized a novel peptide (Ainp1) to address whether the HIF-1α signaling could be suppressed by an ARNT-mediated mechanism. Ainp1 suppresses the HIF-1α-dependent luciferase expression in Hep3B cells and this suppression can be reversed by ARNT. Ainp1 reduces the interaction between ARNT and HIF-1α, suppresses the formation of the HIF-1 gel shift complex, and suppresses the ARNT recruitment to the vegf promoter. These effects are partly mediated by redistribution of the nuclear ARNT contents to the cytoplasm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Medicinal Chemistry, Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA 95211, USA
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16
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Moschos SA, Frick M, Taylor B, Turnpenny P, Graves H, Spink KG, Brady K, Lamb D, Collins D, Rockel TD, Weber M, Lazari O, Perez-Tosar L, Fancy SA, Lapthorn C, Green MX, Evans S, Selby M, Jones G, Jones L, Kearney S, Mechiche H, Gikunju D, Subramanian R, Uhlmann E, Jurk M, Vollmer J, Ciaramella G, Yeadon M. Uptake, efficacy, and systemic distribution of naked, inhaled short interfering RNA (siRNA) and locked nucleic acid (LNA) antisense. Mol Ther 2011; 19:2163-8. [PMID: 21971426 PMCID: PMC3242665 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2011.206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2011] [Accepted: 08/30/2011] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and small interfering RNA (siRNA) promise specific correction of disease-causing gene expression. Therapeutic implementation, however, has been forestalled by poor delivery to the appropriate tissue, cell type, and subcellular compartment. Topical administration is considered to circumvent these issues. The availability of inhalation devices and unmet medical need in lung disease has focused efforts in this tissue. We report the development of a novel cell sorting method for quantitative, cell type-specific analysis of siRNA, and locked nucleic acid (LNA) ASO uptake and efficacy after intratracheal (i.t.) administration in mice. Through fluorescent dye labeling, we compare the utility of this approach to whole animal and whole tissue analysis, and examine the extent of tissue distribution. We detail rapid systemic access and renal clearance for both therapeutic classes and lack of efficacy at the protein level in lung macrophages, epithelia, or other cell types. We nevertheless observe efficient redirection of i.t. administered phosphorothioate (PS) LNA ASO to the liver and kidney leading to targeted gene knockdown. These data suggest delivery remains a key obstacle to topically administered, naked oligonucleotide efficacy in the lung and introduce inhalation as a potentially viable alternative to injection for antisense administration to the liver and kidneys.
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Singal M, Finkelstein JN. Use of Indicator Cell Lines for Determining Inflammatory Gene Changes and Screening the Inflammatory Potential of Particulate and Non-Particulate Stimuli. Inhal Toxicol 2008; 17:415-25. [PMID: 16020038 DOI: 10.1080/08958370591002021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Ultrafine particulate matter, from environmental or industrial exposure, can induce the expression of inflammatory mediators and promote the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can damage the alveolar epithelium of the lung. Previous studies have shown that various cellular stresses can activate signaling pathways that operate through the specific transcription factors (TF), AP-1, and nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB that are known to regulate inflammatory gene expression. Persistent inflammation can induce a cascade of events that precedes the development of both acute and chronic fibrosis. From a murine Type II epithelial cell line, MLE15, a stable luciferase-transfected line, MLE15Luc2, was created. The luciferase reporter, operating under the guidance of a truncated human interleukin (IL)-8 promoter, contains NF-kappaB and AP-1 DNA binding sites. MLE15Luc2 cells were exposed to inflammatory or particulate stimuli, of varying size fractions and composition, under standard culture conditions, and inflammatory gene transcription, represented by luciferase enzyme activity, was determined. IkappaBalpha degradation appeared to be incongruent to changes in luciferase activity. The results were compared to those obtained using a stable luciferase-transfected human cell line, A549Luc1. Time-course data demonstrated increased luciferase enzyme activity, peaking by 6 h postexposure, and returning to baseline by 24 h, regardless of stimulus, in the absence of enhanced cytotoxicity. This suggests that key regulatory functions in these transfected cell lines are not clearly understood. These transfected cell lines may be useful for determining the inflammatory potential of various types of particulate and/or non-particulate stimuli; however, conclusive signaling information cannot be gained from their use alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhuri Singal
- Department of Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14642, USA
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Hellsten R, Johansson M, Dahlman A, Dizeyi N, Sterner O, Bjartell A. Galiellalactone is a novel therapeutic candidate against hormone-refractory prostate cancer expressing activated Stat3. Prostate 2008; 68:269-80. [PMID: 18163422 DOI: 10.1002/pros.20699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3) is constitutively active (phosphorylated) in several forms of cancer, including prostate cancer (PCa). Stat3 signaling may be an interesting target for cancer therapy since inhibition of this pathway mediates growth inhibition and apoptosis of these cells. In this study we investigated the in vitro and in vivo effects of the fungal metabolite galiellalactone, a direct inhibitor of Stat3, on PCa cells. METHODS The human PCa cell lines DU145, PC-3, and LNCaP were used. Nude mice with subcutaneous PCa cell xenografts were subjected to daily intraperitoneal injections of galiellalactone for 3 weeks. The effect of galiellalactone on the induction of apoptosis of cultured PCa cells was investigated by Western blot analysis, immunocytochemistry, and annexin V staining. Effects of galiellalactone on Stat3 signaling were investigated by a luciferase reporter gene assay. Expression of Stat3 associated proteins and mRNA was investigated by Western blot and real-time quantitative PCR analysis. RESULTS Galiellalactone induced apoptosis of p-Stat3 positive PCa cells (androgen-insensitive DU145 and PC-3) but not in cells lacking p-Stat3 (androgen-sensitive LNCaP). Galiellalactone inhibited Stat3-mediated luciferase activity (IC(50) approximately 5 microM) and reduced the expression of Bcl-2, Bcl-x(L), c-myc, and cyclin D1. Furthermore, galiellalactone significantly suppressed DU145 xenograft growth in vivo (42% growth reduction; P<0.002) and reduced the relative mRNA expression of Bcl-x(L) and Mcl-1. CONCLUSIONS Galiellalactone induced growth inhibition and apoptosis in androgen-insensitive PCa cells expressing p-Stat3. We suggest that galiellalactone is a potential anti-tumor lead against hormone-refractory PCa with constitutively active Stat3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecka Hellsten
- Division of Urological Cancers, Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.
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19
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Chan MY, Wai Man G, Chen ZY, Wang J, Leung LK. Oestrogen receptor α is required for biochanin A-induced apolipoprotein A-1 mRNA expression in HepG2 cells. Br J Nutr 2007; 98:534-9. [PMID: 17532863 DOI: 10.1017/s0007114507750857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Epidemiological studies have indicated that soya consumption may produce a better plasma lipid profile. The effect may be attributed to the phyto-oestrogens in soya. The red clover (Trifolium pratense) isoflavone biochanin A has a chemical structure similar to those phyto-oestrogens found in soya beans, and is marketed as a nutraceutical for alleviating postmenopausal symptoms. In the present study we investigated the effect of biochanin A on the mRNA expression of ApoA-1 in the hepatic cell line HepG2. Real-time PCR revealed that biochanin A increased ApoA-1 mRNA abundance in cells expressing oestrogen receptor (ER) α. Without ERα transfection, biochanin A had no effect on mRNA abundance. In order to study the transcriptional control, a fragment of the 5′-flanking region of theApoA-1gene was amplified and inserted in a firefly luciferase reporter plasmid. The reporter assay indicated that the transactivation of theApoA-1promoter was induced by biochanin A in HepG2 cells transfected with the ERα expression plasmid. This induction was reduced by the anti-oestrogen ICI 182,780, whereas the inhibitors of protein kinase (PK) C, PKA, or mitogen-activated kinase (ERK) had no suppressive effect. The present study illustrated that biochanin A might up regulate hepatic apoA-1 mRNA expression through an ER-dependent pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Yan Chan
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Room 507C, MMW Bldg, Shatin NT, Hong Kong
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20
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Ferrari N, Bergeron D, Tedeschi AL, Mangos MM, Paquet L, Renzi PM, Damha MJ. Characterization of antisense oligonucleotides comprising 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro-beta-D-arabinonucleic acid (FANA): specificity, potency, and duration of activity. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2007; 1082:91-102. [PMID: 17145930 DOI: 10.1196/annals.1348.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotides (AON) are being developed for a wide array of therapeutic applications. Significant improvements in their serum stability, target affinity, and safety profile have been achieved with the development of chemically modified oligonucleotides. Here, we compared 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro-beta-D-arabinonucleic acid (FANA)-containing AONs with phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides (PS-DNA), 2'-O-methyl-RNA/DNA chimeras and short interfering RNAs (siRNA) with respect to their target knockdown efficacy, duration of action and resistance to nuclease degradation. Results show that two different configurations of FANA/DNA chimeras (altimers and gapmers) were found to have potent antisense activity. Specific target inhibition was observed with both FANA configurations with an estimated EC50 value comparable to that of an siRNA but 20-to 100-fold lower than the other commonly used AONs. Moreover, the FANA/DNA chimeras showed increased serum stability that was correlated with sustained antisense activity for up to 4 days. Taken together, these results indicate that chimeric FANA/DNA AONs are promising new tools for therapeutic gene silencing when increased potency and duration of action are required.
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21
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Jang MK, Chae KR, Hwang DY, Kim CK, Kim BG, Shim SB, Jee SW, Lee SH, Shin JS, Lee SH, Chung NH, Cho JS, Choi SY, Kim YK. Glucocorticoid receptor represses the Dex-mediated induction of human androgen response element-linked Luc activity. Gen Physiol Biophys 2007; 26:56-61. [PMID: 17579255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
A human androgen response element (hARE), identified within intron 8 of the human sterol regulatory element-binding protein cleavage-activating protein, interacts with both glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and androgen receptors (AR). The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that human GR (hGR) might modulate the expression of a hARE-linked reporter gene by dexamethasone (Dex). The hypothesis was tested by: a) co-transfecting HepG2 cells with a hGR and a luciferase (Luc)-reporter gene for performing in vitro investigations and b) by their co-injection into the tail vein of mice for in vivo investigation. In vitro co-transfected cells and the in vivo co-injected mice were then treated with Dex. Our results have led us to concluded that both transfection and injection of the hGR leads to a repression in the Dex-mediated induction of hARE-linked Luc activity both in vitro and in vivo settings. These findings suggest that this assay system allows screening of drug candidates affecting to a signal transduction pathway of the GR and AR and may help in the future discovery and analysis of novel and selection of GR and AR agonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- M K Jang
- Division of Laboratory Animal Resources, National Institute of Toxicological Research, Korea Food and Drug Administra-tion, Seoul, Korea
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22
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Zhang YM, Wang Y, Xu QM, Lv BF, Ma DL. [Application of NF-kappaB reporter and Dual-Luciferase assays in the measure of bioactivity of interleukin-1beta and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist]. Beijing Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban 2006; 38:653-6. [PMID: 17173090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To develop a reporter gene system based on transient transfections with a NF-kappaB responsive reporter gene to detect the bioactivity of IL-1beta and IL-1 receptor antagonist. METHODS NF-kappaB reporter and Dual-Luciferase assays were applied to measure the bioactivity of IL-1beta and IL-1 receptor antagonist in mouse EL4 cells (some subclones of EL4 cells expressed high level of IL-1 receptor on cell surface). pNF-kappaB-luc and pRL-TK, used as an internal control, were co-transfected into EL4 cells and then the IL-1beta was added. RESULTS The results indicated that IL-1beta was able to induce the expression of this luciferase, which could be blocked by IL-1 receptor antagonist. The optimal dose of IL-1beta was 5 microg/L in Dual-Luciferase assay, whose bioactivity can be effectively inhibited by IL-1ra at 50 microg/L. CONCLUSION We have established a new method to detect the bioactivity of IL-1beta and IL-1 receptor antagonist, which can give repeatable results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-mei Zhang
- Department of Immunology, Peking University School of Basic Medical Science, Peking University, Beijing 100083, China
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Ausseil F, Samson A, Aussagues Y, Vandenberghe I, Creancier L, Pouny I, Kruczynski A, Massiot G, Bailly C. High-Throughput Bioluminescence Screening of Ubiquitin-Proteasome Pathway Inhibitors from Chemical and Natural Sources. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2006; 12:106-16. [PMID: 17175525 DOI: 10.1177/1087057106296494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
To discover original inhibitors of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, the authors have developed a cell-based bioluminescent assay and used it to screen collections of plant extracts and chemical compounds. They first established a DLD-1 human colon cancer cell line that stably expresses a 4Ubiquitin-Luciferase (4Ub-Luc) reporter protein, efficiently targeted to the ubiquitinproteasome degradation pathway. The assay was then adapted to 96- and 384-well plate formats and calibrated with reference proteasome inhibitors. Assay robustness was carefully assessed, particularly cell toxicity, and the statistical Ź factor value was calculated to 0.83, demonstrating a good performance level of the assay. A total of 18,239 molecules and 15,744 plant extracts and fractions thereof were screened for their capacity to increase the luciferase activity in DLD-1 4Ub-Luc cells, and 21 molecules and 66 extracts inhibiting the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway were identified. The fractionation of an active methanol extract of Physalis angulata L. aerial parts was performed to isolate 2 secosteroids known as physalin B and C. In a cell-based Western blot assay, the ubiquitinated protein accumulation was confirmed after a physalin treatment confirming the accuracy of the screening process. The method reported here thus provides a robust approach to identify novel ubiquitin-proteasome pathway inhibitors in large collections of chemical compounds and natural products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederic Ausseil
- Centre de Criblage Pharmacologique, CNRS-Pierre Fabre Joint Service Unit #2646, Toulouse, France.
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Tilley LD, Hine OS, Kellogg JA, Hassinger JN, Weller DD, Iversen PL, Geller BL. Gene-specific effects of antisense phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer-peptide conjugates on Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium in pure culture and in tissue culture. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2006; 50:2789-96. [PMID: 16870773 PMCID: PMC1538669 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01286-05] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective was to improve efficacy of antisense phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PMOs) by improving their uptake into bacterial cells. Four different bacterium-permeating peptides, RFFRFFRFFXB, RTRTRFLRRTXB, RXXRXXRXXB, and KFFKFFKFFKXB (X is 6-aminohexanoic acid and B is beta-alanine), were separately coupled to two different PMOs that are complementary to regions near the start codons of a luciferase reporter gene (luc) and a gene required for viability (acpP). Luc peptide-PMOs targeted to luc inhibited luciferase activity 23 to 80% in growing cultures of Escherichia coli. In cell-free translation reactions, Luc RTRTRFLRRTXB-PMO inhibited luciferase synthesis significantly more than the other Luc peptide-PMOs or the Luc PMO not coupled to peptide. AcpP peptide-PMOs targeted to acpP inhibited growth of E. coli or Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium to various extents, depending on the strain. The concentrations of AcpP RFFRFFRFFXB-PMO, AcpP RTRTRFLRRTXB-PMO, AcpP KFFKFFKFFKXB-PMO, and ampicillin that reduced CFU/ml by 50% after 8 h of growth (50% inhibitory concentration [IC(50)]) were 3.6, 10.8, 9.5, and 7.5 microM, respectively, in E. coli W3110. Sequence-specific effects of AcpP peptide-PMOs were shown by rescuing growth of a merodiploid strain that expressed acpP with silent mutations in the region targeted by AcpP peptide-PMO. In Caco-2 cultures infected with enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), 10 microM AcpP RTRTRFLRRTXB-PMO or AcpP RFFRFFRFFXB-PMO essentially cleared the infection. The IC(50) of either AcpP RTRTRFLRRTXB-PMO or AcpP RFFRFFRFFXB-PMO in EPEC-infected Caco-2 culture was 3 microM. In summary, RFFRFFRFFXB, RTRTRFLRRTXB, or KFFKFFKFFXB, when covalently bonded to PMO, significantly increased inhibition of expression of targeted genes compared to PMOs without attached peptide.
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Kim-Choi E, Danilo C, Kelly J, Carroll R, Shonnard D, Rybina I. Creating a mutant luciferase resistant to HPV chemical inhibition by random mutagenesis and colony-level screening. LUMINESCENCE 2006; 21:135-42. [PMID: 16502391 DOI: 10.1002/bio.897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Firefly luciferase covers a wide range of applications. One common usage of the bioluminescence assay is the measurement of intracellular concentration of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) for cell viability. However, inhibition of the enzyme reaction by chemicals in the assay has so far limited the application of luciferase for high production volume (HPV) chemical testing. The objective of this research was to obtain a mutant luciferase with increased stability to inhibition by HPV chemicals, yet retaining specific activity comparable to, or better than, wild-type luciferase. The enzymatic properties of the wild-type luciferase were improved by random mutagenesis and colony-level screening. In this paper, the detailed process of creating mutant luciferases for testing the toxicity of HPV chemicals is described. As a result, two mutant luciferases were created, with different degrees of improved tolerance to inhibition by chloroform and other HPV chemicals.
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Lee SH, McCormick F. p97/DAP5 is a ribosome-associated factor that facilitates protein synthesis and cell proliferation by modulating the synthesis of cell cycle proteins. EMBO J 2006; 25:4008-19. [PMID: 16932749 PMCID: PMC1560370 DOI: 10.1038/sj.emboj.7601268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2006] [Accepted: 07/12/2006] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
p97 (also referred to as DAP5, NAT1 or eIF4G2) has been proposed to act as a repressor of protein synthesis. However, we found that p97 is abundantly expressed in proliferating cells and p97 is recruited to ribosomes following growth factor stimulation. We also report that p97 binds eIF2beta through its C-terminal domain and localizes to ribosome through its N-terminal MIF4G domain. When overexpressed, p97 increases reporter luciferase activity. In contrast, overexpression of the C-terminal two-thirds of eukaryotic initiation factor 4GI (eIF4GI), a region that shares significant homology with p97, or the N-terminal MIF4G domain of p97 markedly inhibits reporter activity, the rate of global translation and cell proliferation. Conversely, downregulation of p97 levels by RNA interference also decreases the rate of global translation and inhibits cell proliferation. This coincides with an increase in p27/Kip1 protein levels and a marked decrease in CDK2 kinase activity. Taken together, our results demonstrate that p97 is functionally different from the closely related C-terminal two-thirds of eIF4GI and it can positively promote protein synthesis and cell proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang Hyun Lee
- Cancer Research Institute and Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Frank McCormick
- Cancer Research Institute and Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Cancer Research Institute and Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, 2340 Sutter St N315, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA. Tel.: +1 415 502 1707; Fax: +1 415 502 1712; E-mail:
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Gu B, Ouzunov S, Wang L, Mason P, Bourne N, Cuconati A, Block TM. Discovery of small molecule inhibitors of West Nile virus using a high-throughput sub-genomic replicon screen. Antiviral Res 2006; 70:39-50. [PMID: 16724398 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2006.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is a positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus of the family Flaviviridae. WNV persistently infects insect cells, but can causes acute cytopathic infection of mammalian cells and is an etiologic agent of viral encephalitis in humans. By using a cell line expressing a WNV subgenomic replicon [Rossi, S.L., Zhao, Q., O'Donnell, V.K., Mason, P.W., 2005. Adaptation of West Nile virus replicons to cells in culture and use of replicon-bearing cells to probe antiviral action. Virology 331 (2), 457-470], we developed a high-throughput assay and used it to screen a library of small molecule compounds for inhibitors of WNV replication in the absence of live virus. Here we report the identification of novel small molecule inhibitors for WNV replicon replication. We demonstrate that the compounds inhibited WNV replication-dependent luciferase expression in the replicon cells and reduced WNV viral protein accumulation and viral RNA copy number in the replicon cells. Two classes of compounds with multiple hits, parazolotrahydrothophenes and pyrozolopyrimidines, showed preliminary structure-activity relationships. In WNV infection assays, one pyrozolopyrimidine compound was confirmed to have antiviral activity. These compounds should be valuable for developing anti-WNV therapeutic drugs as well as research tools to study the mechanism of WNV replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baohua Gu
- Drexel Institute for Biotechnology and Virology Research, Drexel University, College of Medicine, Doylestown, PA 18901, USA.
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Kim-Choi E, Danilo C, Kelly J, Carroll R, Shonnard D, Rybina I. Kinetic characterization and in vitro toxicity evaluation of a luciferase less susceptible to HPV chemical inhibition. Toxicol In Vitro 2006; 20:1537-47. [PMID: 16962283 DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2006.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2006] [Revised: 05/03/2006] [Accepted: 06/01/2006] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Enzyme-based in vitro toxicity assays are often susceptible to inhibition by test compounds. A mutant luciferase selected to be less susceptible to inhibition by chloroform (CNBLuc03-06) and other high production volume (HPV) chemicals, consisting of three point mutations was created and characterized. The mutant luciferase was less inhibited by chloroform, other HPV chemicals and common surfactant release reagents (Triton-X and SDS) compared to the wild-type. Inhibition was shown to be competitive. CNBLuc03-06 was a factor of 1.5-3.2 more active than wild type and exhibited a much higher affinity for ATP. CNBLuc03-06 was more thermostable than wild-type and also more active at pH values higher than 10. Both luciferases exhibited a significant tradeoff between activation and susceptibility to chemical inhibition in the presences of the reducing agent DTT. Inhibition to HPV chemicals was eliminated using an "optimum" formulation of DTT and co-solvent ethanol. The performance of CNBLuc03-06 in cell-based in vitro toxicity assays was shown to be superior to the current commercial formulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eileen Kim-Choi
- Cambrex North Brunswick, 661 Highway One, North Brunswick, NJ 08902, USA
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Morrow G, Heikkila JJ, Tanguay RM. Differences in the chaperone-like activities of the four main small heat shock proteins of Drosophila melanogaster. Cell Stress Chaperones 2006; 11:51-60. [PMID: 16572729 PMCID: PMC1400613 DOI: 10.1379/csc-166.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The Drosophila melanogaster family of small heat shock proteins (sHsps) is composed of 4 main members (Hsp22, Hsp23, Hsp26, and Hsp27) that display distinct intracellular localization and specific developmental patterns of expression in the absence of stress. In an attempt to determine their function, we have examined whether these 4 proteins have chaperone-like activity using various chaperone assays. Heat-induced aggregation of citrate synthase was decreased from 100 to 17 arbitrary units in the presence of Hsp22 and Hsp27 at a 1:1 molar ratio of sHsp to citrate synthase. A 5 M excess of Hsp23 and Hsp26 was required to obtain the same efficiency with either citrate synthase or luciferase as substrate. In an in vitro refolding assay with reticulocyte lysate, more than 50% of luciferase activity was recovered when heat denaturation was performed in the presence of Hsp22, 40% with Hsp27, and 30% with Hsp23 or Hsp26. These differences in luciferase reactivation efficiency seemed related to the ability of sHsps to bind their substrate at 42 degrees C, as revealed by sedimentation analysis of sHsp and luciferase on sucrose gradients. Therefore, the 4 main sHsps of Drosophila share the ability to prevent heat-induced protein aggregation and are able to maintain proteins in a refoldable state, although with different efficiencies. The functional reasons for their distinctive cell-specific pattern of expression could reflect the existence of defined substrates for each sHsp within the different intracellular compartments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geneviève Morrow
- Laboratoire de génétique cellulaire et développementale, Dép. de Médecine, CREFSIP, Pav. C.E.-Marchand, Université Laval, Québec, QC GI K 7P4, Canada
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30
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Zeng J, Aigner A, Czubayko F, Kissel T, Wendorff JH, Greiner A. Poly(vinyl alcohol) nanofibers by electrospinning as a protein delivery system and the retardation of enzyme release by additional polymer coatings. Biomacromolecules 2006; 6:1484-8. [PMID: 15877368 DOI: 10.1021/bm0492576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 279] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Protein-loaded (bovine serum albumin (BSA) or luciferase) poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) nanofibers were obtained by electrospinning. Poly(p-xylylene) (PPX, also coined as parylene) coated PVA/BSA nanofibers were prepared by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The release of BSA from PVA nanofibers under physiological conditions was monitored by absorption spectroscopy. Burst release of BSA was noted with uncoated PVA nanofibers. In contrast, PPX-coated nanofibers exhibited a significantly retarded release of BSA depending on the coating thickness of PPX (ranging from 40 to 300 nm). Luciferase was used here as model enzyme, which after electrospinning retained its enzyme activity. This preservation of enzyme activity and the continuous release of the intact enzyme from the immersed fibers meets a fundamental prerequisite for the application of enzymes or other sensitive agents released from electrospun nanofibers under physiological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Zeng
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Physical, Nuclear and Macromolecular Chemistry and Scientific Center of Materials Science, Philipps-University Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Str., D-35039 Marburg, Germany
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Kong D, Park EJ, Stephen AG, Calvani M, Cardellina JH, Monks A, Fisher RJ, Shoemaker RH, Melillo G. Echinomycin, a small-molecule inhibitor of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 DNA-binding activity. Cancer Res 2005; 65:9047-55. [PMID: 16204079 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-05-1235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 367] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The identification of small molecules that inhibit the sequence-specific binding of transcription factors to DNA is an attractive approach for regulation of gene expression. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is a transcription factor that controls genes involved in glycolysis, angiogenesis, migration, and invasion, all of which are important for tumor progression and metastasis. To identify inhibitors of HIF-1 DNA-binding activity, we expressed truncated HIF-1alpha and HIF-1beta proteins containing the basic-helix-loop-helix and PAS domains. Expressed recombinant HIF-1alpha and HIF-1beta proteins induced a specific DNA-binding activity to a double-stranded oligonucleotide containing a canonical hypoxia-responsive element (HRE). One hundred twenty-eight compounds previously identified in a HIF-1-targeted cell-based high-throughput screen of the National Cancer Institute 140,000 small-molecule library were tested in a 96-well plate ELISA for inhibition of HIF-1 DNA-binding activity. One of the most potent compounds identified, echinomycin (NSC-13502), a small-molecule known to bind DNA in a sequence-specific fashion, was further investigated. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay experiments showed that NSC-13502 inhibited binding of HIF-1alpha and HIF-1beta proteins to a HRE sequence but not binding of the corresponding proteins to activator protein-1 (AP-1) or nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) consensus sequences. Interestingly, chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments showed that NSC-13502 specifically inhibited binding of HIF-1 to the HRE sequence contained in the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) promoter but not binding of AP-1 or NF-kappaB to promoter regions of corresponding target genes. Accordingly, NSC-13502 inhibited hypoxic induction of luciferase in U251-HRE cells and VEGF mRNA expression in U251 cells. Our results indicate that it is possible to identify small molecules that inhibit HIF-1 DNA binding to endogenous promoters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dehe Kong
- Science Applications International Corporation-Frederick, Inc., Frederick, Maryland, USA
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Tse AKW, Wan CK, Shen XL, Yang M, Fong WF. Honokiol inhibits TNF-α-stimulated NF-κB activation and NF-κB-regulated gene expression through suppression of IKK activation. Biochem Pharmacol 2005; 70:1443-57. [PMID: 16181613 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2005.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2005] [Revised: 08/08/2005] [Accepted: 08/17/2005] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Honokiol, a small molecular weight lignan originally isolated from Magnolia officinalis, shows anti-angiogenic, anti-invasive and anti-proliferative activities in a variety of cancers. In this study, we investigated whether honokiol affects the transcription factor nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) which controls a large number of genes involved in angiogenesis, metastasis and cell survival. We observed that the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-induced NF-kappaB activation was blocked by honokiol in four different cancer cell lines as evidenced by EMSA. Honokiol did not directly affect the NF-kappaB-DNA binding. Immunoblot experiments demonstrated that honokiol inhibited the TNF-alpha-stimulated phosphorylation and degradation of the cytosolic NF-kappaB inhibitor IkappaBalpha. Furthermore, honokiol suppressed the intrinsic and TNF-alpha-stimulated upstream IkappaB kinases (IKKs) activities measured by a non-radioactive kinase assay using immunoprecipitated IKKs, suggesting a critical role of honokiol in abrogating the phosphorylation and degradation of IkappaBalpha. In a HeLa cell NF-kappaB-dependent luciferase reporter system, honokiol suppressed luciferase expression stimulated by TNF-alpha and by the transient transfection and expression of NIK (NF-kappaB-inducing kinase), wild type IKKbeta, constitutively active IKKalpha and IKKbeta, or the p65 subunit. Honokiol was also found to inhibit the nuclear translocation and phosphorylation of p65 subunit of NF-kappaB. RT-PCR results showed that honokiol suppressed NF-kappaB-regulated inflammatory and carcinogenic gene products including MMP-9, TNF-alpha, IL-8, ICAM-1 and MCP-1. In line with the observation that NF-kappaB activation may up-regulate anti-apoptotic genes, it was shown that honokiol enhanced TNF-alpha-induced apoptotic cell death. In summary, our results demonstrate that honokiol suppresses NF-kappaB activation and NF-kappaB-regulated gene expression through the inhibition of IKKs, which provides a possible mechanism for its anti-tumor actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anfernee Kai-Wing Tse
- Bioactive Products Research Group, Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Sugiyama SI, Shimada N, Miyoshi H, Yamauchi K. Detection of thyroid system-disrupting chemicals using in vitro and in vivo screening assays in Xenopus laevis. Toxicol Sci 2005; 88:367-74. [PMID: 16179385 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfi330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
We developed a thyroid hormone (TH) inducible primary screening assay for the identification and assessment of man-made chemicals that interfere with the TH-signalling pathway within target cells. The assay was developed in a Xenopus laevis cell line that was transduced with a self-inactivating (SIN) lentivirus vector (LV) containing a luciferase gene. The luciferase activation in this cell line was TH-specific: 3,3',5-L-triiodothyronine (T(3)) > 3,3'5-L-triiodothyroacetic acid (Triac) > 3,3',5-D-triiodothyronine (D-T(3)), > L-thyroxine (T(4)) > 3,3',5'-L-triiodothyronine (rT(3)). The application of the ligand-dependent luciferase assay for screening for thyroid system-disrupting chemicals revealed that three phthalates (dicyclohexyl phthalate, n-butylbenzyl phthalate, and di-n-butyl phthalate), two herbicides (ioxynil and pentachlorophenol) and a miticide (dicofol) had 3,3',5-L-triiodothyronine- T(3)- antagonist activity at concentrations ranging from 10(-6) to 10(-5) M. These chemicals also inhibited the expression of the endogenous primary T(3)-response TH nuclear receptor beta (TRbeta) gene. The inhibitory characteristics of these chemicals were similar for both assays performed, although the assay for T(3)-dependent activation of TRbeta gene was more sensitive than the luciferase assay. These results indicate that the luciferase assay was a rapid method with a small intra-assay variation for the primary screening of thyroid system-disrupting chemicals. Of the six chemicals, only n-butylbenzyl phthalate and pentachlorophenol exhibited T(3)-antagonist activity in an in vivo metamorphosis-based assay. It should be noted that chemicals elicited thyroid system-disrupting activity in the luciferase assay did not always interfere with the thyroid system in vivo.
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Hiramatsu N, Kasai A, Meng Y, Hayakawa K, Yao J, Kitamura M. Alkaline phosphatase vs luciferase as secreted reporter molecules in vivo. Anal Biochem 2005; 339:249-56. [PMID: 15797565 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2005.01.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2004] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Secreted alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) and Metridia luciferase (MLuc) are useful reporter molecules in vitro, but little is understood about their usefulness in vivo. In this study, we investigated in vivo activity of recombinant SEAP and MLuc in blood and urine. When SEAP-transfected cells or recombinant SEAP were injected into rats, substantial increase in the level of serum SEAP was observed. In contrast, activity of SEAP was not detected in urine of rats injected with either the SEAP-transfected cells or recombinant SEAP. SEAP activity was also undetectable in urine of SEAP-injected Nagase analbuminemic rats in which glomerular permeability to macromolecules is enhanced. When MLuc-transfected cells were implanted into rats, activity of MLuc was undetectable not only in urine but also in serum. Even immediately after intravenous injection of recombinant MLuc, activity of MLuc was not detected in serum. Subsequent experiments revealed that, in contrast to SEAP, MLuc was rapidly inactivated either by rat serum, fetal bovine serum, or human serum. Albumin was identified as the molecule responsible for the inhibition of MLuc activity. These data elucidated advantages and limitations of secreted reporter molecules SEAP and MLuc under in vivo situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobuhiko Hiramatsu
- Department of Molecular Signaling, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Medicine and Engineering, University of Yamanashi, Tamaho, Yamanashi 409-3898, Japan
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35
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Zhang N, Ahsan MH, Purchio AF, West DB. Serum amyloid A-luciferase transgenic mice: response to sepsis, acute arthritis, and contact hypersensitivity and the effects of proteasome inhibition. J Immunol 2005; 174:8125-34. [PMID: 15944321 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.174.12.8125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Acute phase serum amyloid A proteins (A-SAAs) are multifunctional apolipoproteins produced in large amounts during the acute phase of an inflammation and also during the development of chronic inflammatory diseases. In this study we present a Saa1-luc transgenic mouse model in which SAA1 gene expression can be monitored by measuring luciferase activity using a noninvasive imaging system. When challenged with LPS, TNF-alpha, or IL-1beta, in vivo imaging of Saa1-luc mice showed a 1000- to 3000-fold induction of luciferase activity in the hepatic region that peaked 4-7 h after treatment. The induction of liver luciferase expression was consistent with an increase in SAA1 mRNA in the liver and a dramatic elevation of the serum SAA1 concentration. Ex vivo analyses revealed luciferase induction in many tissues, ranging from several-fold (brain) to >5000-fold (liver) after LPS or TNF-alpha treatment. Pretreatment of mice with the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib significantly suppressed LPS-induced SAA1 expression. These results suggested that proteasome inhibition, perhaps through the NF-kappaB signaling pathway, may regulate SAA1 expression. During the development of acute arthritis triggered by intra-articular administration of zymosan, SAA1 expression was induced both locally at the knee joint and systemically in the liver, and the induction was significantly suppressed by bortezomib. Induction of SAA1 expression was also demonstrated during contact hypersensitivity induced by topical application of oxazolone. These results suggest that both local and systemic induction of A-SAA occur during inflammation and may contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases associated with amyloid deposition.
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MESH Headings
- Acute Disease
- Animals
- Arthritis, Experimental/enzymology
- Arthritis, Experimental/genetics
- Arthritis, Experimental/pathology
- Boronic Acids/antagonists & inhibitors
- Boronic Acids/pharmacology
- Bortezomib
- Dermatitis, Contact/enzymology
- Dermatitis, Contact/genetics
- Dermatitis, Contact/pathology
- Disease Models, Animal
- Enzyme Induction/drug effects
- Enzyme Induction/genetics
- Female
- Genetic Vectors
- Lipopolysaccharides/antagonists & inhibitors
- Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology
- Luciferases/antagonists & inhibitors
- Luciferases/biosynthesis
- Luciferases/genetics
- Luciferases/physiology
- Male
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Transgenic
- Organ Specificity/drug effects
- Organ Specificity/genetics
- Promoter Regions, Genetic/physiology
- Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex/physiology
- Proteasome Inhibitors
- Pyrazines/antagonists & inhibitors
- Pyrazines/pharmacology
- Sepsis/enzymology
- Sepsis/genetics
- Sepsis/pathology
- Serum Amyloid A Protein/antagonists & inhibitors
- Serum Amyloid A Protein/biosynthesis
- Serum Amyloid A Protein/genetics
- Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/pharmacology
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Abstract
Programmed cell death 4 (Pdcd4) is a novel repressor of in vitro transformation. Pdcd4 directly inhibits the helicase activity of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4A, a component of the translation initiation complex. To ascertain whether Pdcd4 suppresses tumor development in vivo, we have generated transgenic mice that overexpress Pdcd4 in the epidermis (K14-Pdcd4). K14-regulated Pdcd4 expression caused a neonatal short-hair phenotype due to early catagen entry compared with matched wild-type siblings. In response to the 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)/12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) mouse skin carcinogenesis protocol, K14-Pdcd4 mice showed significant reductions in papilloma formation, carcinoma incidence, and papilloma-to-carcinoma conversion frequency compared with wild-type mice. The translational efficiency of an mRNA engineered to form a structured 5' untranslated region (UTR) was attenuated in primary keratinocytes when Pdcd4 was overexpressed. Pdcd4 inhibited by 46% TPA-induced activator protein-1 (AP-1)-dependent transcription, an event required for tumorigenesis. CDK4 and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) are candidates for Pdcd4-regulated translation as their mRNAs contain 5'structured UTRs. In K14-Pdcd4 primary keratinocytes expressing activated Ha-Ras to mimic DMBA-initiated epidermis, ODC and CDK4 protein levels were decreased by 40% and 46%, respectively. Expression of a protein encoded by 5' unstructured mRNA showed no change. These results extend to an in vivo model the observations that Pdcd4 inhibits both translation initiation and AP-1 activation while decreasing benign tumor development and malignant progression. The K14-Pdcd4 mice seem to validate translation initiation as a novel target for cancer prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron P Jansen
- Gene Regulation Section, Laboratory of Cancer Prevention, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland 21702, USA.
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Park MH, Song HS, Kim KH, Son DJ, Lee SH, Yoon DY, Kim Y, Park IY, Song S, Hwang BY, Jung JK, Hong JT. Cobrotoxin Inhibits NF-κB Activation and Target Gene Expression through Reaction with NF-κB Signal Molecules. Biochemistry 2005; 44:8326-36. [PMID: 15938622 DOI: 10.1021/bi050156h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Cobrotoxin is known to bind with cysteine residues of biological molecules such as nicotine acetylcholine receptor. Cobrotoxin may modify IKKs and p50 through protein-protein interaction since cysteine residues are present in the kinase domains of IKKalpha and IKKbeta and in the p50 of NF-kappaB. Our surface plasmon resonance analysis showed that cobrotoxin directly binds to p50 (K(d) = 1.54 x 10(-)(5) M), IKKalpha (K(d) = 3.94 x 10(-)(9) M) and IKKbeta (K(d) = 3.4 x 10(-)(8) M) with high binding affinity. Moreover, these protein-protein interactions suppressed the lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 microg/mL)- and the sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 200 microM)-induced DNA binding activity of NF-kappaB and NF-kappaB-dependent luciferase activity in astrocytes and Raw 264.7 macrophages. These inhibitory effects were correlated with the inhibition of IkappaB release and p50 translocation. Inhibition of NF-kappaB by cobrotoxin resulted in reductions in the LPS-induced expressions of COX-2, iNOS, cPLA(2), IL-4, and TNF-alpha in astrocytes and in COX-2 expression induced by SNP, LPS, and TNF-alpha in astrocytes. Moreover, these inhibitory effects of cobrotoxin were reversed by adding reducing agents, dithiothreitol and glutathione. In addition, cobrotoxin did not have any inhibitory effect on NF-kappaB activity in cells carrying mutant p50 (C62S), IKKalpha (C178A), and IKKbeta (C179A), with the exception of IKKbeta (K44A) mutant plasmid. Confocal microscopic analysis showed that cobrotoxin is uptaken into the nucleus of cells. These results demonstrate that cobrotoxin directly binds to the sulfhydryl groups of p50 and IKKs, and that this results in reduced IkappaB release and the translocation of p50, thereby inhibiting the activation of NF-kappaB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mi Hee Park
- College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, 48, Gaesin-dong, Heungduk-gu, Cheongju, Chungbuk 361-763, Korea
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Kakizawa Y, Furukawa S, Kataoka K. Block copolymer-coated calcium phosphate nanoparticles sensing intracellular environment for oligodeoxynucleotide and siRNA delivery. J Control Release 2005; 97:345-56. [PMID: 15196761 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2004.03.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2003] [Accepted: 03/15/2004] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The organic-inorganic hybrid nanoparticles entrapping oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) or siRNA were prepared through the self-associating phenomenon of the block copolymer, poly(ethylene glycol)-block-poly(aspartic acid) (PEG-PAA), with calcium phosphate. The nanoparticles have diameters in the range of several hundreds of nanometers depending on the PEG-PAA concentration and revealed excellent colloidal stability due to the steric repulsion effect of the PEG layer surrounding the calcium phosphate core. The loading capacities of ODN and siRNA were fairly high, reaching almost 100% under optimal conditions. The flowcytometric analysis and confocal microscopy observation indicated that the hybrid nanoparticles loaded with ODN were taken up by the cells through the endocytosis mechanism. Furthermore, the calcium phosphate core dissociates in the intracellular environment with appreciably lowered calcium ion concentration compared to the exterior, allowing the release of the incorporated ODN and siRNA in a controlled manner. Eventually, effective intracellular delivery and nuclear localization of these nucleic acid-based drugs were evidenced through the observation of laser confocal microscopy using FITC-labeled ODN. This smart ion-sensitive characteristic of hybrid nanoparticles was further demonstrated by the appreciable silencing of reporter gene expression by siRNA incorporated in the nanoparticles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshinori Kakizawa
- Biomaterials Center, National Institute for Materials Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0044, Japan
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Song H, Wang R, Wang S, Lin J. A low-molecular-weight compound discovered through virtual database screening inhibits Stat3 function in breast cancer cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2005; 102:4700-5. [PMID: 15781862 PMCID: PMC555708 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0409894102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 403] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2004] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
This study focused on the screening of small-molecule inhibitors that target signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (Stat3) in human breast carcinoma. The constitutive activation of Stat3 is frequently detected in human breast cancer cell lines as well as clinical breast cancer specimens and may play an important role in the oncogenesis of breast carcinoma. Activated Stat3 may participate in oncogenesis by stimulating cell proliferation, promoting tumor angiogenesis, and resisting apoptosis. Because a variety of human cancers are associated with constitutively active Stat3, Stat3 represents an attractive target for cancer therapy. In this study, of the nearly 429,000 compounds screened by virtual database screening, chemical samples of top 100 compounds identified as candidate small-molecule inhibitors of Stat3 were evaluated by using Stat3-dependent luciferase reporter as well as other cell-based assays. Through serial functional evaluation based on our established cell-based assays, one compound, termed STA-21, was identified as the best match for our selection criteria. Further investigation demonstrated that STA-21 inhibits Stat3 DNA binding activity, Stat3 dimerization, and Stat3-dependent luciferase activity. Moreover, STA-21 reduces the survival of breast carcinoma cells with constitutive Stat3 signaling but has minimal effect on the cells in which constitutive Stat3 signaling is absent. Together, these results demonstrate that STA-21 inhibits breast cancer cells that express constitutively active Stat3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Song
- University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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Stroheker T, Cabaton N, Nourdin G, Régnier JF, Lhuguenot JC, Chagnon MC. Evaluation of anti-androgenic activity of di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate. Toxicology 2005; 208:115-21. [PMID: 15664438 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2004.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2004] [Revised: 11/06/2004] [Accepted: 11/08/2004] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
DEHP is a widely used platiciser in the manufacture of PVC-based materials. It is known to disrupt the reproductive tract development in male rats. We have performed the Hershberger assay with DEHP on an immature castrated rat model to check if DEHP antagonise the testosterone propionate androgenic effect on the accessory sex organs development. DEHP significantly decreased the BC/LA muscles, the prostate, and the seminal vesicles relative weights from 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg bw/day, respectively. DEHP increased the liver relative weight from 100 mg/kg bw/day. A study was also performed on MDA-MB453 cell line stably transfected with pMMTVneo-Luc with DEHP and its major metabolites (MEHP and metabolites VI and IX) to identify anti-androgenic activity. Neither DEHP nor MEHP antagonised DHT activity in the MDA-MB453 transfected cells. In contrast, metabolites VI and IX were anti-androgenic in vitro. DEHP appeared not to be a 5alpha-reductase inhibitor and acted in an independent mechanism from the testicular production in the young rat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Stroheker
- UMR 1234 Toxicologie Alimentaire, University of Burgundy/INRA, 1 Esplanade Erasme, 21000 Dijon, France
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Deere J, Iversen P, Geller BL. Antisense phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer length and target position effects on gene-specific inhibition in Escherichia coli. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2005; 49:249-55. [PMID: 15616302 PMCID: PMC538888 DOI: 10.1128/aac.49.1.249-255.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PMOs) are synthetic DNA analogs that inhibit gene expression in a sequence-dependent manner. PMOs of various lengths (7 to 20 bases) were tested for inhibition of luciferase expression in Escherichia coli. Shorter PMOs generally inhibited luciferase greater than longer PMOs. Conversely, in bacterial cell-free protein synthesis reactions, longer PMOs inhibited equally or more than shorter PMOs. Overlapping, isometric (10-base) PMOs complementary to the region around the start codon of luciferase inhibited to different extents in bacterial cell-free protein expression reactions. Including the anti-start codon in PMOs was not required for maximal inhibition. PMOs targeted to 5' nontranslated or 3' coding regions within luciferase mRNA did not inhibit, except for one PMO targeted to the ribosome-binding site. Inhibition of luciferase expression correlated negatively with the predicted secondary structure of mRNA regions targeted by PMO but did not correlate with C+G content of targeted regions. The effects of PMO length and position were corroborated by using PMOs (6 to 20 bases) targeted to acpP, a gene required for viability. Because inhibition by PMOs of approximately 11 bases was unexpected based on previous results in eukaryotes, we tested an 11-base PMO in HeLa cells and reticulocyte cell-free protein synthesis reactions. The 11-base PMO significantly inhibited luciferase expression in HeLa cells, although less than did a 20-base PMO. In reticulocyte cell-free reactions, there was a trend toward more inhibition with longer PMOs. These studies indicate that strategies for designing PMOs are substantially different for prokaryotic than eukaryotic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse Deere
- Department of Microbiology, Nash Hall 220, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331-3804, USA
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Abstract
The adipocyte exerts an important role in energy homeostasis, both as depot for energy-rich triglycerides and as a source for metabolic hormones. Adipocytes also contribute to inflammation and the innate immune response. Although it can be physiologically beneficial to combine these two functions in a single cell type under some circumstances, the proinflammatory signals emanating from adipocytes in the obese state can have local and systemic effects that promote atherosclerosis and insulin resistance. The transcriptional machinery in the adipocyte that mediates these pro-inflammatory responses has remained poorly characterized to date. In particular, no information is currently available on the NF-kappaB family of transcription factors. Here, we show that adipogenesis is associated with changes in amount and subunit composition of the NF-kappaB complexes. NF-kappaB subunits p65 (RelA), p68 (RelB), and IkappaB are upregulated during fat cell differentiation. Correspondingly, basal NF-kappaB nuclear gel shift and luciferase reporter assays are induced in parallel during differentiation. Surprisingly, endotoxin sensitivity of the classical NF-kappaB pathway is substantially delayed and attenuated despite increased overall inflammatory response in the mature adipocyte, as judged by induction of IL-6 and TNF-alpha. As a reflection of the constitutively elevated NF-kappaB activity in the mature adipocyte, adipocytes (but not preadipocytes) exert a strong inflammatory stimulus on macrophages in vitro, suggesting a cross talk between adipocytes and interstitial macrophages in adipose tissue in vivo. These effects are mediated by a secretory product of adipocytes that is unlikely to be IL-6 or TNF-alpha.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anders H Berg
- Dept. of Cell Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Avenue, New York, NY 10461, USA
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Rapisarda A, Zalek J, Hollingshead M, Braunschweig T, Uranchimeg B, Bonomi CA, Borgel SD, Carter JP, Hewitt SM, Shoemaker RH, Melillo G. Schedule-dependent inhibition of hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha protein accumulation, angiogenesis, and tumor growth by topotecan in U251-HRE glioblastoma xenografts. Cancer Res 2004; 64:6845-8. [PMID: 15466170 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-04-2116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 154] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
We have previously shown that topotecan, a topoisomerase I poison, inhibits hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1alpha protein accumulation by a DNA damage-independent mechanism. Here, we report that daily administration of topotecan inhibits HIF-1alpha protein expression in U251-HRE glioblastoma xenografts. Concomitant with HIF-1alpha inhibition, topotecan caused a significant tumor growth inhibition associated with a marked decrease of angiogenesis and expression of HIF-1 target genes in tumor tissue. These results provide a compelling rationale for testing topotecan in clinical trials to target HIF-1 in cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annamaria Rapisarda
- Science Applications International Corporation-Frederick, Inc., National Cancer Institute at Frederick, Frederick, Maryland 21702, USA.
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Abstract
Lipoic acid was found to inhibit the firefly luciferin-luciferase reaction. The inhibition is competitive and is the strongest known (Ki = 0.026 +/- 0.013 microM) compared with other reported inhibitors. Considering the structure-activity correlations, the mechanism of inhibition may originate from the sulfur atom and carboxyl moiety of lipoic acid giving it structural specificity. Subsequent addition of lipoic acid and nitric oxide accelerated the inhibition in vitro, suggesting that lipoic acid may have a functional role in regulating firefly bioluminescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuki Niwa
- Research Institute for Cell Engineering, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Midorigaoka, Ikeda, Osaka 563-8577, Japan
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Yang L, Yan D, Bruggeman M, Du H, Yan C. Mutation of a lysine residue in a homeodomain generates dominant negative thyroid transcription factor 1. Biochemistry 2004; 43:12489-97. [PMID: 15449938 DOI: 10.1021/bi049283o] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF-1) is a 42 kDa homeodomain (HD) containing the tissue-specific transcription factor of Nkx2 family members (also termed TEBP and Nkx2.1). TTF-1 is an essential transcription factor required for lung development and lung-specific gene expression. Transgenic mice carrying TTF-1 DNA-binding site mutations completely abolish expression of the human surfactant protein B (hSP-B) 1.5 kb lacZ reporter gene in the lung in vivo. Acetylation of transcription factors by nuclear receptor coactivators is an important mechanism for gene regulation. TTF-1 is acetylated by nuclear receptor coactivators including the activator of the thyroid and retinoic acid receptor, CREB-binding protein, and steroid receptor coactivator 1 (SRC-1) in cell transfection and immunoprecipitation studies. A glutathionine transferase pull-down assay shows TTF-1 direct interaction with the SRC-1 histone acetyltransferase domain. Site-specific mutagenesis identifies that the lysine residue at position 182 in the TTF-1 HD is acetylated in respiratory epithelial cells. Mutation at this acetylation site shows a dominant negative effect on SP-B gene transcription. The study supports a concept that acetylation is an important mechanism for TTF-1 activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Yang
- Division of Pulmonary Biology, Children's Hospital Medical Center and Department of Pediatrics, The University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3039, USA
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Cestac P, Sarrabayrouse G, Médale-Giamarchi C, Rochaix P, Balaguer P, Favre G, Faye JC, Doisneau-Sixou S. Prenylation inhibitors stimulate both estrogen receptor alpha transcriptional activity through AF-1 and AF-2 and estrogen receptor beta transcriptional activity. Breast Cancer Res 2004; 7:R60-70. [PMID: 15642170 PMCID: PMC1064103 DOI: 10.1186/bcr956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2004] [Revised: 09/22/2004] [Accepted: 10/04/2004] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction We showed in a previous study that prenylated proteins play a role in estradiol stimulation of proliferation. However, these proteins antagonize the ability of estrogen receptor (ER) α to stimulate estrogen response element (ERE)-dependent transcriptional activity, potentially through the formation of a co-regulator complex. The present study investigates, in further detail, how prenylated proteins modulate the transcriptional activities mediated by ERα and by ERβ. Methods The ERE-β-globin-Luc-SV-Neo plasmid was either stably transfected into MCF-7 cells or HeLa cells (MELN cells and HELN cells, respectively) or transiently transfected into MCF-7 cells using polyethylenimine. Cells deprived of estradiol were analyzed for ERE-dependent luciferase activity 16 hours after estradiol stimulation and treatment with FTI-277 (a farnesyltransferase inhibitor) or with GGTI-298 (a geranylgeranyltransferase I inhibitor). In HELN cells, the effect of prenyltransferase inhibitors on luciferase activity was compared after transient transfection of plasmids coding either the full-length ERα, the full-length ERβ, the AF-1-deleted ERα or the AF-2-deleted ERα. The presence of ERα was then detected by immunocytochemistry in either the nuclei or the cytoplasms of MCF-7 cells. Finally, Clostridium botulinum C3 exoenzyme treatment was used to determine the involvement of Rho proteins in ERE-dependent luciferase activity. Results FTI-277 and GGTI-298 only stimulate ERE-dependent luciferase activity in stably transfected MCF-7 cells. They stimulate both ERα-mediated and ERβ-mediated ERE-dependent luciferase activity in HELN cells, in the presence of and in the absence of estradiol. The roles of both AF-1 and AF-2 are significant in this effect. Nuclear ERα is decreased in the presence of prenyltransferase inhibitors in MCF-7 cells, again in the presence of and in the absence of estradiol. By contrast, cytoplasmic ERα is mainly decreased after treatment with FTI-277, in the presence of and in the absence of estradiol. The involvement of Rho proteins in ERE-dependent luciferase activity in MELN cells is clearly established. Conclusions Together, these results demonstrate that prenylated proteins (at least RhoA, RhoB and/or RhoC) antagonize the ability of ERα and ERβ to stimulate ERE-dependent transcriptional activity, potentially acting through both AF-1 and AF-2 transcriptional activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Cestac
- Département 'Innovation Thérapeutique et Oncologie Moléculaire', Centre de Physiopathologie de Toulouse Purpan, INSERM U563 and Institut Claudius Regaud, Toulouse, France
| | - Guillaume Sarrabayrouse
- Département 'Innovation Thérapeutique et Oncologie Moléculaire', Centre de Physiopathologie de Toulouse Purpan, INSERM U563 and Institut Claudius Regaud, Toulouse, France
| | - Claire Médale-Giamarchi
- Département 'Innovation Thérapeutique et Oncologie Moléculaire', Centre de Physiopathologie de Toulouse Purpan, INSERM U563 and Institut Claudius Regaud, Toulouse, France
| | - Philippe Rochaix
- Département 'Innovation Thérapeutique et Oncologie Moléculaire', Centre de Physiopathologie de Toulouse Purpan, INSERM U563 and Institut Claudius Regaud, Toulouse, France
| | - Patrick Balaguer
- INSERM 540, Endocrinologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire des Cancers, Montpellier, France
| | - Gilles Favre
- Département 'Innovation Thérapeutique et Oncologie Moléculaire', Centre de Physiopathologie de Toulouse Purpan, INSERM U563 and Institut Claudius Regaud, Toulouse, France
| | - Jean-Charles Faye
- Département 'Innovation Thérapeutique et Oncologie Moléculaire', Centre de Physiopathologie de Toulouse Purpan, INSERM U563 and Institut Claudius Regaud, Toulouse, France
| | - Sophie Doisneau-Sixou
- Département 'Innovation Thérapeutique et Oncologie Moléculaire', Centre de Physiopathologie de Toulouse Purpan, INSERM U563 and Institut Claudius Regaud, Toulouse, France
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Park HJ, Lee SH, Son DJ, Oh KW, Kim KH, Song HS, Kim GJ, Oh GT, Yoon DY, Hong JT. Antiarthritic effect of bee venom: Inhibition of inflammation mediator generation by suppression of NF-?B through interaction with the p50 subunit. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2004; 50:3504-15. [PMID: 15529353 DOI: 10.1002/art.20626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 188] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the molecular mechanisms of the antiarthritic effects of bee venom (BV) and melittin (a major component of BV) in a murine macrophage cell line (Raw 264.7) and in synoviocytes obtained from patients with rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS We evaluated the antiarthritic effects of BV in a rat model of carrageenan-induced acute edema in the paw and in a rat model of chronic adjuvant-induced arthritis. The inhibitory effects of BV and melittin on inflammatory gene expression were measured by Western blotting, and the generation of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) and nitric oxide (NO) and the intracellular calcium level were assayed. NF-kappaB DNA binding and transcriptional activity were determined by gel mobility shift assay or by luciferase assay. Direct binding of BV and melittin to the p50 subunit of NF-kappaB was determined with a surface plasmon resonance analyzer. RESULTS BV (0.8 and 1.6 mug/kg) reduced the effects of carrageenan- and adjuvant-induced arthritis. This reducing effect was consistent with the inhibitory effects of BV (0.5, 1, and 5 mug/ml) and melittin (5 and 10 mug/ml) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 1 mug/ml)-induced expression of cyclooxygenase 2, cytosolic phospholipase A(2), inducible NO synthase, generation of PGE(2) and NO, and the intracellular calcium level. BV and melittin prevented LPS-induced transcriptional and DNA binding activity of NF-kappaB via the inhibition of IkappaB release and p50 translocation. BV (affinity [K(d)] = 4.6 x 10(-6)M) and melittin (K(d) = 1.2 x 10(-8)M) bound directly to p50. CONCLUSION Target inactivation of NF-kappaB by directly binding to the p50 subunit is an important mechanism of the antiarthritic effects of BV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye Ji Park
- College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, 48 Gaesin-dong, Heungduk-gu, Cheongju, Chungbuk 361-763, South Korea
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Cetkauskaite A, Pessala P, Södergren A. Elemental sulfur: toxicity in vivo and in vitro to bacterial luciferase, in vitro yeast alcohol dehydrogenase, and bovine liver catalase. Environ Toxicol 2004; 19:372-386. [PMID: 15269910 DOI: 10.1002/tox.20025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this research was to analyze the effects and the modes of action of elemental sulfur (S(0)) in bioluminescence and respiration of Vibrio fischeri cells and the enzymes crude luciferase, pure catalase, and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). Metallic copper removed sulfur and reduced the toxicity of acetone extracts of sediment samples analyzed in the bioluminescence test. The sulfur inhibition of cell bioluminescence was noncompetitive with decanal, the luciferase substrate; reversible, with maximum toxicity after 15 min (EC(50) = 11.8 microg/L); and almost totally recovered after 2 h. In vitro preincubation of crude luciferase extract with sulfur (0.28 ppm) weakly inhibited bioluminescence at 5 min, but at 30 min the inhibition reached 60%. Increasing the concentration of sulfur in the parts per million concentration range in vitro decreased bioluminescence, which was not constant, but depended on exposure time, and no dead-end/total inhibition was observed. The redox state of enzymes in the in vitro system significantly affected inhibition. Hydrogen peroxide restored fully and the reducing agent dithiothreitol, itself toxic, restored only partially luciferase activity in the presence of sulfur. Sulfur (5.5 ppm) slightly inhibited ADH and catalase, and dithiothreitol enhanced sulfur inhibition. High sulfur concentrations (2.2 ppm) inhibited the bioluminescence and enhanced the respiration rate of V. fischeri cells. Elemental sulfur data were interpreted to show that sulfur acted on at least a few V. fischeri cell sites: reversibly modifying luciferase at sites sensitive to/protected by oxidative and reducing agents and by affecting electron transport processes, resulting in enhanced oxygen consumption. Sulfur together with an enzyme reducing agent inhibited the oxidoreductive enzymes ADH and catalase, which have --SH groups, metal ion cofactors, or heme, respectively, in their active centers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anolda Cetkauskaite
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Vilnius University, Ciurlionio Str. 21, LT-2009 Vilnius, Lithuania.
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Abstract
Most proteins are insensitive to the presence of general anaesthetics at concentrations which induce anaesthesia, while some are inhibited by some agents but not others. Here we show that, over a 100000-fold range of potencies, the activity of a pure soluble protein (firefly luciferase) can be inhibited by 50% at anaesthetic concentrations which are essentially identical to those which anaesthetize animals. This identity holds for inhalational agents (such as halothane, methoxyflurane and chloroform), aliphatic and aromatic alcohols, ketones, ethers and alkanes. This finding is all the more striking in view of the fact that the inhibition is shown to be competitive in nature, with anaesthetic molecules competing with the substrate (luciferin) molecules for binding to the protein. We show that the anaesthetic-binding site can accommodate only one large, but more than one small, anaesthetic molecule. The obvious mechanism suggested by our results is that general anaesthetics, despite their chemical and structural diversity, act by competing with endogenous ligands for binding to specific receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas P Franks
- Biophysics Section, The Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom.
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Lindenmeyer MT, García-Piñeres AJ, Castro V, Merfort I. Sesquiterpene lactones inhibit luciferase but not β-galactosidase activity in vitro and ex vivo. Anal Biochem 2004; 328:147-54. [PMID: 15113690 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2004.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2003] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Reporter enzymes such as firefly luciferase or beta-galactosidase of Escherichia coli are frequently used to study transcriptional activity of genes and to investigate the effects of novel compounds on gene or transcription factor activity. It is generally assumed that the activity of these enzymes is unaffected by the treatment conditions. Therefore, this factor is not considered when interpreting the data obtained. Biologically active compounds such as sesquiterpene lactones (SLs) have also been tested in reporter gene assays for their influence on gene expression. Here we show in in vitro and ex vivo experiments that SLs inhibit firefly luciferase activity probably by direct targeting of the enzyme while beta-galactosidase remains almost completely unaffected. The loss of luciferase activity after SL treatment could be an effect of their sulfhydryl-modifying potency and the subsequent alteration of the enzyme's tertiary structure. These results demonstrate that the effect of the test substance on the reporter enzyme used should be taken into consideration when the transcriptional effect of novel compounds is investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maja T Lindenmeyer
- Institut für Pharmazeutische Wissenschaften, Lehrstuhl für Pharmazeutische Biologie, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Str. 19, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
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