Discovery of a ZIP7 inhibitor from a Notch pathway screen

The identification of activating mutations in NOTCH1 in 50% of T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia has generated interest in elucidating how these mutations contribute to oncogenic transformation and in targeting the pathway. A phenotypic screen identified compounds that interfere with trafficking of Notch and induce apoptosis via an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress mechanism. Target identification approaches revealed a role for SLC39A7 (ZIP7), a zinc transport family member, in governing Notch trafficking and signaling. Generation and sequencing of a compound-resistant cell line identified a V430E mutation in ZIP7 that confers transferable resistance to the compound NVS-ZP7-4. NVS-ZP7-4 altered zinc in the ER, and an analog of the compound photoaffinity labeled ZIP7 in cells, suggesting a direct interaction between the compound and ZIP7. NVS-ZP7-4 is the first reported chemical tool to probe the impact of modulating ER zinc levels and investigate ZIP7 as a novel druggable node in the Notch pathway.

The sticky secrets of sequestration

Sequestration, the adherence of infected erythrocytes containing the more mature stages of parasite development (trophozoites and schizonts) to the endothelial cells lining the capillaries and post-capillary venules, is characteristic of Plasmodium falciparum infections. In this review, Irwin Sherman and his colleagues discuss recent advances in the characterization of the adhesive molecules on the surface of malaria-infected erythrocytes and the receptors on the endothelium to which they bind.

Biological properties of citrus flavonoids pertaining to cancer and inflammation

Citrus flavonoids encompass a diverse set of structures, including numerous flavanone and flavone O- and C-glycosides and methoxylated flavones. Each of these groups of compounds exhibits a number of in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory and anticancer actions. These biological properties are consistent with their effects on the microvascular endothelial tissue. Evidence suggests that the biological actions of the citrus flavonoids are possibly linked to their interactions with key regulatory enzymes involved in cell activation and receptor binding. The citrus flavonoids show little effect on normal, healthy cells, and thus typically exhibit remarkably low toxicity in animals. The citrus flavonoids extend their influence in vivo through their induction of hepatic phase I and II enzymes, and through the biological actions of their metabolites. Evidence clearly indicates to the potential health promoting properties of these dietary compounds.

Specific versus non-specific effects of dietary fat on carcinogenesis

It will be apparent from this review that dietary fat can exert both specific and non-specific effects on carcinogenesis, at least in experimental animals. The non-specific effects appear to be related primarily to effects of dietary fat on energy balance. Although a positive energy balance can be achieved on a high-carbohydrate low-fat diet, it is much more likely to occur on a high-fat diet because of the high energy density of fat [101] and the fact that dietary fat is less capable of imparting a sense of satiety [102]. A continuing state of positive energy balance leads to obesity which has been associated with increased risk of cancer at a number of sites, including endometrium [103-106], postmenopausal breast cancer [107-113], renal cancer [114,115] and possibly cancers of the colorectum [116-122], pancreas [103,123] and prostate [124]. Whereas the non-specific effects of dietary fat appear to be deleterious for cancer, the specific effects in some cases can be beneficial. Examples are long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. CLA and tocotrienols. It is still too early to predict whether these may be of value in the prevention and/or treatment of human cancer but they seem worthy of further investigation. Knowledge of their mechanism of action may suggest novel approaches to the cancer problem and, as in the case of vitamins A and D, it may be possible to find analogues with more potent anti-cancer activity.

Inhibition of mammary cancer by citrus flavonoids

Double strength orange juice given to the rats in place of drinking water inhibited mammary tumorigenesis induced in female Sprague-Dawley rats by DMBA more effectively than double strength grapefruit juice. This may mean that hesperetin retains its effectiveness in vivo better than naringenin, since the flavonoids are present in the juices at similar levels. It is also possible that orange juice contains other compounds that have anti-cancer activity and that may act synergistically with hesperetin. Citrus flavonoids are effective inhibitors of both estrogen receptor-negative MDA-MB-435 and estrogen receptor-positive MCF-7 human breast cancer cell in vitro. Furthermore, 1:1 combinations of flavonoids with tocotrienols and/or tamoxifen inhibit proliferation of the cells more effectively than the individual compounds. This synergism may be due to the fact that the compounds are exerting their inhibitory effects by different mechanisms.

Inhibition of proliferation of estrogen receptor-negative MDA-MB-435 and -positive MCF-7 human breast cancer cells by palm oil tocotrienols and tamoxifen, alone and in combination

Tocotrienols are a form of vitamin E, having an unsaturated isoprenoid side-chain rather than the saturated side-chain of tocopherols. The tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) from palm oil contains alpha-tocopherol and a mixture of alpha-, gamma- and delta-tocotrienols. Earlier studies have shown that tocotrienols display anticancer activity. We previously reported that TRF, alpha-, gamma- and delta-tocotrienols inhibited proliferation of estrogen receptor-negative MDA-MB-435 human breast cancer cells with 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of 180, 90, 30 and 90 microg/mL, respectively, whereas alpha-tocopherol had no effect at concentrations up to 500 microg/mL. Further experiments with estrogen receptor-positive MCF-7 cells showed that tocotrienols also inhibited their proliferation, as measured by [3H] thymidine incorporation. The IC50s for TRF, alpha-tocopherol, alpha-, gamma- and delta-tocotrienols were 4, 125, 6, 2 and 2 microg/mL, respectively. Tamoxifen, a widely used synthetic antiestrogen inhibits the growth of MCF-7 cells with an IC50 of 0.04 microg/mL. We tested 1:1 combinations of TRF, alpha-tocopherol and the individual tocotrienols with tamoxifen in both cell lines. In the MDA-MB-435 cells, all of the combinations were found to be synergistic. In the MCF-7 cells, only 1:1 combinations of gamma- or delta-tocotrienol with tamoxifen showed a synergistic inhibitory effect on the proliferative rate and growth of the cells. The inhibition by tocotrienols was not overcome by addition of excess estradiol to the medium. These results suggest that tocotrienols are effective inhibitors of both estrogen receptor-negative and -positive cells and that combinations with tamoxifen should be considered as a possible improvement in breast cancer therapy.

Palm oil tocotrienols and plant flavonoids act synergistically with each other and with Tamoxifen in inhibiting proliferation and growth of estrogen receptor-negative MDA-MB-435 and -positive MCF-7 human breast cancer cells in culture

Palm oil, unlike many other dietary oils, does not increase the yield of chemically-induced mammary tumors in rats when fed at high levels in the diet. This difference appears to be due to the vitamin E fraction of palm oil, which is rich in tocotrienols, since palm oil stripped of this fraction does increase tumor yields. Experiments in our laboratory have shown that tocotrienols inhibit proliferation and growth of both MDA-MB-435 and MCF-7 cells in culture much more effectively than a-tocopherol. In addition, it was found that combinations of tocotrienols with Tamoxifen, a drug widely used for treatment of breast cancer, inhibit these cells more effectively than either tocotrienols or Tamoxifen alone. The present studies have now shown synergistic effects between tocotrienols and a number of other flavonoids from various plant sources, including citrus fruits, in the inhibition of both MDA-MB-435 and MCF-7 cells (IC50s 0.05-25 and 0.02-5 μg/mL respectively). In the MCF-7 cells, 1:1:1 combinations of tocotrienols, flavonoids and Tamoxifen were even more effective, with the best combination being d-tocotrienol, hesperetin and Tamoxifen (IC50 0.0005 μg/mL). These results suggest that diets containing palm oil may reduce the risk of breast cancer, particularly when eaten with other plant foods containing flavonoids, and may also enhance the effectiveness of Tamoxifen for treatment of breast cancer.

Inhibition of proliferation of estrogen receptor-positive MCF-7 human breast cancer cells by flavonoids in the presence and absence of excess estrogen

The flavonoids are a group of naturally-occurring, low molecular weight compounds that are widespread in plants. Representatives of several different classes of flavonoids were tested for their effects on the proliferation of an estrogen receptor-positive human breast cancer cell line, MCF-7. The IC50S (concentration at which cell proliferation was inhibited by 50%), based on [3H]thymidine incorporation, ranged from 4.2 to 18.0 micrograms/mL. The cells were viable at these concentrations. The possibility that flavonoids may block cell proliferation by binding to the estrogen receptor was explored. The cells were depleted of endogenous steroids and incubated with individual flavonoids at their IC50 concentration. Half of the cells were exposed to an excess concentration of 17 beta-estradiol to see if this affected antiproliferation by the flavonoids. Of the flavonoids tested, only the inhibition of cell proliferation by genistein was reversed with the addition of excess, competing estrogen. Baicalein, galangin, hesperetin, naringenin and quercetin apparently exert their antiproliferative activity via some other mechanism.

Plasmodium falciparum: naturally occurring rabbit immunoglobulins recognize human band 3 peptide motifs and malaria-infected red cells

The reactivity to overlapping decapeptides based on sequences of human band 3 protein was determined for 24 rabbit serum samples. A high percentage of the sera recognized sequences of amino acid 650-670, as well as several other sequences representing putative exofacial regions of the band 3 protein. When sera were used to stain immunofluorescently human erythrocytes, some of which were infected with P. falciparum, those samples that predominantly reacted with amino acids 650-670 stained P. falciparum-infected red cells, whereas those that reacted with other regions of band 3 stained all erythrocytes. A positive correlation was found between anti-band 3 reactivity and the capacity of a serum to inhibit the cytoadherence of P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes to C32 amelanotic melanoma cells. Also, some rabbit sera immunoprecipitated a high-molecular-weight protein from extracts of surface iodinated P. falciparum-infected red cells.

Inhibition of human breast cancer cell proliferation and delay of mammary tumorigenesis by flavonoids and citrus juices

Two citrus flavonoids, hesperetin and naringenin, found in oranges and grapefruit, respectively, and four noncitrus flavonoids, baicalein, galangin, genistein, and quercetin, were tested singly and in one-to-one combinations for their effects on proliferation and growth of a human breast carcinoma cell line, MDA-MB-435. The concentration at which cell proliferation was inhibited by 50% (IC50), based on incorporation of [3H]thymidine, varied from 5.9 to 140 micrograms/ml for the single flavonoids, with the most potent being baicalein. IC50 values for the one-to-one combinations ranged from 4.7 micrograms/ml (quercetin + hesperetin, quercetin + naringenin) to 22.5 micrograms/ml (naringenin + hesperetin). All the flavonoids showed low cytotoxicity (> 500 micrograms/ml for 50% cell death). Naringenin is present in grapefruit mainly as its glycosylated form, naringin. These compounds, as well as grapefruit and orange juice concentrates, were tested for their ability to inhibit development of mammary tumors induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) in female Sprague-Dawley rats. Two experiments were conducted in which groups of 21 rats were fed a semipurified diet containing 5% corn oil and were given a 5-mg dose of DMBA intragastrically at approximately 50 days of age while in diestrus. One week later, individual groups were given double-strength grapefruit juice or orange juice or fed naringin or naringenin at levels comparable to that provided by the grapefruit juice; in the second experiment, the rats were fed a semipurified diet containing 20% corn oil at that time. As expected, rats fed the high-fat diet developed more tumors than rats fed the low-fat diet, but in both experiments tumor development was delayed in the groups given orange juice or fed the naringin-supplemented diet compared with the other three groups. Although tumor incidence and tumor burden (grams of tumor/rat) were somewhat variable in the different groups, rats given orange juice had a smaller tumor burden than controls, although they grew better than any of the other groups. These experiments provide evidence of anticancer properties of orange juice and indicate that citrus flavonoids are effective inhibitors of human breast cancer cell proliferation in vitro, especially when paired with quercetin, which is widely distributed in other foods.

Plasmodium falciparum: the adherence of erythrocytes infected with human malaria can be mimicked using pfalhesin-coated microspheres

Infection of human erythrocytes with the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, results in the exposure of amino acid residues 542-555 of the anion-exchange protein, band 3, in a conformation that enables the cell to adhere to C32 amelanotic melanoma cells. Attempts to isolate this adhesive form from infected cells by immunoaffinity were unsuccessful, and so other approaches were utilized. Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transfected with cDNA encoding the first 578 amino acid residues of human band 3 protein transiently expressed the protein efficiently. A murine monoclonal antibody (MAb) that specifically recognizes the adhesin exposed on the surface of erythrocytes bearing mature stages of P. falciparum immunostained some transfected cells, confirming that the first 578 amino residues are sufficient for the adhesive conformation. As a more efficient alternative to transgenic expression of the adhesin, microspheres with covalently bound peptides fashioned on band 3 sequences previously found to be adherent (residues 546-553 and 820-829 and called pfalhesin) were produced. The pfalhesin-coated microspheres specifically bound to C32 amelanotic melanoma cells, whereas microspheres coupled with a scrambled version of residues 546-553 had little binding capacity for melanoma cells. These results demonstrate that the previously identified band 3-related peptides that inhibit cytoadherence interact directly with target cells and suggest that microspheres with covalently coupled peptides might constitute novel 'artificial' P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes for use in in vitro and in vivo studies.

Effect of tocotrienols on the growth of a human breast cancer cell line in culture

The tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) of palm oil consists of tocotrienols and some alpha-tocopherol (alpha-T). Tocotrienols are a form of vitamin E having an unsaturated side-chain, rather than the saturated side-chain of the more common tocopherols. Because palm oil has been shown not to promote chemically-induced mammary carcinogenesis, we tested effects of TRF and alpha-T on the proliferation, growth, and plating efficiency (PE) of the MDA-MB-435 estrogen-receptor-negative human breast cancer cells. TRF inhibited the proliferation of these cells with a concentration required to inhibit cell proliferation by 50% of 180 microgram/mL whereas alpha-T had no effect at concentrations up to 1000 microgram/mL as measured by incorporation of [3H]thymidine. The effects of TRF and alpha-T also were tested in longer-term growth experiments, using concentrations of 180 and 500 microgram/mL. We found that TRF inhibited the growth of these cells by 50%, whereas alpha-T did not. Their effect on the ability of these cells to form colonies also was studied, and it was found that TRF inhibited PE, whereas alpha T had no effect. These results suggest that the inhibition is due to the presence of tocotrienols in TRF rather than alpha T.

Plasmodium falciparum: sera of individuals living in a malaria-endemic region recognize peptide motifs of the human erythrocyte anion transport protein

Specific regions of the human erythrocyte anion transport protein, AE 1 or band 3, have been identified as being adhesive in Plasmodium falciparum-infected-erythrocytes. In addition, synthetic peptides based on these sequences and murine monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) to these block cytoadherence/sequestration. These findings suggest the possibility that humans who are able to control P. falciparum infections may produce anti-adhesin (and thus anti-band 3) antibodies. To test this hypothesis, sera from individuals living in The Gambia and southern California were assayed for reactivity to decapeptides patterned on putative exofacial regions of the human anion transporter, band 3 protein. Sera from an area highly endemic for malaria, The Gambia, were found to have strong reactivity to well-defined regions of the band 3 protein (some of which contain the adhesin), whereas minimal reactivity was observed with sera from individuals living in a geographic area where malaria transmission is rare (California). Sera from The Gambia reacted strongly with residue blocks 534-560, 638-660, and 808-842. Gambian sera that reacted strongly with peptides patterned on band 3 failed to react with native band 3 on an immunoblot, but did react with fixed P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes. Using reactivity to decapeptides has allowed the determination of the epitopes of previously described murine MAbs that inhibit or promote cytoadherence; this reactivity with a specific region of a protein can be correlated with a specific effect on cytoadherence. A MAb (5H12) directed against amino acids 474-488 promoted cytoadherence, whereas those directed against amino acids 540-550 and 750-766 (Mabs 1C4 and 4A3, respectively) inhibited cytoadherence.

Monoclonal antibodies that react with human band 3 residues 542-555 recognize different conformations of this protein in uninfected and Plasmodium falciparum infected erythrocytes

A monoclonal antibody generated against synthetic peptides patterned on amino acids 542-555 of human band 3, designated 1F4, specifically immunostained Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes and inhibited the cytoadherence of P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes to C32 amelanotic melanoma cells. 1F4 did not recognize intact band 3 protein on immunoblots, however it was reactive towards proteolytic fragments of band 3. The binding region of another murine monoclonal antibody previously reported to recognize the membrane spanning domain of human band 3, designated B6, was found to also recognize residues 542-555, however its properties differed from 1F4. Mab B6 recognized both infected and uninfected red cells, and reacted only with intact band 3 on immunoblots. Mab B6 was without effect on cytoadherence. These results demonstrate that monoclonal antibodies reactive against a common peptide sequence may bind to different conformations of the peptide sequence and suggest that the adherent competency of P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes may result from a change in the surface topography of human band 3 protein.

Plasmodium falciparum: CD36 dependent cytoadherence or rosetting of infected erythrocytes is modulated by knobs

A knobless (K-) line of the FCR-3 isolate of Plasmodium falciparum was obtained by gelatin flotation. Immunofluorescent staining and immunoblots indicated that both the K- line and the K+ (knobby) line from which it was derived contained similar forms of potentially adhesive modified band 3 protein. When the K+ and K- lines were assayed for their cytoadherent and rosetting abilities the K+ line showed a high level of CD36 dependent cytoadherence, whereas the K- line demonstrated a marked pH dependent increase in rosetting. Rosetting was inhibited by the addition of peptides based on band 3 motifs, suggesting that cytoadherence and rosetting involve the same adhesin but that the presence of knobs affects whether the adherent preference of the infected erythrocyte is uninfected red cells or endothelial/C32 amelanotic melanoma cells.

Effects of long-chain fatty amines on the growth of ras-transformed NIH 3T3 cells

A number of aliphatic primary amines were tested for their effects on the growth of ras-transformed NIH 3T3 cells (PAP2 cells), as measured by incorporation of tritiated thymidine into DNA. Long-chain, saturated amines (C12 to C18) were growth inhibitory, whereas short-chain amines (C6, C8) were not. Farnesylamine, a branched-chain, unsaturated amine (C15), had an IC50 of 6.9 microM compared to IC50 values of 13.1 to 45.8 microM for straight-chain, saturated amines. Oleylamine, with an IC50 of 0.1 microM, was the most potent inhibitor. The long-chain amines, but not the short-chain amines, were also effective inhibitors of protein kinase C, assayed in vitro in a cell-free system. In addition, studies with indo-1-loaded PAP2 cells showed that long-chain amines induced a reversible rise in intracellular free Ca2+ concentration. Growth inhibition by the amines was positively correlated with this effect, suggesting that factors other than protein kinase C may be involved in the inhibition of growth of PAP2 cells by long-chain amines.

Variations in serum levels of dolichol and its occurrence in human atherosclerotic plaques

Nonsaponifiable lipids of human atherosclerotic plaques obtained at autopsy from patients ranging in age from 45 to 85 years were analyzed by high pressure liquid chromatography. All plaques contained dolichol, ranging from 125 to 460 micrograms/g wet weight. Dolichol was also present in normal aortic tissue, but the amounts were generally less than in plaques. To investigate the source of the dolichol in plaques, blood serum was analyzed from both volunteer subjects and hypercholesterolemic patients. The levels of dolichol were generally higher in hypercholesterolemic compared with normal subjects, but were not correlated with levels of total or lipoprotein cholesterol. The homologue pattern of dolichol in atherosclerotic plaques differed from that of aorta and blood. The source of dolichol in plaques and its significance remains to be established.

Farnesylamine: an inhibitor of farnesylation and growth of ras-transformed cells

Farnesylamine, an analogue of farnesol, was shown to inhibit growth of PAP2 cells (ras-transformed NIH 3T3 cells) in a dose-dependent manner. This inhibition was overcome by adding farnesol to the culture medium, but not by adding geranylgeraniol, squalene, cholesterol, dolichol, myristic acid or palmitic acid. Farnesylamine inhibited both farnesyl/protein transferase and geranylgeranyl/protein transferase in whole cell extracts and also inhibited the prenylation of proteins, particularly ras p21, in PAP2 cells. Inhibition of prenylation was associated with increased biosynthesis of other products of the mevalonate biosynthetic pathway. These observations suggest that inhibition of the growth of PAP2 cells by farnesylamine may be due to blocking of ras-mediated signal transduction. This offers a means of investigating mechanisms involved in ras action and raises the possibility of developing novel strategies for anticancer therapy.

A progress report on the crystallographic studies on the B800-850 antenna complex from Rhodopseudomonas acidophila strain 10050

Large single crystals (up to 1 mm in each dimension) of the B800-850 antenna complex from Rhodopseudomonas acidophila strain 10050 have been grown in the presence of beta-octyl-glucoside. These crystals have the space group R32 and unit cell dimensions of a = b = 119.9 A and c = 297.0 A. Recently we have improved our crystallization procedures so that all crystals now diffract reliably to beyond 3.5 A, with some diffracting to below 3 A. A range of isomorphous heavy atom derivatives have been prepared and we are now engaged in locating the heavy atom sites within the unit cell.

Dolichol: function, metabolism, and accumulation in human tissues

Dolichol, a homologous series of alpha-saturated polyisoprenoid alcohols containing 14-24 isoprene units, was first isolated and characterized about 30 years ago. The phosphorylated form, dolichyl phosphate, is required for the biosynthesis of biologically important N-linked glycoproteins. Dolichol itself is synthesized by a common isoprenoid pathway from acetate and synthesis can be inhibited by some of the factors that inhibit cholesterol biosynthesis. It is metabolized very slowly and accumulates in tissues during aging and in certain lipid storage diseases. Dolichyl phosphate and cholesterol also accumulate in tissues during aging, but to a lesser extent than dolichol. Although dolichol and cholesterol have important metabolic functions, their accumulation in tissues can have deleterious effects.

Crystallization of the B800-820 light-harvesting complex from Rhodopseudomonas acidophila strain 7750

The B800-820 light-harvesting complex, an integral membrane protein, from Rhodopseudomonas acidophila strain 7750 has been crystallized. The tabular plates have a hexagonal unit cell of a = b = 121.8 A and c = 283.1 A and belong to the space group R32. X-ray diffraction data have been collected to 6 A resolution, using an area detector on a rotating anode source. The B800-820 light-harvesting complex is comprised of four low molecular weight apoproteins (B800-820 alpha 1, B800-820 alpha 2, B800-820 beta 1 and B800-820 beta 2). Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis shows that the complex exists as an oligomeric assembly, with an apparent molecular weight of 92,000.

Rehabilitating the patient with arthritis: team approach

Canadian family physicians must revolutionize their approach to the treatment of patients with arthritis. The consequences of the disease are so diverse that it demands a total approach by a team of specially trained professionals. By learning what the rehabilitation team offers, the physician can create treatment strategies and help improve the patient's quality of life.