14-3-3 zeta is a molecular target in guggulsterone induced apoptosis in Head and Neck cancer cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The five-year survival rates for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients are less than 50%, and the prognosis has not improved, despite advancements in standard multi-modality therapies. Hence major emphasis is being laid on identification of novel molecular targets and development of multi-targeted therapies. 14-3-3 zeta, a multifunctional phospho-serine/phospho-threonine binding protein, is emerging as an effector of pro-survival signaling by binding to several proteins involved in apoptosis (Bad, FKHRL1 and ASK1) and may serve as an appropriate target for head and neck cancer therapy. Herein, we determined effect of guggulsterone (GS), a farnesoid X receptor antagonist, on 14-3-3 zeta associated molecular pathways for abrogation of apoptosis in head and neck cancer cells.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Head and neck cancer cells were treated with guggulsterone (GS). Effect of GS-treatment was evaluated using cell viability (MTT) assay and apoptosis was verified by annexin V, DNA fragmentation and M30 CytoDeath antibody assay. Mechanism of GS-induced apoptosis was determined by western blotting and co-IP assays using specific antibodies.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Using in vitro models of head and neck cancer, we showed 14-3-3 zeta as a key player regulating apoptosis in GS treated SCC4 cells. Treatment with GS releases BAD from the inhibitory action of 14-3-3 zeta in proliferating HNSCC cells by activating protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). These events initiate the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis, as revealed by increased levels of cytochrome c in cytoplasmic extracts of GS-treated SCC4 cells. In addition, GS treatment significantly reduced the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins, Bcl-2, xIAP, Mcl1, survivin, cyclin D1 and c-myc, thus committing cells to apoptosis. These events were followed by activation of caspase 9, caspase 8 and caspase 3 leading to cleavage of its downstream target, poly-ADP-ribose phosphate (PARP).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>GS targets 14-3-3 zeta associated cellular pathways for reducing proliferation and inducing apoptosis in head and neck cancer cells, warranting its investigation for use in treatment of head and neck cancer.</p

Intraionic, interligand proton transfer in collision-activated macrocyclic complex ions of nickel and copper

Intraionic, interligand proton transfer in collision-activated macrocyclic complex ions of nickel and copper has been observed. The macrocyclic ligand 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (cyclam) or tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (tren) can transfer, after collision activation, one of its amino protons to an anion, but not to a solvent molecule, adducted to the complex; the neutral, protonated anion then leaves the complex. Proton transfer from the macrocycle to an adducted neutral, aromatic nitrogen base is also possible provided that the proton affinity of the base is sufficiently high.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Molecular radical cations of oligopeptides

An unprecedented method of producing molecular radical cations of oligopeptides in the gas phase has been discovered. Electrospraying a methanolic mixture of a Cu(II)-amine complex, e.g., CuII(dien)(NO3)2 (where dien = diethylenetriamine), and an oligopeptide (M) yields the [CuII(dien)M]·2+ ion, whose collision-induced dissociation (CID) produces [CuI(dien)]+ and M·+, the molecular cation of the oligopeptide. Abundant M·+ is apparent when the oligopeptide contains both a tyrosyl and a basic residue-arginyl, lysyl, or histidyl. These structural requirements are similar to those in the metalloradical enzyme process in photosystem II. Tandem mass spectrometry of M·+ produces fragment ions that are both common to and also different from [M + H]+. The fragmentation chemistry of M·+ and of its products appear to be radical driven. © 2000 American Chemical Society.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Comparison between protonation, lithiation, and argentination of 5-oxazolones: A study of a key intermediate in gas-phase peptide sequencing

Molecular orbital calculations at B3LYP/6-31++G(d,p) are reported for bases 2-(aminomethyl)-5-oxazolone, 2-(aminomethyl)-4-methyl-5-oxazolone, 2-phenyl-5-oxazolone, and 2-phenyl-4 methyl-5-oxazolone and for the cations formed by protonation of these bases on their imino nitrogens. Structures and relative energies for isomers generated by protonation at each of the four heteroatoms of 2-(aminomethyl)-5-oxazolone are reported. Lithium and silver cations both add to 2-(aminomethyl)-5-oxazolone, but unlike the proton, they bind with two heteroatoms simultaneously. For both the lithiated and argentinated 2-(aminomethyl)-5-oxazolone cations the lowest energy isomers have the metal coordinated with the two nitrogen atoms. Proton affinities of these bases are in the range 217.0-221 kcal mol -1, with the methyl group at C4 increasing the proton affinity by ~3 kcal mol -1. Single-point calculations were performed at MP4(fc)/6-31 l++G(2df,p)//B3LYP/6-31++G-(d,p) for 2-(aminomethyl)-5-oxazolone, diketopiperazine, glycine, and alanine and their conjugate acids. The proton affinities from this level of theory are lower by as much as 2.7 kcal mol -1 than those calculated at B3LYP/6-31++G(d,p). Enthalpies of formation calculated at B3LYP/6-31++G(d,p) from isodesmic reactions for glycine, alanine, and their conjugate acids are all within l kcal mol -1 of the experimental values, but those calculated at MP4 deviate by as much as 4.8 kcal mol -1. Enthalpies of formation from atomization reactions at the MP4 level are in larger disagreement with experimental values. © 2000 American Chemical Society.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Distinct and separable roles for EZH2 in neurogenic Astroglia

The epigenetic mechanisms that enable specialized astrocytes to retain neurogenic competence throughout adult life are still poorly understood. Here we show that astrocytes that serve as neural stem cells (NSCs) in the adult mouse subventricular zone (SVZ

Mutational landscape of normal epithelial cells in Lynch Syndrome patients.

Lynch Syndrome (LS) is an autosomal dominant disease conferring a high risk of colorectal cancer due to germline heterozygous mutations in a DNA mismatch repair (MMR) gene. Although cancers in LS patients show elevated somatic mutation burdens, information on mutation rates in normal tissues and understanding of the trajectory from normal to cancer cell is limited. Here we whole genome sequence 152 crypts from normal and neoplastic epithelial tissues from 10 LS patients. In normal tissues the repertoire of mutational processes and mutation rates is similar to that found in wild type individuals. A morphologically normal colonic crypt with an increased mutation burden and MMR deficiency-associated mutational signatures is identified, which may represent a very early stage of LS pathogenesis. Phylogenetic trees of tumour crypts indicate that the most recent ancestor cell of each tumour is already MMR deficient and has experienced multiple cycles of clonal evolution. This study demonstrates the genomic stability of epithelial cells with heterozygous germline MMR gene mutations and highlights important differences in the pathogenesis of LS from other colorectal cancer predisposition syndromes

Lactate Dehydrogenase A is a potential prognostic marker in clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Abstract Background Over 90% of cancer-related deaths in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC) are caused by tumor relapse and metastasis. Thus, there is an urgent need for new molecular markers that can potentiate the efficacy of the current clinical-based models of prognosis assessment. The objective of this study is to evaluate the potential significance of lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA), assessed by immunohistochemical staining, as a prognostic marker in clear cell renal cell carcinoma in relation to clinicopathological features and clinical outcome. Methods We assessed the expression of LDHA at the protein level, by immunohistochemistry, and correlated its expression with multiple clinicopathological features including tumor size, clinical stage, histological grade, disease-free and overall survival in 385 patients with primary clear cell renal cell carcinoma. We also correlated the LDHA expression with overall survival, at mRNA level, in an independent data set of 170 clear cell renal cell carcinoma cases from The Cancer Genome Atlas databases. Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for the potential clinicopathological factors were used to test for associations between the LDHA expression and both disease-free survival and overall survival. Results There is statistically significant positive correlation between LDHA level of expression and tumor size, clinical stage and histological grade. Moreover, LDHA expression shows significantly inverse correlation with both disease-free survival and overall survival in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Our results are validated by examining LDHA expression, at the mRNA level, in the independent data set of clear cell renal cell carcinoma cases from The Cancer Genome Atlas databases which also shows that higher lactate dehydrogenase A expression is associated with significantly shorter overall survival. Conclusion Our results indicate that LDHA up-regulation can be a predictor of poor prognosis in clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Thus, it represents a potential prognostic biomarker that can boost the accuracy of other prognostic models in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Human GLP-1 receptor transmembrane domain structure in complex with allosteric modulators

The glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) and the glucagon receptor (GCGR) are members of the secretin-like class B family of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and have opposing physiological roles in insulin release and glucose homeostasis. The treatment of type 2 diabetes requires positive modulation of GLP-1R to inhibit glucagon secretion and stimulate insulin secretion in a glucose-dependent manner. Here we report crystal structures of the human GLP-1R transmembrane domain in complex with two different negative allosteric modulators, PF-06372222 and NNC0640, at 2.7 and 3.0 Å resolution, respectively. The structures reveal a common binding pocket for negative allosteric modulators, present in both GLP-1R and GCGR and located outside helices V-VII near the intracellular half of the receptor. The receptor is in an inactive conformation with compounds that restrict movement of the intracellular tip of helix VI, a movement that is generally associated with activation mechanisms in class A GPCRs. Molecular modelling and mutagenesis studies indicate that agonist positive allosteric modulators target the same general region, but in a distinct sub-pocket at the interface between helices V and VI, which may facilitate the formation of an intracellular binding site that enhances G-protein coupling