MAPK and PI3K pathways regulate hypoxia-induced atrial natriuretic peptide secretion by controlling HIF-1 alpha expression in beating rabbit atria

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling pathways are pivotal and intensively studied signaling pathways in hypoxic conditions. However, the roles of MAPK and PI3K in the regulation of hypoxia-induced atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) secretion are not well understood. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the mechanism by which the MAPK/ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) and PI3K signaling pathways regulate the acute hypoxia-induced ANP secretion in isolated beating rabbit atria. An acute hypoxic perfused beating rabbit atrial model was used. The ANP levels in the atrial perfusates were measured by radioimmunoassay, and the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) mRNA and protein levels in the atrial tissue were determined by RT-PCR and Western blot. Acute hypoxia significantly increased ANP secretion and HIF-1α mRNA and protein levels. Hypoxia-induced ANP secretion was markedly attenuated by the HIF-1α inhibitors, rotenone (0.5 μmol/L) and CAY10585 (10 μmol/L), concomitantly with downregulation of the hypoxia-induced HIF-1α mRNA and protein levels. PD098059 (30 μmol/L) and LY294002 (30 μmol/L), inhibitors of MAPK and PI3K, markedly abolished the hypoxia-induced ANP secretion and atrial HIF-1α mRNA and protein levels. The hypoxia-suppressed atrial dynamics were significantly attenuated by PD098059 and LY294002. Acute hypoxia in isolated perfused beating rabbit atria, markedly increased ANP secretion through HIF-1α upregulation, which was regulated by the MAPK/ERK and PI3K pathways. ANP appears to be part of the protective program regulated by HIF-1α in the response to acute hypoxic conditions.     

Interplay of Sps and poly(C) binding protein 1 on the mu-opioid receptor gene expression

The proximal promoter of mouse mu-opioid receptor (MOR) gene is the dominant promoter for directing MOR-1 gene expression in brain. Sp1/Sp3 (Sps) and poly(C) binding protein 1 (PCBP) bind to a cis-element of MOR proximal promoter. Functional interaction between Sps and PCBP and their individual roles on MOR proximal core promoter were investigated using SL2 cells, devoid of Sps and PCBP. Each factor contributed differentially to the promoter, with a rank order of activity Sp1>Sp3>PCBP. Functional analysis suggested the interplay of Sps and PCBP in an additive manner. The in vivo binding of individual Sps or PCBP to MOR proximal promoter was demonstrated using chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP). Re-ChIP assays further suggested simultaneous bindings of Sps and PCBP to the proximal promoter, indicating physiologically relevant communication between Sps and PCBP. Collectively, results documented that a functional coordination between Sps and PCBP contributed to cell-specific MOR gene expression.     

Sumoylation of specificity protein 1 augments its degradation by changing the localization and increasing the specificity protein 1 proteolytic process

Although specificity protein 1 (Sp1) accumulation has been found in various tumor strains, its mechanism is still not very clear. Herein, we found that modification of Sp1 by SUMO-1 facilitates Sp1 degradation. Our findings revealed that, although the amounts of Sp1 and Sp1 mutant (K16R) [Sp1(K16R)] mRNA in cells were equal, the protein level of Sp1(K16R) was higher than that of wild-type Sp1. We also proved that this sumoylation site was not the residue at which ubiquitination occurred. Invitro and in vivo pull-down assays revealed that more sumoylated Sp1 was localized in the cytoplasm, and the interaction between SUMO-1-Sp1 and the proteasome subunit rpt6 in HeLa cells was enhanced. In addition, although Sp1 accumulated in the tumorous cervical tissue, it was not prone to sumoylation. Finally, by overexpression of HA (hemagglutinin)-SUMO-1-Sp1-myc, HA-Sp1-myc, and HA-Sp1(K16R), we found that modification of Sp1 by SUMO-1 was important for Sp1 proteolysis. In conclusion, modification of Sp1 by SUMO-1 altered its localization and then increased its interaction with rpt6. This interaction increased the efficiency of Sp1 proteolytic processing and ubiquitination and then resulted in Sp1 degradation. Therefore, sumoylation of Sp1 is attenuated during tumorigenesis in order to increase Sp1 stability.     

Structure of HIV‐1 reverse transcriptase/d4TTP complex: Novel DNA cross‐linking site and pH‐dependent conformational changes

Stavudine (d4T, 2′,3′‐didehydro‐2′,3′‐dideoxythymidine) was one of the first chain‐terminating nucleoside analogs used to treat HIV infection. We present the first structure of the active, triphosphate form of d4T (d4TTP) bound to a catalytic complex of HIV‐1 RT/dsDNA template‐primer. We also present a new strategy for disulfide (S–S) chemical cross‐linking between N⁶ of a modified adenine at the second overhang base to I63C in the fingers subdomain of RT. The cross‐link site is upstream of the duplex‐binding region of RT, however, the structure is very similar to published RT structures with cross‐linking to Q258C in the thumb, which suggests that cross‐linking at either site does not appreciably perturb the RT/DNA structures. RT has a catalytic maximum at pH 7.5. We determined the X‐ray structures of the I63C‐RT/dsDNA/d4TTP cross‐linked complexes at pH 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, and 9.5. We found small (~0.5 Å), pH‐dependent motions of the fingers subdomain that folds in to form the dNTP‐binding pocket. We propose that the pH‐activity profile of RT relates to this motion of the fingers. Due to side effects of neuropathy and lipodystrophy, use of d4T has been stopped in most countries, however, chemical modification of d4T might lead to the development of a new class of nucleoside analogs targeting RNA and DNA polymerases.     

Aberrant cytoplasm localization and protein stability of SIRT1 is regulated by PI3K/IGF-1R signaling in human cancer cells

SIRT1, an NAD-dependent histone/protein deacetylase, has classically been thought of as a nuclear protein. In this study, we demonstrate that SIRT1 is mainly localized in the nucleus of normal cells, but is predominantly localized in the cytoplasm of the cancer / transformed cells we tested. We found this predominant cytoplasmic localization of SIRT1 is regulated by elevated mitotic activity and PI3K/IGF-1R signaling in cancer cells. We show that aberrant cytoplasmic localization of SIRT1 is due to increased protein stability and is regulated by PI3K/IGF-1R signaling. In addition, we determined that SIRT1 is required for PI3K-mediated cancer cell growth. Our study represents the first identification that aberrant cytoplasm localization is one of the specific alternations to SIRT1 that occur in cancer cells, and PI3K/IGF-1R signaling plays an important role in the regulation of cytoplasmic SIRT1 stability. Our findings suggest that the over-expressed cytoplasmic SIRT1 in cancer cells may greatly contribute to its cancer-specific function by working downstream of the PI3K/IGF-1R signaling pathway.     

ITGB1 enhances the Radioresistance of human Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Cells by modulating the DNA damage response and YAP1-induced Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition

Objectives: Radiotherapy has played a limited role in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) due to the risk of tumour radioresistance. We previously established the radioresistant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell line H460R. In this study, we identified differentially expressed genes between these radioresistant H460R cells and their radiosensitive parent line. We further evaluated the role of a differentially expressed gene, ITGB1, in NSCLC cell radioresistance and as a potential target for improving radiosensitivity.Materials and Methods: The radiosensitivity of NSCLC cells was evaluated by flow cytometry, colony formation assays, immunofluorescence, and Western blotting. Bioinformatics assay was used to identify the effect of ITGB1 and YAP1 expression in NSCLC tissues.Results: ITGB1 mRNA and protein expression levels were higher in H460R than in the parental H460 cells. We observed lower clonogenic survival and cell viability and a higher rate of apoptosis of ITGB1-knockdown A549 and H460R cells than of wild type cells post-irradiation. Transfection with an ITGB1 short hairpin (sh) RNA enhanced radiation-induced DNA damage and G2/M phase arrest. Moreover, ITGB1 induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of NSCLC cells. Silencing ITGB1 suppressed the expression and intracellular translocation of Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1), a downstream effector of ITGB1.Conclusions: ITGB1 may induce radioresistance via affecting DNA repair and YAP1-induced EMT. Taken together, our data suggest that ITGB1 is an attractive therapeutic target to overcome NSCLC cell radioresistance.