Distinct roles of the ERK pathway in modulating apoptosis of Ras-transformed and non-transformed cells induced by anticancer agent FR901228

Ectopic expression of oncogenic H-Ras in cells results in increases of cell susceptibility to the anticancer agent FR901228. Investigating the roles of Ras-induced pathways in FR901228-induced apoptosis, we have found that the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway plays an anti-apoptotic role, whereas the stress-activated protein kinase p38 pathway plays a pro-apoptotic role in FR901228-induced apoptosis. Interestingly, the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway plays an anti-apoptotic role in non-transformed cells; however, it plays a pro-apoptotic role in Ras-transformed cells in response to FR901228 treatment. An essential role of the ERK pathway in regulating caspase-3 contents may contribute to its pro-apoptotic role in Ras-transformed cells.     

血管活性肠肽的免疫调节作用

血管活性肠肽作为神经和内分泌系统中一种多功能的神经递质和神经调节因子,在上述两个生理系统中发挥重要的调节作用;同时也对机体免疫系统起着重要的作用,尤其是在局部黏膜免疫中起着一定的调节作用。血管活性肠肽通过它的两个受体VPAC1和VPAC2发挥生物效应。     

Gensenoside Rb1 protects rat PC12 cells from oxidative stress-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress: the involvement of thioredoxin-1

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry - Oxidative stress plays an important role in many diseases and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) plays a central role in the stress. Gensenoside Rb1 is the one of active...     

Abscisic acid is a negative regulator of root gravitropism in Arabidopsis thaliana

The plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) plays a role in root gravitropism and has led to an intense debate over whether ABA acts similar to auxin by translating the gravitational signal into directional root growth. While tremendous advances have been made in the past two decades in establishing the role of auxin in root gravitropism, little progress has been made in characterizing the role of ABA in this response. In fact, roots of plants that have undetectable levels of ABA and that display a normal gravitropic response have raised some serious doubts about whether ABA plays any role in root gravitropism. Here, we show strong evidence that ABA plays a role opposite to that of auxin and that it is a negative regulator of the gravitropic response of Arabidopsis roots.     

Motile organelles: the importance of specific tubulin isoforms

The requirements for building flagellar axonemes and centrioles are beginning to be uncovered. The carboxyl terminus of a specific beta tubulin isoform plays an important role in forming the '9 + 2' structure of the axoneme; delta tubulin plays an essential role in forming the triplet microtubules of centrioles and basal bodies.     

Implications of Magnesium Deficiency in Type 2 Diabetes: A Review

Magnesium is the fourth most abundant cation in the body and plays an important physiological role in many of its functions. It plays a fundamental role as a cofactor in various enzymatic reactions involving energy metabolism. Magnesium is a cofactor of various enzymes in carbohydrate oxidation and plays an important role in glucose transporting mechanism of the cell membrane. It is also involved in insulin secretion, binding, and activity. Magnesium deficiency and hypomagnesemia can result from a wide variety of causes, including deficient magnesium intake, gastrointestinal, and renal losses. Chronic magnesium deficiency has been associated with the development of insulin resistance. The present review discusses the implications of magnesium deficiency in type 2 diabetes.     

Ktr-mediated potassium transport, a major pathway for potassium uptake, is coupled to a proton gradient across the membrane in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803

Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 contains a Ktr system and a putative ATP-dependent Kdp system for potassium uptake. We report here that the Kdp system plays only a minor role in potassium uptake under salt and non-stress conditions, unlike the role it plays in Escherichia coli. In Synechocystis, Ktr-mediated potassium transport is dependent on the proton gradient across the membrane.     

IL-36 a new member of the IL-1 family cytokines

Interleukin-36 (IL-36) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine which plays an important role in innate and adaptive immunity. IL-36 activates MAPK and NF-kB pathways and is produced by many different cells. This cytokine is a family member of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and plays an important role in the pathophysiology of several diseases. Here we summarise and review the new aspects of this important pro-inflammatory cytokine.     

The Role of RNA in Biological Phase Separations

Phase transitions that alter the physical state of ribonucleoprotein particles contribute to the spacial and temporal organization of the densely packed intracellular environment. This allows cells to organize biologically coupled processes as well as respond to environmental stimuli. RNA plays a key role in phase separation events that modulate various aspects of RNA metabolism. Here, we review the role that RNA plays in ribonucleoprotein phase separations.     

窖蛋白-1在干细胞增殖、分化及组织修复中的作用

干细胞(stem cell)是一类具有自我复制能力(self-renewing)的多潜能细胞.在一定条件下,它可以分化成多种功能细胞,是组织修复和再生的重要资源.胞膜窖(caveolae)是细胞膜内陷形成的一种特殊的脂筏结构, 含有丰富的胆固醇和鞘磷脂,在调节细胞內吞作用、蛋白质转运及细胞的信号转导中发挥重要作用.窖蛋白-1(caveolin-1,Cav-1)是组成胞膜窖的主要功能蛋白质,它不但参与胞膜窖的形成,在胆固醇平衡、膜泡运输等方面也发挥重要作用.最新研究发现,Cav-1在干细胞的增殖、分化及组织修复中发挥一定的作用.这里将Cav-1在干细胞中的主要作用进行综述     

Hedgehog信号通路与肿瘤

Hedgehog信号通路在胚胎发育中细胞的生长分化、组织器官形成以及成体干细胞的维持和自稳态的保持等方面具有重要作用。同时,Hedgehog信号通路与Wnt信号通路、Notch信号通路等相互作用、密切联系,在肿瘤的发生、发展过程中也起到关键作用。论文综述了Hedgehog信号通路的作用机理,与其他信号通路、蛋白质因子的相互联系,以及在肿瘤研究中所关注的靶位点和小分子化合物抑制剂,对于癌症的预防和治疗具有一定的参考价值。     

组蛋白赖氨酸特异性去甲基化酶1A在肿瘤发生发展中的作用

组蛋白赖氨酸特异性去甲基化酶1A (Histone lysine-specific demethylase 1A,KDM1A)作为组蛋白赖氨酸特异性去甲基化酶(Histonelysine-specificdemethylase)家族的一员,在信号传导、染色体重构、胚胎发育、造血和糖脂代谢等生物学过程中起着重要的作用。近年来的研究及临床证据表明,KDM1A的表达与肿瘤的发生发展密不可分,通过与不同的复合物结合并介导不同的下游信号通路,对多种肿瘤的生长增殖起着关键的调节作用,例如前列腺癌、乳腺癌、肺癌和肝癌等。在大多数情况下,KDM1A在肿瘤的发生发展中扮演着促癌基因角色。文中结合近年来有关文献,阐述了KDM1A在多种肿瘤发生及发展中的研究进展,总结了其作用机制,并对以KDM1A为靶点的抑癌治疗的应用前景进行了展望。     

Angiogenic and cell survival functions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was originally identified as an endothelial cell specific growth factor stimulating angiogenesis and vascular permeability. Some family members, VEGF C and D, are specifically involved in lymphangiogenesis. It now appears that VEGF also has autocrine functions acting as a survival factor for tumour cells protecting them from stresses such as hypoxia, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The mechanisms of action of VEGF are still being investigated with emerging insights into overlapping pathways and cross-talk between other receptors such as the neuropilins which were not previously associated with angiogenesis. VEGF plays an important role in embryonic development and angiogenesis during wound healing and menstrual cycle in the healthy adult. VEGF is also important in a number of both malignant and non-malignant pathologies. As it plays a limited role in normal human physiology, VEGF is an attractive therapeutic target in diseases where VEGF plays a key role. It was originally thought that in pathological conditions such as cancer, VEGF functioned solely as an angiogenic factor, stimulating new vessel formation and increasing vascular permeability. It has since emerged it plays a multifunctional role where it can also have autocrine pro-survival effects and contribute to tumour cell chemoresistance. In this review we discuss the established role of VEGF in angiogenesis and the underlying mechanisms. We discuss its role as a survival factor and mechanisms whereby angiogenesis inhibition improves efficacy of chemotherapy regimes. Finally, we discuss the therapeutic implications of targeting angiogenesis and VEGF receptors, particularly in cancer therapy.     

炎症小体在动脉粥样硬化发生发展中的研究进展

炎症小体(inflammasome)是免疫细胞内由多种蛋白质所组成的复合体,属于胞浆型模式识别受体(pattern recognition receptor,PRR)。它作为固有免疫系统的重要组分在机体免疫反应和疾病发生过程中具有重要作用。近年来的研究表明炎症小体是炎症免疫反应的核心。由于能被多种类型的病原体或危险信号所激活,NLRP3(NOD样受体蛋白-3)炎症小体在多种疾病过程中,包括动脉粥样硬化症、家族性周期性自身炎症反应、阿尔海默茨病和2型糖尿病等都发挥了关键作用。因此,NLRP3(NOD样受体蛋白-3)炎症小体可能为各种炎症性疾病,包括动脉粥样硬化的治疗提供新的靶点。本文将对炎症小体在动脉粥样硬化发生发展中发挥的作用进行综述。     

PAR3在上皮细胞紧密连接形成中作用和分子机制研究

细胞极性的建立是组织发育和器官形成的重要环节。而其中紧密连接是上皮细胞极性建立和维持的重要结构,也是极性破坏的靶点。因此,紧密连接对上皮细胞极性来说十分重要。保守的PAR3-PAR6-aPKC极性复合体在紧密连接的形成过程中发挥中枢作用。PAR3可与JAMs、TIAM1及LIMK2等分子相互作用,在多个信号通路中发挥调节作用,其相互作用机制复杂。PAR3还可受到来自胞外信号作用于EGFR等受体型酪氨酸磷酸化蛋白激酶的调控。由于PAR3在紧密连接形成的过程中至关重要,有关PAR3的蛋白磷酸化和EGFR等信号转导通路影响PAR3,从而调控紧密连接形成的机制成为了新的研究热点。     

Increased bending rigidity of single DNA molecules by H-NS,a temperature and osmolarity sensor

Histonelike nucleoid structuring protein (H-NS) is an abundant prokaryotic protein participating in nucleoid structure, gene regulation, and silencing. It plays a key role in cell response to changes in temperature and osmolarity. Force-extension measurements of single, twist-relaxed lambda-DNA-H-NS complexes show that these adopt more extended configurations compared to the naked DNA substrates. Crosslinking indicates that H-NS can decorate DNA molecules at one H-NS dimer per 15-20 bp. These results suggest that H-NS polymerizes along DNA, forming a complex of higher bending rigidity. These effects are not observed above 32 degrees C or at high osmolarity, supporting the hypothesis that a direct H-NS-DNA interaction plays a key role in gene silencing. Thus, we propose that H-NS plays a unique structural role, different from that of HU and IHF, and functions as one of the environmental sensors of the cell.     

抗肿瘤药物对小鼠早期胚胎发育的影响

表观遗传修饰在基因表达和克隆胚胎的早期发育方面有重要作用.表现遗传修饰至少发生在两个关键时期--配子形成期和植入前胚胎,如果在此期间发生异常,则会导致胚胎的死亡及出生后各种疾病的发生.其中DNA的甲基化是最重要的一种表观遗传修饰类型,DNA甲基化在哺乳动物发育过程中起关键作用.综述几种类型抗肿瘤药物作用机制——其使胚胎的DNA甲基化降低,引起转录活性降低,进而导致胚胎发育停滞.     

Life and death of lymphocytes: a volume regulation affair

The loss of cell volume, termed apoptotic volume decrease (AVD) has been a hallmark feature of apoptosis. However the role of this characteristic attribute of programmed cell death has always been questioned as to whether it plays an active or passive factor during apoptosis. Here we review studies that suggest that AVD plays an active role during apoptosis and the underlying flux of ions that results in this morphological event regulates the programmed cell death process.