Zinc resistance impairs sensitivity to oxidative stress in HeLa cells: protection through metallothioneins expression.

To analyze the effects of high concentrations of zinc ions on oxidative stress protection, we developed an original model of zinc-resistant HeLa cells (HZR), by using a 200 microM zinc sulfate-supplemented medium. Resistant cells specifically accumulate high zinc levels in intracellular vesicles. These resistant cells also exhibit high expression of metallothioneins (MT), mainly located in the cytoplasm. Exposure of HZR to Zn-depleted medium for 3 or 7 d decreases the intracellular zinc content, but only slightly reduces MT levels of resistant cells. No changes of the intracellular redox status were detected, but zinc resistance enhanced H2O2-mediated cytotoxicity. Conversely, zinc-depleted resistant cells were protected against H2O2-induced cell death. Basal- and oxidant-induced DNA damage was increased in zinc resistant cells. Moreover, measurement of DNA damage on zinc-depleted resistant cells suggests that cytoplasmic metal-free MT ensures an efficient protection against oxidative DNA damage, while Zn-MT does not. This newly developed Zn-resistant HeLa model demonstrates that high intracellular concentrations of zinc enhance oxidative DNA damage and subsequent cell death. Effective protection against oxidative damage is provided by metallothionein under nonsaturating zinc conditions. Thus, induction of MT by zinc may mediate the main cellular protective effect of zinc against oxidative injury.     

Manganese is highly effective in protecting cells from cadmium intoxication

Cadmium poisoning results in cell death. Although several intracellular pathways have been identified in this response, transport systems responsible for cadmium entry into cells remain poorly understood and controversial. Here, we analyzed the effects of several divalent cations on cadmium toxicity in different cell types. We found that zinc, previously reported as a protective agent against cadmium poisoning, is actually much less efficient than manganese. We show that manganese dramatically reduces cadmium intake, and that this is associated with the inhibition of our recently reported sustained activation of ERK, characteristic of cadmium intoxication. Finally, we show that this inhibition of cadmium entry and ERK-sustained activation perfectly correlates with a high cellular resistance to cadmium exposure. Our results, together with previously published data, support the idea that the yet to be characterized manganese transporter system(s) may be responsible for cadmium entry into cells.     

Role of increased expression of the proteasome in the protective effects of sulforaphane against hydrogen peroxide-mediated cytotoxicity in murine neuroblastoma cells

The 26S proteasome is responsible for degradation of abnormal proteins and may play a role in cell survival upon oxidative stress. The indirect antioxidant sulforaphane (SFN) protects animal tissues from chemical toxicants by increasing the expression of several families of Nrf2-regulated genes. The role of induction of the 26S proteasome in cytoprotection by SFN was investigated in murine neuroblastoma Neuro2A cells. SFN enhanced the expression of the catalytic subunits of the proteasome, as well as proteasomal peptidase activities in these cells. Such treatment with SFN protected cells from hydrogen peroxide-mediated cytotoxicity in a manner dependent on proteasomal function. Inhibition of proteasome activities using pharmacological interventions significantly attenuated the protective effects of SFN against hydrogen peroxide cytotoxicity, as well as protein oxidation. Moreover, overexpression of the catalytic subunit PSMB5 enhanced proteasome function and led to elevated resistance against hydrogen peroxide toxicity and extent of protein oxidation compared to blank-plasmid-transfected cells. Pretreatment of PSMB5-overexpressing cells with SFN did not further enhance this resistance. Collectively, these results suggest that the cytoprotective effects of SFN against oxidative stress are in part due to up-regulation of the proteasome system. Therefore, inducers of proteasome expression may ameliorate the accumulation of damaged proteins associated with neurodegeneration and other diseases in whose etiologies protein oxidation plays a role.     

Cover Picture: Proteomics 11/2008

In this issue of Proteomics you will find the following highlighted articles: Pancreatic cancer signs autograph on micro antibody array Pancreatic cancer has been one of the nastier members of the “Discovered‐too‐late‐to‐do‐anything‐about‐it” disease club. Its 5‐year survival rate is 3–5 % because of late diagnosis and no effective therapy for advanced disease cases. This paper by Ingvarsson et al. reports their encouraging findings on the use of recombinant antibody microarrays to survey serum for diagnostic and prognostic proteins. In these “proof‐of‐concept” experiments they found a signature of 19 unique scFv antibodies, specific for immunoregulatory proteins, that could distinguish pancreatic cancer from normal and from Helicobacter pylori (an indicator of inflammation, 3 out of 14 overlap). The test panel distinguished long and short survivors (with only one long survivor misclassified). Data was classified using a Support Vector Machine. The classifier was validated by multiple splits of the data and leave‐one‐out tests. Ingvarsson, J. et al., Proteomics 2008, 8, 2211–2219. Of cadmium and zinc: Brothers or not? Cadmium and zinc occupy the same column in the periodic table so you might expect some biological similarities. Not much luck – mercury is also in that column. Zinc, under tight control, is an essential mineral; cadmium is toxic and induces a variety of defensive responses. A highly zinc‐resistant cell line (HZR) has been derived from the human HeLa line. Rousselet et al. have compared the proteomes of HZR and HeLa cultured in Cd and Zn using a variety of proteomic and genomic tools. MALDI‐TOF MS after 2‐DE revealed examples of a co‐chaperone, a heat‐shock organizing protein (Hop), ubiquitin and a number of reactive oxygen species control proteins elevated in HZR. Of special interest was 4‐hydroxyphenyl‐pyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD), catalyst of one of the first breakdown steps of tyrosine. The complex relationships revealed will require a lot more than one paragraph for explanation. Rousselet, E. et al., Proteomics 2008, 8, 2244–2255. Grey box proteomics of salty species In the classic black box experiment you know nothing about the contents of the box. I propose a grey box for experiments directed by homologous knowledge – like these. Pandhal et al. have developed a protocol for proteomic analysis of an unsequenced species by homology. The organism of interest is a halotolerant cyanobacterium, Euhalothece sp. which can grow in NaCl concentrations ranging from 0% to >9% NaCl. The nearest sequenced relative is a Synechocystis sp. By metabolic labeling with ¹⁵N/­¹⁴N, the researchers were able to use MS to match proteins from the two species and also quantitate changes in levels of proteins in response to salt levels. Three labelling experiments ([% NaCl], 0% +3%, 3% +6%, and 3% +9%) yielded 229, 212, and 96 proteins, respectively, by MASCOT search of proteins with two peptides of each isotope. MS BLAST found 32, 30, and 7 more proteins, respectively. Pandhal, J. et al., Proteomics 2008, 8, 2266–2284.     

In this issue: Proteomics 11/2008

In this issue of Proteomics you will find the following highlighted articles: Pancreatic cancer signs autograph on micro antibody array Pancreatic cancer has been one of the nastier members of the “Discovered‐too‐late‐to‐do‐anything‐about‐it” disease club. Its 5‐year survival rate is 3–5 % because of late diagnosis and no effective therapy for advanced disease cases. This paper by Ingvarsson et al. reports their encouraging findings on the use of recombinant antibody microarrays to survey serum for diagnostic and prognostic proteins. In these “proof‐of‐concept” experiments they found a signature of 19 unique scFv antibodies, specific for immunoregulatory proteins, that could distinguish pancreatic cancer from normal and from Helicobacter pylori (an indicator of inflammation, 3 out of 14 overlap). The test panel distinguished long and short survivors (with only one long survivor misclassified). Data was classified using a Support Vector Machine. The classifier was validated by multiple splits of the data and leave‐one‐out tests. Ingvarsson, J. et al., Proteomics 2008, 8, 2211–2219. Of cadmium and zinc: Brothers or not? Cadmium and zinc occupy the same column in the periodic table so you might expect some biological similarities. Not much luck – mercury is also in that column. Zinc, under tight control, is an essential mineral; cadmium is toxic and induces a variety of defensive responses. A highly zinc‐resistant cell line (HZR) has been derived from the human HeLa line. Rousselet et al. have compared the proteomes of HZR and HeLa cultured in Cd and Zn using a variety of proteomic and genomic tools. MALDI‐TOF MS after 2‐DE revealed examples of a co‐chaperone, a heat‐shock organizing protein (Hop), ubiquitin and a number of reactive oxygen species control proteins elevated in HZR. Of special interest was 4‐hydroxyphenyl‐pyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD), catalyst of one of the first breakdown steps of tyrosine. The complex relationships revealed will require a lot more than one paragraph for explanation. Rousselet, E. et al., Proteomics 2008, 8, 2244–2255. Grey box proteomics of salty species In the classic black box experiment you know nothing about the contents of the box. I propose a grey box for experiments directed by homologous knowledge – like these. Pandhal et al. have developed a protocol for proteomic analysis of an unsequenced species by homology. The organism of interest is a halotolerant cyanobacterium, Euhalothece sp. which can grow in NaCl concentrations ranging from 0% to >9% NaCl. The nearest sequenced relative is a Synechocystis sp. By metabolic labeling with ¹⁵N/­¹⁴N, the researchers were able to use MS to match proteins from the two species and also quantitate changes in levels of proteins in response to salt levels. Three labelling experiments ([% NaCl], 0% +3%, 3% +6%, and 3% +9%) yielded 229, 212, and 96 proteins, respectively, by MASCOT search of proteins with two peptides of each isotope. MS BLAST found 32, 30, and 7 more proteins, respectively. Pandhal, J. et al., Proteomics 2008, 8, 2266–2284.     

Proteasome inhibition in oxidative stress neurotoxicity: implications for heat shock proteins

Recent studies have demonstrated that inhibition of the proteasome, an enzyme responsible for the majority of intracellular proteolysis, may contribute to the toxicity associated with oxidative stress. In the present study we demonstrate that exposure to oxidative injury (paraquat, H(2)O(2), FeSO(4)) induces a rapid increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS), loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, inhibition of proteasome activity, and induction of cell death in neural SH-SY5Y cells. Application of proteasome inhibitors (MG115, epoxomycin) mimicked the effects of oxidative stressors on mitochondrial membrane potential and cell viability, and increased vulnerability to oxidative injury. Neural SH-SY5Y cells stably transfected with human HDJ-1, a member of the heat shock protein family, were more resistant to the cytotoxicity associated with oxidative stressors. Cells expressing increased levels of HDJ-1 displayed similar degrees of ROS formation following oxidative stressors, but demonstrated a greater preservation of mitochondrial function and proteasomal activity following oxidative injury. Cells transfected with HDJ-1 were also more resistant to the toxicity associated with proteasome inhibitor application. These data support a possible role for proteasome inhibition in the toxicity of oxidative stress, and suggest heat shock proteins may confer resistance to oxidative stress, by preserving proteasome function and attenuating the toxicity of proteasome inhibition.     

Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate and zinc inhibit proteasome-dependent proteolysis

Proteasomes play important roles in a variety of cellular processes such as cell cycle progression, signal transduction and immune responses. Proteasome activity is important in maintaining rapid turnover of short-lived proteins, as well as preventing accumulation of misfolded or damaged proteins. Alteration in ubiquitin-proteasome function may be detrimental to its crucial role in maintaining cellular homeostasis. Here, we have found that treatment of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), a zinc ionophore, resulted in the accumulation of several proteasome substrates including p53 and p21 in HeLa cells. The PDTC effect was due to an extended half-life of these proteins through the mobilization of zinc. PDTC and/or zinc also increased fluorescence intensity of Ub(G76V)-GFP fusion protein that is degraded rapidly by the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Treatment of cells with zinc induced formation of ubiquitinated inclusions in the centrosome, a histological marker of proteasome inhibition. Western blotting showed zinc-induced increase in laddering bands of polyubiquitin-conjugated proteins. In vitro study, zinc inhibited the ubiquitin-independent proteasomal degradations of p21 and alpha-synuclein. These results suggest that zinc may modulate cell functions through its action on the turnover of proteins that are susceptible to proteasome-dependent proteolysis.     

Effect of metallothionein on cell viability and its interactions with cadmium and zinc in HEK293 cells

Metallothioneins (MTs) are thought to participate in a wide variety of physiological roles, but the mechanisms involved are still unclear. The study was designed to examine the possible factors related to these mechanisms. Methods, including transfection, MTT assay and flow cytometry, were used to investigate the effect of MTs on cell viability and their interactions with cadmium and zinc in HEK293 cells. The results showed that transient overexpression of human MT1A, MT2 and MT3 genes dynamically affected cell viability, and the effect was influenced by zinc and cadmium ions. Overexpressed MTs with added zinc showed a greater inhibitory effect on cell viability. Overexpressed MTs protected cells against low concentrations of cadmium ions (10 microM), but increased cell death in response to high concentrations (20-50 microM). Out of the three MTs, MT1A was more efficient than MT2 and MT3 in its resistance to cadmium (10 microM), and MT3 together with zinc showed more cell growth inhibition than MT1 and MT2. These results indicate that both of the divalent metal ions that could bind MTs, as well as the individual MT isoforms, affect the role of MTs on cell viability, which may explain in part why the comprehensive effect of MTs on the cells was elusive.     

Two roads diverged: the structure of hydroxymandelate synthase from Amycolatopsis orientalis in complex with 4-hydroxymandelate

The crystal structure of the hydroxymandelate synthase (HMS).Co2+.hydroxymandelate (HMA) complex determined to a resolution of 2.3 A reveals an overall fold that consists of two similar beta-barrel domains, one of which contains the characteristic His/His/acid metal-coordination motif (facial triad) found in the majority of Fe2+-dependent oxygenases. The fold of the alpha-carbon backbone closely resembles that of the evolutionarily related enzyme 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) in its closed conformation with a root-mean-square deviation of 1.85 A. HPPD uses the same substrates as HMS but forms instead homogentisate (HG). The active site of HMS is significantly smaller than that observed in HPPD, reflecting the relative changes in shape that occur in the conversion of the common HPP substrate to the respective HMA or HG products. The HMA benzylic hydroxyl and carboxylate oxygens coordinate to the Co2+ ion, and three other potential H-bonding interactions to active site residue side chains are observed. Additionally, it is noted that there is a buried well-ordered water molecule 3.2 A from the distal carboxylate oxygen. The p-hydroxyl group of HMA is within hydrogen-bonding distance of the side chain hydroxyl of a serine residue (Ser201) that is conserved in both HMS and HPPD. This potential hydrogen bond and the known geometry of iron ligation for the substrate allowed us to model 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate (HPP) in the active sites of both HMS and HPPD. These models suggest that the position of the HPP substrate differs between the two enzymes. In HMS, HPP binds analogously to HMA, while in HPPD, the p-hydroxyl group of HPP acts as a hydrogen-bond donor and acceptor to Ser201 and Asn216, respectively. It is suggested that this difference in the ring orientation of the substrate and the corresponding intermediates influences the site of hydroxylation.     

Decreased zinc toxicity resulting from doxorubicin without increased GSSG export in three human lung cell lines

Zinc-mediated cytotoxicity is recognized, at least in part, by a decrease of reduced glutathione (GSH) and an increase in the oxidized form of glutathione (GSSG). Doxorubicin is a common inducer of multidrug-resistance-associated proteins and such proteins might, furthermore, be associated by an increased GSSG export rate. Therefore, zinc-mediated toxicity should be abolished after doxorubicin pretreatment. In the present study, zinc toxicity was characterized by methionine incorporation, glutathione content, and the GSSG/GSH ratio. Experiments were performed in three established lung cell lines comparing doxorubicin-pretreated cells with controls. Zinc-mediated toxicity was significantly decreased after pretreatment with doxorubicin as assessed by methionine-incorporation inhibition, GSH depletion, and/or GSSG increase in the two nonmalignant cell lines. Unexpectedly, zinc-associated GSSG export was not increased after doxorubicin pretreatment. This inconsistency might be explained as a result of a decreased zinc content in these cells, probably because of an increased export rate of zinc. The findings are in contradiction to the opinion of metal excretion by multidrug-resistance-associated proteins, matched to GSH conjugate excretion, as it is discussed for cadmium, for example.     

Metallothionein 2A induction by zinc protects HEPG2 cells against CYP2E1-dependent toxicity

Zinc has been shown to have antioxidant actions, which may be due, in part, to induction of metallothionein (MT). Such induction can protect tissues against various forms of oxidative injury because MT can function as an antioxidant. The objective of this study was to investigate if zinc or MT induction by zinc could afford protection against CYP2E1-dependent toxicity. HepG2 cells overexpressing CYP2E1 (E47cells) were treated with 60 microM arachidonic acid (AA), which is known to be toxic to these cells by a mechanism dependent on CYP2E1, oxidative stress, and lipid peroxidation. E47 cells were preincubated overnight in the absence or presence of metals such as zinc or cadmium that can induce MT. The culture medium containing the metals was removed, AA was added, and cell viability determined after 24 h incubation. Preincubation overnight with 150 microM zinc sulfate or 5 microM cadmium chloride induced a 20- to 30-fold increase of MT2A mRNA; high levels of MT2A mRNA were maintained during the subsequent challenge period with AA, even after the zinc was removed. MT protein levels were increased about 4- to 5-fold during the overnight preincubation with zinc and a 20- to 30-fold increase was observed 24 h after zinc removal during the AA challenge. The treatment with zinc was associated with significant protection against the loss of cell viability caused by AA in E47 cells. The zinc pretreatment protected about 50% against the DNA fragmentation, cell necrosis, the enhanced lipid peroxidation and increased generation of reactive oxygen species, and the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential induced by AA treatment in E47 cells. CYP2E1 catalytic activity and components of the cell antioxidant defense system such as glutathione (GSH), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), catalase, Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD), and MnSOD were not altered under these conditions. Zinc preincubation also protected the E47 cells against BSO-dependent toxicity. When E47 cells were coincubated with zinc plus AA for 24 h (i.e., zinc was not removed, nor was there a preincubation period prior to challenge with AA), AA toxicity was increased. Thus, zinc had a direct pro-oxidant effect in this model and an indirect antioxidant effect, perhaps via induction of MT. MT may have potential clinical utility for the prevention or improvement of liver injury produced by agents known to be metabolized by CYP2E1 to reactive intermediates and to cause oxidative stress.     

The immunoproteasome, the 20S proteasome and the PA28αβ proteasome regulator are oxidative-stress-adaptive proteolytic complexes

Oxidized cytoplasmic and nuclear proteins are normally degraded by the proteasome, but accumulate with age and disease. We demonstrate the importance of various forms of the proteasome during transient (reversible) adaptation (hormesis), to oxidative stress in murine embryonic fibroblasts. Adaptation was achieved by 'pre-treatment' with very low concentrations of H2O2, and tested by measuring inducible resistance to a subsequent much higher 'challenge' dose of H2O2. Following an initial direct physical activation of pre-existing proteasomes, the 20S proteasome, immunoproteasome and PA28αβ regulator all exhibited substantially increased de novo synthesis during adaptation over 24?h. Cellular capacity to degrade oxidatively damaged proteins increased with 20S proteasome, immunoproteasome and PA28αβ synthesis, and was mostly blocked by the 20S proteasome, immunoproteasome and PA28 siRNA (short interfering RNA) knockdown treatments. Additionally, PA28αβ-knockout mutants achieved only half of the H2O2-induced adaptive increase in proteolytic capacity of wild-type controls. Direct comparison of purified 20S proteasome and immunoproteasome demonstrated that the immunoproteasome can selectively degrade oxidized proteins. Cell proliferation and DNA replication both decreased, and oxidized proteins accumulated, during high H2O2 challenge, but prior H2O2 adaptation was protective. Importantly, siRNA knockdown of the 20S proteasome, immunoproteasome or PA28αβ regulator blocked 50-100% of these adaptive increases in cell division and DNA replication, and immunoproteasome knockdown largely abolished protection against protein oxidation.     

Analysis of Metal-Regulated Metallothionein and Heat Shock Gene Expression in HeLa-Derived Cadmium-Resistant Cells

The expression of metallothionein (MT) and heat shock protein gene families was investigated in normal and in HeLa-derived cadmium-resistant cells, named H454. In the absence of amplification of MT genes H454 cells accumulated elevated concentrations of cadmium ions and synthesized higher levels of MT proteins than unselected HeLa cells. Northern blot analyses revealed higher levels of MT mRNAs in the resistant cells than in wild-type cells after Cd²⁺and Zn²⁺exposure. Evaluation of the cytotoxic potential of the different metals confirmed the high resistance to cadmium of the H454 cells. Two proteins of the heat shock family, hsp70 and GRP78, were synthesized in Cd²⁺-exposed H454 cells at levels comparable to the ones present in Cd²⁺-treated normal cells. Northern blot analyses of the mRNA levels corresponding to these proteins revealed elevated expression of both hsp70 and GRP78 mRNAs in H454 cells upon exposure to cadmium ions and no response to zinc induction. These data suggest the existence in the H454 cells of a cadmium-specific pathway of regulation of MT and heat shock genes.     

Therapeutic targeting of cancer cell cycle using proteasome inhibitors

Proteasomes are multicatalytic protease complexes in the cell, involved in the non-lysosomal recycling of intra-cellular proteins. Proteasomes play a critical role in regulation of cell division in both normal as well as cancer cells. In cancer cells this homeostatic function is deregulated leading to the hyperactivation of the proteasomes. Proteasome inhibitors (PIs) are a class of compounds, which either reversibly or irreversibly block the activity of proteasomes and induce cancer cell death. Interference of PIs with the ubiquitin proteasome pathway (UPP) involved in protein turnover in the cell leads to the accumulation of proteins engaged in cell cycle progression, which ultimately put a halt to cancer cell division and induce apoptosis. Upregulation of many tumor suppressor proteins involved in cell cycle arrest are known to play a role in PI induced cell cycle arrest in a variety of cancer cells. Although many PIs target the proteasomes, not all of them are effective in cancer therapy. Some cancers develop resistance against proteasome inhibition by possibly activating compensatory signaling pathways. However, the details of the activation of these pathways and their contribution to resistance to PI therapy remain obscure. Delineation of these pathways may help in checking resistance against PIs and deducing effective combinational approaches for improved treatment strategies. This review will discuss some of the signaling pathways related to proteasome inhibition and cell division that may help explain the basis of resistance of some cancers to proteasome inhibitors and underline the need for usage of PIs in combination with traditional chemotherapy.     

4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase catalysis: identification of catalytic residues and production of a hydroxylated intermediate shared with a structurally unrelated enzyme

4-Hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) catalyzes the conversion of 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate (HPP) into homogentisate. HPPD is the molecular target of very effective synthetic herbicides. HPPD inhibitors may also be useful in treating life-threatening tyrosinemia type I and are currently in trials for treatment of Parkinson disease. The reaction mechanism of this key enzyme in both plants and animals has not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, using site-directed mutagenesis supported by quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical theoretical calculations, we investigated the role of catalytic residues potentially interacting with the substrate/intermediates. These results highlight the following: (i) the central role of Gln-272, Gln-286, and Gln-358 in HPP binding and the first nucleophilic attack; (ii) the important movement of the aromatic ring of HPP during the reaction, and (iii) the key role played by Asn-261 and Ser-246 in C1 hydroxylation and the final ortho-rearrangement steps (numbering according to the Arabidopsis HPPD crystal structure 1SQD). Furthermore, this study reveals that the last step of the catalytic reaction, the 1,2 shift of the acetate side chain, which was believed to be unique to the HPPD activity, is also catalyzed by a structurally unrelated enzyme.     

Oxidized LDLs alter the activity of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway: potential role in oxidized LDL-induced apoptosis.

Oxidized low-density lipoproteins (oxLDL) play a role in the genesis of atherosclerosis. OxLDL are able to induce apoptosis of vascular cells, which is potentially involved in the formation of the necrotic center of atherosclerotic lesions, plaque rupture, and subsequent thrombotic events. Because oxLDL may induce structural modifications of cell protein and altered proteins may impair cell viability, the present work aimed to evaluate the extent of protein alterations, the degradation of modified proteins through the ubiquitin-proteasome system (a major degradative pathway for altered and oxidatively modified proteins) and their role during apoptosis induced by oxLDL. This paper reports the following: 1) oxLDL induce derivatization of cell proteins by 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) and ubiquitination. 2) Toxic concentrations of oxLDL elicit a biphasic effect on proteasome activity. An early and transient activation of endogenous proteolysis is followed rapidly by a subsequent decay (resulting probably from the 26S proteasome inhibition) and followed later by the inhibition of the 20S proteasome (as assessed by inhibition of sLLVY-MCA hydrolysis). 3) Specific inhibitors of proteasome (lactacystin and proteasome inhibitor I) potentiated considerably the toxicity of oxLDL (nontoxic doses of oxLDL became severely toxic). The defect of the ubiquitination pathway (in temperature-sensitive mutants) also potentiated the toxicity of oxLDL. This suggests that the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway plays a role in the cellular defenses against oxLDL-induced toxicity. 4) Dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH), an aldehyde reagent, prevented both the oxLDL-induced derivatization of cell proteins and subsequent cytotoxicity. Altogether, the reported data suggest that both derivatization of cell proteins (by 4-HNE and other oxidized lipids) and inhibition of the proteasome pathway are involved in the mechanism of oxLDL-induced apoptosis.     

Ubiquitin B在HSP90抑制剂17-AAG诱导人宫颈癌HeLa细胞周期阻滞中的作用

目的 研究Ubiquitin B（Ubb）在热休克蛋白90（HSP90）抑制剂17-AAG诱导人宫颈癌HeLa细胞周期阻滞中的作用及机制.方法 不同浓度17-AAG处理HeLa细胞后,流式细胞术检测细胞周期分布,荧光分光光度法检测细胞蛋白酶体活性变化;Ubb siRNA 转染HeLa细胞后,Real Time PCR法检测Ubb干扰效应,Western 印迹检测细胞周期相关蛋白的表达改变.结果 17-AAG可以诱导HeLa细胞阻滞于G2/M期,同时显著增强细胞内糜蛋白酶样蛋白酶体活性,并且两者的变化均呈现剂量依赖性;干扰HeLa细胞内Ubb后,可以逆转17-AAG引起的G2/M期阻滞;17-AAG可明显下调HeLa细胞周期相关蛋白Cdk1和Hec1的表达,并且这一变化也是Ubb依赖的.结论 Ubb在17-AAG诱导的HeLa细胞周期阻滞中发挥重要作用,Ubb和HSP90抑制剂17-AAG在功能上相互关联,可能成为宫颈癌治疗的新靶点.     

Proteasome inhibition protects HT22 neuronal cells from oxidative glutamate toxicity

Oxidative stress caused by glutathione depletion after prolonged exposure to extracellular glutamate leads to a form of neuronal cell death that exhibits morphologically mixed features of both apoptosis and necrosis. However, specific downstream executioners involved in this form of cell death have yet to be identified. We report here that glutamate exposure does not activate caspase-3 in the HT22 neuronal cell line. Furthermore, no cytoprotection was achieved with either the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-fmk or the caspase-3-specific inhibitor DEVD-CHO. In contrast, inhibition of the proteasome by lactacystin protected both HT22 cells and rat primary neuronal cells against cell lysis. In parallel, oxidatively altered and ubiquitinated proteins accumulated in the mitochondrial fraction of cells after proteasome inhibition. These findings suggest that caspases can be decoupled from oxidative stress under some conditions, and implicate the ubiquitin/proteasome pathway in neuronal cell death caused by oxidative glutamate toxicity.     

Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E is a cellular target for toxicity and death due to exposure to cadmium chloride

Whether translation initiation factor 4E (eIF4E), the mRNA cap binding and rate-limiting factor required for translation, is a target for cytotoxicity and cell death induced by cadmium, a human carcinogen, was investigated. Exposure of human cell lines, HCT15, PLC/PR/5, HeLa, and Chang, to cadmium chloride resulted in cytotoxicity and cell death, and this was associated with a significant decrease in eIF4E protein levels. Similarly, specific silencing of the expression of the eIF4E gene, caused by a small interfering RNA, resulted in significant cytotoxicity and cell death. On the other hand, overexpression of the eIF4E gene was protective against the cadmium-induced cytotoxicity and cell death. Further studies revealed the absence of alterations in the eIF4E mRNA level in the cadmium-treated cells despite their decreased eIF4E protein level. In addition, exposure of cells to cadmium resulted in enhanced ubiquitination of eIF4E protein while inhibitors of proteasome activity reversed the cadmium-induced decrease of eIF4E protein. Exposure of cells to cadmium, as well as the specific silencing of eIF4E gene, also resulted in decreased cellular levels of cyclin D1, a critical cell cycle and growth regulating gene, suggesting that the observed inhibition of cyclin D1 gene expression in the cadmium-treated cells is most likely due to decreased cellular level of eIF4E. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the exposure of cells to cadmium chloride resulted in cytotoxicity and cell death due to enhanced ubiquitination and consequent proteolysis of eIF4E protein, which in turn diminished cellular levels of critical genes such as cyclin D1.