Characterization of newly established colorectal cancer cell lines: correlation between cytogenetic abnormalities and allelic deletions associated with multistep tumorigenesis

We have established a series of 20 colorectal cancer cell lines and performed cytogenetic and RFLP analyses to show that the recurrent genetic abnormalities of chromosomes 1, 5, 17 and 18 associated with multistep tumorigenesis in colorectal cancer, and frequently detected as recurrent abnormalities in primary tumours, are also retained in long-term established cell lines. Earlier studies by us and other investigators showed that allelic losses of chromosomes 1 and 17 in primary colorectal cancers predicted poorer survival for the patients (P = 0.03). We utilized the cell lines to identify specific chromosomal sites or gene(s) on chromosomes 1 and 17 which confer more aggressive phenotype. Cytogenetic deletions of chromosome 1p were detected in 14 out of the 20 (70%) cell lines, whereas allelic deletions for 1p using polymorphic markers were detected in 13 out of 18 (72%) informative cell lines for at least one polymorphic marker. We have performed Northern blotting, immunohistochemical staining (p53 mRNA, protein) and RFLP analysis using several probes including p53 and nm23. RFLP analysis using a total of seven polymorphic markers located on 17p and 17q arms showed allelic losses aroundthe p53 locus in 16 out of the 20 cell lines (80%), four of which were losses of thep53 locus itself. In addition, seven cell lines (out of nine informative cases) also showed losses of thenm23 gene, four with concurrent losses of thep53 locus, while the remaining three were homozygous. In addition, five out of seven cell lines withnm23 deletions were derived from hepatic metastatic tumours, and one cell line was obtained from recurrent tumour. A comparison between allelic deletions of 1p and functional loss ofnm23 gene revealed a close association between these two events in cell lines derived from hepatic metastasis. Following immunohistochemical staining, nine out of the twenty cell lines showed high levels (25–80%) of mutant p53, four showed intermediate levels (>20%), and seven had undetectable levels of the protein. Of these seven, four showed complete absence of mRNA. Of the remaining three cell lines one showed aberrant mRNA due to germline rearrangement of thep53 gene, whereas in two cell lines normal levels of mRNA were present. Nineteen of the 20 cell lines had normal germline configurations for thep53 gene, while one showed a rearrangement. These data suggest that functional loss ofp53 andnm23 genes accomplished by a variety of mechanisms may be associated with poor prognosis and survival. In addition, concurrent deletions of chromosome regions 17p, 17q and 1p were closely associated with high-stage hepatic metastatic disease. These cell lines with well-characterized genetic alterations and known clinical history provide an invaluable source of material for various biological and clinical studies relating to multistep colorectal tumorigenesis.     

A note on the occurrence of Leuconostoc oenos as a spoilage organism in canned mango juice

E thiraj , S. & S uresh , E.R. 1985. A note on the occurrence of Leuconostoc oenos as a spoilage organism in canned mango juice. Journal of Applied -Bacteriology 59 , 239–242.
A strain of Leuconostoc oenos was isolated from a blown can of mango juice. Various tests to identify and characterize the bacterium suggested that it could be a strain of L. oenos . This is the first report of L. oenos as a spoilage organism in fruit products other than wine.     

Control of ethanol production by yeast: Role of pyruvate decarboxylase and alcohol dehydrogenase

Summary The critical role of pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC) and alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) in determining the rate of ethanol production is confirmed using PDC constitutive mutants. By deriving strains with altered levels of these two enzymes, it has been found that a high level of both PDC and ADH is necessary for faster ethanol production.     

Piper longum Constituents Induce PANC-1 Human Pancreatic Cancer Cell Death under Nutrition Starvation

Pancreatic cancer is a highly aggressive form of cancer with a poor prognosis, partly due to ‘austerity’, a phenomenon of tolerance to nutrient deprivation and survival in its hypovascular tumor microenvironment. Anti-austerity agents which preferentially diminish the survival of cancer cells under nutrition starvation is regarded as new generation anti-cancer agents. This study investigated the potential of Piper longum constituents as anti-austerity agents. The ethanolic extract of Piper longum was found to have preferential cytotoxicity towards PANC-1 human pancreatic cancer cells in a nutrient-deprived medium (NDM). Further investigation led to the identification of pipernonaline ( 3 ) as the lead compound with the strongest anti-austerity activity, inducing cell death and inhibiting migration in a normal nutrient medium, as well as strongly inhibiting the Akt/mTOR/autophagy pathway. Therefore, pipernonaline ( 3 ) holds promise as a novel antiausterity agent for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.     

Effects of phosphorylation of P-glycoprotein on multidrug resistance

Cells expressing elevated levels of the membrane phosphoprotein P-glycoprotein exhibit a multidrug resistance phenotype. Studies involving protein kinase activators and inhibitors have implied that covalent modification of P-glycoprotein by phosphorylation may modulate its biological activity as a multidrug transporter. Most of these reagents, however, have additional mechanisms of action and may alter drug accumulation within multidrug resistant cells independent of, or in addition to their effects on the state of phosphorylation of P-glycoprotein. The protein kinase(s) responsible for P-glycoprotein phosphorylation has(ve) not been unambiguously identified, although several possible candidates have been suggested. Recent biochemical analyses demonstrate that the major sites of phosphorylation are clustered within the linker region that connects the two homologous halves of P-glycoprotein. Mutational analyses have been initiated to confirm this finding. Preliminary data obtained from phosphorylation- and dephosphorylation-defective mutants suggest that phosphorylation of P-glycoprotein is not essential to confer multidrug resistance.     

Protein 1a: A major wheat germ agglutinin binding protein on the surface of human granulocytes associated with the cytoskeleton

Lectin-receptors on leukocyte and endothelial surfaces are becoming more important in the light of increasing evidence which implicates lectin-carbohydrate interactions in diverse physiological phenomena. This study reports the identification of a major 118 kDa granulocyte surface protein, (Protein 1a) which binds the lectin wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), and is distinctly different from reported WGA binding granulocyte membrane proteins. Protein 1a has been isolated from the Triton-soluble and Triton-insoluble lysates of normal individuals and patients with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) using a combination of differential solubilization, lectin affinity, ion exchange chromatography and HPLC. The protein from the detergent lysates of both normal and CML granulocytes has similar pI values, lectin affinities, and hydrophobicity. However, its solubility in Triton is different in the two cell types. In 71% of CML cases examined, Protein 1a exhibits decreased Triton solubility suggesting its increased association with the cytoskeleton (CSK). Stimulation of normal granulocytes with WGA leads to the translocation of the soluble form of Protein 1a to the Triton-insoluble fraction. This cytoskeletal recruitment of Protein 1a is sustained only under conditions of excess WGA and occupied receptor. The CSK disruptive agent dihydrocytochalasin B (H₂CB) releases the insoluble form of the receptor into the Triton-soluble fraction. Investigation of a CSK-involving process such as ligand internalization revealed that CML granulocytes exhibit slower kinetics of internalization of fluorescent WGA molecules. Since Protein 1a is a major WGA receptor on the granulocyte surface, its decreased Triton solubility in CML granulocytes suggests that this may be one of the factors contributing to the defective receptor-mediated endocytosis of WGA by CML cells, arising as a consequence of altered membrane-CSK interaction — a nodal point in the signal transduction cascade.     

Influence of carbon and nitrogen sources on glutathione catabolic enzymes inCandida albicans during dimorphism

The effect of carbon sources, glucose and sucrose, and nitrogen sources such as ammonia, glutamate andl-citrulline on the activities of glutathione metabolic enzymes has been studied. Yeast and mycelial cells were used to identify changes in activity levels of glutathione reductase (GSSGR), glutathione transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and -glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT). Enzyme activities from cells grown in sucrose media were lower than in glucose media regardless of the enzyme tested, morphological form, or the growth interval. In all enzymes except GST, activity was higher in yeast form than in mycelia, regardless of nitrogen source, with lower activity from 24 to 72 h than at 96 h. In citrulline media, yeast form showed the maximum GST, GGT, and GPX activity. In ammonia-amended media, mycelia showed maximum activity in GGT, whereas in glutamate media, mycelia showed the maximum activity in GST. Also, the type of nitrogen source had no effect on GPX activity in the mycelial form. Finally, changing the nitrogen source showed no significant effect on GSSGR activity, either in the yeast or mycelial form.     

Copper influenced changes of lipid metabolism in the tissues of freshwater teleost Labeo rohita (Hamilton).

Modulations in the lipid metabolism in the gill, liver, muscle and brain of freshwater teleost Labeo rohita exposed to 1, 2 and 3 days to lethal (1.2 mg/l) and 1, 15 and 30 days to sublethal (0.24 mg/l) concentrations of copper were studied. The total lipids decreased and there was an increase in the free fatty acids, glycerol and lipase activity in the organs studied at lethal concentration of copper. The degree in these shifts increased over time of exposure (1 less than 2 less than 3 days). In sublethal concentration, the levels of total lipids, free fatty acids, glycerol and lipase activity increased in all the four organs and the shifts followed two different trends during the exposure periods, 1 less than 15 less than 30 days in total lipids and 1 greater than 15 greater than 30 days in the other parameters. Among the organs, in both concentration media the changes in the lipid metabolism were in the order liver greater than gill greater than muscle greater than brain.     

Determination of cobalt in urine by gas chromatography—mass spectrometry employing nickel as an internal standard

A gas chromatographic—mass spectrometric method for the determination of cobalt in biological materials employing stable enriched ⁶²Ni as an internal standard and using lithium bis(trifluoroethyl)dithiocarbamate as a chelating agent is described. The method involves the addition of a known amount (1 μg) of ⁶²Ni to the sample, the formation of the chelate and the determination by selected-ion monitoring of the m/z ratio, which corresponds to . No appreciable memory effect was observed, and an acceptable dynamic range of 100 was found. There was good agreement between the cobalt concentration values determined by gas chromatography—mass spectrometry and electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The present method has high sensitivity and can be used for the quantitation of cobalt at concentrations as low as 1 μg/l. The use of enriched ⁶²Ni circumvents the problem caused by endogenous nickel and simultaneously provides data on the nickel concentration in the biological sample without any additional experimental effort.