Pro-apoptotic effect and cytotoxicity of genistein and genistin in human ovarian cancer SK-OV-3 cells

We investigated the effects of genistein and genistin on proliferation and apoptosis of human ovarian SK-OV-3 cells and explored the mechanism for these effects. SK-OV-3 cells were treated with genistein and genistin at various concentrations (ranging from 1 to 100 muM) either alone or in combination for 24 and 48 h. Cell proliferation was estimated using an MTT assay, and cell cycle arrest was evaluated using FACS. Caspase-3 activity and annexin-based cell cycle analysis were used as measures of apoptosis. In addition, genistein- and genistin-induced cytotoxicity was determined by measuring release of LDH. Genistein treatment for 24 or 48 h substantially inhibited SK-OV-3 cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, and genistin treatment for 48 h also inhibited cell proliferation. Genistein caused cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase in dose- and time-dependent manner, and genistin caused cell cycle arrest not only at G2/M phase but also at G1 phase. Genistein markedly induced apoptosis and significantly increased LDH release, whereas genistin did not affect LDH release. Moreover, exposure to both genistein and genistin in combination for 48 h induced apoptosis without increasing LDH release. Genistein and genistin inhibit cell proliferation by disrupting the cell cycle, which is strongly associated with the arrest induction of either G1 or G2/M phase and may induce apoptosis. Based on our findings, we speculate that both genistein and genistin may prove useful as anticancer drugs and that the combination of genistein and genistin may have further anticancer activity.     

AMIGO2, a novel membrane anchor of PDK1, controls cell survival and angiogenesis via Akt activation

The phosphoinositide 3-kinase–Akt signaling pathway is essential to many biological processes, including cell proliferation, survival, metabolism, and angiogenesis, under pathophysiological conditions. Although 3-phosphoinositide–dependent kinase 1 (PDK1) is a primary activator of Akt at the plasma membrane, the optimal activation mechanism remains unclear. We report that adhesion molecule with IgG-like domain 2 (AMIGO2) is a novel scaffold protein that regulates PDK1 membrane localization and Akt activation. Loss of AMIGO2 in endothelial cells (ECs) led to apoptosis and inhibition of angiogenesis with Akt inactivation. Amino acid residues 465–474 in AMIGO2 directly bind to the PDK1 pleckstrin homology domain. A synthetic peptide containing the AMIGO2 465–474 residues abrogated the AMIGO2–PDK1 interaction and Akt activation. Moreover, it effectively suppressed pathological angiogenesis in murine tumor and oxygen-induced retinopathy models. These results demonstrate that AMIGO2 is an important regulator of the PDK1–Akt pathway in ECs and suggest that interference of the PDK1–AMIGO2 interaction might be a novel pharmaceutical target for designing an Akt pathway inhibitor.     

Crystal structure of Pyrococcus furiosus PF2050, a member of the DUF2666 protein family

Pyrococcus furiosus PF2050 is an uncharacterized putative protein that contains two DUF2666 domains. Functional and structural studies of PF2050 have not previously been performed. In this study, we determined the crystal structure of PF2050. The structure of PF2050 showed that the two DUF2666 domains interact tightly, forming a globular structure. Each DUF2666 domain comprises an antiparallel β-sheet and an α-helical bundle. One side of the PF2050 structure has a positively charged basic cleft, which may have a DNA-binding function. Furthermore, we confirmed that PF2050 interacts with circular and linear dsDNA.     

3D pharmacophore based virtual screening of T-type calcium channel blockers

Virtual screening of the commercial databases was done by using a three dimensional pharmacophore previously developed for T-type calcium channel blockers using CATALYSTtrade mark program. Biological evaluation of 25 selected virtual hits resulted in the discovery of a highly potent compound VH04 with IC(50) value of 0.10 microM, eight times as potent as the known selective T-type calcium channel blocker, mibefradil. Search for similar compounds yielded several hits with micro-molar IC(50) values and high T-type calcium channel selectivity. Based on the structure of the virtual hits, small molecule libraries with novel scaffolds were designed, synthesis and biological evaluation of which are currently in progress. This result shows a successful example of ligand based drug discovery of potent T-type calcium channel blockers.     

Growth of mycobacteria on carbon monoxide and methanol

Several mycobacterial strains, such as Mycobacterium flavescens, Mycobacterium gastri, Mycobacterium neoaurum, Mycobacterium parafortuitum, Mycobacterium peregrinum, Mycobacterium phlei, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Mycobacterium vaccae, were found to grow on carbon monoxide (CO) as the sole source of carbon and energy. These bacteria, except for M. tuberculosis, also utilized methanol as the sole carbon and energy source. A CO dehydrogenase (CO-DH) assay, staining by activity of CO-DH, and Western blot analysis using an antibody raised against CO-DH of Mycobacterium sp. strain JC1 (formerly Acinetobacter sp. strain JC1 [J. W. Cho, H. S. Yim, and Y. M. Kim, Kor. J. Microbiol. 23:1-8, 1985]) revealed that CO-DH is present in extracts of the bacteria prepared from cells grown on CO. Ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO) activity was also detected in extracts prepared from all cells, except M. tuberculosis, grown on CO. The mycobacteria grown on methanol, except for M. gastri, which showed hexulose phosphate synthase activity, did not exhibit activities of classic methanol dehydrogenase, hydroxypyruvate reductase, or hexulose phosphate synthase but exhibited N,N-dimethyl-4-nitrosoaniline-dependent methanol dehydrogenase and RuBisCO activities. Cells grown on methanol were also found to have dihydroxyacetone synthase. Double immunodiffusion revealed that the antigenic sites of CO-DHs, RuBisCOs, and dihydroxyacetone synthases in all mycobacteria tested are identical with those of the Mycobacterium sp. strain JC1 enzymes.     

Oxazolopyridines and thiazolopyridines as monoamine oxidase B inhibitors for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease

In Parkinson’s disease, the motor impairments are mainly caused by the death of dopaminergic neurons. Among the enzymes which are involved in the biosynthesis and catabolism of dopamine, monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) has been a therapeutic target of Parkinson’s disease. However, due to the undesirable adverse effects, development of alternative MAO-B inhibitors with greater optimal therapeutic potential towards Parkinson’s disease is urgently required. In this study, we designed and synthesized the oxazolopyridine and thiazolopyridine derivatives, and biologically evaluated their inhibitory activities against MAO-B. Structure–activity relationship study revealed that the piperidino group was the best choice for the R¹ amino substituent to the oxazolopyridine core structure and the activities of the oxazolopyridines with various phenyl rings were between 267.1 and 889.5 nM in IC₅₀ values. Interestingly, by replacement of the core structure from oxazolopyrine to thiazolopyridine, the activities were significantly improved and the compound 1n with the thiazolopyridine core structure showed the most potent activity with the IC₅₀ value of 26.5 nM. Molecular docking study showed that van der Waals interaction in the human MAO-B active site could explain the enhanced inhibitory activities of thiazolopyridine derivatives.     

Axonal Synapses Utilize Multiple Synaptic Ribbons in the Mammalian Retina

In the mammalian retina, bipolar cells and ganglion cells which stratify in sublamina a of the inner plexiform layer (IPL) show OFF responses to light stimuli while those that stratify in sublamina b show ON responses. This functional relationship between anatomy and physiology is a key principle of retinal organization. However, there are at least three types of retinal neurons, including intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) and dopaminergic amacrine cells, which violate this principle. These cell types have light-driven ON responses, but their dendrites mainly stratify in sublamina a of the IPL, the OFF sublayer. Recent anatomical studies suggested that certain ON cone bipolar cells make axonal or ectopic synapses as they descend through sublamina a, thus providing ON input to cells which stratify in the OFF sublayer. Using immunoelectron microscopy with 3-dimensional reconstruction, we have identified axonal synapses of ON cone bipolar cells in the rabbit retina. Ten calbindin ON cone bipolar axons made en passant ribbon synapses onto amacrine or ganglion dendrites in sublamina a of the IPL. Compared to the ribbon synapses made by bipolar terminals, these axonal ribbon synapses were characterized by a broad postsynaptic element that appeared as a monad and by the presence of multiple short synaptic ribbons. These findings confirm that certain ON cone bipolar cells can provide ON input to amacrine and ganglion cells whose dendrites stratify in the OFF sublayer via axonal synapses. The monadic synapse with multiple ribbons may be a diagnostic feature of the ON cone bipolar axonal synapse in sublamina a. The presence of multiple ribbons and a broad postsynaptic density suggest these structures may be very efficient synapses. We also identified axonal inputs to ipRGCs with the architecture described above.