Chk1 signaling pathways that mediated G(2)M checkpoint in relation to the cellular resistance to the novel topoisomerase I poison BNP1350

A novel karenitecin, BNP1350, is a topoisomerase I-targeting anticancer agent with significant antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo. A BNP1350-resistant human head and neck carcinoma A253 cell line, denoted A253/BNPR, was developed. The A253/BNPR cell line was approximately 9-fold resistant to BNP1350 and 4-fold cross-resistant to another topoisomerase I inhibitor SN-38, the active metabolite of irinotecan. After drug treatment with equimolar concentrations of BNP1350 (0.7 microM) for 2h, activation of the DNA double-strand break repair protein complexes was similar in the two cell lines, suggesting that DNA dsb repair is not attributable to resistance to BNP1350 in the A253/BNPR cells. Cell cycle analysis indicates that the A253 cell line accumulated primarily in S phase, but G(2) phase accumulation was observed in the A253/BNPR cell line at 48 h after drug removal. Elevated chk1 phosphorylation at Ser(345) following DNA damage induced by BNP1350 was accompanied by G(2) accumulation in the A253/BNPR cell line, while exposure to equimolar concentrations of BNP1350 (0.7 microM) induced S-phase arrest and no increased phosphorylation of chk1 at Ser(345) in the A253 cell line. Under the same conditions, increased chk1 activity was observed in the A253/BNPR cell line, but not in the A253 cell line. Moreover, stimulated binding of 14-3-3 proteins to chk1 was observed in BNP1350-treated A253/BNPR cells. To confirm relationship between chk1 expression/phosphorylation and drug resistance to topo I poisons, we examined the effects of chk1 or chk2 antisense oligonucleotides on the cellular growth inhibition. Chk1 antisense oligonucleotide can sensitize the A253/BNPR cells to killing by topo I inhibitor BNP1350, but no significant sensitization of BNP1350-induced growth inhibition was observed in the drug-sensitive cell line. Chk2 antisense oligonucleotide has only a small sensitization effect on BNP1350-induced growth inhibition in both cell lines. The data indicate that the chk1 signaling pathways that mediate cell cycle checkpoint are associated with cellular resistance to BNP1350 in the A253/BNPR cell line.     

Dna Synthetic Activity in Tumor-Bearing Mice

The rate of DNA synthesis in normal tissues exhibits circadian rhythmicity. However, there have been conflicting reports of the effects of tumor burden on the circadian rhythm of DNA synthesis in non-cancer tissues. We have developed a mouse colon cancer (MC-26) that exhibits different growth under different photoperiods. The purpose of this study was to analyze DNA synthetic activity in tissues removed from tumor-bearing and tumor-free mice maintained under two different photoperiods. Two groups each of approximately 80 male Balb/c mice were acclimated to one of two light-dark cycles, 12L:12D or 6L:18D. Half of each group were injected with 5.0 × 104 MC-26 cells. Twenty-two days later, all mice were killed in subgroups at 4-6 hr intervals over one 24-hr period. Colons and tumors were removed for measurement of DNA synthesis. Results were analyzed by means of one-way analysis of variance (ANO VA) in order to determine whether DNA synthesis varied significantly within groups over the 24-hr period. The DNA synthetic activity, as measured by uptake of tritiated thymidine, exhibited significant temporal variation in the colons of control (tumor-free) mice under both the 12L:12D and 6L:18D photoperiods. The colons of tumor-bearing mice failed to exhibit a fluctuation under a 12L:12D photoperiod but did show a significant 24-hr rhythm under the 6L:18D photoperiod. The subcutaneously growing cancers did not exhibit a circadian variation in DNA synthetic activity under either photoperiod. Both photoperiod and the presence of cancer appear to affect the DNA synthetic activity observed in mice bearing the MC-26 colon cancer.     

Versatile syntheses of mono- or bis-allylhalothiol-carbonates of some alditol or sugar derivatives via cyclic thionocarbonates as intermediates

We describe herein an extension of the halogenation of 1,2 or 1,3-diols via a cyclic thionocarbonate functionality by reaction with an allyl halide instead of methyl iodide, which is usually used. This investigation was successfully carried out under both conventional heating and microwave solvent-free conditions with some alditol, thioanhydroalditol, and aldose derivatives.     

Plasma turnover of HDL apoC-I,apoC-III,and apoE in humans: in vivo evidence for a link between HDL apoC-III and apoA-I metabolism

Numerous factors are known to affect the plasma metabolism of HDL, including lipoprotein receptors, lipid transfer protein, lipolytic enzymes and HDL apolipoproteins. In order to better define the role of HDL apolipoproteins in determining plasma HDL concentrations, the aims of the present study were: a) to compare the in vivo rate of plasma turnover of HDL apolipoproteins [i.e., apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), apoC-I, apoC-III, and apoE], and b) to investigate to what extent these metabolic parameters are related to plasma HDL levels. We thus studied 16 individuals with HDL cholesterol levels ranging from 0.56-1.66 mmol/l and HDL apoA-I levels ranging from 89-149 mg/dl. Plasma kinetics of HDL apolipoproteins were investigated using a primed constant (12 h) infusion of deuterated leucine. Plasma HDL apolipoprotein levels were 41.8 +/- 1.5, 9.7 +/- 0.5, 4.9 +/- 0.5, and 0.7 +/- 0.1 micromol/l for apoA-I, apoC-I, apoC-III and apoE. Plasma transport rates (TRs) were 388.6 +/- 24.7, 131.5 +/- 12.5, 66.5 +/- 9.1, and 31.4 +/- 3.3 nmol.kg-1.day-1; and residence times (RTs) were 5.1 +/- 0.4, 3.7 +/- 0.3, 3.6 +/- 0.3, and 1.1 +/- 0.1 days, respectively. HDL cholesterol and apoA-I levels were significantly correlated with HDL apoA-I RT (r = 0.69 and r = 0.56), and were not significantly correlated with HDL apoA-I TR. In contrast, HDL apoC-I, apoC-III, and apoB levels were all positively related to their TRs and not their RTs. HDL apoC-III TR was positively correlated with levels of HDL apoC-III (r = 0.73, P < 0.01), and with those of HDL cholesterol and apoA-I (r = 0.54 and r = 0.53, P < 0.05, respectively). HDL apoC-III TR was in turn related to HDL apoA-I RT (r = 0.51, P < 0.05). Together, these results provide in vivo evidence for a link between the metabolism of HDL apoC-III and apoA-I, and suggest a role for apoC-III in the regulation of plasma HDL levels.     

Structural and biochemical studies on the chromo-barrel domain of male specific lethal 3 (MSL3) reveal a binding preference for mono- or dimethyllysine 20 on histone H4

We have determined the human male specific lethal 3 (hMSL3) chromo-barrel domain structure by x-ray crystallography to a resolution of 2.5 Å (r = 0.226, R_free = 0.270). hMSL3 contains a canonical methyllysine binding pocket made up of residues Tyr-31, Phe-56, Trp-59, and Trp-63. A six-residue insertion between strands β₁ and β₂ of the hMSL3 chromo-barrel domain directs the side chain of Glu-21 into the methyllysine binding pocket where it hydrogen bonds to the NH group of a bound cyclohexylamino ethanesulfonate buffer molecule, likely mimicking interactions with a histone tail dimethyllysine residue. In vitro binding studies revealed that both the human and Drosophila MSL3 chromo-barrel domains bind preferentially to peptides representing the mono or dimethyl isoform of lysine 20 on the histone H4 N-terminal tail (H4K20Me₁ or H4K20Me₂). Mutation of Tyr-31 to Ala in the hMSL3 methyllysine-binding cage resulted in weaker in vitro binding to H4K20Me₁. The same mutation in the msl3 gene compromised male survival in Drosophila. Combined mutation of Glu-21 and Pro-22 to Ala in hMSL3 resulted in slightly weaker in vitro binding to H4K20Me₁, but the corresponding msl3 mutation had no effect on male survival in Drosophila. We propose MSL3 plays an important role in targeting the male specific lethal complex to chromatin in both humans and flies by binding to H4K20Me₁. Binding studies on the related dMRG15 chromo-barrel domain revealed that MRG15 prefers binding to H4K20Me₃.     

Royal jelly mitigates cadmium-induced neuronal damage in mouse cortex

Molecular Biology Reports - This study aimed to evaluate the potential neuroprotective effect of royal jelly (RJ) against Cd-induced neuronal damage. Twenty-eight adult mice were placed equally...     

Inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor attenuates complement activation and complement-induced lung injury

Complement activation is a central component of inflammation and sepsis and can lead to significant tissue injury. Complement factors are serum proteins that work through a cascade of proteolytic reactions to amplify proinflammatory signals. Inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor (IaI) is an abundant serum protease inhibitor that contains potential complement-binding domains, and has been shown to improve survival in animal sepsis models. We hypothesized that IaI can bind complement and inhibit complement activation, thus ameliorating complement-dependent inflammation. We evaluated this hypothesis with in vitro complement activation assays and in vivo in a murine model of complement-dependent lung injury. We found that IaI inhibited complement activation through the classical and alternative pathways, inhibited complement-dependent phagocytosis in vitro, and reduced complement-dependent lung injury in vivo. This novel function of IaI provides a mechanistic explanation for its observed salutary effects in sepsis and opens new possibilities for its use as a treatment agent in inflammatory diseases.