Chromosome phylogeny of the subfamily Pitheciinae (Platyrrhini,Primates) by classic cytogenetics and chromosome painting

Background  

The New World monkey (Platyrrhini) subfamily Pitheciinae is represented by the genera Pithecia, Chiropotes and Cacajao. In this work we studied the karyotypes of Pithecia irrorata (2n = 48) and Cacajao calvus rubicundus (2n = 45 in males and 2n = 46 in females) by G- and C-banding, NOR staining and chromosome painting using human and Saguinus oedipus whole chromosome probes. The karyotypes of both species were compared with each other and with Chiropotes utahicki (2n = 54) from the literature.     

Direct anti-metastatic efficacy by the DNA enzyme Dz13 and downregulated MMP-2, MMP-9 and MT1-MMP in tumours

The DNA enzyme Dz13, targeted against the oncogene c-Jun, is capable of inhibiting various model tumours in mice albeit in ectopic models of neoplasia. In previous studies using orthotopic models of disease, the inhibitory effects of Dz13 on secondary growth was a direct result of growth inhibition at the primary lesion site. Thus, the direct and genuine effects on metastasis were not gauged. In this study, Dz13 was able to inhibit both locoregional and distal metastasis of tumour cells in mice, in studies where the primary tumours were unaffected due to the late and clinically-mimicking nature of treatment commencement. In addition, the effect of Dz13 against tumours has now been extended to encompass breast and prostate cancer. Dz13 upregulated the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9, and decreased expression of MT1-MMP (MMP-14) in cultured tumour cells. However, in sections of ectopic tumours treated with Dz13, both MMP-2 and MMP-9 were downregulated. Thus, not only is Dz13 able to inhibit tumour growth at the primary site, but also able to decrease the ability of neoplastic cells to metastasise. These findings further highlight the growing potential of Dz13 as an antineoplastic agent.     

Distances between structural metal ion, substrates, and allosteric modifier of fructose bisphosphatase

The binding of two paramagnetic probes within a subunit of fructose bisphosphatase, viz., Mn2+ at a structural site and a nitroxide spin-label at a sulfhydryl site, has permitted the measurement of NMR and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) relaxation rates to map the active and allosteric site topography. Distances from these loci to the phosphoryl of fructose 6-phosphate (Fru-6-P) and inorganic phosphate (Pi) and four nuclei of adenosine 5'-phosphate (AMP) (the phosphorus nucleus, H-8, H-2, and H-1') were obtained. These measurements located the Mn2+ approximately equidistant from the two phosphoryl moieties of the product ligands Fru-6-P and Pi and in close proximity to the AMP. The adenosine moiety of the latter is oriented anti. Analysis of EPR data revealed that the nitroxide group is approximately 16 A from the structural Mn2+ site. Calculation of the residence times for the hydrolysis reaction products suggests that their dissociation should not be rate limiting in the overall reaction cycle.     

Catalytic mechanisms for phosphotriesterases

Phosphotriesters are one class of highly toxic synthetic compounds known as organophosphates. Wide spread usage of organophosphates as insecticides as well as nerve agents has lead to numerous efforts to identify enzymes capable of detoxifying them. A wide array of enzymes has been found to have phosphotriesterase activity including phosphotriesterase (PTE), methyl parathion hydrolase (MPH), organophosphorus acid anhydrolase (OPAA), diisopropylfluorophosphatase (DFP), and paraoxonase 1 (PON1). These enzymes differ widely in protein sequence and three-dimensional structure, as well as in catalytic mechanism, but they also share several common features. All of the enzymes identified as phosphotriesterases are metal-dependent hydrolases that contain a hydrophobic active site with three discrete binding pockets to accommodate the substrate ester groups. Activation of the substrate phosphorus center is achieved by a direct interaction between the phosphoryl oxygen and a divalent metal in the active site. The mechanistic details of the hydrolytic reaction differ among the various enzymes with both direct attack of a hydroxide as well as covalent catalysis being found. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Chemistry and mechanism of phosphatases, diesterases and triesterases.     

YAP‐TEAD signaling promotes basal cell carcinoma development via a c‐JUN/AP1 axis

The mammalian Hippo signaling pathway, through its effectors YAP and TAZ, coerces epithelial progenitor cell expansion for appropriate tissue development or regeneration upon damage. Its ability to drive rapid tissue growth explains why many oncogenic events frequently exploit this pathway to promote cancer phenotypes. Indeed, several tumor types including basal cell carcinoma (BCC) show genetic aberrations in the Hippo (or YAP/TAZ) regulators. Here, we uncover that while YAP is dispensable for homeostatic epidermal regeneration, it is required for BCC development. Our clonal analyses further demonstrate that the few emerging Yap‐null dysplasia have lower fitness and thus are diminished as they progress to invasive BCC. Mechanistically, YAP depletion in BCC tumors leads to effective impairment of the JNK‐JUN signaling, a well‐established tumor‐driving cascade. Importantly, in this context, YAP does not influence canonical Wnt or Hedgehog signaling. Overall, we reveal Hippo signaling as an independent promoter of BCC pathogenesis and thereby a viable target for drug‐resistant BCC.     

Positional isotope exchange

The detection of intermediates in enzyme-catalyzed reactions can be accomplished by several techniques. For those intermediates which do not have easily observed electronic spectra, use can be made of isotope exchange phenomena if the chemistry of the reaction is appropriate. Recently, the technique of positional isotope exchange (intramolecular isotopic scrambling) has been used to study several reactions which have been thought to involve high-energy intermediates in their mechanisms. A review of some of these reactions and the limitations of the method are presented in this article.     

Kinetic evidence for the formation of D-alanyl phosphate in the mechanism of D-alanyl-D-alanine ligase

The steady state kinetic mechanism, molecular isotope exchange and the positional isotope exchange (PIX) reactions of D-alanyl-D-alanine ligase from Salmonella typhimurium have been studied. The kinetic mechanism has been determined to be ordered Ter-Ter from initial velocity and product inhibition experiments. The first substrate to bind is ATP followed by the addition of 2 mol of D-alanine. Pi is released, and then D-alanyl-D-alanine and ADP dissociate from the enzyme surface. In the reverse direction D-alanyl-D-alanine exhibits complete substrate inhibition (Ki = 1.15 +/- 0.05 mM) by binding to the enzyme-ATP complex. In the presence of D-alanine, D-alanyl-D-alanine ligase catalyzed the positional exchange of the beta,gamma-bridge oxygen in [gamma-18O4]ATP to a beta-nonbridge position. Two possible alternate dead-end substrate analogs, D-2-chloropropionic acid and isobutyric acid, did not induce a positional isotope exchange in [gamma-18O4]ATP. The positional isotope exchange rate is diminished relative to the net substrate turnover as the concentration of D-alanine is increased. This is consistent with the ordered Ter-Ter mechanism as determined by the steady state kinetic experiments. The ratio of the positional isotope exchange rate relative to the net chemical turnover of substrate (Vex/Vchem) approaches a value of 1.4 as the concentration of D-alanine becomes very small. This ratio is 100 times larger than the ratio of the maximal reverse and forward chemical reaction velocities (V2/V1). This situation is only possible when the reaction mechanism proceeds in two distinct steps and the first step is much faster than the second step. The enzyme was also found to catalyze the molecular isotope exchange of radiolabeled D-alanine with D-alanyl-D-alanine in the presence of phosphate. These results are consistent with the formation of D-alanyl phosphate as a kinetically competent intermediate.     

Stopped-flow kinetic analysis of the bacterial luciferase reaction.

The kinetics of the reaction catalyzed by bacterial luciferase have been measured by stopped-flow spectrophotometry at pH 7 and 25 degrees C. Luciferase catalyzes the formation of visible light, FMN, and a carboxylic acid from FMNH2, O2, and the corresponding aldehyde. The time courses for the formation and decay of the various intermediates have been followed by monitoring the absorbance changes at 380 and 445 nm along with the emission of visible light using n-decanal as the alkyl aldehyde. The synthesis of the 4a-hydroperoxyflavin intermediate (FMNOOH) was monitored at 380 nm after various concentrations of luciferase, O2, and FMNH2 were mixed. The second-order rate constant for the formation of FMNOOH from the luciferase-FMNH2 complex was found to be 2.4 x 10(6) M-1 s-1. In the absence of n-decanal, this complex decays to FMN and H2O2 with a rate constant of 0.10 s-1. The enzyme-FMNH2 complex was found to isomerize prior to reaction with oxygen. The production of visible light reaches a maximum intensity within 1 s and then decays exponentially over the next 10 s. The formation of FMN from the intermediate pseudobase (FMNOH) was monitored at 445 nm. This step of the reaction mechanism was inhibited by high levels of n-decanal which indicated that a dead-end luciferase-FMNOH-decanal could form. The time courses for these optical changes have been incorporated into a comprehensive kinetic model. Estimates for 15 individual rate constants have been obtained for this model by numeric simulations of the various time courses.