Degradation of Tiam1 by Casein Kinase 1 and the SCFβTrCP Ubiquitin Ligase Controls the Duration of mTOR-S6K Signaling

Tiam1 (T-cell lymphoma invasion and metastasis 1) is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor that specifically controls the activity of the small GTPase Rac, a key regulator of cell adhesion, proliferation, and survival. Here, we report that in response to mitogens, Tiam1 is degraded by the ubiquitin-proteasome system via the SCF^βTrCP ubiquitin ligase. Mitogenic stimulation triggers the binding of Tiam1 to the F-box protein βTrCP via its degron sequence and subsequent Tiam1 ubiquitylation and proteasomal degradation. The proteolysis of Tiam1 is prevented by βTrCP silencing, inhibition of CK1 and MEK, or mutation of the Tiam1 degron site. Expression of a stable Tiam1 mutant that is unable to interact with βTrCP results in sustained activation of the mTOR/S6K signaling and increased apoptotic cell death. We propose that the SCF^βTrCP-mediated degradation of Tiam1 controls the duration of the mTOR-S6K signaling pathway in response to mitogenic stimuli.     

A Combination of Curcumin with Either Gramicidin or Ouabain Selectively Kills Cells That Express the Multidrug Resistance-linked ABCG2 Transporter

This paper introduces a strategy to kill selectively multidrug-resistant cells that express the ABCG2 transporter (also called breast cancer resistance protein, or BCRP). The approach is based on specific stimulation of ATP hydrolysis by ABCG2 transporters with subtoxic doses of curcumin combined with stimulation of ATP hydrolysis by Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase with subtoxic doses of gramicidin A or ouabain. After 72 h of incubation with the drug combinations, the resulting overconsumption of ATP by both pathways inhibits the efflux activity of ABCG2 transporters, leads to depletion of intracellular ATP levels below the viability threshold, and kills resistant cells selectively over cells that lack ABCG2 transporters. This strategy, which was also tested on a clinically relevant human breast adenocarcinoma cell line (MCF-7/FLV1), exploits the overexpression of ABCG2 transporters and induces caspase-dependent apoptotic cell death selectively in resistant cells. This work thus introduces a novel strategy to exploit collateral sensitivity (CS) with a combination of two clinically used compounds that individually do not exert CS. Collectively, this work expands the current knowledge on ABCG2-mediated CS and provides a potential strategy for discovery of CS drugs against drug-resistant cancer cells.     

Thematic Review Series: Fat-Soluble Vitamins: Vitamin K: Recent trends in the metabolism and cell biology of vitamin K with special reference to vitamin K cycling and MK-4 biosynthesis

In contrast to other fat-soluble vitamins, dietary vitamin K is rapidly lost to the body resulting in comparatively low tissue stores. Deficiency is kept at bay by the ubiquity of vitamin K in the diet, synthesis by gut microflora in some species, and relatively low vitamin K cofactor requirements for γ-glutamyl carboxylation. However, as shown by fatal neonatal bleeding in mice that lack vitamin K epoxide reductase (VKOR), the low requirements are dependent on the ability of animals to regenerate vitamin K from its epoxide metabolite via the vitamin K cycle. The identification of the genes encoding VKOR and its paralog VKOR-like 1 (VKORL1) has accelerated understanding of the enzymology of this salvage pathway. In parallel, a novel human enzyme that participates in the cellular conversion of phylloquinone to menaquinone (MK)-4 was identified as UbiA prenyltransferase-containing domain 1 (UBIAD1). Recent studies suggest that side-chain cleavage of oral phylloquinone occurs in the intestine, and that menadione is a circulating precursor of tissue MK-4. The mechanisms and functions of vitamin K recycling and MK-4 synthesis have dominated advances made in vitamin K biochemistry over the last five years and, after a brief overview of general metabolism, are the main focuses of this review.     

Non-Invasive Model of Neuropathogenic Escherichia coli Infection in the Neonatal Rat

Investigation of the interactions between animal host and bacterial pathogen is only meaningful if the infection model employed replicates the principal features of the natural infection. This protocol describes procedures for the establishment and evaluation of systemic infection due to neuropathogenic Escherichia coli K1 in the neonatal rat. Colonization of the gastrointestinal tract leads to dissemination of the pathogen along the gut-lymph-blood-brain course of infection and the model displays strong age dependency. A strain of E. coli O18:K1 with enhanced virulence for the neonatal rat produces exceptionally high rates of colonization, translocation to the blood compartment and invasion of the meninges following transit through the choroid plexus. As in the human host, penetration of the central nervous system is accompanied by local inflammation and an invariably lethal outcome. The model is of proven utility for studies of the mechanism of pathogenesis, for evaluation of therapeutic interventions and for assessment of bacterial virulence.     

不同肥料对土壤养分三要素平衡与累积的影响

本文探讨不同肥料、施肥结构、施肥方法对土壤养分三要素平衡与累积的影响。结果表明,不同形态单位氮素投入对土壤氮素盈余影响为猪粪> 化肥> 稻草,对土壤全氮提高的影响为稻草> 化肥> 猪粪;不同形态单位磷素投入对土壤磷素盈余的影响为猪粪> 化肥> 稻草,对土壤全磷提高的影响为化肥> 猪粪> 稻草;不同形态单位钾素投入对土壤钾素盈余影响为化肥> 猪粪> 稻草,对缓解土壤钾素下降的影响为猪粪> 稻草> 化肥。     

豚鼠球囊毛细胞的分离及钾离子流的研究

目的：研究前庭毛细胞的细胞活性及膜上钾通道的类型。方法：用酶深化后机械法分离豚鼠球囊毛细胞,并用全细胞膜片钳观察豚鼠球囊Ⅱ型毛细胞侧膜上的钾通道电流。结果：①胶原酶Ⅳ浓度为０．３５ｍｇ／ｍｌ时,分离的毛细胞数量最多,存活时间最长;②当钳制电位为－１００ｍＶ,以１０ｍＶ的步距,从－７０ｍＶ至＋２０ｍＶ阶跃,随着膜 电位的去极化,可记录到一系列快速、瞬时的以Ａ型钾通道为主的外向电流,４－Ａｐ对其有特异