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Biomedical subjects

L Glass-Marmor

Publications and source records attributed to L Glass-Marmor.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

Detachment of glycolytic enzymes from cytoskeleton of melanoma cells induced by calmodulin antagonists.

Glycolysis, which is the primary energy source in cancer cells, is known to be controlled by allosteric regulators, as well as by reversible binding of glycolytic enzymes to cytoskeleton. We have previously found that different calmodulin antagonists decrease the levels of allosteric activators of glycolysis, and reduce ATP content and cell viability in B16 melanoma cells. Here we report of a novel, additional, mechanism of action of calmodulin antagonists in melanoma cells. We show that these drugs cause a detachment of the glycolytic enzymes, phosphofructokinase (ATP: D-fructose-6-phosphate 1-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.11) and aldolase (D-fructose-1,6-bisphosphate D-glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate-lyase, EC 4.1.2.13), from cytoskeleton of B16 melanoma cells. This effect was dose- and time-dependent, and preceded the decrease in cell viability. The detachment of glycolytic enzymes from cytoskeleton would reduce the provision of local ATP, in the vicinity of the cytoskeleton-membrane and would affect cytoskeleton structure. Since the cytoskeleton is being recognized as an important modulator of cell function, proliferation, differentiation and neoplasia, detachment of the glycolytic enzymes from cytoskeleton induced by calmodulin antagonists, as well as their reported inhibitory action on cell proliferation, make these drugs most promising agents in treatment of cancer.

Animals

Calmodulin antagonists decrease glucose 1,6-bisphosphate, fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, ATP and viability of melanoma cells.

Glycolysis is known to be the primary energy source in cancer cells. We investigated here the effect of four different calmodulin antagonists: thioridazine (10-[2-(1-methyl-2-piperidyl) ethyl]-2-methylthiophenothiazine), CGS 9343B (1,3-dihydro-1-[1-[(4-methyl-4H,6H-pyrrolo[1,2-a] [4,1]-benzoxazepin-4-yl)methyl]-4-piperidinyl]-2 H-benzimidazol-2-one (1:1) maleate), clotrimazole (1-(alpha-2-chlorotrityl)imidazole) and bifonazole (1-(alpha-biphenyl-4-ylbenzyl)imidazole), on the levels of glucose 1,6-bisphosphate and fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, the two stimulatory signal molecules of glycolysis, and on ATP content and cell viability in B16 melanoma cells. We found that all four substances significantly reduced the levels of glucose 1,6-bisphosphate, fructose 1,6-bisphosphate and ATP, in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Cell viability was reduced in a close correlation with the fall in ATP. The decrease in glucose 1,6-bisphosphate and fructose 1,6-bisphosphate did not result from the cytotoxic effects of the calmodulin antagonists, since their content was already reduced before any cytotoxic effect was observed. These findings suggest that the fall in the levels of the two signal molecules of glycolysis, induced by the calmodulin antagonists, causes a reduction in glycolysis and ATP levels, which eventually leads to cell death. Since cell proliferation was also reported to be inhibited by calmodulin antagonists, these substances are most promising agents in treatment of cancer by inhibiting both cell proliferation and the glycolytic supply of ATP required for cell growth.

Adenosine Triphosphate

Effects of carbamylcholine and pyridostigmine on mitochondrial-bound hexokinase in skeletal muscle and heart.

We show here that carbamylcholine (acetylcholine agonist) or pyridostigmine (acetylcholinesterase inhibitor), drugs which are widely used in medical treatments, exerted a rapid reduction in mitochondrial-bound hexokinase. This reduction was inversely proportional to the changes in glucose-6-phosphate levels in skeletal and heart muscle. Increased concentration of acetylcholine, occurring in various diseases or induced by acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, was reported to cause deterioration of mitochondrial function, resulting in heart and muscle damage. The present experiments suggest that the reduction in mitochondrial-bound hexokinase, which is closely linked to intramitochondrial oxidative metabolism, may play an important role in the mechanism which leads to tissue damage.

Acetylcholine

Effects of carbamylcholine and pyridostigmine on cytoskeleton-bound and cytosolic phosphofructokinase and ATP levels in different rat tissues.

1. The effects of carbamylcholine (CaCh) (acetylcholine agonist) and pyridostigmine (Pyr) (acetylcholinesterase inhibitor), on the activity of cytoskeleton-bound and cytosolic phosphofructokinase (PFK), the rate-limiting enzyme in glycolysis, and ATP levels, were studied in rat tibialis anterior (TA) muscle, heart, and brain. 2. In the TA muscle, a marked (about three-fold) increase in the allosteric activity of cytosolic (soluble) PFK was found, 3-5 min following the injection of CaCh or Pyr. The intracellular distribution of the enzyme was not affected by both drugs. Stimulation of glycolysis in this muscle was also expressed by a significant increase in the concentrations of glycolytic intermediates and lactate. Glucose 1,6-bisphosphate (Glc-1,6-P2) levels were unchanged, whereas fructose-2,6-bisphosphate (Fru-2,6-P2) was increased. Glycogenolysis was also stimulated, as deduced from the decrease in glycogen content. The stimulation of glycolysis, induced by both drugs, was accompanied by an increase in ATP level in the TA muscle. 3. In contrast to the stimulatory action of CaCh or Pyr on glycolysis in the TA muscle, both drugs had no effect on cytosolic and cytoskeletal PFK in heart and brain. However, ATP content in both heart and brain was markedly reduced by these drugs, most probably due to their reported harmful effects on mitochondrial function, leading to tissue damage. 4. Electron microscopic studies of TA muscle and heart from rats treated with CaCh or Pyr, revealed severe damage of heart but no harmful effects on TA muscle, which is a muscle with high glycolytic and low oxidative capacity. The present experiments suggest that the accelerated glycolysis in this muscle induced by both drugs, supplies ATP, thus preventing muscle damage.

Adenosine Triphosphate