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Response of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway to changes in muscle activity.

The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway plays a critical role in the adaptation of skeletal muscle to persistent decreases or increases in muscle activity. This article outlines the basics of pathway function and reviews what we know about pathway responses to altered muscle use. The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway regulates proteolysis in mammalian cells by attaching ubiquitin polymers to damaged proteins; this targets the protein for degradation via the 26S proteasome. The pathway is constitutively active in muscle and continually regulates protein turnover. Conditions of decreased muscle use, e.g., unloading, denervation, or immobilization, stimulate general pathway activity. This activity increase is caused by upregulation of regulatory components in the pathway and leads to accelerated proteolysis, resulting in net loss of muscle protein. Pathway activity is also increased in response to exercise, a two-phase response. An immediate increase in selective ubiquitin conjugation by constitutive pathway components contributes to exercise-stimulated signal transduction. Over hours-to-days, exercise also stimulates a delayed increase in general ubiquitin conjugating activity by inducing expression of key components in the pathway. This increase mediates a late-phase rise in protein degradation that is required for muscle adaptation to exercise. Thus the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway functions as an essential mediator of muscle remodeling, both in atrophic states and exercise training.

Animals↗

Dissecting the intimate mechanism of cyanation of {2Fe3S} complexes related to the active site of all-iron hydrogenases by DFT analysis of energetics, transition states, intermediates and products in the carbonyl substitution pathway.

A bridging carbonyl intermediate with key structural elements of the diiron sub-site of all-iron hydrogenase has been experimentally observed in the CN/CO substitution pathway of the {2Fe3S} carbonyl precursor, [Fe(2)(CO)(5){MeSCH(2)C(Me)(CH(2)S)(2)}]. Herein we have used density functional theory (DFT) to dissect the overall substitution pathway in terms of the energetics and the structures of transition states, intermediates and products. We show that the formation of bridging CO transitions states is explicitly involved in the intimate mechanism of dicyanation. The enhanced rate of monocyanation of {2Fe3S} over the {2Fe2S} species [Fe(2)(CO)(6){CH(2)(CH(2)S)(2)}] is found to rest with the ability of the thioether ligand to both stabilise a mu-CO transition state and act as a good leaving group. In contrast, the second cyanation step of the {2Fe3S} species is kinetically slower than for the {2Fe2S} monocyanide because the Fe2 atom is deactivated by coordination of the electron-donating thioether group. In addition, hindered rotation and the reaction coordinate of the approaching CN(-) group, are other factors which explain reactivity differences in {2Fe2S} and {2Fe3S} systems. The intermediate species formed in the second cyanation step of {2Fe3S} species is a mu-CO species, confirming the structural assignment made on the basis of FT-IR data (S. J. George, Z. Cui, M. Razavet, C. J. Pickett, Chem. Eur. J. 2002, 8, 4037-4046). In support of this we find that computed and experimental IR frequencies of structurally characterised {2Fe3S} species and those of the bridging carbonyl intermediate are in excellent agreement. In a wider context, the study may provide some insight into the reactivity of dinuclear systems in which neighbouring group on-off coordination plays a role in substitution pathways.

Binding Sites↗

TRPM2: a calcium influx pathway regulated by oxidative stress and the novel second messenger ADP-ribose.

A unique functional property within the transient receptor potential (TRP) family of cation channels is the gating of TRP (melastatin) 2 (TRPM2) channels by ADP-ribose (ADPR). ADPR binds to the intracellular C-terminal tail of TRPM2, a domain that shows homology to enzymes with pyrophosphatase activity. Cytosolic Ca(2+) enhances TRPM2 gating by ADPR; ADPR and Ca(2+) in concert may be an important messenger system mediating Ca(2+) influx. Other stimuli of TRPM2 include NAD and H(2)O(2) and cyclic ADPR, which may act synergistically with ADPR. H(2)O(2), an experimental paradigm of oxidative stress, may also induce the formation of ADPR in the nucleus or mitochondria. In this review, we summarize the gating properties of TRPM2 and the proposed pathways of channel activation in vivo. TRPM2 is likely to be a key player in several signalling pathways, mediating cell death in response to oxidative stress or in reperfusion injury. Moreover, it plays a decisive role in experimentally induced diabetes mellitus and in the activation of leukocytes.

Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose↗

Context-dependent effects of MIR100HG on tumorigenic phenotypes and p38/MAPK-AKT signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide and is characterized by a hypoxic tumor microenvironment that promotes tumor progression, cellular adaptation, and therapeutic resistance. Increasing evidence indicates that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play critical roles in regulating tumor-associated signaling networks; however, the contribution of MIR100HG to hepatocellular carcinoma progression, particularly under hypoxic conditions, remains insufficiently understood. In this study, we investigated the expression pattern and functional significance of MIR100HG in hepatocellular carcinoma using epithelial-like Hep3B and mesenchymal-like SNU-398 cells, together with non-tumor hepatocytes (Clone-9). Gain- and loss-of-function approaches were employed to evaluate the impact of MIR100HG on tumor-associated cellular phenotypes under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Functional assays demonstrated that MIR100HG overexpression significantly enhanced cell proliferation, clonogenic potential, migration, and invasion, whereas MIR100HG silencing markedly suppressed these tumorigenic properties and increased apoptotic cell death. Mechanistic analyses revealed that MIR100HG promotes oncogenic signaling through the p38/MAPK and AKT pathways under normoxic conditions, whereas MIR100HG depletion reduced the phosphorylation of these key signaling proteins. Notably, additional pathway analyses under hypoxia-mimicking conditions revealed a distinct signaling response, in which the MIR100HG-associated activation of p38/MAPK and AKT observed under normoxia was not maintained. Moreover, the expression patterns of AKT-associated regulatory genes, including GAS6 and PTEN, were reversed under hypoxia-mimicking conditions. These findings suggest that the effects of MIR100HG on oncogenic signaling are highly dependent on the cellular oxygenation context and that hypoxia reshapes the downstream signaling consequences of MIR100HG expression in HCC cells. Collectively, our findings identify MIR100HG as a hypoxia-associated oncogenic regulator that enhances tumorigenic phenotypes and promotes survival signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma. These results highlight MIR100HG as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target in liver cancer and provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying hypoxia-driven tumor progression.

Humans↗

Molecular and signaling mechanisms of atherosclerosis in insulin resistance.

Although the prevalence of cardiovascular complications is increased in insulin-resistant individuals, the underlying causes of this link have been elusive. Recent work suggests that several intracellular signal transduction pathways are inappropriately activated by hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia, increased free fatty acids, dyslipidemia, various inflammatory cytokines and adipokines--factors that are increased in insulin resistance. Once activated, substantial cross talk occurs between these pathways, especially a self-reinforcing cascade of vascular inflammation and cell dysfunction, greatly increasing the risk and severity of atherosclerosis in the insulin-resistant individual. We review several key cell-signalling pathways, describe how they are activated in they insulin-resistant state and the damage they induce, and discusses possible therapeutic approaches to limit vascular damage.

Atherosclerosis↗

Similarities between the Hedgehog and Wnt signaling pathways.

Hedgehog and Wnt proteins are signaling molecules that direct many aspects of metazoan development through signal transduction pathways that are just beginning to be understood. Recently, the common use of glycogen synthase kinase 3 and casein kinase 1 has been added to a growing list of straightforward similarities between Hedgehog and Wnt signaling pathways. These kinases silence both pathways by labeling a key transcription factor (Cubitus interruptus) or co-activator (beta-catenin) for proteolysis, and it is possible that reversal of these phosphorylation events is, in each case, central to pathway activation. This review compares the two pathways to explore whether our more extensive knowledge of Wnt pathways can be of predictive value for investigating Hedgehog signaling.

Animals↗

Molecular assembly of mitogen-activated protein kinase module in ras-transformed NIH3T3 cell line.

The ras, is a G-like protein that controls the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway involved in control and differentiation of cell growth. MAPK is a key component of its signaling pathway and the aberrant activation may play an important role in the transformation process. To better understand roles of ras in the activation of MAPKs, we have established ras transformed NIH3T3 fibroblast cell line, and analyzed the MAPK module. The ras transformed cells formed numerous spikes at the edges of cells and showed loss of contact inhibition. The levels of ERK1/2 MAPKs as revealed by Western blot analysis were not significantly different between ras transformed and non-transformed cells. However, phosphorylation of ERK MAPKs and the level of MEK were significantly increased although the heavily expressed level of Raf-1, an upstream component of MAPK pathway was unchanged in ras transformed NIH3T3 cells. The sedimentation profile of the MAPK module kinases in a glycerol gradient showed the presence of a rather homogeneous species of multimeric forms of ERK1/2 and MEK as indicated by the narrow distribution peak areas. The broad sedimentation profile of the Raf-1 in a glycerol gradient may suggest possible heterologous protein complexes but the identification of interacting molecules still remains to be identified in order to understand the organization of the MAPK signal transduction pathway.

3T3 Cells↗

Sec-dependent protein translocation across biological membranes: evolutionary conservation of an essential protein transport pathway (review).

All living organisms, no matter how simple or complex, possess the ability to translocate proteins across biological membranes and into different cellular compartments. Although a range of membrane transport processes exist, the major pathway used to translocate proteins across the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane or the eukaryotic endoplasmic reticulum membrane is conserved and is known as the Sec or Sec61 pathway, respectively. Over the past two decades the Sec and Sec61 pathways have been studied extensively and are well characterised at the genetic and biochemical levels. However, it is only now with the recent structural determination of a number of the key elements of the pathways that the translocation complex is beginning to give up its secrets in exquisite molecular detail. This article will focus on the routes of Sec- and Sec61-dependent membrane targeting and the nature of the translocation channel in bacteria and eukaryotes.

Bacterial Proteins↗

Dexamethasone stimulates expression of C-type Natriuretic Peptide in chondrocytes.

BACKGROUND: Growth of endochondral bones is regulated through the activity of cartilaginous growth plates. Disruption of the physiological patterns of chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation--such as in endocrine disorders or in many different genetic diseases (e.g. chondrodysplasias)--generally results in dwarfism and skeletal defects. For example, glucocorticoid administration in children inhibits endochondral bone growth, but the molecular targets of these hormones in chondrocytes remain largely unknown. In contrast, recent studies have shown that C-type Natriuretic Peptide (CNP) is an important anabolic regulator of cartilage growth, and loss-of-function mutations in the human CNP receptor gene cause dwarfism. We asked whether glucocorticoids could exert their activities by interfering with the expression of CNP or its downstream signaling components. METHODS: Primary mouse chondrocytes in monolayer where incubated with the synthetic glucocorticoid Dexamethasone (DEX) for 12 to 72 hours. Cell numbers were determined by counting, and real-time PCR was performed to examine regulation of genes in the CNP signaling pathway by DEX. RESULTS: We show that DEX does influence expression of key genes in the CNP pathway. Most importantly, DEX significantly increases RNA expression of the gene encoding CNP itself (Nppc). In addition, DEX stimulates expression of Prkg2 (encoding cGMP-dependent protein kinase II) and Npr3 (natriuretic peptide decoy receptor) genes. Conversely, DEX was found to down-regulate the expression of the gene encoding its receptor, Nr3c1 (glucocorticoid receptor), as well as the Npr2 gene (encoding the CNP receptor). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that the growth-suppressive activities of DEX are not due to blockade of CNP signaling. This study reveals a novel, unanticipated relationship between glucocorticoid and CNP signaling and provides the first evidence that CNP expression in chondrocytes is regulated by endocrine factors.

Animals↗

Progress towards therapeutic small molecule MEK inhibitors for use in cancer therapy.

This paper reviews recent progress in the design and evaluation of MEK inhibitors as cancer therapeutics. Activation of the Ras / Raf / MEK / MAP kinase pathway has been implicated in uncontrolled cell proliferation and tumor growth. Mutated, oncogenic forms of Ras are found in 50% of colon, 90% of pancreatic and 30% of lung cancers. Recently, B-Raf mutations have been identified in more than 60% of malignant melanomas and from 40-70% of papillary thyroid cancers. MEK, a dual specificity kinase, is a key player in this pathway; it is downstream of both Ras and Raf and activates ERK1/2 through phosphorylation of key tyrosine and threonine residues. Representative examples of both ATP competitive and non-competitive inhibitors as well as natural product based inhibitors will be discussed.

Animals↗

Inhibitory effect of isoflavones on prostate cancer cells and PTEN gene.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the mechanisms by which genistein and daidzein inhibit the growth of prostate cancer cells. METHODS: LNCaP and PC-3 cells were exposed to genistein and daidzein and cell viability was determined by MTT assay and cytotoxicity of the drugs by LDH test. Flow cytometry (FCM) was used to assess the cell cycle in LNCaP and PC-3 cells. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was applied to examine the expression of PTEN gene (a tumor suppressor gene), estrogen receptor alpha gene (ERalpha), estrogen receptor beta gene (ERbeta), androgen receptor gene (AR) and vascular endothelial growth factor gene (VEGF). RESULTS: The viability of PC-3 and LNCaP cells decreased with increasing concentrations and exposure time of genistein and daidzein. Genistein increased G2/M phase cells in PC-3 cells while decreased S phase cells in LNCaP cells in a dose-dependent manner. Daidzein exerted no influence on the cell cycle of LNCaP and PC-3 cells, but the apoptosis percentage of LNCaP cells was elevated significantly by daidzein. Genistein induced the expression of PTEN gene in PC-3 and LNCaP cells. Daidzein induced the expression of PTEN gene in LNCaP but not in PC-3 cells. The expression of VEGF, ERalpha and ERbeta genes decreased and AR gene was not expressed after incubation with genistein and daidzein in PC-3 cells. In LNCaP cells, the expression of VEGF and AR gene decreased but there was no change in the expression of ERalpha and ERbeta gene after incubation with genistein and daidzein. Conclusion Genistein and daidzein exert a time- and dose-dependent inhibitory effect on PC-3 and LNCaP cells. The down-regulation of ER gene by daidzein influences the growth of PC-3 cells directly. The inhibition of PC-3 cells by genistein and that of LNCaP cells by genistein and daidzein may be via Akt pathway that is repressed by PTEN gene, which subsequently down-regulates the expression of AR and VEGF genes. Our results suggest that the expression of PTEN gene plays a key role and several pathways may be involved in the suppression of prostate cancer cells by genistein and daidzein.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

[Theoretical evaluation of necessity of carbon dioxide assimilation by microorganisms during growth on various substrates].

The biological role of exogenous carbon dioxide during substrate assimilation with a various degree of reductivity is evaluated. The investigation of metabolic pathways of carbon dioxide incorporation into the metabolic processes of methaneoxidizing bacteria shows that the HCO3- ion assimilation is catalyzed by phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and in certain strains also by the key enzyme of autotrophic pathway of the carbon dioxide assimilation, ribulose-1,5-diphosphate carboxylase. The theoretical calculations and experimental studies indicate that exogenous carbon dioxide is a necessary participant of the metabolic processes of methane or methanol assimilation. It is also an acceptor of the excess electrons of these compounds. It is the degree of reductivity of the substrate metabolized that determines the activity of the exogenous carbon dioxide fixation by microorganisms. The carbon dioxide fixation by heterotrophic microorganisms must be considered, therefore, as a process which is mostly due to the elementary composition of the source of carbon under conversion.

Bacteria↗

Chromatin relaxation in response to DNA double-strand breaks is modulated by a novel ATM- and KAP-1 dependent pathway.

The cellular DNA-damage response is a signaling network that is vigorously activated by cytotoxic DNA lesions, such as double-strand breaks (DSBs). The DSB response is mobilized by the nuclear protein kinase ATM, which modulates this process by phosphorylating key players in these pathways. A long-standing question in this field is whether DSB formation affects chromatin condensation. Here, we show that DSB formation is followed by ATM-dependent chromatin relaxation. ATM's effector in this pathway is the protein KRAB-associated protein (KAP-1, also known as TIF1beta, KRIP-1 or TRIM28), previously known as a corepressor of gene transcription. In response to DSB induction, KAP-1 is phosphorylated in an ATM-dependent manner on Ser 824. KAP-1 is phosphorylated exclusively at the damage sites, from which phosphorylated KAP-1 spreads rapidly throughout the chromatin. Ablation of the phosphorylation site of KAP-1 leads to loss of DSB-induced chromatin decondensation and renders the cells hypersensitive to DSB-inducing agents. Knocking down KAP-1, or mimicking a constitutive phosphorylation of this protein, leads to constitutive chromatin relaxation. These results suggest that chromatin relaxation is a fundamental pathway in the DNA-damage response and identify its primary mediators.

Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Proteins↗

Xnr2 and Xnr5 unprocessed proteins inhibit Wnt signaling upstream of dishevelled.

Nodal and Nodal-related proteins activate the Activin-like signal pathway and play a key role in the formation of mesoderm and endoderm in vertebrate development. Recent studies have shown additional activities of Nodal-related proteins apart from the canonical Activin-like signal pathway. Here we report a novel function of Nodal-related proteins using cleavage mutants of Xenopus nodal-related genes (cmXnr2 and cmXnr5), which are known to be dominant-negative inhibitors of nodal family signaling. cmXnr2 and cmXnr5 inhibited both BMP signaling and Wnt signaling without activating the Activin-like signal in animal cap assays. Pro region construct of Xnr2 and Xnr5 did not inhibit Xwnt8, and pro/mature region chimera mutant cmActivin-Xnr2 and cmActivin-Xnr5 also did not inhibit Xwnt8 activity. These results indicate that the pro domains of Xnr2 and Xnr5 are necessary, but not sufficient, for Wnt inhibition, by Xnr family proteins. In addition, Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry analysis revealed that the unprocessed Xnr5 protein is stably produced and secreted as effectively as mature Xnr5 protein, and that the unprocessed Xnr5 protein diffused in the extracellular space. These results suggest that unprocessed Xnr2 and Xnr5 proteins may be involved in inhibiting both BMP and Wnt signaling and are able to be secreted to act on somewhat distant target cells, if these are highly produced.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗

alpha1 Integrin activation: a link between beta-amyloid deposition and neuronal death in aging hippocampal neurons.

A growing body of evidence obtained using in vitro model systems indicates that the deposition of fibrillar beta-amyloid (Abeta) results in neurite degeneration and cell death in central neurons. Little is known, however, about the molecular mechanisms underlying these neurotoxic effects. We have shown previously that fibrillar Abeta induced sustained activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) followed by hyperphosphorylation of tau proteins in aging hippocampal neurons. Furthermore, the blockage of MAPK activation using specific inhibitors prevented neurite degeneration in these cells. These results suggested that the MAPK signal transduction pathway could play a key role in Abeta-induced neurite degeneration. We sought to identify upstream elements of the MAPK signaling cascade activated by Abeta deposition. We evaluated the participation of the integrins in this pathway by monitoring the activation of MAPK in the presence of specific integrin inhibitors. Our results indicate that pretreatment of mature hippocampal neurons with either echistatin or alpha(1) integrin-blocking antibodies prevented Abeta-induced MAPK activation. In addition, the blockage of alpha(1) activation prevented cell death induced by Abeta. Similar results were obtained when alpha(1) and beta(1) integrin blocking antibodies were used combined. Taken collectively, these results identify alpha(1) integrin and the alpha(1) plus beta(1) integrin complexes as potential targets for therapeutic intervention in the Abeta signaling pathway in aging neurons.

Aging↗

Pathway of succinate and propionate formation in Bacteroides fragilis.

Cell suspensions of Bacteroides fragilis were allowed to ferment glucose and lactate labeled with (14)C in different positions. The fermentation products, propionate and acetate, were isolated, and the distribution of radioactivity was determined. An analysis of key enzymes of possible pathways was also made. The results of the labeling experiments showed that: (i) B. fragilis ferments glucose via the Embden-Meyerhof pathway; and (ii) there was a randomization of carbons 1, 2, and 6 of glucose during conversion to propionate, which is in accordance with propionate formation via fumarate and succinate. The enzymes 6-phosphofrucktokinase (pyrophosphate-dependent), fructose-1,6-diphosphate aldolase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, malate dehydrogenase, fumarate reductase, and methylmalonyl-coenzyme A mutase could be demonstrated in cell extracts. Their presence supported the labeling results and suggested that propionate is formed from succinate via succinyl-, methylmalonyl-, and propionyl-coenzyme A. From the results it also is clear that CO(2) is necessary for growth because it is needed for the formation of C4 acids. There was also a randomization of carbons 1, 2, and 6 of glucose during conversion to acetate, which indicated that pyruvate kinase played a minor role in pyruvate formation from phosphoenolpyruvate. Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, oxaloacetate decarboxylase, and malic enzyme (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-dependent) were present in cell extracts of B. fragilis, and the results of the labeling experiments agreed with pyruvate synthesis via oxaloacetate and malate if these acids are in equilibrium with fumarate. The conversion of [2-(14)C]- and [3-(14)C]lactate to acetate was not associated with a randomization of radioactivity.

Acetates↗

Dietary zinc supplementation inhibits NFkappaB activation and protects against chemically induced diabetes in CD1 mice.

Zinc status in patients with Type I diabetes is significantly lower than healthy controls. Whether zinc supplementation can prevent the onset of Type I diabetes is unknown. Recent studies have suggested that the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a cause of beta cell death leading to Type I diabetes. In addition, we found that activation of NFkappaB (a ROS-sensitive transcription factor that regulates immune responses) may be the key cellular process that bridges oxidative stress and the death of beta cells. Zinc is a known antioxidant in the immune system. Therefore, this study is designed to test whether an increase in dietary zinc can prevent the onset of Type I diabetes by blocking NFkappaB activation in the pancreas. The results show that high zinc intake significantly reduced the severity of Type I diabetes (based on hyperglycemia, insulin level, and islet morphology) in alloxan and streptozotocin-induced diabetic models. Zinc supplementation also inhibited NFkappaB activation and decreased the expression of inducible NO synthase, a downstream target gene of NFkappaB. It is concluded that zinc supplementation can significantly inhibit the development of Type I diabetes. The ability of zinc to modulate NFkappaB activation in the diabetogenic pathway may be the key mechanism for zinc's protective effect. Inhibition of the NFkappaB pathway may prove to be an important criterion for choosing nutritional strategies for Type I diabetes prevention.

Alloxan↗

Modification of the ionizing radiation response in living cells by an scFv against the DNA-dependent protein kinase.

The non-homologous end joining pathway uses pre-existing proteins to repair DNA double-strand breaks induced by ionizing radiation. Here we describe manipulation of this pathway in living cells using a newly developed tool. We generated a single chain antibody variable fragment (scFv) that binds to the DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs), a key enzyme in the pathway. In contrast to existing pharmacologic inhibitors, the scFv binds a newly defined regulatory site outside the kinase catalytic domain. Although the scFv inhibits kinase activity only modestly, it completely blocks DNA end joining in a cell-free system. Microinjection of the scFv sensitizes human cells to radiation, as measured by a reduction in efficiency of colony formation and induction of apoptosis at an otherwise sublethal dose of 1.5 Gy. The scFv blocks non-homologous end joining in situ at a step subsequent to histone gamma-H2AX focus formation but preceding gamma-H2AX dephosphorylation. Blockage occurs in cells exposed to as little as 0.1 Gy, indicating that DNA-PKcs is essential for double-strand break repair even at low radiation doses. The ability to modify the radiation response in situ in living cells provides a link between biochemical, genetic and cytologic approaches to the study of double-strand break repair intermediates.

Apoptosis↗