Lewis K. Pannell

Carboxypeptidase E Is a Regulated Secretory Pathway Sorting Receptor: Genetic Obliteration Leads to Endocrine Disorders in Cpefat Mice

A proposed mechanism for sorting secretory proteins into granules for release via the regulated secretory pathway in endocrine-neuroendocrine cells involves binding the proteins to a sorting receptor at the trans-Golgi network, followed by budding and granule formation. We have identified such a sorting receptor as membrane-associated carboxypeptidase E (CPE) in pituitary Golgi-enriched and secretory granule membranes. CPE specifically bound regulated secretory pathway proteins, including prohormones, but not constitutively secreted proteins. We show that in the Cpe(fat) mutant mouse lacking CPE, the pituitary prohormone, pro-opiomelanocortin, was missorted to the constitutive pathway and secreted in an unregulated manner. Thus, obliteration of CPE, the sorting receptor, leads to multiple endocrine disorders in these genetically defective mice, including hyperproinsulinemia and infertility.

Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin: preparation and characterization; effects on solubility of drugs

Abstract Conditions for condensation of β-cyclodextrin with propylene oxide were found which give preparations of hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin with a narrow and symmetrical distribution of the degree of substitution. Furthermore, methods for purification of hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrins from the contaminating oligopropylene glycols were developed. Preparations of hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin with low degrees of substitution (

Nitric oxide donor properties of hydroxyurea in patients with sickle cell disease

Summary. Hydroxyurea therapy reduces the rates of vaso‐occlusive crisis in patients with sickle cell anaemia and recent data suggest that hydroxyurea treatment can generate nitric oxide (NO). Nitric oxide has been proposed as a novel therapy for sickle cell disease via a number of pathways. We therefore sought to determine whether hydroxyurea has NO donor properties in patients with sickle cell anaemia and explore potential mechanisms by which NO production could be therapeutic. Venous blood was collected from 19 fasting sickle cell anaemia patients, on chronic hydroxyurea therapy, at baseline and 2 and 4 h after a single morning dose of hydroxyurea, as well as 10 patients not taking hydroxyurea. The plasma and red cell NO reaction products nitrate, nitrite and nitrosylated‐ haemoglobin were measured using ozone‐based chemiluminescent assays (using vanadium, KI and I3– reductants respectively). Consistent with NO release from hydroxyurea, baseline levels of total nitrosylated haemoglobin increased from 300 nmol/l to 500 nmol/l (P = 0·01). Plasma nitrate and nitrite levels also significantly increased with peak levels observed at 2 h. Glutathionyl–haemoglobin levels were unchanged, while plasma secretory vascular cellular adhesion molecule‐1 levels were reduced in patients taking hydroxyurea (419 ± 40 ng/ml) compared with control patients with sickle cell anaemia (653 ± 55 ng/ml; P = 0·003), and were inversely correlated with fetal haemoglobin levels (r = −0·72; P = 0·002). These results demonstrate that hydroxyurea therapy is associated with the intravascular and intraerythrocytic generation of NO. The role of NO in the induction of fetal haemoglobin and possible synergy between NO donor therapy and classic cytostatic and differentiating medications should be explored.

Hemiasterlin and geodiamolide TA ; two new cytotoxic peptides from the marine sponge hemiasterella minor (Kirkpatrick)

Three cytotoxic peptides, Jaspamide (1) and the two new peptides hemiasterlin (2) and geodiamolide TA (3), have been isolated from the sponge Hemiasterella minor. The structures of the three were determined by interpretating the NMR and mass spectra. Hemiasterlin (2) is a novel linear tripeptide embodying two unique, new natural aminoacids and geodiamolide TA (3) is a higher homologe of geodiamolides A–F.

Inhaled nitric oxide augments nitric oxide transport on sickle cell hemoglobin without affecting oxygen affinity

Nitric oxide (NO) inhalation has been reported to increase the oxygen affinity of sickle cell erythrocytes. Also, proposed allosteric mechanisms for hemoglobin, based on S-nitrosation of beta-chain cysteine 93, raise the possibility of altering the pathophysiology of sickle cell disease by inhibiting polymerization or by increasing NO delivery to the tissue. We studied the effects of a 2-hour treatment, using varying concentrations of inhaled NO. Oxygen affinity, as measured by P(50), did not respond to inhaled NO, either in controls or in individuals with sickle cell disease. At baseline, the arterial and venous levels of nitrosylated hemoglobin were not significantly different, but NO inhalation led to a dose-dependent increase in mean nitrosylated hemoglobin, and at the highest dosage, a significant arterial-venous difference emerged. The levels of nitrosylated hemoglobin are too low to affect overall hemoglobin oxygen affinity, but augmented NO transport to the microvasculature seems a promising strategy for improving microvascular perfusion.

Increased RNA-Induced Silencing Complex (RISC) Activity Contributes to Hepatocellular Carcinoma

There is virtually no effective treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and novel targets need to be identified to develop effective treatment. We recently documented that the oncogene Astrocyte elevated gene‐1 (AEG‐1) plays a seminal role in hepatocarcinogenesis. Employing yeast two‐hybrid assay and coimmunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometry, we identified staphylococcal nuclease domain containing 1 (SND1), a nuclease in the RNA‐induced silencing complex (RISC) facilitating RNAi‐mediated gene silencing, as an AEG‐1 interacting protein. Coimmunoprecipitation and colocalization studies confirmed that AEG‐1 is also a component of RISC and both AEG‐1 and SND1 are required for optimum RISC activity facilitating small interfering RNA (siRNA) and micro RNA (miRNA)‐mediated silencing of luciferase reporter gene. In 109 human HCC samples SND1 was overexpressed in ≈74% cases compared to normal liver. Correspondingly, significantly higher RISC activity was observed in human HCC cells compared to immortal normal hepatocytes. Increased RISC activity, conferred by AEG‐1 or SND1, resulted in increased degradation of tumor suppressor messenger RNAs (mRNAs) that are target of oncomiRs. Inhibition of enzymatic activity of SND1 significantly inhibited proliferation of human HCC cells. As a corollary, stable overexpression of SND1 augmented and siRNA‐mediated inhibition of SND1 abrogated growth of human HCC cells in vitro and in vivo, thus revealing a potential role of SND1 in hepatocarcinogenesis. Conclusion: We unravel a novel mechanism that overexpression of AEG‐1 and SND1 leading to increased RISC activity might contribute to hepatocarcinogenesis. Targeted inhibition of SND1 enzymatic activity might be developed as an effective therapy for HCC. (HEPATOLOGY 2011;)

Iron(III) complexes of some thiosemicarbazones derived from 2-acetylpyridine, its 6-methyl derivative and itsN-oxide

SummaryA series of iron(III) complexes of thiosemicarbazones derived from 2-acetylpyridine, 6-methyl-2-acetylpyridine and 2-acetylpyridineN-oxide have been prepared from Fe(ClO4)3 and FeCl3. All of the isolated solids have cations involving two monobasic tridentate ligands, and either perchlorate or tetrachloroferrate(III) anions and are 1∶1 electrolytes. Coordinationvia the pyridine nitrogen (or theN-oxide oxygen), the imine nitrogen and the sulphur atom are confirmed by infrared spectra and x-ray diffraction. The presence of two different iron(III) species is indicated by the electron spin resonance spectra of the tetrachloroferrate(III) solids. E.s.r. along with electronic spectra prove the spin-paired configuration of these cationic iron(III) complexes.

Large isoform of MRJ (DNAJB6) reduces malignant activity of breast cancer

IntroductionMammalian relative of DnaJ (MRJ [DNAJB6]), a novel member of the human DnaJ family, has two isoforms. The smaller isoform, MRJ(S), is studied mainly for its possible role in Huntingtons disease. There are no reports of any biologic activity of the longer isoform, MRJ(L). We investigated whether this molecule plays any role in breast cancer. Our studies were prompted by interesting observations we made regarding the expression of MRJ in breast cancer cell lines and breast cancer tissue microarrays, as described below.MethodsExpression of MRJ(L) from several breast cancer cell lines was evaluated using real-time PCR. Relative levels of the small and large isoforms in breast cancer cell lines were studied using Western blot analysis. A breast cancer progression tissue microarray was probed using anti-MRJ antibody. MRJ(L) was ectopically expressed in two breast cancer cell lines. These cell lines were evaluated for their in vitro correlates of tumor aggressiveness, such as invasion, migration, and anchorage independence. The cell lines were also evaluated for in vivo tumor growth and metastasis. The secreted proteome of the MRJ(L) expressors was analyzed to elucidate the biochemical changes brought about by re-expression of MRJ(L).ResultsWe found that MRJ(L) is expressed at a significantly lower level in aggressive breast cancer cell lines compared with normal breast. Furthermore, in clinical cases of breast cancer expression of MRJ is lost as the grade of infiltrating ductal carcinoma advances. Importantly, MRJ staining is lost in those cases that also had lymph node metastasis. We report that MRJ(L) is a protein with a functional nuclear localization sequence. Expression of MRJ(L) via an exogenous promoter in breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 and in MDA-MB-435 (a cell line that metastasizes from the mammary fat pad) decreases their migration and invasion, reduces their motility, and significantly reduces orthotopic tumor growth in nude mice. Moreover, the secreted proteome of the MRJ(L)-expressing cells exhibited reduced levels of tumor progression and metastasis promoting secreted proteins, such as SPP1 (osteopontin), AZGP1 (zinc binding α2-glycoprotein 1), SPARC (osteonectin), NPM1 (nucleophosmin) and VGF (VGF nerve growth factor inducible). On the other hand, levels of the secreted metastasis-suppressor KiSS1 (melanoma metastasis suppressor) were increased in the secreted proteome of the MRJ(L)-expressing cells. We confirmed by quantitative RT-PCR analysis that the secreted profile reflected altered transcription of the respective genes.ConclusionCollectively, our data indicate an important role for a totally uncharacterized isoform of DNAJB6 in breast cancer. We show that MRJ(L) is a nuclear protein that is lost in breast cancer, that regulates several key players in tumor formation and metastasis, and that is functionally able to retard tumor growth.

Increased vascularity and spontaneous metastasis of breast cancer by hedgehog signaling mediated upregulation of cyr61.

The Hedgehog (Hh) pathway is well known for its involvement in angiogenesis and vasculogenesis during ontogeny. The ligand, Sonic Hh (SHH), has an important role in vascular formation during development. However, SHH expression is upregulated on tumor cells and can impact the tumor microenvironment. We have investigated the effects of autocrine as well as paracrine Hh signaling on tumor cells as well as on endothelial cells, respectively. Upon constitutive expression of SHH, breast cancer cells showed aggressive behavior and rapid xenograft growth characterized by highly angiogenic tumors that were spontaneously metastatic. In these cells, SHH caused activation of the Hh transcription factor, GLI1, leading to upregulated expression of the potent pro-angiogenic secreted molecule, CYR61 (cysteine-rich angiogenic inducer 61). Silencing of CYR61 from these SHH-expressing Hh activated cells blunted the malignant behavior of the tumor cells and resulted in reduced tumor vasculature and limited hematogenous metastases. Thus, CYR61 is a critical downstream contributor to the Hh influenced pro-angiogenic tumor microenvironment. We also observed concomitant upregulation of SHH and CYR61 transcripts in tumors from patients with advanced breast cancer, further ratifying the clinical relevance of our findings. In summary, we have defined a novel, VEGF-independent, clinically relevant, pro-angiogenic factor, CYR61, that is a transcriptional target of Hh-GLI signaling.

The Detection of Intact Double-Stranded DNA by MALDI

DNA fragments have been analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) and electrospray mass spectrometry. In many cases, only the single-stranded oligonucleotides have been detected. Recently, spectra of intact double-stranded DNA have been obtained in both electrospray and massive cluster impact ionization. We show here the first MALDI spectra of intact double-stranded DNA (EcoR1 adaptor 12/16) that is clearly not due to nonspecific dimer formation. 6-Aza-2-thiothymine was used as the matrix in the presence of ammonium citrate. Via the same procedure but with other matrices commonly employed for oligonucleotide analysis, the intact DNA duplex was not detected. No sign of the homodimer of either of the single strands is observed. Although the spectrum also shows peaks attributable to each of the single strands, these are demonstrated to arise from the DNA solution and not the sample preparation or desorption process.