EpCAM-claudin-tetraspanin-modulated ovarian cancer progression and drug resistance.

Alterations of cell adhesion are involved in cancer progression, but the mechanisms underlying the progression and cell adhesion have remained poorly understood. Focusing on the complex between EpCAM, claudins and tetraspanins, we described a sequence of events by which of the molecules associate each other in ovarian cancer. The interactions between molecules were evaluated by immunoprecipitations and then immunoblotting. To identify the effects of complex formation on the ovarian cancer progression, the different types of ovarian cancer cell lines were compared. In this study, we report the identification of the EpCAM-claudin-4 or -7-CD82 complex in the ovarian cancer progression and metastasis in vitro. Additionally, we demonstrated palmitoylation and intra- or extra-cellular regions are critically required for the complex formation. These results represent the first direct evidence for the link between the dynamism of cell adhesion molecules and ovarian cancer progression.

Protein kinase C Inhibitors selectively modulate dynamics of cell adhesion molecules and cell death in human colon cancer cells.

During development of colon cancer, Protein Kinase Cs (PKCs) are involved in regulation of many genes controlling several cellular mechanisms. Here, we examined the changes in cell adhesion molecules and PKCs for colorectal cancer progression. We identified that PKCs affected expression of EpCAM, claudins, tetraspanins. Treatment with low concentrations of PKC inhibitors resulted in decreased cell viability. In addition, immunoblotting and qRT-PCR analysis showed that apoptosis was inhibited while autophagy was induced by PKC inhibition in colon cancer cells. Furthermore, we observed decreased levels of intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyl, confirming the ROS-induced apoptosis. Taken together, our results reveal that PKC signalling modulates not only cell adhesion dynamics but also cell death-related mechanisms. Abbreviations: PKC: Protein Kinase C; EpCAM: Epithelial cell adhesion molecule; FBS: fetal bovine serum; MTT: 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide); CAM: cell adhesion molecule; ROS: reactive oxygen species.

The Variations of Glycolysis and TCA Cycle Intermediate Levels Grown in Iron and Copper Mediums of Trichoderma harzianum.

The efficiency of optimal metabolic function by microorganism depends on various parameters, especially essential metal supplementation. In the present study, the effects of iron and copper metals on metabolism were investigated by determination of glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle metabolites' levels with respect to the metal concentrations and incubation period in Trichoderma harzianum. The pyruvate and citrate levels of T. harzianum increased up to 15 mg/L of copper via redirection of carbon flux though glycolysis by suppression of pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). However, the α-ketoglutarate levels decreased at concentration higher than 5 mg/L of copper to overcome damage of oxidative stress. The fumarate levels correlated with the α-ketoglutarate levels because of substrate limitation. Besides, in T. harzianum cells grown in various concentrations of iron-containing medium, the intracellular pyruvate, citrate, and α-ketoglutarate levels showed positive correlation with iron concentration due to modifying of expression of glycolysis and TCA cycle enzymes via a mechanism involving cofactor or allosteric regulation. However, as a result of consuming of prior substrates required for fumarate production, its levels rose up to 10 mg/L.

The effect of iron and copper as an essential nutrient on mitochondrial electron transport system and lipid peroxidation in Trichoderma harzianum.

Iron and copper are essential nutrients for all living organisms as cofactors of many enzymes and play important roles in electron transport system (ETS) enzymes which have heme and iron-sulfur centers. In the present study, ETS enzymes, namely, succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and cytochrome c oxidase (COX), activities as well as adenine nucleotides and lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels of eukaryotic model Trichoderma harzianum grown in varied concentrations of iron (0-20 mg/l) and copper (0-25 mg/l) mediums have been examined. SDH and COX activities increased up to 10 mg/l of iron. COX and SDH activities increased significantly up to 15 and 1 mg/l of copper, respectively. ATP and ADP levels showed a positive correlation with SDH activity with respect to iron-copper concentrations. The trends of AMP were similar with those of ATP and ADP for iron concentrations, while AMP levels elevated until 5 mg/l of copper. As an indicative marker of membrane damage, LPO levels increased with iron and copper concentration. In conclusion, iron and copper concentrations are of critical importance on activities of the ETS enzymes besides adenine nucleotides and LPO levels by maintenance of this metal homeostasis.

Pentose phosphate pathway flux analysis for glycopeptide antibiotic vancomycin production during glucose-limited cultivation of Amycolatopsis orientalis.

In vivo pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) enzymes such as glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH), and transaldolase (TAL) activities as well as ATP- and ADP-level variations of Amycolatopsis orientalis were investigated with respect to glucose concentration and incubation period. G6PDH, 6PGDH, and TAL activities of A. orientalis reached maximum levels at 48 hr for all glucose concentrations used, after which the levels began to decline. G6PDH, 6PGDH, and TAL activities showed positive correlation with the glucose concentration up to 15 g/L, while further increases had an opposite effect. Intracellular ATP level showed a positive correlation with glucose concentrations, while ADP level increased up to 15 g/L. ATP concentration of A. orientalis increased rapidly at 48 hr of incubation, as was the case also for G6PDH, 6PGDH, and TAL activities, although the incubation period corresponding to maximum values of ADP shifted to 60 hr. Production of the glycopeptide antibiotic vancomycin increased with the increases in glucose concentrations up to 15 g/L, by showing coherence in the rates of oxidative and nonoxidative parts of the PPP.

Immobilization of phenylalanine dehydrogenase and its application in flow-injection analysis system for determination of plasma phenylalanine.

Phenylalanine dehydrogenase (L-PheDH) from Sporosarcina ureae was immobilized on DEAE-cellulose, modified initially with 2-amino-4,6-dichloro-s-triazine followed by hexamethylenediamine and glutaraldehyde. The highest activity of immobilized PheDH was determined as 95.75 U/g support with 56% retained activity. The optimum pH value of immobilized L-PheDH was shifted from pH 10.4 to 11.0. The immobilized L-PheDH showed activity variations close to the maximum value in a wider temperature range of 45-55 °C, whereas it was 40 °C for the native enzyme. The pH and the thermal stability of the immobilized L-PheDH were also better than the native enzyme. At pH 10.4 and 25 °C, K (m) values of the native and the immobilized L-PheDH were determined as K(m Phe) = 0.118, 0.063 mM and K(m NAD)(+) = 0.234, 0.128 mM, respectively. Formed NADH at the exit of packed bed reactor column was detected by the flow-injection analysis system. The conversion efficiency of the reactor was found to be 100% in the range of 5-600 µM Phe at 9 mM NAD(+) with a total flow rate of 0.1 mL/min. The reactor was used for the analyses of 30 samples each for 3 h per day. The half-life period of the reactor was 15 days.

Balance between aerobic and anaerobic metabolites production of Amycolatopsis orientalis depending on initial glucose concentration.

The effect of glucose concentration as a carbon source in the range of 5-20 g/L on the fermentative productions of intra-and extra-cellular ethanol, acetate, formate, oxalate, lactate, and pyruvate, as well as pyruvate decarboxylase in A. orientalis were investigated, depending on the incubation period. Intra-and extra-cellular pyruvate levels increased with rising glucose concentrations up to 15 and 20 g/L of glucose, respectively. In addition, intra-cellular pyruvate levels reached their maximum on the 48th hour in the range of 12.5-20 g/L of glucose, except for 5 and 10 g/L while extra-cellular pyruvate were at the 48th and 60th hours. As a fermentative end product, intra-and extra-cellular ethanol levels increased with increasing glucose concentrations of the growth medium and with incubation period. Activity of pyruvate decarboxylase, one of the key enzymes of the alcoholic fermentation, increased significantly with increasing glucose concentrations up to the 48th hour. Intra-and extra-cellular acetate levels increased significantly with increasing glucose concentrations of the growth medium and reached their maximums on the 48th hour, as was the case also for pyruvate. Intra-cellular formate levels increased up to 15 g/L, while extra-cellular levels increased with increasing glucose concentration. The maximum intra-and extra-cellular lactate levels were determined at 12.5 g/L and 20 g/L of glucose on the 48th hour, respectively. The results suggest that elevated ethanol production suppressed lactate and formate production, supported via possibly formed CO(2). In addition, pyruvate, as well as acetate, were used as carbon sources due to the depletion of glucose contents in the growth medium.