ABSTRACT
The involvement of both apolipoprotein E (apoE) and mitochondria in lipid metabolism is widely recognized, however there is surprisingly scarce data about the putative mitochondrial action(s) of this protein. The aim of the study was to screen the alterations in liver mitochondrial proteome caused by apoE deficiency. We applied 2DE-LC-MS/MS methodology to investigate the changes in liver mitochondrial protein expression in 6-months old apoE(-/-) mice as compared to C57BL/6J controls. ApoE(-/-), but not C57BL/6J mice developed visible atherosclerotic changes in aorta and mild, diffuse steatosis of the liver. Collectively, 18 differentially expressed proteins were identified in mitochondria, related to apoptosis, antioxidant and detoxifying mechanisms of mitochondria, as well as lipid metabolism and transport. In conclusion, differential proteomic approach revealed several lines of proteomic evidence that mitochondrial function in the liver of apoE(-/-) mice could be altered as a result of overlapping of pathological and compensatory changes in expression of proteins.
Subject(s)
Apolipoproteins E/deficiency , Mitochondria, Liver/metabolism , Proteome/analysis , Animals , Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional , Female , Mice , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Mice, Knockout , Proteomics/methodsABSTRACT
Oncogenic KRAS mutations are associated with resistance to anti-EGFR therapy in colorectal carcinoma. Since anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies are employed in clinical practice in advanced colorectal cancer, KRAS mutations have become an important predictor of therapy outcome. Mutational analysis of KRAS was performed on 163 adenocarcinoma samples. Exons 1-3 of KRAS were analyzed using SSCP and sequencing. Fifty seven (35%) carcinomas had missense point mutations in one of codons 12, 13, 59, 61, 117. In accordance with the published data, missense mutations in codons 12 (66%) and 13 (22%) were the most frequent. Mutations in codons 59 and 117 occurred with the same frequency as in codon 61. The only detected insertion occurred in exon 2. 15-bp insertion resulted in tandem duplication of codons 62-66. Presumably, 5 additional amino acids affected switch II conformation and sustained Ras activity due to decreased GTP hydrolysis. We report this unusual new type mutation.
Subject(s)
Adenocarcinoma/genetics , Colorectal Neoplasms/genetics , Mutation, Missense/genetics , Point Mutation , Proto-Oncogene Proteins/genetics , Tandem Repeat Sequences/genetics , ras Proteins/genetics , Adenocarcinoma/pathology , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Amino Acid Sequence , Colorectal Neoplasms/pathology , DNA Mutational Analysis , DNA, Neoplasm/genetics , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Molecular Sequence Data , Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational , Proto-Oncogene Proteins/metabolism , Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras) , ras Proteins/metabolismABSTRACT
The phytochemical resveratrol, which is found in grapes and red wine, has been reported to have a variety of biological properties. It was shown in our previous research that introduction of additional hydroxyl groups into the stilbene structure increases the biological activity of resveratrol. In this study, the activity of 3,3',4,4',5,5'-hexahydroxystilbene (M8) was investigated in ZR-75-1, MDA-MB-231 and T47D human breast cancer cells. For evaluation of cytotoxic activity of M8, clonogenic and cell proliferation assays were used. The IC50 values obtained in the clonogenic assay were 0.846 microM for T47D, 8.53 microM for ZR-75-1 cells and 25.5 microM for MDA-MB-231, while IC50 values obtained in the cell proliferation assay were significantly higher: 90.1 microM, 98.4 microM, 127.8 microM for T47D, ZR-75-1 and MDA-MB-231 cells, respectively. Compound M8 caused the activation of caspase-8 in MDA-MB-231 cells (marker of extrinsic apoptotic pathway), while activities of caspase-9 (marker of intrinsic apoptotic pathway) and caspase-3 were increased in all 3 tested cell lines. Activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3 was connected with loss of mitochondrial potential and increase of p53, which could have an impact on downregulation of mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) seen in our experiments. MnSOD is a key enzyme providing antioxidative defense in mitochondria - the cellular center of reactive oxygen species' generation. Downregulation of MnSOD can therefore cause a significant decrease of antioxidant defense in cancer cells. An increase of oxidative stress conditions was suggested by loss of reduced glutathione in tested cells. Since cancer cells are usually under permanent oxidative stress, additional increased ROS generation as a result of the interaction of M8 with the mitochondrial respiratory chain and a decrease in oxidative defense can therefore be a promising method for selective elimination of cancer cells.
