LY294002, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase, causes preferential induction of apoptosis in human multidrug resistant cells.

Protein kinase B (PKB), a kinase downstream of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) provides anti-apoptotic and survival signals via phosphorylation of various targets. Inhibiting PI3-kinase with a 12 h exposure to 10 microM LY294002 induces levels of apoptosis of 30.39+/-1.53% in the KB-V1 multidrug resistant (MDR) cell line compared to 4.54+/-1.00% in drug sensitive KB-3-1 cells (P<0.001). This occurred in conjunction with a preferential reduction in activated PKB in MDR cells. These results suggest the PI3-kinase/PKB signalling pathway is important for the survival of MDR cells and inhibition of this pathway results in the selective induction of apoptosis in MDR cells.

The preferential induction of apoptosis in multidrug-resistant KB cells by 5-fluorouracil.

It has been previously been shown that multidrug resistance may be associated with biochemical changes which increase the sensitivity of resistant cells to the induction of apoptosis by certain agents. We have shown here that 48 h exposure to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) induces both a significantly greater proportion of apoptotic cells and much greater cleavage of the apoptosis-related protein poly-(ADP-ribose)-polymerase in the multidrug-resistant (MDR) carcinoma cell line, KB-A1, than in corresponding drug-sensitive control KB-3.1 cells. Exposure to 5-FU also reduced the level of the anti-apoptotic protein, protein kinase B, in the MDR cells, but not in the control cells.

Microsatellite instability markers in breast cancer: a review and study showing MSI was not detected at 'BAT 25' and 'BAT 26' microsatellite markers in early-onset breast cancer.

Microsatellite markers may provide evidence of faulty DNA mismatch repair (MMR) via the detection of microsatellite instability (MSI). The choice of microsatellite markers may impact on the MSI detection rate. In hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer (HNPCC), several informative microsatellite markers have been recommended. Two of these, BAT 25 and BAT 26, are quasi-homozygous, enabling analysis of tumour DNA in the absence of paired normal DNA. Sixty-six breast cancer patients under 45 years of age at diagnosis were examined for MSI at BAT 25 and BAT 26. Tumour DNA was extracted from paraffin-embedded tissue. No MSI was detected at the BAT 25 or BAT 26 loci. An additional five microsatellite markers, known to be informative for HNPCC, were examined for MSI in these patients. Apparently-normal profiles were achieved. A tabulated survey of 306 microsatellite markers used to detect MSI in breast cancer revealed that only 35.5% of markers detected MSI at an average rate of 2.9%. The MSI detection rate at the specific HNPCC markers varied from 0% to 10% in breast cancer, with D175250 and TP53 being the HNPCC markers most suitable for analysis of breast cancer. The size of the microsatellite marker's repeat unit did not impact on MSI detection rates. Compiled data from large studies (n > 100) revealed D115988 as the marker with the highest MSI detection rate. Genomic instability pathways of carcinogenesis, characterised by MMR defects and MSI, appear to play a role in the genesis of some breast cancer types.

Importance of arginines 63 and 423 in modulating the bile salt-dependent and bile salt-independent hydrolytic activities of rat carboxyl ester lipase.

Previous studies using chemical modification approach have shown the importance of arginine residues in bile salt activation of carboxyl ester lipase (CEL) activity. However, the x-ray crystal structure of CEL failed to show the involvement of arginine residues in CEL-bile salt interaction. The current study used a site-specific mutagenesis approach to determine the role of arginine residues 63 and 423 in bile salt-dependent and bile salt-independent hydrolytic activities of rat CEL. Mutations of Arg(63) to Ala(63) (R63A) and Arg(423) to Gly(423) (R423G) resulted in enzymes with increased bile salt-independent hydrolytic activity against lysophosphatidylcholine, having 6.5- and 2-fold higher k(cat) values, respectively, in comparison to wild type CEL. In contrast, the R63A and R423A mutant enzymes displayed 5- and 11-fold decreases in k(cat), in comparison with wild type CEL, for bile salt-dependent cholesteryl ester hydrolysis. Although taurocholate induced similar changes in circular dichroism spectra for wild type, R63A, and R423G proteins, this bile salt was less efficient in protecting the mutant enzymes against thermal inactivation in comparison with control CEL. Lipid binding studies revealed less R63A and R423G mutant CEL were bound to 1,2-diolein monolayer at saturation compared with wild type CEL. These results, along with computer modeling of the CEL protein, indicated that Arg(63) and Arg(423) are not involved directly with monomeric bile salt binding. However, these residues participate in micellar bile salt modulation of CEL enzymatic activity through intramolecular hydrogen bonding with the C-terminal domain. These residues are also important, probably through similar intramolecular hydrogen bond formation, in stabilizing the enzyme in solution and at the lipid-water interface.

Preferential killing of multidrug-resistant KB cells by inhibitors of glucosylceramide synthase.

This study has compared the preferential killing of three multidrug-resistant (MDR) KB cell lines, KB-C1, KB-A1 and KB-V1 by two inhibitors of glucosylceramide synthase, 1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol (PDMP) and 1-phenyl-2-hexadecanoylamino-3-pyrrolidino-1-propanol (PPPP), to the killing produced by these compounds in the drug-sensitive cell line, KB-3-1. Both of the inhibitors caused much greater induction of apoptosis in each of the three MDR cell lines than in the drug-sensitive cell line, as judged by morphological assay and confirmed by poly-(ADP-ribose)-polymerase cleavage. The highest level of apoptosis was produced following 24-h exposure to 5 microM PPPP. This treatment produced 75.8 (+/- 7.1)%, 73.6 (+/- 9.8)% and 75.3 (+/- 6.4)% apoptotic cells in the three MDR cell lines respectively, compared to 19.0 (+/- 9.8)% in the drug-sensitive cell line. A reduction in glucosylceramide level following inhibitor treatment occurred in KB-3-1 cells as well as in the MDR cell lines, suggesting that the increased apoptotic response in the MDR cells reflected a different downstream response to changes in the levels of this lipid in these cells compared to that in the drug-sensitive cells. These results suggest that the manipulation of glucosylceramide levels may be a fruitful way of causing the preferential killing of MDR cells in vitro and possibly in vivo.

When ideology hurts: effects of belief in the protestant ethic and feeling overweight on the psychological well-being of women.

Two studies addressed the relationship between Protestant ethic (PE) ideology and psychological well-being for self-perceived overweight and normal weight women. In Study 1, PE beliefs interacted with self-perceived weight status: For very overweight women, higher PE beliefs were related to lower psychological well-being, whereas the opposite pattern emerged for normal weight women. The relationship of PE to well-being was not mediated by beliefs about controllability of weight or dislike of the overweight. In Study 2, either a PE ideology or an inclusive ideology was primed within the context of the stigma of overweight. For overweight participants, priming PE ideology led to decreased psychological well-being, whereas priming an inclusive ideology led to increased psychological well-being. Normal weight participants were unaffected. PE ideology as a vulnerability factor for the psychological well-being of the overweight is discussed.

Theoretical and experimental investigations of electrostatic effects on acetylcholinesterase catalysis and inhibition.

The role of electrostatics in the function of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) has been investigated by both theoretical and experimental approaches. Second-order rate constants (kE = k(cat)/Km) for acetylthiocholine (ATCh) turnover have been measured as a function of ionic strength of the reaction medium for wild-type and mutant AChEs. Also, binding and dissociation rate constants have been measured as a function of ionic strength for the respective charged and neutral transition state analog inhibitors m-(N,N,N-trimethylammonio)trifluoroacetophenone (TMTFA) and m-(t-butyl)trifluoroacetophenone (TBTFA). Linear free-energy correlations between catalytic rate constants and inhibition constants indicate that kE for ATCh turnover is rate limited by terminal binding events. Comparison of binding rate constants for TMTFA and TBTFA attests to the sizable electrostatic discrimination of AChE. Free energy profiles for cationic ligand release from the active sites of wild-type and mutant AChEs have been calculated via a model that utilizes the structure of T. californica AChE, a spherical ligand, and energy terms that account for electrostatic and van der Waals interactions and chemical potential. These calculations indicate that EA and EI complexes are not bound with respect to electrostatic interactions, which obviates the need for a 'back door' for cationic ligand release. Moreover, the computed energy barriers for ligand release give linear free-energy correlations with log(kE) for substrate turnover, which supports the general correctness of the computational model.

2-Deoxy-D-glucose preferentially kills multidrug-resistant human KB carcinoma cell lines by apoptosis.

The aim of this study was to determine the mechanism of cell death associated with the preferential killing of multidrug-resistant (MDR) cells by the glycolytic inhibitor 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2DG) in a range of MDR human KB carcinoma cell lines selected in different drugs. The D10 values for KB-V1, KB-C1 and KB-A1 (selected in vinblastine, colchicine and doxorubicin respectively) were 1.74, 1.04 and 0.31 mM, respectively, compared with 4.60 mM for the parental cell line (KB-3-1). The mechanism of cell death was identified as apoptosis, based on nuclear morphology, annexin V binding and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage. 2DG induced apoptosis in the three MDR cell lines in a dose- and time-dependent manner and did not induce necrosis. PARP cleavage was detected in KB-C1 cells within 2 h of exposure to 50 mM 2DG and slightly later in KB-A1 and KB-V1 cells. The relative levels of 2DG sensitivity did not correlate with the levels of multidrug resistance or with the reduced levels of the glucose transporter GLUT-1 in these cells. We speculate that a 2DG-stimulated apoptotic pathway in MDR KB cells differs from that in normal KB cells.

That swimsuit becomes you: sex differences in self-objectification, restrained eating, and math performance.

Objectification theory (B. L. Fredrickson & T. Roberts, 1997) posits that American culture socializes women to adopt observers' perspectives on their physical selves. This self-objectification is hypothesized to (a) produce body shame, which in turn leads to restrained eating, and (b) consume attentional resources, which is manifested in diminished mental performance. Two experiments manipulated self-objectification by having participants try on a swimsuit or a sweater. Experiment 1 tested 72 women and found that self-objectification increased body shame, which in turn predicted restrained eating. Experiment 2 tested 42 women and 40 men and found that these effects on body shame and restrained eating replicated for women only. Additionally, self-objectification diminished math performance for women only. Discussion centers on the causes and consequences of objectifying women's bodies.

Change in the mode of inhibition of acetylcholinesterase by (4-nitrophenyl)sulfonoxyl derivatives of conformationally constrained choline analogues.

A chiral, five-step synthesis of 2-(hydroxymethyl)-2,4-dimethylmorpholine (12) from (R)- and (S)-2-methylglycidols gives an overall yield of 63%. Morpholines (R)- and (S)-12 are converted into 2-(azidomethyl)-2,4-dimethylmorpholine (15) via 2,4-dimethyl-2-[[(4-nitrophenyl)sulfonoxy]methyl]morpholine (14). The tertiary morpholines 12, 14, and 15 are quaternarized to afford 2-(hydroxymethyl)-2,4,4-trimethylmorpholinum iodide (2), 2,4,4-trimethyl-2-[[(4-nitrophenyl)sulfonoxy]methyl]morpholinium iodide (3), and 2-(azidomethyl)-2,4,4-trimethylmorpholinium iodide (4), respectively, which all inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE). These morpholinium inhibitors are compared with conformationally constrained aryl hemicholinium AChE inhibitors. Enantiomers of 2 and 4 are reversible competitive inhibitors of AChE, with values of Ki = 360 +/- 30 microM for (S)-2, 650 +/- 90 microM for (R)-2, 450 +/- 70 microM for (S)-4, and 560 +/- 30 microM for (R)-4, respectively. Enantiomers of 3 are noncompetitive inhibitors of AChE with values of Ki = 19.0 +/- 0.9 microM for (S)-3 and 50 +/- 2 microM for (R)-3, respectively. AChE shows a 2-fold chiral discrimination in the case of inhibition by 2 and 3. Inhibition also changes from competitive to noncompetitive when (3-hydroxyphenyl)-N,N,N-trimethylammonium iodide (18) [Ki = 0.21 +/- 0.06 microM; Lee, B. H., Stelly, T. C., Colucci, W. J., Garcia, J. G., Gandour, R. D., and Quinn, D. M. (1992) Chem. Res. Toxicol. 5, 411-418] is converted into [3-[(4-nitrophenyl)sulfonoxy]phenyl]-N,N,N-trimethylammonium iodide (5), Ki = 6.0 +/- 0.5 microM. These results indicate that the 4-nitrobenzenesulfonyl group controls the mode of inhibition.

Electrostatic influence on the kinetics of ligand binding to acetylcholinesterase. Distinctions between active center ligands and fasciculin.

To explore the role that surface and active center charges play in electrostatic attraction of ligands to the active center gorge of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and the influence of charge on the reactive orientation of the ligand, we have studied the kinetics of association of cationic and neutral ligands with the active center and peripheral site of AChE. Electrostatic influences were reduced by sequential mutations of six surface anionic residues outside of the active center gorge (Glu-84, Glu-91, Asp-280, Asp-283, Glu-292, and Asp-372) and three residues within the active center gorge (Asp-74 at the rim and Glu-202 and Glu-450 at the base). The peripheral site ligand, fasciculin 2 (FAS2), a peptide of 6.5 kDa with a net charge of +4, shows a marked enhancement of rate of association with reduction in ionic strength, and this ionic strength dependence can be markedly reduced by progressive neutralization of surface and active center gorge anionic residues. By contrast, neutralization of surface residues only has a modest influence on the rate of cationic m-trimethylammoniotrifluoroacetophenone (TFK+) association with the active serine, whereas neutralization of residues in the active center gorge has a marked influence on the rate but with little change in the ionic strength dependence. Brownian dynamics calculations for approach of a small cationic ligand to the entrance of the gorge show the influence of individual charges to be in quantitative accord with that found for the surface residues. Anionic residues in the gorge may help to orient the ligand for reaction or to trap the ligand. Bound FAS2 on AChE not only reduces the rate of TFK+ reaction with the active center but inverts the ionic strength dependence for the cationic TFK+ association with AChE. Hence it appears that TFK+ must traverse an electrostatic barrier at the gorge entry imparted by the bound FAS2 with its net charge of +4.

Mutant acetylcholinesterases as potential detoxification agents for organophosphate poisoning.

It has been demonstrated that cholinesterases (ChEs) are an effective mode of pretreatment to prevent organophosphate (OP) toxicity in mice and rhesus monkeys. The efficacy of ChE as a bioscavenger of OP can be enhanced by combining enzyme pretreatment with oxime reactivation, since the scavenging capacity extends beyond a stoichiometric ratio of ChE to OP. Aging has proven to be a major barrier to achieving oxime reactivation of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibited by the more potent OPs. To further increase the stoichiometry of OP to ChE required, we have sought AChE mutants that are more easily reactivated than wild-type enzyme. Substitution of glutamine for glutamate (E199) located at the amino-terminal to the active-site serine (S200) in Torpedo AChE generated an enzyme largely resistant to aging. Here we report the effect of the corresponding mutation on the rate of inhibition, reactivation by 1-(2-hydroxyiminomethyl-1-pyridinium)-1(4-carboxyaminopyridinium)- dimethyl ether hydrochloride (HI-6), and aging of mouse AChE inhibited by C(+)P(-)- and C(-)P(-)-epimers of soman. The E202 to Q mutation decreased the affinity of soman for AChE, slowed the reactivation of soman-inhibited AChE by HI-6, and decreased the aging of mutant AChE. These effects were more pronounced with C(-)P(-)-soman than with C(+)P(-)-soman. In vitro detoxification of soman and sarin by wild-type and E202Q AChE in the presence of 2 mM HI-6 showed that, E202Q AChE was 2-3 times more effective in detoxifying soman and sarin than wild-type AChE. These studies show that these recombinant DNA-derived AChEs are a great improvement over wild-type AChE as bioscavengers. They can be used to develop effective methods for the safe disposal of stored OP nerve agents and potential candidates for pre- or post-exposure treatment for OP toxicity.

Cloning and characterization of two immunophilin-like genes, ilpA and fkpA, on a single 3.9-kilobase fragment of Aeromonas hydrophila genomic DNA.

Antiserum to Aeromonas hydrophila A6 cell envelopes was shown in a previous study (C. Y. F. Wong, G. Mayrhofer, M. W. Heuzenroeder, H. M. Atkinson, D. M. Quinn, and R. L. P. Flower, FEMS Immunol. Med. Microbiol. 15:233-241, 1996) to protect mice against lethal infection by this organism. In this study, colony blot analysis of an A. hydrophila genomic library using antiserum to A. hydrophila A6 cell envelopes revealed a cosmid clone expressing a 30-kDa protein which has not been described previously in aeromonads. The nucleotide sequence of a 3.9-kb fragment derived from this cosmid which expressed the 30-kDa protein revealed two potential open reading frames (ORFs) with homology to known immunophilin proteins. ORF1 encoded a 212-amino-acid protein (molecular mass, 22.4 kDa) with 56% identity to the immunophilin SlyD protein of Escherichia coli. ORF1 was subsequently designated ilpA (immunophilin-like protein). ORF3 encoded a potential gene product of 268 amino acids with a typical signal sequence and a predicted molecular size of 28.7 kDa. The inferred amino acid sequence showed 46% identity with the sequence of the FkpA protein of E. coli and 40% identity with the sequence of the macrophage infectivity potentiator (Mip) protein of Legionella pneumophila. ORF3 was designated fkpA (FK506 binding protein) by analogy with the E. coli FkpA protein. Expression of the FkpA protein was confirmed by Western blot (immunoblot) analysis, which detected a 30-kDa protein, with antiserum to the Mip protein of Legionella longbeachae and a specific antiserum to anA. hydrophila 30-kDa membrane protein. PCR and Southern analysis showed that a DNA sequence encoding FkpA was found in all 178 aeromonads of diverse origins tested. A nonpolar insertion mutation in the fkpA gene did not attenuate virulence in a suckling mouse model nor did it affect the expression of hemolysins or DNase. This suggests that either the fkpA gene is not essential in the virulence of A. hydrophila under these conditions or there are other genes in A. hydrophila coding for proteins with similar functions.

Ambulatory surgery. An evolution.

Technological advances have allowed the number of outpatient surgical procedures performed each year to increase steadily. Pressure from patients, physicians, and third-party payers has led to an increase in the number of freestanding Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs). By virtue of their structure, freestanding ASCs have been able to provide services at a lower cost than their hospital counterparts. Rapid changes in the health care environment are forcing health care facilities to adopt cost-cutting measures in an attempt to compete in the marketplace.

The human KB multidrug-resistant cell line KB-C1 is hypersensitive to inhibitors of glycosylation.

We have previously shown that the hypersensitivity of KB MDR cells to 2-deoxy-D-glucose is associated with diminished plasma membrane GLUT-1 levels compared with parental, non-MDR cells. Here we report that MDR cells are hypersensitive to the N-linked glycosylation inhibitor tunicamycin, which induces partial inhibition of GLUT-1 glycosylation and diminishes GLUT-1-mediated transport. The effect of tunicamycin, which also enhances the hypersensitivity of MDR cells to 2-deoxy-D-glucose, could not be attributed to alterations in P-glycoprotein activity. The use of agents that act synergistically to diminish the level and activity of GLUT-1 in MDR cells may be of clinical potential.

Molecular modeling of the structures of human and rat pancreatic cholesterol esterases.

Structural models have been generated for rat and human cholesterol esterases by molecular modeling. For rat cholesterol esterase, three separate models were generated according to the following procedure: (1) the cholesterol esterase sequence was aligned with those of three template enzymes: Torpedo californica acetylcholinesterase, Geotrichum candidum lipase and Candida rugosa lipase; (2) the X-ray structure coordinates of the three template enzymes were used to construct cholesterol esterase models by amino acid replacements of matched sequence positions and by making sequence insertions and deletions as required; (3) bad contracts in each of the cholesterol esterase models were relaxed by molecular dynamics and mechanics; (4) the three cholesterol esterase models were merged into one by arithmetic averaging of atomic coordinates; (5) Ramachandran analysis indicated that the model generated from the AChE template possessed the best set of phi/psi angles. Therefore, this model was subjected to molecular dynamics, with harmonic constraints imposed on the C(alpha) coordinates to drive them toward the coordinates of the averaged model. (6) Subsequent relaxation by molecular mechanics produced the final rat cholesterol esterase model. A model for human cholesterol esterase was produced by repeating steps 1-3 above, albeit with the rat cholesterol esterase model as the template. Hydrophobic and electrostatic analyses of the rat and human cholesterol esterase models suggest the structural origins of molecular recognition of hydrophobic substrates and interfaces, of charged interfaces, and of bile salt activators.

Molecular recognition by cholesterol esterase of active site ligands: structure-reactivity effects for inhibition by aryl carbamates and subsequent carbamylenzyme turnover.

Interactions of mammalian pancreatic cholesterol esterases from pig and rat with a family of aryl carbamates CnH2n+1NHCOOAr [n = 4-9; Ar = phenyl, p-X-phenyl (X = acetamido, bromo, fluoro, nitro, trifluoromethyl), 2-naphthyl, 2-tetrahydronaphthyl, estronyl] have been investigated, with an aim of delineating the ligand structural features which lead to effective molecular recognition by the active site of the enzyme. These carbamates inhibit the catalytic activity of CEase by rapid carbamylation of the active site, a process that shows saturation kinetics. Subsequent slow decarbamylation usually leads to full restoration of activity, and therefore aryl carbamates are transient inhibitors, or pseudo-substrates, of CEase. Structural variation of carbamate inhibitors allowed molecular recognition in the fatty acid binding and steroid binding loci of the extended active site to be probed, and the electronic nature of the carbamylation transition state to be characterized. Optimal inhibitory activity is observed when the length of the carbamyl function is n = 6 and n = 7 for porcine and rat cholesterol esterases, respectively, equivalent to eight- and nine-carbon fatty acyl chains. In contrast, inhibitory activity increases progressively as the partial molecular volume of the aromatic fragment increases. Hammett plots for p-substituted phenyl-N-hexyl carbamates indicate that the rate-determining step for carbamate inhibition is phenolate anion expulsion. Effects of the bile salt activator taurocholate on the kinetically resolved phases of the pseudo-substrate turnover of aryl carbamates were also studied. Taurocholate increases the affinity of the carbamate for the active site of cholesterol esterase in the reversible, noncovalent complex that precedes carbamylation and increases the rate constants of the serial carbamylation and decarbamylation steps. Structural variation of the N-alkyl chain and of the aryl fused-ring system provides an accounting of bile salt modulation of the fatty acid and steroid binding sites, respectively. In that pseudo-substrate turnover of aryl carbamates proceeds by a three-step mechanism that is analogous to that for rapid turnover of lipid ester substrates, these investigations illuminate details of ligand recognition by the extended active site of cholesterol esterase that are prominent determinants of the substrate specificity and catalytic power of the enzyme.

Measurement of virulence of aeromonads using a suckling mouse model of infection.

Virulent and avirulent strains of Aeromonas spp. were identified and virulence quantified using an animal model. Virulence was measured by determining a 50% lethal dose (LD50) 43 h after oral administration of live bacteria. The LD50 of virulent Aeromonas isolates ranged from log10 7.53 (mean) organisms to log10 8.88 (mean). Some isolates were avirulent in this model. Detection of cytotoxic activity in culture supernatants correlated with virulence (Fisher exact test, P = 0.0029). There was no correlation between LD50 and the source of the isolate, beta-haemolysis or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) banding profile on SDS-PAGE. In this animal model, virulence was multifactorial in that: (i) bacterial multiplication in the gut was associated with fatal infection; (ii) the increase in bacterial numbers in the gut of mice administered a lethal dose of bacteria was accompanied by accumulation of fluid; and (iii) there was evidence of extraintestinal spread of infection. Protection of suckling mice by rabbit antiserum to Aeromonas cell envelopes was observed.