Ubiquitin at the crossroad of cell death and survival / 癌症

Ubiquitination is crucial for cellular processes, such as protein degradation, apoptosis, autophagy, and cell cycle progression. Dysregulation of the ubiquitination network accounts for the development of numerous diseases, including cancer. Thus, targeting ubiquitination is a promising strategy in cancer therapy. Both apoptosis and autophagy are involved in tumorigenesis and response to cancer therapy. Although both are categorized as types of cell death, autophagy is generally considered to have protective functions, including protecting cells from apoptosis under certain cellular stress conditions. This review highlights recent advances in understanding the regulation of apoptosis and autophagy by ubiquitination.

Cyclodextrins and emulsions.

This paper synthesises the literature on interactions between cyclodextrins (CD) and fatty acids and glycerides, and explains how these interactions allow the use of cyclodextrins to stabilise emulsions. An example of formulation with cyclodextrins is given which discusses the preparation of simple o/w emulsions, the addition of a model active ingredient, and the preparation of multiple emulsions in the absence of preformed surface active agents.

Effect of camphor/cyclodextrin complexation on the stability of O/W/O multiple emulsions.

Camphor (CA) encapsulation in oil/water/oil multiple emulsions prepared with cyclodextrin disturbs the emulsifier potential of alpha- and beta-natural cyclodextrins (CD). It was suggested that the size and geometrical fit between the CD cavity and CA could induce CD/CA complex formation in place of emulsifier formation leading to perturbation of emulsion stability. The complexation between CA and alpha-, beta- or gamma-CD in solution in the presence of oil phase are confirmed by phase-solubility diagrams, circular dichroism and 1H NMR. Furthermore, in order to mimic the emulsion system, CD/CA/soybean oil ternary dispersions were prepared to observe the complexation behavior of alpha-, beta- or gamma-CD/CA by circular dichroism. X-ray diffraction on emulsion samples prepared with alpha- and beta-CD confirms that the precipitates observed in emulsions are probably composed of crystals of CD/CA complexes. A preliminary study of the interaction between drug and CD before the formulation seems indispensable to prevent the risk of incompatibility.