Matrix metalloproteinases in cancer

2002 ◽  
Vol 38 ◽  
pp. 21-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshifumi Itoh ◽  
Hideaki Nagase
Keyword(s):  
Cell Growth ◽  
Matrix Metalloproteinases ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Tumour Cell ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Primary Tumour ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
The Body ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Recent Developments

The extracellular matrix (ECM) holds cells together and maintains the three-dimensional structure of the body. It also plays critical roles in cell growth, differentiation, survival and motility. For a tumour cell to metastasize from the primary tumour to other organs, it must locally degrade ECM components that are the physical barriers for cell migration. The key enzymes responsible for ECM breakdown are matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). To date, 23 MMP genes have been identified in humans and many are implicated in cancer. ECM degradation by MMPs not only enhances tumour invasion, but also affects tumour cell behaviour and leads to cancer progression. This review highlights recent developments with regard to the cellular and molecular mechanisms of MMPs that influence tumour cell growth, invasion and metastasis.

Characterization of an A-type cyclin-dependent kinase gene from Dendrobium candidum

Biologia ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 67 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gang Zhang ◽  
Chao Song ◽  
Ming-Ming Zhao ◽  
Biao Li ◽  
Shun-Xing Guo
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Postembryonic Development ◽  
Kinase Domain ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Pcr Analysis ◽  
Kinase Gene ◽  
Multiple Sequence ◽  
Dendrobium Candidum ◽  
Rapid Amplification

AbstractCyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) play an essential role in cell cycle regulation during the embryonic and postembryonic development of organisms. To better understand the molecular mechanisms of CDKs involved in embryogenesis regulation in the endangered medicinal plant Dendrobium candidum Wall. ex Lindl., a 1229-bp full-length cDNA of an A-type CDK gene, Denca;CDKA;1, was identified using 3′ rapid amplification of cDNA end (RACE) PCR. Denca;CDKA;1 was predicted to encode a 294 amino acid residue-long protein of 33.76 kDa with an isoelectric point of 7.72. The deduced Denca;CDKA;1 protein contained a conserved serine/threonine-protein kinase domain (S-TKc) and a canonical cyclinbinding “PSTAIRE” motif. Multiple sequence alignment indicated that members of CDKA family from various plants exhibited a high degree of sequence identity ranging from 82% to 93%. A neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree showed that Denca;CDKA;1 was clustered into the plant group and was distant from the animal and fungal groups. The modeled three-dimensional structure of Denca;CDKA;1 exhibited the similar functional structure of a fold consisting of β-sheets and α-helices joined by discontinuous random coils forming two relatively independent lobes. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed that Denca;CDKA;1 transcripts were the most abundant in protocorm-like bodies with 4.76 fold, followed by that in roots (4.19 fold), seeds (2.57 fold), and stems (1.57 fold). This study characterized the novel Denca;CDKA;1 gene from D. candidum for the first time and the results will be useful for further functional determination of the gene.

scholarly journals A bi-directional dialog between vascular cells and monocytes/macrophages regulates tumor progression

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor Delprat ◽  
Carine Michiels
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Progression ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Cell Activation ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Immune Cell ◽  
The Body ◽  
Vascular Cells ◽  
Tumor Associated Macrophage ◽  
Immune Cell Activation ◽  
The Impact

AbstractCancer progression largely depends on tumor blood vessels as well on immune cell infiltration. In various tumors, vascular cells, namely endothelial cells (ECs) and pericytes, strongly regulate leukocyte infiltration into tumors and immune cell activation, hence the immune response to cancers. Recently, a lot of compelling studies unraveled the molecular mechanisms by which tumor vascular cells regulate monocyte and tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) recruitment and phenotype, and consequently tumor progression. Reciprocally, TAMs and monocytes strongly modulate tumor blood vessel and tumor lymphatic vessel formation by exerting pro-angiogenic and lymphangiogenic effects, respectively. Finally, the interaction between monocytes/TAMs and vascular cells is also impacting several steps of the spread of cancer cells throughout the body, a process called metastasis. In this review, the impact of the bi-directional dialog between blood vascular cells and monocytes/TAMs in the regulation of tumor progression is discussed. All together, these data led to the design of combinations of anti-angiogenic and immunotherapy targeting TAMs/monocyte whose effects are briefly discussed in the last part of this review.

scholarly journals Analysis of the three dimensional structure of the kidney glomerulus capillary network

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Terasaki ◽  
Jason Cory Brunson ◽  
Justin Sardi
Keyword(s):  
3D Structure ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
The Body ◽  
Capillary Network ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Pixel Resolution ◽  
Longitudinal Splitting ◽  
Kidney Glomerulus ◽  
Minimum Number ◽  
Glomerular Size

AbstractThe capillary network of the kidney glomerulus filters small molecules from the blood. The glomerular 3D structure should help to understand its function, but it is poorly characterized. We therefore devised a new approach in which an automated tape collecting microtome (ATUM) was used to collect 0.5 μm thick serial sections from fixed mouse kidneys. The sections were imaged by scanning electron microscopy at ~ 50 nm/pixel resolution. With this approach, 12 glomeruli were reconstructed at an x–y–z resolution ~ 10 × higher than that of paraffin sections. We found a previously undescribed no-cross zone between afferent and efferent branches on the vascular pole side; connections here would allow blood to exit without being adequately filtered. The capillary diameters throughout the glomerulus appeared to correspond with the amount of blood flow within them. The shortest path (minimum number of branches to travel from afferent to efferent arterioles) is relatively independent of glomerular size and is present primarily on the vascular pole size. This suggests that new branches and longer paths form on the urinary pole side. Network analysis indicates that the glomerular network does not form by repetitive longitudinal splitting of capillaries. Thus the 3D structure of the glomerular capillary network provides useful information with which to understand glomerular function. Other tissue structures in the body may benefit from this new three dimensional approach.

scholarly journals Chaperones and Proteostasis: Role in Parkinson’s Disease

Diseases ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neha Joshi ◽  
Atchaya Raveendran ◽  
Shirisha Nagotu
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Cellular Protein ◽  
The Body ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Protein Homeostasis ◽  
Altered Expression ◽  
And Function ◽  
Related Proteins

Proper folding to attain a defined three-dimensional structure is a prerequisite for the functionality of a protein. Improper folding that eventually leads to formation of protein aggregates is a hallmark of several neurodegenerative disorders. Loss of protein homeostasis triggered by cellular stress conditions is a major contributing factor for the formation of these toxic aggregates. A conserved class of proteins called chaperones and co-chaperones is implicated in maintaining the cellular protein homeostasis. Expanding the body of evidence highlights the role of chaperones as central mediators in the formation, de-aggregation and degradation of the aggregates. Altered expression and function of chaperones is associated with many neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson’s disease. Several studies indicate that chaperones are at the center of the cause and effect cycle of this disease. An overview of the various chaperones that are associated with homeostasis of Parkinson’s disease-related proteins and their role in pathogenicity will be discussed in this review.

scholarly journals Granulins: the structure and function of an emerging family of growth factors

1998 ◽  
Vol 158 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Bateman ◽  
HP Bennett
Keyword(s):  
Cell Growth ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Mesenchymal Cells ◽  
Amino Acid Sequences ◽  
The Body ◽  
Egf Receptors ◽  
Haematopoietic Cells ◽  
And Function ◽  
Related Proteins

The granulin/epithelin motif defines a family of structurally unique proteins, of great evolutionary antiquity, which have been implicated as regulators of cell growth. Recurrent in granulin research are the surprising parallels between the granulin and EGF systems. Both are cysteinerich peptides of approximately 6 kDa that can modify cell growth. They show similar, but not identical, biological activities, although granulin/epithelin peptides do not bind EGF receptors; the three-dimensional folds of granulin and EGF are partially superimposible; and the precursors for mammalian granulin/epithelins and EGF are both organized as multiple repeats of conserved cysteine modules. Given the dissimilarity between amino acid sequences of members of the granulin/epithelin family and EGF-related peptides, the parallelism between the two systems probably represents convergent evolution towards related solutions to common biological problems. The granulin/epithelin precursor gene is expressed throughout the body, but its expression is predominantly in epithelial and haematopoietic cells. There is a great deal of versatility in the means by which cells process and handle the granulin/epithelin precursor. In some instances, the precursor is secreted intact (Zhou et al. 1993), and in others it is stored in a vesicular organelle, such as the sperm acrosome (Baba et al. 1993a). It may be processed into small 6-kDa peptides, which, in the neutrophil, can also be stored in vesicles (Bateman et al. 1990, Couto et al. 1992). The 6-kDa peptide forms, the intact precursor, and related proteins such as TGFe, regulate the growth of epithelial and mesenchymal cells. Epithelial cells express putative receptors for granulin/epithelin peptides and TGFe (Culouscou et al. 1993, Parnell et al. 1995). Thus, although much remains to be clarified, granulin/epithelin polypeptides and related proteins are emerging as widely distributed potential autocrine and paracrine growth modulating factors for epithelial and mesenchymal cells.

First identification of small-molecule inhibitors of Pontin by combining virtual screening and enzymatic assay

2012 ◽  
Vol 443 (2) ◽  
pp. 549-559 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith Elkaim ◽  
Michel Castroviejo ◽  
Driss Bennani ◽  
Said Taouji ◽  
Nathalie Allain ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Screening ◽  
Small Molecule ◽  
Tumour Cell ◽  
Small Molecule Inhibitors ◽  
Colorimetric Assay ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Atp Binding Site ◽  
Set Up

The human protein Pontin, which belongs to the AAA+ (ATPases associated with various cellular activities) family, is overexpressed in several cancers and its silencing in vitro leads to tumour cell growth arrest and apoptosis, making it a good target for cancer therapy. In particular, high levels of expression were found in hepatic tumours for which the therapeutic arsenal is rather limited. The three-dimensional structure of Pontin has been resolved previously, revealing a hexameric assembly with one ADP molecule co-crystallized in each subunit. Using Vina, DrugScore and Xscore, structure-based virtual screening of 2200 commercial molecules was conducted into the ATP-binding site formed by a dimer of Pontin in order to prioritize the best candidates. Complementary to the in silico screening, a versatile and sensitive colorimetric assay was set up to measure the disruption of the ATPase activity of Pontin. This assay allowed the determination of inhibition curves for more than 20 top-scoring compounds, resulting in the identification of four ligands presenting an inhibition constant in the micromolar concentration range. Three of them inhibited tumour cell proliferation. The association of virtual screening and experimental assay thus proved successful for the discovery of the first small-molecule inhibitors of Pontin.

scholarly journals Two clusters of surface-exposed amino acid residues enable high-affinity binding of retinal degeneration-3 (RD3) protein to retinal guanylyl cyclase

2020 ◽  
Vol 295 (31) ◽  
pp. 10781-10793 ◽  
Author(s):  
Igor V. Peshenko ◽  
Alexander M. Dizhoor
Keyword(s):  
Retinal Degeneration ◽  
Guanylyl Cyclase ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Hek293 Cells ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Amino Acid Residues ◽  
Retinal Guanylyl Cyclase ◽  
Functional Interface

Retinal degeneration-3 (RD3) protein protects photoreceptors from degeneration by preventing retinal guanylyl cyclase (RetGC) activation via calcium-sensing guanylyl cyclase–activating proteins (GCAP), and RD3 truncation causes severe congenital blindness in humans and other animals. The three-dimensional structure of RD3 has recently been established, but the molecular mechanisms of its inhibitory binding to RetGC remain unclear. Here, we report the results of probing 133 surface-exposed residues in RD3 by single substitutions and deletions to identify side chains that are critical for the inhibitory binding of RD3 to RetGC. We tested the effects of these substitutions and deletions in vitro by reconstituting purified RD3 variants with GCAP1-activated human RetGC1. Although the vast majority of the surface-exposed residues tolerated substitutions without loss of RD3's inhibitory activity, substitutions in two distinct narrow clusters located on the opposite sides of the molecule effectively suppressed RD3 binding to the cyclase. The first surface-exposed cluster included residues adjacent to Leu63 in the loop connecting helices 1 and 2. The second cluster surrounded Arg101 on a surface of helix 3. Single substitutions in those two clusters drastically, i.e. up to 245-fold, reduced the IC50 for the cyclase inhibition. Inactivation of the two binding sites completely disabled binding of RD3 to RetGC1 in living HEK293 cells. In contrast, deletion of 49 C-terminal residues did not affect the apparent affinity of RD3 for RetGC. Our findings identify the functional interface on RD3 required for its inhibitory binding to RetGC, a process essential for protecting photoreceptors from degeneration.

scholarly journals Epithelial–mesenchymal transition: role in cancer progression and the perspectives of antitumor treatment

Acta Naturae ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 4-23
Author(s):  
A. V. Gaponova ◽  
S. Rodin ◽  
A. A. Mazina ◽  
P. V. Volchkov
Keyword(s):  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Tumor Progression ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Malignant Tumors ◽  
The Body ◽  
Epithelial Tissue ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Tumor Dissemination

About 90% of all malignant tumors are of epithelial nature. The epithelial tissue is characterized by a close interconnection between cells through cellcell interactions, as well as a tight connection with the basement membrane, which is responsible for cell polarity. These interactions strictly determine the location of epithelial cells within the body and are seemingly in conflict with the metastatic potential that many cancers possess (the main criteria for highly malignant tumors). Tumor dissemination into vital organs is one of the primary causes of death in patients with cancer. Tumor dissemination is based on the so-called epithelialmesenchymal transition (EMT), a process when epithelial cells are transformed into mesenchymal cells possessing high mobility and migration potential. More and more studies elucidating the role of the EMT in metastasis and other aspects of tumor progression are published each year, thus forming a promising field of cancer research. In this review, we examine the most recent data on the intracellular and extracellular molecular mechanisms that activate EMT and the role they play in various aspects of tumor progression, such as metastasis, apoptotic resistance, and immune evasion, aspects that have usually been attributed exclusively to cancer stem cells (CSCs). In conclusion, we provide a detailed review of the approved and promising drugs for cancer therapy that target the components of the EMT signaling pathways.

scholarly journals Multifaced roles of PLAC8 in cancer

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Misha Mao ◽  
Yifan Cheng ◽  
Jingjing Yang ◽  
Yongxia Chen ◽  
Ling Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Growth ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Cancer Cell ◽  
Cancer Progression ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Molecular Function ◽  
Cancer Cell Growth ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Functional Output

AbstractThe role of PLAC8 in tumorigenesis has been gradually elucidated with the development of research. Although there are common molecular mechanisms that enforce cell growth, the impact of PLAC8 is varied and can, in some instances, have opposite effects on tumorigenesis. To systematically understand the role of PLAC8 in tumors, the molecular functions of PLAC8 in cancer will be discussed by focusing on how PLAC8 impacts tumorigenesis when it arises within tumor cells and how these roles can change in different stages of cancer progression with the ultimate goal of suppressing PLAC8-relevant cancer behavior and related pathologies. In addition, we highlight the diversity of PLAC8 in different tumors and its functional output beyond cancer cell growth. The comprehension of PLAC8’s molecular function might provide new target and lead to the development of novel anticancer therapies.

Production Methodologies of Meat Analogues: A Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 58 (02) ◽  
pp. 137-148
Author(s):  
J Girija ◽  
S Kamalasundari ◽  
G Hemalatha ◽  
T Umamaheswari
Keyword(s):  
Three Dimensional ◽  
The Body ◽  
Protein Source ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Manufacturing Processes ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Good Source ◽  
Meat Protein ◽  
Current Scenario ◽  
Meat Analogue

Meat is a non-vegetarian food and is considered as a good source of quality nutrients. Though meat protein provide the required content of good quality protein for the body, they are also associated with higher cholesterol and fat content, which prove to be a leading cause of serious health issues. This became the primary reason for increase in a shift in demands for plant-based protein source foods. The other reason is environmental impact of animal derived products. Meat analogues are plant-based good quality protein source of food that tastes like meat protein, and texture resemble that of meat. These plant-based meat analogues have some amount of anti-nutrients and allergic compounds, but they can be successfully removed by employing certain processing methods and resemble meat in its functionality properties. This approach of mimicking the plantbased foods to resemble meat involves understanding of the biochemical composition and three-dimensional structure of meat, and replicating those qualities using plant-based ingredients. In the current scenario, the best suitable methods of manufacturing meat analogue are by extrusion and structuring techniques. The meat analogues satisfy the need of meat for both vegetarians and non-vegetarians. This review attempts to outline the different manufacturing processes of meat analogue using plant-based foods, and to analyse the best suitable method.

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