scholarly journals Indirect association of ezrin with F-actin: isoform specificity and calcium sensitivity.

1995 ◽  
Vol 128 (5) ◽  
pp. 837-848 ◽  
Author(s):  
C B Shuster ◽  
I M Herman
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Sensitivity ◽  
Cytochalasin D ◽  
Actin Binding ◽  
Free Calcium ◽  
Cell Extracts ◽  
Beta Actin ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Sepharose 4B

Whereas it has been demonstrated that muscle and nonmuscle isoactins are segregated into distinct cytoplasmic domains, the mechanism regulating subcellular sorting is unknown (Herman, 1993a). To reveal whether isoform-specific actin-binding proteins function to coordinate these events, cell extracts derived from motile (Em) versus stationary (Es) cytoplasm were selectively and sequentially fractionated over filamentous isoactin affinity columns prior to elution with a KCl step gradient. A polypeptide of interest, which binds specifically to beta-actin filament columns, but not to muscle actin columns has been conclusively identified as the ERM family member, ezrin. We studied ezrin-beta interactions in vitro by passing extracts (Em) over isoactin affinity matrices in the presence of Ca(2+)-containing versus Ca(2+)-free buffers, with or without cytochalasin D. Ezrin binds and can be released from beta-actin Sepharose-4B in the presence of Mg2+/EGTA and 100 mM NaCl (at 4 degrees C and room temperature), but not when affinity fractionation of Em is carried out in the presence of 0.2 mM CaCl2 or 2 microM cytochalasin D. N-acetyl-(leucyl)2-norleucinal and E64, two specific inhibitors of the calcium-activated protease, calpain I, protect ezrin binding to beta actin in the presence of calcium. Moreover, biochemical analysis of endothelial lysates reveals that a calpain I cleavage product of ezrin emerges when cell locomotion is stimulated in response to monolayer injury. Immunofluorescence analysis of leading lamellae reveals that anti-ezrin and anti-beta-actin IgGs can be simultaneously co-localized, extending the results of isoactin affinity fractionation of Em-derived extracts and suggesting that ezrin and beta-actin interact in vivo. To test the hypothesis that ezrin binds directly to beta-actin, we performed three sets of studies under a wide range of physiological conditions (pH 7.0-8.5) using purified pericyte ezrin and either alpha- or beta-actin. These included co-sedimentation, isoactin affinity fractionation, and co-immunoprecipitation. Results of these experiments reveal that purified ezrin does not directly bind to beta-actin filaments, either in solution or while isoactins are covalently cross-linked to Sepharose-4B. This is in contrast to our finding that ezrin and beta-actin could be co-immunoprecipitated or co-sedimented from Em-derived cell lysates. To explore whether calcium transients occur in cellular domains enriched in ezrin and beta-actin, we mapped cellular free calcium in endothelial monolayers crawling in response to injury.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

scholarly journals Actin-Dependent Alterations of Dendritic Spine Morphology in Shankopathies

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tasnuva Sarowar ◽  
Andreas M. Grabrucker
Keyword(s):  
Pdz Domain ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Small Gtpases ◽  
Actin Dynamics ◽  
Actin Binding ◽  
Sam Domain ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Spine Morphogenesis

Shank proteins (Shank1, Shank2, and Shank3) act as scaffolding molecules in the postsynaptic density of many excitatory neurons. Mutations in SHANK genes, in particular SHANK2 and SHANK3, lead to autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in both human and mouse models. Shank3 proteins are made of several domains—the Shank/ProSAP N-terminal (SPN) domain, ankyrin repeats, SH3 domain, PDZ domain, a proline-rich region, and the sterile alpha motif (SAM) domain. Via various binding partners of these domains, Shank3 is able to bind and interact with a wide range of proteins including modulators of small GTPases such as RICH2, a RhoGAP protein, andβPIX, a RhoGEF protein for Rac1 and Cdc42, actin binding proteins and actin modulators. Dysregulation of all isoforms of Shank proteins, but especially Shank3, leads to alterations in spine morphogenesis, shape, and activity of the synapse via altering actin dynamics. Therefore, here, we highlight the role of Shank proteins as modulators of small GTPases and, ultimately, actin dynamics, as found in multiplein vitroandin vivomodels. The failure to mediate this regulatory role might present a shared mechanism in the pathophysiology of autism-associated mutations, which leads to dysregulation of spine morphogenesis and synaptic signaling.

scholarly journals A Novel Giardia lamblia Nitroreductase, GlNR1, Interacts with Nitazoxanide and Other Thiazolides

2007 ◽  
Vol 51 (6) ◽  
pp. 1979-1986 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joachim Müller ◽  
Jonathan Wastling ◽  
Sanya Sanderson ◽  
Norbert Müller ◽  
Andrew Hemphill
Keyword(s):  
Affinity Chromatography ◽  
Giardia Lamblia ◽  
Parent Compound ◽  
Enteric Bacteria ◽  
Ligand Affinity ◽  
Cell Extracts ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Antigiardial Activity

ABSTRACT The nitrothiazole analogue nitazoxanide [NTZ; 2-acetolyloxy-N-(5-nitro-2-thiazolyl)benzamide] represents the parent compound of a class of drugs referred to as thiazolides and exhibits a broad spectrum of activities against a wide variety of helminths, protozoa, and enteric bacteria infecting animals and humans. NTZ and other thiazolides are active against a wide range of other intracellular and extracellular protozoan parasites in vitro and in vivo, but their mode of action and respective subcellular target(s) have only recently been investigated. In order to identify potential targets of NTZ and other thiazolides in Giardia lamblia trophozoites, we have developed an affinity chromatography system using the deacetylated derivative of NTZ, tizoxanide (TIZ), as a ligand. Affinity chromatography on TIZ-agarose using cell extracts of G. lamblia trophozoites resulted in the isolation of an approximately 35-kDa polypeptide, which was identified by mass spectrometry as a nitroreductase (NR) homologue (EAA43030.1). NR was overexpressed as a six-histidine-tagged recombinant protein in Escherichia coli, purified, and then characterized using an assay for oxygen-insensitive NRs with dinitrotoluene as a substrate. This demonstrated that the NR was functionally active, and the protein was designated GlNR1. In this assay system, NR activity was severely inhibited by NTZ and other thiazolides, demonstrating that the antigiardial activity of these drugs could be, at least partially, mediated through inhibition of GlNR1.

Evaluation of 99mTc-Label led Vitamin K4 as an Agent for Testicular Imaging

1991 ◽  
Vol 30 (01) ◽  
pp. 35-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. S. Durak ◽  
M. Kitapgi ◽  
B. E. Caner ◽  
R. Senekowitsch ◽  
M. T. Ercan
Keyword(s):  
Soft Tissue ◽  
Room Temperature ◽  
Normal Subjects ◽  
Left Testis ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Activity Ratios ◽  
The Right ◽  
Radioactivity Levels

Vitamin K4 was labelled with 99mTc with an efficiency higher than 97%. The compound was stable up to 24 h at room temperature, and its biodistribution in NMRI mice indicated its in vivo stability. Blood radioactivity levels were high over a wide range. 10% of the injected activity remained in blood after 24 h. Excretion was mostly via kidneys. Only the liver and kidneys concentrated appreciable amounts of radioactivity. Testis/soft tissue ratios were 1.4 and 1.57 at 6 and 24 h, respectively. Testis/blood ratios were lower than 1. In vitro studies with mouse blood indicated that 33.9 ±9.6% of the radioactivity was associated with RBCs; it was washed out almost completely with saline. Protein binding was 28.7 ±6.3% as determined by TCA precipitation. Blood clearance of 99mTc-l<4 in normal subjects showed a slow decrease of radioactivity, reaching a plateau after 16 h at 20% of the injected activity. In scintigraphic images in men the testes could be well visualized. The right/left testis ratio was 1.08 ±0.13. Testis/soft tissue and testis/blood activity ratios were highest at 3 h. These ratios were higher than those obtained with pertechnetate at 20 min post injection.99mTc-l<4 appears to be a promising radiopharmaceutical for the scintigraphic visualization of testes.

Epinephrine Induces von Willebrand Factor Release from Cultured Endothelial Cells: Involvement of Cyclic AMP-dependent Signalling in Exocytosis

1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (06) ◽  
pp. 1182-1188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulrich M Vischer ◽  
Claes B Wollheinn
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Adenylate Cyclase ◽  
Von Willebrand Factor ◽  
Umbilical Vein ◽  
Free Calcium ◽  
Camp Content ◽  
Von Willebrand ◽  
Willebrand Factor

Summaryvon Willebrand factor (vWf) is released from endothelial cell storage granules after stimulation with thrombin, histamine and several other agents that induce an increase in cytosolic free calcium ([Ca2+]i). In vivo, epinephrine and the vasopressin analog DDAVP increase vWf plasma levels, although they are thought not to induce vWf release from endothelial cells in vitro. Since these agents act via a cAMP-dependent pathway in responsive cells, we examined the role of cAMP in vWf secretion from cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells. vWf release increased by 50% in response to forskolin, which activates adenylate cyclase. The response to forskolin was much stronger when cAMP degradation was blocked with IBMX, an inhibitor of phosphodiesterases (+200%), whereas IBMX alone had no effect. vWf release could also be induced by the cAMP analogs dibutyryl-cAMP (+40%) and 8-bromo-cAMP (+25%); although their effect was weak, they clearly potentiated the response to thrombin. Epinephrine (together with IBMX) caused a small, dose-dependent increase in vWf release, maximal at 10-6 M (+50%), and also potentiated the response to thrombin. This effect is mediated by adenylate cyclase-coupled β-adrenergic receptors, since it is inhibited by propranolol and mimicked by isoproterenol. In contrast to thrombin, neither forskolin nor epinephrine caused an increase in [Ca2+]j as measured by fura-2 fluorescence. In addition, the effects of forskolin and thrombin were additive, suggesting that they act through distinct signaling pathways. We found a close correlation between cellular cAMP content and vWf release after stimulation with epinephrine and forskolin. These results demonstrate that cAMP-dependent signaling events are involved in the control of exocytosis from endothelial cells (an effect not mediated by an increase in [Ca2+]i) and provide an explanation for epinephrine-induced vWf release.

Ethnomedicinal uses, Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Aspects of the Genus Berberis Linn: A Comprehensive Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roohi Mohi-ud-din ◽  
Reyaz Hassan Mir ◽  
Prince Ahad Mir ◽  
Saeema Farooq ◽  
Syed Naiem Raza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Constituents ◽  
Pharmacological Activities ◽  
Traditional Use ◽  
Comprehensive Review ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
Comprehensive Survey ◽  
Ethnomedicinal Uses

Background: Genus Berberis (family Berberidaceae), which contains about 650 species and 17 genera worldwide, has been used in folklore and various traditional medicine systems. Berberis Linn. is the most established group among genera with around 450-500 species across the world. This comprehensive review will not only help researchers for further evaluation but also provide substantial information for future exploitation of species to develop novel herbal formulations. Objective: The present review is focussed to summarize and collect the updated review of information of Genus Berberis species reported to date regarding their ethnomedicinal information, chemical constituents, traditional/folklore use, and reported pharmacological activities on more than 40 species of Berberis. Conclusion: A comprehensive survey of the literature reveals that various species of the genus possess various phytoconstituents mainly alkaloids, flavonoid based compounds isolated from different parts of a plant with a wide range of pharmacological activities. So far, many pharmacological activities like anti-cancer, anti-hyperlipidemic, hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory both in vitro & in vivo and clinical study of different extracts/isolated compounds of different species of Berberis have been reported, proving their importance as a medicinal plant and claiming their traditional use.

Current Status and Future Perspective for Research on Medicinal Plants with Anticancerous Activity and Minimum Cytotoxic Value

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (12) ◽  
pp. 1227-1243
Author(s):  
Hina Qamar ◽  
Sumbul Rehman ◽  
D.K. Chauhan
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Medicinal Plants ◽  
Anticancer Agents ◽  
Drug Targets ◽  
Psidium Guajava ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Future Perspective ◽  
Wide Range

Cancer is the second leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Although chemotherapy and radiotherapy enhance the survival rate of cancerous patients but they have several acute toxic effects. Therefore, there is a need to search for new anticancer agents having better efficacy and lesser side effects. In this regard, herbal treatment is found to be a safe method for treating and preventing cancer. Here, an attempt has been made to screen some less explored medicinal plants like Ammania baccifera, Asclepias curassavica, Azadarichta indica, Butea monosperma, Croton tiglium, Hedera nepalensis, Jatropha curcas, Momordica charantia, Moringa oleifera, Psidium guajava, etc. having potent anticancer activity with minimum cytotoxic value (IC50 >3μM) and lesser or negligible toxicity. They are rich in active phytochemicals with a wide range of drug targets. In this study, these medicinal plants were evaluated for dose-dependent cytotoxicological studies via in vitro MTT assay and in vivo tumor models along with some more plants which are reported to have IC50 value in the range of 0.019-0.528 mg/ml. The findings indicate that these plants inhibit tumor growth by their antiproliferative, pro-apoptotic, anti-metastatic and anti-angiogenic molecular targets. They are widely used because of their easy availability, affordable price and having no or sometimes minimal side effects. This review provides a baseline for the discovery of anticancer drugs from medicinal plants having minimum cytotoxic value with minimal side effects and establishment of their analogues for the welfare of mankind.

Approach in improving potency and selectivity of kinase inhibitors: Allosteric kinase inhibitors

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shangfei Wei ◽  
Tianming Zhao ◽  
Jie Wang ◽  
Xin Zhai
Keyword(s):  
Protein Interactions ◽  
Kinase Inhibitors ◽  
Binding Modes ◽  
Allosteric Inhibitors ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Allosteric Sites ◽  
Protein Functions ◽  
Regulate Protein

: Allostery is an efficient and particular regulatory mechanism to regulate protein functions. Different from conserved orthosteric sites, allosteric sites have distinctive functional mechanism to form the complex regulatory network. In drug discovery, kinase inhibitors targeting the allosteric pockets have received extensive attention for the advantages of high selectivity and low toxicity. The approval of trametinib as the first allosteric inhibitor validated that allosteric inhibitors could be used as effective therapeutic drugs for treatment of diseases. To date, a wide range of allosteric inhibitors have been identified. In this perspective, we outline different binding modes and potential advantages of allosteric inhibitors. In the meantime, the research processes of typical and novel allosteric inhibitors are described briefly in terms of structureactivity relationships, ligand-protein interactions and in vitro and in vivo activity. Additionally, challenges as well as opportunities are presented.

In Silico Assessment of ADME Properties: Advances in Caco-2 Cell Monolayer Permeability Modeling

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (26) ◽  
pp. 2209-2229 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hai Pham-The ◽  
Miguel Á. Cabrera-Pérez ◽  
Nguyen-Hai Nam ◽  
Juan A. Castillo-Garit ◽  
Bakhtiyor Rasulev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intestinal Absorption ◽  
In Silico ◽  
Review Paper ◽  
Cell Monolayer ◽  
Cell Permeability ◽  
Drug Substances ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Modeling Techniques

One of the main goals of in silico Caco-2 cell permeability models is to identify those drug substances with high intestinal absorption in human (HIA). For more than a decade, several in silico Caco-2 models have been made, applying a wide range of modeling techniques; nevertheless, their capacity for intestinal absorption extrapolation is still doubtful. There are three main problems related to the modest capacity of obtained models, including the existence of inter- and/or intra-laboratory variability of recollected data, the influence of the metabolism mechanism, and the inconsistent in vitro-in vivo correlation (IVIVC) of Caco-2 cell permeability. This review paper intends to sum up the recent advances and limitations of current modeling approaches, and revealed some possible solutions to improve the applicability of in silico Caco-2 permeability models for absorption property profiling, taking into account the above-mentioned issues.

Pleiotropic Effect of Mahanine and Girinimbine Analogs: Anticancer Mechanism and its Therapeutic Versatility

2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (14) ◽  
pp. 1983-1990 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Lenin Maruthanila ◽  
Ramakrishnan Elancheran ◽  
Ajaikumar B. Kunnumakkar ◽  
Senthamaraikannan Kabilan ◽  
Jibon Kotoky
Keyword(s):  
Biological Effects ◽  
Pleiotropic Effect ◽  
In Vivo Evaluation ◽  
Chemopreventive Agents ◽  
Cycle Arrest ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Anticancer Mechanism ◽  
Metastasis Development

Emerging evidence present credible support in favour of the potential role of mahanine and girinimbine. Non-toxic herbal carbazole alkaloids occur in the edible part of Murraya koenigii, Micromelum minutum, M. zeylanicum, and M. euchrestiolia. Mahanine and girinimbine are the major potent compounds from these species. In fact, they interfered with tumour expansion and metastasis development through down-regulation of apoptotic and antiapoptotic protein, also involved in the stimulation of cell cycle arrest. Consequently, these compounds were well proven for the in-vitro and in vivo evaluation that could be developed as novel agents either alone or as an adjuvant to conventional therapeutics. Therefore, mahanine and girinimbine analogs have the potential to be the promising chemopreventive agents for the tumour recurrence and the treatment of human malignancies. In this review, an updated wide-range of pleiotropic anticancer and biological effects induction by mahanine and girinimbine against cancer cells were deeply summarized.

Phytochemical, Analytical and Medicinal Studies of Holoptelea integrifolia Roxb. Planch - A Review

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 270-277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vijay Kumar ◽  
Simranjeet Singh ◽  
Ragini Bhadouria ◽  
Ravindra Singh ◽  
Om Prakash
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Chromatography ◽  
Thin Layer ◽  
Thin Layer Chromatography ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Toxicological Studies ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Layer Chromatography

Holoptelea integrifolia Roxb. Planch (HI) has been used to treat various ailments including obesity, osteoarthritis, arthritis, inflammation, anemia, diabetes etc. To review the major phytochemicals and medicinal properties of HI, exhaustive bibliographic research was designed by means of various scientific search engines and databases. Only 12 phytochemicals have been reported including biologically active compounds like betulin, betulinic acid, epifriedlin, octacosanol, Friedlin, Holoptelin-A and Holoptelin-B. Analytical methods including the Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC), High-Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC), High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and Liquid Chromatography With Mass Spectral (LC-MS) analysis have been used to analyze the HI. From medicinal potency point of view, these phytochemicals have a wide range of pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor. In the current review, it has been noticed that the mechanism of action of HI with biomolecules has not been fully explored. Pharmacology and toxicological studies are very few. This seems a huge literature gap to be fulfilled through the detailed in-vivo and in-vitro studies.

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