Biophysical, Biochemical, and Cell Based Approaches Used to Decipher the Role of Carbonic Anhydrases in Cancer and to Evaluate the Potency of Targeted Inhibitors

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) are thought to be important for regulating pH in the tumor microenvironment. A few of the CA isoforms are upregulated in cancer cells, with only limited expression in normal cells. For these reasons, there is interest in developing inhibitors that target these tumor-associated CA isoforms, with increased efficacy but limited nonspecific cytotoxicity. Here we present some of the biophysical, biochemical, and cell based techniques and approaches that can be used to evaluate the potency of CA targeted inhibitors and decipher the role of CAs in tumorigenesis, cancer progression, and metastatic processes. These techniques include esterase activity assays, stop flow kinetics, and mass inlet mass spectroscopy (MIMS), all of which measure enzymatic activity of purified protein, in the presence or absence of inhibitors. Also discussed is the application of X-ray crystallography and Cryo-EM as well as other structure-based techniques and thermal shift assays to the studies of CA structure and function. Further, large-scale genomic and proteomic analytical methods, as well as cell based techniques like those that measure cell growth, apoptosis, clonogenicity, and cell migration and invasion, are discussed. We conclude by reviewing approaches that test the metastatic potential of CAs and how the aforementioned techniques have contributed to the field of CA cancer research.

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KDM6A-ARHGDIB axis blocks metastasis of bladder cancer by inhibiting Rac1

Molecular Cancer ◽

10.1186/s12943-021-01369-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Lei Liu ◽

Jianfeng Cui ◽

Yajing Zhao ◽

Xiaochen Liu ◽

Lipeng Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bladder Cancer ◽

Cancer Progression ◽

Critical Role ◽

Metastatic Potential ◽

Luciferase Reporter ◽

Migration And Invasion ◽

Tissue Specimens ◽

Invasion Assays

Abstract Background KDM6A, a histone demethylase, is frequently mutated in bladder cancer (BCa). However, the role and detailed molecular mechanism of KDM6A involved in bladder cancer progression remains unknown. Methods Tissue specimens were used to determine the expression levels and prognostic values of KDM6A and ARHGDIB. The MTT, colony formation, wound healing and Transwell migration and invasion assays were employed to detect the BCa cell proliferation, migration and invasion, respectively. Chemotaxis of macrophages was used to evaluate the ability of KDM6A to recruit macrophages. A subcutaneous tumour model and tail vein tumour injection in nude mice were used to assess the role of KDM6A in vivo. RNA sequencing, qPCR, Western blot, ChIP and phalloidin staining assay were performed to investigate the molecular functions of KDM6A. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was used to determine the effects of KDM6A and FOXA1 on the promoters of the ARHGDIB and KDM6A. Results We showed that the KDM6A inhibited the motility and invasiveness of the BCa cells. Mechanistically, KDM6A promotes the transcription of ARHGDIB by demethylating histone H3 lysine di/trimethylation (H3K27me2/3) and consequently leads to inhibition of Rac1. EZH2, which catalyses the methylation of H3K27, functions to silence ARHGDIB expression, and an EZH2 inhibitor can neutralize the metastatic effect caused by KDM6A deficiency. Furthermore, we demonstrated that FOXA1 directly binds to the KDM6A promoter and thus transactivates KDM6A, leading to diminished metastatic potential. Conclusion Our findings establish the critical role of the FOXA1-KDM6A-ARHGDIB axis in restraining the malignancy of BCa and identify KDM6A and EZH2 as potential therapeutic targets in the management of BCa.

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Exosome-transmitted circCOG2 promotes colorectal cancer progression via miR-1305/TGF-β2/SMAD3 pathway

Cell Death Discovery ◽

10.1038/s41420-021-00680-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Lei Gao ◽

Xiaolong Tang ◽

Qingsi He ◽

Guorui Sun ◽

Chao Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Colorectal Cancer ◽

Cancer Progression ◽

Metastatic Potential ◽

Luciferase Reporter ◽

Migration And Invasion ◽

Circular Rnas ◽

Colorectal Cancer Progression ◽

Dual Luciferase Reporter Assay

AbstractCircular RNAs (circRNA) are abundantly present in the exosome. Yet, the role of exosome-transmitted circRNA in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. In this study, we examined the function and mechanism of circCOG2 in CRC. We analyzed the expression of circCOG2 in CRC tissues, plasmas, and exosomes by qRT-PCR. The function of circCOG2 was evaluated by CCK-8, clone formation, transwell and wound healing assay, and using an in vivo study; while its mechanism was analyzed using a dual luciferase reporter assay, RNA pull-down assay, Western blot, and rescue experiments. We found that circCOG2 was increased in CRC tissues, plasmas, and exosomes. Upregulated circCOG2 promoted CRC proliferation, migration, and invasion through the miR-1305/TGF-β2/SMAD3 pathway, and this effect could be transmitted from CRC cells with the high metastatic potential to CRC cells with low metastatic potential by exosomes. Our results revealed that circCOG2 is correlated with poor prognosis and may be used as a therapeutic target for CRC.

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LncRNA PVT1 promotes cervical cancer progression by sponging miR-503 to upregulate ARL2 expression

Open Life Sciences ◽

10.1515/biol-2021-0002 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. 1-13

Author(s):

Weiwei Liu ◽

Dongmei Yao ◽

Bo Huang

Keyword(s):

Cervical Cancer ◽

Cancer Progression ◽

Luciferase Reporter ◽

Migration And Invasion ◽

Nude Mouse Model ◽

Western Blot Assay ◽

Non Coding Rna ◽

Long Non Coding Rna

Abstract Cervical cancer (CC) is a huge threat to the health of women worldwide. Long non-coding RNA plasmacytoma variant translocation 1 gene (PVT1) was proved to be associated with the development of diverse human cancers, including CC. Nevertheless, the exact mechanism of PVT1 in CC progression remains unclear. Levels of PVT1, microRNA-503 (miR-503), and ADP ribosylation factor-like protein 2 (ARL2) were measured by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction or western blot assay. 3-(4,5)-Dimethylthiazole-2-y1)-2,5-biphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and flow cytometry were used to examine cell viability and apoptosis, respectively. For migration and invasion detection, transwell assay was performed. The interaction between miR-503 and PVT1 or ARL2 was shown by dual luciferase reporter assay. A nude mouse model was constructed to clarify the role of PVT1 in vivo. PVT1 and ARL2 expressions were increased, whereas miR-503 expression was decreased in CC tissues and cells. PVT1 was a sponge of miR-503, and miR-503 targeted ARL2. PVT1 knockdown suppressed proliferation, migration, and invasion of CC cells, which could be largely reverted by miR-503 inhibitor. In addition, upregulated ARL2 could attenuate si-PVT1-mediated anti-proliferation and anti-metastasis effects on CC cells. Silenced PVT1 also inhibited CC tumor growth in vivo. PVT1 knockdown exerted tumor suppressor role in CC progression via the miR-503/ARL2 axis, at least in part.

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Oncogenic UBE3C promotes breast cancer progression by activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling

Cancer Cell International ◽

10.1186/s12935-020-01733-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Chen Hang ◽

Shanojie Zhao ◽

Tiejun Wang ◽

Yan Zhang

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Cancer Progression ◽

Nuclear Accumulation ◽

Migration And Invasion ◽

Ubiquitin Protein Ligase ◽

Novel Target ◽

First Time ◽

Breast Tissues

Abstract Background Breast cancer (BrCa) is the most common female malignancy worldwide and has the highest morbidity among all cancers in females. Unfortunately, the mechanisms of BrCa growth and metastasis, which lead to a poor prognosis in BrCa patients, have not been well characterized. Methods Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed on a BrCa tissue microarray (TMA) containing 80 samples to evaluate ubiquitin protein ligase E3C (UBE3C) expression. In addition, a series of cellular experiments were conducted to reveal the role of UBE3C in BrCa. Results In this research, we identified UBE3C as an oncogenic factor in BrCa growth and metastasis for the first time. UBE3C expression was upregulated in BrCa tissues compared with adjacent breast tissues. BrCa patients with high nuclear UBE3C expression in tumors showed remarkably worse overall survival (OS) than those with low nuclear expression. Knockdown of UBE3C expression in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-453 BrCa cells inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion in vitro, while overexpression of UBE3C in these cells exerted the opposite effects. Moreover, UBE3C promoted β-catenin nuclear accumulation, leading to the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in BrCa cells. Conclusion Collectively, these results imply that UBE3C plays crucial roles in BrCa development and progression and that UBE3C may be a novel target for the prevention and treatment of BrCa.

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miR-369-3p serves as prognostic factor and regulates cancer progression of hepatocellular carcinoma

Personalized Medicine ◽

10.2217/pme-2020-0012 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Can Chen ◽

Yi Zong ◽

Jiaojiao Tang ◽

Ruisheng Ke ◽

Lizhi Lv ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatocellular Carcinoma ◽

Cell Proliferation ◽

Cancer Progression ◽

Cell Counting ◽

Migration And Invasion ◽

Pcr Analysis ◽

Reverse Transcription Pcr ◽

Huh7 Cells

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of miR-369-3p in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Materials & methods: The expression levels of miR-369-3p were detected using the quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR analysis. The cell counting kit-8 and transwell assays were used to explore the effects of miR-369-3p on cell proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells. Results: The miR-369-3p expression was downregulated in HCC tissues and cell lines, in comparison to the normal controls, respectively. In vitro, overexpression of miR-369-3p in Hep 3B and Huh7 cells inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion. SOX4 was a direct target of miR-369-3p. Conclusion: Our results suggested that miR-369-3p may be a tumor suppressor in HCC by targeting SOX4.

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The Role of Protein Arginine Methyltransferase 1 in Gastrointestinal Cancers

10.5772/intechopen.96197 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Jin Zou ◽

Wei Shen ◽

Yu Zhang ◽

Shibo Ying

Keyword(s):

Tumor Cells ◽

Cancer Progression ◽

Cancer Metastasis ◽

Arginine Methylation ◽

Gastrointestinal Tumors ◽

Migration And Invasion ◽

Arginine Methyltransferase ◽

Tumorigenic Mechanism ◽

Methyltransferase 1

Mammals can produce nine kinds of arginine methylation enzymes that can be divided into three types (I, II, and III) according to their catalytic activity. Arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1), as the first discovered arginine methyltransferase type I, has been reported to be involved in cell signal transduction, DNA damage repair, RNA transcription and other processes. Its imbalance or abnormal expression is also involved in cancer metastasis. PRMT1 is highly expressed in gastrointestinal tumors and promotes tumor biomarkers expression, chemotherapy resistance and tumorigenicity to promote cancer progression, while downregulation of PRMT1 expression can inhibit the migration and invasion of related tumor cells or promote tumor cells apoptosis and inhibit the progression of cancer. Therefore, PRMT1 may be a cancer therapeutic target. In this paper, arginine methylase 1 expression in various types of gastrointestinal tumors, the tumorigenic mechanism and the role of PRMT1 in tumorigenesis and development were reviewed.

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NUSAP1 Promotes Gastric Cancer Progression Through Regulation of Yap Stability

10.21203/rs.3.rs-33883/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Hui Guo ◽

Jianping Zou ◽

Ling Zhou ◽

Yan He ◽

Miao Feng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gastric Cancer ◽

Cancer Progression ◽

Target Genes ◽

Hippo Pathway ◽

Critical Role ◽

Xenograft Model ◽

Migration And Invasion

Abstract Background:Nucleolar and spindle associated protein (NUSAP1) is involved in tumor initiation, progression and metastasis. However, there are limited studies regarding the role of NUSAP1 in gastric cancer (GC). Methods: The expression profile and clinical significance of NUSAP1 in GC were analysed in online database using GEPIA, Oncomine and KM plotter, which was further confirmed in clinical specimens.The functional role of NUSAP1 were detected utilizing in vitro and in vivo assays. Western blotting, qRT-PCR, the cycloheximide-chase, immunofluorescence staining and Co-immunoprecipitaion (Co-IP) assays were performed to explore the possible molecular mechanism by which NUSAP1 stabilizes YAP protein. Results:In this study, we found that the expression of NUSAP1 was upregulated in GC tissues and correlates closely with progression and prognosis. Additionally, abnormal NUSAP1 expression promoted malignant behaviors of GC cells in vitro and in a xenograft model. Mechanistically, we discovered that NUSAP1 physically interacts with YAP and furthermore stabilizes YAP protein expression, which induces the transcription of Hippo pathway downstream target genes. Furthermore, the effects of NUSAP1 on GC cell growth, migration and invasion were mainly mediated by YAP. Conclusions:Our data demonstrates that the novel NUSAP1-YAP axis exerts an critical role in GC tumorigenesis and progression, and therefore could provide a novel therapeutic target for GC treatment.

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Cooperation of SRPK2, Numb and p53 in the malignant biology and chemosensitivity of colorectal cancer

Bioscience Reports ◽

10.1042/bsr20191488 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 40 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Guosen Wang ◽

Weiwei Sheng ◽

Jingtong Tang ◽

Xin Li ◽

Jianping Zhou ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Colorectal Cancer ◽

Cell Migration ◽

Cancer Progression ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Migration And Invasion ◽

Chemical Agent ◽

Cell Migration And Invasion ◽

Agent Treatment ◽

Hct116 Cells

Abstract Serine-arginine protein kinase 2 (SRPK2) is aberrantly expressed in human malignancies including colorectal cancer (CRC). However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms, and the role of SRPK2 in chemosensitivity remains unexplored in CRC. We recently showed that SRPK2 promotes pancreatic cancer progression by down-regulating Numb and p53. Therefore, we investigated the cooperation between SRPK2, Numb and p53 in the cell migration, invasion and chemosensitivity of CRC in vitro. Here, we showed that SRPK2 expression was higher in CRC tumors than in nontumor tissues. SRPK2 expression was positively associated with clinicopathological characteristics of CRC patients, including tumor differentiation, T stage, N stage and UICC stage. Additionally, SRPK2 had no association with mutant p53 (mtp53) in SW480 and SW620 cells, but negatively regulated Numb and wild-type p53 (wtp53) in response to 5-fluorouracil or cisplatin treatment in HCT116 cells. Moreover, SRPK2, Numb and p53 coimmunoprecipitated into a triple complex with or without the treatment of 5-fluorouracil in HCT116 cells, and p53 knockdown reversed the up-regulation of wtp53 induced by SRPK2 silencing with chemical agent treatment. Furthermore, overexpression of SRPK2 increased cell migration and invasion and decreased chemosensitivity to 5-fluorouracil or cisplatin in HCT116 cells. Conversely, SRPK2 silencing decreased cell migration and invasion and increased chemosensitivity to 5-fluorouracil or cisplatin, yet these effects could be reversed by p53 knockdown under chemical agent treatment. These results thus reveal a novel role of SRPK2-Numb-p53 signaling in the progression of CRC and demonstrate that SRPK2 is a potential therapeutic target for CRC clinical therapy.

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TUG1 promotes prostate cancer progression by acting as a ceRNA of miR-26a

Bioscience Reports ◽

10.1042/bsr20180677 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 38 (5) ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Bin Yang ◽

Xiaodi Tang ◽

Zhixin Wang ◽

Daju Sun ◽

Xin Wei ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Prostate Cancer ◽

Cancer Progression ◽

Migration And Invasion ◽

Tumor Cell Migration ◽

Real Time Quantitative Pcr ◽

Non Coding Rna ◽

Key Aspects ◽

And Function ◽

First Time ◽

Long Non Coding Rna

Previous studies have demonstrated that taurine-upregulated gene 1 (TUG1) was aberrantly expressed and involved in multiple types of cancer; however, the expression profile and potential role of TUG1 in prostate cancer (PCa) remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the expression and function of TUG1 in PCa. In the present study, we analyzed TUG1 expression levels of PCa patients in tumor and adjacent normal tissue by real-time quantitative PCR. Knockdown of TUG1 by RNAi was performed to explore its roles in cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Here we report, for the first time, that TUG1 promotes tumor cell migration, invasion, and proliferation in PCa by working in key aspects of biological behaviors. TUG1 could negatively regulate the expression of miR-26a in PCa cells. The bioinformatics prediction revealed putative miR-26a-binding sites within TUG1 transcripts. In conclusion, our study suggests that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) TUG1 acts as a functional oncogene in PCa development.

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Rho GTPases: Big Players in Breast Cancer Initiation, Metastasis and Therapeutic Responses

Cells ◽

10.3390/cells9102167 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (10) ◽

pp. 2167

Author(s):

Brock Humphries ◽

Zhishan Wang ◽

Chengfeng Yang

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Membrane Trafficking ◽

Rho Gtpases ◽

Migration And Invasion ◽

Breast Cancer Patients ◽

Cancer Initiation ◽

Cell Type Specific ◽

And Function ◽

Therapeutic Responses

Rho GTPases, a family of the Ras GTPase superfamily, are key regulators of the actin cytoskeleton. They were originally thought to primarily affect cell migration and invasion; however, recent advances in our understanding of the biology and function of Rho GTPases have demonstrated their diverse roles within the cell, including membrane trafficking, gene transcription, migration, invasion, adhesion, survival and growth. As these processes are critically involved in cancer initiation, metastasis and therapeutic responses, it is not surprising that studies have demonstrated important roles of Rho GTPases in cancer. Although the majority of data indicates an oncogenic role of Rho GTPases, tumor suppressor functions of Rho GTPases have also been revealed, suggesting a context and cell-type specific function for Rho GTPases in cancer. This review aims to summarize recent progresses in our understanding of the regulation and functions of Rho GTPases, specifically in the context of breast cancer. The potential of Rho GTPases as therapeutic targets and prognostic tools for breast cancer patients are also discussed.

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