1-Deoxynojirimycin: Sources, Extraction, Analysis and Biological Functions

1-Deoxynojirimycin (DNJ), a natural polyhydroxylated piperidine alkaloid, is attracting growing attention due to its important biological functions. This paper introduces the discovery and origins of DNJ, its extraction, purification, and physiological functions in the treatment of diabetes. The mechanisms of DNJ in the inhibition of fat accumulation and tumor cell metastasis are also discussed. In addition, the prospects and challenges of DNJ for practical production are proposed. This work aims to provide technical advice on obtaining DNJ and a fuller understanding of its biological activities.

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The Expressions and Mechanisms of Sarcomeric Proteins in Cancers

Disease Markers ◽

10.1155/2020/8885286 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2020 ◽

pp. 1-16

Author(s):

Xiaojing Yang ◽

Hanru Ren ◽

Xiaomao Guo ◽

Chaosu Hu ◽

Jie Fu

Keyword(s):

Tumor Cell ◽

Model Organisms ◽

Cancer Genes ◽

Biological Functions ◽

Sarcomeric Proteins ◽

Diverse Species ◽

Cell Metastasis ◽

Tumor Cell Metastasis ◽

Human Carcinomas

The sarcomeric proteins control the movement of cells in diverse species, whereas the deregulation can induce tumours in model organisms and occurs in human carcinomas. Sarcomeric proteins are recognized as oncogene and related to tumor cell metastasis. Recent insights into their expressions and functions have led to new cancer therapeutic opportunities. In this review, we appraise the evidence for the sarcomeric proteins as cancer genes and discuss cancer-relevant biological functions, potential mechanisms by which sarcomeric proteins activity is altered in cancer.

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Biological activities of peptides and peptide analogues derived from common sequences present in thrombospondin, properdin, and malarial proteins.

The Journal of Cell Biology ◽

10.1083/jcb.116.1.209 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 116 (1) ◽

pp. 209-217 ◽

Cited By ~ 67

Author(s):

G P Tuszynski ◽

V L Rothman ◽

A H Deutch ◽

B K Hamilton ◽

J Eyal

Keyword(s):

Cell Adhesion ◽

Platelet Aggregation ◽

Tumor Cell ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Type I ◽

Cell Metastasis ◽

Cell Adhesive ◽

Tumor Cell Metastasis ◽

Dependent Cell ◽

Adhesive Interactions

Thrombospondin (TSP), a major platelet-secreted protein, has recently been shown to have activity in tumor cell metastasis, cell adhesion, and platelet aggregation. The type 1 repeats of TSP contain two copies of CSVTCG and one copy of CSTSCG, per each of the three polypeptide chains of TSP and show homology with peptide sequences found in a number of other proteins including properdin, malarial circumsporozoite, and a blood-stage antigen of Plasmodium falciparum. To investigate whether these common sequences functioned as a cell adhesive domain in TSP, we assessed the effect of peptides corresponding to these sequences and an antibody raised against one of these sequences, CSTSCG, in three biological assays which depend, in part, on the cell adhesive activity of TSP. These assays were TSP-dependent cell adhesion, platelet aggregation, and tumor cell metastasis. We found that a number of peptides homologous to CSVTCG promoted the adhesion of a variety of cells including mouse B16-F10 melanoma cells, inhibited platelet aggregation and tumor cell metastasis, whereas control peptides had no effect. Anti-CSTSCG, which specifically recognized TSP, inhibited TSP-dependent cell adhesion, platelet aggregation, and tumor cell metastasis, whereas control IgG had no effect. These results suggest that CSVTCG and CSTSCG present in the type I repeats function in the adhesive interactions of TSP that mediate cell adhesion, platelet aggregation, and tumor cell metastasis. Peptides, based on the structure of these repeats, may find wide application in the treatment of thrombosis and in the prevention of cancer spread.

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