The Role of the Tumor Suppressor Gene Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Gamma in Cancer

Members of the Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase (PTPs) family are associated with growth regulation and cancer development. Acting as natural counterpart of tyrosine kinases (TKs), mainly involved in crucial signaling pathways such as regulation of cell cycle, proliferation, invasion and angiogenesis, they represent key parts of complex physiological homeostatic mechanisms. Protein tyrosine phosphatase gamma (PTPRG) is classified as a R5 of the receptor type (RPTPs) subfamily and is broadly expressed in various isoforms in different tissues. PTPRG is considered a tumor-suppressor gene (TSG) mapped on chromosome 3p14-21, a region frequently subject to loss of heterozygosity in various tumors. However, reported mechanisms of PTPRG downregulation include missense mutations, ncRNA gene regulation and epigenetic silencing by hypermethylation of CpG sites on promoter region causing loss of function of the gene product. Inactive forms or total loss of PTPRG protein have been described in sporadic and Lynch syndrome colorectal cancer, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, ovarian, breast, and lung cancers, gastric cancer or diseases affecting the hematopoietic compartment as Lymphoma and Leukemia. Noteworthy, in Central Nervous System (CNS) PTPRZ/PTPRG appears to be crucial in maintaining glioblastoma cell-related neuronal stemness, carving out a pathological functional role also in this tissue. In this review, we will summarize the current knowledge on the role of PTPRG in various human cancers.

Self-assembly of 1-triacontanol onto Layered Doubled Hydroxide Nano-carrier toward Sustainable Growth Regulation of Maize

1-triacontanol has attracted considerable research interest in plant growth regulator field, owing to its physiological effect in seed germination, root growth and photosynthesis enhancement. In this work, a 1-triacontanol modified...

The YAP/TAZ Signaling Pathway in the Tumor Microenvironment and Carcinogenesis: Current Knowledge and Therapeutic Promises

The yes-associated protein (YAP) and the transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) are transcriptional coactivators, members of the Hippo signaling pathway, which play a critical role in cell growth regulation, embryonic development, regeneration, proliferation, and cancer origin and progression. The mechanism involves the nuclear binding of the un-phosphorylated YAP/TAZ complex to release the transcriptional enhanced associate domain (TEAD) from its repressors. The active ternary complex is responsible for the aforementioned biological effects. Overexpression of YAP/TAZ has been reported in cancer stem cells and tumor resistance. The resistance involves chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. This review provides an overview of YAP/TAZ pathways’ role in carcinogenesis and tumor microenvironment. Potential therapeutic alternatives are also discussed.

Insecticidal and growth regulatory effect of Jatropha curcas and Linum usitatissimum extracts along with new chemistry pesticide spinetoram against Sargodha strain of Rhyzopertha Dominica

Store grain insect pests such as Lesser grain borer (Rhyzopertha dominica) is a key feeder and cause substantial weight loss of wheat during storage. Present study was planned to evaluate insecticidal, repellent and growth regulator potential of botanical extracts of two plants Jatropha curcas and Linum usitatissimum along with Spinetoram against Rhyzopertha Dominica. This study was conducted at the Department of Entomology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF) Grain Research, Training, and Storage Management Cell. Each treatment with three replication of 5%, 10%, and 15% concentrations of plant extracts and 100ppm, 200ppm, and 300ppm concentrations of insecticide were used against the adults of R. dominica by using Complete Randomized Design. Insect mortality was taken after 24, 48, and 72 hours after treatment. Data of growth regulation data was observed after 30 and 60 days. Data was analyzed by statistic 8.1 software for analysis of variance at 5% level of significance and treatment means was compared with the help of Tukey's Honestly Significant Difference (THSD) test. After 72 hours, Spinetoram showed maximum percent mortality (84%) followed by J. curcas (19.17%) and L. usitatissimum (12.28%) at their higher concentrations rate. Among treatments, after 60 days of exposure, Spinetoram was proved to be more effective against the R. dominica with maximum growth inhibition (70%) as compared to J. curcas (44%) and Linseed (28%). Overall the results indicated that these plant extracts and Spinetoram can be used as efficient alternatives of synthetic chemicals for management of stored grains insect pests.

New Discoveries and Ambiguities of Nrf2 and ATF3 Signaling in Environmental Arsenic-Induced Carcinogenesis

Environment exposure to arsenic had been linked to increased incidents of human cancers. In cellular and animal experimental systems, arsenic has been shown to be highly capable of activating several signaling pathways that play critical roles in cell growth regulation, malignant transformation and the stemness of cancer stem-like cells. Emerging evidence indicates certain oncogenic properties of the Nrf2 transcription factor that can be activated by arsenic and many other environmental hazards. In human bronchial epithelial cells, our most recent data suggested that arsenic-activated Nrf2 signaling fosters metabolic reprogramming of the cells through shifting mitochondrial TCA cycle to cytosolic glycolysis, and some of the metabolites in glycolysis shunt the hexosamine biosynthesis and serine-glycine pathways important for the energy metabolism of the cancer cells. In the current report, we further demonstrated direct regulation of oncogenic signals by arsenic-activated Nrf2 and connection of Nrf2 with ATF3 stress transcription factor. Meanwhile, we also highlighted some unanswered questions on the molecular characteristics of the Nrf2 protein, which warrants further collaborative efforts among scientists for understanding the important role of Nrf2 in human cancers either associated or not to environmental arsenic exposure.