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Articles 91 - 119 of 119

Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences

Role Of Hypoxia And Glycolysis In The Development Of Multi-Drug Resistance In Human Tumor Cells And The Establishment Of An Orthotopic Multi-Drug Resistant Tumor Model In Nude Mice Using Hypoxic Pre-Conditioning, Lara Milane, Zhenfeng Duan, Mansoor M. Amiji Sep 2011

Role Of Hypoxia And Glycolysis In The Development Of Multi-Drug Resistance In Human Tumor Cells And The Establishment Of An Orthotopic Multi-Drug Resistant Tumor Model In Nude Mice Using Hypoxic Pre-Conditioning, Lara Milane, Zhenfeng Duan, Mansoor M. Amiji

Mansoor M. Amiji

Background The development of multi-drug resistant (MDR) cancer is a significant challenge in the clinical treatment of recurrent disease. Hypoxia is an environmental selection pressure that contributes to the development of MDR. Many cancer cells, including MDR cells, resort to glycolysis for energy acquisition. This study aimed to explore the relationship between hypoxia, glycolysis, and MDR in a panel of human breast and ovarian cancer cells. A second aim of this study was to develop an orthotopic animal model of MDR breast cancer. Methods Nucleic and basal protein was extracted from a panel of human breast and ovarian cancer cells; …


Variations In Mre11/Rad50/Nbs1 Status And Dna Damage-Induced S-Phase Arrest In The Cell Lines Of The Nci60 Panel, Kristen M. K. Garner, Alan Eastman May 2011

Variations In Mre11/Rad50/Nbs1 Status And Dna Damage-Induced S-Phase Arrest In The Cell Lines Of The Nci60 Panel, Kristen M. K. Garner, Alan Eastman

Dartmouth Scholarship

The Mre11/Rad50/Nbs1 (MRN) complex is a regulator of cell cycle checkpoints and DNA repair. Defects in MRN can lead to defective S-phase arrest when cells are damaged. Such defects may elicit sensitivity to selected drugs providing a chemical synthetic lethal interaction that could be used to target therapy to tumors with these defects. The goal of this study was to identify these defects in the NCI60 panel of cell lines and identify compounds that might elicit selective cytotoxicity.


Integrin (Alpha 6 Beta 4) Regulation Of Eif-4e Activity And Vegf Translation: A Survival Mechanism For Carcinoma Cells, Jun Chung, Robin E. Bachelder, Elizabeth A. Lipscomb, Leslie M. Shaw, Arthur M. Mercurio Nov 2010

Integrin (Alpha 6 Beta 4) Regulation Of Eif-4e Activity And Vegf Translation: A Survival Mechanism For Carcinoma Cells, Jun Chung, Robin E. Bachelder, Elizabeth A. Lipscomb, Leslie M. Shaw, Arthur M. Mercurio

Arthur M. Mercurio

We define a novel mechanism by which integrins regulate growth factor expression and the survival of carcinoma cells. Specifically, we demonstrate that the alpha 6 beta 4 integrin enhances vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) translation in breast carcinoma cells. The mechanism involves the ability of this integrin to stimulate the phosphorylation and inactivation of 4E-binding protein (4E-BP1), a translational repressor that inhibits the function of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E (eIF-4E). The regulation of 4E-BP1 phosphorylation by alpha 6 beta 4 derives from the ability of this integrin to activate the PI-3K-Akt pathway and, consequently, the rapamycin-sensitive kinase mTOR that …


The Integrin Alpha6beta4 Functions In Carcinoma Cell Migration On Laminin-1 By Mediating The Formation And Stabilization Of Actin-Containing Motility Structures, Isaac Rabinovitz, Arthur M. Mercurio Nov 2010

The Integrin Alpha6beta4 Functions In Carcinoma Cell Migration On Laminin-1 By Mediating The Formation And Stabilization Of Actin-Containing Motility Structures, Isaac Rabinovitz, Arthur M. Mercurio

Arthur M. Mercurio

Functional studies on the alpha6beta4 integrin have focused primarily on its role in the organization of hemidesmosomes, stable adhesive structures that associate with the intermediate filament cytoskeleton. In this study, we examined the function of the alpha6beta4 integrin in clone A cells, a colon carcinoma cell line that expresses alpha6beta4 but no alpha6beta1 integrin and exhibits dynamic adhesion and motility on laminin-1. Time-lapse videomicroscopy of clone A cells on laminin-1 revealed that their migration is characterized by filopodial extension and stabilization followed by lamellae that extend in the direction of stabilized filopodia. A function-blocking mAb specific for the alpha6beta4 integrin …


Integrin Alpha 6 Beta 4 Mediates Dynamic Interactions With Laminin, Aydin Tozeren, Hynda K. Kleinman, Stephen Wu, Arthur M. Mercurio, Stephen W. Byers Nov 2010

Integrin Alpha 6 Beta 4 Mediates Dynamic Interactions With Laminin, Aydin Tozeren, Hynda K. Kleinman, Stephen Wu, Arthur M. Mercurio, Stephen W. Byers

Arthur M. Mercurio

We present here a novel form of dynamic adhesion in which both the integrin receptor and the ligand supporting dynamic adhesion have been identified. Laminar flow assays showed that laminin supported attachment of alpha 6 beta 4-positive cells in the presence of fluid shear stress (tau < or = 2 dyn/cm2), indicating that these cells adhered to laminin within a fraction of a second. Further increases in flow rate (3.5 dyn/cm2 < or = tau < or = 100 dyn/cm2) initiated rolling of attached cells in the direction of flow, suggesting that rapidly formed adhesion is reversible and repeatable. Laminin fragment E8, which …


Role Of E-Cadherin In The Response Of Tumor Cell Aggregates To Lymphatic, Venous And Arterial Flow: Measurement Of Cell-Cell Adhesion Strength, Stephen W. Byers, Connie L. Sommers, Becky Hoxter, Arthur M. Mercurio, Aydin Tozeren Nov 2010

Role Of E-Cadherin In The Response Of Tumor Cell Aggregates To Lymphatic, Venous And Arterial Flow: Measurement Of Cell-Cell Adhesion Strength, Stephen W. Byers, Connie L. Sommers, Becky Hoxter, Arthur M. Mercurio, Aydin Tozeren

Arthur M. Mercurio

Defects in the expression or function of the calcium dependent cell-cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin are common in invasive, metastatic carcinomas. In the present study the response of aggregates of breast epithelial cells and breast and colon carcinoma cells to forces imposed by laminar flow in a parallel plate flow channel was examined. Although E-cadherin negative tumor cells formed cell aggregates in the presence of calcium, these were significantly more likely than E-cadherin positive cell aggregates to disaggregate in response to low shear forces, such as those found in a lymphatic vessel or venule (< 3.5 dyn/cm2). E-cadherin positive normal breast epithelial cells and E-cadherin positive breast tumor cell aggregates could not be disaggregated when exposed to shear forces in excess of those found in arteries (> 100 dyn/cm2). E-cadherin negative cancer cells …


Human Colon Carcinoma Cells Use Multiple Receptors To Adhere To Laminin: Involvement Of Alpha 6 Beta 4 And Alpha 2 Beta 1 Integrins, Margaret M. Lotz, Cynthia A. Korzelius, Arthur M. Mercurio Nov 2010

Human Colon Carcinoma Cells Use Multiple Receptors To Adhere To Laminin: Involvement Of Alpha 6 Beta 4 And Alpha 2 Beta 1 Integrins, Margaret M. Lotz, Cynthia A. Korzelius, Arthur M. Mercurio

Arthur M. Mercurio

In this study, we used clone A, a human colon carcinoma cell line, to characterize those integrins that mediate colon carcinoma adhesion to laminin. Monoclonal antibodies specific for the human beta 1 subunit inhibited clone A adhesion to laminin. They also precipitated a complex of surface proteins that exhibited an electrophoretic behavior characteristic of alpha 2 beta 1 and alpha 3 beta 1. A monoclonal antibody specific for alpha 2 (PIH5) blocked clone A adhesion to laminin, as well as to collagen I. An alpha 3-specific antibody (P1B5) had no effect on clone A adhesion to laminin, even though it …


Adam12 Induces Actin Cytoskeleton And Extracellular Matrix Reorganization During Early Adipocyte Differentiation By Regulating Beta1 Integrin Function, Nobuko Kawaguchi, Christina Sundberg, Marie Kveiborg, Behzad Moghadaszadeh, Meena Asmar, Nikolaj Dietrich, Charles Kumar Thodeti, Finn C. Nielsen, Peter Moller, Arthur M. Mercurio, Reidar Albrechtsen, Ulla M. Wewer Nov 2010

Adam12 Induces Actin Cytoskeleton And Extracellular Matrix Reorganization During Early Adipocyte Differentiation By Regulating Beta1 Integrin Function, Nobuko Kawaguchi, Christina Sundberg, Marie Kveiborg, Behzad Moghadaszadeh, Meena Asmar, Nikolaj Dietrich, Charles Kumar Thodeti, Finn C. Nielsen, Peter Moller, Arthur M. Mercurio, Reidar Albrechtsen, Ulla M. Wewer

Arthur M. Mercurio

Changes in cell shape are a morphological hallmark of differentiation. In this study we report that the expression of ADAM12, a disintegrin and metalloprotease, dramatically affects cell morphology in preadipocytes, changing them from a flattened, fibroblastic appearance to a more rounded shape. We showed that the highest levels of ADAM12 mRNA were detected in preadipocytes at the critical stage when preadipocytes become permissive for adipogenic differentiation. Furthermore, as assessed by immunostaining, ADAM12 was transiently expressed at the cell surface concomitant with the reduced activity of beta1 integrin. Co-immunoprecipitation studies indicated the formation of ADAM12/beta1 integrin complexes in these preadipocytes. Overexpression …


Endothelial Cells Assemble Two Distinct Alpha6beta4-Containing Vimentin-Associated Structures: Roles For Ligand Binding And The Beta4 Cytoplasmic Tail, Suzanne M. Homan, Arthur M. Mercurio, Susan E. Laflamme Nov 2010

Endothelial Cells Assemble Two Distinct Alpha6beta4-Containing Vimentin-Associated Structures: Roles For Ligand Binding And The Beta4 Cytoplasmic Tail, Suzanne M. Homan, Arthur M. Mercurio, Susan E. Laflamme

Arthur M. Mercurio

The alpha6beta4 laminin binding integrin functions in the assembly of type I hemidesmosomes, which are specialized cell-matrix adhesion sites found in stratified epithelial cells. Although endothelial cells do not express all the components of type I hemidesmosomes, endothelial cells can express the alpha6beta4 integrin. Because endothelial cells lose expression of alpha6beta4 in culture, we expressed recombinant alpha6beta4 in the dermal microvascular endothelial cell line, HMEC-1, to test whether endothelial cells can assemble adhesion structures containing alpha6beta4. Using immunofluorescence microscopy, we found that recombinant alpha6beta4 concentrates specifically in a novel fibrillar structure on the basal surface of endothelial cells in the …


Regulation Of Alpha 6 Beta 1 Integrin Laminin Receptor Function By The Cytoplasmic Domain Of The Alpha 6 Subunit, Leslie M. Shaw, Arthur M. Mercurio Nov 2010

Regulation Of Alpha 6 Beta 1 Integrin Laminin Receptor Function By The Cytoplasmic Domain Of The Alpha 6 Subunit, Leslie M. Shaw, Arthur M. Mercurio

Arthur M. Mercurio

The alpha 6 beta 1 integrin is expressed on the macrophage surface in an inactive state and requires cellular activation with PMA or cytokines to function as a laminin receptor (Shaw, L. M., J. M. Messier, and A. M. Mercurio. 1990. J. Cell Biol. 110:2167-2174). In the present study, the role of the alpha 6 subunit cytoplasmic domain in alpha 6 beta 1 integrin activation was examined. The use of P388D1 cells, an alpha 6-integrin deficient macrophage cell line, facilitated this analysis because expression of either the alpha 6A or alpha 6B subunit cDNAs restores their activation responsive laminin adhesion …


Transcriptional Activation Of Integrin Beta6 During The Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Defines A Novel Prognostic Indicator Of Aggressive Colon Carcinoma, Richard C. Bates, David I. Bellovin, Courtney Brown, Elizabeth Maynard, Bingyan Wu, Hisaaki Kawakatsu, Dean Sheppard, Peter Oettgen, Arthur M. Mercurio Nov 2010

Transcriptional Activation Of Integrin Beta6 During The Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Defines A Novel Prognostic Indicator Of Aggressive Colon Carcinoma, Richard C. Bates, David I. Bellovin, Courtney Brown, Elizabeth Maynard, Bingyan Wu, Hisaaki Kawakatsu, Dean Sheppard, Peter Oettgen, Arthur M. Mercurio

Arthur M. Mercurio

We used a spheroid model of colon carcinoma to analyze integrin dynamics as a function of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a process that provides a paradigm for understanding how carcinoma cells acquire a more aggressive phenotype. This EMT involves transcriptional activation of the beta6 integrin subunit and a consequent induction of alphavbeta6 expression. This integrin enhances the tumorigenic properties of colon carcinoma, including activation of autocrine TGF-beta and migration on interstitial fibronectin. Importantly, this study validates the clinical relevance of the EMT. Kaplan-Meier analysis of beta6 expression in 488 colorectal carcinomas revealed a striking reduction in median survival time of …


P53 Inhibits Alpha 6 Beta 4 Integrin Survival Signaling By Promoting The Caspase 3-Dependent Cleavage Of Akt/Pkb, Robin E. Bachelder, Mark J. Ribick, Alessandra Marchetti, Rita Falcioni, Silvia Soddu, Kathryn R. Davis, Arthur M. Mercurio Nov 2010

P53 Inhibits Alpha 6 Beta 4 Integrin Survival Signaling By Promoting The Caspase 3-Dependent Cleavage Of Akt/Pkb, Robin E. Bachelder, Mark J. Ribick, Alessandra Marchetti, Rita Falcioni, Silvia Soddu, Kathryn R. Davis, Arthur M. Mercurio

Arthur M. Mercurio

Although the interaction of matrix proteins with integrins is known to initiate signaling pathways that are essential for cell survival, a role for tumor suppressors in the regulation of these pathways has not been established. We demonstrate here that p53 can inhibit the survival function of integrins by inducing the caspase-dependent cleavage and inactivation of the serine/threonine kinase AKT/PKB. Specifically, we show that the alpha6beta4 integrin promotes the survival of p53-deficient carcinoma cells by activating AKT/PKB. In contrast, this integrin does not activate AKT/PKB in carcinoma cells that express wild-type p53 and it actually stimulates their apoptosis, in agreement with …


The Integrin Alpha 6 Beta 4 Is A Laminin Receptor, Edward C. Lee, Margaret M. Lotz, Glenn D. Steele Jr., Arthur M. Mercurio Nov 2010

The Integrin Alpha 6 Beta 4 Is A Laminin Receptor, Edward C. Lee, Margaret M. Lotz, Glenn D. Steele Jr., Arthur M. Mercurio

Arthur M. Mercurio

In this study, the putative laminin receptor function of the alpha 6 beta 4 integrin was assessed. For this purpose, we used a human cell line, referred to as clone A, that was derived from a highly invasive, colon adenocarcinoma. This cell line, which expresses the alpha 6 beta 4 integrin, adheres to the E8 and not to the P1 fragment of laminin. The adhesion of clone A cells to laminin is extremely rapid with half-maximal adhesion observed at 5 min after plating. Adhesion to laminin is blocked by GoH3, and alpha 6 specific antibody (60% inhibition), as well as …


Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 Is An Endogenous Inhibitor Of Snail Transcription: Implications For The Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition, Robin E. Bachelder, Sang-Oh Yoon, Clara Franci, Antonio Garcia De Herreros, Arthur M. Mercurio Nov 2010

Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 Is An Endogenous Inhibitor Of Snail Transcription: Implications For The Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition, Robin E. Bachelder, Sang-Oh Yoon, Clara Franci, Antonio Garcia De Herreros, Arthur M. Mercurio

Arthur M. Mercurio

We report that the activity of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) is necessary for the maintenance of the epithelial architecture. Pharmacological inhibition of its activity or reducing its expression using small interfering RNAs in normal breast and skin epithelial cells results in a reduction of E-cadherin expression and a more mesenchymal morphology, both of which are features associated with an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Importantly, GSK-3 inhibition also stimulates the transcription of Snail, a repressor of E-cadherin and an inducer of the EMT. We identify NFkappaB as a transcription factor inhibited by GSK-3 in epithelial cells that is relevant for Snail expression. …


Release Of Camp Gating By The Alpha6beta4 Integrin Stimulates Lamellae Formation And The Chemotactic Migration Of Invasive Carcinoma Cells, Kathleen L. O'Connor, Leslie M. Shaw, Arthur M. Mercurio Nov 2010

Release Of Camp Gating By The Alpha6beta4 Integrin Stimulates Lamellae Formation And The Chemotactic Migration Of Invasive Carcinoma Cells, Kathleen L. O'Connor, Leslie M. Shaw, Arthur M. Mercurio

Arthur M. Mercurio

The alpha6beta4 integrin promotes carcinoma in-vasion by its activation of a phosphoinositide 3-OH (PI3-K) signaling pathway (Shaw, L.M., I. Rabinovitz, H.H.-F. Wang, A. Toker, and A.M. Mercurio. Cell. 91: 949-960). We demonstrate here using MDA-MB-435 breast carcinoma cells that alpha6beta4 stimulates chemotactic migration, a key component of invasion, but that it has no influence on haptotaxis. Stimulation of chemotaxis by alpha6beta4 expression was observed in response to either lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) or fibroblast conditioned medium. Moreover, the LPA-dependent formation of lamellae in these cells is dependent upon alpha6beta4 expression. Both lamellae formation and chemotactic migration are inhibited or "gated" by …


Protein Kinase C-Dependent Mobilization Of The Alpha6beta4 Integrin From Hemidesmosomes And Its Association With Actin-Rich Cell Protrusions Drive The Chemotactic Migration Of Carcinoma Cells, Isaac Rabinovitz, Alex Toker, Arthur M. Mercurio Nov 2010

Protein Kinase C-Dependent Mobilization Of The Alpha6beta4 Integrin From Hemidesmosomes And Its Association With Actin-Rich Cell Protrusions Drive The Chemotactic Migration Of Carcinoma Cells, Isaac Rabinovitz, Alex Toker, Arthur M. Mercurio

Arthur M. Mercurio

We explored the hypothesis that the chemotactic migration of carcinoma cells that assemble hemidesmosomes involves the activation of a signaling pathway that releases the alpha6beta4 integrin from these stable adhesion complexes and promotes its association with F-actin in cell protrusions enabling it to function in migration. Squamous carcinoma-derived A431 cells were used because they express alpha6beta4 and migrate in response to EGF stimulation. Using function-blocking antibodies, we show that the alpha6beta4 integrin participates in EGF-stimulated chemotaxis and is required for lamellae formation on laminin-1. At concentrations of EGF that stimulate A431 chemotaxis ( approximately 1 ng/ml), the alpha6beta4 integrin is …


Cyanidin-3-Glucoside Inhibits Ethanol-Induced Invasion Of Breast Cancer Cells Overexpressing Erbb2, Mei Xu, Kimberly A. Bower, Siying Wang, Jacqueline A. Frank, Gang Chen, Min Ding, Shiow Wang, Xianglin Shi, Zunji Ke, Jia Luo Oct 2010

Cyanidin-3-Glucoside Inhibits Ethanol-Induced Invasion Of Breast Cancer Cells Overexpressing Erbb2, Mei Xu, Kimberly A. Bower, Siying Wang, Jacqueline A. Frank, Gang Chen, Min Ding, Shiow Wang, Xianglin Shi, Zunji Ke, Jia Luo

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Ethanol is a tumor promoter. Both epidemiological and experimental studies suggest that ethanol may enhance the metastasis of breast cancer cells. We have previously demonstrated that ethanol increased the migration/invasion of breast cancer cells expressing high levels of ErbB2. Amplification of ErbB2 is found in 20-30% of breast cancer patients and is associated with poor prognosis. We sought to identify agents that can prevent or ameliorate ethanol-induced invasion of breast cancer cells. Cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G), an anthocyanin present in many vegetables and fruits, is a potent natural antioxidant. Ethanol exposure causes the accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). This …


Supervillin Slows Cell Spreading By Facilitating Myosin Ii Activation At The Cell Periphery, Norio Takizawa, Reiko Ikebe, Mitsuo Ikebe, Elizabeth J. Luna Jan 2010

Supervillin Slows Cell Spreading By Facilitating Myosin Ii Activation At The Cell Periphery, Norio Takizawa, Reiko Ikebe, Mitsuo Ikebe, Elizabeth J. Luna

Elizabeth J. Luna

During cell migration, myosin II modulates adhesion, cell protrusion and actin organization at the leading edge. We show that an F-actin- and membrane-associated scaffolding protein, called supervillin (SV, p205), binds directly to the subfragment 2 domains of nonmuscle myosin IIA and myosin IIB and to the N-terminus of the long form of myosin light chain kinase (L-MLCK). SV inhibits cell spreading via an MLCK- and myosin II-dependent mechanism. Overexpression of SV reduces the rate of cell spreading, and RNAi-mediated knockdown of endogenous SV increases it. Endogenous and EGFP-tagged SV colocalize with, and enhance the formation of, cortical bundles of F-actin …


Supervillin Reorganizes The Actin Cytoskeleton And Increases Invadopodial Efficiency, Jessica Lynn Crowley, Tara C. Smith, Zhiyou Fang, Norio Takizawa, Elizabeth J. Luna Jan 2010

Supervillin Reorganizes The Actin Cytoskeleton And Increases Invadopodial Efficiency, Jessica Lynn Crowley, Tara C. Smith, Zhiyou Fang, Norio Takizawa, Elizabeth J. Luna

Elizabeth J. Luna

Tumor cells use actin-rich protrusions called invadopodia to degrade extracellular matrix (ECM) and invade tissues; related structures, termed podosomes, are sites of dynamic ECM interaction. We show here that supervillin (SV), a peripheral membrane protein that binds F-actin and myosin II, reorganizes the actin cytoskeleton and potentiates invadopodial function. Overexpressed SV induces redistribution of lamellipodial cortactin and lamellipodin/RAPH1/PREL1 away from the cell periphery to internal sites and concomitantly increases the numbers of F-actin punctae. Most punctae are highly dynamic and colocalize with the podosome/invadopodial proteins, cortactin, Tks5, and cdc42. Cortactin binds SV sequences in vitro and contributes to the formation …


Wnt Pathway Reprogramming During Human Embryonal Carcinoma Differentiation And Potential For Therapeutic Targeting, Grace E. Snow, Allison C. Kasper, Alexander M. Busch, Elisabeth Schwarz, Katherine E. Ewings, Thomas Bee, Michael J. Spinella, Ethan Dmitrovsky, Sarah J. Freemantle Oct 2009

Wnt Pathway Reprogramming During Human Embryonal Carcinoma Differentiation And Potential For Therapeutic Targeting, Grace E. Snow, Allison C. Kasper, Alexander M. Busch, Elisabeth Schwarz, Katherine E. Ewings, Thomas Bee, Michael J. Spinella, Ethan Dmitrovsky, Sarah J. Freemantle

Dartmouth Scholarship

Testicular germ cell tumors (TGCTs) are classified as seminonas or non-seminomas of which a major subset is embryonal carcinoma (EC) that can differentiate into diverse tissues. The pluripotent nature of human ECs resembles that of embryonic stem (ES) cells. Many Wnt signalling species are regulated during differentiation of TGCT-derived EC cells. This study comprehensively investigated expression profiles of Wnt signalling components regulated during induced differentiation of EC cells and explored the role of key components in maintaining pluripotency.


Mutant Rac1b Expression In Dictyostelium: Effects On Morphology, Growth, Endocytosis, Development, And The Actin Cytoskeleton, S. Palmieri, Thomas Nebl, Robert Pope, D. Seastone, E. Lee, E. Hinchcliffe, Greenfield Sluder, D. Knecht, J. Cardelli, Elizabeth Luna Mar 2008

Mutant Rac1b Expression In Dictyostelium: Effects On Morphology, Growth, Endocytosis, Development, And The Actin Cytoskeleton, S. Palmieri, Thomas Nebl, Robert Pope, D. Seastone, E. Lee, E. Hinchcliffe, Greenfield Sluder, D. Knecht, J. Cardelli, Elizabeth Luna

Elizabeth J. Luna

Rac1 is a small G-protein in the Ras superfamily that has been implicated in the control of cell growth, adhesion, and the actin-based cytoskeleton. To investigate the role of Rac1 during motile processes, we have established Dictyostelium cell lines that conditionally overexpress epitope-tagged Dictyostelium discoideum wild-type Rac1B (DdRac1B) or a mutant DdRac1B protein. Expression of endogenous levels of myc- or GFP-tagged wild-type DdRac1B had minimal effect on cellular morphologies and behaviors. By contrast, expression of a constitutively active mutant (G12-->V or Q61-->L) or a dominant negative mutant (T17-->N) generated amoebae with characteristic cellular defects. The morphological appearance …


Identification By Peptide Analysis Of The Spectrin-Binding Protein In Human Erythrocytes, Elizabeth Luna, G. Kidd, D. Branton Mar 2008

Identification By Peptide Analysis Of The Spectrin-Binding Protein In Human Erythrocytes, Elizabeth Luna, G. Kidd, D. Branton

Elizabeth J. Luna

One-dimensional and two-dimensional peptide-mapping techniques are used to identify the protein which gives rise to the 72,000 dalton alpha-chymotryptic fragment previously shown to be the membrane attachment site for spectrin. Peptide maps of the 72,000 dalton fragment are very different from maps of Bands 1, 2, 2.9, 3, 3.1, 4.1, and 4.2 and very similar to maps of the apparently closely homologous polypeptides, Bands 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, and 2.6. Limited proteolysis of erythrocyte membranes is shown to generate Band 3', another polypeptide which has been associated with spectrin-binding activity. Peptide maps of Band 3' are very similar to maps of …


Merlin Differs From Moesin In Binding To F-Actin And In Its Intra- And Intermolecular Interactions, L. Huang, E. Ichimaru, Kersi Pestonjamasp, X. Cui, H. Nakamura, G. Lo, F. Lin, Elizabeth Luna, H. Furthmayr Mar 2008

Merlin Differs From Moesin In Binding To F-Actin And In Its Intra- And Intermolecular Interactions, L. Huang, E. Ichimaru, Kersi Pestonjamasp, X. Cui, H. Nakamura, G. Lo, F. Lin, Elizabeth Luna, H. Furthmayr

Elizabeth J. Luna

The neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) tumor suppressor gene encodes merlin, a protein with homology to the cell membrane/F-actin linking proteins, moesin, ezrin and radixin. Unlike these closely related proteins, merlin lacks a C-terminal F-actin binding site detectable by actin blot overlays, and the GFP-tagged merlin C-terminal domain co-distributes with neither stress fibers nor cortical actin in NIH3T3 cells. Merlin also differs from the other three proteins in its inter- and intramolecular domain interactions, as shown by in vitro binding and yeast two-hybrid assays. As is true for ezrin, moesin and radixin, the N- and C-terminal domains of merlin type 1 …


Supervillin Modulation Of Focal Adhesions Involving Trip6/Zrp-1, Norio Takizawa, Tara C. Smith, Thomas Nebl, Jessica Lynn Crowley, Stephen J. Palmieri, Lawrence M. Lifshitz, Anka G. Ehrhardt, Laura M. Hoffman, Mary C. Beckerle, Elizabeth J. Luna Mar 2008

Supervillin Modulation Of Focal Adhesions Involving Trip6/Zrp-1, Norio Takizawa, Tara C. Smith, Thomas Nebl, Jessica Lynn Crowley, Stephen J. Palmieri, Lawrence M. Lifshitz, Anka G. Ehrhardt, Laura M. Hoffman, Mary C. Beckerle, Elizabeth J. Luna

Elizabeth J. Luna

Cell-substrate contacts, called focal adhesions (FAs), are dynamic in rapidly moving cells. We show that supervillin (SV)--a peripheral membrane protein that binds myosin II and F-actin in such cells--negatively regulates stress fibers, FAs, and cell-substrate adhesion. The major FA regulatory sequence within SV (SV342-571) binds to the LIM domains of two proteins in the zyxin family, thyroid receptor-interacting protein 6 (TRIP6) and lipoma-preferred partner (LPP), but not to zyxin itself. SV and TRIP6 colocalize within large FAs, where TRIP6 may help recruit SV. RNAi-mediated decreases in either protein increase cell adhesion to fibronectin. TRIP6 partially rescues SV effects on stress …


Archvillin, A Muscle-Specific Isoform Of Supervillin, Is An Early Expressed Component Of The Costameric Membrane Skeleton, Sang W. Oh, Robert K. Pope, Kelly P. Smith, Jessica Lynn Crowley, Thomas Nebl, Jeanne B. Lawrence, Elizabeth J. Luna Mar 2008

Archvillin, A Muscle-Specific Isoform Of Supervillin, Is An Early Expressed Component Of The Costameric Membrane Skeleton, Sang W. Oh, Robert K. Pope, Kelly P. Smith, Jessica Lynn Crowley, Thomas Nebl, Jeanne B. Lawrence, Elizabeth J. Luna

Elizabeth J. Luna

The membrane skeleton protein supervillin binds tightly to both F-actin and membranes and can potentiate androgen receptor activity in non-muscle cells. We report that muscle, which constitutes the principal tissue source for supervillin sequences, contains a approximately 250 kDa isoform of supervillin that localizes within nuclei and with dystrophin at costameres, regions of F-actin membrane attachment in skeletal muscle. The gene encoding this protein, 'archvillin' (Latin, archi; Greek, archos; 'principal' or 'chief'), contains an evolutionarily conserved, muscle-specific 5' leader sequence. Archvillin cDNAs also contain four exons that encode approximately 47 kDa of additional muscle-specific protein sequence in the form of …


Membrane Cytoskeleton: Pip(2) Pulls The Strings, Thomas Nebl, Sang Oh, Elizabeth Luna Mar 2008

Membrane Cytoskeleton: Pip(2) Pulls The Strings, Thomas Nebl, Sang Oh, Elizabeth Luna

Elizabeth J. Luna

A recent application of optical tweezers has shown that plasma membrane phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP(2)) levels control adhesion of the membrane bilayer to the underlying cytoskeleton, by regulated direct binding of PIP(2) to cytoskeletal proteins and/or indirect effects on cytoskeleton structure.


Never Let Me Clone? Countering An Ethical Argument Against The Reproductive Cloning Of Humans, Yvette Pearson Jan 2006

Never Let Me Clone? Countering An Ethical Argument Against The Reproductive Cloning Of Humans, Yvette Pearson

Philosophy Faculty Publications

In the March 2006 issue of EMBO reports, Christof Tannert, a bioethicist at the Max Delbrück Research Centre in Berlin, Germany, presented a moral argument against human reproductive cloning on the basis of Immanuel Kant’s categorical imperative (Tannert, 2006). In this article, I address some problems with Tannert’s views and show that our concerns about this prospective procedure should prompt us to scrutinize carefully the conventional procreative practices and attitudes. Indeed, if we set aside objections that are grounded in genetic determinism, many of the offensive features of human cloning are identical to problems with procreation by more conventional means, …


Growth Factor–Induced Shedding Of Syndecan-1 Confers Glypican-1 Dependence On Mitogenic Responses Of Cancer Cells, Kan Ding, Martha Lopez-Burks, José A. Sánchez-Duran, Murray Korc, Arthur D. Lander Nov 2005

Growth Factor–Induced Shedding Of Syndecan-1 Confers Glypican-1 Dependence On Mitogenic Responses Of Cancer Cells, Kan Ding, Martha Lopez-Burks, José A. Sánchez-Duran, Murray Korc, Arthur D. Lander

Dartmouth Scholarship

The cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) glypican-1 is up-regulated by pancreatic and breast cancer cells, and its removal renders such cells insensitive to many growth factors. We sought to explain why the cell surface HSPG syndecan-1, which is also up-regulated by these cells and is a known growth factor coreceptor, does not compensate for glypican-1 loss. We show that the initial responses of these cells to the growth factor FGF2 are not glypican dependent, but they become so over time as FGF2 induces shedding of syndecan-1. Manipulations that retain syndecan-1 on the cell surface make long-term FGF2 responses glypican …


Ube1l Is A Retinoid Target That Triggers Pml/Rarα Degradation And Apoptosis In Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia, Sutisak Kitareewan, Ian Pitha-Rowe, David Sekula, Christopher H. Lowrey, Michael J. Nemeth, Todd R. Golub, Sarah J. Freemantle, Ethan Dmitrovsky Mar 2002

Ube1l Is A Retinoid Target That Triggers Pml/Rarα Degradation And Apoptosis In Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia, Sutisak Kitareewan, Ian Pitha-Rowe, David Sekula, Christopher H. Lowrey, Michael J. Nemeth, Todd R. Golub, Sarah J. Freemantle, Ethan Dmitrovsky

Dartmouth Scholarship

All-trans-retinoic acid (RA) treatment induces remissions in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cases expressing the t(15;17) product, promyelocytic leukemia (PML)/RA receptor α (RARα). Microarray analyses previously revealed induction of UBE1L (ubiquitin-activating enzyme E1-like) after RA treatment of NB4 APL cells. We report here that this occurs within 3 h in RA-sensitive but not RA-resistant APL cells, implicating UBE1L as a direct retinoid target. A 1.3-kb fragment of the UBE1L promoter was capable of mediating transcriptional response to RA in a retinoid receptor-selective manner. PML/RARα, a repressor of RA target genes, abolished this UBE1L promoter activity. A hallmark of …