Cell and Developmental Biology Commons^™

Bp1003 Decreases Stat3 Expression And Its Pro-Tumorigenic Functions In Solid Tumors And The Tumor Microenvironment, Maria Gagliardi, Rhonda Kean, Bingbing Dai, Jithesh Augustine, Michael Roberts, Jason Fleming, D. Craig Hooper, Ana Ashizawa

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

Overexpression and aberrant activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) contribute to tumorigenesis, drug resistance, and tumor-immune evasion, making it a potential cancer therapeutic target. BP1003 is a neutral liposome incorporated with a nuclease-resistant P-ethoxy antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ASO) targeting the STAT3 mRNA. Its unique design enhances BP1003 stability, cellular uptake, and target affinity. BP1003 efficiently reduces STAT3 expression and enhances the sensitivity of breast cancer cells (HER2⁺, triple negative) and ovarian cancer cells (late stage, invasive ovarian cancer) to paclitaxel and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in both 2D and 3D cell cultures. Similarly, ex vivo and in …

Design, Synthesis, And Evaluation Of Oleyl-Wrh Peptides For Sirna Delivery, Mrigank Shekhar Rai, Muhammad Imran Sajid, Jonathan Moreno, Keykavous Parang, Rakesh Kumar Tiwari

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Delivering nucleic acid therapeutics across cell membranes is a significant challenge. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) containing arginine (R), tryptophan (W), and histidine (H) show promise for siRNA delivery. To improve siRNA delivery and silence a model STAT3 gene, we hypothesized that oleyl acylation to CPPs, specifically (WRH)n, would enhance STAT3 silencing efficiency in breast and ovarian cancer cells. Using Fmoc/tBu solid-phase peptide chemistry, we synthesized, purified, and characterized the oleyl-conjugated (WRH)n (n = 1–4) peptides. The peptide/siRNA complexes were non-cytotoxic at N/P 40 (~20 μM) against MDA-MB-231, MCF-7, SK-OV-3, and HEK-293 cells after 72 h incubation. All peptide/siRNA complexes showed serum …

Stanniocalcin 2 Governs Cancer Cell Adaptation To Nutrient Insufficiency Through Alleviation Of Oxidative Stress, Shuo Qie, Haijuan Xiong, Yaqi Liu, Chenhui Yan, Yalei Wang, Lifeng Tian, Chenguang Wang, Nianli Sang

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

Solid tumours often endure nutrient insufficiency during progression. How tumour cells adapt to temporal and spatial nutrient insufficiency remains unclear. We previously identified STC2 as one of the most upregulated genes in cells exposed to nutrient insufficiency by transcriptome screening, indicating the potential of STC2 in cellular adaptation to nutrient insufficiency. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying STC2 induction by nutrient insufficiency and subsequent adaptation remain elusive. Here, we report that STC2 protein is dramatically increased and secreted into the culture media by Gln-/Glc- deprivation. STC2 promoter contains cis-elements that are activated by ATF4 and p65/RelA, two transcription factors activated by …

Expression Of The Αvβ3 Integrin Affects Prostate Cancer Sev Cargo And Density And Promotes Sev Pro-Tumorigenic Activity In Vivo Through A Gpi-Anchored Receptor, Ngr2, Cecilia Verrillo, Fabio Quaglia, Christopher Shields, Stephen Lin, Andrew Kossenkov, Hsin-Yao Tang, David Speicher, Nicole Naranjo, Anna Testa, William Kelly, Qin Liu, Benjamin Leiby, Luca Musante, Khalid Sossey-Alaoui, Navneet Dogra, Tzu-Yi Chen, Dario Altieri, Lucia Languino

Department of Pharmacology, Physiology, and Cancer Biology Faculty Papers

It is known that small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) are released from cancer cells and contribute to cancer progression via crosstalk with recipient cells. We have previously reported that sEVs expressing the αVβ3 integrin, a protein upregulated in aggressive neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPrCa), contribute to neuroendocrine differentiation (NED) in recipient cells. Here, we examine the impact of αVβ3 expression on sEV protein content, density and function. sEVs used in this study were isolated by iodixanol density gradients and characterized by nanoparticle tracking analysis, immunoblotting and single vesicle analysis. Our proteomic profile of sEVs containing αVβ3 shows downregulation of typical effectors involved …

Diesel Exhaust Particles Alter Mitochondrial Bioenergetics And Camp Producing Capacity In Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells, Isabella Cattani-Cavalieri, Marina Trombetta-Lima, Hong Yan, Ana L. Manzano-Covarrubias, Hoeke A. Baarsma, Asmaa Oun, Melissa Mol Van Der Veen, Emily Oosterhout, Amalia M. Dolga, Rennolds S. Ostrom, Samuel Santos Valenca, Martina Schmidt

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Introduction: Air pollution from diesel combustion is linked in part to the generation of diesel exhaust particles (DEP). DEP exposure induces various processes, including inflammation and oxidative stress, which ultimately contribute to a decline in lung function. Cyclic AMP (cAMP) signaling is critical for lung homeostasis. The impact of DEP on cAMP signaling is largely unknown.

Methods: We exposed human bronchial epithelial (BEAS-2B) cells to DEP for 24–72 h and evaluated mitochondrial bioenergetics, markers of oxidative stress and inflammation and the components of cAMP signaling. Mitochondrial bioenergetics was measured at 72 h to capture the potential and accumulative effects of …

Interleukin 24 Induces Apoptosis Through Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3 Beta Inactivation In Prostate Cancer Cells, Sual J. Lopez, Moira Sauane

Theses and Dissertations

Interleukin 24 (IL-24) is a tumor-suppressing protein currently in clinical trials. IL-24 induces cancer-specific apoptosis by activating endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and mitochondria dysfunction. We have previously demonstrated that IL-24 leads to apoptosis in cancer cells by protein kinase A (PKA) activation in human breast cancer cells. To further understand the mechanism by which IL-24 induces apoptosis, I analyzed the role of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3), a highly conserved and normally active serine/threonine kinase in cancer cells and downstream target of PKA. The work reported here provides direct evidence that GSK3 was inhibited following IL-24 treatment in human prostate cancer …

Proteomic Characterization And Cytotoxic Potential Of Proteins From Cuscuta (Cuscuta Epithymum (L.) Crude Herbal Product Against Mcf-7 Human Breast Cancer Cell Line, Umaima Akhtar, Yamna Khurshid, Bishoy El-Aarag, Basir Syed, Ishtiaq A. Khan, Keykavous Parang, Aftab Ahmed

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Background

The burden of breast cancer, the second leading cause of death worldwide, is increasing at an alarming rate. Cuscuta, used in traditional medicine for different ailments, including cancer, is known for containing phytochemicals that exhibit anticancer activity; however, the bioactivities of proteins from this plant remain unexplored. This study aimed to screen the cytotoxic potential of proteins from the crude herbal product of Cuscuta epithymum(L.) (CE) harvested from the host plants Alhagi maurorum and Medicago sativa.

Methods

The proteins from CE were extracted using a salting-out method, followed by fractionation with a gel filtration chromatography column. Gel-free shotgun …

Therapeutic Effects Of Bet Protein Inhibition In B-Cell Malignancies And Beyond, Audrey L. Smith

Theses & Dissertations

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) develops through a combination of intrinsic genetic defects, constitutively active survival/proliferation signaling pathways, and complex microenvironment interactions. Redundant tumor microenvironment (TME) immuno-suppressive mechanisms and epigenetic maintenance of terminal T-cell dysfunction also greatly hinder anti-tumor T-cell responses in CLL. Small-molecule agents targeting the B-cell receptor (BCR) pathway and anti-apoptotic proteins alone or in combination with chemo-immunotherapy have revolutionized the management of CLL, yet there is still a significant need for novel therapeutic strategies to yield durable tumor elimination. Bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) proteins are epigenetic readers that bind to acetyl-lysine residues on histones to regulate gene …

Novel Spirocyclic Dimer (Spid3) Displays Potent Preclinical Effects In Hematological Malignancies, Alexandria Eiken

Theses & Dissertations

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a heterogeneous disease characterized by the accumulation of mature CD5⁺ B-cells in the peripheral blood, bone marrow, and secondary lymphoid tissues (e.g., spleen and lymph nodes).Despite the efficacy of front-line therapies, CLL is still an incurable disease, highlighting the need for development of novel therapeutics and further study of resistance mechanisms. Within the lymph node CLL tumor microenvironment (TME), there is an upregulation of gene signatures associated with B-cell receptor (BCR) and downstream nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling compared to CLL cells found within the blood or bone marrow niches. Additionally, BCR signaling …

Efficacy Of Mcl-1 Inhibitors In Multiple Myeloma Cells Resistant To Bortezomib, Emily Nelson, Omar S. Al-Odat, Sabrina M. Paparo, Daniel A. Guirguis, Gabriella Yao, Manoj Pandey, Subash Jonnalagadda, Tulin Budak-Alpdogan

Rowan-Virtua Research Day

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a type of cancer that affects plasma B cells. Patients with MM often experience frequent relapses and can develop resistance to drugs. As a medical researcher, it is important to understand the role of Mcl-1 in preventing intrinsic apoptosis and drug resistance. Mcl-1 belongs to the anti-apoptotic subgroup of Bcl-2 family proteins and plays a crucial role in these processes. Mcl-1 plays a crucial role in driving disease progression and contributing to drug resistance in MM. It has been observed that there is an increased expression of Mcl-1 in 52% of patients with MM during diagnosis, …

An Exploration Of The Effectiveness Of Xanthorrhiza Simplicissima And Its Secondary Alkaloids As Antibiotics Against Staphylococcus Aureus With The Use Of Reserpine, Donald Bothe, Savita Chaurasia

Undergraduate Theses

Xanthorhiza simplicissima is a plant that is steeped in medical history. It has been used for hundreds of years by the Native Americans, and later by the Europeans, of Appalachia for its medicinal properties. One of the most useful medical applications of this plant are its antibiotic properties, as typified by its use as a tea that was consumed to treat mouth sores. These antibiotic properties can be attributed to some of its secondary alkaloids such as berberine, liriodenine, oxyacanthine, and magnoflorine. These compounds have been studied in other systems; however, oxyacanthine and magnoflorine have not been researched in tandem …

Role Of Protein Kinase A And A Kinase Anchoring Proteins In Buffering And Compartmentation Of Camp Signalling In Human Airway Smooth Muscle Cells, Rinzhin T. Sherpa, Karni S. Moshal, Shailesh R. Agarwal, Rennolds S. Ostrom, Robert D. Harvey

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Background and Purpose

In human airway smooth muscle (hASM) cells, not all receptors stimulating cAMP production elicit the same effects. This can only be explained if cAMP movement throughout the cell is restricted, yet the mechanisms involved are not fully understood. Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) contribute to compartmentation of many cAMP responses, but PDE activity alone is predicted to be insufficient if cAMP is otherwise freely diffusible. We tested the hypothesis that buffering of cAMP by protein kinase A (PKA) associated with A kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs) slows cAMP diffusion and that this contributes to receptor-mediated, compartmentalized responses.

Experimental Approach

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Killing Cancer: Manipulating Hydrophobic Vanadium Complexes To Improve Anti-Cancer Activity, Levi Ausherman, Debbie C. Crans, Peter A. Lay, Maggi Braasch-Turi

SACAD: Scholarly Activities

Hydrophobic vanadium complexes have recently shown improved anti-cancer activities compared to cisplatin. The hydrophobicity and anti-proliferative activity of [VO(Hshed)(dtb)] ([Hshed= N-(salicylideneaminato)-N’-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1,2-ethanediamine and dtb= 3,5-di(tert-butyl)catechol)]) have inspired the development of a library of hydrophobic vanadium complexes. Increasing the steric bulk of the catechol ligand has been shown to have a direct impact on hydrophobicity and anti-proliferative activities. Currently at Fort Hays State University, the Braasch-Turi group is synthesizing VO(HSHED)(dtb) to build up material to support the chemical analysis and biological assay performed by our collaborators at Colorado State University and the University of Sydney, Australia, respectively. In the future, we plan …

Real-Time Camp Dynamics In Live Cells Using The Fluorescent Camp Difference Detector In Situ, Isabella Cattani-Cavalieri, Jordyn Margolis, Camelia Anicolaesei, Francisco J. Nuñez, Rennolds S. Ostrom

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

cAMP Difference Detector In Situ (cADDis) is a novel biosensor that allows for the continuous measurement of cAMP levels in living cells. The biosensor is created from a circularly permuted fluorescent protein linked to the hinge region of Epac2. This creates a single fluorophore biosensor that displays either increased or decreased fluorescence upon binding of cAMP. The biosensor exists in red and green upward versions, as well as green downward versions, and several red and green versions targeted to subcellular locations. To illustrate the effectiveness of the biosensor, the green downward version, which decreases in fluorescence upon cAMP binding, was …

Remodeling Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer's Aggressive Profile And Metabolic Signature By Natural Alkaloid Berberine, Tara Elizabeth Jarboe

NYMC Student Theses and Dissertations

Anaplastic thyroid cancer is a rare, fatal cancer with a five-year survival of 4%. Universally diagnosed at stage IV, anaplastic thyroid cancer is characterized by its lack of differentiation, rapid proliferative rate, highly inflammatory tumor microenvironment, and metabolic dysregulation. Refractory to all established therapies, anaplastic thyroid cancer requires a novel therapeutic approach that targets all of these drivers of anaplastic thyroid cancer carcinogenesis. We propose natural alkaloid berberine as a therapeutic with multitarget efficacy to alter mitochondrial metabolism and reprogram anaplastic thyroid cancer’s aggressive phenotype. Our in vitro model uses monocyte cell line U937, anaplastic thyroid cancer cell lines T238 …

A Novel Micropeptide, Slitharin, Exerts Cardioprotective Effects In Myocardial Infarction, Ahmed G. E. Ibrahim, Alessandra Ciullo, Shukuro Yamaguchi, Chang Li, Travis Antes, Xaviar Jones, Liang Li, Ramachandran Murali, Innokentiy Maslennikov, Niveda Sundararaman, Daniel Soetkamp, Eugenio Cingolani, Jennifer Van Eyk, Eduardo Marbán

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Purpose: Micropeptides are an emerging class of proteins that play critical roles in cell signaling. Here, we describe the discovery of a novel micropeptide, dubbed slitharin (Slt), in conditioned media from Cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs), a therapeutic cardiac stromal cell type.

Experimental design: We performed mass spectrometry of peptide-enriched fractions from the conditioned media of CDCs and a therapeutically inert cell type (human dermal fibrobasts). We then evaluated the therapeutic capacity of the candidate peptide using an in vitro model of cardiomyocyte injury and a rat model of myocardial infarction.

Results: We identified a novel 24-amino acid micropeptide …

Repurposing Of Us-Fda-Approved Drugs As Negative Modulators Of Ubiquitin Specific Protease-7 (Usp7), Seema Zadi, Sumaira Javaid, Atia-Tul-Wahab, Humaira Zafar, Muhammad Awais, Innokentiy Maslennikov, M. Iqbal Choudhary

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Ubiquitin-specific protease7 (USP7) regulates the stability of the p53 tumor suppressor protein and several other proteins critical for tumor cell survival. Aberrant expression of USP7 facilitates human malignancies by altering the activity of proto-oncogenes/proteins, and tumor suppressor genes. Therefore, USP7 is a validated anti-cancer drug target. In this study, a drug repurposing approach was used to identify new hits against the USP7 enzyme. It is one of the most strategic approaches to find new uses for drugs in a cost- and time-effective way. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance-based screening of 172 drugs identified 11 compounds that bind to the catalytic domain of …

Methamphetamine-Induced Dna Double-Stranded Breaks: The Impact Of The Dopamine Transporter And Insights Into The Mechanisms Of Dna Damage In Mouse Neuro 2a Cells, Lizette Couto

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

Methamphetamine (METH) abuse remains a global health concern, with emerging evidence highlighting its genotoxic potential. In the central nervous system METH enters dopaminergic cells primarily through the dopamine transporter (DAT), which controls the dynamics of dopamine (DA) neurotransmission by driving the reuptake of extracellular DA into the presynaptic neuronal cell. Additional effects of METH on the storage of DA in synaptic vesicles lead to the dysregulated cytosolic accumulation of DA. Previous studies have shown that after METH disrupts intracellular vesicular stores of DA, the excess DA in the cytosol is rapidly oxidized. This generates an abundance of reactive oxygen species …

Evidence Of Direct Interaction Between Cisplatin And The Caspase-Cleaved Prostate Apoptosis Response-4 Tumor Suppressor, Krishna K. Raut, Samjhana Pandey, Gyanendra Kharel, Steven M. Pascal

Chemistry & Biochemistry Faculty Publications

Prostate apoptosis response-4 (Par-4) tumor suppressor protein has gained attention as a potential therapeutic target owing to its unique ability to selectively induce apoptosis in cancer cells, sensitize them to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and mitigate drug resistance. It has recently been reported that Par-4 interacts synergistically with cisplatin, a widely used anticancer drug. However, the mechanistic details underlying this relationship remain elusive. In this investigation, we employed an array of biophysical techniques, including circular dichroism spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and UV–vis absorption spectroscopy, to characterize the interaction between the active caspase-cleaved Par-4 (cl-Par-4) fragment and cisplatin. Additionally, elemental analysis was …

Observed Effects Of Physiological Melatonin Dosing On Mda-Mb-231 Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation, Wenli Wu

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

This project seeks to evaluate pharmacological dosing of melatonin on the cell proliferation of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line in culture, using the two solubility carriers: DMSO/water and ethanol. This experiment is a component of ongoing research at the Eaton lab which will elucidate melatonin dose-response toxicology in zebrafish and a possible breast cancer xenograft model for novel treatment therapies.

Elucidating Mechanisms Of Enhanced Dsrna-Nanophytoglycogen Innate Immune Responses In Healthy Human Cells, Nicholas Jadaa

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Immunostimulatory nucleic acids, such as long double-stranded RNA (ds)RNA, can stimulate innate immune responses in a non-sequence specific manner. These molecules are recognized by pattern-recognition receptors in the cytoplasm, endosome, and on the cell surface. Activation leads to the production of mediators of innate immune pathways, including type I interferon and proinflammatory cytokines. Although these receptors are present in all cells, their role in non-immune cells is often overlooked due to their lower level of responsiveness. Nanocarriers can enhance these nucleic acid-mediated responses, allowing for exploration of innate immune pathways in non-immune cells. Nanoparticles as carriers of nucleic acids can …

Developing Cellular Systems To Elucidate Rna Structural Dynamics Of Cag Expansion Transcripts In Spinocerebellar Ataxias, Victoria Demeo

Electronic Theses & Dissertations (2024 - present)

Spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a diverse group of over 40 genetically heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorders, many of which are caused by a trinucleotide CAG repeat expansion in the coding region of specific genes. These expansions lead to the production of polyglutamine (polyQ) tracts that interfere with normal protein function, triggering cellular dysfunction and contributing to disease pathogenesis. The most well-known of these SCAs, such as SCA1, SCA2, and SCA3, exhibit progressive neurodegeneration, yet the precise mechanisms through which these mutations cause disease remain poorly understood.

A significant challenge in studying CAG repeat expansion disorders lies in the complexity of the disease …

Design Of An Fgf-1-Fgf-2 Heterodimer Variant With Enhanced Stability And Cell Proliferation Activity, Nicholas Alan Pohlman

Chemistry & Biochemistry Undergraduate Honors Theses

The FGF-1 subfamily, composed of FGF-1 and FGF-2, assists in broad health-related processes such as cell proliferation and angiogenesis respectively.^1,2 The subfamily shows promising signs as a therapeutic, however, the inherent thermal instability leads to a low half-life in vivo.³ To assist in improving the stability, FGF-1 and FGF-2 were connected via a 12-residue glycine linker ultimately producing a heterodimer. This heterodimer was further examined to discover its novel properties. Inspiration for this project was drawn from previous research which performed five mutations on FGF-1 ultimately improving stability in the protein complex. In addition to these five …

Understanding An Inflammatory Pathway In Diabetic Retinopathy, Reanna R. Rodriguez

Research Symposium

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of blindness in the U.S. However, not much is known of its molecular pathway and how it attributes to increases in inflammatory response in the eye. One avenue we will investigate is the transforming growth factor beta (TGFB) signaling pathway and its effect of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion and cell viability. VEGF is the hallmark that exacerbates DR progression in prolonged diabetes. Some major concern that have arisen are the underlying effects of oxidants and antioxidants in elevating VEGF secretion in diabetes. In attempt to learn more, we evaluated how an …

Identification Of Tectorigenin As A Natural Pro-Hypoxia Compound: Implications In Modulation Of Cellular Differentiation And Senescence, Mallika Khurana, Renu Wadhwa, Sunil Kaul

Research Symposium

Background: Hypoxia, a suboptimal level of oxygen, evokes stress response in cells and activated hypoxia signaling has been largely established as a pro-metastasis and pro-angiogenic factor for tumor cells. On the other hand, age-related neurodegenerative disorders are characterized by hypoxic environment, accumulation of molecular garbage and induction of premature senescence. Several recent studies have reported anti-stress impact of the intermittent induction of hypoxia signaling in these cells.

Methods: Screening of a phytochemical library using Hypoxia Responsive Element (HRE) driven luciferase as a reporter was carried out to identify hypoxia-modulating phytochemicals. Activation of HIF-1a (master regulator of hypoxia signaling) was validated …

Studying The Stability Of Collagen/Heparin Coatings To Be Used In Cell Therapy Applications, Gavin Mussino

Biological Sciences Undergraduate Honors Theses

This honors thesis aims to investigate the reusability and performance of cell coatings for cell therapy applications. Cell therapy, which involves the use of human cells to repair or replace damaged tissues, holds immense potential for medical advancements. However, ensuring the survival and functionality of transplanted cells remains a significant challenge. We focused on studying the effectiveness of coatings applied to cells for improved cell growth and viability. The research project involved the preparation of the coatings using a layer-by-layer method and the subsequent seeding of cells. The coated cells were then subjected to a series of experiments to assess …

Photodynamic Therapy To Treat Triple Negative Breast Cancer In Vitro, Hunter S. Warren

All Theses

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most resilient form of breast cancer, being one of the leading causes of death for women and making up 7% of all cancer deaths. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) offers a minimally invasive solution to TNBC as a passive-targeting treatment that reduces the need for other well established yet harsh treatments that can be taxing on the patient. PDT involves the use of a high-energy red light on the area of a tumor injected with photosensitizers (PS) that generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the tumor, triggering cell death. The PS tetra(hydroxyphenyl)chlorin (m-THPC) was used …

Α7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Interaction With G Proteins In Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation, Motility, And Calcium Signaling, Murat Oz, Justin R. King, Keun-Hang Susan Yang, Sarah Khushaish, Yulia Tchugunova, Maitham A. Khajah, Yunus A. Luqmani, Nadine Kabbani

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

Chronic smoking is a primary risk factor for breast cancer due to the presence of various toxins and carcinogens within tobacco products. Nicotine is the primary addictive component of tobacco products and has been shown to promote breast cancer cell proliferation and metastases. Nicotine activates nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) that are expressed in cancer cell lines. Here, we examine the role of the α7 nAChR in coupling to heterotrimeric G proteins within breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Pharmacological activation of the α7 nAChR using choline or nicotine was found to increase proliferation, motility, and calcium signaling in MCF-7 cells. This effect …

The Pros Of Changing Trna Identity, Michael Ibba

Biology, Chemistry, and Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles and Research

The notion that errors in protein synthesis are universally harmful to the cell has been questioned by findings that suggest such mistakes may sometimes be beneficial. However, how often these beneficial mistakes arise from programmed changes in gene expression as opposed to reduced accuracy of the translation machinery is still unclear. A new study published in JBC shows that some bacteria have beneficially evolved the ability to mistranslate specific parts of the genetic code, a trait that allows improved antibiotic resistance.

Parabens Promote Protumorigenic Effects In Luminal Breast Cancer Cell Lines With Diverse Genetic Ancestry, Jazma L. Tapia, Jillian C. Mcdonough, Emily L. Cauble, Cesar G. Gonzalez, Dede K. Teteh, Lindsey S. Treviño

Health Sciences and Kinesiology Faculty Articles

Context

One in 8 women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. Yet, the burden of disease is greater in Black women. Black women have a 40% higher mortality rate than White women, and a higher incidence of breast cancer at age 40 and younger. While the underlying cause of this disparity is multifactorial, exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in hair and other personal care products has been associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. Parabens are known EDCs that are commonly used as preservatives in hair and other personal care products, and Black women are disproportionately exposed …