A novel anti-tumor protein extracted from Meretrix meretrix Linnaeus induces cell death by increasing cell permeability and inhibiting tubulin polymerization

Discovery and development of new pharmaceuticals from marine organisms are attracting increasing interest. Several agents derived from marine organisms are under preclinical and clinical evaluation as potential anticancer drugs. We extracted and purified a novel anti-tumor protein from the coelomic fluid of Meretrix meretrix Linnaeus by ammonium sulphate fractionation, ion exchange and hydrophobic interaction chromatography. The molecular weight of the highly purified protein, designated MML, was 40 kDa as determined by SDS-PAGE analysis. MML exhibited significant cytotoxicity to several cancer cell types, including human hepatoma BEL-7402, human breast cancer MCF-7 and human colon cancer HCT116 cells. However, no inhibitory effect was found when treating murine normal fibroblasts NIH3T3 and benign human breast MCF-10A cells with MML. The cell death induced by MML was characterized by cell morphological changes. The induction of apoptosis of BEL-7402 cells by MML was weak by DNA ladder assay. The possible mechanisms of its anti-tumor effect might be the changes in cell membrane permeability and inhibition of tubulin polymerization. MML may be developed as a novel, highly selective and effective anti-cancer drug.

cDNA cloning and mRNA expression of the translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) gene from Japanese sea perch (Lateolabrax japonicus)

A homologue of the lower vertebrates translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) was cloned from the marine fish Japanese sea perch (Lateolabrax japonicus) by the technology of homology cloning. The full-length cDNA sequence of the sea perch TCTP gene contained a 5' untranslated region (UTR) of 47 bp, a 3' UTR of 433 bp, and a putative open reading frame (ORF) of 510 bp encoding a polypeptide of 170 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of the sea perch TCTP gene showed a high similarity to that of zebrafish, rohu, rabbit, chicken and human. Sequence analysis revealed there were a signature sequence of TCTP family, an N-glycosylation site, and five Casein kinase phosphorylation sites in the sea perch TCTP. The temporal expression of TCTP genes in healthy and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenged fishes was measured by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR). The results indicated that LPS could up-regulate the expression of sea perch TCTP in the examined tissues, including head-kidney, spleen and liver.

Caracterização molecular do gene que codifica a TCTP (Translationally Controlled Tumor Protein) em tomate (Solanum lycopersicum cv. Santa Clara)

The gene encoding TCTP (Translationally Controlled Tumour Protein) is present in all eukaryotes and its product is involved in various cellular processes. Although well characterized in mammals, there are only few works available in the literature related to the analysis of this protein in plants. In this present work, the expression of the gene encoding TCTP was analyzed in different organs/tissues of tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum cv. Santa Clara). A quantification performed by RT-qPCR revealed the presence of TCTP transcript in all tissues/organs analyzed, with the highest expression level found in leaves. With the exception of fruits in intermediate stage of maturation, for which a small increase on the expression was detected, there was minimal variation in the relative expression of TCTP in other organ/tissues. In parallel, the effects of the constitutive expression of TCTP were investigated using transgenic tobacco lines able to overexpress this protein at different levels (T1, T2 and T3). Seedlings of these lines, and of a non-transgenic control line, were grown in MS culture medium for 21 days. At the end of this period, the length of roots and leaves was taken and the seedlings were photographed. According to Tukey's test, the analysis of the mean root length revealed a significant difference between T1 and T3 lines when compared to the control, although the same was not observed for the T2 line. For leaves, according to Kruskal-Wallis test, there was a statistical difference between the averages of leaf growth obtained for the different lines evaluated. According to these results, we can conclude that TCTP shows an ubiquitous expression in tomato plants, with the highest expression detected in leaves, and also that its overexpression promoted a higher root and leaf development in two of three transgenic tobacco lines tested

G1 phase arrest induced by Wilms tumor protein WT1 is abrogated by cyclin/CDK complexes.

WT1, the Wilms tumor-suppressor gene, maps to the human chromosomal region 11p13 and encodes a transcriptional repressor, WT1, implicated in controlling normal urogenital development. Microinjection of the WT1 cDNA into quiescent cells or cells in early to mid G1 phase blocked serum-induced cell cycle progression into S phase. The activity of WT1 varied significantly depending on the presence or absence of an alternatively spliced region located upstream of the zinc finger domain. The inhibitory activity of WT1 was abrogated by the overexpression of cyclin E/CDK2 as well as cyclin D1/CDK4. Furthermore, both CDK4- and CDK2-associated kinase activities were downregulated in cells overexpressing WT1, whereas the levels of CDK4, CDK2, and cyclin D1 expression were unchanged. These findings suggest that inhibition of the activity of cyclin/CDK complexes may be involved in mediating the WT1-induced cell cycle block.

Carbonic anhydrase IX expression, a novel surrogate marker of tumor hypoxia, is associated with a poor prognosis in non-small-cell lung cancer

Purpose To evaluate carbonic anhydrase (CA) IX as a surrogate marker of hypoxia and investigate the prognostic significance of different patterns of expression in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods Standard immunohistochemical techniques were used to study CA IX expression in 175 resected NSCLC tumors. CA IX expression was determined by Western blotting in A549 cell lines grown under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Measurements from microvessels to CA IX positivity were obtained. Results CA IX immunostaining was detected in 81.8% of patients. Membranous (m) (P = .005), cytoplasmic (c) (P = .018), and stromal (P < .001) CA IX expression correlated with the extent of tumor necrosis (TN). The mean distance from vascular endothelium to the start of tumor cell positivity was 90 μm, which equates to an oxygen pressure of 5.77 mmHg. The distance to blood vessels from individual tumor cells or tumor cell clusters was greater if they expressed mCA IX than if they did not (P < .001). Hypoxic exposure of A549 cells for 16 hours enhanced CAIX expression in the nuclear and cytosolic extracts. Perinuclear (p) CA IX (P = .035) was associated with a poor prognosis. In multivariate analysis, pCA IX (P = .004), stage (P = .001), platelet count (P = .011), sex (P = .027), and TN (P = .035) were independent poor prognostic factors. Conclusion These results add weight to the contention that mCA IX is a marker of tumor cell hypoxia. The absence of CA IX staining close to microvessels suggests that these vessels are functionally active. pCA IX expression is representative of an aggressive phenotype. © 2003 by American Society of Clinical Oncology.

A brilliant breakthrough in OI type V

Interferon-induced transmembrane protein 5 or bone-restricted i ifitm-like gene (Bril) was first identified as a bone gene in 2008, although no in vivo role was identified at that time. A role in human bone has now been demonstrated with a number of recent studies identifying a single point mutation in Bril as the causative mutation in osteogenesis imperfecta type V (OI type V). Such a discovery suggests a key role for Bril in skeletal regulation, and the completely novel nature of the gene raises the possibility of a new regulatory pathway in bone. Furthermore, the phenotype of OI type V has unique and quite divergent features compared with other forms of OI involving defects in collagen biology. Currently it appears that the underlying genetic defect in OI type V may be unrelated to collagen regulation, which also raises interesting questions about the classification of this form of OI. This review will discuss current knowledge of OI type V, the function of Bril, and the implications of this recent discovery.

土壤低浓度PAHs胁迫下赤子爱胜蚓差异表达基因初步筛选

为探索土壤低浓度多环芳烃污染的生态毒性及其对土壤生物的致毒机理，本论文初步研究了菲、芘、荧蒽和苯并[a]芘等四种多环芳烃人工土壤污染在0.1mg.kg-1~10.0mg.kg-1浓度水平对赤子爱胜蚓（Eisenia fetida）产卵量、体重变化、排卵激素annetocin基因和翻译控制肿瘤蛋白（translationally controlled tumor protein, TCTP）转录水平的影响，发现在相同的低浓度水平下，只有苯并[a]芘对蚯蚓annetocin前体基因和TCTP基因的表达有显著影响，故其对生物体的生殖风险和致癌风险可能最大。另一方面，低浓度苯并[a]芘对蚯蚓体重和产茧量并无显著影响，这表明基因表达水平作为污染生态监测指标比宏观观测指标更灵敏。 为进一步研究土壤PAHs污染的生态毒性效应，在上述研究基础上，我们采用SSH-PCR的方法构建了人工土壤1.0mg.kg-1苯并[a]芘胁迫下的蚯蚓与对照组蚯蚓之间的消减cDNA文库，随机挑取上调文库301个克隆及下调文库283个克隆进行测序，与NCBI蛋白数据库比对结果表明，其中有391个克隆与已知的75种蛋白质基因显著匹配（期望值< 10-5），其余克隆匹配不显著（期望值> 10-5）或找不到匹配蛋白。显著匹配的基因序列包括：一相解毒酶细胞色素P450，二相解毒酶谷胱甘肽硫转移酶，蛋白质合成所需的核糖体蛋白亚基，参与新合成肽链折叠的热休克蛋白，线粒体基因组编码的呼吸链复合酶体亚基，过氧化物还原蛋白，铁蛋白，钙结合蛋白，半胱氨酸蛋白酶等。表明低浓度苯并[a]芘胁迫引起蚯蚓的生理变化是非常复杂的，涉及污染物降解与解毒、抗氧化保护、能量代谢、蛋白质合成、金属离子调节与蛋白质降解等过程。 Real-time PCR检测验证消减文库中部分差异基因对不同剂量BaP胁迫响应结果表明，各检验基因序列受1.0 mg∙kg-1 BaP 胁迫影响均与消减结果一致，且影响程度均高于0.1 mg∙kg-1浓度水平的BaP；其中，在0.1 mg∙kg-1 BaP胁迫下，过氧化物还原酶PRDX和类似Cyp2R1的P450基因表达未见明显变化。其余的HSP70、HSP90、rpL10、COXⅡ、SCBP、Ferritin等基因在0.1 mg∙kg-1 BaP胁迫组蚯蚓中均有检测到预期表达变化，说明虽然从消减文库中获得的基因在一定的污染物浓度范围内均表现浓度效应，但各个基因对污染物的响应浓度不尽相同。 Real-time PCR检测消减文库中部分差异基因对不同PAHs胁迫响应结果表明，1.0 mg∙kg-1 浓度水平的荧蒽、菲、芘和苯并[a]芘对差异表达基因的影响不尽相同，主要有以下三种情况：(1)广谱响应型：蚯蚓线粒体编码的亚基COXⅡ、可溶性钙结合蛋白、铁蛋白等基因对荧蒽、菲、芘及苯并[a]芘的胁迫均有相似的响应；(2)随芳烃环数而变化型：热休克蛋白HSP70和过氧化物还原酶PRDX表现出响应程度随胁迫多环芳烃的环数增加而提高的现象；(3)仅在苯并[a]芘中有响应型：核糖体蛋白亚基L10和细胞色素P450（类似Cyp2R1）基因，在1.0 mg∙kg-1浓度条件下，它们仅受BaP诱导表达，而芘、菲和荧蒽却没有显示诱导作用。 上述结果表明，在土壤中的低浓度的多环芳烃污染胁迫对蚯蚓的影响是多方面的，这些影响至少涉及能量代谢、污染物降解与解毒、蛋白质合成与修复、信号转导、细胞凋亡、排卵生殖、个体发育等多方面的生理功能。目前蚯蚓基因组还未有完整测序，本文论述的多个差异表达基因是首次在蚯蚓中发现的，这些新发现的基因序列在为低浓度PAHs的生态毒性机理研究提供依据的同时，也为以蚯蚓为模式生物的土壤污染生物监测提供了备选的生物分子标记。另一方面，由于蚯蚓基因组未完整测序，本研究构建的消减文库中仍不少未知功能基因，其功能与调控有待进一步研究。

The expression of AmphiTCTP, a TCTP orthologous gene in amphioxus related to the development of notochord and somites

The translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) is highly conserved and has been widely found in eukaryotic organisms. Here, we report the phylogenetic analysis and developmental expression of AmphiTCTP, a TCTP homologous gene in cephalochordate amphioxus. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that the putative protein of AmphiTCTP is close to its vertebrate orthologs. The mRNA of AmphiTCTP is found in fertilized eggs, early cleavage embryo and most of the early developmental stages by in situ hybridization and RT-PCR, but its expression is not detectable from late cleavage stage to mid-gastrula. The expression of AmphiTCTP in zygotes and early cleavage stages shows that AmphiTCTP may be a maternal gene. From the early neurula stage onward, AmphiTCTP transcript is localized in the presumptive notochord, presomitic mesoderm, and nascent somites. However, its expression is gradually down-regulated after the notochord and somites have been formed. The expression pattern of AmphiTCTP thus coincides with the differentiation of the notochord and somites, this suggests that AmphiTCTP may not be a housekeeping gene and may play an important role in mesoderm development. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Molecular coordinated regulation of gene expression during ovarian development in the penaeid shrimp

To understand the molecular events of ovarian development in penaeid shrimp, RNA arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction (RAP-PCR) was used to identify differentially expressed genes during ovarian maturation in Metapenaeus ensis. From a screening of 700 clones in a cDNA library of the shrimp ovary by the products of RAP-PCR of different maturation stages, 91 fragments with differentially expressed pattern as revealed by dot-blot hybridization were isolated and sequenced. Forty-two of these fragments show significant sequence similarity to known gene products and the differentially expressed pattern of 10 putative genes were further characterized via Northern hybridization. Putative glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and arginine kinase are related to provision of energy for active cellular function in oocyte development. Translationally controlled tumor protein, actin, and keratin are related to the organization of cytoskeleton to accomplish growth and development of oocytes. High mobility group protein DSP1, heat shock protein 70, and nucleoside diphosphate kinase may act as repressors before the onset of ovarian maturation. Peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase and glutathione peroxidase are related to the stabilization of proteins and oocytes. This study provides new insights on the molecular events in the ovarian development in the shrimp.

The first molluscan TCTP in Venerupis philippinarum: Molecular cloning and expression analysis

Translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) is one of the abundant and ubiquitously expressed proteins in metazoans In the present study, the first molluscan TCTP (denoted as VpTCTP) was identified from Venerupis philippinarum haemocytes by EST and RACE approaches The full-length cDNA of VpTCTP consisted of 1148 nucleotides with an open-reading frame of 555 bp encoding 184 amino acids The deduced amino acid sequence of VpTCTP shared high similarity with TCTPs from other species, indicating that VpTCTP should be a new member of TCTP family Several highly conserved motifs, including 5'terminal ologopyrimidine (5'TOP) starting sequence and rich AU and AUUT elements in 3'UTR, were also identified in VpTCTP The tissue and temporal expression of VpTCTP after Vi boo anguillarum challenge was recorded by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. VpTCTP transcript could be detected in all examined tissues with the highest expression level in haemocytes and the lowest in hepatopancreas Concerning the time-course expression in haemocytes, the relative expression of VpTCTP mRNA was down-regulated sharply from 6 h to 12 h post-infection. Then, the expression level was obviously up-regulated and reached 3.4-fold to that in the control group at 48 h post challenge As time progressed, the expression of VpTCTP recovered to the original level at 96 h. All these results indicated that VpTCTP was an acute-phase protein involved in the Immune response of V philippinarum (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

文蛤体液抗肿瘤蛋白的分离纯化与作用方式研究

恶性肿瘤是严重威胁人类健康的疾病，目前的抗肿瘤药物虽然具有一定疗效，但存在选择性差、毒副作用大等缺点，药物治疗期待着新的突破。因此，寻找高效低毒的抗肿瘤药物已经成为当前肿瘤研究的重要内容。传统抗肿瘤天然药物的来源局限在陆地，近年来在海洋来源的具有抗肿瘤活性物质的开发上取得了很多成果，获得了多种高活性、毒副作用小、作用机制新颖的活性化合物，为新型抗肿瘤药物的研发提供了新思路。 本研究采用硫酸铵分级沉淀、弱阳离子交换层析、疏水层析、强阴离子交换层析等分离技术，结合MTT活性追踪方法，从海洋软体动物文蛤体液中纯化得到单一蛋白组份MML，SDS-PAGE检测其分子量约为40kD。该蛋白在体外具有显著的抗人肝癌细胞BEL-7402的活性，其IC50达到52µg/mL。相差显微镜下观察发现，MML起效较快，细胞处理半小时后，形态开始发生改变，细胞膜逐渐与胞内物质分离，最终形成明显的空泡状结构。 为进一步研究MML的作用方式，分别从细胞膜毒性、细胞周期阻滞及诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡的角度开展了相关研究。在细胞膜毒性方面，采用扫描电镜观察、Hoechst33342/ PI双染色和乳酸脱氢酶漏出率检测的方法，初步证明了MML对BEL-7402具有细胞膜毒性。结合流式细胞仪、微管蛋白免疫荧光检测技术，研究了MML作用后的细胞周期及微管蛋白的变化情况，结果发现MML的抗肿瘤作用方式可能是通过改变肿瘤细胞膜通透性，进而破坏微管蛋白聚合、阻滞细胞周期，产生抑制肿瘤细胞增殖的活性。DNA Ladder琼脂糖凝胶电泳分析发现，MML作用后的细胞出现一定程度的凋亡，这种凋亡现象的产生是由于MML的直接诱导，还是间接作用产生，尚有待于深入研究。

Genetic Studies Identify Critical Biomarkers and Refine the Classification of Malignant Gliomas

Gliomagenesis is driven by a complex network of genetic alterations and while the glioma genome has been a focus of investigation for many years; critical gaps in our knowledge of this disease remain. The identification of novel molecular biomarkers remains a focus of the greater cancer community as a method to improve the consistency and accuracy of pathological diagnosis. In addition, novel molecular biomarkers are drastically needed for the identification of targets that may ultimately result in novel therapeutics aimed at improving glioma treatment. Through the identification of new biomarkers, laboratories will focus future studies on the molecular mechanisms that underlie glioma development. Here, we report a series of genomic analyses identifying novel molecular biomarkers in multiple histopathological subtypes of glioma and refine the classification of malignant gliomas. We have completed a large scale analysis of the WHO grade II-III astrocytoma exome and report frequent mutations in the chromatin modifier, alpha thalassemia mental retardation x-linked (ATRX), isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 (IDH1 and IDH2), and mutations in tumor protein 53 (TP53) as the most frequent genetic mutations in low grade astrocytomas. Furthermore, by analyzing the status of recurrently mutated genes in 363 brain tumors, we establish that highly recurrent gene mutational signatures are an effective tool in stratifying homogeneous patient populations into distinct groups with varying outcomes, thereby capable of predicting prognosis. Next, we have established mutations in the promoter of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) as a frequent genetic event in gliomas and in tissues with low rates of self renewal. We identify TERT promoter mutations as the most frequently mutated gene in primary glioblastoma. Additionally, we show that TERT promoter mutations in combination with IDH1 and IDH2 mutations are able to delineate distinct clinical tumor cohorts and are capable of predicting median overall survival more effectively than standard histopathological diagnosis alone. Taken together, these data advance our understanding of the genetic alterations that underlie the transformation of glial cells into neoplasms and we provide novel genetic biomarkers and multi – gene mutational signatures that can be utilized to refine the classification of malignant gliomas and provide opportunity for improved diagnosis.

FKBPL: a marker of good prognosis in breast cancer

FK506-binding protein-like (FKBPL) has established roles as an anti-tumor protein, with a therapeutic peptide based on this protein, ALM201, shortly entering phase I/II clinical trials. Here, we evaluated FKBPL's prognostic ability in primary breast cancer tissue, represented on tissue microarrays (TMA) from 3277 women recruited into five independent retrospective studies, using immunohistochemistry (IHC). In a meta-analysis, FKBPL levels were a significant predictor of BCSS; low FKBPL levels indicated poorer breast cancer specific survival (BCSS) (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.30, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.14-1.49, p < 0.001). The prognostic impact of FKBPL remained significant after adjusting for other known prognostic factors (HR = 1.25, 95% CI 1.07-1.45, p = 0.004). For the sub-groups of 2365 estrogen receptor (ER) positive patients and 1649 tamoxifen treated patients, FKBPL was significantly associated with BCSS (HR = 1.34, 95% CI 1.13-1.58, p < 0.001, and HR = 1.25, 95% CI 1.04-1.49, p = 0.02, respectively). A univariate analysis revealed that FKBPL was also a significant predictor of relapse free interval (RFI) within the ER positive patient group, but it was only borderline significant within the smaller tamoxifen treated patient group (HR = 1.32 95% CI 1.05-1.65, p = 0.02 and HR = 1.23 95% CI 0.99-1.54, p = 0.06, respectively). The data suggests a role for FKBPL as a prognostic factor for BCSS, with the potential to be routinely evaluated within the clinic.

Prostate Cancer and the Search for Novel Biomarkers

The primary objective of this research project was to identify prostate cancer (PCa) -specific biomarkers from urine. This was done using a multi-faceted approach that targeted (1) the genome (DNA); (2) the transcriptome (mRNA and miRNA); and (3) the proteome. Toward this end, urine samples were collected from ten healthy individuals, eight men with PCa and twelve men with enlarged, non-cancerous prostates or with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). Urine samples were also collected from the same patients (PCa and BPH) as part of a two-year follow-up. Initially urinary nucleic acids and proteins were assessed both qualitatively and quantitatively for characteristics either unique or common among the groups. Subsequently macromolecules were pooled within each group and assessed for either protein composition via LC-MS/MS or microRNA (miRNA) expression by microarray. A number of potential candidates including miRNAs were identified as being deregulated in either pooled PCa or BPH with respect to the healthy control group. Candidate biomarkers were then assessed among individual samples to validate their utility in diagnosing PCa and/or differentiating PCa from BPH. A number of potential targets including deregulation of miRNAs 1825 and 484, and mRNAs for Fibronectin and Tumor Protein 53 Inducible Nuclear Protein 2 (TP53INP2) appeared to be indicative of PCa. Furthermore, deregulation of miR-498 appeared to be indicative of BPH. The sensitivities and specificities associated with using deregulation in many of these targets to subsequently predict PCa or BPH were also determined. This research project has identified a number of potential targets, detectable in urine, which merit further investigation towards the accurate identification of PCa and its discrimination from BPH. The significance of this work is amplified by the non-invasive nature of the sample source from which these candidates were derived, urine. Many cancer biomarker discovery studies have tended to focus primarily on blood (plasma or serum) and/or tissue samples. This is one of the first PCa biomarker studies to focus exclusively on urine as a sample source.

Genome-Wide Analysis of Differentially Expressed Genes During the Early Stages of Tomato Infection by a Potyvirus

Plant responses against pathogens cause up-and downward shifts in gene expression. To identify differentially expressed genes in a plant-virus interaction, susceptible tomato plants were inoculated with the potyvirus Pepper yellow mosaic virus (PepYMV) and a subtractive library was constructed from inoculated leaves at 72 h after inoculation. Several genes were identified as upregulated, including genes involved in plant defense responses (e. g., pathogenesis-related protein 5), regulation of the cell cycle (e. g., cytokinin-repressed proteins), signal transduction (e. g., CAX-interacting protein 4, SNF1 kinase), transcriptional regulators (e. g., WRKY and SCARECROW transcription factors), stress response proteins (e. g., Hsp90, DNA-J, 20S proteasome alpha subunit B, translationally controlled tumor protein), ubiquitins (e. g., polyubiquitin, ubiquitin activating enzyme 2), among others. Downregulated genes were also identified, which likewise display identity with genes involved in several metabolic pathways. Differential expression of selected genes was validated by macroarray analysis and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The possible roles played by some of these genes in the viral infection cycle are discussed.