• BMB Reports
• /
• v.29 no.3
• /
• pp.253-260
• /
• 1996

An enzyme that hydrolyzes flavin-adenine dinucleotide (FAD) was found to be present in rat liver lysosomal membrane prepared from Triton WR-1339 filled lysosomes (tritosomes) purified by flotation on sucrose. This FAD phosphohydrolase (FADase) exhibited optimal activity at pH 8.5 and had an apparent Km of approximately 3.3 mM. The activity was decreased 50~70% by dialysis against EDTA and this was restored by $Zn^{2+}$, $Mg^{+2}$, $Hg^{+2}$, and $Ca^{+2}$ ions inhibited the enzyme, but $F^-$ and molybdate had no effect. The enzyme was also inhibited by p-chloromercuribenzoate (pCMB), reduced glutathione and other thiols, cyanide, and ascorbate. The presence of ATP, ADP, AMP. ${\alpha}-{\beta}-methylene$ ATP, AMP-p-nitrophenyl phosphate (PNP), GMP, and coenzyme A (CoA) decreased the activity on FAD, but pyrimidine nucleotides, adenosine, adenine, or $NAD^+$ were without effect. Phosphate stimulated the activity slightly. FAD phosphohydrolase activity was separated from ATPase and inorganic pyrophosphatase activities by solubilization with detergents and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and by linear sucrose density gradient centrifugation suggesting that the enzyme is different from ATPase, inorganic pyrophosphatase, and soluble lysosomal FAD pyrophosphatase. Paper chromatography showed that FAD was hydrolyzed to flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and AMP which were further hydrolyzed to riboflavin and AMP by phosphatases known to be present in lysosomal membranes. Incubation of the intact Iysosomes with pronase showed that the active site of FAD phosphohydrolase must be oriented to the cytosol. The FAD hydrolyzing activity was detected in Golgi, microsome, and plasma membrane, but not in mitochondria or soluble lysosomal preparations.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.48 no.12
• /
• pp.685-690
• /
• 2015

The eukaryotic genome is packed into chromatin, which is important for the genomic integrity and gene regulation. Chromatin structures are maintained through assembly and disassembly of nucleosomes catalyzed by histone chaperones. Asf1 (anti-silencing function 1) is a highly conserved histone chaperone that mediates histone transfer on/off DNA and promotes histone H3 lysine 56 acetylation at globular core domain of histone H3. To elucidate the role of Asf1 in the modulation of chromatin structure, we screened and identified small molecules that inhibit Asf1 and H3K56 acetylation without affecting other histone modifications. These pyrimidine-2,4,6-trione derivative molecules inhibited the nucleosome assembly mediated by Asf1 in vitro, and reduced the H3K56 acetylation in HeLa cells. Furthermore, production of HSV viral particles was reduced by these compounds. As Asf1 is implicated in genome integrity, cell proliferation, and cancer, current Asf1 inhibitor molecules may offer an opportunity for the therapeutic development for treatment of diseases.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.44 no.4
• /
• pp.462-471
• /
• 2017

Thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP), the active form of thiamine is a cofactor for enzymes involved in central metabolism pathways. However, it is also known to have a role as a stress signaling molecule in response to environmental changes. Anabaena sp. and N. oculata are microorganisms which are abundantly found in Malaysia's freshwater and marine ecosystem. However, not much studies have been done especially in regards to thiamine biosynthesis. This work aimed to amplify of gene transcripts coding for thiamine biosynthesis enzymes besides looking at the expression of thiamine biosynthesis genes upon stress application. Various stress inducers were applied to the cultures and RNA was extracted at different time points. The first two genes, ThiC and ThiG/Thi4 encoding enzymes of the pyrimidine and thiazole branch respectively in the thiamine biosynthesis pathway were identified and amplified. The expression of the genes were analysed via RT-PCR and the intensity of bands were analysed using ImageJ software. The results showed up to 4-fold increase in the expression of ThiC and ThiG gene transcript as compared to control sample in Anabaena sp. ThiC gene in N. oculata showed an expression of 6-fold higher as compared to control sample. In conclusion, stresses induced the expression of the gene coding for one of the most important enzymes in thiamine biosynthesis pathway. This is an agreement with the hypothesis that overexpression of thiamine is crucial in assisting plants to combat abiotic stresses.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.433-437
• /
• 2010

In the course of screening for novel modulators of cell cycle progression and apoptosis as anticancer drug candidates, we generated an analog of sangivamycin, MCS-C2, which was elucidated as 4-amino-6-bromo-7-cyclopentyl-7H-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine-5-carboxamide. In the present study, we evaluated the molecular mechanisms of MCSC2-induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in A549 human lung cancer cells. To investigate the effects of MCS-C2 on cell cycle progression in A549 cells, we measured the DNA content of A549 cells treated with $5\;{\mu}M$ MCS-C2 using flow cytometry. The analysis revealed an appreciable $G_2$ phase arrest in treated cells. This event was associated with significant upregulation of p53 and $p21^{Cip1}$. In addition, the TUNEL assay was used to examine apoptotic induction in treated cells, and the effects of MCS-C2 on the expression of apoptosis-associated proteins were examined by Western blot. Apoptotic induction in MCS-C2-treated A549 cells was associated with cytochrome c release from mitochondria, which in turn resulted in the activation of caspase-9 and -3 and the cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Based on these results, we conclude that MCS-C2 is a candidate therapeutic agent for the treatment of human lung cancer via upregulation and activation of p53.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.6 no.4
• /
• pp.204-210
• /
• 2006

Background: Nitric oxide (NO) in articular chondrocytes regulates dedifferentiation and inflammatory responses by modulating MAP kinases. In this study, we investigated whether the Src kinase in chondrocytes regulates NO-induced dedifferentiation and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression. Methods: Primary chondrocytes were treated with various concentrations of SNP for 24 h. The COX-2 and type II collagen expression levels were determined by immunoblot analysis, and prostaglandin $E_2\;(PGE_2)$ was determined by using a $PGE_2$ assay kit. Expression and distribution of p-Caveolin and COX-2 in rabbit articular chondrocytes and cartilage explants were determined by immunohistochemical staining and immunocytochemical staining, respectively. Results: SNP treatment stimulated Src kinase activation in a dose-dependent manner in articular chondrocytes. The Src kinase inhibitors PP2 [4-amino-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-7-(t-butyl)pyrazolo(3,4-d)pyrimidine], a significantly blocked SNP-induced p38 kinase and caveolin-1 activation in a dose-dependent manner. Therefore, to determine whether Src kinase activation is associated with dedifferentiation and/or COX-2 expression and $PGE_2$ production. As expected, PP2 potentiated SNP-stimulated dedifferentiation, but completely blocked both COX-2 expression and $PGE_2$ production. And also, levels of p-Caveolin and COX-2 protein expression were increased in SNP-treated primary chondrocytes and osteoarthritic and rheumatoid arthritic cartilage, suggesting that p-Caveolin may playa role in the inflammatory responses of arthritic cartilage. Conclusion: Our previously studies indicated that NO caused dedifferentiation and COX-2 expression is regulated by p38 kinase through caveolin-1 (1). Therefore, our results collectively suggest that Src kinase regulates NO-induced dedifferentiation and COX-2 expression in chondrocytes via p38 kinase in association with caveolin-1.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
• /
• v.1 no.2
• /
• pp.111-115
• /
• 2005

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation to mammalian skin is known to alter cellular function via generation of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), DNA damage and DNA lesions, such as pyrimidine dimmers and photoproducts, which could lead to DNA mutation if they are not repaired. In this study, we have investigated the reduction of DNA damage and of apoptosis with a particular attention to genetic effect of paeoniflorin in Normal Human Epidermal Keratinocytes (NHEK). After UVB irradiation from $10\;to\;500mJ/cm^{2}$ to NHEK, Mean Tail Moments (MTM) were increased with UVB dose increase. The greatest amount of strand breaks was induced at $500mJ/cm^{2}$ of UVB. Even at the lowest dose of UVB ($10mJ/cm^{2}$), change in MTM was detected (P<0.0001). Pretreated cell with 0.1% paeoniflorin maximally reduced the level of DNA damage to about 21.3%, compared to untreated cell. In the lower concentrations less than 0.01% of paeoniflorin, MTM had a small increase but paeoniflorin still had reductive effects of DNA damage. We measured the apoptosis suppression of paeoniflorin with annexin V flous staining kit. As we observed under the fluorescence microscopy to detect apoptosis in the irradiated cell, the fluorescence intensity was clearly increased in the untreated cell, but decreased in treated cells with paeoniflorin. These results suggest that paeoniflorin reduces the alteration of cell membranes and prevents DNA damage. Therefore, the use of paeoniflorin as a free radical scavenger to reduce the harmful effects of UV lights such as chronic skin damage, wrinkling and skin cancer can be useful to prevent the formation of photooxidants that result in radical damage.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.9
• /
• pp.3691-3696
• /
• 2015

Background: Cancer loci comprise heterogeneous cell populations with diverse cellular secretions. Therefore, disseminating cancer-specific or cancer-associated protein antigens from tissue lysates could only be marginally correct, if otherwise not validated against precise standards. Materials and Methods: In this study, 2DE proteomic profiles were examined from lysates of 13 lung-adenocarcinoma tissue samples and matched against the A549 cell line proteome. A549 matched-cancer-specific hits were analyzed and characterized by MALDI-TOF/MS. Results: Comparative analysis identified a total of 13 protein spots with differential expression. These proteins were found to be involved in critical cellular functions regulating pyrimidine metabolism, pentose phosphate pathway and integrin signaling. Gene ontology based analysis classified majority of protein hits responsible for metabolic processes. Among these, only a single non-predictive protein spot was found to be a cancer cell specific hit, identified as Armadillo repeat-containing protein 8 (ARMC8). Pathway reconstruction studies showed that ARMC8 lies at the centre of cancer metabolic pathways. Conclusions: The findings in this report are suggestive of a regulatory role of ARMC8 in control of proliferation and differentiation in lung adenocarcinomas.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.5
• /
• pp.2121-2127
• /
• 2012

Objective: Deoxyribonucleoside kinase of Drosophila melanogaster (Dm-dNK) mutants have been reported to exert suicide gene effects in combined gene/chemotherapy of cancer. Here, we aimed to further evaluate the capacity of the mutanted enzyme and its potential for inhibiting cancer cell growth. Methods: We altered the sequence of the last 10 amino acids of Dm-dNK to perform site-directed mutagenesis and constructed active site mutanted Dm-dNK (Dm-dNKmut), RT-PCR and western bloting studies were used to reveal the expression of lentivirus mediated Dm-dNKmut in a breast cancer cell line (Bcap37), a gastric cancer cell line (SGC7901) and a colorectal cancer cell line (CCL187). [3H]-labeled substrates were used for enzyme activity assays, cell cytotoxicity was assessed by MTT assays, cell proliferation using a hemocytometer and apoptosis induction by thenannexin-V-FITC labeled FACS method. In vivo, an animal study was set out in which BALB/C nude mice bearing tumors were treated with lentivirus mediated expression of Dm-dNKmut with the pyrimidine nucleoside analog brivudine (BVDU, (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-(2-deoxyuridine). Results: The Dm-dNKmut could be stably expressed in the cancer cell lines and retained its enzymatic activity. Moreover, the cells expressing Dm-dNKmut exhibited increased sensitivity in combination with BVDU, with induction of apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. Conclusion: These findings underlined the importance of BVDU phosphorylated by Dm-dNKmut in transduced cancer cells and the potential role of Dm-dNKmut as a suicide gene, thus providing the basis for future intensive research for cancer therapy.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.86-94
• /
• 1978

The crystal and molecular structure of theophylline hydrochloride has been determined from X-ray data by Patterson techniques. The structure has been refined by block-diagonal least-squares and Fourier synthesis on three dimensional data. The unit cell is orthorhombic, space group $P_{na21}$, with a = 14.01, b = 11.49, c = 6.77${\AA}$, and contains four molecules. The final R value based on 743 observed reflexions is 12.2%. The intramolecular distances are similar to those in other compounds containing a purine or pyrimidine group. The molecules are nearly planar and are stacked in layers parallel to the (001)plane. The chlorine atom is coordinated to N(1) atom at a distance of 3.06${\AA}$. The structure is stabilized mainly by van der Waals interactions; however, a short N${\cdot}{\cdot}{\cdot}$Cl contact of length $3.06\AA$, which is slightly less than the expected van der Waals separation, suggest that weak charge transfer interaction may be present. The relationship between this structure and the known structures of theophylline monohydrate and caffeine monohydrate are discussed.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.45-50
• /
• 2008

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is an antimetabolic of the pyrimidine derivatives that is used in chemotherapy for the treatment of several types of cancer. 5-FU have poor oral absorption and short biological half-time and strong side effects. Microneedle introduced to find a solution of problems. Microneedle device with roll was manufactured for transdermal delivery of various drugs. 5-FU was mixed in non-ionic surfactant such as tween 20 and tween 80. Camscope was used to analysis the permeation magnitude of treated skin by microneedle and trypan blue staining. The 5-FU solution with surfactant measured by ZETA-potential analysis system for stability of solution. The skin permeation rate of 5-FU determined by HPLC. We confirmed that cross treated skin was dyed more deeply than parallel treated skin through trypan blue staining. The results indicate that skin permeation rate of 5-FU was increased with the treatment types and treatment times.