• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.44 no.7
• /
• pp.468-480
• /
• 2021

Ubiquitin D (UBD) is highly upregulated in many cancers, and plays a pivotal role in the pathophysiological processes of cancers. However, its roles and underlying mechanisms in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) are still unclear. In the present study, we investigated the role of UBD in patients with OSCC. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot were used to measure the expression of UBD in OSCC tissues. Immunohistochemistry assay was used to detect the differential expressions of UBD in 244 OSCC patients and 32 cases of normal oral mucosae. In addition, CCK-8, colony formation, wound healing and Transwell assays were performed to evaluate the effect of UBD on the cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in OSCC. Furthermore, a xenograft tumor model was established to verify the role of UBD on tumor formation in vivo. We found that UBD was upregulated in human OSCC tissues and cell lines and was associated with clinical and pathological features of patients. Moreover, the overexpression of UBD promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion of OSCC cells; however, the knockdown of UBD exerted the opposite effects. In this study, our results also suggested that UBD promoted OSCC progression through NF-κB signaling. Our findings indicated that UBD played a critical role in OSCC and may serve as a prognostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target for OSCC treatment.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.7
• /
• pp.3005-3009
• /
• 2014

The aims of this study were to investigate the influence of ubiquitin- conjugating enzyme E2C (UBE2C) on biological behavior of lung cancer cells. Using MTT, flow cytometry and invasion assays, we detected UBE2C expression and evaluated its biological properties in these cells, including effects on proliferation, the cell cycle profile and invasive capability. Compared with control cells, the UBE2C transfected cells demonstrated increased cellular proliferation (p<0.05). UBE2C transfected cells also had a lower percentage in G1 phase and a higher percentage in S phase (p<0.05). Importantly, the UBE2C transfected cells had a notable enhancement of cell numbers penetrating the basement membrane compared with the control group (p<0.05). Ectopic up-regulation UBE2C promoted the growth of lung cancer cells in vivo. Furthermore, we found UBE2C increased the expression of cyclin D1 and MMP-2. These results show UBE2C may represent a potential therapeutic target for lung cancer.

• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.6 no.4
• /
• pp.341-347
• /
• 2002

The life cycle of Acanthamoeba is comprised of two distinct stages, tropho-zoite and cyst. During periods of stress, trophozoites undergo cellular differentiation into cyst. In order to understand the cellular differentiation, ore followed changes in profiles of major proteins by 2D-PAGE and ubiqui-tinated proteins by immunoblotting with anti-ubiquitin (Ub) monoclonal antibody (mAb) as a probe. We observed 51 proteins present in trophozoite were lost with the encystment. We found that 43 proteins within 24 h, and 8 proteins in 96 h of encystment. Among them, 17 proteins were staine with anti-Ub mAb. In cysts, 16 proteins including 2 anti-Ub mAb-reactive proteins were newly synthesized. Four proteins were newly detected in 24 h-cyst and disappeared in 96 h-cyst, one protein was synthesized in 24-96 h-cyst and disappeared in 168 h-cyst, and 11 proteins appeared upon en-cystment and were present in all cyst stages. We identified a cyst specific 33 kDa protein as subtilisin-like serine proteinase by N-terminal sequencing. Identification of these proteins lost and newly synthesized with encystment would improve our understanding of cysting protozoan parasites.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
• /
• v.2 no.4
• /
• pp.227-231
• /
• 2008

D-class cyclins play important roles in controlling the cell cycle in development and in response to external signals by forming the regulatory subunit of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) complexes. To evaluate the effects of D-class cyclins in transgenic rice plants, Arabidopsis cyclin D2 gene (CycD2) was linked to the maize ubiquitin1 promoter (Ubi1) and introduced into rice by the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation method. Genomic deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), ribonucleic acid (RNA), and Western blot hybridizations of the Ubi1:-CycD2 plants revealed copy number of transgene and its increased expression in leaf and callus cells at messenger RNA (mRNA) and/or protein levels. The H1 kinase assay using the immunoprecipitates of protein extracts from the Ubi1:CycD2 plants and nontransgenic controls demonstrated that the introduced Arabidopsis CycD2 forms a functional CycD2/CDK complex with an unidentified CDK of rice. Shoot and root growth was enhanced in the Ubi1:CycD2 seedlings compared with nontransgenic controls, together, suggesting that Arabidopsis cyclin D2 interacts with a rice cyclin-dependent kinase, consequently enhancing seedling growth.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.44 no.9
• /
• pp.572-577
• /
• 2011

Elevated phospholipase D (PLD) expression prevents cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. However, the roles of PLD isoforms in cell proliferation and apoptosis are incompletely understood. Here, we investigated the physiological significance of the interaction between PLD2 and protein kinase CKII (CKII) in HCT116 human colorectal carcinoma cells. PLD2 interacted with the CKII${\beta}$ subunit in HCT116 cells. The C-terminal domain (residues 578-933) of PLD2 and the N-terminal domain of CKII${\beta}$ were necessary for interaction between the two proteins. PLD2 relocalized CKII${\beta}$ to the plasma membrane area. Overexpression of PLD2 reduced CKII${\beta}$ protein level, whereas knockdown of PLD2 led to an increase in CKII${\beta}$ expression. PLD2-induced CKII${\beta}$ reduction was mediated by ubiquitin-dependent degradation. The C-terminal domain of PLD2 was sufficient for CKII${\beta}$ degradation as the catalytic activity of PLD2 was not required. Taken together, the results indicate that the C-terminal domain of PLD2 can regulate CKII by accelerating CKII${\beta}$ degradation in HCT116 cells.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
• /
• v.56 no.5
• /
• pp.711-717
• /
• 2018

Human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) can stimulate the division of various cell types and has potential clinical applications. Since the protein contains three intra-molecular disulfide bonds, the high expression of active hEGF in Escherichia coli has not been well researched, We fused the hEGF gene with a small ubiquitin-related modifier gene (SUMO) by synthesizing an artificial SUMO-hEGF fusion gene that was highly expressed in E. coli (DE3) strain. The optimal expression level of the soluble fusion protein, SUMO-hEGF with IPTG (Isopropyl-${\beta}$-D-Thiogalactopyranoside), was up to 38.9% of the total cellular protein. The fusion protein was purified by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography and cleaved by a SUMO-specific protease to obtain the native hEGF, which was further purified by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. The result of the reverse-phase HPLC showed that the purity of the recombinant cleaved hEGF was greater than 98%.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.23-30
• /
• 2005

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is an autosomal-dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by expansion of the polyglutamine tract in the SCA1 gene product, ataxin-1. Using d2EGFP, a short-lived enhanced green fluorescent protein, we investigated whether polyglutamine-expanded ataxin-1 affects the function of the proteasome, a cellular multicatalytic protease that degrades most misfolded proteins and regulatory proteins. In Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence experiments, d2EGFP was less degraded in HEK 293T cells transfected with ataxin-1(82Q) than in cells transfected with lacZ or empty vector controls. To test whether the stability of the d2EGFP protein was due to aggregation of ataxin-1, we constructed a plasmid carrying $ataxin-1-{\Delta}114$, lacking the self-association region (SAR), and examined degradation of the d2EGFP. Both the level of $ataxin-1-{\Delta}114$ aggregates and the amount of d2EGFP were drastically reduced in cells containing $ataxin-1-{\Delta}114$. Furthermore, d2EGFP localization experiments showed that polyglutamine-expanded ataxin-1 inhibited the general function of the proteasome activity. Taken together, these results demonstrate that polyglutamine-expanded ataxin-1 decreases the activity of the proteasome, implying that a disturbance in the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway is directly involved in the development of spinocerebellar ataxia type1.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.324-330
• /
• 1994

The multicatalvtic 205 proteasome consisting of 12-15 subunits of 22-35 kDa is the catalytic core of the ATP/ubiquitin-dependent 26S protease complex that also is comprised of multiple subunits of 22-110 KDa. In order to determine whether the proteolvtic activities change during muscle development, the enzyme preparations were obtained from 11-, 14- and 17-day old chick embryonic muscle using a BioGel A-1.5m column. The 26S complex preparation from 14- or 17-day old muscle hvdr olvz e d both N -s uccinvl- Le u- Le u -Val-Tvr-7- amido -4- methvlco umarin ( Suc- LLVY- AMC) and ubiquitin-Ivsozvme conjugates about 50% as well as that from 11-day old muscle. In addition, the activity of 20S proteBsome against Suc-LLVY-AMC also decreased by about 20-30%. However, the protein level of 265 complex remained constant during the entire development period, while that of 205 proteasome increased 5- to 6-fold, as analyzed by nondenaturins polyacrvlamide gel elenrophoresis followed by immunoblot analysis using the antibodies raised against the purified enzymes. Thus, the specific activity of 20S proteasome against the peptide must decrease rather dramatically during the muscle development. These results suggest that the development-dependent changes in the proteolytic activities of both 20S proteasome and 26S protease complect from embryonic muscle are due to alterations in the expression of certain subunits in the enzvmes that are responsible for their specific cataIVtic functions but not to overall changes in the enzyme amounts.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.45 no.6
• /
• pp.425-434
• /
• 2022

The post-translational modification (e.g., phosphorylation) of estrogen receptor α (ERα) plays a role in controlling the expression and subcellular localization of ERα as well as its sensitivity to hormone response. Here, we show that ERα is also modified by UFM1 and this modification (ufmylation) plays a crucial role in promoting the stability and transactivity of ERα, which in turn promotes breast cancer development. The elevation of ufmylation via the knockdown of UFSP2 (the UFM1-deconjugating enzyme in humans) dramatically increases ERα stability by inhibiting ubiquitination. In contrast, ERα stability is decreased by the prevention of ufmylation via the silencing of UBA5 (the UFM1-activating E1 enzyme). Lys171 and Lys180 of ERα were identified as the major UFM1 acceptor sites, and the replacement of both Lys residues by Arg (2KR mutation) markedly reduced ERα stability. Moreover, the 2KR mutation abrogated the 17β-estradiol-induced transactivity of ERα and the expression of its downstream target genes, including pS2, cyclin D1, and c-Myc; this indicates that ERα ufmylation is required for its transactivation function. In addition, the 2KR mutation prevented anchorage-independent colony formation by MCF7 cells. Most notably, the expression of UFM1 and its conjugating machinery (i.e., UBA5, UFC1, UFL1, and UFBP1) were dramatically upregulated in ERα-positive breast cancer cell lines and tissues. Collectively, these findings implicate a critical role attributed to ERα ufmylation in breast cancer development by ameliorating its stability and transactivity.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.435-443
• /
• 2018

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) functions as a metabolic master through regulating and restoring cellular energy balance. In skeletal muscle, AMPK increases myofibril protein degradation through the expression of muscle-specific ubiquitin ligases. Mori Folium, the leaf of Morus alba, is a traditional medicinal herb with various pharmacological functions; however, the effects associated with muscle atrophy have not been fully identified. In this study, we confirmed the effects of AMPK activation by examining the effects of 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide (AICAR), an activator of AMPK, on the induction of atrophy and expression of atrophy-related genes in C2C12 myotubes. We also investigated the effects of the ethanol extract of Mori Folium (EEMF) on the recovery of AICAR-induced muscle atrophy in C2C12 myotubes. It was found that exposure to AICAR resulted in the stimulation of Forkhead box O3a (FOXO3a); an up-regulation of muscle-specific ubiquitin ligases such as Muscle Atrophy F-box (MAFbx)/atrogin-1 and muscle RING finger-1 (MuRF1), and a down-regulation of muscle-specific transcription factors, such as MyoD and myogenin; with the activation of AMPK. In addition, AICAR without cytotoxicity indicated a decrease in diameter of C2C12 myotubes. However, treatment with EEMF significantly suppressed AICAR-induced muscle atrophy of C2C12 myotubes in a dose-dependent manner as confirmed by a decrease in myotube diameter, which is associated with a reversed stimulation of FOXO3a by the inhibition of AMPK activation. These results indicate that the activation of AMPK by AICAR induces muscle atrophy, and EEMF has preeminent effects on the inhibition of AICAR-induced muscle atrophy through the AMPK signaling pathway.