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View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Targeting multiple anti-apoptotic proteins is now possible with the small molecule BH3 domain mimetics such as ABT-737. Given recent studies demonstrating that autophagy is a resistance mechanism to multiple therapeutic agents in the setting of apoptotic inhibition, we hypothesized that hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), an anti-malarial drug that inhibits autophagy, will increase cytotoxicity of ABT-737.
Experimental Design: Cytotoxicity of ABT-737 and HCQ was assessed in vitro in PC-3 and LNCaP cells, and in vivo in a xenograft mouse model.
Background: Topors is a nuclear protein that co-localizes with promyelocytic leukemia bodies and has both ubiquitin and SUMO E3 ligase activity. Expression studies implicated Topors as a tumor suppressor in various malignancies. To gain insight into the function of Topors, we generated a Topors-deficient mouse strain.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTOPORS is the first example of a protein that possesses both ubiquitin and SUMO E3 ligase activity. The ubiquitination activity maps to a conserved RING domain in the N-terminal region of the protein, which is not required for sumoylation activity. Similar to other E3 ligases, it is likely that the ubiquitin and sumoylation activities of TOPORS are regulated by post-translational modifications.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFResistance to topoisomerase I (TOP1)-targeting drugs such as topotecan often involves upregulation of topoisomerase II (TOP2), with accompanying increased sensitivity to TOP2-targeting drugs such as etoposide. This trial was designed to investigate sequential topoisomerase targeting in the treatment of patients with high-risk acute myelogenous leukemia. An initial cohort of patients received topotecan and cytosine arabinoside daily for 5 days.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFClinically relevant resistance to the currently approved camptothecins, irinotecan and topotecan, is poorly understood but may involve increased expression of ATP-dependent drug transporters such as ABCG2 (breast cancer resistant protein, BCRP). Gimatecan (ST1481) is a lipophilic 7-substituted camptothecin derivative that exhibits potent anti-tumor activity in a variety of preclinical cancer models and is under investigation in the clinic. Previous studies reported that gimatecan cytotoxicity was not affected by expression of ABCG2.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTOPORS is the first example of a protein with both ubiquitin and SUMO-1 E3 ligase activity and has been implicated as a tumor suppressor in several different malignancies. To gain insight into the cellular role of TOPORS, a proteomic screen was performed to identify candidate sumoylation substrates. The results indicate that many of the putative substrates are involved in chromatin modification or transcriptional regulation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIFN-stimulatory gene factor 15 (ISG15) is a ubiquitin-like protein, which is conjugated to many cellular proteins. However, its role in protein degradation is unclear. Here, we show that ISG15 is highly elevated and extensively conjugated to cellular proteins in many tumors and tumor cell lines.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe human topoisomerase I- and p53-binding protein topors contains a highly conserved, N-terminal C3HC4-type RING domain that is homologous to the RING domains of known E3 ubiquitin ligases. We demonstrate that topors functions in vitro as a RING-dependent E3 ubiquitin ligase with the E2 enzymes UbcH5a, UbcH5c, and UbcH6 but not with UbcH7, CDC34, or UbcH2b. Additional studies indicate that a conserved tryptophan within the topors RING domain is required for ubiquitination activity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTopors was identified recently as a human protein that binds to topoisomerase I and p53. Topors contains a highly conserved RING domain and localizes in promyelocytic leukemia nuclear bodies. Relatively little is known regarding topors expression patterns or function.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBreast cancer resistance protein (BCRP)/MXR/ABCG2 is a new member of the family of ATP-dependent drug efflux proteins. Whereas overexpression of another member of this family, P-glycoprotein, minimally affects the cytotoxicity of camptothecins (CPTs), overexpression of wild-type as well as certain mutant BCRPs confers resistance to CPT analogues that are used clinically, including topotecan and irinotecan. Relatively little is known regarding the effects of BCRP on other CPT analogues.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To investigate pharmacologically guided addition of etoposide to a weekly irinotecan/cisplatin chemotherapy.
Patients And Methods: Patients with advanced nonhematologic malignancies were eligible. Treatment consisted of i.
We previously identified topors as a topoisomerase I-binding protein that localizes in punctate nuclear regions when expressed as a GFP fusion protein. We now demonstrate that both the GFP-topors fusion protein and endogenous topors are associated with promyelocytic leukemia (PML) nuclear bodies in exponentially growing HeLa cells. Studies using isogenic PML+/+ and PML-/- murine embryonic fibroblasts indicate that the punctate nuclear localization of topors is dependent on PML.
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