Caspase cleavage of transcription factor Sp1 enhances apoptosis.

Sp1 is a ubiquitous transcription factor that regulates many genes involved in apoptosis and senescence. Sp1 also has a role in the DNA damage response; at low levels of DNA damage, Sp1 is phosphorylated by ATM and localizes to double-strand break sites where it facilitates DNA double-strand-break repair. Depletion of Sp1 increases the sensitivity of cells to DNA damage, whereas overexpression of Sp1 can drive cells into apoptosis.

A new approach to highly sensitive determination of retinoic acid isomers by preconcentration with CdSe quantum dots.

Unusual amounts of retinoic acid (RA) isomers play an important role in abnormal morphological development of mammals; such as rat embryos. Each isomer of RA has a unique function in first steps of embryonic life. In the current study, a new method for preconcentration and simultaneous determination of all-trans retinoic acid, 13-cis retinoic acid, 9-cis retinoic acid and 9,13-di-cis retinoic acid in rat whole rudimentary embryo culture (RWEC) has been developed.

Effects of non-thermal plasma on mammalian cells.

Thermal plasmas and lasers have been widely used in medicine to cut, ablate and cauterize tissues through heating; in contrast, non-thermal plasma produces no heat, so its effects can be selective. In order to exploit the potential for clinical applications, including wound healing, sterilization, blood coagulation, and cancer treatment, a mechanistic understanding of the interaction of non-thermal plasma with living tissues is required. Using mammalian cells in culture, it is shown here that non-thermal plasma created by dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) has dose-dependent effects that range from increasing cell proliferation to inducing apoptosis.

Non-thermal plasma induces apoptosis in melanoma cells via production of intracellular reactive oxygen species.

Non-thermal atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma may provide a novel approach to treat malignancies via induction of apoptosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of DBD plasma to induce apoptosis in melanoma cells. Melanoma cells were exposed to plasma at doses that did not induce necrosis, and cell viability and apoptotic activity were evaluated by Trypan blue exclusion test, Annexin-V/PI staining, caspase-3 cleavage, and TUNEL® analysis.

The transcription factor SP1 regulates centriole function and chromosomal stability through a functional interaction with the mammalian target of rapamycin/raptor complex.

Specificity protein 1 (SP1) is an essential transcription factor implicated in the regulation of genes that control multiple cellular processes, including cell cycle, apoptosis, and DNA damage. Very few nontranscriptional roles for SP1 have been reported thus far. Using confocal microscopy and centrosome fractionation, we identified SP1 as a centrosomal protein.

Cytokinins induce photomorphogenic development in dark-grown gametophytes of Ceratopteris richardii.

The cytokinins benzylaminopurine, kinetin and isopentenyladenine induce photomorphogenesis in dark-grown gametophytes of the fern Ceratopteris richardii. At sub-nanomolar concentrations each altered the rate and pattern of cell division, elongation and differentiation, mimicking aspects of the light-mediated transition from filamentous to prothallial growth. Untreated dark-grown gametophytes grow as narrow, elongate, asexual filaments with an apical meristem.