Actin cytoskeleton depolymerization increases matrix metalloproteinase gene expression in breast cancer cells by promoting translocation of cysteine-rich protein 2 to the nucleus.

The actin cytoskeleton plays a critical role in cancer cell invasion and metastasis; however, the coordination of its multiple functions remains unclear. Actin dynamics in the cytoplasm control the formation of invadopodia, which are membrane protrusions that facilitate cancer cell invasion by focusing the secretion of extracellular matrix-degrading enzymes, including matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). In this study, we investigated the nuclear role of cysteine-rich protein 2 (CRP2), a two LIM domain-containing F-actin-binding protein that we previously identified as a cytoskeletal component of invadopodia, in breast cancer cells.

Actin Cytoskeleton Remodeling Drives Breast Cancer Cell Escape from Natural Killer-Mediated Cytotoxicity.

Elucidation of the underlying molecular mechanisms of immune evasion in cancer is critical for the development of immunotherapies aimed to restore and stimulate effective antitumor immunity. Here, we evaluate the role of the actin cytoskeleton in breast cancer cell resistance to cytotoxic natural killer (NK) cells. A significant fraction of breast cancer cells responded to NK-cell attack via a surprisingly rapid and massive accumulation of F-actin near the immunologic synapse, a process we termed "actin response.

Enantiomeric fractionation as a tool for quantitative assessment of biodegradation: The case of metoprolol.

An efficient chiral liquid chromatography high resolution mass spectrometry method has been developed for the determination of metoprolol (MTP) and three of its major metabolites, namely O-desmethylmetoprolol (O-DMTP), α-hydroxymetoprolol (α-HMTP) and metoprolol acid (MTPA) in wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) influents and effluents. The optimized analytical method has been validated with good quality parameters including resolution >1.3 and method quantification limits down to the ng/L range except for MTPA.

Insights into reductive dechlorination of triclocarban in river sediments: Field measurements and in vitro mechanism investigations.

Triclocarban (TCC) reductive dechlorination was investigated using a combination of field and laboratory experiments. Field monitoring revealed that TCC reductive dechlorination in river sediments leads to formation of two isomers of its lesser chlorinated congener namely 3,4'-dichlorocarbanilide and 4,4'-dichlorocarbanilide. Monochlorocarbanilide was not detected in sediments supporting that transformation of dichlorocarbanilide into monochlorocarbanilide is the rate limiting step of TCC dechlorination.

In vivo exposure of marine mussels to carbamazepine and 10-hydroxy-10,11-dihydro-carbamazepine: Bioconcentration and metabolization.

Aquatic organisms are exposed to pharmaceuticals present in natural waters, but few data are available on the accumulation of these substances in such organisms. The present study evaluated the in vivo bioconcentration of two anticonvulsants--carbamazepine (CBZ) and 10-hydroxy-10,11-dihydro-carbamazepine (10 OH)--in marine mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) exposed to nominal 10 μg L(-1) concentrations for one week. The bioconcentration factors (BCFs) were 3.