Analysis of the Rit subfamily GTPase-mediated signaling and neuronal differentiation and survival.

The Rit subfamily of GTPases is a founding branch within the Ras family of small G-proteins and preserves unique sequences in the G2 effector loop domain and the C-terminus. Rit proteins regulate a diversity of signal transduction pathways, some of which are similar to and others of which differ from the pathways that are regulated by other Ras family GTPases. Rit proteins have been demonstrated to be essential regulators in neuronal differentiation and survival.

Rad GTPase deletion increases L-type calcium channel current leading to increased cardiac contraction.

Background: The small GTPase Rad is a negative regulator of voltage-dependent L-type calcium channel current (ICaL); however, the effects of Rad ablation on cardiomyocyte function are unknown. The objective of this study is to test the hypothesis that Rad-depletion causes positive inotropic effects without inducing cardiac hypertrophy.

Methods And Results: Ventricular myocytes from adult Rad(-/-) mice were isolated and evaluated by patch-clamp recordings for I(Ca,L) and action potentials, Ca(2+) transients, and sarcomere shortening.

In vitro anticancer activity of Anemopsis californica.

Three different extract conditions (aqueous, EtOH and EtOAc) of four different parts (bracts, leaves, roots and stems) of the plant Anemopsis californica (A. californica) were evaluated for their effect on the growth and migration of human colon cancer cells, HCT-8, and the breast cancer cell lines Hs 578T and MCF-7/AZ. Our aim was to identify potential anticancer activity in crude A.

Ethacrynic acid analogues lacking the alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl unit--potential anti-metastatic drugs.

A series of ethacrynic acid analogues, lacking the alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl unit, was synthesized and subsequently evaluated for their ability to inhibit the migration of human breast cancer cells, MCF-7/AZ. Several of the analogues were already active in the low micromolar range, whereas ethacrynic acid itself shows no potential to inhibit the migration of these cancer cells. Preliminary studies show that the presence of one or more methoxy groups at the phenyl ring of ethacrynic acid is important in order for the ethacrynic acid analogues to demonstrate an inhibitory effect on the migration.