ALDH Breast Cancer Stem Cells Exhibit a Mesenchymal-Senescent Hybrid Phenotype, with Elevated Metabolic and Migratory Activities.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) account for 0.01 to 2% of the total tumor mass; however, they play a key role in tumor progression, metastasis and resistance to current cancer therapies. The generation and maintenance of CSCs are usually linked to the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a dynamic process involved in reprogramming cancer cells towards a more aggressive and motile phenotype with increased stemness potential.

Defects in lipid homeostasis reflect the function of TANGO2 in phospholipid and neutral lipid metabolism.

We show that TANGO2 in mammalian cells localizes predominantly to mitochondria and partially at mitochondria sites juxtaposed to lipid droplets (LDs) and the endoplasmic reticulum. HepG2 cells and fibroblasts of patients lacking TANGO2 exhibit enlarged LDs. Quantitative lipidomics revealed a marked increase in lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and a concomitant decrease in its biosynthetic precursor phosphatidic acid (PA).

Laminin N-terminus α31 expression during development is lethal and causes widespread tissue-specific defects in a transgenic mouse model.

Laminins (LMs) are essential components of all basement membranes where they regulate an extensive array of tissue functions. Alternative splicing from the laminin α3 gene produces a non-laminin but netrin-like protein, Laminin N terminus α31 (LaNt α31). LaNt α31 is widely expressed in intact tissue and is upregulated in epithelial cancers and during wound healing.

Laminin Polymerization and Inherited Disease: Lessons From Genetics.

The laminins (LM) are a family of basement membranes glycoproteins with essential structural roles in supporting epithelia, endothelia, nerves and muscle adhesion, and signaling roles in regulating cell migration, proliferation, stem cell maintenance and differentiation. Laminins are obligate heterotrimers comprised of α, β and γ chains that assemble intracellularly. However, extracellularly these heterotrimers then assemble into higher-order networks interaction between their laminin N-terminal (LN) domains.

Laminin N-terminus α31 protein distribution in adult human tissues.

Laminin N-terminus α31 (LaNt α31) is a netrin-like protein derived from alternative splicing of the laminin α3 gene. Although LaNt α31 has been demonstrated to influence corneal and skin epithelial cell function, its expression has not been investigated beyond these tissues. In this study, we used immunohistochemistry to characterise the distribution of this protein in a wide-array of human tissue sections in comparison to laminin α3.

Construction of Two mCherry Plasmids (pXG-mCherry) for Transgenic : Valuable Tools for Future Molecular Analysis.

is the causative agent of leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease that affects more than 12 million people around the world. Current treatments are toxic and poorly effective due to the acquisition of resistance within populations. Thus, the pursuit for new antileishmanial drugs is a priority.