Neural crest cells bulldoze through the microenvironment using Aquaporin 1 to stabilize filopodia.

Neural crest migration requires cells to move through an environment filled with dense extracellular matrix and mesoderm to reach targets throughout the vertebrate embryo. Here, we use high-resolution microscopy, computational modeling, and and cell invasion assays to investigate the function of Aquaporin 1 (AQP-1) signaling. We find that migrating lead cranial neural crest cells express AQP-1 mRNA and protein, implicating a biological role for water channel protein function during invasion.

Characterization of a novel novobiocin analogue as a putative C-terminal inhibitor of heat shock protein 90 in prostate cancer cells.

Purpose: Hsp90 is important in the folding, maturation and stabilization of pro-tumorigenic client proteins and represents a viable drug target for the design of chemotherapies. Previously, we reported the development of novobiocin analogues designed to inhibit the C-terminal portion of Hsp90, which demonstrated the ability to decrease client protein expression. We now report the characterization of the novel novobiocin analogue, F-4, which demonstrates improved cytotoxicity in prostate cancer cell lines compared to the N-terminal inhibitor, 17-AAG.