The role of Algerian ethanolic extract in inhibiting the growth of breast cancer cells by inducing apoptosis in a p53- dependent pathway.

Background: , a member of the Ephedraceae family, was used to treat different diseases and it might be shown a strong efficacy to inhibit cancer cell lines.

Methods: Due to the limited research available about this plant, the objective of this research was to evaluate the antioxidant, cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of ethanolic extract (EAEE), against different human cancer cell lines.

Results: EAEE inhibited the growth of the liver (HepG2), breast (MCF-7), and colon cancer cells (Caco-2).

Stimulation of the DNA unwinding activity of human DNA helicase II/Ku by phosphorylation.

The Ku autoantigen is a heterodimeric protein of 70- and 83-kDa subunits, endowed with duplex DNA end-binding capacity and DNA helicase activity (Human DNA Helicase II, HDH II). HDH II/Ku is well established as the DNA binding component, the regulatory subunit as well as a substrate for the DNA-dependent protein kinase DNA-PK, a complex involved in the repair of DNA double-strand breaks and in V(D)J recombination in eukaryotes. The effects of phosphorylation by this kinase on the helicase activity of Escherichia coli-produced HDH II/Ku were studied.