A CRAF/glutathione-S-transferase P1 complex sustains autocrine growth of cancers with and mutations.

The Ras/RAF/MEK/ERK pathway is an essential signaling cascade for various refractory cancers, such as those with mutant (m) and (m). However, there are unsolved ambiguities underlying mechanisms for this growth signaling thereby creating therapeutic complications. This study shows that a vital component of the pathway CRAF is directly impacted by an end product of the cascade, glutathione transferases (GST) P1 (GSTP1), driving a previously unrecognized autocrine cycle that sustains proliferation of m and m cancer cells, independent of oncogenic stimuli.

Drug- and Drug Abuse-Associated Hyperbilirubinemia: Experience With Atazanavir.

Hyperbilirubinemia is a common finding in individuals with a history of substance abuse. Although this may indicate a serious disorder of liver function, this is not always the case. An understanding of bilirubin formation, metabolism, and transport can provide a helpful approach to dealing with these patients.

Reaction mechanisms of allicin and allyl-mixed disulfides with proteins and small thiol molecules.

Allylsulfides from garlic are chemopreventive agents. Entering cells they are expected to initially interact with glutathione. Accordingly, reaction mechanisms of the product, S-allylthio-glutathione, with model proteins and thiols were analyzed in cell free systems.

The proximal promoter governs germ cell-specific expression of the mouse glutathione transferase mGstm5 gene.

To explain the tissue-selective expression patterns of a distinct subclass of glutathione S-transferase (GST), transgenic mice expressing EGFP under control of a 2 kb promoter sequence in the 5'-flanking region of the mGstm5 gene were produced. The intent of the study was to establish whether the promoter itself or whether posttranscriptional mechanisms, particularly at the levels of mRNA translation and stability or protein targeting, based on unique properties of mGSTM5, determine the restricted expression pattern. Indeed, the transgene expression was limited to testis as the reporter was not detected in somatic tissues such as brain, kidney or liver, indicating that the mGstm5 proximal promoter is sufficient to target testis-specific expression of the gene.

Transition state model and mechanism of nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions catalyzed by human glutathione S-transferase M1a-1a.

An active site His107 residue distinguishes human glutathione S-transferase hGSTM1-1 from other mammalian Mu-class GSTs. The crystal structure of hGSTM1a-1a with bound glutathione (GSH) was solved to 1.9 A resolution, and site-directed mutagenesis supports the conclusion that a proton transfer occurs in which bound water at the catalytic site acts as a primary proton acceptor from the GSH thiol group to transfer the proton to His107.