Stem cells regenerate differentiated cells to maintain and repair tissues and organs. They also replenish themselves, i.e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStem cells regenerate differentiated cells to maintain and repair tissues and organs. They also replenish themselves, i.e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStem cells regenerate differentiated cells to maintain and repair tissues and organs. They also replenish themselves, i.e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Motin protein family consists of three members: AMOT (p80 and p130 isoforms), AMOT-like protein 1 (AMOTL1), and AMOT-like protein 2 (AMOTL2). The family members play an important role in processes such as cell proliferation, migration, angiogenesis, tight junction formation, and cell polarity. These functions are mediated through the involvement of the Motins in the regulation of different signal transduction pathways, including those regulated by small G-proteins and the Hippo-YAP pathway.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTreatment of patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has been challenging due to the absence of well-defined molecular targets and the highly invasive and proliferative nature of TNBC cells. Current treatments against TNBC have shown little promise due to high recurrence rate in patients. Consequently, there is a pressing need for novel and efficacious therapies against TNBC.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNaked mole rats () are a unique rodent species originating in Africa and are increasingly being used in research. Their needs and characteristics differ from those of other rodents used in research. Unique housing systems are necessary to address the special macro- and microenvironmental requirements of NMRs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) is an autosomal dominant genetic disease characterized by development of schwannomas on the VIIIth (vestibular) cranial nerves. Bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) proteins regulate gene transcription and their activity is required in a variety of cancers including malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors. The use of BET inhibitors as a therapeutic option to treat NF2 schwannomas has not been explored and is the focus of this study.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber) has fascinated zoologists for at least half a century. It has also generated considerable biomedical interest not only because of its extraordinary longevity, but also because of unusual protective features (e.g.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Hippo pathway is a key regulatory pathway that is tightly regulated by mechanical cues such as tension, pressure, and contact with the extracellular matrix and other cells. At the distal end of the pathway is the yes-associated protein (YAP), a well-characterized transcriptional regulator. Through binding to transcription factors such as the TEA Domain TFs (TEADs) YAP regulates expression of several genes involved in cell fate, proliferation and death decisions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNon-traditional model organisms are typically defined as any model the deviates from the typical laboratory animals, such as mouse, rat, and worm. These models are becoming increasingly important in human disease research, such as cancer, as they often display unusual biological features. Naked mole rats (NMRs) are currently one of the most popular non-traditional model, particularly in the longevity and cancer research fields.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Hippo pathway regulates cell proliferation and organ size through control of the transcriptional regulators YAP (yes-associated protein) and TAZ. Upon extracellular stimuli such as cell-cell contact, the pathway negatively regulates YAP through cytoplasmic sequestration. Under conditions of low cell density, YAP is nuclear and associates with enhancer regions and gene promoters.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInactivation of the tumor suppressor NF2/merlin underlies neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) and some sporadic tumors. Previous studies have established that merlin mediates contact inhibition of proliferation; however, the exact mechanisms remain obscure and multiple pathways have been implicated. We have previously reported that merlin inhibits Ras and Rac activity during contact inhibition, but how merlin regulates Ras activity has remained elusive.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe RAS proteins are the most frequently mutated oncogenes in cancer, with highest frequency found in pancreatic, lung, and colon tumors. Moreover, the activity of RAS is required for the proliferation and/or survival of these tumor cells and thus represents a high-value target for therapeutic development. Direct targeting of RAS has proven challenging for multiple reasons stemming from the biology of the protein, the complexity of downstream effector pathways and upstream regulatory networks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) is a tumor-forming disease of the nervous system caused by deletion or by loss-of-function mutations in NF2, encoding the tumor suppressing protein neurofibromin 2 (also known as schwannomin or merlin). Neurofibromin 2 is a member of the ezrin, radixin, moesin (ERM) family of proteins regulating the cytoskeleton and cell signaling. The correlation of the tumor-suppressive function and conformation (open or closed) of neurofibromin 2 has been subject to much speculation, often based on extrapolation from other ERM proteins, and controversy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic disorder of the gastrointestinal tract that has limited treatment options. To gain insight into the pathogenesis of chronic colonic inflammation (colitis), we performed a multiomics analysis that integrated RNA microarray, total protein mass spectrometry (MS), and phosphoprotein MS measurements from a mouse model of the disease. Because we collected all three types of data from individual samples, we tracked information flow from RNA to protein to phosphoprotein and identified signaling molecules that were coordinately or discordantly regulated and pathways that had complex regulation in vivo.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Hippo-YAP pathway is a central regulator of cell contact inhibition, proliferation and death. There are conflicting reports regarding the role of Angiomotin (Amot) in regulating this pathway. While some studies suggest a YAP-inhibitory function other studies indicate Amot is required for YAP activity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Annual Children's Tumor Foundation International Neurofibromatosis Meeting is the premier venue for connecting discovery, translational and clinical scientists who are focused on neurofibromatosis types 1 and 2 (NF1 and NF2) and schwannomatosis (SWN). The meeting also features rare tumors such as glioma, meningioma, sarcoma, and neuroblastoma that occur both within these syndromes and spontaneously; associated with somatic mutations in NF1, NF2, and SWN. The meeting addresses both state of the field for current clinical care as well as emerging preclinical models fueling discovery of new therapeutic targets and discovery science initiatives investigating mechanisms of tumorigenesis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) is a dominantly inherited autosomal disease characterized by schwannomas of the 8th cranial nerve. The NF2 tumor suppressor gene encodes for Merlin, a protein implicated as a suppressor of multiple cellular signaling pathways. To identify potential drug targets in NF2-associated malignancies we assessed the consequences of inhibiting the tyrosine kinase receptor MET.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Hippo-YAP pathway has emerged as a major driver of tumorigenesis in many human cancers. YAP is a transcriptional coactivator and while details of YAP regulation are quickly emerging, it remains unknown what downstream targets are critical for the oncogenic functions of YAP. To determine the mechanisms involved and to identify disease-relevant targets, we examined the role of YAP in neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) using cell and animal models.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAngiomotins were originally identified as angiostatin binding proteins and implicated in the regulation of endothelial cell migration. Recent studies have shed light on the role of Angiomotins and other members of the Motin protein family in epithelial cells and in pathways directly linked to the pathogenesis of cancer. In particular, Motins have been shown to play a role in signaling pathways regulated by small G-proteins and the Hippo-YAP pathway.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Hippo-Yap signaling pathway regulates a number of developmental and adult cellular processes, including cell fate determination, tissue growth, and tumorigenesis. Members of the scaffold protein angiomotin (Amot) family interact with several Hippo pathway components, including Yap (Yes-associated protein), and either stimulate or inhibit Yap activity. We used a combination of genetic, biochemical, and transcriptional approaches to assess the functional consequences of the Amot-Yap interaction in mice and in human cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe p21-activated kinases (PAKs) are immediate downstream effectors of the Rac/Cdc42 small G-proteins and implicated in promoting tumorigenesis in various types of cancer including breast and lung carcinomas. Recent studies have established a requirement for the PAKs in the pathogenesis of Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2), a dominantly inherited cancer disorder caused by mutations at the NF2 gene locus. Merlin, the protein product of the NF2 gene, has been shown to negatively regulate signaling through the PAKs and the tumor suppressive functions of Merlin are mediated, at least in part, through inhibition of the PAKs.
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