Major vault protein forms complexes with hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1alpha and reduces HIF-1alpha level in ACHN human renal adenocarcinoma cells.

Vaults are evolutionarily highly conserved ribonucleoprotein (RNP) particles with a hollow barrel-like structure. Although roles in multidrug resistance and innate immunity have been suggested, the physiological function of vaults remains unclear. Major vault protein (MVP), the main component of the vault particle, has been reported to be induced by hypoxia.

Blockade of constitutively activated ERK signaling enhances cytotoxicity of microtubule-destabilizing agents in tumor cells.

The extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway is constitutively activated in many human tumor cell types. Given the cytoprotective role of this pathway, we examined whether its specific blockade might sensitize human tumor cells to the induction of apoptosis by various anticancer drugs. Although blockade of ERK signaling alone did not induce substantial cell death, it resulted in marked and selective enhancement of the induction of apoptosis by microtubule-destabilizing agents in tumor cells in which the ERK pathway is constitutively activated.

Hyperosmotic stress up-regulates the expression of major vault protein in SW620 human colon cancer cells.

The major vault protein (MVP) is the major constituent of the vault particle, the largest ribonuclear protein complex described to date and is identical to lung resistance-related protein (LRP). Although MVP is also expressed in several normal tissues, little is known about its physiological role. MVP played a protective role against some xenobiotics and other stresses.

Down regulation of c-Myc and induction of an angiogenesis inhibitor, thrombospondin-1, by 5-FU in human colon cancer KM12C cells.

5-FU is commonly used for treatment of various solid tumors including colon carcinoma. We have previously demonstrated that Egr-1 induced by 5-FU enhanced TSP-1 expression in human colon cancer KM12C cells. In this study, a Genechip analysis of KM12C cells treated with 5-FU revealed down-regulation of 924 genes and up-regulation of 460 genes.

Thymidine phosphorylase inhibits the expression of proapoptotic protein BNIP3.

An angiogenic factor, thymidine phosphorylase (TP), confers resistance to apoptosis induced by hypoxia. We investigated the molecular basis for the suppressive effect of TP on hypoxia-induced apoptosis using Jurkat cells transfected with TP cDNA, Jurkat/TP, and a mock transfectant, Jurkat/CV. TP and 2-deoxy-d-ribose, a degradation product of thymidine generated by TP enzymatic activity, suppressed hypoxia-induced apoptosis.

The small heat shock protein alphaB-crystallin inhibits differentiation-induced caspase 3 activation and myogenic differentiation.

Myoblasts respond to growth factor deprivation either by diffentiation into multinucleated myotubes or by undergoing apoptosis. The induction of apoptosis and differentiation in myogenic lineage may use overlapping cellular mechanisms. Here we demonstrate that the expression of the small heat shock protein alphaB-crystallin as well as MyoD and myogenin is induced during myogenic differentiation in C2C12 cells, and these inductions occur at an early stage in the differentiation in vitro.