In normal and cancer cells, successful cell division requires accurate duplication of chromosomal DNA. All cells require a multiprotein DNA duplication system (replisomes) for their existence. However, death of normal cells in our body occurs through the apoptotic process.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFProtocols for assay of 24 different Glycolipid-Glycosyltransferases (GSL-GLTs) of the eukaryotic systems are described. Problems of quantitating the activities in crude membranes are also described. Different separation methods (for separation of substrate, donors, and the product of the reaction) have been described based on the paper chromatography or high voltage paper electrophoresis in 1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGangliosides, the acidic glycosphingolipids (GSLs) containing N-acetylgalactosamine and sialic acid are ubiquitous in the central nervous system. At least six DSL-glycosyltransferase activities (GLTs Gangliosides, the acidic glycosphingolipids (GSLs) containing N-acetylgalactosamine and sialic acid (or NAc-Neuraminic acid) are ubiquitous in the central nervous system. At least six GSL-glycosyltransferase activities (GLTs) of Basu-Roseman pathway catalyzing the biosynthesis of these gangliosides have been characterized in developing chicken brains.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFunctions of glycosphingolipids on the eukaryotic cell membranes during the onset of oncogenic processes and cell death are not well understood. Inhibitors of glycosphingolipid biosynthesis were recently found to trigger apoptosis in many carcinoma including breast cancer SKBR-3, MCF-7, and MDA-468 cells through either intrinsic or extrinsic apoptotic pathways as we previously reported. These anti-cancer inhibitors could increase ceramide concentration by blocking functions of glycolipid glycosyltransferases (GLTs).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUrinary trypsin inhibitors (uTi) suppress serine proteases during inflammation. After liberation from proinhibitors (P-alpha-I and I-alpha-I) by the white blood cell (WBC) response, uTi readily pass through the kidneys into urine. A key uTi, bikunin, is attached to O-linked and N-linked glycoconjugates.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInfectious disease, commonly caused by bacterial pathogens, is now the world's leading cause of premature death and third overall cause behind cardiovascular disease and cancer. Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), caused by E. coli bacteria, is a very common bacterial infection, a majority in women (85%) and may result in severe kidney failure if not detected quickly.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBreast cancer is the most common type of cancer, predominantly among women over 20, whereas colo-rectal cancer occurs in both men and women over the age of 50. Chemotherapy of both cancers affect rapidly growing normal as well as cancer cells. Cancer cells are non-apoptotic.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFApoptosis, or programmed cell death, plays an important role in many physiological and diseased conditions. Induction of apoptosis in cancer cells has been monitored during the cells' progression to apoptosis by anti-cancer drugs and inhibitors of the cell surface glycolipids, gangliosides and SA-Le(x) biosyntheses [Basu, S (1991) Glycobiology, 1, 469-475; and ibid, 427-435] in animal tissues and human carcinoma cells, respectively. Induction of apoptosis in cancer cells by cell surface glycolipids in the human breast cancer (SKBR3) cells is the aim in this study.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFApoptosis, or programmed cell death, plays an important role in many physiological and diseased conditions. Induction of apoptosis in cancer cells by anti-cancer drugs and biosynthetic inhibitors of cells surface glycolipids in the human colon carcinoma cells (Colo-205) are of interest in recent years. In our present studies, we have employed different stereoisomers of PPMP and PDMP (inhibit GlcT-glycosyltransferase (GlcT-GLT)) to initiate apoptosis in Colo-205 cells grown in culture in the presence of (3)H-TdR and (3)H/or (14)C-L-Serine.
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