Rab3 proteins and cancer: Exit strategies.

Rab proteins are GTPases involved in all stages of vesicular transport and membrane fusion in mammalian cells. Individual Rab proteins localize to specific cellular organelles and regulate a specific membrane trafficking pathway. Recent studies suggest an important role for Rab proteins in cancer.

Chibby is a weak regulator of β-catenin activity in gastric epithelium.

The canonical Wnt-β-catenin pathway is important in normal development. Mutations in β-catenin or proteins involved with regulating its phosphorylation or localization result in its nuclear accumulation where it activates its target genes and stimulates cell proliferation. This pathway is dysregulated in many different types of cancer, including gastric cancer (GC).

Variations in the multimerization region of the cytotoxin CagA affect virulence.

colonizes the human stomach by infecting gastric epithelial cells. It is the primary cause of peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer (GC). Cytotoxin-associated gene A (CagA) is a virulence factor produced by .

Analysis of the 3'-variable region of the cagA gene from Helicobacter pylori strains infecting patients at New York City hospitals.

Helicobacter pylori infects the gastric mucosa in humans and is a causative agent for peptic ulcer disease (PUD) and gastric cancer (GC). CagA is produced by H. pylori and is associated with more severe outcomes.

Hsp90 Co-localizes with Rab-GDI-1 and regulates agonist-induced amylase release in AR42J cells.

Rab proteins are small GTPases required for vesicle trafficking through the secretory and endocytic pathways. Rab GDP-dissociation inhibitor (rab-GDI) regulates Rab protein function and localization by maintaining Rab proteins in the GDP-bound conformation. Two isoforms of rab-GDI are present in most mammalian cells: GDI-1 and GDI-2.

Association of polymorphisms in myeloperoxidase and catalase genes with precancerous changes in the gastric mucosa of patients at inner-city hospitals in New York.

Gastric carcinogenesis is a multistep process progressing from chronic gastritis, through glandular atrophy (GA), intestinal metaplasia (IM) and dysplasia. We have previously demonstrated that minority patients at New York City hospitals are infected with a relatively virulent strain of H. pylori (Hp) and that Hp infection is associated with an increased incidence of precancerous changes in the gastric mucosa.

Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with a high incidence of intestinal metaplasia in the gastric mucosa of patients at inner-city hospitals in New York.

Gastric carcinogenesis is a multistep process progressing from chronic gastritis, through glandular atrophy (GA), intestinal metaplasia (IM) and dysplasia. Infection of the stomach with H. pylori increases the risk of developing gastric cancer.

Rab3D redistribution and function in rat parotid acini.

Rab3D is a low molecular weight GTP-binding protein believed to be involved with regulated secretion in many cell types. In parotid, Rab3D is localized to secretory granule membranes or present in the cytosol as a complex with Rab escort protein. In the present study, we examined the redistribution of membrane-associated Rab3D during secretion in permeabilized parotid acini.

H. pylori infection and genotyping in patients undergoing upper endoscopy at inner city hospitals.

Kings County Hospital (KCH), and St. John's Episcopal Hospital (SJH) are inner-city hospitals in New York City serving predominantly minority populations. Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH) serves a predominantly middle-class Caucasian population.

Expression and localization of rab escort protein isoforms in parotid acinar cells from rat.

Rab proteins are geranylgeranylated on their carboxyl terminal cysteine motifs by geranylgeranyltransferase II (GGTase). Rab escort protein (REP) is required to present Rab proteins to GGTase. REP may remain bound to newly isoprenylated Rab proteins and present them to their target membrane.

Expression and localization of Rab3D in rat parotid gland.

Rab3 proteins (isoforms A, B, C and D) are low molecular weight GTP-binding proteins proposed to be involved in regulated exocytosis. In the present study, Rab3 protein expression and localization was examined in rat parotid gland by reverse transcription (rt) PCR, Western blotting and immunocytochemistry. An approximately 200 bp PCR product was obtained from parotid RNA by rtPCR and this fragment was cloned and sequenced.

Cytosolic RAB3D is associated with RAB escort protein (REP), not RAB-GDP dissociation inhibitor (GDI), in dispersed chief cells from guinea pig stomach.

Rab3D, a low-molecular-weight GTP-binding protein believed to be involved with regulated exocytosis, is associated with secretory granules in gastric chief cells. Although Rab3D is predominantly membrane associated, a significant fraction is cytosolic. Rab proteins are geranylgeranylated on their C-terminal cysteine motifs by geranylgeranyltransferase (GGTase).

Protein kinase C isoform expression and function in transformed and non-transformed pancreatic acinar cell lines.

Members of the protein kinase C (PKC) family of multifunctional serine/threonine phosphorylating enzymes are believed to play a role in regulating cellular differentiation and proliferation in many cell types. In the present study, we examined the expression of PKC isoforms in non-transformed (BMRPA.430) and transformed (TUC3) rat pancreatic acinar cell lines and compared this to PKC expression in freshly dispersed acini from rat pancreas.

Regulation of calcium-induced exocytosis from gastric chief cells by protein phosphatase-2B (calcineurin).

The molecular mechanisms whereby calcium stimulates secretion are uncertain. In the present study, we used streptolysin O (SLO)-permeabilized chief cells from guinea pig stomach to investigate whether protein phosphatase-2B (calcineurin), a calcium/calmodulin-dependent, serine/threonine phosphatase plays a role in mediating calcium-induced pepsinogen secretion. Preincubation of cells with alpha-naphthylphosphate, a non-specific phosphatase inhibitor, decreased calcium-induced secretion.

Expression and phosphorylation of a MARCKS-like protein in gastric chief cells: further evidence for modulation of pepsinogen secretion by interaction of Ca2+/calmodulin with protein kinase C.

In gastric chief cells, agents that activate protein kinase C (PKC) stimulate pepsinogen secretion and phosphorylation of an acidic 72-kDa protein. The isoelectric point and molecular mass of this protein are similar to those for a common PKC substrate; the MARCKS (for Myristoylated Alanine-Rich C Kinase Substrate) protein. We examined expression and phosphorylation of the MARCKS-like protein in a nearly homogeneous suspension of chief cells from guinea pig stomach.

Calcineurin mediates calcium-induced potentiation of adenylyl cyclase activity in dispersed chief cells from guinea pig stomach. Further evidence for cross-talk between signal transduction pathways that regulate pepsinogen secretion.

In cholera toxin-treated gastric chief cells, incubation with a cholinergic agonist (carbamylcholine), a regulatory peptide (cholecystokinin), or a calcium ionophore (A23187) causes a dose- and time-dependent potentiation of cAMP levels. Because this augmented response is calcium/calmodulin-dependent, we hypothesized that it was mediated by calcineurin (protein phosphatase 2B). To test this hypothesis, we examined the actions of calcineurin inhibitors on secretagogue-induced potentiation of cAMP levels in guinea pig chief cells.

Actions and expression of RAB-GDP dissociation inhibitor in dispersed chief cells from guinea pig stomach.

Rab proteins are a family of ras-like proteins that are involved in intracellular membrane trafficking. Rab-GDP dissociation inhibitor prevents dissociation of GDP from Rab proteins and extracts Rab proteins from cell membranes in vitro. In the present study, we examined the effects of recombinant rab-GDI on Rab proteins in gastric chief cells.

Expression of Rab3D in dispersed chief cells from guinea pig stomach.

Rab3 proteins are low molecular weight GTP-binding proteins that are expressed in neurons and other secretory cells. These proteins are localized to secretory vesicles and may play a role in regulated exocytosis. Presently, four highly homologous Rab3 isoforms (A, B, C, D) have been identified.

Actions of Rab3 effector domain peptides in chief cells from guinea pig stomach.

Rab3 proteins are low molecular weight guanine nucleotide-binding proteins that belong to the Ras superfamily and are believed to play a role in the final steps of exocytosis. To examine potential interactions of these proteins with signaling pathways that mediate pepsinogen secretion from gastric chief cells, we synthesized peptides corresponding to the effector domain of Rab3. In the absence of added calcium [calcium concentration ([Ca2+]) < 1 nM], a maximal concentration (15 microM) of the Rab3 effector domain peptide or Rab3AL peptide, containing alanine and leucine substitutions, stimulated the release of 62 and 66%, respectively, of total pepsinogen from streptolysin O-permeabilized chief cells.

GTP gamma S-induced pepsinogen secretion from gastric chief cells does not require carboxyl methylation or translocation of low molecular weight (LMW) GTP-binding proteins.

We identified at least four LMW GTP-binding proteins in membrane and cytosolic fractions from dispersed gastric chief cells. Extraction of membrane-bound GTP-binding proteins with various agents revealed that these proteins are intimately associated with chief cell membranes. Upon extraction with Triton X-114, the majority of GTP-binding proteins partitioned into the detergent phase, indicative of their hydrophobic nature.

Protein kinase C expression and translocation in dispersed chief cells from guinea-pig stomach.

The protein kinase C (PKC) family of enzymes is comprised of at least nine isoforms that vary with respect to co-factor dependence, cellular distribution and substrate specificity. Using specific antibodies for alpha, beta, gamma, delta, epsilon, zeta and eta PKC isoforms, and Western blot analysis, we found that alpha and zeta PKC are expressed in gastric chief cells. We then used these methods to examine the effects of carbamylcholine, a cholinergic agonist that increases cellular calcium and diacylglycerol concentrations, and PMA, a phorbol ester that activates PKC, on the subcellular distribution of these isoforms.

Carbachol activates protein kinase C in dispersed gastric chief cells.

We used an 'in situ' kinase assay to examine agonist-induced protein kinase C. (PKC) activation in dispersed chief cells from guinea-pig stomach. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a phorbol ester, and carbamoylcholine, a cholinergic agent, caused a 4- and 3-fold increase in pepsinogen secretion from dispersed chief cells respectively.

Actions of Helodermatidae venom peptides and mammalian glucagon-like peptides on gastric chief cells.

The actions of peptides (helospectin I, helodermin, exendin-3, exendin-4) that have been isolated from the venoms of Helodermatidae lizards were examined using dispersed chief cells from guinea pig stomach. These actions were compared with those of mammalian glucagon-like peptides, particularly truncated glucagon-like peptide 1 (TGLP-1), a peptide that shares 53% homology with exendin-4. The Helodermatidae venom peptides and TGLP-1 caused a two- to threefold increase in chief cell adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate and pepsinogen secretion.

Guanine nucleotides activate multiple signaling pathways in permeabilized gastric chief cells. Evidence for GTP gamma S-induced calcium-independent pepsinogen secretion.

Nonhydrolyzable guanine nucleotide analogues were used to evaluate the role of guanine nucleotide binding (G) proteins in regulating pepsinogen secretion from streptolysin O-permeabilized chief cells from guinea pig stomach. In the presence of 100 nM calcium, 100 microM guanosine 5'-(beta,gamma-imido)triphosphate or guanosine 5'-3-O-(thio)triphosphate (GTP gamma S) caused a 2- to 4-fold increase in pepsinogen secretion. GTP gamma S stimulated secretion in the absence of calcium (up to 10 mM EGTA).