TET1 suppresses cancer invasion by activating the tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases.

Tumor suppressor gene silencing through cytosine methylation contributes to cancer formation. Whether DNA demethylation enzymes counteract this oncogenic effect is unknown. Here, we show that TET1, a dioxygenase involved in cytosine demethylation, is downregulated in prostate and breast cancer tissues.

Breast cancer amplified sequence 2, a novel negative regulator of the p53 tumor suppressor.

Breast cancer amplified sequence 2 (BCAS2) was reported previously as a transcriptional coactivator of estrogen receptor. Here, we report that BCAS2 directly interacts with p53 to reduce p53 transcriptional activity by mildly but consistently decreasing p53 protein in the absence of DNA damage. However, in the presence of DNA damage, BCAS2 prominently reduces p53 protein and provides protection against chemotherapeutic agent such as doxorubicin.

Ribonucleotide reductase of shrimp white spot syndrome virus (WSSV): expression and enzymatic activity in a baculovirus/insect cell system and WSSV-infected shrimp.

Infection of shrimp cells with white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) results in an increase in ribonucleotide reductase (RR) expression at the RNA level. In this article we further express and characterize the induction of a novel ribonucleotide reductase after WSSV infection of shrimp cells. A baculovirus/insect system was used to express the two recombinant protein subunits RR1 and RR2, and a DNA polymerase coupled RR activity assay showed a marked increase in ribonucleotide reductase activity when cell extracts containing recombinant RR1 and RR2 were combined.