The tumor invasion inhibitor dihydromotuporamine C activates RHO, remodels stress fibers and focal adhesions, and stimulates sodium-proton exchange.

The motuporamines are macrocyclic alkaloids that inhibit tumor cell invasion by an, as yet, unknown mechanism. A structure-activity study recently identified dihydromotuporamine C (dhMotC) as a highly active and readily synthesized analogue. Here, we show that dhMotC causes subtle cytoskeletal alterations in highly invasive MDA231 breast tumor cells that include an increase in the thickness and number of cytoplasmic actin stress fibers.

Competence development by Haemophilus influenzae is regulated by the availability of nucleic acid precursors.

DNA uptake by naturally competent bacteria provides cells with both genetic information and nucleotides. In Haemophilus influenzae, competence development requires both cAMP and an unidentified signal arising under starvation conditions. To investigate this signal, competence induction was examined in media supplemented with nucleic acid precursors.