CPT1A-mediated fatty acid oxidation confers cancer cell resistance to immune-mediated cytolytic killing.

Although tumor-intrinsic fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO) is implicated in multiple aspects of tumorigenesis and progression, the impact of this metabolic pathway on cancer cell susceptibility to immunotherapy remains unknown. Here, we report that cytotoxicity of killer T cells induces activation of FAO and upregulation of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A), the rate-limiting enzyme of FAO in cancer cells. The repression of CPT1A activity or expression renders cancer cells more susceptible to destruction by cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

Ubiquitin-like protein 5 is a novel player in the UPR-PERK arm and ER stress-induced cell death.

Biological functions of the highly conserved ubiquitin-like protein 5 (UBL5) are not well understood. In Caenorhabditis elegans, UBL5 is induced under mitochondrial stress to mount the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPR). However, the role of UBL5 in the more prevalent endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-UPR in the mammalian system is unknown.

Histopathological Diagnosis of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH).

Fatty acid beta oxidation (FAO) is a predominant bioenergetic pathway in mammals. Substantial investigations have demonstrated that FAO activity is dysregulated in many pathophysiological conditions including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Convenient and quantitative assays of FAO activities are important for studies of cell metabolism and the biological relevance of FAO to health and diseases.

Lysophosphatidic acid induces tumor necrosis factor-alpha to regulate a pro-inflammatory cytokine network in ovarian cancer.

Epithelial ovarian carcinoma tissues express high levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and other inflammatory cytokines. The underlying mechanism leading to the abnormal TNF-α expression in ovarian cancer remains poorly understood. In the current study, we demonstrated that lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a lipid mediator present in ascites of ovarian cancer patients, induced expression of TNF-α mRNA and release of TNF-α protein in ovarian cancer cells.

Functional analysis of molecular and pharmacological modulators of mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation.

Fatty acid oxidation (FAO) is a key bioenergetic pathway often dysregulated in diseases. The current knowledge on FAO regulators in mammalian cells is limited and sometimes controversial. Previous FAO analyses involve nonphysiological culture conditions or lack adequate quantification.

Immunometabolism: A new target for improving cancer immunotherapy.

Fundamental metabolic pathways are essential for mammalian cells to provide energy, precursors for biosynthesis of macromolecules, and reducing power for redox regulation. While dysregulated metabolism (e.g.

Ovarian Cancer Relies on Glucose Transporter 1 to Fuel Glycolysis and Growth: Anti-Tumor Activity of BAY-876.

The recent progresses in understanding of cancer glycolytic phenotype have offered new strategies to manage ovarian cancer and other malignancies. However, therapeutic targeting of glycolysis to treat cancer remains unsuccessful due to complex mechanisms of tumor glycolysis and the lack of selective, potent and safe glycolytic inhibitors. Recently, BAY-876 was identified as a new-generation inhibitor of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), a GLUT isoform commonly overexpressed but functionally poorly defined in ovarian cancer.

Fatty acid oxidation: An emerging facet of metabolic transformation in cancer.

Cancer cells undergo metabolic reprogramming such as enhanced aerobic glycolysis, mutations in the tricarboxylic acid cycle enzymes, and upregulation of de novo lipid synthesis and glutaminolysis. These alterations are pivotal to the development and maintenance of the malignant phenotype of cancer cells in unfavorable tumor microenvironment or metastatic sites. Although mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO) is a primary bioenergetic source, it has not been generally recognized as part of the metabolic landscape of cancer.

Adaptive evolution of insect selective excitatory β-type sodium channel neurotoxins from scorpion venom.

Insect selective excitatory β-type sodium channel neurotoxins from scorpion venom (β-NaScTxs) are composed of about 70-76 amino acid residues and share a common scaffold stabilized by four unique disulfide bonds. The phylogenetic analysis of these toxins was hindered by limited sequence data. In our recent study, two new insect selective excitatory β-NaScTxs, LmIT and ImIT, were isolated from Lychas mucronatus and Isometrus maculatus, respectively.

Carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A functions to repress FoxO transcription factors to allow cell cycle progression in ovarian cancer.

Cancer cells rely on hyperactive de novo lipid synthesis for maintaining malignancy. Recent studies suggest involvement in cancer of fatty acid oxidation, a process functionally opposite to lipogenesis. A mechanistic link from lipid catabolism to oncogenic processes is yet to be established.

Lysophosphatidic Acid Up-Regulates Hexokinase II and Glycolysis to Promote Proliferation of Ovarian Cancer Cells.

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a blood-borne lipid mediator, is present in elevated concentrations in ascites of ovarian cancer patients and other malignant effusions. LPA is a potent mitogen in cancer cells. The mechanism linking LPA signal to cancer cell proliferation is not well understood.

In-depth LC-MS/MS analysis of the chicken ovarian cancer proteome reveals conserved and novel differentially regulated proteins in humans.

Ovarian cancer (OVC) remains the most lethal gynecological malignancy in the world due to the combined lack of early-stage diagnostics and effective therapeutic strategies. The development and application of advanced proteomics technology and new experimental models has created unique opportunities for translational studies. In this study, we investigated the ovarian cancer proteome of the chicken, an emerging experimental model of OVC that develops ovarian tumors spontaneously.

Novel inhibitors of Staphylococcus aureus virulence gene expression and biofilm formation.

Staphylococcus aureus is a major human pathogen and one of the more prominent pathogens causing biofilm related infections in clinic. Antibiotic resistance in S. aureus such as methicillin resistance is approaching an epidemic level.

Inhibition of Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm by trimethylsilane plasma coating.

Biofilm formation on implantable medical devices is a major impediment to the treatment of nosocomial infections and promotes local progressive tissue destruction. Staphylococcus epidermidis infections are the leading cause of biofilm formation on indwelling devices. Bacteria in biofilms are highly resistant to antibiotic treatment, which in combination with the increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance among human pathogens further complicates treatment of biofilm-related device infections.

Inhibitor of streptokinase gene expression improves survival after group A streptococcus infection in mice.

The widespread occurrence of antibiotic resistance among human pathogens is a major public health problem. Conventional antibiotics typically target bacterial killing or growth inhibition, resulting in strong selection for the development of antibiotic resistance. Alternative therapeutic approaches targeting microbial pathogenicity without inhibiting growth might minimize selection for resistant organisms.

Extreme diversity of scorpion venom peptides and proteins revealed by transcriptomic analysis: implication for proteome evolution of scorpion venom arsenal.

Venom is an important genetic development crucial to the survival of scorpions for over 400 million years. We studied the evolution of the scorpion venom arsenal by means of comparative transcriptome analysis of venom glands and phylogenetic analysis of shared types of venom peptides and proteins between buthids and euscorpiids. Fifteen types of venom peptides and proteins were sequenced during the venom gland transcriptome analyses of two Buthidae species (Lychas mucronatus and Isometrus maculatus) and one Euscorpiidae species (Scorpiops margerisonae).

SdPI, the first functionally characterized Kunitz-type trypsin inhibitor from scorpion venom.

Background: Kunitz-type venom peptides have been isolated from a wide variety of venomous animals. They usually have protease inhibitory activity or potassium channel blocking activity, which by virtue of the effects on predator animals are essential for the survival of venomous animals. However, no Kunitz-type peptides from scorpion venom have been functionally characterized.

Comparative venom gland transcriptome analysis of the scorpion Lychas mucronatus reveals intraspecific toxic gene diversity and new venomous components.

Background: Lychas mucronatus is one scorpion species widely distributed in Southeast Asia and southern China. Anything is hardly known about its venom components, despite the fact that it can often cause human accidents. In this work, we performed a venomous gland transcriptome analysis by constructing and screening the venom gland cDNA library of the scorpion Lychas mucronatus from Yunnan province and compared it with the previous results of Hainan-sourced Lychas mucronatus.

Molecular diversity of toxic components from the scorpion Heterometrus petersii venom revealed by proteomic and transcriptome analysis.

Scorpion venoms contain a vast untapped reservoir of natural products, which have the potential for medicinal value in drug discovery. In this study, toxin components from the scorpion Heterometrus petersii venom were evaluated by transcriptome and proteome analysis.Ten known families of venom peptides and proteins were identified, which include: two families of potassium channel toxins, four families of antimicrobial and cytolytic peptides,and one family from each of the calcium channel toxins, La1-like peptides, phospholipase A2,and the serine proteases.

A HindIII BAC library construction of Mesobuthus martensii Karsch (Scorpiones:Buthidae): an important genetic resource for comparative genomics and phylogenetic analysis.

Scorpions are "living but sophisticated fossils" that have changed little in their morphology since their first appearance over the past 450 million years ago. To provide a genetic resource for understanding the evolution of scorpion genome and the relationships between scorpions and other organisms, we first determined the genome size of the scorpion Mesobuthus martensii Karsch (about 600 Mbp) in the order Scorpiones and constructed a HindIII BAC library of the male scorpion M. martensii Karsch from China.

BmKCT toxin inhibits glioma proliferation and tumor metastasis.

Malignant gliomas are the most common primary brain tumors associated with significant morbidity and mortality. How to target the tumor in situ, and inhibit tumor cell proliferation and invasion is the key for therapy. Gliomas express a glioma-specific chloride ion channel that is sensitive to toxins including BmKCT.

Cloning and functional characterization of a new antimicrobial peptide gene StCT1 from the venom of the scorpion Scorpiops tibetanus.

Scorpion has an innovative venom gland, which is an important determinant in contributing to its successful survival for more than 400 million years. Scorpion venom contains a diversity of bioactive peptides, which represent a tremendous hitherto unexplored resource for use in drug design and development. Here, StCT1, a new antimicrobial peptide gene, was screened and isolated from the venomous gland cDNA library of the scorpion Scorpiops tibetanus.