Archvillin anchors in the Z-line of skeletal muscle via the nebulin C-terminus.

Z-Line of skeletal muscle is a complex protein network that likely plays an important role in signaling and muscle homeostasis. We used the yeast two-hybrid system to search for potential novel ligands of the Z-line portion of nebulin. We found that the C-terminal region of nebulin (residues 6457-6528) interacted with the C-terminus of archvillin (residues 1419-1687).

Implication of NAG-1 in synergistic induction of apoptosis by combined treatment of sodium salicylate and PI3K/MEK1/2 inhibitors in A549 human lung adenocarcinoma cells.

Aspirin is used as chemopreventive agents in a variety of human cancer cells including those of colon, lung, breast, and leukemia. Sodium salicylate (NaSal, the natural deacetylated form of aspirin) induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in A549 cells; high dose (20mM) of NaSal-induced apoptosis, whereas low dose (2-10mM) induced cell cycle arrest. We found that NaSal-activated Akt/PKB, ERK1/2, and p38MAPK signal cascades.

Protein kinase C-ERK1/2 signal pathway switches glucose depletion-induced necrosis to apoptosis by regulating superoxide dismutases and suppressing reactive oxygen species production in A549 lung cancer cells.

Cells typically die by either apoptosis or necrosis. However, the consequences of apoptosis and necrosis are quite different for a whole organism. In the case of apoptosis, the cell content remains packed in the apoptotic bodies that are removed by macrophages, and thereby inflammation does not occur; during necrosis, the cell membrane is ruptured, and the cytosolic constituents are released into the extracellular space provoking inflammation.

Induction of heat shock protein 72 in C6 glioma cells by methyl jasmonate through ROS-dependent heat shock factor 1 activation.

Salicylate and jasmonates are two different types of plant hormone that play critical roles in plant defense responses against insect herbivores and microbial pathogens, through activating defense genes. These two natural products have been shown to have similar activities in animal cells: the compounds are able to induce cell cycle arrest or apoptosis in a variety of human cancer cells including those of colon, prostate, breast, and leukemia, suggesting the chemicals may potentially be a novel class of anti-cancer drugs. Since sodium salicylate can induce the heat shock response in animals, we examined the effects of jasmonates on the heat shock response in C6 glioma cells.

Identification of chicken nebulin isoforms of the 31-residue motifs and non-muscle nebulin.

Nebulin is a very large (M(r) 600-900kDa) actin-binding protein that is specific to skeletal muscle, and which is thought to act as a molecular template that regulates the length of sarcomere thin filaments. The 31-residue motif of nebulin contains a unique PEhXRVKXNQ consensus sequence. We have previously identified 11 different human nebulin isoforms of these 31-residue motifs.