Resistance to BH3 mimetic S1 in SCLC cells that up-regulate and phosphorylate Bcl-2 through ERK1/2.

Background And Purpose: B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) is a central regulator of cell survival that is overexpressed in the majority of small-cell lung cancers (SCLC) and contributes to both malignant transformation and therapeutic resistance. The purpose of this work was to study the key factors that determine the sensitivity of SCLC cells to Bcl-2 homology domain-3 (BH3) mimetic S1 and the mechanism underlying the resistance of BH3 mimetics.

Experimental Approaches: Western blot was used to evaluate the contribution of Bcl-2 family members to the cellular response of SCLC cell lines to S1.

S1 kills MCF-7/ADR cells more than MCF-7 cells: A protective mechanism of endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Drug resistance in chemotherapy for breast cancer is associated with high levels of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) as well as endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. In this paper, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a pan-BH3 mimetic S1 on drug-resistant MCF-7/ADR cells, and the roles of S1-induced ER stress in cell death. S1 exhibited greater and faster mitochondrial apoptosis in MCF-7/ADR cells than in MCF-7 cells.

SWI phase asymmetries in deep gray matter of healthy adults: is there an association with handedness?

To explore the handedness effects on phase asymmetries in deep gray matter of healthy adults by using magnetic susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) phase. Thirty left-handed (16 men, 14 women; age range, 20 to 57 years) and 30 age- and sex-matched right-handed (16 men, 14 women; age range, 20 to 58 years) healthy adults were examined at 3.0 T MRI.

S1, a novel pan-BH3 mimetic, induces apoptosis in Mcl-1-overexpressing cells through Bak.

Mcl-1, an anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 homolog that has a structurally divergent BH3-binding pocket, non-redundant action model, and unique characteristic of short life confers complete resistance to the BH3 mimetic ABT-737. Herein, we used S1, previously identified as a Mcl-1/Bcl-2 dual inhibitor and a pure BH3 mimetic, to explore the mechanism of Mcl-1's action and supply a strategy to challenge Mcl-1's protection. Apoptosis assay in SMMC-7721, HCT116, and K562 cells demonstrated that S1 can effectively challenge Mcl-1's anti-apoptotic effect.

[Screening of high lipid production Trichosporon fermentans mutants by transposon tagging mTn-lacZ/leu2 insertion].

To improve microbial lipid production, we inserted mTn-lacZ/leu2 into Trichosporon fermentans 2.1368-Leu(-) to obtain high lipid production mutants. By observing the LacZ chromogenic change, the positive reaction between Cerulenin (inhibitor of fatty acid synthase) and phosphate vanillin, a higher lipid-producing mutant 2.

Auxin-cytokinin interaction regulates meristem development.

Plant hormones regulate many aspects of plant growth and development. Both auxin and cytokinin have been known for a long time to act either synergistically or antagonistically to control several significant developmental processes, such as the formation and maintenance of meristem. Over the past few years, exciting progress has been made to reveal the molecular mechanisms underlying the auxin-cytokinin action and interaction.

[Effect of tanshitone on prevention and treatment of retinoic acid induced osteoporosis in mice].

Objective: To observe the prevention and therapeutic effects of tanshitone (TAN) on retinoic acid induced osteoporosis in mice.

Method: The mice osteoporosis was induced by given retinoic acid intragastrically for two weeks. The histomorphological features of bone were observed and biochemical indexes in serum (Ca, P, ALP, TRAP, E2, BGP) were determined after the mice were given TAN at the dose of 40, 80, 160 mg x kg(-1) respectly.

[Effects of local hyperthermia on maturation of Langerhans cells in HPV-infected skin].

Objective: To investigate the possible mechanism of local hyperthermia in the treatment of warts through detecting the differences in CD1a/CD83 of Langerhans cells (LCs) in émigrés from HPV-infected skin, as compared to normal skin.

Methods: Confocal microscopy were performed on Condyloma Accuminatum (CA)and normal skin; Freshly taken biopsies of CA and normal skin were subjected to surface heating at 37 degrees C, 42 degrees C and 45 degrees C respectively, for 30 mins. Flow cytometry was used to determine the CD1a/ CD83 changes of LCs in émigrés from CA and normal skin.

Stomatal development and movement: the roles of MAPK signaling.

Stomata are epidermal pores on plant surface used for gas exchange with the atmosphere. Stomatal development and movement are regulated by environmental and internal signals. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades are universal transducers of extracellular signals among all eukaryotes.

Sesquiterpenoids from Inula lineariifolia inhibit nitric oxide production.

Fourteen sesquiterpenoids including six new analogues (1-6) were isolated from the aerial parts of Inula lineariifolia.. The structures of the new sesquiterpenoids were determined by spectroscopic data analysis, and the structures of 1 and 6 were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction data and the modified Mosher method.

Vitiligo in North-Eastern China: An association between mucosal and acrofacial lesions.

Vitiligo is a mucocutaneous pigmentary disorder with worldwide distribution. Little is known about the clinical profile of vitiligo in North-eastern China. Accordingly, we reviewed 692 vitiligo out-patients from seven government hospitals in North-eastern China via a questionnaire in a multi-centre study conducted between June 2007 and June 2008, and hence characterized the epidemiology of vitiligo in North-eastern China.

A closed concept of extractive whole cell microbial transformation of benzaldehyde into L-phenylacetylcarbinol by Saccharomyces cerevisiae in novel polyethylene-glycol-induced cloud-point system.

Extractive microbial transformation of benzaldehyde into L-phenylacetylcarbinol (L-PAC) by Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Baker's yeast) has been carried out in a novel polyethylene-glycol-induced cloud-point system (PEG-CPS). The extractive microbial transformation in the PEG-CPS and a downstream process for stripping of the product from the microbial transformation broth with microemulsion extraction are demonstrated. The results indicate that the PEG-CPS maintains the advantage of CPS for in situ extraction of polar product in the microbial transformation.

[Transcription regulation by histone-modifying enzymes].

During gene transcription, it needs to recruit many histone-modifying enzymes to modify histone. These chemical modification contains methylation, acetylation, phosphorylation, ubiquitylation, sumoylation of histone and so on. Most of histone-modifying enzymes can form a complex with various transcriptional factors, they can change the interaction between histone and DNA, which regulate gene transcription.