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ABSTRACT: Wild-type p53 is a stress-responsive tumor suppressor and potent growth inhibitor. Genotoxic stresses (for example, ionizing and ultraviolet radiation or chemotherapeutic drug treatment) can activate p53, but also induce mutations in the P53 gene, and thus select for p53-mutated cells. Nutlin-3a (Nutlin) is pre-clinical drug that activates p53 in a non-genotoxic manner. Nutlin occupies the p53-binding pocket of murine double minute 2 (MDM2), activating p53 by blocking the p53-MDM2 interaction. Because Nutlin neither binds p53 directly nor introduces DNA damage, we hypothesized Nutlin would not induce P53 mutations, and, therefore, not select for p53-mutated cells. To test this, populations of SJSA-1 (p53 wild-type) cancer cells were expanded that survived repeated Nutlin exposures, and individual clones were isolated. Group 1 clones were resistant to Nutlin-induced apoptosis, but still underwent growth arrest. Surprisingly, while some Group 1 clones retained wild-type p53, others acquired a heterozygous p53 mutation. Apoptosis resistance in Group 1 clones was associated with decreased PUMA induction and decreased caspase 3/7 activation. Group 2 clones were resistant to both apoptosis and growth arrest induced by Nutlin. Group 2 clones had acquired mutations in the p53-DNA-binding domain and expressed only mutant p53s that were induced by Nutlin treatment, but were unable to bind the P21 and PUMA gene promoters, and unable to activate transcription. These results demonstrate that non-genotoxic p53 activation (for example, by Nutlin treatment) can lead to the acquisition of somatic mutations in p53 and select for p53-mutated cells. These findings have implications for the potential clinical use of Nutlin and other small molecule MDM2 antagonists.
Oncogene 06/2011; 30(46):4678-86. · 6.37 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Protein kinase C epsilon (PKCvarepsilon), a novel calcium-independent PKC isoform, has been shown to be a transforming oncogene. PKCvarepsilon-mediated oncogenic activity is linked to its ability to promote cell survival. However, the mechanisms by which PKCvarepsilon signals cell survival remain elusive. We found that signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (Stat3), which is constitutively activated in a wide variety of human cancers, is a protein partner of PKCvarepsilon. Stat3 has two conserved amino-acid (Tyr705 and Ser727) residues, which are phosphorylated during Stat3 activation. PKCvarepsilon interacts with Stat3alpha isoform, which has Ser727, and not with Stat3beta isoform, which lacks Ser727. PKCvarepsilon-Stat3 interaction and Stat3Ser727 phosphorylation was initially observed during induction of squamous cell carcinomas and in prostate cancer. Now we present that (1) PKCvarepsilon physically interacts with Stat3alpha isoform in various human cancer cells: skin melanomas (MeWo and WM266-4), gliomas (T98G and MO59K), bladder (RT-4 and UM-UC-3), colon (Caco-2), lung (H1650), pancreatic (PANC-1), and breast (MCF-7 and MDA:MB-231); (2) inhibition of PKCvarepsilon expression using specific siRNA inhibits Stat3Ser727 phosphorylation, Stat3-DNA binding, Stat3-regulated gene expression as well as cell invasion; and (3) PKCvarepsilon mediates Stat3Ser727 phosphorylation through integration with the MAPK cascade (RAF-1, MEK1/2, and ERK1/2). The results indicate that PKCvarepsilon-mediated Stat3Ser727 phosphorylation is essential for constitutive activation of Stat3 and cell invasion in various human cancers.
Oncogene 03/2010; 29(21):3100-9. · 6.37 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Achieving greater efficiencies and lowering costs are always important issues, especially in a challenging economic environment. Today, financial and IT managers are focusing on total cost of ownership (TCO) to rein in IT expenses and keep in step with business performance. What is TCO? Gartner's definition of TCO states that TCO consists of the costs incurred throughout the lifecycle of an asset, including acquisition, deployment, operation, support, and retirement. Instead of looking only at the initial investment, TCO considers all the costs over the life of an asset, such as a new server or storage network, upgrades, maintenance, and software development. This paper is to illustrate the approaches taken by GTDG Penang to reduce the TCO and to move the business towards a more economical infrastructure and operating practices. These are true and tried ways and the savings achieved through this approaches is USD38.1K with a yearly savings of USD30.3K. This does not include the qualitative benefits achieved through better security, manageability and uptime. The TCO approach is the future approach of Global Engineering Computing and Penang Engineering Computing team is leading the way in this area.
Communications, 2003. APCC 2003. The 9th Asia-Pacific Conference on; 10/2003
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ABSTRACT: The expression of early response gene proteins c-Fos, c-Jun, and GAP-43 and their association with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-mediated oxidative injury were investigated using catecholaminergic PC12 cell line. Significant induction in the expression of c-Fos (P < 0.01), c-Jun (P < 0.001) and GAP-43 (P < 0.05) was observed following 2 h exposure to 6-OHDA (10(-6) M), which persisted during 24 h of observation. The exposed cells exhibited an increase in lipid peroxidation (48, 59 and 33%) along with decreased catalase activity (49, 30 and 13%) and glutathione levels (39, 28 and 16%) following 24, 48 and 72 h exposure, respectively. A concentration-dependent functional impairment of mitochondria as studied by 3-(4,5-dimethyl thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay and decreased cell survival were also observed following 6-OHDA (10(-4), 10(-5) M) exposure for 24, 48 and 72 h. The results indicate a role of the early response gene in oxidative stress-mediated dopaminergic cell death by 6-OHDA. Similar mechanisms may also be operative in the development of Parkinson's disease, as an increased presence/formation of endogenous 6-OHDA has been reported in Parkinson's patients.
Neuroscience Letters 10/2002; 330(1):89-93. · 2.11 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Effect of low level in utero exposure to deltamethrin (DT) (1mg /kg wt.) during gestation day 14-20 was studied on selected neurobehavioral, neurochemical, immunohistochemical parameters in rats at 6 and 12 weeks postnatal period. The significant increase in acetylcholinesterase activity and decrease in (3)H-quinuclidinyl benzilate binding in the hippocampal region of DT exposed animals, suggesting impairment in cholinergic (muscarinic) receptors. A significant decrease in the learning and memory performances was also observed both at 6 and 12 weeks, which is directly correlated with decrease in muscarinic receptor binding. Immunohistochemistry and image analysis of growth associated protein-43, a neuron specific protein present in axonal growth cone and a marker for neuronal differentiation and synaptogenesis, exhibit aberrant increase in its expression in the hippocampus in DT exposed rats at both time periods. The data suggests that low level exposure to DT in utero during brain growth spurt period adversely affects the developing brain and the changes persist even up to 12 weeks postnatal period in rats. Although there is no significant recovery at 12 weeks assessment but still significant impairment persist on biochemical and behavioural parameters.
Neuroscience Letters 04/2001; 300(3):161-5. · 2.11 Impact Factor
