Volume 394, Issue 7

Mutations in the gene encoding glucocerebrosidase ( GBA1 ) cause Gaucher disease (GD), a lysosomal storage disease with recessive inheritance. Glucocerebrosidase (GCase) is a lysosomal lipid hydrolase that digests glycolipid substrates, such as glucosylceramide and glucosylsphingosine. GBA1 mutations have been implicated in Lewy body diseases (LBDs), such as Parkinson’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. Parkinsonism occurs more frequently in certain types of GD, and GBA1 mutation carriers are more likely to have LBDs than non-carriers. Furthermore, GCase is often found in Lewy bodies, which are composed of α-synuclein fibrils as well as a variety of proteins and vesicles. In this review, we discuss potential mechanisms of action of GBA1 mutations in LBDs with particular emphasis on α-synuclein aggregation by reviewing the current literature on the role of GCase in lysosomal functions and glycolipid metabolism.

Tissue factor (TF), an initiator of blood coagulation in vivo , is expressed in a variety of cells. Sufficient natural TF has been isolated to clone and express recombinant proteins ranging from full-length TF to its extracellular domain. Because of the limited availability of natural TF, recombinant proteins have been used as surrogates. Despite the differences in their post-translational modifications, it has been accepted that membrane-anchored recombinant TFs are quite similar to the natural TF. Recent studies, however, have shown that post-translational modifications play an important role in TF-triggered thrombin generation.

The identification of the fundamental role of apoptosis in the growth balance and normal homeostasis against cell proliferation led to the recognition of its loss contributing to tumorigenesis. The mechanistic significance of reinstating apoptosis signaling towards selective targeting of malignant cells heavily exploits the caspase family of death-inducing molecules as a powerful therapeutic platform for the development of potent anticancer strategies. Some apoptosis inhibitors induce caspase expression and activity in preclinical models and clinical trials by targeting both the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways and restoring the apoptotic capacity in human tumors. Furthermore, up-regulation of caspases emerges as a sensitizing mechanism for tumors exhibiting therapeutic resistance to radiation and adjuvant chemotherapy. This review provides a comprehensive discussion of the functional involvement of caspases in apoptosis control and the current understanding of reactivating caspase-mediated apoptosis signaling towards effective therapeutic modalities in cancer treatment.

This review takes a comparative look at the various scenarios where ribosomes are degraded in bacteria and eukaryotes with emphasis on studies involving Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae . While the molecular mechanisms of degradation in bacteria and yeast appear somewhat different, we argue that the underlying causes of ribosome degradation are remarkably similar. In both model organisms during ribosomal assembly, partially formed pre-ribosomal particles can be degraded by at least two different sequentially-acting quality control pathways and fully assembled but functionally faulty ribosomes can be degraded in a separate quality control pathway. In addition, ribosomes that are both structurally- and functionally-sound can be degraded as an adaptive measure to stress.

Platelet activation at sites of vascular injury leads to the formation of a hemostatic plug and is crucial for hemostasis. However, uncontrolled platelet activation may lead to the formation of occlusive thrombi. Several soluble or matricellular proteins can activate platelets. In this article, we review recent advances in knowledge of the role of galectins in platelet physiology. In soluble or immobilized form, these endogenous glycan-binding proteins trigger platelet activation through the modulation of discrete signaling pathways. We discuss the role of platelet–galectin interactions not only in hemostasis, but also in chronic inflammation, atherosclerosis and cancer.

Distinct metabolic strategies used by cancer cells to gain growth advantages, such as shifting from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis, constitute a basis for their selective targeting as a novel approach for cancer therapy. Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) are ligands for the nuclear transcription factor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and they are clinically used as oral hypoglycemic agents. Accumulating evidence suggests that the ability of TZDs to suppress cancer cell proliferation through the interplay between apoptosis and autophagy was, at least in part, mediated through PPARγ-independent mechanisms. This review highlights recent advances in the pharmacological exploitation of the PPARγ-independent anticancer effects of TZDs to develop novel agents targeting tumor metabolism, including glucose transporter inhibitors and adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, which have translational potential as cancer therapeutic agents.

Tuberculostearic acid (l0-methylstearic acid, TSA) is a major constituent of mycobacterial membrane phospholipids, and its biosynthesis involves the direct methylation of oleic acid esterified as a component of phospholipids. The methyltransferases of mycobacteria were long proposed to be involved in the synthesis of methyl-branched short-chain fatty acids, but direct experimental evidence is still lacking. In this study, we identified the methyltransferase encoded by umaA in Mycobacterium tuberculosis H 37 Rv as a novel S-adenosyl- l -methionine (SAM)-dependent methyltransferase capable of catalyzing the conversion of olefinic double bond of phospholipid-linked oleic acid to biologically essential TSA. Therefore, UmaA, catalyzing such modifications, offer a viable target for chemotherapeutic intervention.

The protein mixture of cytokine-inducing activity accompanying chicken immunoglobulin Y, named yolkin, consists of several peptides of molecular weight (MW) ranging from over 1 to 35 kDa. Yolkin and its constituent peptides were found to be efficient inducers of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and IL-10 secretion. N-terminal amino acid sequences of eight of the electrophoretically purified yolkin constituents revealed that all of them are homological to some fragments of the C-terminal domain of vitellogenin II. The fractions of MW about 4 and 12 kDa are free of carbohydrates and start at position 1732 in the vitellogenin amino acid sequence; whereas the other fractions (MW about 16, 19, 23, 29, 32 and 35 kDa) appeared to be glycoproteins corresponding to the amino acid sequence of vitellogenin starting at position 1572. From these data, it is concluded that yolkin most likely represents vitellogenin-derived peptides that possess cytokine-inducing activity and are, at least partially, responsible for such properties of separated immunoglobulin Y preparation. This finding reveals a new role for vitellogenin as a reservoir of polypeptides that may play an important role in the innate immune system of the developing embryo.

Maackia amurensis agglutinin is a NeuNAcα (2–3) Galβ (1–4) GlcNAc/Glc-specific lectin, which was shown to have diagnostic potential in cancers of different origin. In a previous report, we demonstrated that GM3 specific IgG from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients interacted with ∼66kDa membrane glycoprotein band of NSCLC cell lines, which was also recognised by this lectin. This observation prompted us to assess the potential of Maackia amurensis agglutinin in NSCLC. Accordingly, we examined the reactivity of this lectin with NSCLC cell lines as well as the tissue biopsies and cells obtained from fine needle aspirations of NSCLC patients. Maackia amurensis agglutinin showed strong reactivity, specifically with cells and biopsy samples of NSCLC origin. Furthermore, this lectin was found to induce apoptosis in NSCLC cells. The mechanism of this lectin-induced apoptosis involved downregulation of Bcl-X L , upregulation of Bax, release of cytochrome c and activation of procaspase-3. Collectively our results have suggested that Maackia amurensis agglutinin may have the potential to serve as a unique probe for detection of NSCLC and also as a specific apoptosis-inducing agent in NSCLC cells.

A role for the kinin B1 receptor in energy-homeostatic processes was implicated in previous studies; notably, the studies where kinin B1 receptor knockout mice (B1 -/- ) were shown to have impaired adiposity, impaired leptin and insulin production, lower feed efficiency, protection from liver steatosis and diet-induced obesity when fed a high fat diet (HFD). In particular, in a model where the B1 receptor is expressed exclusively in the adipose tissue, it rescues the plasma insulin concentration and the weight gain seen in wild type mice. Taking into consideration that leptin participates in the formation of hypothalamic nuclei, which modulate energy expenditure, and feeding behavior, we hypothesized that these brain regions could also be altered in B1 -/- mice. We observed for the first time a difference in the gene expression pattern of cocaine and amphetamine related transcript (CART) in the (lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) resulting from the deletion of the kinin B1 receptor gene. The correlation between CART expression in the LHA and the thwarting of diet-induced obesity corroborates independent correlations between CART and obesity. Furthermore, it seems to indicate that the mechanism underlying the ‘lean’ phenotype of B1 -/- mice does not stem solely from changes in peripheral tissues but may also receive contributions from changes in the hypothalamic machinery involved in energy homeostasis processes.

The novel insulin-secreting human pancreatic β-cell line, 1.1B4, demonstrates stability in culture and many of the secretory functional attributes of human pancreatic β-cells. This study investigated the cellular responses of 1.1B4 cells to lipotoxicity. Chronic 18-h exposure of 1.1B4 cells to 0.5 m m palmitate resulted in decreased cell viability and insulin content. Secretory responses to classical insulinotropic agents and cellular Ca 2+ handling were also impaired. Palmitate decreased glucokinase activity and mRNA expression of genes involved in secretory function but up-regulated mRNA expression of HSPA5, EIF2A , and EIF2AK3 , implicating activation of the endoplasmic reticulum stress response. Palmitate also induced DNA damage and apoptosis of 1.1B4 cells. These responses were accompanied by increased gene expression of the antioxidant enzymes SOD1, SOD2, CAT and GPX1 . This study details molecular mechanisms underlying lipotoxicity in 1.1B4 cells and indicates the potential value of the novel β-cell line for future research.