• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• 제17권3호
• /
• pp.199-203
• /
• 1994

Several lines evidence indicate that microtubule depolymerization initiates DNA synthesis or enhances the effects of serum or purified growth factors in many types of fibroblasts. Yet little is known about the intracellular events responsible for the mitogenic effect of microtubule disrupting agents. The effects of antitubulin agents on DNA synthesis in sparse and dense cultures in the presence or absence of serum and possible involvement of G-proteins in their mitotic action were examined. In these studies, colchicine by itself appeared to be mitogenic only for confluent quiesecent human lung fibroblasts. In sparse culture, however, colchicine inhibited serum-stimulated DNA synthesis. Colcemid, another antitubulin agent, showed similar effects of growth inhibition and stimulation in sparse and confluent cultures while lumicolhicine, inactive colchicine, did not. The mitogenic effect of two antitubulin agents, colchicine and colcemid, was partially inhibited by pertussis toxin. These data suggest that microtubular integrity is associated with the expression of either negative or positive control on DNA synthesis and mitogenic effect of antitubulin agents may be partially mediated by pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제21권1호
• /
• pp.76-81
• /
• 2006

Tubulin is synthesized in the cell body and must be delivered to the axon to support axonal growth. However, the exact form in which these proteins, in particular tubulin, move within the axon remains contentious. According to the "polymer transport model", tubulin is transported in the form of microtubules. In an alternative hypothesis, the "short oligomer transport model", tubulin is added to existing, stationary microtubules along the axon. In this study, we measured the translocation of microtubule plus ends in soma segments, the middle of axonal shafts and the growth cone areas, by expressing GFP-EB3 in cultured Xenopus embryonic spinal neurons. We found that none of the microtubules in the three compartments were transported rapidly as would be expected from the polymer transport model. These results suggest that microtubules are stationary in most segments of the axon, thus supporting the model according to which tubulin is transported in nonpolymeric form in rapidly growing Xenopus neurons.

• BMB Reports
• /
• 제41권4호
• /
• pp.287-293
• /
• 2008

In a yeast two-hybrid screen, we identified the microtubule-destabilizing protein SCG10 as a potential effector protein of $BRI_3$. The association was verified using GST pull-down, Co-IP, and their perinuclear co-localization. The analysis of in vitro microtubule polymerization/depolymerization showed that the binding of $BRI_3$ to SCG10 effectively blocked the ability of SCG10 to induce microtubule disassembly, as determined by turbidimetric assays. In intact PC12 cells, $BRI_3$ exhibited the ability to stabilize the microtubule network and attenuate the microtubule-destabilizing activity of SCG10. Furthermore, co-expression of $BRI_3$ with SCG10 attenuated SCG10-mediated PC12 cell neurite outgrowth induced by NGF. These results identify a novel connection between a neuron-specific BRI protein and the cytoskeletal network, suggesting possible roles of BRI3 in the process of neuronal differentiation.

• BMB Reports
• /
• 제41권3호
• /
• pp.210-216
• /
• 2008

CSE1L/CAS, a microtubule-associated, cellular apoptosis susceptibility protein, is highly expressed in various cancers. Microtubules are the target of paclitaxel-induced apoptosis. We studied the effects of increased or reduced CAS expression on cancer cell apoptosis induced by chemotherapeutic drugs including paclitaxel. Our results showed that CAS overexpression enhanced apoptosis induced by doxorubicin, 5-fluorour-acil, cisplatin, and tamoxifen, but inhibited paclitaxel-induced apoptosis of cancer cells. Reductions in CAS produced opposite results. CAS overexpression enhanced p53 accumulation induced by doxorubicin, 5-fluorouracil, cisplatin, tamoxifen, and etoposide. CAS was associated with $\alpha$-tubulin and $\beta$-tubulin and enhanced the association between $\alpha$-tubulin and $\beta$-tubulin. Paclitaxel can induce G2/M phase cell cycle arrest and microtubule aster formation during apoptosis induction, but CAS overexpression reduced paclitaxel-induced G2/M phase cell cycle arrest and microtubule aster formation. Our results indicate that CAS may play an important role in regulating the cytotoxicities of chemotherapeutic drugs used in cancer chemotherapy against cancer cells.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• 제33권1호
• /
• pp.7-11
• /
• 2009

This study was performed to confirm the microtubule assemblies and methylation patterns of porcine IVF and parthenogenetic embryos. Cumulus-oocyte complexes were collected and matured in vitro for 42 hr. Oocytes were fertilized by prepared fresh sperm or activated parthenogenetically by exposure to electric stimulation and 6-dimethylaminopurine. Porcine IVF and parthenogenetic embryos were cultured in vitro for 6 days. Embryos were stained by immunofluorescence staining method to observe the dynamic of nucleus and microtubules in the first mitotic phase and the methylation patterns in different developmental stages. After then, samples were confirmed and analyzed through a laser-scanning confocal microscope. IVF embryos had a centrosome originated from sperms, which was shown a $\gamma$-tubulin spot. However, $\gamma$-tubulin spot was not observed in parthenogenetic embryos. A lower methylation level was observed in IVF embryos compared to parthenogenetic ones at the morula and blastocyst stages. In conclusion, it is considered that microtubule assemblies and genetic regulation mechanism differ between parthenogenetic and IVF embryos.

• 폴리머
• /
• 제38권6호
• /
• pp.809-814
• /
• 2014

전류 감응형 바이오센서에 응용하기 위해 전도성 고분자 마이크로튜브 어레이를 제작하였다. Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(4-styrenesulfonic acid)(PEDOT/PSS) composite을 전도성 접착제로 하여 템플릿을 전극에 고정한 후 EDOT을 전기화학적으로 중합하였다. 마이크로튜브 어레이는 자체의 넓은 표면적으로 인해 감도 높은 바이오센서로 응용될 수 있으나, 주요 표적물질 중의 하나인 과산화수소에 대한 전기화학적 반응이 느렸다. 과산화수소 산화에 대한 감도를 향상시키기 위해 어레이 전극에 금을 도포하였다. 증착법과 전기화학적 석출법 두 가지 방법을 시도하여 금을 처리하였는데, 이렇게 처리한 전극은 모두 과산화수소에 대한 반응이 크게 향상되었다. 따라서 전도성 고분자 마이크로튜브 어레이에 금을 도포함으로써 과산화수소를 표적물질로 하는 감도 높은 바이오센서 제작이 가능할 것으로 기대된다.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• 제25권2호
• /
• pp.191-196
• /
• 2002

The water extract from the root bark of Cortex Mori (CM, Morus alba L.: Sangbaikpi), a mulberry tree, has been known in Chinese traditional medicine to have antiphlogistic, diuretic, and expectorant properties. In this study, the cytotoxicity of CM against tumor cells and its mechanism was examined . CM exhibited cytotoxic activity on K-562, B38O human leukemia cells and B16 mouse melanoma cells at concentrations of > 1 mg/ml. A DNA fragmentation, PARP cleavage, and nuclear condensation assay showed that those cells exposed to CM underwent apoptosis. The water extract of Scutellarie Radix (SR) was used as a negative control and showed no cytotoxicity in those cells. The flow cytometric profiles of the CM-treated cells were also indicative of apoptosis. However, they did not appear to exert the G1 arrest, which is observed in other tubulin inhibitor agents such as vincristine, taxol. The protein-binding test using Biacore and a microtubule assembly-disassembly assay provided evidence showing that CM bound to the tubulins resulting in 3 markets inhibition of the assembly, but not the disassembly of microtubules. The possible nonspecific effect of the CM extract could be excluded due to the results using SR, which did not affect the assembly process. Overall, the water extract of CM induces apoptosis of tumor cells by inhibiting microtubule assembly.

• 생명과학회지
• /
• 제19권7호
• /
• pp.859-865
• /
• 2009

미세소관은 세포골격단백질의 중요한 구성 단백질로 축삭돌기 내에서는 세포막 방향으로 정렬되어 있다. Kinesin superfamily (KIFs)는 세포 내에서 미세소관을 따라 세포 내 소포들을 운반하는 분자 자동차 (molecular motor) 단백질이다. 본 연구에서 우리는 효모 two-hybrid system을 사용하여 KIF1A의 coiled-coil 영역과 결합하는 단백질로 미세소관 불안정화 요소인 SCG10 단백질을 분리하였다. SCG10은 KIFs에서 KIF1A와만 특이적으로 결한 하며, KIF1A의 400에서 820아미노산 부위가 SCG10과의 결합에 필수적임을 효모 two-hybrid assay로 확인하였다. 또한 SCG10의 coiled-coil영역은 KIF1A와의 결합에 필수영역임을 확인하였으며 단백질간의 결합은 Glutathione S-transferase pull-down assay를 통하여 확인하였다. 생쥐의 뇌 파쇄액에 SCG10항체로 면역침강을 행하여 KIF1A를 확인한 결과KIF1A는 SCG10과 특이적으로 같이 침강하였다. 이러한 결과들은 KIF1A는 SCG10와 결합하여 SCG10이 포함된 소포를 미세소관을 따라 이동시킴을 시사한다.

• BMB Reports
• /
• 제57권6호
• /
• pp.293-298
• /
• 2024

Microtubule acetylation has been shown to regulate actin filament dynamics by modulating signaling pathways that control actin organization, although the precise mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, we found that the downregulation of microtubule acetylation via the disruption ATAT1 (which encodes α-tubulin N-acetyltransferase 1) inhibited the expression of RhoA, a small GTPase involved in regulating the organization of actin filaments and the formation of stress fibers. Analysis of RHOA promoter and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays revealed that C/EBPβ is a major regulator of RHOA expression. Interestingly, the majority of C/EBPβ in ATAT1 knockout (KO) cells was found in the nucleus as a 27-kDa fragment (referred to as C/EBPβ^p27) lacking the N-terminus of C/EBPβ. Overexpression of a gene encoding a C/EBPβ^p27-mimicking protein via an N-terminal deletion in C/EBPβ led to competitive binding with wild-type C/EBPβ at the C/EBPβ binding site in the RHOA promoter, resulting in a significant decrease of RHOA expression. We also found that cathepsin L (CTSL), which is overexpressed in ATAT1 KO cells, is responsible for C/EBPβ^p27 formation in the nucleus. Treatment with a CTSL inhibitor led to the restoration of RHOA expression by downregulation of C/EBPβ^p27 and the invasive ability of ATAT1 KO MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Collectively, our findings suggest that the downregulation of microtubule acetylation associated with ATAT1 deficiency suppresses RHOA expression by forming C/EBPβ^p27 in the nucleus through CTSL. We propose that CTSL and C/EBPβ^p27 may represent a novel therapeutic target for breast cancer treatment.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• 제54권4호
• /
• pp.461-469
• /
• 2016

Giardia lamblia is a protozoan that causes diarrheal diseases in humans. Cytoskeletal structures of Giardia trophozoites must be finely reorganized during cell division. To identify Giardia proteins which interact with microtubules (MTs), Giardia lysates were incubated with in vitro-polymerized MTs and then precipitated by ultracentifugation. A hypothetical protein (GL50803_8405) was identified in the precipitated fraction with polymerized MTs and was named GlMBP1 (G. lamblia microtubule-binding protein 1). Interaction of GlMBP1 with MTs was confirmed by MT binding assays using recombinant GlMBP1 (rGlMBP1). In vivo expression of GlMBP1 was shown by a real-time PCR and western blot analysis using anti-rGlMBP1 antibodies. Transgenic G. lamblia trophozoites were constructed by integrating a chimeric gene encoding hemagglutinin (HA)-tagged GlMBP1 into a Giardia chromosome. Immunofluorescence assays of this transgenic G. lamblia, using anti-HA antibodies, revealed that GlMBP1 mainly localized at the basal bodies, axonemes, and median bodies of G. lamblia trophozoites. This result indicates that GlMBP1 is a component of the G. lamblia cytoskeleton.