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The focal adhesion adapter protein p130cas regulates adhesion and growth factor-related signaling, in part through Srcmediated tyrosine phosphorylation of p130cas. AND-34/ BCAR3, one of three NSP family members, binds the p130cas carboxyl terminus, adjacent to a bipartite p130cas Src-binding domain (SBD) and induces anti-estrogen resistance in breast cancer cell lines as well as phosphorylation of p130cas. Only a subset of the signaling properties of BCAR3, specifically augmented motility, are dependent upon formation of the BCAR3- p130cas complex. Using GST pull-down and immunoprecipitation studies, we show that among NSP family members, only BCAR3 augments the ability of p130cas to bind the Src SH3 domain through an RPLPSPP motif in the p130cas SBD. Although our prior work identified phosphorylation of the serine within the p130cas RPLPSPP motif, mutation of this residue to alanine or glutamic acid did not alter BCAR3-induced Src SH3 domain binding to p130cas. The ability of BCAR3 to augment Src SH3 binding requires formation of a BCAR3-p130cas complex because mutations that reduce association between these two proteins block augmentation of Src SH3 domain binding. Similarly, in MCF-7 cells, BCAR3-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the p130cas substrate domain, previously shown to be Src-dependent, was reduced by an R743A mutation that blocks BCAR3 association with p130cas. Immunofluorescence studies demonstrate that BCAR3 expression alters the intracellular location of both p130cas and Src and that all three proteins co-localize. Our work suggests that BCAR3 expression may regulate Src signaling in a BCAR3-p130cas complex-dependent fashion by altering the ability of the Src SH3 domain to bind the p130cas SBD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: NSP protein family members associate with p130Cas, a focal adhesion adapter protein best known as a Src substrate that integrates adhesion-related signaling. Over-expression of AND-34/BCAR3/NSP2 (BCAR3), but not NSP1 or NSP3, induces anti-estrogen resistance in human breast cancer cell lines. BCAR3 over-expression in epithelial MCF-7 cells augments levels of a phosphorylated p130Cas species that migrates more slowly on SDS-PAGE while NSP1 and NSP3 induce modest or no phosphorylation, respectively. Conversely, reduction in BCAR3 expression in mesenchymal MDA-231 cells by inducible shRNA results in loss of such p130Cas phosphorylation. Replacement of NSP3''s serine/proline-rich domain with that of AND-34/BCAR3 instills the ability to induce p130Cas phosphorylation. Phospho-amino acid analysis demonstrates that BCAR3 induces p130Cas serine phosphorylation. Mass spectrometry identified phosphorylation at p130Cas serines 139, 437 and 639. p130Cas serine phosphorylation accumulates for several hours after adhesion of MDA-231 cells to fibronectin and is dependent upon BCAR3 expression. BCAR3 knockdown alters p130Cas localization and converts MDA-231 growth to an epithelioid pattern characterized by striking cohesiveness and lack of cellular projections at colony borders. These studies demonstrate that BCAR3 regulates p130Cas serine phosphorylation that is adhesion-dependent, temporally distinct from previously well-characterized rapid Fak and Src kinase-mediated p130Cas tyrosine phosphorylation and that correlates with invasive phenotype. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Cultured human fibroblasts display age-dependent transcriptomic differences. We hypothesized that aging-associated oxidative stress affects gene expression, and monitored the transcriptome in confluent fibroblasts from young and old individuals cultured without and with a lipophilic and hydrophilic anti-oxidant mixture (vitamin E, quercetin, hydroxytyrosol and kaempferol). In cells derived from old subjects genes with lower expression were related to oxidative stress, growth and differentiation, cell cycle or metabolic enzymes and with higher expression to protein processing and docking, extracellular matrix, immune response, EGF-signalling and transcription. Anti-oxidant treatment modulated a similar number of genes in all donors and induced cell cycle regulatory genes. A subset of genes, modulated by age and inversely modulated by anti-oxidants, included glutaminase. Despite increased glutaminase expression, donor age-dependent decline in glutathione content and resistance to glutathione-depletion was observed. Summarizing, gene expression of fibroblasts is affected by donor age and a subset was corrected by anti-oxidants. Thus, in cultured fibroblasts from aged donors, gene expression is partly driven by oxidative stress. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper we discuss the state of the art of describing the structure and dynamics of crystal surfaces at the atomic level. Depending on the type of processes that one wants to describe, different approaches are to be chosen. We focus on equilibrium surface structures at the scale of typical growth units during growth or melting. For atomic crystals these length scales are Angstroms, for nano-crystals and organic molecules, nanometres, for colloids and proteins up to 10–100nm. The challenge is to find a reliable description of a growth unit and its environment that is computationally cheap, informative and involves as little neighbouring growth units as possible. We explain how the environment of a growth unit can be defined, how we found optimal local order parameters, and we discuss some published and some new results. Our discussion is based on molecular simulation, mostly of Lennard-Jones crystals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We report a mechanism by which the adapter protein Gene 33 (also called RALT and MIG6) regulates epidermai growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling. We find that Gene 33 inhibits EGFR autophosphorylation and specifically blunts epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced activation and/or phosphorylation of Ras, ERK, JNK, Akt/PKB, and retinoblastoma protein. The Ack homology domain of Gene 33, which contains the previously identified EGFR binding domain, is both necessary and sufficient for this inhibition of EGFR autophosphorylation. The endogenous Gene 33 polypeptide is induced by EGF, platelet-derived growth factor, serum, and dexamethasone (Dex) in Rat 2 rat fibroblasts. Dex induces Gene 33 expression and inhibits EGFR phosphorylation and EGF signaling. RNA interference-mediated silencing of Gene 33 significantly reverses this effect. Overexpression of Gene 33 completely blocks EGF-induced protein and DNA synthesis in Rat 2 cells, whereas gene 33 RNA interference substantially enhances EGF-induced protein and DNA synthesis in Rat 2 cells. Our results indicate that Gene 33 is a physiological feedback inhibitor of the EGFR, functioning to inhibit EGFR phosphorylation and all events induced by EGFR activation. Our results also indicate a role for Gene 33 in the suppression, by Dex, of EGF signaling pathways. We propose that Gene 33 may function in the cross-talk between EGF signaling and other mitogenic and/or stress signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipid peroxidation is a major factor in the pathogenesis of many disease states. To detect the initial stages of lipid peroxidation or evaluate antioxidant efficacy, cis-parinaric acid (cis-PnA) has been successfully used and thoroughly validated. However, cis-PnA is not very well suited for medium throughput screening of antioxidants in living cells. We recently introduced and validated a lipid peroxidation reporter molecule, C11-BODIPY581/591.To further explore this probe, we evaluated the protective effect of 12 natural antioxidants in rat-1 fibroblasts subjected to 50 μM cumene-hydroperoxide using both probes. The same pecking order for the individual antioxidant efficacies was obtained: α-tocopherol≈γ-tocopherol>quercetin≈lycopene>kaempferol>palm oil>hydroxy-tyrosol>>α-carotene=β-carotene=lutein=tyrosol=chlorogenic acid. This validates the accuracy of the C11-BODIPY581/591 method and shows that this assay is an accurate and highly flexible method for indexing lipid peroxidation or determining antioxidant efficacy in living cells in a medium throughput scenario.The antioxidant efficacy was compared with their one-electron reduction potential, hydrophobicity and Trolox C equivalent antioxidant capacity. Our results show that although these parameters are valuable for determining structure-function relationships, they have limited predictive value for antioxidant efficacy in vivo. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: BCAR3 binds to the carboxy-terminus of p130Cas, a focal adhesion adapter protein. Both BCAR3 and p130Cas have been linked to resistance to anti-estrogens in breast cancer, Rac activation and cell motility. Using R743A BCAR3, a point mutant that has lost the ability to bind p130Cas, we find that BCAR3–p130Cas complex formation is not required for BCAR3-mediated anti-estrogen resistance, Rac activation or discohesion of epithelial breast cancer cells. Complex formation was also not required for BCAR3-induced lamellipodia formation in BALB/c-3T3 fibroblasts but was required for optimal BCAR3-induced motility. Although both wildtype and R743A BCAR3 induced phosphorylation of p130Cas and the related adapter protein HEF1/NEDD9, chimeric NSP3:BCAR3 experiments demonstrate that such phosphorylation does not correlate with BCAR3-induced anti-estrogen resistance or lamellipodia formation. Wildtype but not R743A BCAR3 induced lamellipodia formation and augmented cell motility in p130Cas−/− murine embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs), suggesting that while p130Cas itself is not strictly required for these endpoints, complex formation with other CAS family members is, at least in cells lacking p130Cas. Overall, our work suggests that many, but not all, BCAR3-mediated signaling events in epithelial and mesenchymal cells are independent of p130Cas association. These studies also indicate that disruption of the BCAR3–p130Cas complex is unlikely to reverse BCAR3-mediated anti-estrogen resistance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac (DCF) has a high prevalence of intestinal side effects in humans and rats. It has been reported that Mrp2 transporter deficient rats (Mrp2 − ) are more resistant to DCF induced intestinal toxicity. This was explained in vivo by impaired Mrp2-dependent biliary transport of DCF-acylglucuronide (DAG), leading to decreased intestinal exposure to DAG and DCF. However, it is not known to what extent adaptive changes in the Mrp2 − intestine itself influence its sensitivity to DCF toxicity without the influence of liver metabolites. To investigate this, DCF toxicity and disposition were studied ex vivo by precision-cut intestinal slices and Ussing chamber using intestines from wild type (WT) and Mrp2 − rats. The results show that adaptive changes due to Mrp2 deficiency concerning Mrp2, Mrp3 and BCRP gene expression, GSH content and DAG formation were different between liver and intestine. Furthermore, Mrp2 − intestine was intrinsically more resistant to DCF toxicity than its WT counterpart ex vivo . This can at least partly be explained by a reduced DCF uptake by the Mrp2 − intestine, but is not related to the other adaptive changes in the intestine. The extrapolation of this data to humans with MRP2 deficiency is uncertain due to species differences in activity and regulation of transporters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]