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The complex [Fe(indH)(solvent)3](ClO4)2 ( 1) has been isolated from the reaction of equimolar amounts of 1,3-bis(2′-pyridylimino)isoindoline (indH) and Fe(ClO4)2 in acetonitrile and characterized by X-ray crystallography and several spectroscopic techniques. It is a suitable catalyst for the oxidation of thioanisoles and benzyl alcohols with H2O2 as the oxidant. Hammett correlations and kinetic isotope effect experiments support the involvement of an electrophilic metal-based oxidant. A metastable green species ( 2) is observed when 1 is reacted with H2O2 at -40 °C and has a FeIII(μ-O)(μ-O2)FeIII core on the basis of UV/Vis, electron paramagnetic resonance, resonance Raman, and X-ray absorption spectroscopic data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The NDR/LATS family of kinases is a subgroup of the AGC group of protein kinases and is conserved from lower eukaryotes to humans. Like other AGC kinases, NDR/LATS kinases require phosphorylation of conserved Ser/Thr residues for activation. On the one hand, binding of the coactivator MOB to NDR/LATS allows autophosphorylation. On the other hand, MST kinases directly phosphorylate NDR/LATS kinases. In addition to our understanding of the molecular activation mechanisms, recent studies have shown that LATS kinases play a central role in Hippo/SWH (Salvador/Warts/Hippo) tumor suppressor pathways, which coordinate cell proliferation and apoptosis by regulating proto-oncogenes, such as YAP and TAZ. In this review, we summarize current knowledge of Merlin/MST/SAV/MOB/LATS/NDR/YAP/TAZ networks (also termed mammalian Hippo signaling) and their roles in mammalian cellular transformation. © 2009 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In vitro and animal studies suggest a critical role for P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) in the regulation of WBC adhesion and neutrophil counts. As WBC activation decreases PSGL-1 expression on WBCs in vitro, the effects of G-CSF on PSGL-1 expression were examined.Study Design and Methods: Two different G-CSF doses (1 and 5 microg/kg IV) were compared with high-dose dexamethasone (1 mg/kg twice daily) and placebo in a randomized, double-blind, four-way cross-over trial in eight healthy volunteers. Surface expression of WBC adhesion molecules was quantified by flow cytometry.Results: Both G-CSF and dexamethasone led to a delayed down regulation of L-selectin. In contrast, G-CSF rapidly down regulated PSGL-1 expression on neutrophils within 90 minutes, whereas neither dexamethasone nor placebo had an effect. Similarly, incubation of WBCs with clinically relevant G-CSF concentrations (60 microg/L) for 90 minutes down modulated PSGL-1 expression on neutrophils and enhanced CD11b expression, compatible with a direct PSGL-1 down regulation by G-CSF-induced neutrophil activation. Similar to G-CSF, GM-CSF down regulated PSGL-1 in vitro. Both drugs induced shedding of soluble PSGL-1, supporting the concept that proteolytic cleavage is a potential mechanism of PSGL-1 down regulation on neutrophils.Conclusion: G-CSF, but not dexamethasone, down regulates PSGL-1 expression on the surface of neutrophils in humans. This could also partly explain the synergistic effects when both drugs are combined for optimal mobilization of neutrophils for clinical granulocyte transfusion programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the increasing use of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) for the mobilization of stem cells and neutrophils, its pharmacodynamic actions are not fully understood. Because of the roles of G-CSF and gelatinase B in leucokinetics, we set out to characterize the interaction of G-CSF with its receptor in humans and its effects on gelatinase B release. G-CSF was infused at bolus doses of 1 μg/kg and 5 μg/kg, and compared to placebo and dexamethasone (1 mg/kg b.i.d), which enhances the plasma levels of endogenous G-CSF. The study was randomized, double-blind, four-way crossover, in eight healthy male volunteers. G-CSF dose-independently induced profound neutropenia (> 95%) within minutes and downregulated its own receptor (CD114) on neutrophils by 75%. The G-CSF/CD114 interaction dose-independently induced degranulation of neutrophils as evidenced by a 300–400% increase in CD11b expression. Degranulation induced up to a 10-fold increase in plasma levels of gelatinase B, an enzyme known to precipitate neutropenia and subsequent neutrophilia in animals. In this study, it was shown that G-CSF downmodulates CD114 expression on the surface of neutrophils in humans and the consequent degranulation enhances gelatinase B release into plasma, which may contribute to mobilization of neutrophils or stem cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STK38 (also known as NDR1) is a Hippo pathway serine/threonine protein kinase with multifarious functions in normal and cancer cells. Using a context‐dependent proximity‐labeling assay, we identify more than 250 partners of STK38 and find that STK38 modulates its partnership depending on the cellular context by increasing its association with cytoplasmic proteins upon nutrient starvation‐induced autophagy and with nuclear ones during ECM detachment. We show that STK38 shuttles between the nucleus and the cytoplasm and that its nuclear exit depends on both XPO1 (aka exportin‐1, CRM1) and STK38 kinase activity. We further uncover that STK38 modulates XPO1 export activity by phosphorylating XPO1 on serine 1055, thus regulating its own nuclear exit. We expand our model to other cellular contexts by discovering that XPO1 phosphorylation by STK38 regulates also the nuclear exit of Beclin1 and YAP1, key regulator of autophagy and transcriptional effector, respectively. Collectively, our results reveal STK38 as an activator of XPO1, behaving as a gatekeeper of nuclear export. These observations establish a novel mechanism of XPO1‐dependent cargo export regulation by phosphorylation of XPO1's C‐terminal auto‐inhibitory domain. Synopsis: Cytoplasmic accumulation of STK38 kinase is essential for starvation‐induced autophagy. STK38 phosphorylates and activates the nuclear export factor XPO1, thereby supporting the shuttling of the autophagy regulator Beclin1 and other XPO1 cargoes to the cytoplasm. XPO1 is a substrate for the STK38 kinase.XPO1 is activated by this phosphorylation event on Ser1055.STK38 behaves as a regulator of XPO1 activity, which is inactive in absence of phosphorylation of its Ser1055. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucocorticoids dose-dependently increase plasma levels of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). Based on the marked circadian rhythm of cortisol levels, we hypothesized that plasma levels of G-CSF may also show a diurnal rhythm. A prospective study was conducted in 12 healthy young volunteers. Blood samples were obtained every 2 h over 24 h. G-CSF levels averaged 18.0 ng/l (CI 13.1–22.9) at 8.00 am, increased continuously and reached peak values at 10.00 p.m. Individual harmonic regression analysis showed a clear circadian rhythm. The individual differences between nadir and peak levels averaged 54% (CI 43–65%). This pronounced diurnal rhythm of G-CSF levels may help understand the circadian changes in circulating stem cells, bone marrow DNA synthesis, or bone marrow toxicity induced by some chemotherapeutic agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hippo growth control pathway coordinates cell proliferation, death, differentiation and stemness through regulatory phosphorylation of the YAP proto-oncoprotein, a major nuclear effector of Hippo signalling. In particular, YAP phosphorylation on Ser127 can promote inhibitory 14-3-3 interactions and cytoplasmic sequestration. Two studies in this issue of EMBO Reports show that Ser128 phosphorylation of YAP by the Nemo-like kinase ( NLK) disrupts 14-3-3 interactions, thereby promoting nuclear accumulation of active YAP . Notably, Ser127-phosphorylated YAP can be nuclear and co-transcriptionally active upon osmotic stress, thus, challenging the dogma of YAP regulation by Ser127 phosphorylation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]