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Cinnamon contains bioactive substances with diverse medicinal properties. We investigated the anticancer potential of abundant monophenols from cinnamon, namely, cinnamaldehyde, cinnamic acid, and eugenol, by hypothesizing that they possess proteasome inhibitory activities capable of suppressing cancer cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis. This hypothesis was tested by evaluating proteasome inhibitory activities of the compounds, and assessing downstream molecular and cellular events that are known to be impacted by proteasome inhibitors. The cinnamon compounds inhibited the catalytic activities of the proteasome in prostate cancer cells, but not in normal cells. Treatment with cinnamon compounds or the synthetic proteasome inhibitor MG132 upregulated p27 and IkBα proteins, and downregulated FoxM1 and angiogenic markers. These molecular events were associated with the decreased proliferation of prostate cancer cells. Treatment with cinnamon compounds or MG132 upregulated the expression of genes associated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress/unfolded protein response (BIP, PERK, CHOP, and XBP1(S)). Furthermore, cinnamon compounds or MG132 upregulated the expression of genes required for the assembly of the caspase-8 activation platform in autophagosomes (LC3B, ATG5, p62, and Beclin1). The autophagy inhibitor, 3-methyladenine, blocked the compounds-mediated activation of caspase-8 and its downstream target caspase-3. In conclusion, proteasome inhibition by aromatic monophenols from cinnamon inhibits proliferation and leads to the death of prostate cancer cells by autophagy-dependent apoptosis.

Choriocarcinoma is a malignant gestational trophoblastic neoplasm with rare postpartum presentation. Its manifestation after full term delivery is very rare with paucity of data reported from Pakistan. We received a patient in the postpartum period with symptoms of distant metastasis. She was diagnosed with choriocarcinoma based on our workup and was referred for chemotherapy after management. Now she is receiving follow-up care.

Altered activity of the proteolytic machine-the 26S proteasome is observed in many disease conditions. Hence, either inhibition or activation of the 26S proteasome is thought to be a novel therapy for treatment of certain diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. In this study, we tested the potential of cinnamon and one of its active ingredients, procyanidin-B2 (PCB2), in inhibiting the catalytic activities of the proteasome and suppressing prostate cancer cell growth. Proteasome activities were measured using fluorogenic substrates specific for the different enzymatic activities of the 26S proteasome by flourometry. Cell viability was assessed using the 3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2.5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide assay, while apoptosis was examined by Hoechst and propidium iodide staining and caspase-3 activity. Both, the cinnamon extract and its PCB2-enriched F2 fraction inhibited the catalytic activities of the purified proteasome and the proteasome in cancer cells but not in normal cells. Furthermore, cinnamon and its active component decreased cell proliferation of human prostate cancer cells but not normal lung cells, decreased expression of anti-apoptotic and angiogenic markers in prostate cancer cell lysates. These results demonstrate that cinnamon extract and its PCB2-enriched fraction act as proteasome inhibitors and have prospects as anti-cancer agents. © 2018 IUBMB Life, 70(5):445-457, 2018.

Murraya koenigii (curry tree) leaves are rich in bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, alkaloids, and coumarins. Alkaloids from M. koenigii leaves have antianalgesic, antiulcerogenic, antiobesity, and antitumor activities. In this study, we tested the cytotoxic and proteasome-inhibitory potential of a total alkaloid extract (TAE) from M. koenigii leaves in the breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. The TAE decreased cell viability with an IC

The incidence of breast cancer in India is on the rise and is rapidly becoming the primary cancer in Indian women. The aldoketo reductase (AKR) family has more than 190 proteins including aldose reductase (AKR1B1) and aldose reductase like protein (AKR1B10). Apart from liver cancer, the status of AKR1B1 and AKR1B10 with respect to their expression and activity has not been reported in other human cancers. We studied the specific activity and expression of AKR1B1 and AKR1B10 in breast non tumor and tumor tissues and in the blood. Fresh post-surgical breast cancer and non-cancer tissues and blood were collected from the subjects who were admitted for surgical therapy. Malignant, benign and pre-surgical chemotherapy samples were evaluated by histopathology scoring. Expression of AKR1B1 and AKR1B10 was carried out by immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry (IHC) while specific activity was determined spectrophotometrically. The specific activity of AKR1B1 was significantly higher in red blood cells (RBC) in all three grades of primary surgical and post-chemotherapy samples. Specific activity of both AKR1B1 and AKR1B10 increased in tumor samples compared to their corresponding non tumor samples (primary surgical and post-chemotherapy). Immunoblotting and IHC data also indicated overexpression of AKR1B1 in all grades of tumors compared to their corresponding non tumor samples. There was no change in the specific activity of AKR1B1 in benign samples compared to all grades of tumor and non-tumors.

Inhibition of the 26S proteasome is an attractive approach for anticancer therapy. Proteasome inhibitors are known to selectively target cancer cells and make them more sensitive to chemotherapeutic agents. Murraya koenigii is a medicinally important herb of Asian origin and a rich source of bioactive compounds such as flavonoids and alkaloids. In the present study, we investigated the proteasome inhibitory and apoptotic effect of M. koenigii leaf extract in vivo in a xenograft tumor mouse model, and also assessed the toxicity if any in normal mice. M. koenigii extract did not lead to any toxicity in mice. Analysis of extract revealed the presence of flavonoid compounds which act as proteasome inhibitors. Quercetin treatment led to the decrease in the cell viability and arrest of cells in G2/M phase. Quercetin, Apigenin, Kaempferol and Rutin; flavonoids present in the leaf extract, dose-dependently inhibited the endogenous 26S proteasome activity in MDA-MB-231 cells. Reduction in tumor growth was associated with a decrease in proteasomal enzyme activities in the treated groups. Increased caspase-3 activity and TUNEL-positive cells indicated enhanced apoptosis with Murraya leaf extract treatment. Decreased expression of angiogenic and anti-apoptotic gene markers is indicative of inhibition of angiogenesis and promotion of apoptosis in the leaf extract treated tumors.

WW domain binding protein-2 (WBP-2) was cloned as an E6-associated protein interacting protein, and its role in steroid hormone receptors functions was investigated. We show that WBP-2 specifically enhanced the transactivation functions of progesterone receptor (PR) and estrogen receptor (ER), whereas it did not have any significant effect on the androgen receptor, glucocorticoid receptor, or the activation functions of p53 and VP-16. Depletion of endogenous WBP-2 with small interfering RNAs indicated that WBP-2 was required for the proper functioning of PR and ER. We also demonstrated that WBP-2 contains an intrinsic activation domain. Moreover, chromatin immunoprecipitation assays demonstrate the hormone-dependent recruitment of WBP-2 onto an estrogen-responsive promoter. Mutational analysis suggests that one of three polyproline (PY) motifs of WBP-2 is essential for its coactivation and intrinsic activation functions. We show that WBP-2 and E6-associated protein each enhance PR function, and their effect on PR action are additive when coexpressed, suggesting a common signaling pathway. In this study, we also demonstrate that the WBP-2 binding protein, Yes kinase-associated protein (YAP) enhances PR transactivation, but YAP’s coactivation function is absolutely dependent on WBP-2. Taken together, our data establish the role of WBP-2 and YAP as coactivators for ER and PR transactivation pathways.

The vitamin D analog, 1alpha-fluoro-16-ene-20-epi-23-ene-26,27-bishomo-25-hydroxyvitamin D(3) (Ro-26-9228) is tissue selective, with a gene regulation preference for bone over duodenum in vivo. In the human osteoblast-like cells, hFOB, the vitamin D receptor (VDR)-mediated transcriptional potencies of Ro-26-9228 and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1,25D(3)) were similar, but in the intestinal cells, Caco-2, transcriptional potency of Ro-26-9228 was 10-50 times lower. We hypothesized that transcriptional activation of the VDR by Ro-26-9228 in the two cell types is regulated differently, and compared VDR extracted from hFOB or Caco-2 cells for their abilities to interact with a p160 coactivator [glucocorticoid receptor-interacting protein (GRIP)] and with retinoid X receptor (RXR) by pull-down assays. 1,25D(3) had similar potencies to induce interactions of VDR from the two cell types with these partners of transcription. In contrast, Ro-26-9228 induced interaction of osteoblastic VDR with RXR and GRIP but did not induce these interactions with VDR from Caco-2 cells. Further studies revealed that in hFOB cells the unoccupied VDR was cytoplasmic and proteasome sensitive, and that ligand treatment caused a rapid accumulation of the VDR in the chromatin. Both cytoplasmic and chromatin-associated ligand-bound VDR from hFOB cells had the abilities to interact with GRIP. In contrast, in Caco-2 cells, unoccupied VDR was localized in both the cytoplasm (70%) and the chromatin (30%). In Caco-2 cells, the cytoplasmic VDR was proteasome resistant, and neither 1,25D(3) nor Ro-26-9228 induced its binding to GRIP. Only a small fraction of the chromatin-associated VDR was proteasome sensitive, and this fraction was distinguishable by a faster electrophoretic mobility. 1,25D(3) induced an accumulation of the proteasome-sensitive VDR in the chromatin of Caco-2 cells and binding to GRIP. Ro-26-9228 failed to induce accumulation of the proteasome-sensitive VDR in the chromatin or binding to GRIP, but a coincubation of Caco-2 cells with the analog and a proteasome inhibitor restored these abilities. These results suggest that Ro-26-9228 has poor ability to promote the accumulation of a proteasome-sensitive, transcriptionally active VDR isoform in Caco-2 cells, whereas it does not have this limitation in hFOB cells.

The hierarchical information flow through DNA-RNA-protein-metabolite collectively referred to as 'molecular fingerprint' defines both health and disease. Environment and food (quality and quantity) are the key factors known to affect the health of an individual. The fundamental concepts are that the transition from a healthy condition to a disease phenotype must occur by concurrent alterations in the genome expression or by differences in protein synthesis, function and metabolites. In other words, the dietary components directly or indirectly modulate the molecular fingerprint and understanding of which is dealt with nutrigenomics. Although the fundamental principles of nutrigenomics remain similar to that of traditional research, a collection of comprehensive targeted/untargeted data sets in the context of nutrition offers the unique advantage of understanding complex metabolic networks to provide a mechanistic understanding of data from epidemiological and intervention studies. In this review the challenges and opportunities of nutrigenomic tools in addressing the nutritional problems of public health importance are discussed. The application of nutrigenomic tools provided numerous leads on biomarkers of nutrient intake, undernutrition, metabolic syndrome and its complications. Importantly, nutrigenomic studies also led to the discovery of the association of multiple genetic polymorphisms in relation to the variability of micronutrient absorption and metabolism, providing a potential opportunity for further research toward setting personalized dietary recommendations for individuals and population subgroups.

Background Inhibition of the proteolytic activity of 26S proteasome, the protein-degrading machine, is now considered a novel and promising approach for cancer therapy. Interestingly, proteasome inhibitors have been demonstrated to selectively kill cancer cells and also enhance the sensitivity of tumor cells to chemotherapeutic agents. Recently, polyphenols/flavonoids have been reported to inhibit proteasome activity. Murraya koenigii Spreng, a medicinally important herb of Indian origin, has been used for centuries in the Ayurvedic system of medicine. Here we show that Murraya koenigii leaves (curry leaves), a rich source of polyphenols, inhibit the proteolytic activity of the cancer cell proteasome, and cause cell death. Methods Hydro-methanolic extract of curry leaves (CLE) was prepared and its total phenolic content [TPC] determined by, the Folin-Ciocalteau’s method. Two human breast carcinoma cell lines: MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 and a normal human lung fibroblast cell line, WI-38 were used for the studies. Cytotoxicity of the CLE was assessed by the MTT assay. We studied the effect of CLE on growth kinetics using colony formation assay. Growth arrest was assessed by cell cycle analysis and apoptosis by Annexin-V binding using flow cytometry. Inhibition of the endogenous 26S proteasome was studied in intact cells and cell extracts using substrates specific to 20S proteasomal enzymes. Results CLE decreased cell viability and altered the growth kinetics in both the breast cancer cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. It showed a significant arrest of cells in the S phase albeit in cancer cells only. Annexin V binding data suggests that cell death was via the apoptotic pathway in both the cancer cell lines. CLE treatment significantly decreased the activity of the 26S proteasome in the cancer but not normal cells. Conclusions Our study suggests M. koenigii leaves to be a potent source of proteasome inhibitors that lead to cancer cell death. Therefore, identification of active component(s) from the leaf extract could lead to the development of anti-cancer agents which could be useful in the treatment of different types of cancers.

Eukaryotic transcription is one of the most complex cellular processes and constitutes the first step in protein synthesis. Ubiquitination and subsequent degradation by the 26 S proteasome, on the other hand, represents the final chapter in the life of a protein. Intriguingly, ubiquitin and the ubiquitin– proteasome system play vital roles in the regulation of transcription. Ubiquitin has dual modus operandi: firstly, ubiquitin functions via the 26 S proteasome — it is tagged to components of the transcription machinery, marking them for degradation via the proteasome, which results in the proper exchange of complexes during transcription and the prompt removal of activators after each round of transcription; and secondly, ubiquitin can function independently of the proteasome — histone ubiquitination results in heterochromatin relaxation and assembly of transcription complexes on the promoter, and ubiquitination of transcription factors enhances their transcriptional-activation function. Although ubiquitin and the ubiquitin–proteasome system were initially perceived as a graveyard for proteins, recent advances in molecular biological techniques have redefined their role as a regulatory system that influences the fate of many cellular processes, such as apoptosis, transcription and cell cycle progression.

The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (UPP) is known to degrade short-lived and misfolded proteins. Its role in cell cycle regulation and signal transduction is well established. However, the importance of the UPP in nuclear hormone receptor-regulated gene transcription is relatively new. Nuclear hormone receptors (NHRs) are degraded by the UPP both in the presence or absence of their cognate ligands. In recent years, it has become evident that NHR degradation and NHR-dependent transcription are interdependent processes. The link between these two processes has become stronger with the discovery of a number of ubiquitin-pathway enzymes and components of the proteasome acting as modulators of NHR function. Also, UPP enzymes and components of the proteasome are recruited to the promoters of NHR-responsive genes. Interestingly both coactivators and corepressors (coregulators) of NHRs are also targeted to the UPP for degradation. Furthermore, additional evidence also indicates that the UPP may be involved in the turnover of transcription complexes, thereby facilitating proper gene transcription. In this review we discuss and provide an update on the role of UPP in NHR-dependent gene regulation.

We investigated the role of the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme UBCH7 in nuclear receptor transactivation. Using transient transfection assays, we demonstrated that UBCH7 modulates the transcriptional activity of progesterone receptor (PR) and glucocorticoid, androgen, and retinoic acid receptors in a hormone-dependent manner and that the ubiquitin conjugation activity of UBCH7 is required for its ability to potentiate transactivation by steroid hormone receptors (SHR). However, UBCH7 showed no significant effect on the transactivation functions of p53 and VP-16 activation domain. Depletion of endogenous UBCH7 protein by small interfering RNAs suggests that UBCH7 is required for the proper function of SHR. Furthermore, a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay demonstrated the hormone-dependent recruitment of UBCH7 onto estrogen receptor- and PR-responsive promoters. Additionally, we show that UBCH7 and E6-associated protein (E6-AP) synergistically enhance PR transactivation. We also demonstrate that UBCH7 interacts with steroid receptor coactivator 1 (SRC-1) and that UBCH7 coactivation function is dependent on SRC-1. Taken together, our results reveal the possible role of UBCH7 in steroid receptor transactivation and provide insights into the mechanism of action of UBCH7 in receptor function.