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Natural products from plants in Canadian ecological zones are understudied. There are, however, sound scientific arguments to justify investigation of natural products from plant species found within these zones. Here, we review a broad range of scientific and local literature describing the features of the Canadian prairie ecological zone and the Asteraceae taxonomical family. Species from Asteraceae are well represented in the prairie ecological system, although very few have been investigated for natural products with biomedical properties. Data from a range of sources that address ecological interactions, abiotic features, and Traditional Knowledge provide a foundation for future scientific studies of plant natural products found within Canadian borders. We draw from discoveries of the Asteraceae family and one of its major classes of secondary metabolites, sesquiterpenes, to stimulate research of Asteraceae species in Canada. Key words: Alberta, Asteraceae, Blackfoot, First Nations, herbivory, natural products, prairie, secondary metabolites, sesquiterpene lactones, Traditional Knowledge. Les produits naturels tirés des plantes qui poussent dans les zones écologiques canadiennes sont peu étudiés. Il existe pourtant des arguments scientifiques solides pour justifier l'étude des produits naturels des espèces végétales présentes dans ces zones. Les auteurs font la synthèse d'un large éventail de documents scientifiques et locaux qui décrivent les caractéristiques de la zone écologique des Prairies canadiennes et de la famille taxonomique des astéracées. Les espèces d'astéracées sont bien représentées dans le système écologique des Prairies, mais très peu d'entre elles ont été étudiées relativement à la présence de produits naturels possédant des propriétés biomédicales. Les données issues d'un éventail de sources qui traitent des interactions écologiques, des caractéristiques abiotiques et des savoirs traditionnels constituent une base pour de futures études scientifiques sur des produits naturels végétaux trouvés à l'intérieur des frontières canadiennes. Les auteurs puisent parmi les découvertes sur la famille des astéracées et l'une des principales classes de ses métabolites secondaires, les sesquiterpènes, pour stimuler la recherche sur les espèces d'astéracées au Canada. [Traduit par la Rédaction] Mots-clés : Alberta, Asteraceae, Pied-Noir, Premières nations, herbivorie, produits naturels, prairie, métabolites secondaires, lactones sesquiterpènes, savoir traditionnel., Asteraceae natural products as sources of bioactive molecules Plants from the taxonomical family Asteraceae are historically and scientifically recognized as sources of beneficial natural products (metabolites), used as treatments for [...]

Author(s): Anne Bernheim-Groswasser [1]; Sebastian Wiesner [2]; Roy M. Golsteyn [1, 3]; Marie-France Carlier (corresponding author) [2]; Cécile Sykes (corresponding author) [1] In cells, actin polymerization at the plasma membrane [...]

One of the most common characteristics of cancer cells is genomic instability. Recent research has revealed that G2/M-phase checkpoint adaptation-entering mitosis with damaged DNA-contributes to genomic changes in experimental models. When cancer cells are treated with pharmacological concentrations of genotoxic agents, they undergo checkpoint adaptation; however, a small number of cells are able to survive and accumulate micronuclei. These micronuclei harbour damaged DNA, and are able to replicate and reincorporate their DNA into the main nucleus. Micronuclei are susceptible to chromothripsis, which is a phenomenon characterised by extensively rearranged chromosomes that reassemble from pulverized chromosomes in one cellular event. These processes contribute to genomic instability in cancer cells that survive a genotoxic anti-cancer treatment. This review provides insight into checkpoint adaptation and its connection to micronuclei and possibly chromothripsis. Knowledge about these mechanisms is needed to improve the poor cancer treatment outcomes that result from genomic instability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We review the bio-activities of natural product sesquiterpenes and present the first description of their effects upon mitosis. This type of biological effect upon cells is unexpected because sesquiterpenes are believed to inactivate proteins through Michael-type additions that cause non-specific cytotoxicity. Yet, certain types of sesquiterpenes can arrest cells in mitosis as measured by cell biology, biochemical and imaging techniques. We have listed the sesquiterpenes that arrest cells in mitosis and analyzed the biological data that support those observations. In view of the biochemical complexity of mitosis, we propose that a subset of sesquiterpenes have a unique chemical structure that can target a precise protein(s) required for mitosis. Since the process of mitotic arrest precedes that of cell death, it is possible that some sesquiterpenes that are currently classified as cytotoxic might also induce a mitotic arrest. Our analysis provides a new perspective of sesquiterpene chemical biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]