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Plants are exposed to a variety of biotic and abiotic stresses, including wounding at the stem. The healing process (tissue reunion) begins immediately after stem wounding. The plant hormone auxin plays an important role during tissue reunion. In decapitated stems, auxin transport from the shoot apex is inhibited and tissue reunion does not occur but is restored by application of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). In this study, we found that plasmodesmata callose binding protein 2 (PDCB2) affects the expansion of the cambium/phloem region via changes in auxin response during the process of tissue reunion. PDCB2 was expressed in the cortex and endodermis on the incised side of stems 1–3 days after incision. PDCB2-knockout plants showed reduced callose deposition at plasmodesmata and DR5::GUS activity in the endodermis/cortex in the upper region of the incision accompanied by an increase in size of the cambium/phloem region during tissue reunion. In addition, PIN(PIN-FORMED)3, which is involved in lateral auxin transport, was induced by auxin in the cambium/phloem and endodermis/cortex in the upper part of the incision in wild type, but its expression of PIN3 was decreased in pdcb2 mutant. Our results suggest that PDCB2 contributes to the regulation of cambium/phloem development via auxin response.

Supplementary Movie S1A from Oligodendrocyte Lineage Transcription Factor 2 Inhibits the Motility of a Human Glial Tumor Cell Line by Activating RhoA

Supplementary Figures S1-S3 from Oligodendrocyte Lineage Transcription Factor 2 Inhibits the Motility of a Human Glial Tumor Cell Line by Activating RhoA

Supplementary Movie S1 from A Novel FRET-Based Biosensor for the Measurement of BCR-ABL Activity and Its Response to Drugs in Living Cells

Supplementary Figures S1-S6 from A Novel FRET-Based Biosensor for the Measurement of BCR-ABL Activity and Its Response to Drugs in Living Cells

CCR Translation for This Article from A Novel FRET-Based Biosensor for the Measurement of BCR-ABL Activity and Its Response to Drugs in Living Cells

Angiogenesis is involved in various physiologic and pathological conditions, including tumor growth, and is tightly regulated by the orchestration of proangiogenic and antiangiogenic factors. Inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the best-established antiangiogenic treatment in cancer, has shown some effectiveness; however, the identification of novel regulators, whose function is independent of VEGF, is required to achieve better outcomes. Here, we show that transcription factor 8 (TCF8) is up-regulated in endothelial cells during angiogenesis, acting as a negative regulator. Furthermore, TCF8 is specifically expressed in the endothelium of tumor vessels. Tcf8-heterozygous knockout mice are more permissive than wild-type mice to the formation of tumor blood vessels in s.c. implanted melanoma, which seems to contribute to the more aggressive growth and the lung metastases of the tumor in mutant mice. Suppression of TCF8 facilitates angiogenesis in both in vitro and ex vivo models, and displays comprehensive cellular phenotypes, including enhanced cell invasion, impaired cell adhesion, and increased cell monolayer permeability due to, at least partly, MMP1 overexpression, attenuation of focal adhesion formation, and insufficient VE-cadherin recruitment, respectively. Taken together, our findings define a novel, integral role for TCF8 in the regulation of pathologic angiogenesis, and propose TCF8 as a target for therapeutic intervention in cancer. [Cancer Res 2009;69(4):1678–84]

Supplementary Figures 1-3 from Integral Role of Transcription Factor 8 in the Negative Regulation of Tumor Angiogenesis

Frequent mutation of the tumour suppressor RNF43 is observed in many cancers, particularly colon malignancies. RNF43, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, negatively regulates Wnt signalling by inducing degradation of the Wnt receptor Frizzled. In this study, we discover that RNF43 activity requires phosphorylation at a triplet of conserved serines. This phospho-regulation of RNF43 is required for zebrafish development and growth of mouse intestinal organoids. Cancer-associated mutations that abrogate RNF43 phosphorylation cooperate with active Ras to promote tumorigenesis by abolishing the inhibitory function of RNF43 in Wnt signalling while maintaining its inhibitory function in p53 signalling. Our data suggest that RNF43 mutations cooperate with KRAS mutations to promote multi-step tumorigenesis via the Wnt-Ras-p53 axis in human colon cancers. Lastly, phosphomimetic substitutions of the serine trio restored the tumour suppressive activity of extracellular oncogenic mutants. Therefore, harnessing phospho-regulation of RNF43 might be a potential therapeutic strategy for tumours with RNF43 mutations., RNF43 is frequently mutated in cancers and negatively regulates Wnt signalling. Here, the authors report that RNF43 phosphorylation at a serine triplet is required for the negative regulation of Wnt signalling and that the phosphorylation of RNF43 suppresses cancer-associated oncogenic RNF43 mutants.

When oncogenic transformation or apoptosis occurs within epithelia, the harmful or dead cells are apically extruded from tissues to maintain epithelial homeostasis. However, the underlying molecular mechanism still remains elusive. In this study, we first show, using mammalian cultured epithelial cells and zebrafish embryos, that prior to apical extrusion of RasV12-transformed cells, calcium wave occurs from the transformed cell and propagates across the surrounding cells. The calcium wave then triggers and facilitates the process of extrusion. IP3 receptor, gap junction, and mechanosensitive calcium channel TRPC1 are involved in calcium wave. Calcium wave induces the polarized movement of the surrounding cells toward the extruding transformed cells. Furthermore, calcium wave facilitates apical extrusion, at least partly, by inducing actin rearrangement in the surrounding cells. Moreover, comparable calcium propagation also promotes apical extrusion of apoptotic cells. Thus, calcium wave is an evolutionarily conserved, general regulatory mechanism of cell extrusion.

An aberrant increase in the diastolic calcium concentration ([CaThe purpose of this study was to investigate whether enhanced CaWe used a HF mouse model in which myocardial infarction was induced by permanent left anterior descending coronary artery ligation. The mitochondrial CaProtein expression of the mitochondrial CaThe effects of kaempferol in HF of mice implied that mitochondria may have the potential to compensate for abnormal [Ca

SUMMARYThe ongoing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has threatened human health and the global economy. Development of additional vaccines and therapeutics is urgently required, but such development with live virus must be conducted with biosafety level 3 confinement. Pseudotyped viruses have been widely adopted for studies of virus entry and pharmaceutical development to overcome this restriction. Here we describe a modified protocol to generate vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) pseudotyped with SARS-CoV or SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein in high yield. We found that pseudovirions produced with the conventional transient expression system lacked coronavirus Spike protein at their surface as a result of inhibition of parental VSV infection by overexpression of this protein. Establishment of stable cell lines with an optimal expression level of coronavirus Spike protein allowed the efficient production of progeny pseudoviruses decorated with Spike protein. This improved VSV pseudovirus production method should facilitate studies of coronavirus entry and development of antiviral agents.

Endocytosis mediates the internalization and ingestion of a variety of endogenous or exogenous substances, including virus particles, under the control of intracellular signaling pathways. We have previously reported that the complex formed between the small GTPase Ras and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) translocates from the plasma membrane to endosomes, signaling from which thereby regulates clathrin-independent endocytosis, endosome maturation, influenza virus internalization, and infection. However, the molecular mechanism by which the Ras-PI3K complex is recruited to endosomes remains unclear. Here, we have identified the amino acid sequence responsible for endosomal localization of the Ras-PI3K complex. PI3K lacking this sequence failed to translocate to endosomes, and expression of the peptide comprising this PI3K-derived sequence inhibited clathrin-independent endocytosis, influenza virus internalization, and infection. Moreover, treatment of cells with this peptide in an arginine-rich, cell-penetrating form successfully suppressed influenza virus infection in vitro and ex vivo, making this peptide a potential therapeutic agent against influenza virus infection.Key words: signal transduction, endocytosis, endosome, imaging, influenza virus.

There is large demand for a quantitative method for rapid and ultra-sensitive detection of the influenza virus. Here, we established a digital influenza virus counting (DIViC) method that can detect a single virion without antibody. In the assay, a virion is stochastically entrapped inside a femtoliter reactor array device for the fluorogenic assay of neuraminidase, and incubated for minutes. By analyzing 600,000 reactors, the practical limit of detection reached the order of 103 (PFU)/mL, only 10-times less sensitive than RT-PCR and more than 1000-times sensitive than commercial rapid test kits (RIDTs). Interestingly, neuraminidase activity differed among virions. The coefficient of variance was 30–40%, evidently broader than that of alkaline phosphatase measured as a model enzyme for comparison, suggesting the heterogeneity in size and integrity among influenza virus particles. Sensitivity to oseltamivir also differed between virions. We also tested DIViC using clinical gargle samples that imposes less burden for sampling while with less virus titre. The comparison with RIDTs showed that DIViC was largely superior to RIDTs in the sensitivity with the clinical samples although a few false-positive signals were observed in some clinical samples that remains as a technical challenge.

SUMMARYIntracellular organelles of mammalian cells communicate with each other during various cellular processes. The functions and molecular mechanisms of such interorganelle association remain largely unclear, however. We here identified voltage-dependent anion channel 2 (VDAC2), a mitochondrial outer membrane protein, as a binding partner of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), a regulator of clathrin-independent endocytosis downstream of the small GTPase Ras. VDAC2 was found to tether endosomes positive for the Ras-PI3K complex to mitochondria in response to cell stimulation with epidermal growth factor and to promote clathrin-independent endocytosis as well as endosome maturation at membrane contact sites. With a newly developed optogenetics system to induce mitochondrion-endosome association, we found that, in addition to its structural role in such association, the pore function of VDAC2 is also required for the promotion of endosome maturation. Our findings thus uncover a previously unappreciated role of mitochondrion-endosome association in the regulation of endocytosis and endosome maturation.HighlightsThe mitochondrial protein VDAC2 binds PI3K and tethers endosomes to mitochondriaVDAC2 promotes clathrin-independent endocytosisVDAC2-PI3K interaction induces acidification of endosomes associated with mitochondriaThe pore function of VDAC2 also contributes to endosome maturation at contact sites

Background: Delayed after depolarization by calcium (Ca 2+ ) leak from sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) via Ryanodine receptor is one of the causes of ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) in heart failure (HF). Ca 2+ uptake into mitochondria via mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) is participated in Ca 2+ handling, but the relationship between VAs in HF and Ca 2+ uptake into mitochondria is unclear. Purpose: We sought to investigate whether increased Ca 2+ uptake into mitochondria via MCU reduces diastolic Ca 2+ leak and suppresses VAs in ischemic HF mice. Methods: Ten-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were divided into 2 groups; sham operation mice (Sham) or HF mice (HF) in which myocardial infarction was induced by left coronary artery ligation. After 4-6 weeks, cardiomyocyte or mitochondria were isolated respectively from the myocardium of Sham and the non-infarct myocardium of HF. Ca 2+ waves (CaWs) were measured on an epifluorescence microscopy. Calcium transients and calcium sparks were measured on a confocal microscope in linescan mode. Mitochondrial Ca 2+ uptake were measured by estimating the extra-mitochondrial Ca 2+ reduction with Fluo-5N on a spectrofluoro-photometer. VAs was induced in the Langendorff perfused hearts. Left ventricular (LV) pressure was measured using a microtip transducer catheter . Results: HF mice showed left ventricular dysfunction and increased heart and lung weights compared to Sham. Kaempferol, a MCU activator, increased mitochondrial Ca 2+ uptake in the isolated mitochondria both in Sham and HF. CaWs and Ca spark frequency in the presence of isoproterenol was attenuated by 10 μM Kaempferol. Kaempferol did not show significant changes in Ca 2+ transient amplitude, however increased the time to 50% decay significantly. The incidence of induced VAs was suppressed by Kaempferol. In vivo measurements, intravenous administration of Kaempferol (5mg/kg) did not show significant changes in hemodynamic parameters in HF mice. Conclusions: Ca 2+ uptake into mitochondria via MCU suppresses VAs in HF. Despite the adverse influence of the traditional antiarrhythmic drugs for HF condition, a novel strategy that promotes Ca 2+ uptake into mitochondria might be a potential therapeutic approach for VA treatment in HF patients.

The smallest arenavirus gene product, Z protein, plays critical roles in the virus life cycle. Z is the major driving force of budding and particle production because of a unique property that defines self-assembly. In addition to the roles in budding, Z also participates in the suppression of type I interferon production to evade host antiviral immunity. Therefore, Z and its assembled form are an attractive drug target for arenaviral hemorrhagic fever, such as Lassa fever. Here, we developed a biosensor that enabled the evaluation of the prototype arenavirus, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV), Z assembly using the principle of Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET). This FRET biosensor consisted of three tandem Z that were sandwiched between super-enhanced cyan-emitting fluorescent protein and variant of a yellow-emitting mutant of green fluorescent protein so that Z-Z intermolecular binding via the really interesting new gene finger domain increased the emission ratio. To identify novel anti-arenavirus compounds, the FRET biosensor was employed to screen the PathogenBox400 for inhibitors of Z assembly in a 96-well plate format. The assay performed well, with a Z’-factor of 0.89, and identified two compounds that decreased the emission ratio of the FRET biosensor in a dose-dependent manner. Of them, the compound, 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-7-(benzyl)-pyrido[4',3':4,5]thieno[2,3-d] pyrimidin-2,4-diamine, was found to significantly inhibit LCMV propagation in infected cells. Thereby, the present study demonstrated that a novel FRET biosensor incorporating Z assembly built on FRET and named Zabton, was a valuable screening tool to identify anti-arenavirus compounds in the context of inhibition of Z assembly., Cell Structure and Function, 45(2), pp.155-163; 2020

Background In heart failure (HF), diastolic calcium (Ca) leak from sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) via ryanodine receptor (RyR) causes delayed after depolarization (DAD), leading ventricular arrhythmias (VAs). Recent study reported that Ca uptake into mitochondria via mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) suppress Ca waves (CaWs) and DAD in catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, in which diastolic Ca leak is thought to be a major cause of VAs as in HF. However, such anti-arrhythmic effect of mitochondrial Ca uptake via MCU remains unclear in HF. Purpose We sought to investigate whether mitochondrial Ca uptake via MCU decreases CAWs and VAs incidence in ischemic HF mice. Methods Ten-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were divided into 2 groups; sham operation mice (Sham) or HF mice (HF) in which myocardial infarction was induced by left coronary artery ligation. After 4–6 weeks, cardiomyocyte or mitochondria was isolated respectively from the myocardium of Sham and the non-infarct myocardium of HF. Influence of MCU activation on Ca dynamics, VA inducibility and left ventricular hemodynamics were evaluated using Kaemenpferol, a MCU activator. Intracellular Ca dynamics and mitochondrial Ca uptake were measured in isolated cardiomyocytes loaded with Fluo-4 AM on an epifluorescence microscopy and by estimating the extra-mitochondrial Ca reduction with Fluo-5N on a spectrofluoro-photometer, respectively. VAs was induced by programmed stimulation in the Langendorff perfused hearts. Left ventricular (LV) pressure was measured using a microtip transducer catheter. Finally, the effect of intravenous administration of Kaempferol (5mg/kg) on hemodynamic parameters was examined 30 minutes after administration in Sham and HF. Results HF mice showed left ventricular dysfunction, as well as the increased heart and lung weights compared to Sham. MCU protein expression in cardiomyocytes did not differ between Sham and HF. Kaempferol increased mitochondrial Ca uptake in the isolated mitochondria both in Sham and HF. The number of the diastolic CaWs was higher in HF compared to Sham. Such increased number of CaWs in HF was attenuated by 10 μM Kaempferol, which was, however, abolished by a MCU blocker Ruthenium Red. The incidence of induced VA was significantly higher in HF than Sham, which was suppressed by Kaempferol. In vivo measurements, intravenous administration of Kaempferol did not show significant changes in hemodynamic parameters in Sham and HF mice. Conclusions Mitochondrial Ca uptake via MCU suppresses CaWs and VAs, but did not change LV hemodynamics in HF. Whereas traditional antiarrhythmic drugs have limited use in heart failure patients, a novel strategy that promotes Ca uptake into mitochondria might be a new and safer option for treating VAs in HF. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

The Ebola virus-encoded major matrix protein VP40 traffics to the plasma membrane, which leads to the formation of filamentous viral particles and subsequent viral egress. However, the cellular machineries underlying this process are not fully understood. In the present study, we have assessed the role of host endocytic recycling in Ebola virus particle formation. We found that a small GTPase Rab11, which regulates recycling of molecules among the trans-Golgi network, recycling endosomes, and the plasma membrane, was incorporated in Ebola virus-like particles. Although Rab11 predominantly localized in the perinuclear region, it distributed diffusely in the cytoplasm and partly localized in the periphery of the cells transiently expressing VP40. In contrast, Rab11 exhibited a perinuclear distribution when 2 VP40 derivatives that lack ability to traffic to the plasma membrane were expressed. Finally, expression of a dominant-negative form of Rab11 or knockdown of Rab11 inhibited both VP40-induced clusters at the plasma membrane and release of viral-like particles. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that Ebola virus exploits host endocytic recycling machinery to facilitate the trafficking of VP40 to the cell surface and the subsequent release of viral-like particles for its establishment of efficient viral egress.

Recent studies have revealed that newly emerging transformed cells are often apically extruded from epithelial tissues. During this process, normal epithelial cells can recognize and actively eliminate transformed cells, a process called epithelial defence against cancer (EDAC). Here, we show that mitochondrial membrane potential is diminished in RasV12-transformed cells when they are surrounded by normal cells. In addition, glucose uptake is elevated, leading to higher lactate production. The mitochondrial dysfunction is driven by upregulation of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4), which positively regulates elimination of RasV12-transformed cells. Furthermore, EDAC from the surrounding normal cells, involving filamin, drives the Warburg-effect-like metabolic alteration. Moreover, using a cell-competition mouse model, we demonstrate that PDK-mediated metabolic changes promote the elimination of RasV12-transformed cells from intestinal epithelia. These data indicate that non-cell-autonomous metabolic modulation is a crucial regulator for cell competition, shedding light on the unexplored events at the initial stage of carcinogenesis.

Fusion tyrosine kinases play a crucial role in the development of hematological malignancies. FIP1L1-PDGFRA is a leukemogenic fusion kinase that causes chronic eosinophilic leukemia. As a constitutively active kinase, FIP1L1-PDGFRA stimulates downstream signaling molecules, leading to cellular proliferation and the generation of an anti-apoptotic state. Contribution of the N-terminal FIP1L1 portion is necessary for FIP1L1-PDGFRA to exert its full transforming activity, but the underlying mechanisms have not been fully characterized. We identified PIAS1 as a FIP1L1-PDGFRA association molecule by yeast two-hybrid screening. Our analyses indicate that the FIP1L1 portion of FIP1L1-PDGFRA is required for efficient association with PIAS1. As a consequence of the association, FIP1L1-PDGFRA phosphorylates PIAS1. Moreover, the kinase activity of FIP1L1-PDGFRA stabilizes PIAS1. Therefore, PIAS1 is one of the downstream targets of FIP1L1-PDGFRA. Moreover, we found that PIAS1, as a SUMO E3 ligase, sumoylates and stabilizes FIP1L1-PDGFRA. In addition, suppression of PIAS1 activity by a knockdown experiment resulted in destabilization of FIP1L1-PDGFRA. Therefore, FIP1L1-PDGFRA and PIAS1 form a positive cross-talk through their enzymatic activities. Suppression of sumoylation by ginkgolic acid, a small molecule compound inhibiting a SUMO E1-activating enzyme, also destabilizes FIP1L1-PDGFRA, and while the tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib suppresses FIP1L1-PDGFRA-dependent cell growth, ginkgolic acid or siRNA of PIAS1 has a synergistic effect with imatinib. In conclusion, our results suggest that sumoylation by PIAS1 is a potential target in the treatment of FIP1L1-PDGFRA-positive chronic eosinophilic leukemia.

Three quercetin derivatives with enhanced radical-scavenging activity were designed and synthesised. Because the radical-scavenging reaction of quercetin is known to proceed via an electron transfer from quercetin to radicals, producing the corresponding quercetin radical cation intermediate, the introduction of electron-donating groups into the quercetin molecule is expected to enhance its radical-scavenging activity. Thus, methyl groups were introduced into the catechol moiety in the quercetin molecule at either the 2′- or 5′-position, or both. All three quercetin analogues were found to exhibit higher radical-scavenging activity than the parent quercetin. The activity of 5′-methylquercetin is the highest among the three analogues. The optimised structure of 5′-methylquercetin calculated by density functional theory demonstrated a coplanar structure between the 4H-curomen (AC rings) and catechol (B ring) moieties, while dimethylquercetin and 2′-methylquercetin have a twisted structure between the AC and B rings. These results demonstrate that the highest radical-scavenging activity of 5′-methylquercetin is due to the stabilisation of the radical cation intermediate by the electron-donating effect of the methyl group as well as by the planar structure of the molecule.

Herein we report an efficient method for the synthesis of a highly functionalized 2-pyrrolidinone, tert-butyl 3-cyano-3-cyclopropyl-2-oxopyrrolidine-4-carboxylate, from readily available starting materials. Utility of this compound was demonstrated in the synthesis of a novel series of macrocyclic Tyk2 inhibitors, leading to the identification of a potent and selective macrocyclic Tyk2 inhibitor (26).

The oncogenic tyrosine kinase BCR-ABL activates a variety of signaling pathways and plays a causative role in the pathogenesis of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML); however, the subcellular distribution of this chimeric protein remains controversial. Here, we report that BCR-ABL is localized to stress granules and that its granular localization contributes to BCR-ABL-dependent leukemogenesis. BCR-ABL-positive granules were not colocalized with any markers for membrane-bound organelles but were colocalized with HSP90a, a component of RNA granules. The number of such granules increased with thapsigargin treatment, confirming that the granules were stress granules. Given that treatment with the ABL kinase inhibitor imatinib and elimination of the N-terminal region of BCR-ABL abolished granule formation, kinase activity and the coiled-coil domain are required for granule formation. Whereas wild-type BCR-ABL rescued the growth defect in IL-3-depleted Ba/F3 cells, mutant BCR-ABL lacking the N-terminal region failed to do so. Moreover, forced tetramerization of the N-terminus-deleted mutant could not restore the growth defect, indicating that granule formation, but not tetramerization, through its N-terminus is critical for BCR-ABL-dependent oncogenicity. Our findings together provide new insights into the pathogenesis of CML by BCR-ABL and open a window for developing novel therapeutic strategies for this disease.Key words: BCR-ABL, subcellular localization, stress granule.

The discovery of fluorescent proteins (FPs) has revolutionized cell biology. The fusion of targeting sequences to FPs enables the investigation of cellular organelles and their dynamics; however, occasionally, such fluorescent fusion proteins (FFPs) exhibit behavior different from that of the native proteins. Here, we constructed a color pallet comprising different organelle markers and found that FFPs targeted to the mitochondria were mislocalized when fused to certain types of FPs. Such FPs included several variants of Aequorea victoria green FP (aqGFP) and a monomeric variant of the red FP. Because the FFPs that are mislocalized include FPs with faster maturing or folding mutations, the increase in the maturation rate is likely to prevent their expected localization. Indeed, when we reintroduced amino acid substitutions so that the FP sequences were equivalent to that of wild-type aqGFP, FFP localization to the mitochondria was significantly enhanced. Moreover, similar amino acid substitutions improved the localization of mitochondria-targeted pHluorin, which is a pH-sensitive variant of GFP, and its capability to monitor pH changes in the mitochondrial matrix. Our findings demonstrate the importance of selecting FPs that maximize FFP function.

Nilotinib is widely used for primary treatment of patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). We previously reported that use of an FRET-based drug sensitivity test at diagnosis efficiently predicts the response to treatment with imatinib or dasatinib. Here, we conducted a phase-II study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of nilotinib treatment and identify useful biomarkers, including results of the FRET-based drug sensitivity test, for predicting treatment response. Data from 42 patients were used in the analysis. Major molecular response (MMR), MR4, and MR4.5 rates at 12 months were 64.3, 42.9, and 28.6%, respectively. Grade 3/4 non-hematologic adverse events occurred in 11 patients (26.2%). The dose intensity of nilotinib ( 76.44%) and halving time (HT, 13.312 days) were identified as significant factors for MMR at 12 months. However, when we focused on patients whose dose intensity of nilotinib was 76.44%, the FRET-based drug sensitivity test became a predictive factor of MR4 achievement at 12 months. Our study reconfirmed the efficacy and safety of nilotinib treatment in CML patients. Moreover, our results suggest that the FRET-based drug sensitivity test is an independent predictor for achievement of MR4 in patients treated with a sufficient dose intensity of nilotinib.

Glioblastoma is the most aggressive and invasive brain tumor and has a poor prognosis; elucidating the underlying molecular mechanisms is essential to select molecular targeted therapies. Here, we investigated the effect of microRNAs on the marked invasiveness of glioblastoma. U373 glioblastoma cells were infected with 140 different microRNAs from an OncomiR library, and the effects of the invasion-related microRNAs and targeted molecules were investigated after repeated Matrigel invasion assays. Screening of the OncomiR library identified miR-23a as a key regulator of glioblastoma invasion. In six glioblastoma cell lines, a positive correlation was detected between the expression levels of miR-23a and invasiveness. A luciferase reporter assay demonstrated that homeobox D10 (HOXD10) was a miR-23a-target molecule, which was verified by high scores from both the PicTar and miRanda algorithms. Forced expression of miR-23a induced expression of invasion-related molecules, including uPAR, RhoA, and RhoC, and altered expression of glial-mesenchymal transition markers such as Snail, Slug, MMP2, MMP9, MMP14, and E-cadherin; however, these changes in expression levels were reversed by HOXD10 overexpression. Thus, miR-23a significantly promoted invasion of glioblastoma cells with polarized formation of focal adhesions, while exogenous HOXD10 overexpression reversed these phenomena. Here, we identify miR-23a-regulated HOXD10 as a pivotal regulator of invasion in glioblastoma, providing a novel mechanism for the aggressive invasiveness of this tumor and providing insight into potential therapeutic targets., Cancer: microRNA makes brain cancer invasive Researchers in Japan have identified key genetic players in an aggressive form of brain cancer. Glioblastoma is the most invasive type of brain tumor, with a five-year survival rate of just 7%. To investigate its invasiveness, a team led by Shinya Tanaka of Hokkaido University tested the effect of 140 microRNAs on glioblastoma cells. They found that miR-23a increased the invasiveness of the cells. Further research revealed that miR-23a reduces the level of the regulatory gene HOXD10 by destroying the protein it encodes. This reduction leads to changes in the expression of genes regulated by HOXD10, increasing affected cells’ invasiveness and altering their morphology. The miR-23a/HOXD10 pathway revealed here not only provides insight into the biology of glioblastoma but also offers a potential therapeutic target.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) establishes a lifelong latent infection in B lymphocytes and often is found in epithelial cells. Several lines of evidence indicate that viral transmission mediated by cell-to-cell contact is the dominant mode of infection by EBV for epithelial cells. However, its detailed molecular mechanism has not been fully elucidated. We investigated the role of host membrane trafficking machinery in this process. We have found that adhesion molecules critical for this process are expressed in EBV-positive and -negative Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) cells and multiple epithelial cell lines. Treatment with blocking antibodies against β1 and β2 integrin families and their ligands suppressed EBV transmission in a dose-dependent manner. We also confirmed that adhesion molecules are upregulated in co-cultured BL cells. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that the intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) distributed to the cell surface and partially co-localized with recycling endosomes in co-cultured BL cells. Moreover, cell-to-cell EBV transmission was inhibited upon blocking endocytic recycling by expression of a dominant-negative form of a small GTPase Rab11 or by knockdown of Rab11, supporting the notion that the endocytic pathway-dependent trafficking of ICAM-1 to the cell surface of BL cells contributes to viral transmission by stabilizing cell-to-cell contact between the donor cells and recipient cells. Finally, we demonstrated that co-cultivation upregulated clathrin-mediated endocytosis in the recipient cells, allowing EBV to be internalized. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that EBV exploits host endocytic machinery in both donor and recipient cells, a process which is facilitated by cell-to-cell contact, thereby promoting successful viral transmission.

Background Fluorescent proteins have continued to shed light on cell biology since the cDNA of wild type green fluorescent protein was first isolated. Nowadays, these remarkable proteins are useful tools, not only in basic research, but also in clinical medicine. Highlight By taking advantage of fluorescent protein-based technologies, we identified a signaling network critical for influenza virus internalization and infection. In addition, we developed a highly sensitive biosensor for monitoring kinase activity that utilizes energy transfer between fluorescent proteins. This has led to a high-performance clinical test that enables the prediction of future therapeutic responses and the risk of acquired drug resistance for each individual patient before beginning molecular target therapy. Conclusion Technologies that utilize fluorescent proteins, such as the biosensor presented here, should find increasing applications in clinical medicine.

Peripheral-selective inhibition of noradrenaline reuptake is a novel mechanism for the treatment of stress urinary incontinence to overcome adverse effects associated with central action. Here, we describe our medicinal chemistry approach to discover a novel series of highly potent, peripheral-selective, and orally available noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors with a low multidrug resistance protein 1 (MDR1) efflux ratio by cyclization of an amide moiety and introduction of an acidic group. We observed that the MDR1 efflux ratio was correlated with the pKa value of the acidic moiety. The resulting compound 9 exhibited favorable PK profiles, probably because of the effect of intramolecular hydrogen bond, which was supported by a its single-crystal structure. The compound 9, 1-{[(6S,7R)-7-(4-chloro-3-fluorophenyl)-1,4-oxazepan-6-yl]methyl}-2-oxo-1,2-dihydropyridine-3-carboxylic acid hydrochloride, which exhibited peripheral NET-selective inhibition at tested doses in rats by oral administration, increased urethral resistance in a dose-dependent manner.