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Z Ronai

Publications and source records attributed to Z Ronai.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Activation of c-Jun-NH2-kinase by UV irradiation is dependent on p21ras.

We have demonstrated previously that Jun-NH2-kinase (JNK) activation in vitro is potentiated by association with the p21(ras) protein. To determine if in vivo activation of JNK also depends on p21(ras), we have used M1311 cells that carry the cDNA for the neutralizing antibody to p21(ras), Y13-259, under a dexamethasone-inducible promoter. The ability of UV to activate JNK gradually decreased over a 4-day period of cell growth in dexamethasone. This decrease coincides with weaker transcriptional activation measured via gel shift and chloramphenicol acetyltransferase assays. Peptides corresponding to amino acids 96-110 on p21(ras), which were shown to block Ras-JNK association, inhibited UV-mediated JNK activation in mouse fibroblast 3T3-4A cells as well as in M1311 cells, further supporting the role of p21(ras) in UV-mediated JNK activation. Overall, the present studies provide in vivo confirmation of the role p21(ras) plays in JNK activation by UV irradiation.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1996

Expression of a 32 kDa protein in rat mammary tumors induced by anti-benzo[c]phenanthrene-3,4-diol-1,2-epoxide.

Racemic anti-benzo[c]phenanthrene-3,4-diol-1,2-epoxide (BcPDE) is a powerful rat mammary carcinogen and a metabolite of benzo[c]phenanthrene, a polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon found in the environment. In elucidating potential molecular mechanisms that may play a role in the development of BcPDE-induced rat mammary tumors, we have identified a 32 kDa protein in 16 of 26 tumors analyzed but in only 1 of the 15 normal mammary tissues that were examined. The 32 kDa protein was identified with antibodies to Ets, which also recognized the 55 kDa Ets-1 protein that was expressed at similar levels in normal mammary tissues. The expression of the 32 kDa protein was also observed in mammary tumor-derived cell lines of both rat and human origin and in human melanoma, but not in normal human keratinocytes or rat fibroblast cell lines. Further characterization via 2D gels revealed that the protein exhibits a PI of 5.5. Southwestern analysis using Ets-1 target sequence revealed binding of the 55 kDa Ets-1 but not of the newly identified 32 kDa protein. Overall, the preferential expression of the 32 kDa protein in mammary tumor tissues may serve as a biomarker to follow the development of this tumor type.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Expression of dominant negative CREB reduces resistance to radiation of human melanoma cells.

u.v.-responsive element (URE)-binding proteins were found to include members of the AP1 and ATF transcription factor families. To elucidate the functional contribution of URE-bound proteins to the characteristics of human melanoma, we have used a dominant negative CREB cDNA which is mutated within the DNA-binding domain and cloned into a mammalian expression vector driven by the RSV promoter (KCREB). As such, KCREB is still capable of heterodimerizing with its associated proteins, yet, due to its poor binding affinity to DNA it out competes transcriptional activity mediated by those proteins. Human melanoma cells (MeWo) were transfected with KCREB and three clones, designated K1, K2, and K10 which express KCREB transcripts were then selected for further characterization. When tested for binding activities in gel shift assays, proteins prepared from the three clones exhibited a different set of complexes than the parent MeWo and control MeWo(neo) cells (transfected with empty expression vector) under normal growth conditions, and after u.v.-irradiation. Using CAT vector, driven by a tetramer URE construct, revealed a striking decrease in transcriptional activity in each of the three clones before as well as after u.v.-irradiation. When tested for radiation resistance MeWo cells were found to exhibit 42% survival to a u.v.-dose of 16 J/m2, whereas, K1, K2 and K10 exhibited only 10.2, 3.9 and 4.2% survival, respectively. Exposure to 2 Gy of X-radiation led to 62.1% survival of MeWo as compared with 18.5% of K1 and 7.7% and 6.5% of K2 and K10, respectively. While no significant differences were noticed in their growth rate, all three clones exhibited fewer, and smaller colonies in soft agar, when compared with parent cells. These findings indicate that through their transcriptional activities, CREB and its associated proteins play an important role in the acquisition of characteristic phenotypes of human melanoma cells including resistance to u.v.-irradiation.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1996

Elevated binding to URE/PEBP2 during the late stages of NNK and benzo[a]pyrene-induced carcinogenesis in A/J mice.

To provide better understanding about alterations in transcription factor activities during the promotion and progression stages of lung carcinogenesis we have utilized the A/J mice lung tumor model in which two potent lung carcinogens, 4-(methyl-nitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), were co-administered. Nuclear proteins prepared from lung, brain, kidney, liver and colon of the A/J mice, 19 weeks after the last carcinogen administration, as well as from their respective non-treated controls, were tested for their binding to polyoma enhancer binding protein 2 (PEBP2) target sequence and UV-responsive element (URE). PEBP2 represents a newly identified family of transcription factors that was shown to play a role in cellular differentiation and transformation. URE is similar to CRE and AP1 target sequences, to which the members of ATF/AP1 transcriptional factors family bind. We demonstrate here that there is a marked increase in binding to both PEBP2 and URE sequences in lung, liver, kidney and brain of the treated mice. Such binding appears to be dependent on the mode of carcinogen administration as it was better noticed in the intragastric injected group than in the intraperitoneal group. Taken together, our findings suggest that increased binding to the URE and PEBP2 target sequence reflects changes in transcriptional activities which occur at late stages of lung carcinogenesis in a fashion which appear to depend on mode of carcinogen administration.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Changes in jun N-terminal kinase activation by stress during aging of cultured normal human fibroblasts.

The molecular changes associated with the aging process include the reduced activity of transcription factors (such as AP-1) and an impaired response to stress, which has been well documented in the case of the heat-shock (HS) response. Using human diploid fibroblasts of early and late passages as an in vitro model for aging, we elucidated changes in the activation of jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs), which play an important role in the mammalian stress response. We found that early-passage cells exhibited a greater degree of JNK activation in response to HS and ultraviolet (UV) C light treatments than did late-passage cells. Decreased JNK activation was dependent on the number of passages but was not affected by varying doses of UV irradiation. Analysis of protein kinase A, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and src-related tyrosine kinases revealed no decreased activities in aged cells, indicating a selective rather than generalized decrease in kinase activities during aging. A further understanding of this impaired activation of JNK may provide insights into the mechanisms of stress response and cellular aging.

Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases↗
PubMed1996

Effects of chemopreventive selenium compounds on Jun N-kinase activities.

Activation of Jun-N-kinases (JNK) is stimulated by diverse agents including UV-irradiation, heat shock, tumor necrosis factor and osmotic shock. In the present study we have elucidated the effect of the organoselenium chemopreventive agent 1,4-phenylenebis(methylene)selenocyanate (p-XSC, on UV-mediated JNK activation. Using mouse fibroblasts as a model cell system we found that low concentrations (1-10 microM range) of p-XSC did not affect JNK activity, yet were capable of potentiating JNK activity when administered prior to UV-irradiation. While higher doses of p-XSC have minimal effect on JNK activation, when combined with UV, there is a dose-dependent decrease in JNK activation. Similar to its effects on JNK, p-XSC is a potent inducer of src-related tyrosine kinases. p-XSC mediated changes in JNK activation correlate with its ability to potentiate the association of JNK with p21ras, in a manner similar to that we have previously observed with GTP or sodium vanadate. That p-XSC can modulate JNK activities points to a possible mechanism by which it contributes to the cell's ability to cope with stress.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1996

Dose rate and mode of exposure are key factors in JNK activation by UV irradiation.

Single exposure of cells to UVC (254 nm for 30 s) or to UVB (300 nm for 10 min) was shown to activate jun-NH2 kinases which, in turn, phosphorylate their substrates ELK-1, c-jun and ATF-2. While UVC (40-80 J/m2) activates JNK up to 4 h, with maximal induction after 30 min, UVB (150-300 J/m2) activates JNK over a prolonged period, up to 24 h, with maximal induction after 6 h. UV-mediated activation of src-related tyrosine kinases and MAPK revealed different kinetics, with maximal induction after 24 h. As recent studies had indicated a role of a UVC component in mediating the ability of UVB to activate JNK, we have examined the effect of dose rate as well as of multiplicity of exposures on the activation of these kinases. The UVC portion found in 300 J/m2 UVB (5%, corresponding to 15 J/m2, administered within 10 s) did not activate JNK. However, when the same dose was administered at a lower rate (i.e. over 10 min, as needed for UVB irradiation) it was found capable of activating JNK, MAPK and src kinases, but to a lower degree and with different kinetics than found for UVB. Such differences point to cellular changes which are elicited by UVB, but not UVC. Although a single UVB exposure using a filter that blocks wavelengths below 300 nm prevented activation of JNK, multiple exposures of filtered UVB wavelengths (mimicking chronic exposure) were able to activate JNK. We conclude that the mode of UVB exposure (dose rate and multiplicity) is a crucial determinant for physiologically relevant activation of JNK.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1996

Impaired jun-NH2-terminal kinase activation by ultraviolet irradiation in fibroblasts of patients with Cockayne syndrome complementation group B.

c-jun-NH2 kinases (JNK) are among the UV-activated protein kinases that play an important role in cellular stress response via the phosphorylation of c-jun, ATF2, and p53. Activation of JNK by UV irradiation requires cooperation between membrane and nuclear components, including DNA lesions per se. The role of DNA lesions in JNK activation led us to explore the inducibility of these kinases in cells of repair-deficient patients. Analyses of primary fibroblast cell lines from patients with Cockayne Syndrome of complementation group B (CS-B) revealed poor JNK activation after UV irradiation in four of five cases when compared with three repair-proficient, normal human fibroblast cell lines. Impaired ability to activate JNK persisted at various time points and with different doses of UV irradiation and coincided with failure of in vitro damaged DNA to activate these kinases. In contrast to UV irradiation, other forms of stress, such as H2O2 or heat shock were capable of inducing JNK activation in CS-B cells. Interestingly, when UV irradiation was administered after osmotic shock, it led to JNK activation in CS-B cells, indicating that alternate signal transduction pathways that are activated in response to other forms of stress can potentiate JNK activation by UV irradiation. Unlike CS-B cells, those of other repair-deficient cells, including xeroderma pigmentosum of different complementation groups, revealed proper activation of JNK by UV irradiation. Together, our findings point to deficiency of JNK activation by UV irradiation in CS-B cells, a phenomenon which may be associated with impaired CS-B, the mutant repair gene in these patients.

Calcium-Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinases↗
PubMed1996

K-ras mutation in sputum of patients with or without lung cancer.

K-ras mutation appears in about 60% of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This frequency and its presence in normal appearing tissues point to the potential of ras oncogene mutation to serve as a good biomarker. Using enriched PCR (EPCR), which enables the detection of one mutant allele in the presence of 10,000 normal alleles, we have determined the frequency of mutant ras alleles in the sputum samples of patients with or without lung cancer. Samples were collected from 17 patients with NSCLC and from 40 controls who suffered from non-oncological lung diseases, including bronchitis, asthma, and pneumonia. Of the 37 samples obtained from patients with lung cancer, 18 were found to harbor ras oncogene mutations (48%). Of the 40 cases that were free of lung cancer, five were found to harbor this mutation (12.5%). The difference between the two frequencies was found to be significant (P < 0.01). These findings indicate that (a) K-ras oncogene mutation can be identified in routinely obtained sputum samples of patients who may be at risk of developing lung cancer and (b) the higher frequency of these mutations in samples of patients with lung cancer points to the potential use of the ras mutation as a biomarker for either exogenous or endogenous exposure to carcinogens. Thus, the ability to examine sputum provides a powerful and convenient source of sampling and may be adapted for future large-scale screening.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Complexes of p21RAS with JUN N-terminal kinase and JUN proteins.

RAS gene-encoded p21 protein has been found to increase in vitro phosphorylation of JUN via its kinase, JUN N-terminal kinase (JNK). This effect is mediated by increased phosphorylation of JNK in the presence of wild-type and oncogenic (Val-12) p21 protein in a dose-dependent manner. Oncogenic p21 protein is more potent in mediating this effect than its normal counterpart. Both normal and oncogenic p21 proteins bind to purified JNK and to JNK that is present in cell extracts from transformed fibroblasts and melanoma cells. Oncogenic and normal p21 proteins have also been found to bind to bacterially expressed JUN protein. This binding is dose dependent, enhanced by the presence of GTP, and depends on the presence of the first 89 amino acids of JUN (the delta domain), as it does not occur with v-jun. While the ability of both normal and oncogenic p21 proteins to bind JNK is strongly inhibited by a p21 peptide corresponding to aa 96-110, and more weakly inhibited by the p21 peptide corresponding to aa 115-126, p21-JUN interaction is inhibited by peptides corresponding to aa 96-110 and, to a lesser degree, by peptides corresponding to aa 35-47. The results suggest that the p21 protein interacts specifically with both JNK and JUN proteins.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1995

Effects of organic and inorganic selenium compounds on rat mammary tumor cells.

To explore cellular effects of potent organoselenium chemopreventive agents we have used a rat mammary tumor cell line. We demonstrate that 1,4-phenylenebis(methylene) selenocyanate (p-XSC) at a dose of 5 microM is a more potent inhibitor of DNA, RNA and protein synthesis as well as of mitochondrial transmembrane potential than its chemopreventive counterparts benzyl selenocyanate (BSC) and sodium selenite. These differences were also reflected in reduced growth rate by 24 and 48 hr. Cell-cycle and cell-morphology analysis revealed that higher doses of p-XSC (10 microM) caused DNA fragmentation which was accompanied with partial loss of nuclear stainability, whereas BSC caused a noticeable change in cell-cycle distribution and extensive micronucleation. Overall, our results point to cellular targets of selenium compounds which may mediate their chemopreventive activities in mammary tissues.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

UV irradiation and heat shock mediate JNK activation via alternate pathways.

To elucidate cellular pathways involved in Jun-NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) activation by different forms of stress, we have compared the effects of UV irradiation, heat shock, and H2O2. Using mouse fibroblast cells (3T3-4A) we show that while H2O2 is ineffective, UV and heat shock (HS) are potent inducers of JNK. The cellular pathways that mediate JNK activation after HS or UV exposure are distinctly different as can be concluded from the following observations: (i) H2O2 is a potent inhibitor of HS-induced but not of UV-induced JNK activation; (ii) Triton X-100-treated cells abolish the ability of UV, but not HS, to activate JNK; (iii) the free radical scavenger N-acetylcysteine inhibits UV- but not HS-mediated JNK activation; (iv) N-acetylcysteine inhibition is blocked by H2O2 in a dose-dependent manner; (v) a Cockayne syndrome-derived cell line exhibits JNK activation upon UV exposure, but not upon HS treatment. The significance of Jun phosphorylation by JNK after treatment with UV, HS, or H2O2 was evaluated by measuring Jun phosphorylation in vivo and also its binding activity in gel shifts. HS and UV, which are potent inducers of JNK, increased the level of c-Jun phosphorylation when this was measured by [32P]orthophosphate labeling of 3T3-4A cultures. H2O2 had no such effect. Although H2O2 failed to activate JNK in vitro and to phosphorylate c-Jun in vivo, all three forms of stress were found to be potent inducers of binding to the AP1 target sequence. Overall, our data indicate that both membrane-associated components and oxidative damage are involved in JNK activation by UV irradiation, whereas HS-mediated JNK activation, which appears to be mitochondrial-related, utilizes cellular sensors.

3T3 Cells↗
PubMed1995

Mutant K-ras in apparently normal mucosa of colorectal cancer patients. Its potential as a biomarker of colorectal tumorigenesis.

BACKGROUND: The best way to reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer mortality would be to prevent this cancer. However, none of the biomarkers proposed can accurately identify persons at increased risk of colorectal cancer or those at low risk. As a possible genetic biomarker, K-ras mutations, which are frequently found in colorectal cancers, were analyzed in apparently normal colorectal mucosa. METHODS: Nonneoplastic mucosa and tumor tissues were collected at surgery from 70 patients with colorectal cancer: one sample each from 50 patients (group A) and multiple samples from the other 20 patients (group B). Mutant K-ras codon 12 was analyzed by the enriched polymerase chain reaction (EPCR), by which one mutant can be detected among 10(3) to 10(4) normal alleles. RESULTS: Only with the aid of EPCR was mutant K-ras detected in nonneoplastic mucosa of nine patients (18%) in Group A and five patients (25%) in Group B. This increased incidence could be attributed to the multiple tissue sampling. The presence of mutant K-ras in nonneoplastic mucosae was not consistently correlated with that in the tumors. These findings suggest that the mutant K-ras identified in nonneoplastic mucosa actually represents de novo mutations, which may be initiated by different etiologic factors and at different times. CONCLUSION: Mutant K-ras detected in apparently normal mucosa should be a useful biomarker for identifying persons at higher risk of colorectal cancer. Our study also emphasizes the need for improving the method for sample collection to achieve true representation of the colorectal mucosa.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1995

Ultraviolet irradiation and c-jun over-expression regulates replication of polyoma sequences in WOP cells through a PEBP2 binding site.

Mouse fibroblast cells (WOP) express permissive factors which support polyoma DNA replication. However, electroporation into WOP cells of a mammalian expression vector that encodes the c-jun cDNA results in repression of polyoma DNA replication in a dose-dependent manner. In previous studies we have shown that UV-irradiation is capable of mediating a similar effect on polyoma DNA replication. When c-jun over-expression was combined with ultraviolet (UV)-irradiation, polyoma DNA replication decreased further. The repression of replication mediated by c-jun appears to be mediated by factor(s) that bind to PEBP4/2 target sequences as oligomers bearing the PEBP2/4 target site were capable of restoring polyoma DNA replication when added to UV-treated or c-jun over-expressing cells. The binding to the PEBP2/4 is partially dependent on the availability of AP-1 proteins, since an AP-1 target sequence can efficiently compete one of the three complexes formed with the PEBP2 target site. PEPB2 sequences do not, however, affect binding to the AP1 site. The effect of PEBP2 on polyoma replication is not dependent on the adjacent AP-1 site since PEBP2 could restore replication of polyomavirus which is mutated at the AP-1 sequence. A similar replication pattern was noted in a deletion mutant of polyoma which lacks PEBP4, yet, contains an intact PEBP2 binding sequence, suggesting that PEBP2 is the principle target for mediating repression of polyoma DNA replication.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Ultraviolet light-responsive element (TGACAACA)-binding proteins in cells of xeroderma pigmentosum patients.

The ultraviolet light (UV)-responsive element (URE) is an octamer sequence, TGACAACA, that shares homology with cyclic AMP-responsive element and activator protein 1 target sequences. Because URE-binding proteins have been shown to play a role in cellular response to DNA damage, we determined their expression and DNA-binding activities in repair-deficient cells. Of the complementation groups tested, only xeroderma pigmentosum (XP)-C cells induced expression of c-jun after UV irradiation; this correlated with XP-C binding to the URE and resembled the pattern observed with normal human fibroblasts. In other cases either a decrease (XP-A) or no change (XP-D) in URE-binding activities was noticed, which may be associated with decreased c-fos and poor c-jun expression after UV irradiation. That XP-C cells were the only complementation group exhibiting URE-binding activities similar to those of repair-proficient cells points to the possible correlation between proper repair of transcriptionally active genes and the expression and activities of proteins implicated in the cellular response to UV irradiation.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1995

jun-NH2-terminal kinase activation mediated by UV-induced DNA lesions in melanoma and fibroblast cells.

jun-NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) belongs to a family of protein kinases that phosphorylates c-Jun, ATF2, and Elk1 in response to various forms of stress including UV irradiation and heat shock. Although in previous studies we have demonstrated the importance of membrane components for JNK activation by UV irradiation, here we have elucidated the role of DNA damage in this response. We show that in vitro-irradiated or sonicated DNA that is added to proteins prepared from UV-treated cells can further induce JNK activation in a dose-dependent manner. When compared with UV-B (300 nm), UV-C (254 nm), which is better absorbed by the DNA, is significantly more potent in activating JNK. Furthermore, when wavelengths lower than 300 nm were filtered out, UV-B was no longer able to activate JNK. With the aid of melanoma and fibroblast cells, which exhibit different resistances to irradiation and require different UV doses to generate the same number of DNA lesions, we demonstrate that above a threshold level of 0.45 lesions and up to 0.75 lesions per 1875 bp, the degree of JNK activation correlates with the amount of lesions induced by UV-C irradiation. Finally, to explore the role of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in mediating JNK activation after UV irradiation, we have used cells that lacks mtDNA. Although the lack of mtDNA did not impair the ability of UV to activate JNK, when enucleated, these cells had lost the ability to activate JNK in response to UV irradiation. Overall, our results suggest that DNA damage in the nuclear compartment is an essential component that acts in concert with membrane-anchored proteins to mediate c-Jun phosphorylation by JNK.

3T3 Cells↗