UNLABELLED: Inhibitors targeting human glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCPII) typically consist of a P1' glutamate-derived binding module, which warrants the high affinity and specificity, linked to an effector function that is positioned within the entrance funnel of the enzyme. Here we present a comprehensive structural and computational study aimed at dissecting the importance of the effector function for GCPII binding and affinity. To this end we determined crystal structures of human GCPII in complex with a series of phosphoramidate-based inhibitors harboring effector functions of diverse physicochemical characteristics. Our data show that higher binding affinities of phosphoramidates, compared to matching phosphonates, are linked to the presence of additional hydrogen bonds between Glu424 and Gly518 of the enzyme and the amide group of the phosphoramidate. While the positioning of the P1' glutamate-derived module within the S1' pocket of GCPII is invariant, interaction interfaces between effector functions and residues lining the entrance funnel are highly varied, with the positively charged arginine patch defined by Arg463, Arg534 and Arg536 being the only 'hot-spot' common to several studied complexes. This variability stems in part from the fact that the effector/GCPII interfaces generally encompass isolated areas of nonpolar residues within the entrance funnel and resulting van der Waals contacts lack the directionality typical for hydrogen bonding interactions. The presented data unravel a complexity of binding modes of inhibitors within non-prime site(s) of GCPII and can be exploited for the design of novel GCPII-specific compounds. PDB ID CODES: Atomic coordinates of the present structures together with the experimental structure factor amplitudes were deposited at the RCSB Protein Data Bank under accession codes 4P44 (complex with JRB-4-81), 4P45 (complex with JRB-4-73), 4P4B (complex with CTT54), 4P4D (complex with MP1C), 4P4E (complex with MP1D), 4P4F (complex with NC-2-40), 4P4I (complex with T33) and 4P4J (complex with T33D).

• MeSH
• amidy chemická syntéza   chemie   farmakologie   MeSH
• antigeny povrchové metabolismus   MeSH
• glutamátkarboxypeptidasa II antagonisté a inhibitory   metabolismus   MeSH
• inhibitory enzymů chemická syntéza   chemie   farmakologie   MeSH
• krystalografie rentgenová MeSH
• kyseliny fosforečné chemická syntéza   chemie   farmakologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• molekulární modely MeSH
• molekulární struktura MeSH
• racionální návrh léčiv * MeSH
• vodíková vazba MeSH
• vztah mezi dávkou a účinkem léčiva MeSH
• vztahy mezi strukturou a aktivitou MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Variations in the TP53 gene have been suggested to play a role in many cancers, including breast. We previously observed an association between TP53 haplotypes based on four polymorphisms (rs17878362, rs1042522, rs12947788, and rs17884306) and the risk of colorectal and pancreatic cancer. Based on these results, in the present study, we have investigated the same polymorphisms and their haplotypes in 705 breast cancer cases and 611 healthy controls in relation to the disease risk, histopathological features of the tumor and clinical outcomes. In comparison to the most common haplotype A1-G-C-G, all the other identified haplotypes were globally associated with a significantly decreased breast cancer risk (P = 0.006). In particular, the A2-G-C-G haplotype was associated with a marked decreased risk of breast cancer when compared with the common haplotype (P = 0.0001). Moreover, rs1042522 in patients carrying the GC genotype and receiving only the anthracycline-based chemotherapy was associated with both overall and disease-free survival (recessive model for overall survival HR = 0.30 95% CI 0.11-0.80, P = 0.02 and for disease-free survival HR = 0.42 95% CI 0.21-0.84, P = 0.01). Present results suggest common genetic features in the susceptibility to breast and gastrointestinal cancers in respect to TP53 variations. In fact, similar haplotype distributions were observed for breast, colorectal, and pancreatic patients in associations with cancer risk. Rs1042522 polymorphism (even after applying the Dunn-Bonferroni correction for multiple testing) appears to be an independent prognostic marker in breast cancer patients.

• MeSH
• genetická predispozice k nemoci genetika   MeSH
• genotyp MeSH
• geny p53 genetika   MeSH
• haplotypy genetika   MeSH
• jednonukleotidový polymorfismus genetika   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nádory prsu genetika   MeSH
• rizikové faktory MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• studie případů a kontrol MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Respiratory complex II (CII, succinate dehydrogenase, SDH) inhibition can induce cell death, but the mechanistic details need clarification. To elucidate the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation upon the ubiquinone-binding (Qp) site blockade, we substituted CII subunit C (SDHC) residues lining the Qp site by site-directed mutagenesis. Cell lines carrying these mutations were characterized on the bases of CII activity and exposed to Qp site inhibitors MitoVES, thenoyltrifluoroacetone (TTFA) and Atpenin A5. We found that I56F and S68A SDHC variants, which support succinate-mediated respiration and maintain low intracellular succinate, were less efficiently inhibited by MitoVES than the wild-type (WT) variant. Importantly, associated ROS generation and cell death induction was also impaired, and cell death in the WT cells was malonate and catalase sensitive. In contrast, the S68A variant was much more susceptible to TTFA inhibition than the I56F variant or the WT CII, which was again reflected by enhanced ROS formation and increased malonate- and catalase-sensitive cell death induction. The R72C variant that accumulates intracellular succinate due to compromised CII activity was resistant to MitoVES and TTFA treatment and did not increase ROS, even though TTFA efficiently generated ROS at low succinate in mitochondria isolated from R72C cells. Similarly, the high-affinity Qp site inhibitor Atpenin A5 rapidly increased intracellular succinate in WT cells but did not induce ROS or cell death, unlike MitoVES and TTFA that upregulated succinate only moderately. These results demonstrate that cell death initiation upon CII inhibition depends on ROS and that the extent of cell death correlates with the potency of inhibition at the Qp site unless intracellular succinate is high. In addition, this validates the Qp site of CII as a target for cell death induction with relevance to cancer therapy.

• MeSH
• buněčná smrt fyziologie   MeSH
• konformace proteinů MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mitochondrie metabolismus   fyziologie   MeSH
• molekulární sekvence - údaje MeSH
• mutageneze cílená MeSH
• respirační komplex II chemie   genetika   metabolismus   fyziologie   MeSH
• sekvence aminokyselin MeSH
• ubichinon chemie   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• vazebná místa MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is an aggressive type of tumour causing high mortality. One reason for this paradigm may be the existence of a subpopulation of tumour-initiating cells (TICs) that endow MM with drug resistance and recurrence. The objective of this study was to identify and characterise a TIC subpopulation in MM cells, using spheroid cultures, mesospheres, as a model of MM TICs. Mesospheres, typified by the stemness markers CD24, ABCG2 and OCT4, initiated tumours in immunodeficient mice more efficiently than adherent cells. CD24 knock-down cells lost the sphere-forming capacity and featured lower tumorigenicity. Upon serial transplantation, mesospheres were gradually more efficiently tumrigenic with increased level of stem cell markers. We also show that mesospheres feature mitochondrial and metabolic properties similar to those of normal and cancer stem cells. Finally, we show that mesothelioma-initiating cells are highly susceptible to mitochondrially targeted vitamin E succinate. This study documents that mesospheres can be used as a plausible model of mesothelioma-initiating cells and that they can be utilised in the search for efficient agents against MM.

• MeSH
• antigen CD24 metabolismus   MeSH
• buněčná adheze účinky léků   MeSH
• buněčné sféroidy účinky léků   patologie   MeSH
• fenotyp MeSH
• genový knockdown MeSH
• inhibiční koncentrace 50 MeSH
• invazivní růst nádoru MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mezoteliom metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• mitochondrie účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• myši nahé MeSH
• nádorové biomarkery metabolismus   MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• nádorové kmenové buňky účinky léků   metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• nádory plic metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• progrese nemoci MeSH
• proliferace buněk účinky léků   MeSH
• protinádorové látky farmakologie   MeSH
• tokoferoly farmakologie   MeSH
• transplantace nádorů MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Pro-apoptotic analogues of vitamin E (VE) exert selective anti-cancer effect on various animal cancer models. Neither suitable formulation of α-tocopheryl succinate (α-TOS), representative semi-synthetic VE analogue ester, nor suitable formulations of the other VE analogues for clinical application have been reported yet. The major factor limiting the use of VE analogues is their low solubility in aqueous solvents. Due to the hydrophobic character of VE analogues, liposomes are predetermined as suitable delivery system. Liposomal formulation prevents undesirable side effects of the drug, enhances the drug biocompatibility, and improves the drug therapeutic index. Liposomal formulations of VE analogues especially of α-TOS and α-tocopheryl ether linked acetic acid (α-TEA) have been developed. The anti-cancer effect of these liposomal VE analogues has been successfully demonstrated in pre-clinical models in vivo. Present achievements in: (i) preparation of liposomal formulations of VE analogues, (ii) physico-chemical characterization of these developed systems and (iii) testing of their biological activity such as induction of apoptosis and evaluation of anti-cancer effect are discussed in this review.

• MeSH
• alfa-tokoferol aplikace a dávkování   MeSH
• apoptóza účinky léků   MeSH
• farmaceutická chemie MeSH
• lékové transportní systémy metody   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• lipidy chemie   MeSH
• liposomy MeSH
• nádory farmakoterapie   patologie   MeSH
• protinádorové látky aplikace a dávkování   chemie   MeSH
• rozpustnost MeSH
• vitamin E aplikace a dávkování   analogy a deriváty   chemie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

The mitochondrial respiratory chain is organized into dynamic high molecular weight complexes that associate to form supercomplexes. The function of these SCs is to minimize the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated during electron transfer within them and to efficiently transfer electrons to complex IV. These supra-molecular structures as well as whole mitochondria are stress-responsive and respond to mitochondrially targeted anti-cancer agent by destabilization and induction of massive production of ROS leading to apoptosis. We have recently developed mitochondrially targeted anti-cancer agents epitomized by the mitochondrially targeted analogue of the redox-silent compound vitamin E succinate, which belongs to the group of agents that kill cancer cells via their mitochondria-destabilizing activity, referred to as mitocans. To understand the molecular mechanism of the effect of such agents, the use of native blue gel electrophoresis and clear native electrophoresis coupled with in-gel activity assays, are methods of choice. The relevant methodology is described in this chapter.

• MeSH
• elektronový transportní řetězec antagonisté a inhibitory   MeSH
• frakcionace buněk MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mitochondriální proteiny metabolismus   MeSH
• mitochondrie účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• protinádorové látky farmakologie   MeSH
• transport elektronů účinky léků   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Respiration is one of the major functions of mitochondria, whereby these vital organelles use oxygen to produce energy. Many agents that may be of potential clinical relevance act by targeting mitochondria, where they may suppress mitochondrial respiration. It is therefore important to evaluate this process and understand how this is modulated by small molecules. Here, we describe the general methodology to assess respiration in cultured cells, followed by the evaluation of the effect of one anticancer agent targeted to mitochondria on this process, and also how to assess this in tumor tissue.

• MeSH
• buněčné dýchání účinky léků   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mitochondrie účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• oxidace-redukce účinky léků   MeSH
• protinádorové látky farmakologie   MeSH
• reaktivní formy kyslíku metabolismus   MeSH
• spotřeba kyslíku účinky léků   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

One purpose of the EC funded project, SPIDIA, is to develop evidence-based quality guidelines for the pre-analytical handling of blood samples for RNA molecular testing. To this end, two pan-European External Quality Assessments (EQAs) were implemented. Here we report the results of the second SPIDIA-RNA EQA. This second study included modifications in the protocol related to the blood collection process, the shipping conditions and pre-analytical specimen handling for participants. Participating laboratories received two identical proficiency blood specimens collected in tubes with or without an RNA stabilizer. For pre-defined specimen storage times and temperatures, laboratories were asked to perform RNA extraction from whole blood according to their usual procedure and to return extracted RNA to the SPIDIA facility for further analysis. These RNA samples were evaluated for purity, yield, integrity, stability, presence of interfering substances, and gene expression levels for the validated markers of RNA stability: FOS, IL1B, IL8, GAPDH, FOSB and TNFRSF10c. Analysis of the gene expression results of FOS, IL8, FOSB, and TNFRSF10c, however, indicated that the levels of these transcripts were significantly affected by blood collection tube type and storage temperature. These results demonstrated that only blood collection tubes containing a cellular RNA stabilizer allowed reliable gene expression analysis within 48 h from blood collection for all the genes investigated. The results of these two EQAs have been proposed for use in the development of a Technical Specification by the European Committee for Standardization.

• MeSH
• GPI-vázané proteiny genetika   MeSH
• interleukin-1beta genetika   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• odběr vzorku krve metody   MeSH
• protoonkogenní proteiny c-fos genetika   MeSH
• řízení kvality MeSH
• RNA krev   genetika   MeSH
• stanovení celkové genové exprese MeSH
• TNF decoy receptory genetika   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Cancer can be characterized as a state of multifaceted cellular deregulation including control of proliferation and bioenergetics. The latter involves in particular mitochondria, the site of the generation of ATP, essential for the proper cellular function (including proliferation). Mitochondria also contain a variety of proteins that are necessary for the induction/promotion, as well as for the prevention of cell death. Therefore, mitochondria are pivotal in deciding the fate of a cell. In cancer, mitochondria are dysfunctional, which was observed as early as in the 1930s by Otto Warburg. Due to the central role of mitochondria, these organelles, endowed with its own DNA, are a focus of research as possible "culprits" for the malignancy of cancer cells (or at least contributing to this phenotype) and, importantly, as emerging targets for anticancer therapy.

• MeSH
• cílená molekulární terapie * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mitochondrie účinky léků   patologie   MeSH
• nádory farmakoterapie   patologie   MeSH
• protinádorové látky farmakologie   terapeutické užití   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

Glutamate carboxypeptidase II (GCPII) is an important target for therapeutic and diagnostic interventions aimed at prostate cancer and neurologic disorders. Here we describe the development and optimization of a high-throughput screening (HTS) assay based on fluorescence polarization (FP) that facilitates the identification of novel scaffolds inhibiting GCPII. First, we designed and synthesized a fluorescence probe based on a urea-based inhibitory scaffold covalently linked to a Bodipy TMR fluorophore (TMRGlu). Next, we established and optimized conditions suitable for HTS and evaluated the assay robustness by testing the influence of a variety of physicochemical parameters (e.g., pH, temperature, time) and additives. Using known GCPII inhibitors, the FP assay was shown to be comparable to benchmark assays established in the field. Finally, we evaluated the FP assay by HTS of a 20 000-compound library. The novel assay presented here is robust, highly reproducible (Z' = 0.82), inexpensive, and suitable for automation, thus providing an excellent platform for HTS of small-molecule libraries targeting GCPII.

• MeSH
• antigeny povrchové genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• fluorescenční barviva chemická syntéza   MeSH
• fluorescenční polarizace metody   MeSH
• glutamátkarboxypeptidasa II antagonisté a inhibitory   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• knihovny malých molekul farmakologie   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• ligandy MeSH
• rychlé screeningové testy metody   MeSH
• vazba proteinů MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH