We introduce a family of multivalent peptidomimetic conjugates that modulate the activity of the androgen receptor (AR). Bioactive ethisterone ligands were conjugated to a set of sequence-specific peptoid oligomers. Certain multivalent peptoid conjugates enhance AR-mediated transcriptional activation. We identify a linear and a cyclic conjugate that exhibit potent anti-proliferative activity in LNCaP-abl cells, a model of therapy-resistant prostate cancer. The linear conjugate blocks AR action by competing for ligand binding. In contrast, the cyclic conjugate is active despite its inability to compete against endogenous ligand for binding to AR in vitro, suggesting a non-competitive mode of action. These results establish a versatile platform to design competitive and non-competitive AR modulators with potential therapeutic significance.
Androgen receptor antagonism by divalent ethisterone conjugates in castrate-resistant prostate cancer cells.
Cell line
View SamplesUremic media calcification is not only driven by systemic factors such as hyperphosphatemia, but also crticially dependent on vascular smooth muscle cells per se. We hypothesized that the different developmental origins of vscular smooth muscle cells might lead to a heterogeneous susceptibility to develop media calcification.
Heterogeneous susceptibility for uraemic media calcification and concomitant inflammation within the arterial tree.
Specimen part
View SamplesWe used microarrays to detail gene expression changes in Hs 294T human melanoma cells after treatment with elesclomol alone, or in combination with paclitaxel, to aide in identifing the mechnism of action of elesclomol.
Elesclomol induces cancer cell apoptosis through oxidative stress.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesWe used microarrays to detail gene expression changes in Hs 294T human melanoma cells after treatment with elesclomol alone, or in combination with NAC, to aide in identifing the mechnism of action of elesclomol.
Elesclomol induces cancer cell apoptosis through oxidative stress.
No sample metadata fields
View SamplesPseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that causes severe health problems. Despite intensive investigation, many aspects of microbial virulence remain poorly understood. We used a high-throughput, high-content, whole-organism, phenotypic screen to identify small molecules that inhibit P. aeruginosa virulence in C. elegans. Approximately half of the hits were known antimicrobials. A large number of hits were non-antimicrobial bioactive compounds, including the cancer chemotherapeutic 5-fluorouracil. We determined that 5-fluorouracil both transiently inhibits bacterial growth and reduces pyoverdine biosynthesis. Pyoverdine is a siderophore that regulates the expression of several virulence determinants and is critical for pathogenesis in mammals. We show that 5-fluorouridine, a downstream metabolite of 5-fluorouracil, is responsible for inhibiting pyoverdine biosynthesis. We also show that 5-fluorouridine, in contrast to 5-fluorouracil, is a genuine anti-virulent compound, with no bacteriostatic or bacteriocidal activity. To our knowledge, this is the first report utilizing a whole-organism screen to identify novel compounds with antivirulent properties effective against P. aeruginosa.
A High-Content, Phenotypic Screen Identifies Fluorouridine as an Inhibitor of Pyoverdine Biosynthesis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa Virulence.
Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesZBTB4 is a mammalian transcription factor with Zinc fingers and a BTB/POZ domain, which can bind methylated CpGs, as well as certain unmethylated consensus sequences. ZBTB4 is frequently downregulated in human cancers, but it is unclear whether this is a cause or consequence of transformation. To investigate the role of ZBTB4 in normal and pathological conditions, we generated Zbtb4-/- mice
Loss of the Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein ZBTB4 Alters Mitotic Checkpoint, Increases Aneuploidy, and Promotes Tumorigenesis.
Specimen part
View SamplesAluminum toxicity is one of the major limiting factors for many crops worldwide. The primary symptom of Al toxicity syndrome is the inhibition of root growth, leading to poor water and nutrient absorption. The causes of this inhibition are still elusive, with several biochemical pathways being affected and with a significant variation between species. Most of the work done so far to investigate the genes responsible for Al tolerance used hydroponic culture. Here we evaluated plant responses using soil as substrate, which is a condition closer to the field reality.
Transcriptional profile of maize roots under acid soil growth.
Specimen part
View SamplesPseudomonas aeruginosa is a re-emerging opportunistic pathogen with broad antimicrobial resistance. We have previously reported that the major siderophore pyoverdine from this pathogen disrupts mitochondrial networks and induces a lethal hypoxic response in model host Caernorhabditis elegans. However, the mechanism of such cytotoxicity remained unclear. Here, we demonstrate that pyoverdine translocates into host cells, binding to host ferric iron sources. The reduction of host iron content disrupts mitochondrial function such as NADH oxidation and ATP production and activates mitophagy. This activates a specific immune response that is distinct from colonization-based pathogensis and exposure to downstream pyoverdine effector Exotoxin A. Host response to pyoverdine resembles that of a hypoxic crisis or iron chelator treatment. Furthermore, we demonstrate that pyoverdine is a crucial virulence factor in P. aerguinosa pathogenesis against cystic fibrosis patients; F508 mutation in human CFTR increases susceptibility to pyoverdine-mediated damage.
Pyoverdine, a siderophore from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, translocates into C. elegans, removes iron, and activates a distinct host response.
Specimen part, Treatment
View SamplesIkaros hypomorphic mice (IkL/L) show plasmacytoid dendritic cell (pDC) defects with an absence of pDCs in the peripheral organs and a reduction of pDCs in the bone marrow (BM). Moreover in vitro differentiation of pDC from IkL/L total BM cells is also defective.
Ikaros cooperates with Notch activation and antagonizes TGFβ signaling to promote pDC development.
Treatment
View SamplesTo assess the importance of the Wnt pathway during T cell develoment, we generated a mouse line (R26-cat) in which high levels of active -catenin are maintained throughout T cell development. Young R26-cat mice (6-week-old) show a differentiation block at the CD4+CD8+ DP stage. All R26-cat mice develop T cell leukemias with a DP phenotype at 5-6 months of age.
β-Catenin activation synergizes with Pten loss and Myc overexpression in Notch-independent T-ALL.
Age, Specimen part
View Samples