benzyloxycarbonyl-isoleucyl-glutamyl(o-tert-butyl)-alanyl-leucinal and benzyloxycarbonylleucyl-leucyl-leucine-aldehyde

Primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) is an aggressive neoplasm caused by Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV). This study provides evidence that proteasomal activity is required for both survival of PEL cells stably harboring the KSHV genome and viral replication of KSHV. We evaluated the cytotoxic effects of proteasome inhibitors on PEL cells. The proteasome inhibitors MG132, lactacystin, and proteasome inhibitor I dramatically inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis of PEL cells through the accumulation of p21 and p27. Furthermore, proteasome inhibitors induced the stabilization of NF-κB inhibitory molecule (IκBα) and suppressed the transcriptional activity of NF-κB in PEL cells. The NF-κB specific inhibitor BAY11-7082 also induced apoptosis in PEL cells. The constitutive activation of NF-κB signaling is essential for the survival and growth of B cell lymphoma cells, including PEL cells. NF-κB signaling is upregulated by proteasome-dependent degradation of IκBα. The suppression of NF-κB signaling by proteasome inhibitors may contribute to the induction of apoptosis in PEL cells. In addition, proteasome activity is required for KSHV replication in KSHV latently infected PEL cells. MG132 reduced the production of progeny virus from PEL cells at low concentrations, which do not affect PEL cell growth. These findings suggest that proteasome inhibitors may represent a novel strategy for the treatment of KSHV infection and KSHV-associated lymphomas.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Antineoplastic Agents; Apoptosis; Cell Line, Tumor; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Herpesvirus 8, Human; Humans; Leupeptins; Lymphoma, Primary Effusion; NF-kappa B; Nitriles; Oligopeptides; Proteasome Inhibitors; Sulfones; Virus Replication

Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) is a rate-limiting enzyme for the biosynthesis of catecholamines including dopamine. The relationship between proteasomal dysfunction and the etiology of Parkinson's disease has been suggested, but it is unknown if TH protein is affected by proteasomal dysfunctions. Here, we examined the effect of inhibition of ubiquitin-proteasomal pathway on biochemical characteristics of TH protein in the neuronal cells. Inhibition of 20S or 26S proteasome by proteasome inhibitor I, or MG-132 in NGF-differentiated PC12D cells induced dot-like immunoreactivities with the anti-(40)Ser-phosphorylated TH (p40-TH) antibody. These dots were tightly co-localized with ubiquitin and positive to Thioflavine-S staining. These dot-like immunoreactivities were not obvious when immunostaining was performed against total-TH or choline acetyltransferase. Western blotting analysis showed time-dependent increase of p40-TH in the Triton-insoluble fractions. We also examined the effect of okadaic acid, an inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A, which is a phosphatase acting on p40-TH. Okadaic acid increased the amount of insoluble p40-TH. These data suggest that p40-TH is prone to be insolubilized and aggregated by dysfunction of an ubiquitin-proteasome system in PC12D cells.

Topics: Animals; Choline O-Acetyltransferase; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Enzyme Inhibitors; Leupeptins; Neurons; Okadaic Acid; Oligopeptides; PC12 Cells; Phosphorylation; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteasome Inhibitors; Protein Multimerization; Protein Phosphatase 2; Rats; Time Factors; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase; Ubiquitin

Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) activation has been associated with the tumorigenic growth of hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx)-transformed cells. This study was aimed to find a key target for treatment of HBx-mediated cancers.. NF-kappaB activation, endoplasmic reticulum-stress (ER-stress), caspase-3 activation, and cell proliferation were evaluated after Chang/HBx cells permanently expressing HBx viral protein were treated with inhibitors of NF-kappaB, proteasome and DNA topoisomerase.. Inhibition of NF-kappaB transcriptional activity by transient transfection with mutant plasmids encoding Akt1 and glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta), or by treatment with chemical inhibitors, wortmannin and LY294002, showed little effect on the survival of Chang/HBx cells. Furthermore, IkappaBalpha (S32/36A) mutant plasmid or other NF-kappaB inhibitors, 1-pyrrolidinecarbonidithioic acid and sulphasalazine, were also shown to have little effect on the cell proliferation. By contrast, proteasome inhibitor-1 (Pro1) and MG132 enhanced the HBx-induced ER-stress response and the subsequent activation of caspase-12, -9 and -3 and reduced cell proliferation. Camptothecin (CPT), however, triggered activation of caspase-3 without induction of caspase-12, and reduced cell proliferation. In addition, CPT-induced cell death was reversed by pre-treatment with z-DEVD, a caspase-3-specific inhibitor.. Detailed exploitation of the regulators of caspase-3 activation could open the gate for finding an efficient target for development of anticancer therapeutics against HBx-transformed hepatocellular carcinoma.

Topics: Camptothecin; Caspase 3; Cell Death; Cell Line, Transformed; Cell Proliferation; Cell Survival; Endoplasmic Reticulum; Enzyme Activation; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; Humans; Leupeptins; NF-kappa B; Oligopeptides; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Signal Transduction; Trans-Activators; Transcriptional Activation; Viral Regulatory and Accessory Proteins

Proteasome inhibitors represent a novel class of antitumor agents with preclinical and clinical evidence of activity against hematological malignancies and solid tumors. Emerging lines of evidence suggest that the unfolded protein response is implicated in proteasome inhibitors-induced apoptosis. Glucose-regulated protein 78 kDa (GRP78) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP) as part of the unfolded protein response play critical roles in cell survival or death. Here we demonstrate that induction of GRP78 and CHOP are differently regulated upon proteasome inhibition in different thyroid cancer cell lines, and GRP78 levels as well as preferential induction of GRP78 or CHOP appears to be involved in the responsiveness. Insensitive ARO, 8305C, and 8505C cell lines inherently express relatively high levels of GRP78 compared with sensitive cell lines, and its levels are further up-regulated upon treatment with proteasome inhibitors. CHOP levels are dramatically induced in sensitive cell lines until 24 h after proteasome inhibition. On the other hand, only a slight increase is observed at 4 h in insensitive cell lines, and this increase is unable to be detected after 8 h. Insensitive cells are sensitized to proteasome inhibition by suppression of GRP78. Furthermore, suppression of CHOP induction or overexpression of GRP78 partially prevents proteasome inhibition-mediated cell death. Our study indicates a molecular mechanism by which the sensitivity of thyroid cancer cells is regulated by the level of GRP78 as well as preferential induction of GRP78 or CHOP upon treatment with proteasome inhibitors. Our experiments therefore suggest a novel approach toward sensitization of thyroid cancer cells to proteasome inhibitors.

Topics: Blotting, Western; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Survival; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP; Gene Expression; Heat-Shock Proteins; Humans; Leupeptins; Molecular Chaperones; Oligopeptides; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteasome Inhibitors; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA Interference; Thyroid Neoplasms; Transcription Factor CHOP

The presenilin-dependent gamma-secretase complex is mainly composed of four distinct proteins, namely presenilin 1 or presenilin 2, nicastrin, anterior pharynx defective-1 (Aph-1) and presenilin enhancer (Pen-2). The mechanisms by which the complex is assembled, how its stoichiometry is controlled and how its catalytic activity is regulated are poorly understood. Recent studies indicated that Aph-1 and Pen-2 undergo proteolysis by the proteasome. We have examined the susceptibility of endogenous and overexpressed Aph-1a and Pen-2 to proteolysis by endogenous and purified proteasome as well as by recombinant caspases. We show that endogenous Aph-1a and Pen-2 resist proteolysis by caspases and by the proteasome. Furthermore, we show that unexpected interference of proteasome inhibitors with the cmv promoter region driving expression of Aph-1a and Pen-2 led to artifactual enhancement of overexpressed Aph-1a and Pen-2-like immunoreactivities but that these proteins also resist to in vitro degradation by endogenous and purified proteasome.

Topics: Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; Animals; Caspases; Cattle; Cell Line; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Endopeptidases; Gene Expression; Leupeptins; Membrane Proteins; Mutation; Oligopeptides; Peptide Hydrolases; Protease Inhibitors; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Transfection

Acute exposure of dark-adapted, cultured chick pineal glands to UV-A light significantly decreased the tissue cAMP concentration and the activity of arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT), the penultimate and key regulatory enzyme in the melatonin biosynthetic pathway. The magnitude of these changes was dependent on the duration of UV-A exposure. The UV-A light-evoked decline in pineal AANAT activity was blocked by cAMP protagonists (forskolin and dibutyryl-cAMP) and by inhibitors of the proteasomal degradation pathway (MG-132, proteasome inhibitor I, and lactacystin). These results indicate that the chick pineal gland is directly sensitive to UV-A light. By analogy to white light, the suppressive action of UV-A radiation on AANAT activity in the chick pineal gland involves changes in the tissue cAMP level and enhanced proteasomal proteolysis.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Arylalkylamine N-Acetyltransferase; Bucladesine; Chickens; Colforsin; Cyclic AMP; Dark Adaptation; Leupeptins; Male; Oligopeptides; Organ Culture Techniques; Pineal Gland; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Time Factors; Ultraviolet Rays

p62 is a multifunctional cytoplasmic protein able to noncovalently bind ubiquitin and several signaling proteins, suggesting a regulatory role connected to the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. No studies to date have linked p62 protein expression with pathological states. Here we demonstrate the overabundance of p62 protein in malignant breast tissue relative to normal breast tissue. The proteasome inhibitor PSI increased p62 mRNA and protein; however, PSI treatment of breast epithelial cells transfected with the p62 promoter did not affect promoter activity. High levels of prostate-derived Ets factor (PDEF) mRNA have been identified in breast cancer compared to normal breast. Only the PSA and maspin promoters have been identified as targets of this transcription factor. Here we show that PDEF stimulates the p62 promoter through at least two sites, and likely acts as a coactivator. PSI treatment abrogates the PDEF-stimulated increase of p62 promoter activity by 50%. Thus, multiple mechanisms for the induction of p62 exist. We conclude that (1) p62 protein is overexpressed in breast cancer; (2) p62 mRNA and protein increase in response to PSI, with no change of basal promoter activity; (3) PDEF upregulates p62 promoter activity through at least two sites; and (4) PSI downregulates PDEF-induced p62 promoter activation through one of these sites.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; Breast; Breast Neoplasms; Carrier Proteins; Cells, Cultured; Computer Systems; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Epithelial Cells; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; Humans; Leupeptins; Multienzyme Complexes; Neoplasm Proteins; Oligopeptides; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteins; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ets; Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger; RNA, Neoplasm; Sequestosome-1 Protein; Transcription Factors; Transcription, Genetic; Transfection; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Ubiquitin

2'-5' Oligoadenylate (2-5A)-dependent RNase L is one of the key enzymes involved in the molecular mechanisms of interferon (IFN) function. Although the regulation of RNase L by 2-5A has been studied extensively, relatively little is known about how RNase L is controlled by posttranslational processes. Here, we report that phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) treatment of mouse L929 fibroblasts caused rapid degradation of RNase L in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. RNase L levels were decreased to 40% of control levels after only 5 min exposure of cells to PMA, suggesting the involvement of protein kinase C (PKC). After PMA treatment for 1 h, RNase L levels decreased to 18% of the pretreatment levels. Decay of RNase L was measured by 2-5A binding assay, ribonuclease activity, and protein levels in Western blots probed with antibody to murine RNase L. PMA treatment caused decreases in the levels of RNase L in both cytoplasm and nucleus. To explore the mechanism of RNase L degradation, we treated cells with the selective proteasome inhibitors, ALLN, MG132, and PSI, prior to PMA treatment. These inhibitors completely blocked the degradation of RNase L caused by PMA. Our results show a novel regulatory pathway for RNase L that could have an impact on its antitumor and antiviral functions.

Topics: Animals; Apoptosis; Cell Line; Cell Nucleus; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cytoplasm; Down-Regulation; Endoribonucleases; Interferon-alpha; Leupeptins; Mice; Multienzyme Complexes; Oligopeptides; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Transport; Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate

Recent studies have increasingly implicated the proteasome in the regulation of cell surface receptors. In the present study, we investigated the role of the proteasome for ligand-dependent endocytosis and degradation of the interleukin-2 (IL-2)-interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) complex. Proteasome inhibitors impaired internalization of IL-2.IL-2R and prevented the lysosomal degradation of this cytokine. Based on time-course studies, proteasome activity is primarily required after initial endocytosis of the IL-2.IL-2R. Proteasome function was also necessary for the lysosomal degradation of IL-2 internalized by IL-2R that were comprised of cytoplasmic tailless beta- or gamma c-subunits, suggesting that the target protein for the proteasome is independent of either the cytoplasmic tail of the IL-2R beta- or gamma c-subunits and their associated signaling components. Therefore, a functional proteasome is required for optimal endocytosis of the IL-2R/ligand complex and is essential for the subsequent lysosomal degradation of IL-2, possibly by regulating trafficking to the lysosome.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; DNA-Binding Proteins; Endocytosis; Interleukin-2; Leupeptins; Lysosomes; Macromolecular Substances; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Milk Proteins; Multienzyme Complexes; Oligopeptides; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Subunits; Receptors, Interleukin-2; Spleen; STAT5 Transcription Factor; T-Lymphocytes; Trans-Activators

Recently we found a clearly reduced basal level of wt p53 protein in PARP-deficient cells. Interestingly, PARP deficiency affected only regularly spliced (RS) wt p53. No significant difference of the p53 transcription rate was observed between wt and PARP-lacking cells. To clarify whether the reduction of RS p53 protein is due to a lower translation rate or rather to its instability in the absence of functional PARP, we investigated the effect of the inhibition of proteasome activity and nuclear export on the p53 level. The p53 half-life was approximately eight-fold decreased in PARP-lacking cells. Surprisingly, treatment with three proteasome inhibitors increased RS p53 in normal but not in PARP-deficient cells. However, the inhibition of nuclear export resulted in a considerable accumulation of RS p53 in the latter. Therefore, we decided to increase concentrations of the inhibitors. Their higher concentrations strongly affected viability of normal, but not of PARP-deficient cells, about 70% of MEFs died. Interestingly, higher concentrations of proteasome inhibitors resulted in the appearance of RS p53 in PARP-lacking fibroblasts. Reconstitution of PARP-deficient cells with PARP restored the normal susceptibility to proteasome inhibitors thereby unequivocally demonstrating that the enhanced cytotoxicity of proteasome inhibitors and their action on p53 level depends on the presence of functional PARP.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Animals; Cell Line; Cell Nucleus; Cell Survival; Cells, Cultured; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Fibroblasts; Fluorescent Dyes; Humans; Immunoblotting; Indoles; Leupeptins; Mice; Mice, Knockout; Microscopy, Fluorescence; Multienzyme Complexes; Oligopeptides; Phenotype; Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase-1; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Proteins; Time Factors; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53

Most early-onset forms of Alzheimer's disease are due to missense mutations located on two homologous proteins named presenilin 1 and 2 (PS1 and PS2). Several lines of evidence indicate that PS1 and PS2 undergo various post-transcriptional events including endoproteolytic cleavages, giving rise to 28-30 kD N-terminal (NTF) and 18-20 kD C-terminal (CTF) fragments that accumulate in vivo. Whether the biological activity of presenilins is borne by the processed fragments or their holoprotein precursor remains in question. We have examined the putative control of beta APP maturation by CTF-PS1/PS2 and the catabolic process of the latter proteins by the multicatalytic complex, proteasome.. We transiently and stably transfected HEK293 cells with CTF-PS1 or CTF-PS2 cDNA. We examined these transfectants for their production of A beta 40, A beta 42, and APP alpha by immunoprecipitation using specific polyclonals. The effect of a series of proteases inhibitors on the immunoreactivity of CTF-PS1/PS2 was examined by Western blot. Finally, the influence of proteasome inhibitors on the generation of beta APP fragments by CTF-expressing cells was assessed by combined immunoprecipitation and densitometric analyses.. We showed that transient and stable transfection of CTF-PS1 and CTF-PS2 cDNAs in human cells leads to increased secretion of APP alpha and A beta, the maturation products of beta APP. Furthermore, we demonstrated that two proteasome inhibitors, lactacystin and Z-IE(Ot-Bu)A-Leucinal, prevent the degradation of both CTFs. Accordingly, we established that proteasome inhibitors drastically potentiate the phenotypic increased production of APP alpha and A beta elicited by CTF-PS1/PS2.. Our data establish that the C-terminal products of PS1 and PS2 maturation exhibit biological activity and in particular control beta APP maturation upstream to alpha-and beta/gamma-secretase cleavages. This function is directly controlled by the proteasome that modulates the intracellular concentration of CTFs.

Topics: Acetylcysteine; Amyloid beta-Peptides; Amyloid beta-Protein Precursor; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Enzyme Inhibitors; Glycopeptides; Humans; Leucine; Leupeptins; Membrane Proteins; Multienzyme Complexes; Oligopeptides; Pepstatins; Presenilin-1; Presenilin-2; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Recombinant Proteins; Sulfones; Transfection

Inhibitors of proteasomal functions Carbobenzoxy-L-leucyl-L-leucyl-L-leucinal (MG132) and Carbobenzoxy-L-isoleucyl-gamma-t-butyl-L-alanyl-L-leucinal (PSI) were found to inhibit the conversion of the Insulin proreceptor to its mature alpha and beta subunits. By contrast no effect of these inhibitors was found on 125-I insulin binding, internalization and degradation. Since the insulin proreceptor is an integral membrane protein that is compartmentally separated from the cytoplasmic 26S proteasome, the inhibition of the normal biosynthetic processing of the insulin proreceptor presents an anatomical paradox.

Topics: 3T3 Cells; Animals; Cell Compartmentation; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Cysteine Proteinase Inhibitors; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Humans; Leupeptins; Mice; Multienzyme Complexes; Oligopeptides; Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; Protein Precursors; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Receptor, Insulin; Recombinant Proteins