Glioblastoma represents the highest grade of brain tumors. Despite maximal resection surgery associated with radiotherapy and concomitant followed by adjuvant chemotherapy with temozolomide (TMZ), ...patients have a very poor prognosis due to the rapid recurrence and the acquisition of resistance to TMZ. Here, initially considering that TMZ is a prodrug whose activation is pH-dependent, we explored the contribution of glioblastoma cell metabolism to TMZ resistance. Using isogenic TMZ-sensitive and TMZ-resistant human glioblastoma cells, we report that the expression of O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), which is known to repair TMZ-induced DNA methylation, does not primarily account for TMZ resistance. Rather, fitter mitochondria in TMZ-resistant glioblastoma cells are a direct cause of chemoresistance that can be targeted by inhibiting oxidative phosphorylation and/or autophagy/mitophagy. Unexpectedly, we found that PARP inhibitor olaparib, but not talazoparib, is also a mitochondrial Complex I inhibitor. Hence, we propose that the anticancer activities of olaparib in glioblastoma and other cancer types combine DNA repair inhibition and impairment of cancer cell respiration.
We examined changes in membrane properties upon acidification of dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine/cholesterylhemisuccinate liposomes and evaluated their potential to deliver entrapped tracers in ...cultured macrophages. Membrane permeability was determined by the release of entrapped calcein or hydroxypyrene‐1,3,6‐trisulfonic acid (HPTS)‐p‐xylene‐bis‐pyridinium bromide (DPX); membrane fusion, by measuring the change in size of the liposomes and the dequenching of octadecylrhodamine‐B fluorescence; and change in lipid organization, by31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Measurement of cell‐associated fluorescence and confocal microscopy examination were made on cells incubated with liposomes loaded with HPTS or HPTS‐DPX. The biophysical studies showed (i) a lipid reorganization from bilayer to hexagonal phase progressing from pH 8.0 to 5.0, (ii) a membrane permeabilization for pH<6.5, (iii) an increase in the mean diameter of liposomes for pH<6.0, and (iv) a mixing of liposome membranes for pH<5.7. The cellular studies showed (i) an uptake of the liposomes that were brought from pH 7.5–7.0 to 6.5–6.0 and (ii) a release of ∼15% of the endocytosed marker associated with its partial release from the vesicles (diffuse localization). We conclude that the permeabilization and fusion of pH‐sensitive liposomes occur as a consequence of a progressive lipid reorganization upon acidification. These changes may develop intracellular after phagocytosis and allow for the release of the liposome content in endosomes associated with a redistribution in the cytosol.
E-beam and gamma products from the radiolysis of aqueous solutions of (±)-metoprolol tartrate, saturated in nitrogen, are analyzed by HPLC with on-line mass and UV detectors. The structures of 10 ...radiolytic products common to e-beam and gamma irradiations are elucidated by comparing their fragmentation pattern to that of (±)-metoprolol. Two of the radiolytic products are also metabolites. Different routes for the formation of the radiolytic products are proposed.
Having identified an oligonucleotide (ON) receptor in the HepG2 cell line, we have re-examined here the kinetics of ON uptake, subcellular distribution and intracellular localisation in these cells, ...at concentrations relevant for the study of a receptor-dependent process. Kinetic parameters of ON endocytosis were comparable with those of the receptor-mediated endocytosis tracer, transferrin (uptake equilibrium, saturation with concentration, specific competition and rapid efflux) and were clearly distinct from those of fluid-phase endocytosis. By analytical subcellular fractionation, particulate ON showed a bimodal distribution after 2 h of uptake, with a low-density peak superimposed on the distribution of endosomes, and a high-density peak overlapping lysosomes. After an overnight chase, only the high-density peak remained, but it could be dissociated from lysosomes, based on its refractoriness to displacement upon chloroquine-induced swelling. After 2 h of uptake at 300 nM ON-Alexa, a punctate pattern was resolved, by confocal microscopy, from those of transferrin, of a fluid-phase tracer, and of vital staining of lysosomes by LysoTracker. At 3 µM ON-Alexa, its pattern largely overlapped with the fluid-phase tracer and LysoTracker. Taken together, these data suggest that ON may be internalised at low concentrations by receptor-mediated endocytosis into unique endosomes, then to dense structures that are distinct from lysosomes. The nature of these two compartments and their significance for ON effect deserve further investigation.
Aims: To determine the intracellular accumulation in a macrophage cell line of ampicillin and ampicillin esters, and to measure their activity against intracellular Listeria monocytogenes. Methods: ...Quantitative evaluation of the activity of ampicillin, phthalimidomethylampicillin (PIMA) or pivaloyloxymethylampicillin (PIVA) against intracellular L. monocytogenes, and direct measurement of cellular ampicillin concentration in J774 macrophages. Results: Ampicillin, PIMA and PIVA caused a 0.5 log decrease in cell-associated cfu within 5 h when used at an extracellular concentration of 3.6 muM 10 x MIC of ampicillin (1.25 mg/L); 1.83 mg/L for PIMA and 1.67 mg/L for PIVA. Addition of beta-lactamase in the extracellular milieu abolished the activity of ampicillin and of PIMA but not that of PIVA. At low extracellular concentrations 0.5 x MIC ampicillin (62.5 mug/L); equimolar concentrations for PIMA (91.5 mug/L) and PIVA (83.5 mug/L), ampicillin and PIMA lost all activity (compared with controls), but PIVA remained as active as at the higher concentration. Incubation of cells with PIVA at the low concentration (83.5 mug/L) for 20 h caused a 2 log reduction of cfu if the medium was changed every 5 h (to compensate for the degradation of extracellular PIVA). Incubation of cells with PIVA allowed for a marked (four- to 25-fold) cell accumulation of ampicillin, whereas no ampicillin accumulation was seen for cells incubated with ampicillin or with PIMA. Conclusions: This is the first demonstration that PIVA (a prodrug of ampicillin) can be used to promote ampicillin cellular accumulation and, thereby to increase ampicillin intracellular activity. PIVA could be useful for control of the intracellular multiplication of L. monocytogenes.
A nucleotide-like phosphoramidite building block that has the nucleic base replaced by the tert-butyldimethylsilyl-protected styrene glycol was synthesized. After the automatic synthesis of an ...oligonucleotide incorporating this synthon, the benzaldehyde function was generated by fluoride deprotection and oxidation by sodium periodate. In a similar manner, an oligonucleotide where a nucleic base was replaced by the (CH2)8CHO chain was synthesized and conjugated with biotin derivatives.
The low and unpredictable uptake and cytosolic transfer of oligonucleotides (ODN) is a major reason for their limited benefit. Improving the ODN potential for therapy and research requires a better ...understanding of their receptor-mediated endocytosis. We have undertaken to identify a membrane ODN receptor on HepG2 cells by ligand blotting of cell extracts with (125)IODN and by photolabelling of living cells with a (125)IODN-benzophenone conjugate. A major band at 66 kDa was identified by the two methods. Its labelling was saturable and competed for by unlabelled ODN of various sequences and irrespective of the presence of a phosphodiester or phosphoro-thioate backbone. This protein remained sedimentable after carbonate extraction, indicating strong membrane association. About half of the total cell amount resisted extensive surface proteolysis, suggesting a dual localisation at the plasma membrane and cytoplasmic vesicles. The protein was purified using a biotinylated ODN-benzophenone conjugate by photocrosslinking followed by streptavidin affinity purification. A sequence obtained by Edman degradation showed no homology with known proteins. Using anti-peptide antisera, labelling by western blotting revealed at 66 kDa a band with comparable properties as found by ligand blotting. Thus, a new membrane protein acting as an ODN receptor has been demonstrated.
Aims: To determine the intracellular accumulation in a macrophage cell line of ampicillin and ampicillin esters, and to measure their activity against intracellular Listeria monocytogenes. Methods: ...Quantitative evaluation of the activity of ampicillin, phthalimidomethylampicillin (PIMA) or pivaloyloxymethylampicillin (PIVA) against intracellular L. monocytogenes, and direct measurement of cellular ampicillin concentration in J774 macrophages. Results: Ampicillin, PIMA and PIVA caused a 0.5 log decrease in cell-associated cfu within 5 h when used at an extracellular concentration of 3.6 µM 10 × MIC of ampicillin (1.25 mg/L); 1.83 mg/L for PIMA and 1.67 mg/L for PIVA. Addition of β-lactamase in the extracellular milieu abolished the activity of ampicillin and of PIMA but not that of PIVA. At low extracellular concentrations 0.5 × MIC ampicillin (62.5 µg/L); equimolar concentrations for PIMA (91.5 µg/L) and PIVA (83.5 µg/L), ampicillin and PIMA lost all activity (compared with controls), but PIVA remained as active as at the higher concentration. Incubation of cells with PIVA at the low concentration (83.5 µg/L) for 20 h caused a 2 log reduction of cfu if the medium was changed every 5 h (to compensate for the degradation of extracellular PIVA). Incubation of cells with PIVA allowed for a marked (four- to 25-fold) cell accumulation of ampicillin, whereas no ampicillin accumulation was seen for cells incubated with ampicillin or with PIMA. Conclusions: This is the first demonstration that PIVA (a prodrug of ampicillin) can be used to promote ampicillin cellular accumulation and, thereby to increase ampicillin intracellular activity. PIVA could be useful for control of the intracellular multiplication of L. monocytogenes.
To study the interactions between oligonucleotides and proteins, an original photoaffinity radiolabeling probe has been synthesized. Starting with a 5‘-pyridyldithio-3‘-amino-oligonucleotide, the ...photophore benzophenone was first coupled to the 3‘ end, through acylation by an activated ester of benzoylbenzoic acid. A fluorescein molecule was grafted by alkylation of the free 5‘-SH. This compound was finally radiolabeled with 125I using IodoBeads. The selective photolabeling of thrombin in a complex protein mixture by the radioiodinated probe validates this strategy to identify oligonucleotide-binding proteins.
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