Diffuse astrocytoma WHO grade II is a well-differentiated, slowly growing tumor that has an inherent tendency to progress to anaplastic astrocytoma (WHO grade III) and, eventually, to glioblastoma (WHO grade IV). Little is known about its molecular basis, except for p53 mutations that are found in >60% of cases. In a search for additional genetic alterations, we carried out gene expression prof...

The tyrosine kinase receptor fetal liver kinase 1 (Flk-1) plays a crucial role in vasculogenesis and angiogenesis, but its target genes remain elusive. Comparing Flk-1(+/+) with Flk-1(-/-) embryonic stem (ES) cells, we identified transcripts regulated by the vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A)/Flk-1 pathway at an early stage of their differentiation to endothelial and mural precursors...

The Ser122 --> Pro mutation in human nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDK)-B/Nm23-H2 was recently found in melanoma cells. In comparison to the wild-type enzyme, steady state activity of NDKS122P with ATP and TDP as substrates was slowed down 5-fold. We have utilized transient kinetic techniques to analyze phosphoryl transfer between the mutant enzyme and various pairs of nucleoside triphosphates...

Metastasis suppressor activities have previously been mapped to human chromosomes 17 and 11. Decreased expression of the metastasis suppressor gene NM23, which is located on chromosome 17, has been correlated with increased metastatic potential in mammary cancers. A region on human chromosome 11, from 11p11.2-p13, has been shown to suppress metastasis in rat prostatic carcinoma cells. In both c...

Liver cancer is the most endemic cancer in a large region of the world. This study investigated the anti-metastatic effects of an extract of Monascus purpureus CWT715 (MP) fermented from sorghum liquor biowaste and its mechanisms of action in highly metastatic human hepatocarcinoma SK-Hep-1 cells. Kinmen sorghum liquor waste was used as the primary nutrient source to produce metabolites (includ...

The DHH superfamily human protein h-prune, a binding partner of the metastasis suppressor nm23-H1, is frequently overexpressed in metastatic cancers. From an evolutionary perspective, h-prune is very close to eukaryotic exopolyphosphatases. Here, we show for the first time that h-prune efficiently hydrolyzes short-chain polyphosphates (k cat of 3-40 s (-1)), including inorganic tripoly- and tet...