Lamins' functions are regulated by phosphorylation at specific sites but our understanding of the role of such modifications is practically limited to the function of cdc 2 (cdk1) kinase sites in depolymerization of the nuclear lamina during mitosis. In our study we used Drosophila lamin Dm (B-type) to examine the function of particular phosphorylation sites using pseudophosphorylated mutants m...

Tumor-tropic properties of neural stem cells (NSCs) provide a novel approach with which to deliver targeting therapeutic genes to brain tumors. Previously, we developed a therapeutic strategy against metastatic brain tumors using a human NSC line (F3) expressing cytosine deaminase (F3.CD). F3.CD converts systemically administered 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC), a blood-brain barrier permeable nontoxic...

Polyphenolic extracts and fractions of selected peach and plum genotypes were evaluated for cell viability and antiproliferation activity in vitro against an estrogen independent MDA-MB-435 and estrogen dependent MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines and one non-cancerous breast line MCF-10A. All extracts showed a phenolic dose-dependent cytotoxic effect against MDA-MB-435, weak activity against MCF-7...

The use of cell lines in cancer research is strongly dependent on the avoidance of contaminations, the correct attribution of a cell line to the initial primary tumor and stability. Previous studies have identified expression of melanocytic molecular markers in the widely used breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-435. In the present study the three breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 and MDA...

Several polyamine analogues have efficacy against a variety of epithelial tumor models including breast cancer. Recently, a novel class of polyamine analogues designated as oligoamines has been developed. Here, we demonstrate that several representative oligoamine compounds inhibit in vitro growth of human breast cancer MDA-MB-435 cells. The activator protein-1 (AP-1) transcriptional factor fam...

Biocatalysis is considered as benign and efficient alternative to chemical catalysis for organic syntheses. Lipases are the most versatile biological catalysts implemented so far with great potential for production of different chemicals and materials in nonconventional reaction media. This thesis presents investigations on lipase catalyzed esterification and transesterification reactions in so...

The importance of Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen (T antigen)-galectin-3 interactions in adhesion of human breast carcinoma cells to the endothelium under conditions of flow was studied. Highly metastatic cells (MDA-MB-435) expressing high levels of both galectin-3 and T antigen demonstrated significantly increased adhesion to monolayers of endothelial cells compared with their non-metastatic coun...

Bovine lactoferricin (LfcinB) is a cationic peptide that selectively induces caspase-dependent apoptosis in human leukemia and carcinoma cell lines. Ceramide is a second messenger in apoptosis signaling that has been shown to increase the cytotoxicity of various anti-cancer drugs. In this study, we determined whether manipulation of intracellular ceramide levels enhanced LfcinB-induced apoptosi...

A controversy has arisen over the past several years about the true origin of the human MDA-MB-435 cell line. Originally described as a human breast cancer cell line, subsequent expression array studies instead suggested a gene expression profile consistent with a melanoma origin. Subsequent karyotype and comparative genomic hybridization studies supported the idea that current stocks of both M...