Search results for "Lipid modification"
showing 5 items of 5 documents
Rho GTPases: Promising Cellular Targets for Novel Anticancer Drugs
2006
Ras-homologous (Rho) GTPases play a pivotal role in the regulation of numerous cellular functions associated with malignant transformation and metastasis. Rho GTPases are localized at membranes and become activated upon stimulation of cell surface receptors. In their GTP-bound (=active) state, Rho proteins bind to effector proteins, thereby triggering specific cellular responses. Members of the Rho family of small GTPases are key regulators of actin reorganization, cell motility, cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix (ECM) adhesion as well as of cell cycle progression, gene expression and apoptosis. Each of these functions is of importance for the development and progression of cancer. Fu…
Targeting the mevalonate pathway for improved anticancer therapy.
2009
The mevalonate pathway is important for the generation of isoprene moieties thereby providing the basis for the biosynthesis of molecules required for maintaining membrane integrity, steroid production and cell respiration. Additionally, isoprene precursors are indispensable for the prenylation of regulatory proteins such as Ras and Ras-homologous (Rho) GTPases. These low molecular GTP-binding proteins play key roles in numerous signal transduction pathways stimulated upon activation of cell surface receptors by ligand binding. Thus, Ras/Rho proteins eventually regulate cell proliferation, tumor progression and cell death induced by anticancer therapeutics. Lipid modification of Ras/Rho pro…
Acid sphingomyelinase – a regulator of canonical transient receptor potential channel 6 (TRPC6) activity
2019
Recent investigations propose the acid sphingomyelinase (ASM)/ceramide system as a novel target for antidepressant action. ASM catalyzes the breakdown of the abundant membrane lipid sphingomyelin to the lipid messenger ceramide. This ASM‐induced lipid modification induces a local shift in membrane properties, which influences receptor clustering and downstream signaling. Canonical transient receptor potential channels 6 (TRPC6) are non‐selective cation channels located in the cell membrane that play an important role in dendritic growth, synaptic plasticity and cognition in the brain. They can be activated by hyperforin, an ingredient of the herbal remedy St. John’s wort for treatment of de…
HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) as anticancer drugs (Review)
2005
Apart from their lipid lowering activity, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) impair numerous cellular functions associated with metastasis, e.g. gene expression, angiogenesis, cell adhesion, cell motility and invasiveness. Furthermore, statins have impact on apoptotic cell death and modulate cellular susceptibility to cell killing by anticancer drugs and ionizing radiation. Part of the effects provoked by statins are due to the inhibition of the prenylation of low molecular weight GTPases, in particular Ras and Rho, which play key roles in signaling evoked by stimulation of cell surface receptors. C-terminal lipid modification of Ras/Rho GTPases is essential for their correct intracellu…
Loss of function mutation in the palmitoyl-transferase HHAT leads to syndromic 46,XY disorder of sex development by impeding Hedgehog protein palmito…
2014
The Hedgehog (Hh) family of secreted proteins act as morphogens to control embryonic patterning and development in a variety of organ systems. Post-translational covalent attachment of cholesterol and palmitate to Hh proteins are critical for multimerization and long range signaling potency. However, the biological impact of lipid modifications on Hh ligand distribution and signal reception in humans remains unclear. In the present study, we report a unique case of autosomal recessive syndromic 46,XY Disorder of Sex Development (DSD) with testicular dysgenesis and chondrodysplasia resulting from a homozygous G287V missense mutation in the hedgehog acyl-transferase (HHAT) gene. This mutation…