Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: EC:3.4.22.62 (caspase-9)
 7,507 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

We demonstrate for the first time, the application and utility of a unique optical sensor having a nanoprobe for monitoring the onset of the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis in a single living cell by detecting enzymatic activities of caspase-9. Minimally invasive analysis of single live MCF-7 cells for caspase-9 activity is demonstrated using the optical sensor which employs a modification of an immunochemical assay format for the immobilization of nonfluorescent enzyme substrate, Leucine-GlutamicAcid-Histidine-AsparticAcid-7-amino-4-methylcoumarin (LEHD-AMC). LEHD-AMC covalently attached on the nanoprobe tip of an optical sensor is cleaved during apoptosis by caspase-9 generating free AMC. An evanescent field is used to excite cleaved AMC and the resulting fluorescence signal is detected. By quantitatively monitoring the changes in fluorescence signals, caspase-9 activity within a single living MCF-7 cell was detected. By comparing of the fluorescence signals from apoptotic cells induced by photodynamic treatment and nonapoptotic cells, we successfully detected caspase-9 activity, which indicates the onset of apoptosis in the cells.
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PMID:Optical sensor for the detection of caspase-9 activity in a single cell. 1499 97

Leucine-rich pentatricopeptide repeat motif-containing protein (LRPPRC) is a multifunctional protein involved in the mitochondrial gene expression and function, cell cycle progression, and tumorigenesis. However, the functional role of LRPPRC in prostate cancer (PCa) has not yet been elucidated. In this study, two PCa cell lines were examined to determine the effects of LRPPRC on cell proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis in vitro. Our results showed that the expression levels of LRPPRC were significantly decreased in the two PCa cell lines after transfection with small interfering RNA (siRNA)-LRPPRC. Knockdown of LRPPRC by siRNA significantly inhibited the invasion and promoted the apoptosis of PCa cells. In addition, downregulation of LRPPRC expression resulted in the reduced expression of Bcl-2, upregulation of Bax, and cleaved caspase-9 and caspase-3. Taken together, these results show that the downregulation of LRPRPC expression induces apoptosis through the mitochondria-mediated pathway in PCa cells. These experimental data seem to suggest that LRPPRC plays a critical role in the development of PCa, and its inhibition could present a potential molecular approach for the treatment of PCa.
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PMID:Downregulation of LRPPRC induces apoptosis in prostate cancer cells through the mitochondria-mediated pathway. 2537 10