Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UNIPROT:O76050 (neu)
 3,969 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Four human ovarian and breast tumor lines expressing the HER2/neu oncogene were resistant to the cytotoxic and DNA-degradative activity of TNF. The resistance was not associated with altered TNF receptor function because Scatchard analysis of 125I-rTNF binding to HER2/neu-expressing target cells revealed receptors with normal binding parameters. Furthermore, the TNF receptors on the resistant lines were capable of signal transduction as evidence by the induction of ADP-ribose polymerase activity and MHC expression. TNF resistance was not reversed by coincubation with drugs that interrupted the glutathione redox cycle. In addition, although coincubation of HER2/neu-expressing targets with cycloheximide resulted in significant TNF-induced lysis, when compared to HER2/neu-nonexpressing targets similarly treated with cycloheximide, a significant relative resistance was still present. To investigate the role of ADP-ribosylation in the resistance of these targets, we used nontoxic concentrations of two inhibitors of ADP-ribose polymerase, 3-aminobenzamide, and nicotinamide. Both inhibitors completely reversed the resistance of HER2/neu-expressing targets to TNF-mediated cytotoxicity and DNA injury in a concentration-dependent fashion. These inhibitors of ADP-ribose polymerase did not act by down-regulating expression of HER2/neu oncogenes. In contrast, aminobenzamide and nicotinamide significantly diminished TNF-induced cytotoxicity of L929 targets. These data suggest that the activity of ADP-ribose polymerase may play a pivotal role in determining the fate of the target cell during exposure to TNF.
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PMID:Inhibitors of ADP-ribose polymerase decrease the resistance of HER2/neu-expressing cancer cells to the cytotoxic effects of tumor necrosis factor. 167 41

The HER-2/erbB-2/c-neu proto-oncogene encodes for an EGF receptor-like protein which has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several human malignancies. Although much has been learned about the physiological significance of this receptor tyrosine kinase, its catalytic mechanism remains poorly understood. We have expressed, purified, and characterized two recombinant proteins corresponding to a full-length (HCD) and truncated (HKD) construct of the HER-2 intracellular tyrosine kinase domain and have identified an optimal substrate (GGMEDIYFEFMGGKKK; HER2Peptide) through screening of a degenerate peptide library. We have conducted a transient kinetic analysis of the HER-2 proteins (HCD and HKD) to illuminate mechanistic details of the HER-2 pathway. In particular, stopped-flow fluorescence studies with mant (N-methylanthraniloyl)-nucleotide derivatives provided direct measurements of the association and dissociation rate constants for these nucleotide interactions with the HER-2 recombinant proteins, thereby enabling the determination of nucleotide K(d) values. Moreover, the actual step of chemical catalysis was isolated using rapid chemical quench techniques and shown to occur approximately 3-fold faster than the steady-state rate which corresponds to product release. Evidence is also provided that suggests a conformational change that is partially rate-limiting at least in HCD. Furthermore, the role that the phosphorylation state of the protein may play on catalysis was examined. Studies carried out with pre-phosphorylated recombinant HER-2 proteins suggest that while autophosphorylation is not a prerequisite for enzymatic activity, this protein modification actually directly affects the catalytic mechanism by enhancing the rate of ADP release and that of the rate-limiting step. While a pre-steady-state kinetic analysis has been carried out on the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent serine/threonine kinase, to our knowledge, this study represents the first reported transient kinetic investigation of a receptor tyrosine kinase. This work serves as a basis for comparison of these two important protein kinase families and in this report we highlight these similarities and differences.
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PMID:Insights into the HER-2 receptor tyrosine kinase mechanism and substrate specificity using a transient kinetic analysis. 1093 96

The systemic therapeutic management of breast cancer has undergone significant transformation in the past decade. Without targeted therapies, conventional treatment with cytotoxic agents has reached the limit of its potential in terms of patient survival for most types of cancer. Enhanced understanding of the pathogenesis of tumor cell growth and metastasis has led to the identification of signaling growth pathways as targets for these directed therapies. Novel therapies targeted to HER2/neu, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), poly(ADP ribose) polymerase (PARP), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), histone deacetylase (HDAC), the heat shock protein, and cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors have been developed and have demonstrated some efficacy in breast cancer. Recognition and management of the toxicities associated with targeted therapies is imperative. This review will describe the clinical development and utilization of targeted therapies currently in use or in clinical trials, with a focus on considerations for the oncology advanced practitioner.
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PMID:Targeted Therapies in Breast Cancer: Implications for Advanced Oncology Practice. 2611 69