LGALS3BP, lectin galactoside-binding soluble 3 binding protein, induces vascular endothelial growth factor in human breast cancer cells and promotes angiogenesis.

Elevated serum or tissue levels of lectin galactoside-binding soluble 3 binding protein (LGALS3BP) have been associated with short survival and development of metastasis in a variety of human cancers. However, the role of LGALS3BP, particularly in the context of tumor-host relationships, is still missing. Here, we show that LGALS3BP knockdown in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells leads to a decreased adhesion to fibronectin, a reduced transendothelial migration and, more importantly, a reduced expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Production of VEGF, that was restored by exposure of silenced cells to recombinant LGALS3BP, required an intact PI3k/Akt signaling. Furthermore, we show that LGALS3BP was able to directly stimulate HUVEC tubulogenesis in a VEGF-independent, galectin-3-dependent manner. Immunohistochemical analysis of human breast cancer tissues revealed a correlation among LGALS3BP expression, VEGF expression, and blood vessel density. We propose that in addition to its prometastatic role, LGALS3BP secreted by breast cancer cells functions critically as a pro-angiogenic factor through a dual mechanism, i.e by induction of tumor VEGF and stimulation of endothelial cell tubulogenesis.

Presence and role of a second disulphide bond in recombinant lupanine hydroxylase using site-directed mutagenesis with 143Cys→Ser and 124,143Cys→Ser mutations in Escherichia coli.

Lupanine hydroxylase (LH), a quinohaemoprotein, catabolizes lupanine and possesses four cysteine (Cys) residues; two associated with a cytochrome c motif ((586)Cys and (589)Cys), while the role of the remaining two residues ((124)Cys and (143)Cys) is unclear. Structural graphic simulation using homology modelling suggested a potential second -S-S- bond, a common feature between adjacent Cys residues in other quinohaemoproteins; however, in LH, these residues are located 18 amino acids apart. Formation of the second disulphide bond was initially chemically confirmed by iodomethane alkylation with 91% loss of enzymic activity, and no significant change was observed with unreduced alkylated protein. Dithiothreitol-induced reduction of LH followed by Cd(2+) treatment also resulted in significant loss of activity in a dose-dependent manner. Subsequent investigation into the role of disulphide bond in LH was performed using engineered (143)Cys→Ser and (124,143)Cys→Ser mutants and exhibited 25% and zero activity, respectively, of wild type in the periplasm. Homology structure prediction showed three changes in α-helices and four in ß-pleated sheets in (143)Cys→Ser mutant, and (124,143)Cys→Ser mutant had six changes in α-helices and nine in ß-pleated sheets. These mutations resulted in the enlargement of the molecule and affect the enzyme activity because of structural changes in the cytochrome c domain.

Periplasmically-exported lupanine hydroxylase undergoes transition from soluble to functional inclusion bodies in Escherichia coli.

Pseudomonas lupanine hydroxylase is a periplasmic-localised, two domain quinocytochrome c enzyme. It requires numerous post-translocation modifications involving signal peptide processing, disulphide bridge formation and, heme linkage in the carboxy-terminal cytochrome c domain to eventually generate a Ca(2+)-bound quino-c hemoprotein that hydroxylates the plant alkaloid, lupanine. An exported, functional recombinant enzyme was generated in Escherichia coli by co-expression with cytochrome c maturation factors. Increased growth temperatures ranging from 18 to 30 degrees C gradually raised the enzyme production to a peak together with its concomitant aggregation as red solid particles, readily activatable in a fully functional form by mild chaotropic treatment. Here, we demonstrate that the exported lupanine hydroxylase undergoes a cascade transition from a soluble to "non-classical" inclusion body form when build-up in the periplasm exceeded a basal threshold concentration. These periplasmic aggregates were distinct from the non-secreted, signal-sequenceless counterpart that occurred as misfolded, non-functional concatamers in the form of classical inclusion bodies. We discuss our findings in the light of current models of how aggregation of lupanine hydroxylase arises in the periplasmic space.