Cucurbitacin B Inhibits the Malignancy of Esophageal Carcinoma through the KIF20A/JAK/STAT3 Signaling Pathway.

This study intends to explore the effects of Cucurbitacin B (CuB) and KIF20A on esophageal carcinoma (ESCA). Data were downloaded from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. The expression properties of KIF20A have been confirmed by GEPIA and ualcan from TCGA. The expression of KIF20A was determined using western blotting in ECA109 and KYSE150 cells after transfection with KIF20A, KIF20A siRNA, or numerical control siRNA (si-NC). Then, different concentrations of CuB were used to treat ECA109 and KYSE150 cells. CCK-8 and colony formation assays were used to measure cell viability, and a Transwell assay was utilized to assess cell migration and invasion ability. N-cadherin, E-cadherin, snail, p-Janus kinase 2 (JAK2), JAK2, p-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and STAT3 expression levels were evaluated using western blot. KIF20A was higher expressed in ESCA than in normal cells, and its overexpression was associated with squamous cell carcinoma, TNM stage, and lymph nodal metastasis of ESCA patients. In ECA109 and KYSE150 cells, increased KIF20A facilitated cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, whereas the knockdown of KIF20A can reverse these effects with N-cadherin. Snail expression diminished and E-cadherin increased. Similarly, CuB treatment could inhibit cell proliferation, migration, and invasion concentration dependently. Furthermore, KIF20A accelerated the expression of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3, while the application of CuB inhibited KIF20A expression and attenuated the activation of the JAK/STAT3 pathway. These findings revealed that CuB could inhibit the growth, migration, and invasion of ESCA through downregulating the KIF20A/JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway, and CuB could serve as an essential medicine for therapeutic intervention.

Effect of small molecular crowders on dynamics of kinesin molecular motors.

Kinesin is a motor protein that can convert chemical energy of ATP hydrolysis into mechanical energy of moving processively on microtubules. Apart from the load and ATP concentration affecting the dynamics of the motor such as velocity, run length, dissociation rate, etc., the increase of solution viscosity by supplementing crowding agents of low molecular weight into the buffer can also affect the dynamics. Here, based on our proposed model for the chemomechanical coupling of the kinesin motor, a systematically theoretical study of the motor dynamics under the variation of the viscosity and load is presented. Both the load on the motor's stalk and that on one of the two heads are considered. The theoretical results provide a consistent explanation of the available contradictory experimental results, with some showing that increasing viscosity decreases sensitively the velocity whereas others showing that increasing viscosity has little effect on the velocity. The theoretical results reproduce quantitatively the puzzling experimental data showing that under different directions of the load on the stalk, increasing viscosity has very different effects on the change of run length or dissociation rate. The theoretical results predict that in both the pure and crowded buffers the dependence of the run length on the load acting one of the two heads has very different feature from that on the load acting on the stalk.

YY1 modulates the radiosensitivity of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma through KIF3B-mediated Hippo signaling pathway.

Radiotherapy is an important strategy in the comprehensive treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). However, effectiveness of radiotherapy is still restricted by radioresistance. Herein, we aimed to understand the mechanisms underlying ESCC radioresistance, for which we looked into the potential role of YY1. YY1 was upregulated in radioresistant tissues and correlated with poor prognosis of patients with ESCC. YY1 depletion enhanced the radiosensitivity of ESCC in vitro and in vivo. Multi-group sequencing showed that downregulation of YY1 inhibited the transcriptional activity of Kinesin Family Member 3B (KIF3B), which further activated the Hippo signaling pathway by interacting with Integrin-beta1 (ITGB1). Once the Hippo pathway was activated, its main effector, Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1), was phosphorylated in the cytoplasm and its expression reduced in the nucleus, thus enhancing the radiosensitivity by regulating its targeted genes. Our study provides new insights into the mechanisms underlying ESCC radioresistance and highlights the potential role of YY1 as a therapeutic target for ESCC.

QSAR-based virtual screening of traditional Chinese medicine for the identification of mitotic kinesin Eg5 inhibitors.

Cell division is a crucial process for the growth and development of all living organisms. Unfortunately, uncontrolled cell division and growth is a hallmark of cancer, leading to the formation of tumors. The Human Eg5 protein, also known as the mitotic kinesin Eg5, plays a vital role in the regulation of cell division and its dysfunction has been linked to cancer development. This study aimed to identify new inhibitors of the Human Eg5 protein. Over 2000 Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) compounds were screened through a combination of virtual and structure-based screening methods. The top five compounds (Compounds 1-5) showed improved binding affinity to Human Eg5 compared to the standard drug Monastrol, as demonstrated by docking and MMGBSA scores, as well as interactions with key amino acids GLY 116 and GLY 118. The potential absorption and bioactivity of these compounds were also predicted through ADMET properties and a QSAR model, respectively, and showed improved results compared to the standard. Further quantum mechanics docking confirmed the better binding affinity of the lead compound, Compound 1. Our findings highlight Compound 1-5 as promising hits for inhibiting Human Eg5 and the need for experimental validation of their potential in treating cancer.

Cyclovirobuxine D inhibits growth and progression of non­small cell lung cancer cells by suppressing the KIF11­CDC25C­CDK1­CyclinB1 G2/M phase transition regulatory network and the NFκB/JNK signaling pathway.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer­related mortality worldwide. Non­small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common pathological subtype of lung cancer and is associated with low 5­year overall survival rates. Therefore, novel and effective chemotherapeutic drugs are urgently required for improving the survival outcomes of patients with lung cancer. Cyclovirobuxine D (CVB­D) is a natural steroidal alkaloid, used for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Several studies have also demonstrated the antitumor effects of CVB­D. Therefore, in the present study, the therapeutic effects of CVB­D in lung cancer and the underlying mechanisms were investigated using the in vivo xenograft model of NSCLC in nude mice and in vitro experiments with the NSCLC cell lines. Bioinformatics analyses of RNA­sequencing data, and cell­based functional assays demonstrated that CVB­D treatment significantly inhibited in vitro and in vivo NSCLC cell proliferation, survival, invasion, migration, angiogenesis, epithelial­to­mesenchymal transition and G2/M phase cell cycle. CVB­D exerted its antitumor effects by inhibiting the KIF11­CDK1­CDC25C­cyclinB1 G2/M phase transition regulatory oncogenic network and the NF­κB/JNK signaling pathway. CVB­D treatment significantly reduced the sizes and weights and malignancy of xenograft NSCLC tumors in the nude mice. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that CVB­D inhibited the growth and progression of NSCLC cells by inhibiting the KIF11­CDK1­CDC25C­CyclinB1 G2/M phase transition regulatory network and the NF­κB/JNK signaling pathway. Therefore, CVB­D is a promising drug for the treatment of NSCLC patients.

In Silico Exploration of Metabolically Active Peptides as Potential Therapeutic Agents against Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is regarded as a fatal neurodegenerative disease that is featured by progressive damage of the upper and lower motor neurons. To date, over 45 genes have been found to be connected with ALS pathology. The aim of this work was to computationally identify unique sets of protein hydrolysate peptides that could serve as therapeutic agents against ALS. Computational methods which include target prediction, protein-protein interaction, and peptide-protein molecular docking were used. The results showed that the network of critical ALS-associated genes consists of ATG16L2, SCFD1, VAC15, VEGFA, KEAP1, KIF5A, FIG4, TUBA4A, SIGMAR1, SETX, ANXA11, HNRNPL, NEK1, C9orf72, VCP, RPSA, ATP5B, and SOD1 together with predicted kinases such as AKT1, CDK4, DNAPK, MAPK14, and ERK2 in addition to transcription factors such as MYC, RELA, ZMIZ1, EGR1, TRIM28, and FOXA2. The identified molecular targets of the peptides that support multi-metabolic components in ALS pathogenesis include cyclooxygenase-2, angiotensin I-converting enzyme, dipeptidyl peptidase IV, X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein 3, and endothelin receptor ET-A. Overall, the results showed that AGL, APL, AVK, IIW, PVI, and VAY peptides are promising candidates for further study. Future work would be needed to validate the therapeutic properties of these hydrolysate peptides by in vitro and in vivo approaches.

Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of Kinesin Family in Barley (Hordeum vulgare).

Kinesin, as a member of the molecular motor protein superfamily, plays an essential function in various plants' developmental processes. Especially at the early stages of plant growth, including influences on plants' growth rate, yield, and quality. In this study, we did a genome-wide identification and expression profile analysis of the kinesin family in barley. Forty-two HvKINs were identified and screened from the barley genome, and a generated phylogenetic tree was used to compare the evolutionary relationships between Rice and Arabidopsis. The protein structure prediction, physicochemical properties, and bioinformatics of the HvKINs were also dissected. Our results reveal the important regulatory roles of HvKIN genes in barley growth. We found many cis- elements related to GA3 and ABA in homeopathic elements of the HvKIN gene and verified them by QRT-PCR, indicating their potential role in the barley kinesin family. The current study revealed the biological functions of barley kinesin genes in barley and will aid in further investigating the kinesin in other plant species.

Abscisic acid induces the expression of AsKIN during the recovery period of garlic cryopreservation.

KEY MESSAGE: Abscisic acid induced the expression of AsKIN during the recovery period of garlic cryopreservation. AsKIN was identified as a gene involved in cold and osmotic stress resistance. Cryopreservation has been proven to be effective in removing viruses from garlic. However, oxidative damage in cryopreservation has a significant impact on the survival after preservation. Abscisic acid (ABA) has been shown to reduce oxidative stress and promote the survival after cryopreservation. However, it is not clear which genes play important roles in this process. In this study, we added ABA to the dehydration step and analyzed the transcriptomic divergences between the ABA-treated group and the control group in three cryogenic steps (dehydration, unloading and recovery). By short time-series expression miner (STEM) analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), the recovery step was identified as the period of significant changes in gene expression levels in cryopreservation. The addition of ABA promoted the upregulated expression of microtubule-related genes in the recovery step. We further identified AsKIN as a hub gene in the recovery step and verified its function. The results showed that overexpression of AsKIN enhanced the tolerance of Arabidopsis to oxidative stress in cryopreservation, influenced the expression of genes in response to cold and osmotic stress and promoted plant growth after stress. The AsKIN gene is likely to be involved in the plant response to cold stress and osmotic stress. These results reveal the molecular mechanisms of ABA in cryopreservation and elucidate the potential biological functions of the kinesin-14 subfamily.

CBS-derived H2S facilitates host colonization of Vibrio cholerae by promoting the iron-dependent catalase activity of KatB.

Sensing and resisting oxidative stress is critical for Vibrio cholerae to survive in either the aquatic environment or the gastrointestinal tract. Previous studies mainly focused on the mechanisms of oxidative stress response regulation that rely on enzymatic antioxidant systems, while functions of non-enzymatic antioxidants are rarely discussed in V. cholerae. For the first time, we investigated the role of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), the simplest thiol compound, in protecting V. cholerae against oxidative stress. We found that degradation of L-cysteine by putative cystathionine ß-synthase (CBS) is the major source of endogenous H2S in V. cholerae. Our results indicate that intracellular H2S level has a positive correlation with cbs expression, while the enhanced H2S production can render V. cholerae cells less susceptible to H2O2 in vitro. Using proteome analysis and real-time qPCR assay, we found that cbs expression could stimulate the expression of several enzymatic antioxidants, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) detoxifying enzymes SodB, KatG and AhpC, the DNA protective protein DPS and the protein redox regulator Trx1. Assays of ROS detoxification capacities revealed that CBS-derived H2S could promote catalase activity at the post-translational level, especially for KatB, which serves as an important way that endogenous H2S participates in H2O2 detoxification. The enhancement of catalase activity by H2S is achieved through facilitating the uptake of iron. Adult mice experiments showed that cbs mutant has colonization defect, while either complementation of cbs or exogenous supplement of N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine restores its fitness in the host environment. Herein, we proposed that V. cholerae regulates CBS-dependent H2S production for better survival and proliferation under ROS stress.

Kolaflavanone, a biflavonoid derived from medicinal plant Garcinia, is an inhibitor of mitotic kinesin Eg5.

Mitotic kinesin Eg5 remains a validated target in antimitotic therapy because of its essential role in the formation and maintenance of bipolar mitotic spindles. Although numerous Eg5 inhibitors of synthetic origin are known, only a few inhibitors derived from natural products have been reported. In our study, we focused on identifying novel Eg5 inhibitors from medicinal plants, particularly Garcinia species. Herein, we report the inhibitory effect of kolaflavanone (KLF), a Garcinia biflavonoid, on the ATPase and microtubule-gliding activities of mitotic kinesin Eg5. Additionally, we showed the interaction mechanism between Eg5 and KLF via in vitro and in silico analyses. The results revealed that KLF inhibited both the basal and microtubule-activated ATPase activities of Eg5. The inhibitory mechanism is allosteric, without a direct competition with adenosine-5'-diphosphate for the nucleotide-binding site. KLF also suppressed the microtubule gliding of Eg5 in vitro. The Eg5-KLF model obtained from molecular docking showed that the biflavonoid exists within the α2/α3/L5 (α2: Lys111-Glu116 and Ile135-Asp149, α3: Asn206-Thr226; L5: Gly117-Gly134) pocket, with a binding pose comparable to known Eg5 inhibitors. Overall, our data suggest that KLF is a novel allosteric inhibitor of mitotic kinesin Eg5.

Structural basis of mechano-chemical coupling by the mitotic kinesin KIF14.

KIF14 is a mitotic kinesin whose malfunction is associated with cerebral and renal developmental defects and several cancers. Like other kinesins, KIF14 couples ATP hydrolysis and microtubule binding to the generation of mechanical work, but the coupling mechanism between these processes is still not fully clear. Here we report 20 high-resolution (2.7-3.9 Å) cryo-electron microscopy KIF14-microtubule structures with complementary functional assays. Analysis procedures were implemented to separate coexisting conformations of microtubule-bound monomeric and dimeric KIF14 constructs. The data provide a comprehensive view of the microtubule and nucleotide induced KIF14 conformational changes. It shows that: 1) microtubule binding, the nucleotide species, and the neck-linker domain govern the transition between three major conformations of the motor domain; 2) an undocked neck-linker prevents the nucleotide-binding pocket to fully close and dampens ATP hydrolysis; 3) 13 neck-linker residues are required to assume a stable docked conformation; 4) the neck-linker position controls the hydrolysis rather than the nucleotide binding step; 5) the two motor domains of KIF14 dimers adopt distinct conformations when bound to the microtubule; and 6) the formation of the two-heads-bound-state introduces structural changes in both motor domains of KIF14 dimers. These observations provide the structural basis for a coordinated chemo-mechanical kinesin translocation model.

The Tail of Kinesin-14a in Giardia Is a Dual Regulator of Motility.

Kinesin-14s are microtubule-based motor proteins that play important roles in mitotic spindle assembly [1]. Ncd-type kinesin-14s are a subset of kinesin-14 motors that exist as homodimers with an N-terminal microtubule-binding tail, a coiled-coil central stalk (central stalk), a neck, and two identical C-terminal motor domains. To date, no Ncd-type kinesin-14 has been found to naturally exhibit long-distance minus-end-directed processive motility on single microtubules as individual homodimers. Here, we show that GiKIN14a from Giardia intestinalis [2] is an unconventional Ncd-type kinesin-14 that uses its N-terminal microtubule-binding tail to achieve minus-end-directed processivity on single microtubules over micrometer distances as a homodimer. We further find that although truncation of the N-terminal tail greatly reduces GiKIN14a processivity, the resulting tailless construct GiKIN14a-Δtail is still a minimally processive motor and moves its center of mass via discrete 8-nm steps on the microtubule. In addition, full-length GiKIN14a has significantly higher stepping and ATP hydrolysis rates than does GiKIN14a-Δtail. Inserting a flexible polypeptide linker into the central stalk of full-length GiKIN14a nearly reduces its ATP hydrolysis rate to that of GiKIN14a-Δtail. Collectively, our results reveal that the N-terminal tail of GiKIN14a is a de facto dual regulator of motility and reinforce the notion of the central stalk as a key mechanical determinant of kinesin-14 motility [3].

Kinesin-1-mediated axonal transport of CB1 receptors is required for cannabinoid-dependent axonal growth and guidance.

Endocannabinoids (eCB) modulate growth cone dynamics and axonal pathfinding through the stimulation of cannabinoid type-1 receptors (CB1R), the function of which depends on their delivery and precise presentation at the growth cone surface. However, the mechanism involved in the axonal transport of CB1R and its transport role in eCB signaling remains elusive. As mutations in the kinesin-1 molecular motor have been identified in patients with abnormal cortical development and impaired white matter integrity, we studied the defects in axonal pathfinding and fasciculation in mice lacking the kinesin light chain 1 (Klc1-/-) subunit of kinesin-1. Reduced levels of CB1R were found in corticofugal projections and axonal growth cones in Klc1-/- mice. By live-cell imaging of CB1R-eGFP we characterized the axonal transport of CB1R vesicles and described the defects in transport that arise after KLC1 deletion. Cofilin activation, which is necessary for actin dynamics during growth cone remodeling, is impaired in the Klc1-/- cerebral cortex. In addition, Klc1-/- neurons showed expanded growth cones that were unresponsive to CB1R-induced axonal elongation. Together, our data reveal the relevance of kinesin-1 in CB1R axonal transport and in eCB signaling during brain wiring.

Quantitative proteomics analysis of the treatment of asthma rats with total flavonoid extract from chamomile.

OBJECTIVE: Asthma is a chronic immune disease that has become a serious public health problem. The currently available medications are not ideal because of their limitations and side effects; hence, new target proteins and signaling cascades for precise and safe therapy treatment are needed. This work established an ovalbumin-induced asthma rat model and treated it with total flavonoid extract from the Xinjiang chamomile. The proteins that were differentially expressed in the chamomile extract-treated asthmatic rats and the asthma and healthy rat groups were identified using isobaric tagging followed by LC-MS/MS. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway analysis of the differentially expressed proteins was performed. RESULTS: Pathways involved in purine metabolism, herpes simplex infection, and JNK phosphorylation and activation mediated by activated human TAK1 were enriched, indicating the intrinsic links between the mechanism of asthma development and treatment effects. Furthermore, we constructed a protein-protein interaction network and identified KIF3A as a potential target protein of chamomile extract that affected the Hedgehog signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS: This study may provide new insights into the pathogenesis of asthma and reveal several proteins and pathways that could be exploited to develop novel treatment approaches.

A malectin domain kinesin functions in pollen and seed development in Arabidopsis.

The kinesin family is greatly expanded in plants compared with animals and, with more than a third up-regulated in expression during cell division, it has been suggested that this expansion facilitated complex plant-specific cytoskeletal rearrangements. The cell cycle-regulated kinesins include two with an N-terminal malectin domain, a protein domain that has been shown to bind polysaccharides and peptides when found extracellularly in receptor-like kinases. Although malectin domain kinesins are evolutionarily deep rooted, their function in plants remains unclear. Here we show that loss of MALECTIN DOMAIN KINESIN 2 (MDKIN2) results in stochastic developmental defects in pollen, embryo, and endosperm. High rates of seed abnormalities and abortion occur in mdkin2 mutants through a partial maternal effect. No additive effect or additional developmental defects were noted in mdkin1 mdkin2 double mutants. MDKIN2 is expressed in regions of cell division throughout the plant. Subcellular localization of MDKIN2 indicates a role in cell division, with a possible secondary function in the nuclei. Our results reveal a non-essential but important role for a malectin domain kinesin during development in plants.

Low expression of KIF7 indicates poor prognosis in epithelial ovarian cancer.

The aim of the present study was to investigate kinesin family member 7 (KIF7) expression in epithelial ovarian cancer tissues (paraffin-embedded tissues and fresh) and to explore its expression, association with clinicopathological parameters and prognostic value in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. A total of 113 paraffin-embedded tumor tissues of epithelial ovarian cancer patients diagnosed and operated at the memorial hospital of Sun Yat-sen University Between December 2009 and March 2017 and 41 paratumor tissues were collected for the present study and were assessed for KIF7 expression using immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, 22 fresh epithelial ovarian cancer tissues and their matched paratumor tissues were collected from the Integrated Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, between August 2013 and March 2019 and subjected to reverse-transcription quantitative PCR analysis to detect the mRNA expression of KIF7. The expression of KIF7 was lower in cancer tissues than in paratumor tissues, and KIF7 expression was associated with recurrence-free survival and overall survival in epithelial ovarian cancer patients. Furthermore, multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that low KIF7 expression was an independent predictor of poor survival in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer. In conclusion, KIF7 has a tumor suppressor role in epithelial ovarian cancer and is a useful independent prognostic predictor. It may hold important value for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of epithelial ovarian cancer.

Low Molecular Weight Chitosan (∼20 kDa) protects acrylamide induced oxidative stress in D. melanogaster by restoring dopamine and KIF5B levels.

Acrylamide (AA) presence and formation are predominant in fried, baked and heat-processed foods. Using Drosophila model, we have investigated the dietary AA-arbitrate oxidative stress induced neurotoxicity and the effect of soluble Low Molecular Weight Chitosan (LMWC) supplementation. We assessed the neurodegenerative and behavioural effect of AA (0-10 mM) exposure in Drosophila (adult males). As a result, the exposed flies showed distinctive locomotor impairments and incident of mortality [51% in 5 mM AA (sub-toxic level) for 7 days] and higher mortality with increased concentration of acrylamide. Further, exposure of AA toxicity was also correlated with changing levels of oxidative markers, ETC complexes and cholinergic function of flies. Decreased dopamine (25 µg/mg) and kinesin motor protein levels were confirmed by HPLC and Immunoblotting studies, respectively. Interestingly, the co-exposure of LMWC alongside AA ameliorates respective biochemical changes with restoring dopamine (30 µg/mg, control groups 32 µg/mg) and kinesin motor protein (KIF5B) levels. These results indicated that supplementation of biocompatible LMWC may be promising candidate for complete protection against AA induced oxidative stress.

Engineering with Biomolecular Motors.

Biomolecular motors, such as the motor protein kinesin, can be used as off-the-shelf components to power hybrid nanosystems. These hybrid systems combine elements from the biological and synthetic toolbox of the nanoengineer and can be used to explore the applications and design principles of active nanosystems. Efforts to advance nanoscale engineering benefit greatly from biological and biophysical research into the operating principles of motor proteins and their biological roles. In return, the process of creating in vitro systems outside of the context of biology can lead to an improved understanding of the physical constraints creating the fitness landscape explored by evolution. However, our main focus is a holistic understanding of the engineering principles applying to systems integrating molecular motors in general. To advance this goal, we and other researchers have designed biomolecular motor-powered nanodevices, which sense, compute, and actuate. In addition to demonstrating that biological solutions can be mimicked in vitro, these devices often demonstrate new paradigms without parallels in current technology. Long-term trends in technology toward the deployment of ever smaller and more numerous motors and computers give us confidence that our work will become increasingly relevant. Here, our discussion aims to step back and look at the big picture. From our perspective, energy efficiency is a key and underappreciated metric in the design of synthetic motors. On the basis of an analogy to ecological principles, we submit that practical molecular motors have to have energy conversion efficiencies of more than 10%, a threshold only exceeded by motor proteins. We also believe that motor and system lifetime is a critical metric and an important topic of investigation. Related questions are if future molecular motors, by necessity, will resemble biomolecular motors in their softness and fragility and have to conform to the "universal performance characteristics of motors", linking the maximum force and mass of any motor, identified by Marden and Allen. The utilization of molecular motors for computing devices emphasizes the interesting relationship among the conversion of energy, extraction of work, and production of information. Our recent work touches upon these topics and discusses molecular clocks as well as a Landauer limit for robotics. What is on the horizon? Just as photovoltaics took advantage of progress in semiconductor fabrication to become commercially viable over a century, one can envision that engineers working with biomolecular motors leverage progress in biotechnology and drug development to create the engines of the future. However, the future source of energy is going to be electricity rather than fossil or biological fuels, a fact that has to be accounted for in our future efforts. In summary, we are convinced that past, ongoing, and future efforts to engineer with biomolecular motors are providing exciting demonstrations and fundamental insights as well as opportunities to wander freely across the borders of engineering, biology, and chemistry.

Efficient Generation of Non-Integration and Feeder-Free Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells from Human Peripheral Blood Cells by Sendai Virus.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) hold great promise for regenerative medicine, disease modeling, and drug development. Thus, generation of non-integration and feeder-free iPSCs is highly desirable for clinical applications. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are an attractive resource for cell reprogramming because of their properties of easy accessibility and the limited invasiveness of blood collection. However, derivation of iPSCs is technically demanding due to the low reprogramming efficiency and nonadherent features of PBMCs. METHODS: iPSCs were generated from PBMCs using non-integrative Sendai viruses carrying the reprogramming factors Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and cMyc. The derived iPSCs were fully characterized at the levels of gene and protein, and then they were transplanted into immunocompromised mice for evaluation of in vivo differentiation potential. Three types of extracellular substrates (Geltrex, vitronectin, and rhLaminn-521) were tested for their influences on cell reprogramming under feeder-free conditions. We also sought to establish approaches to efficient cell recovery post-thaw and single cell passaging of iPSCs employing Rock inhibitors. RESULTS: iPSCs were efficiently generated from PBMCs under feeder-free conditions. The derived iPSCs proved to be pluripotent and transgene-free. Furthermore, they demonstrated multi-lineage differentiation potentials when transplanted into immunocompromised mice. Among the three substrates, Geltrex and rhLaminin-521 could effectively support the initial cell reprogramming process, but vitronectin failed. However, the vitronectin, similar to Geltrex and rhLaminin-521, could effectively maintain cell growth and expansion of passaged iPSCs. In addition, RevitaCell supplement (RVC) was more potent on cell recovery post-thaw than Y-27632. And RVC and Y-27632 could significantly increase the cell survival when the cells were passaged in single cells, and they showed comparable effectiveness on cell recovery. CONCLUSION: We have successfully derived non-integration and feeder-free human iPSCs from peripheral blood cells, and established effective strategies for efficient cell recovery and single cell passaging. This study will pave the way to the derivation of clinical-grade human iPSCs for future clinical applications.

Fission yeast cells overproducing HSET/KIFC1 provides a useful tool for identification and evaluation of human kinesin-14 inhibitors.

Many human cancer cells contain more than two centrosomes, yet these cancer cells can form pseudo-bipolar spindles through the mechanism, called centrosome clustering, and survive, instead of committing lethal multipolar mitoses. Kinesin-14/HSET, a minus end-directed motor, plays a crucial role in centrosome clustering. Accordingly, HSET is deemed to be a promising chemotherapeutic target to selectively kill cancer cells. Recently, three HSET inhibitors (AZ82, CW069 and SR31527) have been reported, but their specificity and efficacy have not been evaluated rigorously. This downside partly stems from the lack of robust systems for the assessment of these drugs. Yeasts and filamentous fungi provide not only powerful models for basic and applied biology but also versatile tools for drug discovery and evaluation. Here we show that these three inhibitors on their own are cytotoxic to fission yeast, suggesting that they have off-targets in vivo except for kinesin-14. Nonetheless, intriguingly, AZ82 can neutralize otherwise toxic overproduced HSET; this includes a substantial reduction in the percentage of HSET-driven abnormal mitotic cells and partial suppression of its lethality. SR31527 also displays modest neutralizing activity, while we do not detect such activity in CW069. As an experimental proof-of-principle study, we have treated HSET-overproducing fission yeast cells with extracts prepared from various plant species and found activities that rescue HSET-driven lethality in those from Chamaecyparis pisifera and Toxicodendron trichocarpum. This methodology of protein overproduction in fission yeast, therefore, provides a convenient, functional assay system by which to screen for not only selective human kinesin-14 inhibitors but also those against other molecules of interest.