Long-term exposure to irinotecan reduces cell migration in glioma cells.

In spite of considerable research into the therapies for glioblastoma multiforme this tumour type remains very difficult to treat. As well as having a tendency to be inherently resistant to chemotherapy, glioblastoma multiforme also displays local invasion. Cell line studies have a continued and important role to play in understanding the mechanisms associated with both chemotherapy resistance and invasion. In the current study we have utilized the C6 glioma cell line to investigate the response to long-term, clinically relevant application of topoisomerase I and II inhibitors. Treatment with etoposide resulted in an increase in resistance to this topoisomerase II inhibitor. By contrast, the continuous exposure to a topoisomerase I inhibitor did not result in increased drug resistance, but was associated with a reduction in cell migration. This data supports further investigation of topoisomerase I inhibition as a means to inhibit glioma invasion without the development of parallel chemoresistance.

HPLC studies on leukotriene A4 obtained from the hydrolysis of its methyl ester.

Alkaline hydrolysis of leukotriene A4 methyl ester to leukotriene A4 was studied in either methanol or acetone. Hydrolysis in acetone yielded larger amounts of leukotriene A4 than similar hydrolysis in methanol. The maximum amount was obtained 60 minutes after the beginning of the hydrolysis. Leukotriene A4, as well as leukotriene B4 methoxy isomers were obtained from hydrolysis of leukotriene A4 methyl ester in methanol. It was found that initial leukotriene A4 methyl ester concentration affected the amount of LTA4 produced during the hydrolysis. The maximum concentration of leukotriene A4 was obtained by hydrolyzing solutions of 0.25 mg/ml leukotriene methyl ester in acetone. Spontaneous degradation of leukotriene A4 occurred when it was diluted with tris buffer. Addition of bovine serum albumin to the tris buffer significantly prolonged the half life of leukotriene A4.

Sucrose requirements and lipid utilization during germination of interior spruce (Picea glauca engelmannii complex) somatic embryos.

Both somatic and excised zygotic embryos of interior spruce (Picea glauca engelmannii complex) required exogenous sucrose in the medium for germination in vitro. Over a period of 29 days on sucrose-containing medium germinants with roots and epicotyls developed from both kinds of embryo, and their content of linolenic acid (9,12,15-18:3) increased about six- to eightfold. Without added sucrose, embryos showed retarded growth or were necrotic, and the content of linolenic acid was barely detectable in their fatty acid profiles. Through14C-sucrose uptake studies, it was determined that germinants consumed only 25% of the sucrose available in a 1% (wt/vol) sucrose-containing medium. Since no radiolabelled fatty acids were detected, it appears that externally supplied sucrose was not used in the synthesis of lipids. Although sucrose was present during plantlet development, 72% of the initial lipids were consumed. To some extent, the plantlets appeared to be obligate storage lipid utilizers.

Nutritional and hormonal requirements of Ginkgo biloba embryo-derived callus and suspension cell culture.

Calli were obtained from Ginkgo biloba embryos grown on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. The G. biloba cells could grow on either MS or Gamborg B5 mineral salt medium supplemented with sucrose (3% and 2%, respectively) and naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and kinetin (K) in concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 2.0 mg·L(-1). Best growth and maintenance of callus cultures were achieved using MS medium supplemented with 2 mg·L(-1) NAA and 1 mg·L(-1) K (N2K1MS). Light was required to maintain healthy growth of the callus tissue.In both MS and B5 based media, sucrose was hydrolyzed extracellularly before being taken up by Ginkgo cell suspension cultures. Specific growth rates of 0.13 d(-1) and 0.08 d(-1) were obtained in MS medium supplemented with 1 mg·L(-1) NAA, 0.1 mg·L(-1) K and 30 g·L(-1) sucrose (N1K0.1MS) and B5 medium supplemented with the same growth regulator regime and 20 g·L(-1) sucrose (N1K0.1B5) respectively. Complete phosphate and ammonium uptake was observed in 11 days when cultured in MS medium and 10 days and 4 days respectively when cultured in B5 medium. During the culture, G. biloba cells consumed only 64% and 29% of the nitrate content of N1K0.1MS and N1K0.1B5 media respectively. Maximum dry biomass concentrations were 13.4 g·L(-1) and 7.9 g·L(-1), and yields on carbohydrate were 0.39 and 0.45 in N1K0.1MS and N1K0.1B5 media respectively. The better performance of MS cultures came from the higher sucrose and nitrogen salts concentrations of this medium.

Formation of terpenoid products in Ginkgo biloba L. cultivated cells.

Ginkgolides are diterpenes arising from the terpenoid precursor: geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP). Incorporation of [1-(14)C] isopentenylpyrophosphate ([1-(14)C]IPP) into GGPP was monitored throughout the cultivation cycle of G. biloba L. cultivated cells. Because incorporation of [1-(14)C]IPP into GGPP had never been monitored in G. biloba, in either the whole plant or cultivated cell system, modifications to existing protocols were necessary. Modifications consisted of extracting the cells with an extraction buffer supplemented with Triton-X-100. Farnesylpyrophosphate (FPP) was the major product formed. The amount of GGPP detected was about one tenth that of FPP.

Detection of ginkgolide A in Ginkgo biloba cell cultures.

Ginkgo biloba cells were cultured in two 500 mL shake flasks and in 2 L and 6 L immobilization bioreactors using MS medium supplemented with 1 mg.L(-1) NAA, 0.1 mg.L(-1) K and 30 g.L(-1) sucrose. Specific growth rates were 0.06 d(-1), 0.11 d(-1) and 0.07 d(-1) for the 2 L and 6 L bioreactors and shake flask cultures, respectively. Extracellular phosphate, nitrate, ammonium and carbohydrate uptake rates of the bio reactor cultures were approximately 17 to 39% slower than those of shake flask cultures. The specific oxygen uptake and carbon dioxide transfer rates of immobilized Ginkgo biloba cells ranged from 0.027 to 0.041 mmol O2.g(-1).d.w.hr(-1) (maximum uptake at 14 days) and 0.020 to 0.057 mmol CO2g. (-1).d.w.hr(-1) (maximum production at 14 days). Extracts from the biomass of the two immobilized and shake flask suspension cultures were analysed for ginkgolide A by GC-MS. Yields of 7, 17, 19 and 7 ng.g. (-1)d.w. of ginkgolide A were determined for shake flask 1, shake flask 2 and the 2 L and 6 L immobilized cultures, respectively. Traces of ginkgolide B were detected with the signal to noise ratio, however, being too low for positive confirmation of this last product.