No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

Heat-shock protein 90 (Hsp90) inhibitor downregulates c-Myc expression and upregulates the expression of tumor repressor proteins such as p53 and pRB, inhibiting the G1/S transition and causing G2/M arrest during cell cycle progression. The cycle progression is extensively controlled by the pRB/E2F signaling pathway. E2F is released from the pRB/E2F complex with the phosphorylation of pRB by cyclin-cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) complexes. The released E2F promotes the transcription of target genes involved in cell cycle progression. The pRB/E2F signaling pathway is controlled by DNA methyltransferase-1 (Dnmt-1). The elevated expression of Dnmt-1 has been reported in carcinomas of the colon, lung and prostate. A defect of pRB expression in RbÀ/À cancer cells is caused by the aberrant methylation of CpG in the Rb promoter. The Hsp90 inhibitor disrupts the Dnmt-1/Hsp90 association and upregulates pRB expression. In this review, the Hsp90 inhibitors that show promise for cancer therapy are summarized.

Micropeptins 88-N (1) and 88-Y (2), new 3-amino-6-hydroxy-2-piperidone (Ahp)-containing cyclic depsipeptides, were isolated from Microcystis aeruginosa NIES-88. The structures were elucidated by analyses of HRFABMS, 1D and 2D NMR spectra, and chemical degradation. Micropeptins 88-N and 88-Y inhibited chymotrypsin. The inhibitory activities were closely related to the amino acid residue that was attached to the amino group of Ahp.