It is known that mammalian rpS3 functions as a DNA repair endonuclease and ribosomal protein S3. It was also observed that several ribosomal proteins or DNA repair enzymes are related to apoptosis. We report here a third function of rpS3, induction of apoptosis. The localization of green £uorescent protein (GFP)-rpS3 is changed to the nuclear membrane when lymphocytic cells undergo rpS3-induced apoptosis. Transient expression of GFP-rpS3 activates caspase-8/caspase-3 and sensitizes cytokine-induced apoptosis. Deletion analysis reveals that the two functions of rpS3, DNA repair and apoptosis, use independent functional domains.

Heat-shock protein 90 (Hsp90) is a molecular chaperone that plays a key role in the conformational maturation of various transcription factors and protein kinases in signal transduction. Multifunctional ribosomal protein S3 (rpS3), a component of the ribosomal small subunit, is involved in DNA repair and apoptosis. Our data show that Hsp90 binds directly to rpS3 and the functional consequence of Hsp90-rpS3 interaction results in the prevention of the ubiquitination and the proteasome-dependent degradation of rpS3, subsequently retaining the function and the biogenesis of the ribosome. Interference of Hsp90 activity by Hsp90 inhibitors appears to dissociate rpS3 from Hsp90, associate the protein with Hsp70, and induce the degradation of free forms of rpS3. Furthermore, ribosomal protein S6 (rpS6) also interacted with Hsp90 and exhibited a similar effect upon treatment with Hsp90 inhibitors. Therefore, we conclude that Hsp90 regulates the function of ribosomes by maintaining the stability of 40S ribosomal proteins such as rpS3 and rpS6.

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Abstract:Baicalein is a type of flavonoid isolated from the roots of a medicinal plant, Scutellaria baicalensis. Although it has attracted considerable attention due to its antiviral, anti-tumor, and anti-inflammatory activities, its limited aqueous solubility inhibits the clinical application of this flavonoid. The present study aimed to prepare and characterize a host-guest complex in an effort to improve the solubility and antioxidant activity of baicalein. The host molecule is a macrocyclic β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) functionalized with cysteine for a synergetic effect. The structure of the synthesized cysteinyl β-CD was analyzed using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The inclusion complex with baicalein was studied by UV-vis, NMR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray powder diffractometry. The formed cysteinyl β-CD/baicalein inclusion complex efficiently improved the solubility and antioxidant ability of baicalein. Therefore, we suggest that the present cysteinyl β-CD is a potential host molecule for inclusion complexation and for bioavailability augmentation.