Disturbance of cellular functions results in the activation of stress-signaling pathways that aim at restoring homeostasis. We performed a genome-wide screen to identify components of the signal transduction of the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt) to a nuclear chaperone promoter. We used the ROS generating complex I inhibitor paraquat to induce the UPRmt, and we employed RNAi exposure post-embryonically to allow testing genes whose knockdown results in embryonic lethality. We identified 54 novel regulators of the ROS–induced UPRmt. Activation of the UPRmt, but not of other stress-signaling pathways, failed when homeostasis of basic cellular mechanisms such as translation and protein transport were impaired. These mechanisms are monitored by a recently discovered surveillance system that interprets interruption of these processes as pathogen attack and depends on signaling through the JNK-like MAP-kinase KGB-1. Mutation of kgb-1 abrogated the inhibition of ROS–induced UPRmt, suggesting that surveillance-activated defenses specifically inhibit the UPRmt but do not compromise activation of the heat shock response, the UPR of the endoplasmic reticulum, or the SKN-1/Nrf2 mediated response to cytosolic stress. In addition, we identified PIFK-1, the orthologue of the Drosophila PI 4-kinase four wheel drive (FWD), and found that it is the only known factor so far that is essential for the unfolded protein responses of both mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum. This suggests that both UPRs may share a common membrane associated mechanism.

Nanobubbles (NBs) have been reported to be effective at accelerating the metabolism of living organisms, but the mechanism is not yet well understood. In this study, the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by NBs and its effect on seed germinations were investigated. The fluorescence response of APF to NB water was measured. It changed depending on the NB number density which decreased with storage time. This indicated that NBs could produce ROS and the amount of ROS had positive correlation with the NB number density. The fluorescence intensity of APF increases linearly with the concentration of H 2 O 2 in the range of 0−1 mM. Just after the NB generation, the oxidative capacities represented by amount of ROS of oxygen NB water and gas-mixture (air + nitrogen) NB water were estimated to be equivalent to 0.5 and 0.3 mM H 2 O 2 respectively. The seed germination tests were performed in the NB water, distilled water and H 2 O 2 solutions. The germination rate at each observation times of seeds submerged in gas-mixture NB water and 0.3 mM H 2 O 2 solutions were both higher than those submerged in distilled water. The amounts of superoxide radicals in the seeds were detected using NBT staining. The results of absorbance data proved that the amounts of O 2•− in seeds submerged in gas-mixture NB water and in 0.3 mM H 2 O 2 solution were similar and significantly higher than those in the distilled water. These results indicated that moderate level of exogenous ROS produced by NB water played an important role in seed germination.

Yes-associated protein (YAP) is a main mediator of the Hippo pathway, which promotes cancer development. Here we show that YAP promotes resistance to erlotinib in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. We found that forced YAP overexpression through YAP plasmid transfection promotes erlotinib resistance in HCC827 (exon 19 deletion) cells. In YAP plasmid-transfected HCC827 cells, GTIIC reporter activity and Hippo downstream gene expression of AREG and CTGF increased significantly (P<0.05), as did ERBB3 mRNA expression (P<0.05). GTIIC reporter activity, ERBB3 protein and mRNA expression all increased in HCC827 erlotinib-resistance (ER) cells compared to parental HCC827 cells. Inhibition of YAP by small interfering RNA (siRNA) increased the cytotoxicity of erlotinib to H1975 (L858R+T790M) cells. In YAP siRNA-transfected H1975 cells, GTIIC reporter activity and downstream gene expression of AREG and CTGF decreased significantly (P<0.05). Verteporfin, YAP inhibitor had an effect similar to that of YAP siRNA; it increased sensitivity of H1975 cells to erlotinib and in combination with erlotinib, synergistically reduced migration, invasion and tumor sphere formation abilities in H1975 cells. Our results indicate that YAP promotes erlotinib resistance in the erlotinib-sensitive NSCLC cell line HCC827. Inhibition of YAP by siRNA increases sensitivity of erlotinib-resistant NSCLC cell line H1975 to erlotinib.

Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FHLCC) generally occurs in young individuals lacking a background of chronic liver disease and other risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma. The clinical presentations of FLHCC are generally nonspecific, and the alpha-fetoprotein level is typically within the normal range in most cases. Imaging studies have a major role in clinical diagnosis, but pathology is the gold standard in confirming diagnosis. Pathological characteristics of FLHCC include the presence of tumor cells with a deeply eosinophilic cytoplasm and macronucleoli surrounded by abundant fibrous bands. The most effective treatment for FLHCC is aggressive surgical resection. This comprehensive literature review gives a full account of the clinical, pathological, and molecular features of FLHCC.