E xit from cell division cycle, induction of autophagy, and activation of apoptosis in response to metabolic stress occur simultaneously or sequentially. However, the molecular interrelation(s) between these intracellular events remains obscure. Recent work by Finkel et al 1 provides evidence that Atg7, an autophagy-related protein, regulates G1-arrest by interacting with p53 and that p53-media...

Somatic mutations in U2 Small Nuclear RNA Auxiliary Factor 1 (U2AF1) are associated with various cancers including myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Mutant U2AF1 promotes malignant transformation by inhibiting autophagy, partly as a result of alterations in the 3' tail of ATG7. This results in altered mitochondrial function, increased reactive oxygen species production, and genomic instability.

Drosophila melanogaster is a common model used to study circadian rhythms in behavior and circadian clocks. However, numerous circadian rhythms have also been detected in non-clock neurons, especially in the first optic neuropil (lamina) of the fly's visual system. Such rhythms have been observed in the number of synapses and in the structure of interneurons, which exhibit changes in size and s...

Tanshinone IIA (TAN) is one of the major functional compounds of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge and possesses the ability to suppress the growth of multiple cancer cell types via its apoptosis- and autophagy-inducing functions. In this study, the effect of TAN therapy on the survival of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) was evaluated, and the underlying mechanism involved in the treatment was inve...

The phosphoinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) pathway is highly dysregulated in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). While inhibitors of the PI3K/AKT pathway are being developed in cancer, their efficacy does not appear to be related to the presence of mutations or amplification in pathway genes. The PI3K pathway is a major regulator of macro-autophagy, an evolutionarily conserved catabo...

Preliminary studies have shown that endothelial-monocyte-activating polypeptide-II (EMAP-II) induces autophagy and inhibits the viability of glioma cells via an unknown molecular mechanism. This study explored the possible mechanisms associated with EMAP-II-induced autophagy in glioma cells by regulation of the expression of microRNA-20a (miR-20a). EMAP-II effectively inhibited the viability, m...

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a key driver of neurodegeneration. This study aimed to evaluate the protective potential EPOR/CD131 (heterodimeric erythropoietin receptor) stimulation in neurodegeneration caused by rotenone-induced mitochondrial dysfunction. The effects (EPO) and an EPO mimetic peptide pHBSP were assessed using vivo vitro models. Single injections 10 µg/kg or 5 significantly allev...