Breast cancer invasion is mediated by beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase (beta-NAG) and associated with a dysregulation in the secretory pathway of cancer cells. 2010

K T Ramessur, and P Greenwell, and R Nash, and M V Dwek
Department of Molecular and Applied Biosciences, University of Westminster, London W1W 6UW.

The extracellular matrix is enriched with carbohydrate polymers that mask the protein backbone. This study aims to test the hypothesis that for successful cancer cell invasion the cells must secrete glycosidases to reveal the protein backbone, and then the action of proteases provides the physical space needed for cancer cell movement. Thus, the activity of intracellular and secreted beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase (beta-NAG) was assayed in luminal breast epithelial cells (HB4a) and breast cancer cells (BT474, ZR75-1, MDA-MB-435, MCF7). An increase in the V(max) of beta-NAG was observed in MDA-MB-435 and MCF7 cells. Exoglycosidases are normally located in the lysosomes and function at an acidic pH, but in the cancer cells there was significant enzyme activity at neutral pH. A change in lysosome location and number was observed in the cancer cells, consistent with alterations in the secretory pathway. Finally, applying a cocktail of protease inhibitors resulted in a 20% reduction in invasion of MDA-MB-435 cells through Matrigel after 24 h, and when the cells were treated with protease and beta-NAG inhibitors then cellular invasion was reduced by > 60%. The results suggest combination therapies that inhibit proteases and glycosidases might be a rational way forward for the design of drugs aimed at arresting cellular invasion.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007797 Laminin Large, noncollagenous glycoprotein with antigenic properties. It is localized in the basement membrane lamina lucida and functions to bind epithelial cells to the basement membrane. Evidence suggests that the protein plays a role in tumor invasion. Merosin,Glycoprotein GP-2,Laminin M,Laminin M Chain,Chain, Laminin M,Glycoprotein GP 2,M Chain, Laminin
D008247 Lysosomes A class of morphologically heterogeneous cytoplasmic particles in animal and plant tissues characterized by their content of hydrolytic enzymes and the structure-linked latency of these enzymes. The intracellular functions of lysosomes depend on their lytic potential. The single unit membrane of the lysosome acts as a barrier between the enzymes enclosed in the lysosome and the external substrate. The activity of the enzymes contained in lysosomes is limited or nil unless the vesicle in which they are enclosed is ruptured or undergoes MEMBRANE FUSION. (From Rieger et al., Glossary of Genetics: Classical and Molecular, 5th ed). Autolysosome,Autolysosomes,Lysosome
D011480 Protease Inhibitors Compounds which inhibit or antagonize biosynthesis or actions of proteases (ENDOPEPTIDASES). Antiprotease,Endopeptidase Inhibitor,Endopeptidase Inhibitors,Peptidase Inhibitor,Peptidase Inhibitors,Peptide Hydrolase Inhibitor,Peptide Hydrolase Inhibitors,Peptide Peptidohydrolase Inhibitor,Peptide Peptidohydrolase Inhibitors,Protease Antagonist,Protease Antagonists,Antiproteases,Protease Inhibitor,Antagonist, Protease,Antagonists, Protease,Hydrolase Inhibitor, Peptide,Hydrolase Inhibitors, Peptide,Inhibitor, Endopeptidase,Inhibitor, Peptidase,Inhibitor, Peptide Hydrolase,Inhibitor, Peptide Peptidohydrolase,Inhibitor, Protease,Inhibitors, Endopeptidase,Inhibitors, Peptidase,Inhibitors, Peptide Hydrolase,Inhibitors, Peptide Peptidohydrolase,Inhibitors, Protease,Peptidohydrolase Inhibitor, Peptide,Peptidohydrolase Inhibitors, Peptide
D011509 Proteoglycans Glycoproteins which have a very high polysaccharide content. Proteoglycan,Proteoglycan Type H
D001943 Breast Neoplasms Tumors or cancer of the human BREAST. Breast Cancer,Breast Tumors,Cancer of Breast,Breast Carcinoma,Cancer of the Breast,Human Mammary Carcinoma,Malignant Neoplasm of Breast,Malignant Tumor of Breast,Mammary Cancer,Mammary Carcinoma, Human,Mammary Neoplasm, Human,Mammary Neoplasms, Human,Neoplasms, Breast,Tumors, Breast,Breast Carcinomas,Breast Malignant Neoplasm,Breast Malignant Neoplasms,Breast Malignant Tumor,Breast Malignant Tumors,Breast Neoplasm,Breast Tumor,Cancer, Breast,Cancer, Mammary,Cancers, Mammary,Carcinoma, Breast,Carcinoma, Human Mammary,Carcinomas, Breast,Carcinomas, Human Mammary,Human Mammary Carcinomas,Human Mammary Neoplasm,Human Mammary Neoplasms,Mammary Cancers,Mammary Carcinomas, Human,Neoplasm, Breast,Neoplasm, Human Mammary,Neoplasms, Human Mammary,Tumor, Breast
D002465 Cell Movement The movement of cells from one location to another. Distinguish from CYTOKINESIS which is the process of dividing the CYTOPLASM of a cell. Cell Migration,Locomotion, Cell,Migration, Cell,Motility, Cell,Movement, Cell,Cell Locomotion,Cell Motility,Cell Movements,Movements, Cell
D003094 Collagen A polypeptide substance comprising about one third of the total protein in mammalian organisms. It is the main constituent of SKIN; CONNECTIVE TISSUE; and the organic substance of bones (BONE AND BONES) and teeth (TOOTH). Avicon,Avitene,Collagen Felt,Collagen Fleece,Collagenfleece,Collastat,Dermodress,Microfibril Collagen Hemostat,Pangen,Zyderm,alpha-Collagen,Collagen Hemostat, Microfibril,alpha Collagen
D004338 Drug Combinations Single preparations containing two or more active agents, for the purpose of their concurrent administration as a fixed dose mixture. Drug Combination,Combination, Drug,Combinations, Drug
D005109 Extracellular Matrix A meshwork-like substance found within the extracellular space and in association with the basement membrane of the cell surface. It promotes cellular proliferation and provides a supporting structure to which cells or cell lysates in culture dishes adhere. Matrix, Extracellular,Extracellular Matrices,Matrices, Extracellular
D005260 Female Females

Related Publications

K T Ramessur, and P Greenwell, and R Nash, and M V Dwek
November 2020, The FEBS journal,
K T Ramessur, and P Greenwell, and R Nash, and M V Dwek
January 1991, Wiener klinische Wochenschrift. Supplementum,
K T Ramessur, and P Greenwell, and R Nash, and M V Dwek
January 2018, The Journal of biological chemistry,
K T Ramessur, and P Greenwell, and R Nash, and M V Dwek
November 2008, Modern pathology : an official journal of the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology, Inc,
K T Ramessur, and P Greenwell, and R Nash, and M V Dwek
October 2013, Oncology reports,
K T Ramessur, and P Greenwell, and R Nash, and M V Dwek
January 2003, Methods in enzymology,
K T Ramessur, and P Greenwell, and R Nash, and M V Dwek
October 2011, Breast (Edinburgh, Scotland),
Copied contents to your clipboard!