Furthermore, the recombinant strain T55 exhibited almost a fourfold increase in carboxylesterase activity compared with PG63 strain when both were cultured without inducers. Based on the secondary structure

and multiple sequence alignments with carboxylesterases, cholinesterase and lipase, a three-dimensional model was obtained. The / barrel topology, that is typical of esterases and lipases, was indicated for the CARB protein with Ser213-Glu341-His456 as the Selleckchem GDC-0994 putative catalytic triad. CARB preferentially hydrolysed acyl chains with eight carbon atoms, and its activity was optimal at a pH of 7 center dot 0 and a temperature of 25 degrees C. CARB exhibited stability in alkaline pH, high activity under

mesophilic conditions and stability in organic solvents. Conclusion The CARB protein is potentially useful in bioremediation, food and chemical/pharmaceutical industries. Significance and Impact of the Study This study is the first to report the development of a recombinant strain superproducing a Penicillium sp. carboxylesterase.”
“Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) Staurosporine and ceramide have been implicated in both autophagy and apoptosis. However, the roles of these sphingolipid metabolites in the links between these two processes are not completely understood. Depletion of S1P phosphohydrolase-1 (SPP1), which degrades intracellular S1P, induces the unfolded protein response and endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced autophagy (Lepine, S., Allegood, J. C., Park, M., Dent, P., Milstien, S., and Spiegel, S. (2011) Cell Death Differ. 18, 350-361). Surprisingly, however, treatment with doxorubicin, which by itself also induced autophagy, markedly reduced the extent of autophagy mediated by depletion of SPP1. Concomitantly, doxorubicin-induced apoptosis was greatly enhanced by down-regulation of SPP1. Autophagy and apoptosis seemed to be sequentially linked because inhibiting autophagy with 3-methyladenine also markedly attenuated

apoptosis. Moreover, silencing Atg5 or the three sensors of the unfolded protein response, IRE1 alpha, ATF6, and PKR-like eIF2 alpha kinase (PERK), significantly decreased both autophagy and apoptosis. Doxorubicin Sapitinib chemical structure stimulated calpain activity and Atg5 cleavage, which were significantly enhanced in SPP1-depleted cells. Inhibition or depletion of calpain not only suppressed Atg5 cleavage, it also markedly decreased the robust apoptosis induced by doxorubicin in SPP1-deficient cells. Importantly, doxorubicin also increased de novo synthesis of the pro-apoptotic sphingolipid metabolite ceramide. Elevation of ceramide in turn stimulated calpain; conversely, inhibiting ceramide formation suppressed Atg5 cleavage and apoptosis. Hence, doxorubicin switches protective autophagy in SPP1-depleted cells to apoptosis by calpain-mediated Atg5 cleavage.