The overall objective of the work proposed in this application and accomplished during the 39 years the grant has been active is to define and understand the mechanisms regulating the growth of gastrointestinal mucosa. This objective is unaltered in the current proposal, which focuses on elucidating the mechanism by which polyamines are required for apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells. During the past period of support we determined that polyamines are essential to apoptosis in whole animals in the same manner as in cultured IEC-6 cells;that PP2A is inactivated following polyamine depletion and that the accounts for much of the antiapoptotic response;that Src-kinase is activated and plays an initial and central role in the antiapoptotic cascade;and that Src activates STAT3 as part of the response. During the current period of support we plan to determine the mechanism by which polyamine depletion inactivates JNK, which is the major proapoptotic mediator in intestinal epithelial cells. We have shown that ERK is constitutively activated by polyamine depletion due to the inactivation of PP2A and that JNK inactivation depends on ERK. We are hypothesizing that JNK inactivation is, therefore, dependent on PP2A inactivation. We will test this in the first specific aim and also examine the mechanisms involved in ERK activation.
In specific aim 2, we will determine the mechanism for the activation of Src in response to polyamine depletion and its relationship to integrin pS and the EGFR. We have already identified a polyamine binding site on Src. P53 is the major determinant of apoptosis and/or cell cycle arrest following DNA damage, and in the final specific aim, we will determine why DNA damage causes apoptosis in control intestinal epithelial cells, but cell cycle arrest in polyamine depleted cells.
This aim i s based on our findings that the levels of proteins whose transcription is regulated by p53 are all affected by polyamines. The finding that polyamines are required for apoptosis is new and of great potential clinical significance, since it suggests a way to protect normal cells during cancer therapy. Understanding the mechanisms involved in that protection will increase our knowledge of cancer, mucosal healing, inflammation and any other condition in which Gl mucosal growth is altered or involved.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Method to Extend Research in Time (MERIT) Award (R37)
Project #
5R37DK016505-41
Application #
8251207
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (NSS)
Program Officer
Serrano, Jose
Project Start
1977-12-01
Project End
2015-03-31
Budget Start
2012-04-01
Budget End
2013-03-31
Support Year
41
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$509,243
Indirect Cost
$165,160
Name
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Department
Physiology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
941884009
City
Memphis
State
TN
Country
United States
Zip Code
38163
Ray, Ramesh M; Bavaria, Mitul; Johnson, Leonard R (2015) Interaction of polyamines and mTOR signaling in the synthesis of antizyme (AZ). Cell Signal 27:1850-9
Bhattacharya, Sujoy; Ray, Ramesh M; Johnson, Leonard R (2014) Cyclin-dependent kinases regulate apoptosis of intestinal epithelial cells. Apoptosis 19:451-66
Ray, Ramesh M; Bhattacharya, Sujoy; Bavaria, Mitul N et al. (2014) Spermidine, a sensor for antizyme 1 expression regulates intracellular polyamine homeostasis. Amino Acids 46:2005-13
Ray, Ramesh M; Johnson, Leonard R (2014) Regulation of intestinal mucosal growth by amino acids. Amino Acids 46:565-73
Bavaria, Mitul N; Jin, Shi; Ray, Ramesh M et al. (2014) The mechanism by which MEK/ERK regulates JNK and p38 activity in polyamine depleted IEC-6 cells during apoptosis. Apoptosis 19:467-79
Ray, Ramesh M; Bhattacharya, Sujoy; Bavaria, Mitul N et al. (2014) Antizyme (AZ) regulates intestinal cell growth independent of polyamines. Amino Acids 46:2231-9
Bhattacharya, Sujoy; Chaum, Edward; Johnson, Dianna A et al. (2012) Age-related susceptibility to apoptosis in human retinal pigment epithelial cells is triggered by disruption of p53-Mdm2 association. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 53:8350-66
Ray, Ramesh M; Li, Chunying; Bhattacharya, Sujoy et al. (2012) Spermine, a molecular switch regulating EGFR, integrin ýý3, Src, and FAK scaffolding. Cell Signal 24:931-42
Ray, Ramesh M; Viar, Mary Jane; Johnson, Leonard R (2012) Amino acids regulate expression of antizyme-1 to modulate ornithine decarboxylase activity. J Biol Chem 287:3674-90
Bhattacharya, Sujoy; Ray, Ramesh M; Chaum, Edward et al. (2011) Inhibition of Mdm2 sensitizes human retinal pigment epithelial cells to apoptosis. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 52:3368-80

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