Luciferase assay: A powerful tool to determine toxic metal-induced NF- κB activation

Fei Chen, Knox Van Dyke, Val Vallyathan, Vince Castranova, Xianglin Shi

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

After several decades of intensive research, scientists have accumulated a rich and complex body of knowledge revealing that most toxic metals or metal-containing particles from either environmental sources or occupational sources act as human carcinogens. 1-4 Yet a detailed molecular mechanism(s) of metal-induced malignant transformation leading to cancer is still missing. Emerging evidence indicates that cellular transformation and tumorigenesis in humans is a multistep process that requires both nongenetic and genetic alterations that promote the transformation of normal human cells into highly malignant ones. 5 However, currently it is still not clear which step or steps are effectively targeted by metals. Certainly, nuclear factor- κ B (NF- κ B) activation is involved in the process of carcinogenic transformation of cells, but how metals affect the signal transduction pathways leading to the activation of NF- κ B is still poorly understood. It is unequivocal that oxidative stress resulting from metal-induced generation of reactive oxidative species (ROS) is an important mechanism for the activation of NF- κ B by metal. However, a ROS-independent effect of metals on the cellular signaling pathway and on genomic stability may also account for this process. 6,7.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationLuminescence Biotechnology
Subtitle of host publicationInstruments and Applications
Pages231-248
Number of pages18
ISBN (Electronic)9781420041804
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 1 2001

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2002 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Social Sciences

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