Notes: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) metastasis and prognosis is correlated with high expression of DDX3, a DEAD-box RNA helicase. DDX3 is shown to increase translation of pro-metastatic genes likely by recruiting the cap-binding complex (CBC) and the eukaryotic initiation factor 3 (eIF3). Here, tumor growth was monitored for wild-type DDX3 and DDX3 knockdowns using the VivoGlo™ Luciferin, In Vivo Grade Substrate, and expression of downstream metastatic genes was measured with the Dual-Luciferase® Assay System. Together, high levels of DDX3 lead to cell migration through the joint action of the DDX3-CDC-eIF3 complex. (5146)

Notes: The pro-oncogene MYC has been shown to play a role in cell differentiation, growth and apoptosis. Here, MYC overexpression is shown to cause transcriptional reprogramming, leading to activation of oncogenic pathways and dedifferentiation. Interestingly, MYC reprogramming leads to a susceptible state where additional mutations are readily acquired. Mice were injected with luciferase-labeled tumor cells, and tumor metastasis was monitored using the VivoGlo™ Luciferin In Vivo Grade Substrate. (5145)

Notes: These authors investigated the effects of various anesthetics on bioluminescence imaging with firefly luciferase. They observed decreases in luminescence with volatile anaethetics, and found increased luciferase expression with injectable anaethetics in intact cells, but not in cell lysates in vitro. They concluded that the decreases in luciferase activity observed with volatile anaesthesia were due to hemodynamic effects, and not due to a direct inhibitory effect on luciferase enzyme itself. The apparent enhancement of luciferase activity with certain injectable anaesthetics appeared to be due to cytotoxic effects that resulted in increased permeablity to luciferase, as the same enhancement was not observed in cell lysates. D-Luciferin was used for in vivo imaging experiments. The pGL4.10 vector (encoding firefly luciferase), Luciferase Assay Reagent, and the GloMax® 96 Microplate Luminometer were used for in vitro assays using cell lysates. (4190)