1,244 research outputs found
Effects of climacostol on normal and tumoral mammalian cell lines
Climacostol, 1,3-dihydroxy-5-[(Z)-20-nonenyl]benzene, is a
natural toxin contained in the extrusomal cortical granules of
the heterotrich ciliate Climacostomum virens. It is used for
chemical defence against predators such as the raptorial ciliate Dileptus margaritifer and its cytotoxic activity has been assessed on several species of ciliates such as Didinium nasutum, Paramecium caudatum, and Blepharisma japonicum (Miyake et al. 2003, Europ. J. Protistol., 39:25–36). On the basis of its chemical structure, climacostol may be classified into the large group of natural compounds known as resorcinolic lipids, that show antimicrobial, antiparasitic, and antitumoral activities (Kozubek et al. 2003, Cell Moll. Biol. Lett., 6:351–355). To explore the possibility to use climacostol in medical applications, we examined the
effects of chemically synthesized climacostol (Masaki et al.
2004, Tetrahedron, 60:7041–7048) on the growth and proliferation of tumoral and normal mammalian cell lines: (1) human promyelocytic leukaemia cells, HL60; (2) human squamous carcinoma cells, A431; and (3) non-tumoral cells derived from mice Leydig cells, TM3. It was observed that (1) a concentration of 10 mg/ml of climacostol exerts a strong cytotoxic activity on all cell lines used; (2) at lower concentrations of 10 ng/ml and 1 ng/ ml, the effect of climacostol is limited to the inhibition of the cell growth; and (3) the normal TM3 cells are more resistant to climacostol than the two tumoral HL60 and A431cell lines. The dose-dependent cytotoxic effects of climacostol encourage further
investigation on the potential use of this ciliate toxin as an anticancer chemical
The protozoan toxin climacostol inhibits growth and induces apoptosis of human tumor cell lines
Climacostol (5-(Z)-non-2-enyl-benzene-1,3-diol) is a natural toxin isolated from the freshwater ciliated protozoan Climacostomum virens and belongs to the group of resorcinolic lipids,compounds that showantimicrobial, antiparasitic and antitumor activities.We investigated the cytotoxic activity of the chemically synthesized toxin on: (1) human tumor squamous carcinoma A431 cells, (2) human promyelocytic leukaemia HL60 cells, and (3) human non-tumor endothelial EA.hy926 cells. The results showed that climacostol effectively inhibited the growth of tumor cell lines in a dose-dependent manner by inducing programmed cell death, with non-tumor cells proving significantly more resistant to the
toxin
The protozoan toxin climacostol inhibits growth and induces apoptosis of human tumor cell lines.
Chemical defence by means of extrusive cortical granules in the heterotrich ciliate Climacostomum virens
Rehearsing Reality: An Interactive Docufragmentary Exploration of the Theatre of the Oppressed's Engagement with the Brazilian Landless Movement (MST)
This thesis explores the Theatre of the Oppressed's practices at the point of interaction with peasants of Brazil's Landless Movement. It uses the interactive docufragmentary entitled Rehearsing Reality to explore the social and political role of art, and to ask whether particular applications of theatre and film can be used to understand and possibly transform points of view and raise consciousness about contemporary issues in the world.
The Theatre of the Oppressed created by Augusto Boal comprises a series of interactive games, exercises and other theatrical methods developed with the purpose of using these drama techniques as a subjective medium contributing both to question and search alternatives for personal and social problems. Amongst its theatrical methods is Forum Theatre, the main practice adopted by Brazil's Landless Movement. This technique breaks with the conventions of the traditional language of theatre. Its main aim is to transform passive audiences into active participants of a theatrical scene. This thesis argues that Forum Theatre is an open medium that offers people the chance to participate democratically in the theatrical space in order to suggest and rehearse new ideas to be applied into their lives.
In order to explore how these theatrical experiences work in practice this thesis includes a central element entitled Rehearsing Reality, which is specifically designed to adapt some of the main features from Forum Theatre to film language. Its aim is to activate viewers to interact with the film process. This thesis also explores the historical developments of the Theatre of the Oppressed with major emphasis on Forum Theatre and its practices amongst members of Brazil's Landless Movement living in camps and settlements in the hinterland of Sergipe State, North-East of Brazil.
The structure of the thesis is divided into five parts: Chapter One analyses the relevant literature on the subject; Chapter Two provides a reflective account of the filming period; Chapter Three offers an overview of Boal' s life and the development of the Theatre of the Oppressed methods; Chapter Four briefly looks at the history and development of the Brazilian Landless Movement and provides a practical analysis of the experiences of Theatre of the Oppressed amongst the Landless Movement and Chapter Five analyses the creative process of making the docufragmentary Rehearsing Reality. The Conclusion suggests that the social and political aspect of art can significantly contribute to the process of comprehension and transformation of the world
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