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Woo Hyun Park - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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MG132, a proteasome inhibitor, induces human pulmonary fibroblast cell death via increasing ROS levels and GSH depletion.
Oncology reports, 2012Co-Authors: Woo Hyun Park, Suhn Hee KimAbstract:MG132 as a proteasome inhibitor can induce apoptotic cell death in lung cancer cells. However, little is known about the toxicological cellular effects of MG132 on normal primary lung cells. Here, we investigated the effects of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and vitamin C (well known antioxidants) or L-buthionine sulfoximine (BSO; an inhibitor of GSH synthesis) on MG132-treated human pulmonary fibroblast (HPF) cells in relation to cell death, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione (GSH). MG132 induced growth inhibition and death in HPF cells, accompanied by the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP; ΔΨm). MG132 increased ROS levels and GSH-depleted cell numbers in HPF cells. Both antioxidants, NAC and vitamin C, prevented growth inhibition, death and MMP (ΔΨm) loss in MG132-treated HPF cells and also attenuated ROS levels in these cells. BSO showed a strong increase in ROS levels in MG132-treated HPF cells and slightly enhanced the growth inhibition, cell death, MMP (ΔΨm) loss and GSH depletion. In addition, NAC decreased anonymous ubiquitinated protein levels in MG132-treated HPF cells. Furthermore, superoxide dismutase (SOD) 2, catalase (CTX) and GSH peroxidase (GPX) siRNAs enhanced HPF cell death by MG132, which was not correlated with ROS and GSH level changes. In conclusion, MG132 induced the growth inhibition and death of HPF cells, which were accompanied by increasing ROS levels and GSH depletion. Both NAC and vitamin C attenuated HPF cell death by MG132, whereas BSO slightly enhanced the death.
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Proteasome inhibition by MG132 induces growth inhibition and death of human pulmonary fibroblast cells in a caspase-independent manner.
Oncology reports, 2011Co-Authors: Bo Ra You, Woo Hyun ParkAbstract:MG132 as a proteasome inhibitor that can induce apoptotic cell death in various cell types including lung cancer cells. We investigated the cellular effects of MG132 on human pulmonary fibroblast (HPF) cells in relation to cell growth inhibition and death, and described the molecular mechanisms of MG132 in HPF cell death. This agent dose-dependently inhibited the growth of HPF cells with an IC50 of approximately 20 µM at 24 h and induced cell death accompanied by the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP; ∆Ψm) and an increase in caspase-3 and -8 activities. MG132 increased intracellular ROS levels and GSH-depleted cell numbers. However, all the tested caspase inhibitors intensified HPF growth inhibition by MG132 and caspase-9 inhibitor also enhanced cell death and MMP (∆Ψm) loss. Moreover, the administration of Bcl-2 siRNA augmented HPF cell death by MG132 whereas p53, Bax, caspase-3 and -8 siRNAs did not strongly affect cell death. In addition, each caspase inhibitor and siRNA differently affects ROS levels including O2•- regardless of cell growth inhibition and cell death levels. Caspase-8 and -9 inhibitors increased the number of GSH-depleted cells in MG132-treated HPF cells. In conclusion, MG132 induced growth inhibition and death in HPF cells in a caspase-independent manner. The growth inhibition and death of HPF cells by MG132 and/or each caspase inhibitor or apoptosis-related siRNA were not tightly related to the changes in ROS levels.
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The enhancement of propyl gallate-induced apoptosis in HeLa cells by a proteasome inhibitor MG132.
Oncology reports, 2010Co-Authors: Bo Ra You, Woo Hyun ParkAbstract:Propyl gallate (PG) used in processed food and medicinal preparations has been shown to induce cell death in normal and cancer cells. The inhibition of proteasome function has emerged as a useful strategy to maneuver apoptosis. Here, we investigated the combined effects of PG and MG132 (a proteasome inhibitor) on HeLa cells in relation to cell growth, cell death, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione (GSH). PG induced growth inhibition and apoptosis in HeLa cells, accompanied by the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP; Δψ m ), activation of caspase 3 and PARP cleavage. The levels of ROS and GSH depletion were increased in PG-treated HeLa cells. MG132 intensified apoptosis and PARP cleavage in PG-treated HeLa cells. MG132 also increased ROS levels including mitochondrial O 2 •- , MMP (Δψ m ) loss and GSH depletion in PG-treated HeLa cells. PG induced a G1 phase arrest of the cell cycle in HeLa cells, which was significantly prevented by MG132. MG132 alone inhibited HeLa cell growth via inducing the cell cycle arrests and triggering apoptosis. Conclusively, the inhibition of proteasome by MG132 plays a role as an enhancement factor in PG-induced apoptosis of HeLa cells via increasing ROS levels and GSH depletion.
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MG132, a proteasome inhibitor-induced calf pulmonary arterial endothelial cell growth and death, are changed by MAPK inhibitors.
Drug and chemical toxicology, 2010Co-Authors: Bo Ra You, Woo Hyun ParkAbstract:MG132, as a proteasome inhibitor, has been shown to induce apoptotic cell death through the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, we investigated the effects of MAPK inhibitors on MG132-treated calf pulmonary artery endothelial cells (CPAECs) in relation to cell death, ROS, and glutathione (GSH). MG132 inhibited the growth of CPAEC and also induced apoptosis, which was accompanied by the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP; ΔΨ(m)). MG132 increased ROS levels and GSH-depleted cell numbers in CPAEC. Treatment with MAPK (MEK, JNK, and p38) inhibitors showed a slight enhancement of cell-growth inhibition by MG132. All the MAPK inhibitors decreased cell death by MG132. Especially, the JNK inhibitor showed a strong effect. They all did not affect ROS levels and GSH depletion in MG132-treated CPAEC, but increased ROS and GSH levels in MG132-untreated CPAEC. In conclusion, MG132 induced apoptosis in CPAEC, which was accompanied by ROS increase and GSH depletion. The changes of MG132-induced CPAEC growth inhibition and death by MAPK inhibitors were not tightly correlated to ROS and GSH levels.
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Proteasome inhibitor MG132 reduces growth of As4.1 juxtaglomerular cells via caspase-independent apoptosis
Archives of Toxicology, 2010Co-Authors: Woo Hyun ParkAbstract:The proteasome inhibitor MG132 has been shown to induce apoptotic cell death through the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Here, we investigated the molecular mechanisms of MG132 in As4.1 juxtaglomerular cell death in relation to apoptosis and levels of ROS and glutathione (GSH). MG132 inhibited the growth of As4.1 cells with an IC_50 of approximately 0.3–0.4 μM at 48 h and induced cell death, accompanied by the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP; ∆Ψ_m), Bcl-2 decrease, activations of caspase-3 and caspase-8, and PARP cleavage. MG132 increased intracellular ROS levels and GSH-depleted cell numbers. However, caspase inhibitors, especially Z-VAD (pan-caspase inhibitor) intensified cell growth inhibition, cell death, MMP (∆Ψ_m) loss, and Bcl-2 decrease in MG132-treated As4.1 cells. Z-VAD also slightly intensified increases in ROS levels and GSH depletion in MG132-treated As4.1 cells. In conclusion, MG132 reduced the growth of As4.1 cells via caspase-independent apoptosis. The changes in ROS and GSH levels by MG132 and caspase inhibitors partially influenced the growth inhibition and death of As4.1 cells.
Yong Hwan Han - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Treatment with p38 inhibitor intensifies the death of MG132-treated As4.1 juxtaglomerular cells via the enhancement of GSH depletion
Drug and chemical toxicology, 2010Co-Authors: Yong Hwan Han, Sung Zoo Kim, Suhn Hee Kim, Woo Hyun ParkAbstract:MG132, as a proteasome inhibitor, has been shown to induce apoptotic cell death through the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, we investigated the effects of MG132 and/or MAPK inhibitors on As4.1 juxtaglomerular cells in relation to cell growth, cell death, ROS, and glutathione (GSH) levels. MG132 inhibited the growth of As4.1 cells and induced cell death, accompanied by the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP; ΔΨm) and activation of caspase-3 and -8. MG132 increased ROS levels, and GSH depleted cell numbers. The MEK inhibitor slightly reduced cell growth and caspase-3 activity in MG132-treated As4.1 cells and mildly increased MMP (ΔΨm) loss and O2•- level. However, it did not increase apoptosis and GSH depletion. The JNK inhibitor did not strongly influence cell growth, cell death, and GSH depletion by MG132, but increased caspase-3 activity, MMP (ΔΨm) loss, and O2•- level. Treatment with the p38 inhibitor magnified cell-growth inhibition and apoptosis by MG132. This age...
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attenuation of MG132 induced hela cell death by n acetyl cysteine via reducing reactive oxygen species and preventing glutathione depletion
Anticancer Research, 2010Co-Authors: Yong Hwan Han, Yeon Mi Yang, Sung Zoo Kim, Woo Hyun ParkAbstract:MG132 as a proteasome inhibitor can induce apoptotic cell death through formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, the effects of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC; an antioxidant) on MG132-induced HeLa cell death in relation to ROS and glutathione (GSH) were investigated. MG132 induced cell growth inhibition and apoptosis in HeLa cells, which was accompanied by the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP; Delta Psi(m)), activation of caspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage. MG132 increased ROS levels, including O(2)(*-), and GSH depleted cell numbers of HeLa cells. NAC reduced the number of annexin V-positive cells and MMP (Delta Psi(m)) loss by MG132. In addition, NAC significantly reduced the ROS level and prevented GSH depletion. In conclusion, NAC prevented MG132-induced HeLa cell death via decreasing ROS and preventing GSH depletion.
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the effects of n acetyl cysteine on the MG132 proteasome inhibitor treated lung cancer cells in relation to cell growth reactive oxygen species and glutathione
International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 2010Co-Authors: Yong Hwan Han, Bo Ra You, Hwa Jin Moon, Sung Zoo Kim, Suhn Hee Kim, Woo Hyun ParkAbstract:MG132 as a proteasome inhibitor has been shown to induce apoptotic cell death through formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Here, we investigated the effects of N-acetyl cysteine (NAC; a well-known antioxidant), L-buthionine sulfoximine (BSO; an inhibitor of GSH synthesis) or diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC; an inhibitor of Cu/Zn-SOD) on MG132-treated Calu-6 or A549 lung cancer cells in relation to cell growth, ROS and GSH levels. MG132 inhibited the growth of Calu-6 and A549 cells at 24 h. MG132 induced apoptosis in both cell lines, which was accompanied by the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP; DeltaPsim). ROS levels including O(2)(.-) were increased in both MG132-treated lung cells. MG132 also induced GSH depletion in both lung cell types. Treatment with 10 microM BSO or 1 microM DDC affected ROS and GSH levels in MG132-treated Calu-6 cells. However, these changes did not influence cell growth and death in the cells. NAC prevented cell growth inhibition and death in MG132-treated lung cells, which was accompanied by decreased ROS, but not by decreased GSH depletion. In conclusion, the changes of ROS and GSH by MG132, NAC, BSO or DDC were partially related to cell growth and death in the lung cancer cell lines Calu-6 and A549.
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MG132, a proteasome inhibitor decreased the growth of Calu-6 lung cancer cells via apoptosis and GSH depletion.
Toxicology in vitro : an international journal published in association with BIBRA, 2010Co-Authors: Yong Hwan Han, Woo Hyun ParkAbstract:The inhibition of proteasome function has emerged as a useful strategy to maneuver apoptosis. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of MG132 as a proteasome inhibitor on the growth of Calu-6 lung cancer cells in relation to the cell cycle, cell death, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione (GSH) levels. MG132 dose-dependently inhibited the growth of Calu-6 cells at 24h. DNA flow cytometric analysis indicated that 1-30 microM MG132 induced an S phase arrest in Calu-6 cells. MG132 also induced apoptosis, which was accompanied by the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP; Deltapsi(m)). The pan-caspase inhibitor (Z-VAD) significantly rescued Calu-6 cells from MG132-induced cell death. The intracellular ROS levels including O(2)(-) were increased in MG132-treated Calu-6 cells. MG132 also increased GSH-depleted cell numbers in Calu-6 cells. Z-VAD significantly decreased O(2)(-) levels and GSH-depleted cell numbers in MG132-treated Calu-6 cells. In conclusion, MG132 inhibited the growth of Calu-6 cells via apoptosis and GSH depletion.
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The changes of reactive oxygen species and glutathione by MG132, a proteasome inhibitor affect As4.1 juxtaglomerular cell growth and death
Chemico-biological interactions, 2010Co-Authors: Yong Hwan Han, Woo Hyun ParkAbstract:Abstract The proteasome inhibitor MG132 has been shown to induce apoptotic cell death through the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Here, we evaluated the effects of MG132 on the growth and death of As4.1 juxtaglomerular cells in relation to ROS and glutathione (GSH) levels. MG132 inhibited the growth of As4.1 cells with an IC50 of approximately 0.3–0.4 μM at 48 h and induced cell death, which was accompanied by the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP; ΔΨm), Bcl-2 decrease, activation of caspase-3 and -8, and PARP cleavage. MG132 increased intracellular ROS levels including O2 − and GSH depleted cell numbers. N-acetyl cysteine (NAC, a well-known antioxidant) significantly decreased ROS level and GSH depleted cell numbers in MG132-treated As4.1 cells, along with the prevention of cell growth inhibition, cell death and MMP (ΔΨm) loss. NAC also decreased the caspase-3 activity of MG132. l -Buthionine sulfoximine (BSO; an inhibitor of GSH synthesis) or diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC; an inhibitor of Cu/Zn-SOD) did not affect cell growth, death, ROS and GSH levels in MG132-treated As4.1 cells. Conclusively, MG132 reduced the growth of As4.1 cells via apoptosis. The changes of ROS and GSH by MG132 were involved in As4.1 cell growth and death.
Eunsong Lee - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Treatment with the proteasome inhibitor MG132 during the end of oocyte maturation improves oocyte competence for development after fertilization in cattle.
PloS one, 2012Co-Authors: Jinyoung You, Eunsong Lee, L. Bonilla, Jasmine Francis, Jin Koh, Jeremy Block, Sixue Chen, Peter J. HansenAbstract:Maturation of the oocyte involves nuclear and cytoplasmic changes that include post-translational processing of proteins. The objective was to investigate whether inhibition of proteasomes during maturation would alter competence of the bovine oocyte for fertilization and subsequent development. Cumulus-oocyte complexes were cultured in the presence or absence of the proteasomal inhibitor MG132 from either 0–6 h or 16–22 h after initiation of maturation. Treatment with MG132 early in maturation prevented progression to meiosis II and reduced fertilization rate and the proportion of oocytes and cleaved embryos that became blastocysts. Conversely, treatment with MG132 late in maturation improved the percentage of oocytes and cleaved embryos that became blastocysts without affecting nuclear maturation or fertilization rate. Optimal results with MG132 were achieved at a concentration of 10 µM – effects were generally not observed at lower or higher concentrations. Using proteomic analysis, it was found that MG132 at the end of maturation increased relative expression of 6 proteins and decreased relative expression of 23. Among those increased by MG132 that are potentially important for oocyte competence are GAPDH, involved in glycolysis, TUBA1C, needed for organellar movement, and two proteins involved in protein folding (P4HB and HYOU1). MG132 decreased amounts of several proteins that exert anti-apoptotic actions including ASNS, HSP90B1, PDIA3 and VCP. Another protein decreased by MG132, CDK5, can lead to apoptosis if aberrantly activated and one protein increased by MG132, P4HB, is anti-apoptotic. Finally, the pregnancy rate of cows receiving embryos produced from oocytes treated with MG132 from 16–22 h of maturation was similar to that for control embryos, suggesting that use of MG132 for production of embryos in vitro does not cause a substantial decrease in embryo quality.
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Post-fusion treatment with MG132 increases transcription factor expression in somatic cell nuclear transfer embryos in pigs.
Molecular reproduction and development, 2009Co-Authors: Jinyoung You, Joohyeong Lee, Jin-young Kim, Jun Hong Park, Eunsong LeeAbstract:The objective of this study was to examine the effect of post-fusion treatment of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) oocytes with the proteasomal inhibitor MG132 on maturation promoting factor (MPF) activity, nuclear remodeling, embryonic development, and gene expression of cloned pig embryos. Immediately after electrofusion, SCNT oocytes were treated with MG132 and/or caffeine for 2 hr, vanadate for 0.5 hr, or vanadate for 0.5 hr followed by MG132 for 1.5 hr. Of the MG132 concentrations tested (0-5 microM), the 1 microM concentration showed a higher rate of blastocyst formation (25.9%) than 0 (14.2%), 0.5 (16.9%), and 5 microM (16.9%). Post-fusion treatment with MG132, caffeine, and both MG132 and caffeine improved blastocyst formation (22.1%, 21.4%, and 24.4%, respectively), whereas vanadate treatment inhibited blastocyst formation (6.5%) compared to the control (11.1%). When examined 2 hr after fusion and 1 hr after activation, MPF activity remained at a higher (P < 0.05) level in SCNT oocytes that were treated post-fusion with caffeine and/or MG132, but it was decreased by vanadate. The rate of oocytes showing premature chromosome condensation was not altered by MG132 but was decreased by vanadate treatment. In addition, formation of single pronuclei was increased by MG132 compared to control and vanadate treatment. MG132-treated embryos showed increased expression of POU5F1, DPPA2, DPPA3, DPPA5, and NDP52l1 genes compared to control embryos. Our results demonstrate that post-fusion treatment of SCNT oocytes with MG132 prevents MPF degradation and increases expression of transcription factors in SCNT embryos, which are necessary for normal development of SCNT embryos.
Huaqin Wang - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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proteasome inhibitor MG132 induces bag3 expression through activation of heat shock factor 1
Journal of Cellular Physiology, 2009Co-Authors: Zhenxian Du, Yifu Guan, Xin Meng, Hai-yan Zhang, Huaqin WangAbstract:BAG3 protein, a member of the BAG co-chaperones family, sustains cell survival in a variety of normal and neoplastic cell types, via its interaction with a variety of partners, such as the heat shock protein (HSP) 70, Bcl-2, Raf-1 and others. Expression of BAG3 is induced by some stressful stimuli, such as heat shock, heavy metal exposure. We have reported that proteasome inhibitors can also induce BAG3 expression at the transcriptional level and the induction of BAG3 compromises proteasome inhibitors-mediated apoptosis. However, the molecular mechanism of BAG3 upregulation has not been elucidated. In the current study, we provide evidence that heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF1) is involved in BAG3 induction by proteasome inhibitor MG132. Using a series of varying lengths of 5′-flanking region of the BAG3 gene into luciferase reporter vectors, we found that MG132 stimulated the promoter activity via the −326/−233 and −825/−689 regions, which contains one putative heat shock-responsive element (HSE) for HSF1-binding, respectively. Site-directed deletion of the sites abrogated the enhanced reporter activity in response to MG132 treatment. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay demonstrated that HSF1 directly bound to the MG132-responsive site on the BAG3 promoter. Activation of HSF1 occurred with MG132 along with BAG3 upregulation. Furthermore, knockdown HSF1 by small interfering RNA attenuated the BAG3 upregulation due to MG132.These results indicate that the proteasome inhibitor MG132 induces BAG3 expression through HSF1 activation. J. Cell. Physiol. 218: 631–637, 2009. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
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Proteasome inhibitor MG132 induces BAG3 expression through activation of heat shock factor 1.
Journal of cellular physiology, 2009Co-Authors: Hai-yan Zhang, Yifu Guan, Xin Meng, Yan-yan Gao, Ren-long Zou, Bao-qin Liu, Huaqin WangAbstract:BAG3 protein, a member of the BAG co-chaperones family, sustains cell survival in a variety of normal and neoplastic cell types, via its interaction with a variety of partners, such as the heat shock protein (HSP) 70, Bcl-2, Raf-1 and others. Expression of BAG3 is induced by some stressful stimuli, such as heat shock, heavy metal exposure. We have reported that proteasome inhibitors can also induce BAG3 expression at the transcriptional level and the induction of BAG3 compromises proteasome inhibitors-mediated apoptosis. However, the molecular mechanism of BAG3 upregulation has not been elucidated. In the current study, we provide evidence that heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF1) is involved in BAG3 induction by proteasome inhibitor MG132. Using a series of varying lengths of 5'-flanking region of the BAG3 gene into luciferase reporter vectors, we found that MG132 stimulated the promoter activity via the -326/-233 and -825/-689 regions, which contains one putative heat shock-responsive element (HSE) for HSF1-binding, respectively. Site-directed deletion of the sites abrogated the enhanced reporter activity in response to MG132 treatment. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay demonstrated that HSF1 directly bound to the MG132-responsive site on the BAG3 promoter. Activation of HSF1 occurred with MG132 along with BAG3 upregulation. Furthermore, knockdown HSF1 by small interfering RNA attenuated the BAG3 upregulation due to MG132.These results indicate that the proteasome inhibitor MG132 induces BAG3 expression through HSF1 activation.
Jinyoung You - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Treatment with the proteasome inhibitor MG132 during the end of oocyte maturation improves oocyte competence for development after fertilization in cattle.
PloS one, 2012Co-Authors: Jinyoung You, Eunsong Lee, L. Bonilla, Jasmine Francis, Jin Koh, Jeremy Block, Sixue Chen, Peter J. HansenAbstract:Maturation of the oocyte involves nuclear and cytoplasmic changes that include post-translational processing of proteins. The objective was to investigate whether inhibition of proteasomes during maturation would alter competence of the bovine oocyte for fertilization and subsequent development. Cumulus-oocyte complexes were cultured in the presence or absence of the proteasomal inhibitor MG132 from either 0–6 h or 16–22 h after initiation of maturation. Treatment with MG132 early in maturation prevented progression to meiosis II and reduced fertilization rate and the proportion of oocytes and cleaved embryos that became blastocysts. Conversely, treatment with MG132 late in maturation improved the percentage of oocytes and cleaved embryos that became blastocysts without affecting nuclear maturation or fertilization rate. Optimal results with MG132 were achieved at a concentration of 10 µM – effects were generally not observed at lower or higher concentrations. Using proteomic analysis, it was found that MG132 at the end of maturation increased relative expression of 6 proteins and decreased relative expression of 23. Among those increased by MG132 that are potentially important for oocyte competence are GAPDH, involved in glycolysis, TUBA1C, needed for organellar movement, and two proteins involved in protein folding (P4HB and HYOU1). MG132 decreased amounts of several proteins that exert anti-apoptotic actions including ASNS, HSP90B1, PDIA3 and VCP. Another protein decreased by MG132, CDK5, can lead to apoptosis if aberrantly activated and one protein increased by MG132, P4HB, is anti-apoptotic. Finally, the pregnancy rate of cows receiving embryos produced from oocytes treated with MG132 from 16–22 h of maturation was similar to that for control embryos, suggesting that use of MG132 for production of embryos in vitro does not cause a substantial decrease in embryo quality.
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Post-fusion treatment with MG132 increases transcription factor expression in somatic cell nuclear transfer embryos in pigs.
Molecular reproduction and development, 2009Co-Authors: Jinyoung You, Joohyeong Lee, Jin-young Kim, Jun Hong Park, Eunsong LeeAbstract:The objective of this study was to examine the effect of post-fusion treatment of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) oocytes with the proteasomal inhibitor MG132 on maturation promoting factor (MPF) activity, nuclear remodeling, embryonic development, and gene expression of cloned pig embryos. Immediately after electrofusion, SCNT oocytes were treated with MG132 and/or caffeine for 2 hr, vanadate for 0.5 hr, or vanadate for 0.5 hr followed by MG132 for 1.5 hr. Of the MG132 concentrations tested (0-5 microM), the 1 microM concentration showed a higher rate of blastocyst formation (25.9%) than 0 (14.2%), 0.5 (16.9%), and 5 microM (16.9%). Post-fusion treatment with MG132, caffeine, and both MG132 and caffeine improved blastocyst formation (22.1%, 21.4%, and 24.4%, respectively), whereas vanadate treatment inhibited blastocyst formation (6.5%) compared to the control (11.1%). When examined 2 hr after fusion and 1 hr after activation, MPF activity remained at a higher (P < 0.05) level in SCNT oocytes that were treated post-fusion with caffeine and/or MG132, but it was decreased by vanadate. The rate of oocytes showing premature chromosome condensation was not altered by MG132 but was decreased by vanadate treatment. In addition, formation of single pronuclei was increased by MG132 compared to control and vanadate treatment. MG132-treated embryos showed increased expression of POU5F1, DPPA2, DPPA3, DPPA5, and NDP52l1 genes compared to control embryos. Our results demonstrate that post-fusion treatment of SCNT oocytes with MG132 prevents MPF degradation and increases expression of transcription factors in SCNT embryos, which are necessary for normal development of SCNT embryos.