Abstract | PURPOSE:
Chaetoglobosin K (ChK), a bioactive natural product previously shown to have anti- tumor promoting activity in glial cells and growth inhibitory effects in ras-transformed fibroblasts, inhibited anchorage-dependent and anchorage-independent growth in ras-transformed liver epithelial cells. The purpose of this study was to identify cellular targets of ChK that mediate its anti- tumor effects. METHODS: Anchorage-independent cell growth assays, using soft agar-coated dishes, and anchorage-dependent growth assays were performed on transformed WB- ras1 cells. Phase/contrast and fluorescent microscopy were used to visualize cell morphological changes and DAPI-stained nuclei. Analyses of p21 Ras membrane versus cytosolic forms, p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation, Akt kinase phosphorylation and connexin 43 phosphorylation were performed by Western blotting. Gap junction-mediated cellular communication was measured by fluorescent dye transfer. RESULTS: Treatment of WB- ras1 cells with a non-cytotoxic dose of ChK inhibited both anchorage-dependent and anchorage-independent growth. Inhibited cells were generally larger and less spindle-shaped in morphology than vehicle-treated cells, many of which were multinucleate. Removal of ChK induced cytokinesis and a return to predominantly single-nucleate cells, suggesting that ChK inhibits cytokinesis. The proportion of membrane-associated versus cytosolic forms of p21 Ras was unchanged by ChK treatment, suggesting that ChK does not act as a farnesylation inhibitor. ChK treatment decreased the level of phosphorylation of Akt kinase, a key signal transducer of the Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway. In contrast, ChK had no effect on phosphorylation of p44/42 MAPK, which mediates the MAPK/ERK Ras effector pathway. Phosphorylation of the gap junction protein, connexin 43, shown previously to increase following treatment with other anti-Ras compounds, was also not altered by ChK, which correlated with its lack of effect on gap junction-mediated cellular communication. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that ChK inhibits Akt kinase phosphorylation and cytokinesis in ras-transformed cells, which likely contribute to its ability to inhibit tumorigenic growth.
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Authors | Diane F Matesic, Kimberly N Villio, Stacey L Folse, Erin L Garcia, Stephen J Cutler, Horace G Cutler |
Journal | Cancer chemotherapy and pharmacology
(Cancer Chemother Pharmacol)
Vol. 57
Issue 6
Pg. 741-54
(Jun 2006)
ISSN: 0344-5704 [Print] Germany |
PMID | 16254733
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
- Antineoplastic Agents
- Indole Alkaloids
- chaetoglobosins
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)
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Topics |
- Animals
- Antineoplastic Agents
(pharmacology)
- Cell Line, Transformed
- Cell Proliferation
(drug effects)
- Cytokinesis
(drug effects)
- Epithelial Cells
(cytology, drug effects, metabolism)
- Indole Alkaloids
(pharmacology)
- Liver
- Phosphorylation
(drug effects)
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
(metabolism)
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)
(genetics, metabolism)
- Rats
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