Plasma membrane integrity is essential for cell life. Any major break on it immediately induces the death of the affected cell. Different molecules were described as disrupting this cell structure and thus showing antitumor activity. We have previously defined that
elisidepsin (Irvalec®,
PM02734) inserts and self-organizes in the plasma membrane of
tumor cells, inducing a rapid loss of membrane integrity, cell permeabilization and necrotic death. Here we show that, in sensitive HCT-116 colorectal cells, all these effects are consequence of the interaction of
elisidepsin with glycosylceramides in the cell membrane. Of note, an
elisidepsin-resistant subline (HCT-116-Irv) presented reduced levels of glycosylceramides and no accumulation of
elisidepsin in the plasma membrane. Consequently,
drug treatment did not induce the characteristic necrotic cell death. Furthermore, GM95, a mutant derivative from B16 mouse
melanoma cells lacking
ceramide glucosyltransferase (UGCG) activity and thus the synthesis of glycosylceramides, was also resistant to
elisidepsin. Over-expression of UGCG gene in these deficient cells restored glycosylceramides synthesis, rendering them sensitive to
elisidepsin, at a similar level than parental B16 cells. These results indicate that glycosylceramides act as membrane targets of
elisidepsin, facilitating its insertion in the plasma membrane and the subsequent membrane permeabilization that leads to
drug-induced cell death. They also indicate that
cell membrane lipids are a plausible target for
antineoplastic therapy.