Apoptotic cell death induced by physarumin (hemagglutinin from myxomycete, Physarum polycephalum).

Abstract

Physarumin, a carbohydrate-binding protein (hemagglutinin or lectin), was isolated from the plasmodium of Physarum polycephalum. Physarumin agglutinated not only several species of erythrocytes but also tumor cells such as AH109A ascites hepatoma cells, sarcoma 180 ascites cells and mouse leukemia P388 cell lines. Physarumin had tumor cell growth-inhibitory activity, and induced the apoptosis of P388 cell lines. Physarumin-induced apoptosis required binding to a 68 kDa counter-receptor on the P388 cell surface. Since the agglutinating and antiproliferative activities of physarumin were inhibited by asialofetuin and thyroglobulin, respectively, it is suggested that physarumin reacts with the galactose moiety of carbohydrate chains of physarumin receptor.

• Authors: C Numata, M Yokota, M Hosono, Y Ogawa, T Suzuki, Y Takayanagi, K Nitta
• Journal: Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin (Biol Pharm Bull) Vol. 21 Issue 3 Pg. 214-8 (Mar 1998) ISSN: 0918-6158 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 9556147 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Hemagglutinins
• Lectins, C-Type
• Receptors, Cell Surface
• Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor
• fas Receptor
• physarumin

Topics

• Animals
• Apoptosis (drug effects)
• Cell Division (drug effects)
• Erythrocytes (drug effects)
• Hemagglutination Tests
• Hemagglutinins (isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacology)
• Lectins, C-Type
• Leukemia P388 (metabolism, pathology)
• Mice
• Physarum polycephalum (chemistry)
• Rabbits
• Receptors, Cell Surface (metabolism)
• Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor (metabolism)
• Tumor Cells, Cultured
• fas Receptor (metabolism)