(4-Methoxyphenyl)(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)methanone inhibits tubulin polymerization, induces G{sub 2}/M arrest, and triggers apoptosis in human leukemia HL-60 cells

Journal Article · Tue Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 2013 · Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.TAAP.2013.06.001· OSTI ID:22285401

Magalhães, Hemerson I.F. ^[1]; Wilke, Diego V. ^[1]; Cavalcanti, Bruno C. ^[1]; Rotta, Rodrigo; Lima, Dênis P. de; Beatriz, Adilson ^[2]; Moraes, Manoel O.; Diniz-Filho, Jairo ^[1]; Pessoa, Claudia ^[1]

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1. Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará (Brazil)
2. Centro de Ciências Exatas e Tecnológicas (Laboratório LP4), Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul (Brazil)

(4-Methoxyphenyl)(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)methanone (PHT) is a known cytotoxic compound belonging to the phenstatin family. However, the exact mechanism of action of PHT-induced cell death remains to be determined. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanisms underlying PHT-induced cytotoxicity. We found that PHT displayed potent cytotoxicity in different tumor cell lines, showing IC{sub 50} values in the nanomolar range. Cell cycle arrest in G{sub 2}/M phase along with the augmented metaphase cells was found. Cells treated with PHT also showed typical hallmarks of apoptosis such as cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation, phosphatidylserine exposure, increase of the caspase 3/7 and 8 activation, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, and internucleosomal DNA fragmentation without affecting membrane integrity. Studies conducted with isolated tubulin and docking models confirmed that PHT binds to the colchicine site and interferes in the polymerization of microtubules. These results demonstrated that PHT inhibits tubulin polymerization, arrests cancer cells in G{sub 2}/M phase of the cell cycle, and induces their apoptosis, exhibiting promising anticancer therapeutic potential. - Highlights: • PHT inhibits tubulin polymerization. • PHT arrests cancer cells in G{sub 2}/M phase of the cell cycle. • PHT induces caspase-dependent apoptosis.

• OSTI ID: 22285401
• Journal Information: Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, Vol. 272, Issue 1; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2013 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0041-008X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES
APOPTOSIS
CELL CYCLE
COLCHICINE
DEOXYURIDINE
DNA
LEUKEMIA
MEMBRANES
MICROTUBULES
MITOCHONDRIA
MITOSIS
POLYMERIZATION
TETRAZOLIUM
TOXICITY
TUMOR CELLS