RNA interference targeting tNOX attenuates cell migration via a mechanism that involves membrane association of Rac

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2008 Jan 25;365(4):672-7. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2007.11.025. Epub 2007 Nov 20.

Abstract

tNOX, a tumor-associated NADH oxidase, is a growth-related protein present in transformed cells. In this study, we employed RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated down-regulation of tNOX protein expression to explore the role of tNOX in regulating cell growth in human cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa) cells. In this first reported use of RNAi to decrease tNOX expression, we found that HeLa cell growth was significantly inhibited by shRNA-knockdown of tNOX. Furthermore, cell migration and membrane association of Rac were decreased concomitantly with the reduction in tNOX protein expression. These results indicate that shRNA targeting of tNOX inhibits the growth of cervical cancer cells, and reduces cell migration via a decrease in the membrane association of Rac. We propose that tNOX is a potential upstream mediator of Rho activation that plays a role in regulating cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Membrane / metabolism*
  • Cell Movement*
  • Gene Silencing
  • Gene Targeting / methods*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases / genetics
  • NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases / metabolism*
  • RNA Interference*

Substances

  • NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases
  • tumor-associated NADH oxidase