Inhibitory action of chamaejasmin A against human HEP-2 epithelial cells: effect on tubulin protein

Mol Biol Rep. 2012 Dec;39(12):11105-12. doi: 10.1007/s11033-012-2016-y. Epub 2012 Oct 7.

Abstract

In this work, the anticancer activity of chamaejasmin A was studied by evaluating its in vitro cytotoxicity against several cell lines (CAL-27, UMSCC-1, UMSCCG19, HEP-2 and Vero cells) using the 3-(4,5)-dimethylthiazoly1)-3,5-diphenytetrazolium bromide assay. Results indicated chamaejasmin A shows more notable anticancer activity against HEP-2 cells, with IC(50) values of 3.48 μM. Furthermore, western blot analysis showed that chamaejasmin A is able to increase the expression of β-tubulin (TB), but not α-TB. In vivo, chamaejasmin A intake through gavage resulted in β-TB depolymerization inhibition in HEP-2 tumors. In silico simulations indicated that chamaejasmin A specifically interacts with the binding site which is located at the top of β-TB, thanks to the presence of strong hydrophobic effects between the core templates and the hydrophobic surface of the TB protein active site, associated with two strong H-bonds. The binding energy (E (inter)) was calculated to be -129.40 kcal mol(-1). Results above suggest that chamaejasmin A possesses anti-cancer properties relating to β-TB depolymerization inhibition.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Biflavonoids / chemistry
  • Biflavonoids / pharmacology*
  • Binding Sites
  • Cell Death / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Computational Biology
  • Epithelial Cells / drug effects*
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism
  • Epithelial Cells / pathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen Bonding / drug effects
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Models, Molecular
  • Polymerization / drug effects
  • Static Electricity
  • Thermodynamics
  • Time Factors
  • Tubulin / chemistry
  • Tubulin / metabolism*
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • Biflavonoids
  • Tubulin
  • chamaejasmine