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Effects of cardiotoxin III on expression of genes and proteins related to G2/M arrest and apoptosis in K562 cells

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry volume 300, pages 185–190 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Cardiotoxin III (CTX III) is a basic polypeptide of 60-amino acid residues isolated from Naja naja atra venom, exerts its anti-proliferative activity in human leukemia K562 cells. In the present study, the expression of mRNAs and proteins related to cell cycle and apoptosis in human leukemia K562 cells induced by CTX III was investigated by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that CTX III resulted in G2/M phase arrest in the cell cycle progression, which was associated with a marked decrease in the mRNA and protein expressions of cyclin A, cyclin B1, and Cdk 2, with no detectable changes in the levels of Cdk 1, cyclin D1, and cyclin E. Moreover, the increase in apoptosis was associated with the Bax gene and protein levels significantly increased as treatment durations of CTX III increased, while the Bcl-2 mRNA and protein levels exhibited no changes. We also observed that caspase-9 and caspase-3 genes remained unchanged up to 12 h with 2 μg/ml CTX III. These molecular alterations provide an insight into CTX III-caused growth inhibition, G2/M arrest, and apoptotic death of K562 cells.

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Acknowledgement

This work was supported by grant NSC 93–2113-M-037-003 from the National Science Council, ROC.

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Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicinal and Applied Chemistry, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 807, ROC

    Sheng-Huei Yang, Ching-Ming Chien & Shinne-Ren Lin

  2. Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 807, ROC

    Chien-Hsun Tsai & Sheng-Fung Lin

  3. Graduate Institute of Natural Products, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 807, ROC

    Mei-Chin Lu

  4. Chianghua Christian Hospital, Chianghua, Taiwan, ROC

    Yung-Ning Yang

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  1. Sheng-Huei Yang
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  2. Chien-Hsun Tsai
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  5. Ching-Ming Chien
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Correspondence to Shinne-Ren Lin.

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Yang, SH., Tsai, CH., Lu, MC. et al. Effects of cardiotoxin III on expression of genes and proteins related to G2/M arrest and apoptosis in K562 cells. Mol Cell Biochem 300, 185–190 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-006-9382-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-006-9382-5

Keywords

  • CTX III
  • G2/M arrest
  • Apoptosis
  • K562 cell