A novel anti-tumor protein extracted from Meretrix meretrix Linnaeus induces cell death by increasing cell permeability and inhibiting tubulin polymerization

  • Authors:
    • Xuanxuan Ning
    • Jianmin Zhao
    • Yuyan Zhang
    • Subing Cao
    • Ming Liu
    • Peixue Ling
    • Xiukun Lin
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: October 1, 2009     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo_00000393
  • Pages: 805-812
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Abstract

Discovery and development of new pharmaceuticals from marine organisms are attracting increasing interest. Several agents derived from marine organisms are under preclinical and clinical evaluation as potential anti-cancer drugs. We extracted and purified a novel anti-tumor protein from the coelomic fluid of Meretrix meretrix Linnaeus by ammonium sulphate fractionation, ion exchange and hydrophobic interaction chromatography. The molecular weight of the highly purified protein, designated MML, was 40 kDa as determined by SDS-PAGE analysis. MML exhibited significant cytotoxicity to several cancer cell types, including human hepatoma BEL-7402, human breast cancer MCF-7 and human colon cancer HCT116 cells. However, no inhibitory effect was found when treating murine normal fibroblasts NIH3T3 and benign human breast MCF-10A cells with MML. The cell death induced by MML was characterized by cell morphological changes. The induction of apoptosis of BEL-7402 cells by MML was weak by DNA ladder assay. The possible mechanisms of its anti-tumor effect might be the changes in cell membrane permeability and inhibition of tubulin polymerization. MML may be developed as a novel, highly selective and effective anti-cancer drug.

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October 2009
Volume 35 Issue 4

Print ISSN: 1019-6439
Online ISSN:1791-2423

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Spandidos Publications style
Ning X, Zhao J, Zhang Y, Cao S, Liu M, Ling P and Lin X: A novel anti-tumor protein extracted from Meretrix meretrix Linnaeus induces cell death by increasing cell permeability and inhibiting tubulin polymerization. Int J Oncol 35: 805-812, 2009.
APA
Ning, X., Zhao, J., Zhang, Y., Cao, S., Liu, M., Ling, P., & Lin, X. (2009). A novel anti-tumor protein extracted from Meretrix meretrix Linnaeus induces cell death by increasing cell permeability and inhibiting tubulin polymerization. International Journal of Oncology, 35, 805-812. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo_00000393
MLA
Ning, X., Zhao, J., Zhang, Y., Cao, S., Liu, M., Ling, P., Lin, X."A novel anti-tumor protein extracted from Meretrix meretrix Linnaeus induces cell death by increasing cell permeability and inhibiting tubulin polymerization". International Journal of Oncology 35.4 (2009): 805-812.
Chicago
Ning, X., Zhao, J., Zhang, Y., Cao, S., Liu, M., Ling, P., Lin, X."A novel anti-tumor protein extracted from Meretrix meretrix Linnaeus induces cell death by increasing cell permeability and inhibiting tubulin polymerization". International Journal of Oncology 35, no. 4 (2009): 805-812. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijo_00000393