title: G1 phase-specific suppression of the Cdk2 activity by ginsenoside Rh2 in cultured murine cells.
abstract: Ginsenoside Rh2, a plant glycoside with a dammarane skeleton resembling a steroid skeleton as an aglycone, has anticancer potentials in vitro or in vivo. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms of the effects of Rh2, we have examined the Cyclin-dependent kinase-2 (Cdk2) activity in G1 arrested B16 melanoma cells and in S phase-arrested Meth-A sarcoma cells, that have been treated with Rh2. The kinase activity was suppressed in B16 cells but not in Meth-A cells. In addition, Rh2 was found to induce G1 arrest and concomitantly suppress the Cdk2 activity in carcinogen-susceptible BALB/c 3T3 A31-1-1 and A31-1-13 cell lines. Thus, Rh2 has a G1 phase-specific suppressive effect on the Cdk2 activity, supporting further evaluation of Rh2 and its related compounds in cancer chemoprevention studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Kanazawa Medical University, Daigaku, Uchinada, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ota
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Odashima
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ninomiya-Tsuji
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tatsuka
mesh_terms: D016475:3T3 Cells; D000818:Animals; D042846:CDC2-CDC28 Kinases; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D051357:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D016193:G1 Phase / Q000187:drug effects*; D036145:Ginsenosides; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D012503:Saponins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D036145:Ginsenosides; D012503:Saponins; C055305:ginsenoside Rh2; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D042846:CDC2-CDC28 Kinases; C495893:Cdk2 protein, mouse; D051357:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2; D018844:Cyclin-Dependent Kinases