title: The p53 pathway is synergized by p38 MAPK signaling to mediate 11,11'-dideoxyverticillin-induced G2/M arrest.
abstract: The phytochemical 11,11'-dideoxyverticillin, derived from the fungus Shiraia bambusicola, has been shown to possess potent anticancer activity in vitro and in vivo. Here, we investigated the effect of 11,11'-dideoxyverticillin on cell cycle progression, and explored the potential mechanisms for this effect. A concentration- and time-dependent cell cycle blockade at G2/M phase was observed in human colon cancer cells (HCT-116) following 11,11'-dideoxyverticillin treatment and was associated with marked increases in levels of p53, phospho-p53(ser20) and phospho-Chk2(Thr 68). When wild type p53 expression was specifically inhibited by RNA interference, HCT-116 cells treated with 11,11'-dideoxyverticillin failed to arrest in G2/M and did not show increased phospho-Chk2(Thr 68). On the other hand, 11,11'-dideoxyverticillin treatment also elicited p38 MAP kinase activity and expression of phospho-p38 MAPK. Treatment with a specific p38 MAPK inhibitor (SB203580) successfully inhibited p38 MAPK and delayed the onset of G2/M arrest induced by 0.5 microM 11,11'-dideoxyverticillin after approximately 6 h, but did not abolish the induction of G2/M arrest. Additionally, SB203580 did not alter the levels of p53, phospho-p53 (ser20), or phospho-Chk2 (Thr68) proteins in 11,11'-dideoxyverticillin-treated cells. Together, these findings indicate that p53-mediated phosphorylation of Chk2 maybe plays a vital role in 11,11'-dideoxyverticillin-induced G2/M arrest, and that p38 MAPK might accelerate this progression. Our work suggests a new possibility of interactions among p53, Chk2 and p38 MAPK signaling in G2/M arrest.
authors.affiliation: Division of Anti-tumor Pharmacology, State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, PR China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ze-Hong
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.forename: Wei-Min
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ding
mesh_terms: D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D064447:Checkpoint Kinase 2; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016195:G2 Phase / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000494:pharmacology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C490191:11,11'-dideoxyverticilin; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D007093:Imidazoles; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011725:Pyridines; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D064447:Checkpoint Kinase 2; C578634:CHEK2 protein, human; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D048051:p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; C093642:SB 203580