title: Curcumin suppresses the dynamic instability of microtubules, activates the mitotic checkpoint and induces apoptosis in MCF-7 cells.
abstract: In this study, curcumin, a potential anticancer agent, was found to dampen the dynamic instability of individual microtubules in living MCF-7 cells. It strongly reduced the rate and extent of shortening states, and modestly reduced the rate and extent of growing states. In addition, curcumin decreased the fraction of time microtubules spent in the growing state and strongly increased the time microtubules spent in the pause state. Brief treatment with curcumin depolymerized mitotic microtubules, perturbed microtubule-kinetochore attachment and disturbed the mitotic spindle structure. Curcumin also perturbed the localization of the kinesin protein Eg5 and induced monopolar spindle formation. Further, curcumin increased the accumulation of Mad2 and BubR1 at the kinetochores, indicating that it activated the mitotic checkpoint. In addition, curcumin treatment increased the metaphase/anaphase ratio, indicating that it can delay mitotic progression from the metaphase to anaphase. We provide evidence suggesting that the affected cells underwent apoptosis via the p53-dependent apoptotic pathway. The results support the idea that kinetic stabilization of microtubule dynamics assists in the nuclear translocation of p53. Curcumin exerted additive effects when combined with vinblastine, a microtubule depolymerizing drug, whereas the combination of curcumin with paclitaxel, a microtubule-stabilizing drug, produced an antagonistic effect on the inhibition of MCF-7 cell proliferation. The results together suggested that curcumin inhibited MCF-7 cell proliferation by inhibiting the assembly dynamics of microtubules.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biosciences & Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India.
authors.forename: Mithu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.forename: Parminder
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Dulal
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Panda
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016547:Kinesins / Q000378:metabolism; D008870:Microtubules / Q000187:drug effects*; D008938:Mitosis / Q000187:drug effects; D055550:Protein Stability / Q000187:drug effects; D021381:Protein Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D014404:Tubulin / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C470243:KIF11 protein, human; D014404:Tubulin; D016547:Kinesins; D003474:Curcumin