Sec61β controls sensitivity to platinum-containing chemotherapeutic agents through modulation of the copper-transporting ATPase ATP7A.
The Sec61 protein translocon is a multimeric complex that transports proteins across lipid bilayers. We discovered that the Sec61β subunit modulates cellular sensitivity to chemotherapeutic agents, particularly the platinum drugs. To investigate the mechanism, expression of Sec61β was constitutively knocked down in 2008 ovarian cancer cells. Sec61β knockdown (KD) resulted in 8-, 16.8-, and 9-fold resistance to cisplatin (cDDP), carboplatin, and oxaliplatin, respectively. Sec61β KD reduced the cellular accumulation of cDDP to 67% of that in parental cells. Baseline copper levels, copper uptake, and copper cytotoxicity were also reduced. Because copper transporters and chaperones regulate platinum drug accumulation and efflux, their expression in 2008 Sec61β-KD cells was analyzed; ATP7A was found to be 2- to 3-fold overexpressed, whereas there was no change in ATP7B, ATOX1, CTR1, or CTR2 levels. Cells lacking ATP7A did not exhibit increased cDDP resistance upon knockdown of Sec61β. Sec61β-KD cells also exhibited altered ATP7A cellular distribution. We conclude that Sec61β modulates the cytotoxicity of many chemotherapeutic agents, with the largest effect being on the platinum drugs. This modulation occurs through effects of Sec61β on the expression and distribution of ATP7A, which was shown previously to control platinum drug sequestration and cytotoxicity.
Moores UCSD Cancer Center, La Jolla, CA 92093-0819, USA. pabada@ucsd.edu
Paolo B
PB
Abada
Christopher A
CA
Larson
Gerald
G
Manorek
Preston
P
Adams
Stephen B
SB
Howell
D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003300:Copper / Q000009:adverse effects; D000073840:Copper-Transporting ATPases; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000069816:SEC Translocation Channels; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D027682:Cation Transport Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D000069816:SEC Translocation Channels; C499388:SEC61B protein, human; D003300:Copper; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases; C081184:ATP7A protein, human; D000073840:Copper-Transporting ATPases