title: Induction of apoptosis, G₀/G₁ phase arrest and microtubule disassembly in K562 leukemia cells by Mere15, a novel polypeptide from Meretrix meretrix Linnaeus.
abstract: Mere15 is a novel polypeptide from Meretrix meretrix Linnaeus with cytotoxicity in solid cancer cells. In this study, we investigated its activity on human K562 chronic myelogenous leukemia cells. Mere15 inhibited the growth of K562 cells with IC₅₀ values of 38.2 μg/mL. Mere15 also caused concentration dependent induction of apoptosis, with overproduction of reactive oxygen species and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Moreover, Mere15 arrested cell cycle progression at G₀/G₁ phase of K562 cells in a concentration dependent manner. In addition, Mere15 caused the disassembly of the microtubule cytoskeleton in K562 cells and inhibited the polymerization of tubulin in a cell free system via interaction with tubulin. We concluded that Mere15 was cytotoxic to K562 leukemia cells and the cytotoxicity was related to the apoptosis induction, cell cycle arrest and microtubule disassembly. These results implied that Merer15 was a broad spectrum anticancer polypeptide, not only cytotoxic to various solid cancer cells but also to the chronic myelogenous leukemia cells. Mere15 may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of leukemia.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Science, 7 Nanhai Rd, Qingdao 266071, China.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiangzhong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Haizhou
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Cuicui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Linyou
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xiukun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000737:chemistry*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D059585:G1 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D020014:K562 Cells; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D008870:Microtubules / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010455:Peptides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D016192:Resting Phase, Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D014404:Tubulin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C580975:Mere15 peptide, Meretrix meretrix; D010455:Peptides; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014404:Tubulin