title: Cytotoxic and apoptotic activities of the plancitoxin I from the venom of crown-of-thorns starfish (Acanthaster planci) on A375.S2 cells.
abstract: This study reports on a cytotoxic toxin derived from the venom of the crown-of-thorns starfish Acanthaster planci (CAV). The protein toxin was isolated through both ion-exchange and gel-filtration chromatography, and characterized by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and mass spectrum analyzes. The CAV was identified as plancitoxin I protein. The mechanistic role of the CAV toxin was explored in human malignant melanoma A375.S2 cell death. The results indicated that after incubation with CAV toxin, cells significantly decreased in A375.S2 cell viability and increased in the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level in a dose-dependent manner. The assays indicated that CAV toxin promoted reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, induced nitric oxide (NO) formation, lost mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and induced inter-nucleosomal DNA fragmentation in A375.S2 cells. The molecular cytotoxicity of the CAV toxin was tested through evaluation of the apoptosis/necrosis ratio by double staining with annexin V-FITC and a propidium iodide (PI) assay. The results suggested that CAV toxin induced a cytotoxic effect in A375.S2 cells via the apoptotic procedure, and may be associated with the regulation of the p38 pathways.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Center of Excellence for Marine Bioenvironment and Biotechnology, National Taiwan Ocean University, 2 Pei-Ning Road, Keelung, 202, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Chi-Chiu
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hernyi Justin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Deng-Fwu
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Hwang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D055808:Drug Discovery; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects; D008387:Marine Toxins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000819:agonists / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010140:Pacific Ocean; D010449:Peptide Mapping; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000819:agonists / Q000378:metabolism; D013215:Starfish / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000254:growth & development; D013624:Taiwan; D014688:Venoms / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D008387:Marine Toxins; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014688:Venoms; C000602793:plancitoxin I, Acanthaster planci; D009569:Nitric Oxide
keywords: A375.S2; apoptosis; crown-of-thorns starfish Acanthaster planci; cytotoxicity; plancitoxin I; venom