title: Modified sugar beet pectin induces apoptosis of colon cancer cells via an interaction with the neutral sugar side-chains.
abstract: Pectins extracted from a variety of sources and modified with heat and/or pH have previously been shown to exhibit activity towards several cancer cell lines. However, the structural basis for the anti-cancer activity of modified pectin requires clarification. Sugar beet and citrus pectin extracts have been compared. Pectin extracted from sugar beet pulp only weakly affected the viability of colon cancer cells. Alkali treatment increased the anti-cancer effect of sugar beet pectin via an induction of apoptosis. Alkali treatment decreased the degree of esterification (DE) and increased the ratio of rhamnogalacturonan I (RGI) to homogalacturonan. Low DE per se did not play a significant role in the anti-cancer activity. However, the enzymatic removal of galactose and, to a lesser extent, arabinose from the pectin decreased the effect on cancer cells indicating that the neutral sugar-containing RGI regions are important for pectin bioactivity.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park, Colney, Norwich NR4 7UA, UK. Electronic address: ellen.maxwell@ifr.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Ellen G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Maxwell
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park, Colney, Norwich NR4 7UA, UK. Electronic address: ian.colquhoun@ifr.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Ian J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Colquhoun
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Eastern Regional Research Center, 600 E Mermaid Lane, Wyndmoor, PA 19038-8598, USA. Electronic address: rose.chau@ars.usda.gov.
authors.forename: Hoa K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Chau
authors.affiliation: United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Eastern Regional Research Center, 600 E Mermaid Lane, Wyndmoor, PA 19038-8598, USA. Electronic address: arland.hotchkiss@ars.usda.gov.
authors.forename: Arland T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Hotchkiss
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park, Colney, Norwich NR4 7UA, UK. Electronic address: keith.waldron@ifr.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Keith W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Waldron
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park, Colney, Norwich NR4 7UA, UK. Electronic address: vic.morris@ifr.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Victor J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park, Colney, Norwich NR4 7UA, UK. Electronic address: nigel.belshaw@ifr.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Nigel J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Belshaw
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D017209:Apoptosis; D027461:Beta vulgaris / Q000737:chemistry*; D019073:HT29 Cells; D006801:Humans; D010368:Pectins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D010368:Pectins
keywords: Colon cancer; Galactan; Modified pectin; Polysaccharides; Rhamnogalacturonan I; Sugar beet