title: Identification of a cytotoxic molecule in heat-modified citrus pectin.
abstract: Modified forms of citrus pectin possess anticancer properties. However, their mechanism of action and the structural features involved remain unclear. Here, we showed that citrus pectin modified by heat treatment displayed cytotoxic effects in cancer cells. A fractionation approach was used aiming to identify active molecules. Dialysis and ethanol precipitation followed by HPLC analysis evidenced that most of the activity was related to molecules with molecular weight corresponding to low degree of polymerization oligogalacturonic acid. Heat-treatment of galacturonic acid also generated cytotoxic molecules. Furthermore, heat-modified galacturonic acid and heat-fragmented pectin contained the same molecule that induced cell death when isolated by HPLC separation. Mass spectrometry analyses revealed that 4,5-dihydroxy-2-cyclopenten-1-one was one cytotoxic molecule present in heat-treated pectin. Finally, we synthesized the enantiopure (4R,5R)-4,5-dihydroxy-2-cyclopenten-1-one and demonstrated that this molecule was cytotoxic and induced a similar pattern of apoptotic-like features than heat-modified pectin.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology-URBC, NARILIS, University of Namur, 61 rue de Bruxelles, 5000 Namur, Belgium. Electronic address: lionel.leclere@slbo.be.
authors.forename: Lionel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Leclere
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology-URBC, NARILIS, University of Namur, 61 rue de Bruxelles, 5000 Namur, Belgium. Electronic address: maude.fransolet@unamur.be.
authors.forename: Maude
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fransolet
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Plant Cellular Biology-URBV, University of Namur, 61 rue de Bruxelles, 5000 Namur, Belgium. Electronic address: pierre.cambiuer@unamur.be.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cambier
authors.affiliation: Organic Chemistry Research Unit (UCO), University of Namur, 61 rue de Bruxelles, 5000 Namur, Belgium. Electronic address: sandy.elbkassiny@unamur.be.
authors.forename: Sandy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: El Bkassiny
authors.affiliation: Organic Chemistry Research Unit (UCO), University of Namur, 61 rue de Bruxelles, 5000 Namur, Belgium. Electronic address: abdellatif.tikad@unamur.be.
authors.forename: Abdellatif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tikad
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology-URBC, NARILIS, University of Namur, 61 rue de Bruxelles, 5000 Namur, Belgium. Electronic address: marc.dieu@unamur.be.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dieu
authors.affiliation: Organic Chemistry Research Unit (UCO), University of Namur, 61 rue de Bruxelles, 5000 Namur, Belgium. Electronic address: stephane.vincent@unamur.be.
authors.forename: Stéphane P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Vincent
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Plant Cellular Biology-URBV, University of Namur, 61 rue de Bruxelles, 5000 Namur, Belgium. Electronic address: pierre.vancutsem@unamur.be.
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van Cutsem
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology-URBC, NARILIS, University of Namur, 61 rue de Bruxelles, 5000 Namur, Belgium. Electronic address: carine.michiels@unamur.be.
authors.forename: Carine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Michiels
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003517:Cyclopentanes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010368:Pectins / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003517:Cyclopentanes; C586814:citrus pectin; D010368:Pectins; C013905:cyclopentenone
keywords: 4,5-Dihydroxy-2-cyclopenten-1-one; Cancer; Cytotoxic activity; Fragmented pectin