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Naturally Occurring Isothiocyanates Exert Anticancer Effects by Inhibiting Deubiquitinating Enzymes.
- Source :
-
Cancer research [Cancer Res] 2015 Dec 01; Vol. 75 (23), pp. 5130-5142. Date of Electronic Publication: 2015 Nov 05. - Publication Year :
- 2015
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Abstract
- The anticancer properties of cruciferous vegetables are well known and attributed to an abundance of isothiocyanates such as benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) and phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC). While many potential targets of isothiocyanates have been proposed, a full understanding of the mechanisms underlying their anticancer activity has remained elusive. Here we report that BITC and PEITC effectively inhibit deubiquitinating enzymes (DUB), including the enzymes USP9x and UCH37, which are associated with tumorigenesis, at physiologically relevant concentrations and time scales. USP9x protects the antiapoptotic protein Mcl-1 from degradation, and cells dependent on Mcl-1 were especially sensitive to BITC and PEITC. These isothiocyanates increased Mcl-1 ubiquitination and either isothiocyanate treatment, or RNAi-mediated silencing of USP9x decreased Mcl-1 levels, consistent with the notion that USP9x is a primary target of isothiocyanate activity. These isothiocyanates also increased ubiquitination of the oncogenic fusion protein Bcr-Abl, resulting in degradation under low isothiocyanate concentrations and aggregation under high isothiocyanate concentrations. USP9x inhibition paralleled the decrease in Bcr-Abl levels induced by isothiocyanate treatment, and USP9x silencing was sufficient to decrease Bcr-Abl levels, further suggesting that Bcr-Abl is a USP9x substrate. Overall, our findings suggest that USP9x targeting is critical to the mechanism underpinning the well-established anticancer activity of isothiocyanate. We propose that the isothiocyanate-induced inhibition of DUBs may also explain how isothiocyanates affect inflammatory and DNA repair processes, thus offering a unifying theme in understanding the function and useful application of isothiocyanates to treat cancer as well as a variety of other pathologic conditions.<br /> (©2015 American Association for Cancer Research.)
- Subjects :
- Animals
COS Cells
Chlorocebus aethiops
Endopeptidases metabolism
HeLa Cells
Humans
K562 Cells
MCF-7 Cells
Melanoma, Experimental
Mice
NIH 3T3 Cells
Ubiquitin metabolism
Ubiquitin Thiolesterase metabolism
Ubiquitin-Protein Ligase Complexes metabolism
Ubiquitination drug effects
Isothiocyanates pharmacology
Ubiquitin Thiolesterase antagonists & inhibitors
Ubiquitin-Protein Ligase Complexes antagonists & inhibitors
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1538-7445
- Volume :
- 75
- Issue :
- 23
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Cancer research
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 26542215
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-15-1544