Silencing of the human microsomal glucose-6-phosphate translocase induces glioma cell death: potential new anticancer target for curcumin

FEBS Lett. 2006 Jun 26;580(15):3746-52. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2006.05.071. Epub 2006 Jun 9.

Abstract

G6P translocase (G6PT) is thought to play a crucial role in transducing intracellular signaling events in brain tumor-derived cancer cells. In this report, we investigated the contribution of G6PT to the control of U-87 brain tumor-derived glioma cell survival using small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated suppression of G6PT. Three siRNA constructs were generated and found to suppress up to 91% G6PT gene expression. Flow cytometry analysis of propidium iodide/annexin-V-stained cells indicated that silencing the G6PT gene induced necrosis and late apoptosis. The anticancer agent curcumin, also inhibited G6PT gene expression by more than 90% and triggered U-87 glioma cells death. Overexpression of recombinant G6PT rescued the cells from curcumin-induced cell death. Targeting G6PT expression may provide a new mechanistic rationale for the action of chemopreventive drugs and lead to the development of new anti-cancer strategies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antiporters / deficiency
  • Antiporters / genetics*
  • Antiporters / metabolism
  • Cell Death / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Curcumin / pharmacology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Gene Silencing*
  • Glioma / enzymology*
  • Glioma / genetics
  • Glioma / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Microsomes / enzymology*
  • Monosaccharide Transport Proteins / deficiency
  • Monosaccharide Transport Proteins / genetics*
  • Monosaccharide Transport Proteins / metabolism
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Antiporters
  • Monosaccharide Transport Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • SLC37A4 protein, human
  • Curcumin