Document Type : Original Article (s)
Authors
1
PhD Student, Department of Molecular Medicine, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
2
Professor, Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy AND Pharmaceutical Science Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
3
Associate Professor, Department of Biotechnology, National Cell Bank of Iran, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
4
Assistant Professor, Department of Molecular Medicine, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
5
Assistant Professor, Department of Life Sciences, Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC), Barcelona, Spain
Abstract
Background: Anaphase promoting complex (APC) plays a critical role in cell division and mitotic exit. This protein complex may have a pivotal role in the cell cycle control affecting pathological conditions such as cancer. APC is recommended as the target of many anti-cancer agents due to its importance in cancer pathogenesis. This study aimed to evaluate the inhibitory effects of curcumin and 2-methoxyestradiaul on APC. Methods: Hela cells were treated with various concentrations of curcumin and 2-methoxyestradiaul, and their cytotoxic effects were investigated after 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours by MTT assay. Expression of securin, cyclin B and the APC substrates were investigated using immune-blotting. Finally, cell cycle analysis was performed using DRAQ5 staining and flowcytometry.Findings: Respectively, 20 and 30 percent of cell-death after 24-hour treatment with curcumin and 2-methoxyestradiaul was seen. Also, securin and cyclin levels were raised after 24 hours of treatment. Furthermore, the levels of the substrates (securin and cyclin B) increased 48 hours after treatment. Results of fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis showed that treated cells were arrested in G2 phase of cell cycle which revealed cell arrest in G2 phase of cell cycle. 2-methoxyestradiaul showed a better APC inhibition effect than curcumin (P = 0.02). Conclusions: Our results revealed that APC is a suitable target for cancer treatment and curcumin and 2-methoxyestradiaul have inhibitory effects on the activity of this complex.
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