Abrogation of Akt signaling by Isobavachalcone contributes to its anti-proliferative effects towards human cancer cells

Cancer Lett. 2010 Aug 28;294(2):167-77. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2010.01.035. Epub 2010 Feb 18.

Abstract

Akt signaling pathway has attracted much attention as a promising target for cancer therapeutics. Herein, we report that Isobavachalcone (IBC), a natural chalcone, potently abrogates Akt signaling and exerts anti-proliferative effects on several human cancer cell lines. Modeling results from the Sybyl/FlexiDock program suggest that IBC potentially binds to the ATP-binding pocket of Akt, which is confirmed by the observations that IBC inhibits Akt1 kinase in vitro. Further studies reveal that IBC significantly abates Akt phosphorylation at Ser-473 and Akt kinase activity in cells, which subsequently leads to inhibition of Akt downstream substrates and evokes significant levels of apoptosis associated with mitochondria pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Caspases / metabolism
  • Cell Growth Processes / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Nucleus / enzymology
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Chalcones / chemistry
  • Chalcones / metabolism
  • Chalcones / pharmacology*
  • Cytoplasm / enzymology
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mitochondria / drug effects
  • Mitochondria / metabolism
  • Models, Molecular
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / enzymology
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / chemistry
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects

Substances

  • Chalcones
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • isobavachalcone
  • AKT1 protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases
  • Caspases