The phytochemical piceatannol induces the loss of CBL and CBL-associated proteins

Mol Cancer Ther. 2009 Mar;8(3):602-14. doi: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-08-0891. Epub 2009 Mar 3.

Abstract

Piceatannol is a naturally occurring bioactive stilbene with documented antileukemic properties. It has been extensively used as a Syk-selective protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor for the study of various signaling pathways. Herein, we show that the hydroxystilbene, piceatannol, and related catechol ring-containing compounds are able to induce the loss of the Cbl family of proteins. Normal cellular Cbl-regulatory mechanisms were not involved in this process. Screening of a small library of piceatannol-like compounds indicated that aromaticity and a catechol ring were required for the induction of Cbl loss. Further examination of these two chemical properties showed that the oxidative conversion of the catechol ring of piceatannol into a highly reactive O-benzoquinone was the cause of piceatannol-induced Cbl loss. Characterization of the Cbl selectivity of piceatannol-induced protein loss revealed that this compound was also able to induce the functional loss of specific Cbl-associated proteins involved in signaling pathways commonly associated with cancer. This work uncovers a new, piceatannol-dependent effect and shows a novel way in which this phenomenon can be exploited to inhibit disease-associated signaling pathways.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3T3 Cells
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / pharmacology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Humans
  • K562 Cells
  • Mice
  • Models, Biological
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Oxidation-Reduction / drug effects
  • Protein Binding / drug effects
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational / drug effects*
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-cbl / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction / drug effects
  • Stilbenes / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
  • Stilbenes
  • 3,3',4,5'-tetrahydroxystilbene
  • CBLB protein, human
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-cbl