Specific role of cytoplasmic dynein in the mechanism of action of an antitumor molecule, Amblyomin-X

The Kunitz-type recombinant protein, Amblyomin-X, is an antitumor recombinant molecule from a cDNA library prepared from the salivary glands of the tick Amblyomma cajennense. The primary target of this protein appears to be the proteasome. Amblyomin-X increased gene and protein expression of distinct subunits of the molecular motor dynein, which plays a key role in the intracellular transport. Herein, Amblyomin-X was specifically taken up by tumor cells through lipid-raft endocytic pathways, but not by fibroblasts. Moreover, dynein inhibitor, ciliobrevin A, decreased Amblyomin-X uptake by tumor cells. Furthermore, incubation of tumor cells with Amblyomin-X inhibited trypsin-like activity of the proteasome, which was restored upon pretreatment with ciliobrevin A. Only in tumor cells treated with Amblyomin-X, we identified proteins bounds to dynein that are related to aggresome formation, autophagy inhibition, and early and recycling endosome markers. In addition, Amblyomin-X was found to interact with dynein, increased Rab11A protein expression and Rab11A co-localization with the light-intermediate chain 2 (LIC2) of dynein. Thereby, the results provide new insights on the antitumor mechanism of Amblyomin-X and reveal an unsuspected role of cytoplasmic dynein in its uptake, intracellular trafficking and pro-apoptotic action.