Geranylgeraniol potentiates lovastatin inhibition of oncogenic H-Ras processing and signaling while preventing cytotoxicity

Oncogene. 1997 Jan 23;14(3):305-12. doi: 10.1038/sj.onc.1200819.

Abstract

Oncogenic H-Ras requires farnesylation for its transforming activity. Lovastatin inhibits both protein farnesylation and geranylgeranylation by decreasing cellular pools of farnesylpyrophosphate (FPP) and geranylgeranylpyrophosphate (GGPP), respectively. Use of lovastatin as a chemotherapeutic agent has been precluded by its significant cytotoxic effects. In this report, we describe a novel approach utilizing a combination of lovastatin and geranylgeraniol (GGOH) to potentiate the ability of lovastatin to block oncogenic H-Ras signaling and concomitantly rescue lovastatin toxicity. GGOH co-treatment with lovastatin enhances inhibition of oncogenic H-Ras processing and constitutive activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and preserves the processing of geranylgeranyltransferase (GGTase) I and GGTase II protein substrates. Moreover, co-treatment with GGOH significantly (15-fold) attenuates the cytotoxic effects of lovastatin as well as prevents lovastatin-induced cell rounding. These results demonstrate that GGOH potentiates the anti-oncogenic/anti-signaling activity of lovastatin while antagonizing its cytotoxicity. These opposing effects are due to a GGOH metabolite that serves simultaneously as a potent inhibitor for farneslyltransferase as well as a substrate for GGTases I and II.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • 3T3 Cells
  • Alkyl and Aryl Transferases*
  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Diterpenes / metabolism
  • Diterpenes / pharmacology*
  • Drug Synergism
  • Enzyme Activation / drug effects
  • Genes, ras / drug effects*
  • Lovastatin / pharmacology*
  • Mice
  • Protein Kinases / biosynthesis*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transferases / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Diterpenes
  • Lovastatin
  • geranylgeraniol
  • Transferases
  • Alkyl and Aryl Transferases
  • geranylgeranyltransferase type-I
  • Protein Kinases