Violacein cytotoxicity on human blood lymphocytes and effect on phosphatases |
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Authors: | N. Bromberg G. Z. Justo M. Haun N. Durán C. V. Ferreira |
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Affiliation: | 1. Instituto de Química, Biological Chemistry Laboratory, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), C.P.6154, CEP 13083-970, Campinas- S.P., Brazil;2. Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Signal Transduction Laboratory, Departamento de Bioquímica, C.P.6109, CEP 13083-970, Campinas- S.P., Brazil;3. Núcleo de Ciências Ambientais - NCA, Universidade de Mogi das Cruzes, Mogi das, Cruzes- S.P., Brazil |
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Abstract: | Given the importance of protein phosphorylation in the context of cellular functions, abnormal protein phosphatase activity has been implicated in several diseases, including cancer. These critical roles of protein phosphatases qualify them as potential targets for the development of medicinal compounds that possess distinct modes of action such as violacein. In this work, studies with this natural indolic pigment at a concentration of 10.0 μmol L? 1 demonstrated a 20% activation of total protein phosphatase extracted from human lymphocytes. Although no alteration was observed on protein tyrosine phosphatase (CD45), 30% of inhibition was achieved in cytoplasmatic protein phosphatase activity after incubation with 10.0 μmol L? 1 violacein. Additionally, 5.0 μmol L? 1 of violacein inhibited by 50% the serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity. Violacein presented toxic effect on lymphocytes with IC50 values of 3 and 10 μmol L? 1 for protein content and protein phosphatase activity, respectively. These findings suggest an important role for protein phosphatases in the mechanisms controlling proliferation and cell death. |
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Keywords: | Protein phosphatase tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase violacein lymphocytes cytotoxicity inhibition |
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