AS1041, a Novel Synthesized Derivative of Marine Natural Compound Aspergiolide A, Arrests Cell Cycle, Induces Apoptosis, and Inhibits ERK Activation in K562 Cells
Fengli Yuan,
Liang Qiao,
Yinghan Chen,
Xin Qi,
Yankai Liu,
Dehai Li,
Qianqun Gu,
Jing Li,
Ming Liu
Affiliations
Fengli Yuan
Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
Liang Qiao
Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
Yinghan Chen
Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
Xin Qi
Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
Yankai Liu
Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
Dehai Li
Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
Qianqun Gu
Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
Jing Li
Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
Ming Liu
Key Laboratory of Marine Drugs, Ministry of Education, School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
AS1041 is a novel synthesized anthraquinone lactone derivative of marine natural compound aspergiolide A (ASP-A) with new structure skeleton and marked cytotoxicity in cancer cells. To study its cytotoxicity in detail, we evaluated its activity on human K562 chronic myelogenous leukemia cells and investigated the related molecule mechanisms. AS1041 significantly inhibited the proliferation and colony formation of K562 cells. Moreover, AS1041 arrested cell cycle progression at G2/M phase in a concentration-dependent manner, and also caused concentration- and time-dependent induction of apoptosis. In addition, the molecular mechanisms investigation showed that AS1041 did not localize in the cellular nucleus and did not affect topoisomerases I or II. However, AS1041 could inactivate extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and contribute to AS1041-induced apoptosis. We concluded that AS1041 was cytotoxic to K562 leukemia cells and the cytotoxicity related to the cell cycle arrest, apoptosis induction, and ERK inhibition. These results implied that AS1041 was a novel derivative of ASP-A with significant cytotoxicity to chronic myelogenous leukemia cells and may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of cancer and leukemia.