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Published on: August 4, 2019

Olivomycin induces tumor cell apoptosis and suppresses p53-induced transcription

V S Simonova1, A V Samusenko, N A Filippova

  • 1Institute of Carcinogenesis, N. N. Blokhin Oncological Research Center, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Russia.

Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine
|July 20, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Olivomycin, a DNA-binding antibiotic, triggers cancer cell death (apoptosis) at low concentrations. It also blocks p53-dependent gene transcription, a key process in tumor suppression.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Olivomycin is a DNA-binding antibiotic with known biological activity.
  • The role of p53-dependent transcription in tumor cell response to drugs is critical.
  • Understanding the specific mechanisms of action for antibiotics like Olivomycin is important for therapeutic development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of Olivomycin on human tumor cells.
  • To determine Olivomycin's impact on p53-dependent gene transcription.
  • To differentiate the effects of Olivomycin from its aglycon.

Main Methods:

  • Treatment of human tumor cells with Olivomycin and its aglycon.
  • Assessment of cytotoxicity using cell viability assays.
  • Measurement of reporter gene transcription, both basal and drug-induced, in a p53-dependent manner.

Main Results:

  • Olivomycin induced apoptosis in human tumor cells at nanomolar concentrations.
  • Olivomycin inhibited p53-dependent reporter gene transcription, affecting both basal and induced states.
  • Olivomycin aglycon showed no significant cytotoxicity and did not inhibit transcription.

Conclusions:

  • Olivomycin exhibits potent anti-tumor activity through apoptosis induction.
  • The DNA-binding and transcriptional inhibitory effects of Olivomycin are linked to its cytotoxic action.
  • The aglycon component of Olivomycin lacks the cytotoxic and transcriptional inhibitory properties, suggesting the intact molecule is required for these effects.

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