Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 15, 2026

Through the Looking Glass: Time-lapse Microscopy and Longitudinal Tracking of Single Cells to Study Anti-cancer Therapeutics
06:00

Through the Looking Glass: Time-lapse Microscopy and Longitudinal Tracking of Single Cells to Study Anti-cancer Therapeutics

Published on: May 14, 2016

Ircinin-1 induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in SK-MEL-2 human melanoma cells

Hye Joung Choi1, Yung Hyun Choi, Su-Bog Yee

  • 1Department of Pharmacy and Pusan Cancer Research Center, Pusan National University, Busan, South Korea.

Molecular Carcinogenesis
|September 16, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Ircinin-1, a marine sponge compound, inhibits skin cancer cell growth by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. This compound shows potential for skin cancer prevention by modulating key cell cycle proteins and apoptotic pathways.

Area of Science:

  • Marine Natural Products Chemistry
  • Cancer Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Ircinin-1 is a C25 sesterterpene tetronic acid isolated from marine sponges.
  • SK-MEL-2 human skin cancer cells possess mutant p53, a common feature in many cancers.
  • Understanding the mechanisms of novel compounds is crucial for cancer therapeutics.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of ircinin-1 on cell cycle modulation and apoptosis induction in SK-MEL-2 cells.
  • To elucidate the molecular pathways targeted by ircinin-1 in skin cancer cells.

Main Methods:

  • Cell treatment with ircinin-1
  • Flow cytometry for cell cycle analysis
  • Western blot and RT-PCR for protein and gene expression analysis
  • Assays for apoptosis induction (morphological changes, DNA fragmentation, caspase activation)

Main Results:

  • Ircinin-1 caused dose-dependent inhibition of cell growth and induced apoptosis in SK-MEL-2 cells.
  • G1 cell cycle arrest was observed, linked to decreased D-type cyclins/Cdk4/6 and increased p21WAF1/CIP1/p27KIP1.
  • Apoptosis was mediated by cytochrome c release, caspase activation, altered Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and decreased cIAP-1 levels.
  • p21WAF1/CIP1 induction was p53-independent and transcriptionally upregulated.

Conclusions:

  • Ircinin-1 effectively inhibits skin cancer cell proliferation and induces apoptosis through p53-independent mechanisms.
  • The compound modulates cell cycle regulators and apoptotic signaling pathways.
  • Ircinin-1 demonstrates significant potential as a therapeutic agent for skin cancer prevention.

More Related Videos

Evaluation of Keratinocyte Proliferation on Two- and Three-dimensional Type I Collagen Substrates08:19

Evaluation of Keratinocyte Proliferation on Two- and Three-dimensional Type I Collagen Substrates

Published on: April 22, 2019

Hybrid Cell Analysis System to Assess Structural and Contractile Changes of Human iPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes for Preclinical Cardiac Risk Evaluation08:03

Hybrid Cell Analysis System to Assess Structural and Contractile Changes of Human iPSC-Derived Cardiomyocytes for Preclinical Cardiac Risk Evaluation

Published on: October 20, 2022

Related Concept Videos

Inhibition of Cdk Activity02:34

Inhibition of Cdk Activity

The orderly progression of the cell cycle depends on the activation of Cdk protein by binding to its cyclin partner. However, the cell cycle must be restricted when undergoing abnormal changes. Most cancers correlate to the deregulated cell cycle, and since Cdks are a central component of the cell cycle, Cdk inhibitors are extensively studied to develop anticancer agents. For instance, cyclin D associates with several Cdks, such as Cdk 4/6, to form an active complex. The cyclin D-Cdk4/6 complex...
Inhibition of CDK Activity02:34

Inhibition of CDK Activity

The orderly progression of the cell cycle depends on the activation of Cdk protein by binding to its cyclin partner. However, the cell cycle must be restricted when undergoing abnormal changes. Most cancers correlate to the deregulated cell cycle, and since Cdks are a central component of the cell cycle, Cdk inhibitors are extensively studied to develop anticancer agents. For instance, cyclin D associates with several Cdks, such as Cdk 4/6, to form an active complex. The cyclin D-Cdk4/6 complex...
The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway01:31

The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway

Internal cellular stress, such as cellular injury or hypoxia, triggers intrinsic apoptosis. The B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family of proteins are the primary regulators of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. For example, during DNA damage, checkpoint proteins, such as Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated (ATM protein) and Checkpoints Factor-2 (Chk2) proteins, are activated. These proteins phosphorylate p53 which further activates pro-apoptotic proteins, such as Bax, Bak, PUMA, and Noxa, and inhibits...
Positive Regulator Molecules02:39

Positive Regulator Molecules

Mitotic cell division results in daughter cells that exactly resemble the parent cell. However, errors in the DNA replication or distribution of genetic material may lead to genetic mutations that may be passed down to every new cell formed from the resulting abnormal cell. Propagation of such mutant cells is restricted through checkpoint mechanisms present at different stages of the cell cycle. These checkpoints involve regulator molecules that either promote or demote cell cycle events.