Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 14, 2026

Analysis of Combinatorial miRNA Treatments to Regulate Cell Cycle and Angiogenesis
11:44

Analysis of Combinatorial miRNA Treatments to Regulate Cell Cycle and Angiogenesis

Published on: March 30, 2019

Calmodulin as a potential target by which berberine induces cell cycle arrest in human hepatoma Bel7402 cells

Chao Ma1, Kailin Tang, Qi Liu

  • 1School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China.

Chemical Biology & Drug Design
|February 21, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Berberine, a natural compound, may fight cancer by targeting calmodulin. This study identifies calmodulin as a key protein involved in berberine

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Berberine exhibits diverse biological activities, including anticancer effects.
  • Existing research on berberine's anticancer mechanisms focuses on downstream targets, leaving direct protein interactions unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify direct protein targets of berberine mediating its antiproliferative effects.
  • To investigate the role of calmodulin in berberine's anticancer activity.

Main Methods:

  • Computational pipeline using inverse docking and 'Connectivity MAP' data mining.
  • In vitro phosphodiesterase activity assay to assess anticalmodulin property.
  • Flow cytometry and Western blotting to analyze cell cycle effects and molecular pathways.

Main Results:

  • Identified calmodulin, cytochrome P450 3A4, sex hormone-binding globulin, and carbonic anhydrase II as potential berberine targets.
  • Demonstrated berberine's anticalmodulin activity in vitro.
  • Showed that calmodulin inhibition enhances berberine-induced G1 cell cycle arrest.
  • Observed decreased calmodulin kinase II phosphorylation and blocked MEK1 activation/p27 degradation upon berberine treatment.

Conclusions:

  • Calmodulin is a potential direct target of berberine.
  • Calmodulin plays a significant role in berberine-induced cancer cell cycle arrest.
  • This study provides novel insights into the molecular mechanisms of berberine's anticancer action.

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...
Calmodulin-dependent Signaling01:16

Calmodulin-dependent Signaling

Calmodulin (CaM) is a calcium-binding protein in eukaryotes that controls various calcium-regulated cellular processes. It has four calcium-binding sites that bind calcium to form the calcium-calmodulin ( Ca2+-CaM) complex. GPCR stimulation increases the calcium levels in the cells that bind to CaM and induces a conformational change.
The Ca2+-CaM complex does not have enzymatic activity by itself. Instead, the complex binds downstream target proteins, including membrane proteins or enzymes,...
Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules01:15

Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules

Microtubules are dynamic structures that undergo cycles of catastrophe and rescue. The microtubules play a central role in cell division by forming the spindle apparatus for segregating the chromosomes. This makes them ideal targets for regulating dividing cells in tumors and malignant cancer cells. Microtubule stabilizing drugs help stabilize the microtubule formation and promote its polymerization. Paclitaxel was the first microtubule stabilizing agent used as anticancer drug in chemotherapy...
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.