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G protein γ subunit 7 induces autophagy and inhibits cell division

Juanjuan Liu1,2, Xinmiao Ji1, Zhiyuan Li1

  • 1High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui, 230031, P. R. China.

Oncotarget
|April 9, 2016
PubMed

Insights

G protein γ subunit 7 (GNG7) inhibits cancer cell proliferation and promotes cell death by inducing autophagy and regulating the cell cycle. GNG7

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • G protein γ subunit 7 (GNG7) is down-regulated in various cancers.
  • Previous studies suggested GNG7 expression reduces tumor volume in mice, but the underlying mechanisms were unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which GNG7 exerts its antitumor effects.
  • To investigate the role of GNG7 in cell proliferation, cell death, autophagy, and cell division.

Main Methods:

  • Overexpression and knockdown of GNG7 in cancer cells.
  • Cell cycle analysis.
  • Actin cytoskeleton assessment.
  • Autophagy induction assays (Rapamycin and starvation).
  • Western blot analysis to assess MTOR pathway activity.

Main Results:

  • GNG7 overexpression inhibits cell proliferation and increases cell death.
  • GNG7 expression is cell cycle-dependent and regulates the actin cytoskeleton and cell division.
  • GNG7 acts as an autophagy inducer, inhibiting the MTOR pathway.
  • GNG7 knockdown reduces autophagy induced by Rapamycin and starvation.

Conclusions:

  • GNG7 inhibits the MTOR pathway, thereby inducing autophagy and cell death.
  • GNG7 regulates the actin cytoskeleton, inhibiting cell division.
  • These combined actions contribute to the observed antitumor capacity of GNG7.
Keywords:
GNG7 (G protein γ subunit 7)actinautophagycell deathcell division

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