Characterization and Cytotoxicity of Pseudomonas Mediated Rhamnolipids Against Breast Cancer MDA-MB-231 Cell Line

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Biochemistry
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Biosurfactants, particularly rhamnolipids, are amphipathic compounds with diverse applications.
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a known producer of various bioactive compounds, including biosurfactants.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and characterize a biosurfactant-producing bacterium.
• To investigate the structural properties and biological activities of the produced rhamnolipid.
• To evaluate the potential of the rhamnolipid as an anti-cancer agent.

Main Methods:

• Molecular identification of the bacterial isolate using 16S rRNA gene sequencing (NCBI accession no. MK351591).
• Structural elucidation of the rhamnolipid using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.
• Assessment of radical scavenging activity using the DPPH assay.
• Evaluation of cytotoxic effects on MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells via MTT, resazurin, and trypan blue assays.

Main Results:

• Pseudomonas aeruginosa DNM50 was identified as the biosurfactant producer.
• Twelve distinct rhamnolipid congeners were identified, including Rha-C8-C8:1 and Rha-C10-C10.
• DNM50RL exhibited potent cytotoxic activity against MDA-MB-231 cells with IC50 values as low as 0.01 μg/ml.
• The rhamnolipid showed moderate radical scavenging activity with an IC50 of 101.8 μg/ml.

Conclusions:

• The characterized rhamnolipid (DNM50RL) possesses significant anti-cancer properties against breast cancer cell lines.
• DNM50RL's mechanism may involve the inhibition of p38MAPK, indicating its therapeutic potential.
• This study highlights the promise of microbial-derived rhamnolipids in cancer treatment strategies.