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Partial Depletion of SART1 Selectively Induces Mitotic Defects and Cell Death in Cancer Cells

Hideki Yokoyama1, Saito Akatsu1, Kotaro Hayakawa1

  • 1National Institute of Technology, Ibaraki College, Hitachinaka, Japan.

Genes to Cells : Devoted to Molecular & Cellular Mechanisms
|July 1, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Targeting Squamous cell carcinoma antigen recognized by T cells 1 (SART1) with partial depletion selectively disrupts cancer cell division and induces cell death. This approach spares normal cells, offering a potential new cancer therapy strategy.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Medicine

Background:

  • Squamous cell carcinoma antigen recognized by T cells 1 (SART1) is overexpressed in cancers and functions as a microtubule-associated protein crucial for cell division.
  • Developing cancer therapies that selectively eliminate cancer cells while sparing normal cells remains a significant challenge in oncology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of partial SART1 depletion on cancer cell viability and mitotic spindle assembly.
  • To determine if SART1 inhibition can selectively target transformed cells.

Main Methods:

  • RNA interference (siRNA) was used to partially deplete SART1 protein levels in various human cell lines, including cancer cells (HeLa, U2OS) and non-transformed cells (BJ fibroblasts, RPE1).
  • Mitotic spindle assembly and cell death (apoptosis) were assessed in response to SART1 knockdown.
  • The impact of SART1 depletion on oncogene-induced cell transformation was evaluated using c-Myc in RPE1 cells.

Main Results:

  • Partial SART1 depletion led to disrupted mitotic spindle assembly and induced apoptotic cell death specifically in cancer cell lines (HeLa, U2OS).
  • Non-transformed cells (BJ fibroblasts, RPE1) showed resistance to SART1 depletion-induced toxicity.
  • SART1 knockdown suppressed c-Myc-induced transformation of RPE1 cells without affecting normal cell growth.

Conclusions:

  • Partial SART1 depletion preferentially induces mitotic defects and cell death in transformed cells, demonstrating cancer-selective toxicity.
  • Transient or partial inhibition of SART1 presents a promising therapeutic strategy for selectively eliminating cancer cells while preserving normal tissues.
Keywords:
SART1cancer cell deathmitosisoncogenic transformationspindle assembly

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