Synthetic Smac/DIABLO peptides enhance the effects of chemotherapeutic agents by binding XIAP and cIAP1 in situ

Christina R. Arnt, Mihnea V. Chiorean, Michael P. Heldebrant, Gregory J. Gores, Scott H. Kaufmann

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

252 Scopus citations

Abstract

Inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) interact with and inhibit caspases-3,-7, and -9. This interaction can be inhibited by Smac/DIABLO, a polypeptide released from mitochondria upon initiation of the apoptotic signaling process. Here we demonstrate that the first 4-8 N-terminal amino acids of Smac/DIABLO fused to the Drosophila antennapaedia penetratin sequence, a carrier peptide, enhance the induction of apoptosis and long term antiproliferative effects of diverse antineoplastic agents including paclitaxel, etoposide, 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN-38), and doxorubicin in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Similar effects were observed in additional breast cancer and immortalized cholangiocyte cell lines. Further analysis demonstrated that the Smacpenetratin fusion peptide crossed the cellular membrane, bound XIAP and cIAP1, displaced caspase-3 from cytoplasmic aggregates, and enhanced drug-induced caspase action in situ. These studies demonstrate that inhibition of IAP proteins can modulate the efficacy of antineoplastic agents.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)44236-44243
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry
Volume277
Issue number46
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 15 2002

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology

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