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Synergism of Rana catesbeiana ribonuclease and IFN‐γ triggers distinct death machineries in different human cancer cells
Author(s) -
Tang Chih-Hang Anthony,
Hu Chih-Chi Andrew,
Wei Chyou-Wei,
Wang Jaang-Jiun
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/j.febslet.2004.11.086
Subject(s) - rnase p , ribonuclease , microbiology and biotechnology , mitochondrion , programmed cell death , rnase mrp , cancer cell , interferon , apoptosis , biology , chemistry , biochemistry , rna , cancer , virology , gene , genetics
Rana catesbeiana ribonuclease (RC‐RNase) possesses tumor‐specific cytotoxicity, which can be synergized by IFN‐γ. However, it is unclear how RC‐RNase and RC‐RNase/IFN‐γ induce cell death. In this study, we use substrate cleavage assays to systematically investigate RC‐RNase‐ and RC‐RNase/IFN‐γ‐induced caspase activation in HL‐60, MCF‐7, and SK‐Hep‐1 cells. We find that RC‐RNase and RC‐RNase/IFN‐γ induce mitochondria‐mediated caspase activation in HL‐60 and MCF‐7 cells but not in SK‐Hep‐1 cells, although death of SK‐Hep‐1 cells is closely related to mitochondrial disruptions. Our findings provide evidence that RC‐RNase and RC‐RNase/IFN‐γ can kill different cancer cells by distinct mechanisms. Compared with onconase, RC‐RNase seems to harbor a more specific anti‐cancer activity.