Regulation of C-myc Gene Expression by Potassium Channel Blocker Quinidine in MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cell Line

Abstract

C-myc is a protooncogene whose gene product has a regulatory role in cell cycle progression, cellular differentiation, and apoptosis. The abnormal expression of c-myc was reported in 32% of breast cancers, suggesting its importance in the genesis and/or progression of breast cancer. Therefore, it is important to understand the precise molecular mechanisms of c-myc regulation. The goal of this proposal is to elucidate how potassium channel blocking agent, quinidine, regulates expression of c-myc gene in breast cancer cells. Specific aim #1 was to test effects of quinidine on c-myc promoter activity (completed), identify quinidine responsive element (QRE) within c-myc promoter (completed), and study effects of quinidine on proteins/DNA interactions in the QRE (in progress). The aim #2 was to test effects of quinidine on c-myc transcription rate by nuclear run-on assay. In the current report the PI proposed to substitute this aim with the one that tests effects of quinidine on c-myc mRNA stability, due to the technical difficulties to detect small changes in c-myc transcription rate by run-on assay (not initiated). The significance of this proposal is that its results will improve our understanding of c-myc gene regulation and might lead to discovery of new targets for breast cancer therapy.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 2001
Accession Number
ADB277986

Entities

People

  • Zaroui Melkoumian

Organizations

  • West Virginia University

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Apoptosis
  • Biomedical Research
  • Breast Cancer
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Physiological Processes
  • Cells
  • Chemical Synthesis
  • Chemistry
  • Confocal Microscopy
  • Cytoskeleton
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Epithelial Cells
  • Gene Expression
  • Neoplasms
  • Rna Stability
  • Tumor Cell Line

Fields of Study

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Medicine

Readers

  • Breast cancer cell signaling and growth regulation.
  • Prostate Cancer Biology.