Peptide B targets soluble guanylyl cyclase α1 and kills prostate cancer cells

PLoS One. 2017 Aug 31;12(8):e0184088. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184088. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Among androgen-regulated genes, soluble guanylyl cyclase α1 (sGCα1) is significant in promoting the survival and growth of prostate cancer cells and does so independent of nitric oxide (NO) signaling. Peptides were designed targeting sGCα1 to block its pro-cancer functions and one peptide is discussed here. Peptide B-8R killed both androgen-dependent and androgen-independent prostate cancer cells that expressed sGCα1, but not cells that do not express this gene. Peptide B-8R induced apoptosis of prostate cancer cells. Importantly, Peptide B-8R does not affect nor its cytotoxicity depend on NO signaling, despite the fact that it associates with sGCα1, which dimerizes with sGCβ1 to form the sGC enzyme. Just as with a previously studied Peptide A-8R, Peptide B-8R induced elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in prostate cancer cells, but using a ROS-sequestering agent showed that ROS was not responsible the cytotoxic activity of Peptide B-8R. Interestingly, Peptide B-8R induced elevated levels of p53 and phosphorylated p38, but neither of these changes is the cause of the peptide's cytotoxicity. Additional drugs were used to alter levels of iron levels in cells and these studies showed that Peptide B-8R activity does not depend on Ferroptosis. Thus, future work will be directed at defining the mechanism of cytotoxic action of Peptide B-8R against prostate cancer cells.

MeSH terms

  • Androgens / genetics
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Enkephalins / administration & dosage*
  • Enkephalins / genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism
  • Oncogene Protein pp60(v-src) / genetics
  • Peptide Fragments / genetics
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Prostatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Protein Precursors / administration & dosage*
  • Protein Precursors / genetics
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase / genetics*

Substances

  • Androgens
  • Enkephalins
  • Peptide Fragments
  • Protein Precursors
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • peptide A
  • peptide B
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Oncogene Protein pp60(v-src)
  • Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase

Grants and funding

This work was funded by grants from the NIH and the University of Toledo.