Farnesyltransferase and geranylgeranyltransferase I inhibitors upregulate RhoB expression by HDAC1 dissociation, HAT association and histone acetylation of the RhoB promoter

Oncogene. 2007 Feb 1;26(5):633-40. doi: 10.1038/sj.onc.1209819. Epub 2006 Aug 14.

Abstract

Recently, we have shown that RhoB suppresses EGFR-, ErbB2-, Ras- and Akt-mediated malignant transformation and metastasis. In this paper, we demonstrate that the novel antitumor agents farnesyltransferase inhibitors (FTIs) and geranylgeranyltransferase I inhibitors (GGTIs) upregulate RhoB expression in a wide spectrum of human cancer cells including those from pancreatic, breast, lung, colon, bladder and brain cancers. RhoB induction by FTI-277 and GGTI-298 occurs at the transcriptional level and is blocked by actinomycin D. Reverse transcription-PCR experiments documented that the increase in RhoB protein levels is due to an increase in RhoB transcription. Furthermore, treatment with FTIs and GGTIs of cancer cells results in HDAC1 dissociation, HAT association and histone acetylation of the RhoB promoter. Thus, promoter acetylation is a novel mechanism by which RhoB expression levels are regulated following treatment with the anticancer agents FTIs and GGTIs.

MeSH terms

  • Acetylation
  • Alkyl and Aryl Transferases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Alkyl and Aryl Transferases / metabolism
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Benzamides / pharmacology
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Farnesyltranstransferase / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Farnesyltranstransferase / metabolism
  • Histone Acetyltransferases / metabolism*
  • Histone Deacetylase 1
  • Histone Deacetylases / metabolism*
  • Histones / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Methionine / analogs & derivatives
  • Methionine / pharmacology
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic*
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational
  • RNA, Neoplasm / genetics
  • RNA, Neoplasm / metabolism
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Up-Regulation
  • rhoB GTP-Binding Protein / genetics*
  • rhoB GTP-Binding Protein / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Benzamides
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • FTI 277
  • GGTI 298
  • Histones
  • RNA, Neoplasm
  • Methionine
  • Histone Acetyltransferases
  • Alkyl and Aryl Transferases
  • geranylgeranyltransferase type-I
  • Farnesyltranstransferase
  • HDAC1 protein, human
  • Histone Deacetylase 1
  • Histone Deacetylases
  • rhoB GTP-Binding Protein