Mithramycin is a gene-selective sp1 inhibitor that identifies a biological intersection between cancer and neurodegeneration

Sama F. Sleiman, Brett C. Langley, Manuela Basso, Jill Berlin, Li Xia, Jimmy B. Payappilly, Madan K. Kharel, Hengchang Guo, J. Lawrence Marsh, Leslie Michels Thompson, Lata Mahishi, Preeti Ahuja, W. Robb Maclellan, Daniel H. Geschwind, Giovanni Coppola, Jürgen Rohr, Rajiv R. Ratan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

105 Scopus citations

Abstract

Oncogenic transformation of postmitotic neurons triggers cell death, but the identity of genes critical for degeneration remain unclear. The antitumor antibiotic mithramycin prolongs survival of mouse models of Huntington's disease in vivo and inhibits oxidative stress-induced death in cortical neurons in vitro. We had correlated protection by mithramycin with its ability to bind to GC-rich DNA and globally displace Sp1 family transcription factors. To understand how antitumor drugs prevent neurodegeneration, here we use structure-activity relationships of mithramycin analogs to discover that selective DNA-binding inhibition of the drug is necessary for its neuroprotective effect. We identify several genes (Myc, c-Src, Hif1α, and p21waf1/cip1) involved in neoplastic transformation, whose altered expression correlates with protective doses of mithramycin or its analogs. Most interestingly, inhibition of one these genes, Myc, is neuroprotective, whereas forced expression of Myc induces Rattus norvegicus neuronal cell death. These results support a model in which cancer cell transformation shares key genetic components with neurodegeneration.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)6858-6870
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Neuroscience
Volume31
Issue number18
DOIs
StatePublished - May 4 2011

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neuroscience (all)

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