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A novel protein extracted from Hemerocallis citrina Borani inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation by regulating mitochondria-dependent apoptosis and aerobic glycolysis

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Abstract

Hemerocallis citrina Borani is a commonly consumed food in Asia and possesses many biologically active ingredients. In this study, a protein named Hemerocallis citrina Borani protein (HcBP) was purified using ammonium sulfate fractionation and anion exchange chromatography. Protease assays revealed that HcBP has peroxidase activity. Meanwhile, the UV absorption spectrum showed that HcBP contains heme. Notably, HcBP showed significant inhibitory effects on human hepatoma cancer cell proliferation. Mechanism investigations indicated that HcBP treatment resulted in overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and induced mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in human hepatoma cancer cells. Furthermore, we found HcBP not only downregulated pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) activity but also decreased the expression and nuclear levels of PKM2. The inhibition of PKM2 led to the downregulation of GLUT1, LDHA and PDK, and thus caused the suppression of glycolysis. In summary, our results suggested that HcBP has potential anti-hepatocellular carcinoma activity.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by Natural Sciences Foundation of Shanxi (20210302123462), Shanxi Province Key RESEARCH and Development Plan (Agriculture) Project (201903D221069) and Open Fund Project of Xinghuacun College of Shanxi University (XCSXU-KF-202222).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of National Ministry of Education, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China

    Min You & Li Song

  2. Xinghuacun College of Shanxi University, Taiyuan, 030006, China

    Li Song

  3. Shanxi Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, 030006, China

    Lixia Zhao

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  1. Min You
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  2. Lixia Zhao
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  3. Li Song
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Correspondence to Li Song.

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You, M., Zhao, L. & Song, L. A novel protein extracted from Hemerocallis citrina Borani inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation by regulating mitochondria-dependent apoptosis and aerobic glycolysis. Food Sci Biotechnol 33, 465–474 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10068-023-01358-2

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