Gene silencing of TKTL1 by RNAi inhibits cell proliferation in human hepatoma cells

• Published in: Cancer letters Vol. 253; no. 1; pp. 108 - 114
• Main Authors: Zhang, Song, Yang, Ju-Hong, Guo, Chang-Kai, Cai, Peng-cheng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier Ireland Ltd 08.08.2007; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Cancer; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - genetics; Cell Cycle; Cell growth; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation; Cloning; Enzymes; Gene Silencing; Genes; Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine; HepG2 cell line; Humans; Metabolism; Metabolites; Plasmids; Proteins; RNA Interference; Small interfering RNA (siRNA); Software packages; Tansketolase activity; Transfection; Transketolase; Transketolase - genetics; Transketolase - metabolism; Transketolase-like-1 (TKTL1); Tumorigenesis; Tumors; Small interfering RNA (siRNA); Tansketolase activity; Transketolase; HepG2 cell line; Transketolase-like-1 (TKTL1)
• ISSN: 0304-3835; 1872-7980
• DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2007.01.010

Abstract We detected a strong upregulation of the mutated transketolase transcript (TKTL1) in human hepatoma cell line HepG2, whereas transketolase (TKT) and transketolase-like-2 (TKTL2) transcripts were not upregulated. We inhibited the expression of TKTL1 by RNAi in HepG2 cells. It was found that total transketolase activity was dramatically downregulated and the proliferation of cancer cells was significantly inhibited in HepG2 cells. These results indicate that TKTL1 gene influences total transketolase activity and cell proliferation in human hepatoma cells, suggesting that TKTL1 gene plays an important role on glycometabolism in tumors and it might become a novel target for tumor gene therapy.