RGD Reference Report - Mitochondrial regulation by c-Myc and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha controls sensitivity to econazole. - Rat Genome Database

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Mitochondrial regulation by c-Myc and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha controls sensitivity to econazole.

Authors: Yu, Y  Niapour, M  Zhang, Y  Berger, SA 
Citation: Yu Y, etal., Mol Cancer Ther. 2008 Mar;7(3):483-91. doi: 10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-07-2050.
RGD ID: 9068920
Pubmed: PMID:18347136   (View Abstract at PubMed)
DOI: DOI:10.1158/1535-7163.MCT-07-2050   (Journal Full-text)

Econazole is an azole antifungal with anticancer activity that blocks Ca(2+) influx and stimulates endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca(2+) release through the generation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS), resulting in sustained depletion of ER Ca(2+) stores, protein synthesis inhibition, and cell death. c-Myc, a commonly activated oncogene, also promotes apoptosis in response to growth factor withdrawal and a variety of chemotherapeutic agents. We have investigated the role of c-myc in regulating sensitivity to econazole. Here, we show that c-myc-negative cells are profoundly resistant to econazole. c-Myc-negative rat fibroblasts failed to generate mitochondrial ROS in response to econazole and consequently failed to deplete the ER of Ca(2+). HL60 cells knocked down for c-myc expression also displayed decreased ROS generation and decreased econazole sensitivity. Addition of H(2)O(2) restored sensitivity to econazole in both c-myc-negative rat fibroblasts and c-myc knocked-down HL60 cells, supporting a role for ROS in cell death induction. c-Myc-negative cells and HL60 cells knocked down for c-myc have reduced mitochondrial content compared with c-myc-positive cells. The hypoxia sensor, hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha), interacts antagonistically with c-myc and also regulates mitochondrial biogenesis. Knockdown of HIF-1alpha in c-myc-negative cells increased mitochondrial content restored ROS generation in response to econazole and increased sensitivity to the drug. Taken together, these results show that c-myc and HIF-1alpha regulate sensitivity to econazole by modulating the ability of the drug to generate mitochondrial ROS.

Gene Ontology Annotations    Click to see Annotation Detail View

Biological Process
TermQualifierEvidenceWithReferenceNotesSourceOriginal Reference(s)
response to fungicide  IMP 9068920econazoleRGD 

Objects Annotated

Genes (Rattus norvegicus)
Hif1a  (hypoxia inducible factor 1 subunit alpha)


Additional Information