Identification of markers of flavonoid action in colonic cancer cells

• Antragsteller: Professor Dr. Uwe Wenzel
• Fachliche Zuordnung: Ernährungswissenschaften
• Förderung: Förderung von 2003 bis 2007
• Projektkennung: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Projektnummer 5391242

The analysis of the proteome as the protein complement of the genome of a cell or organ allows to define the molecular differences between normal cells and transformed cells in the process of carcinogenesis and helps to identify the molecular targets of compounds that alter the transformation process. We have shown recently that flavone, a flavonoid occuring in a variety of plants induces potently apoptosis in colon cancer cell lines such as H-29, whereas non-transformed colonocytes were not affected by the compound. We now would like to use differential display proteome analysis of transformed colonocytes (HT-20) and non-transformed colonocytes (NCOL-1) for identification of the highly selective adaptative changes in protein expression by treatment of the cells with flavone. Although a few genes with changed expression after flavone treatment of cells have been identified by semi-quantitative PCR and Western-blot analysis, a comprehensive analysis of target protein expression is important for the understanding of the mode of action based on different genetic backgrounds and in few of its possible side effects. In addition, the project may help to identify more specific biomarkes for diagnosis or interventional programs in colonic carcinogenesis.

• DFG-Verfahren: Sachbeihilfen