The hydroxamate based HDAC inhibitor WMJ-J-09 induces colorectal cancer cell death by targeting tubulin and downregulating survivin

Abstract Aberrant expression of histone deacetylases (HDACs) is associated with cancer drug resistance and tumor progression. While considerable studies and effort have been devoted to developing novel HDAC inhibitors in cancer therapy, hydroxamate-based HDAC inhibitors have gained growing interest...

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Main Authors: Yu-Han Huang, Yu-Min Huang, Wei-Jan Huang, Meng-Chieh Yu, Chin-Hui Chuang, Ya-Fen Hsu, Hsiu-Chen Chen, Liang-Chieh Chen, Shiu-Wen Huang, Ming-Jen Hsu
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Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-06-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04714-w
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author Yu-Han Huang
Yu-Min Huang
Wei-Jan Huang
Meng-Chieh Yu
Chin-Hui Chuang
Ya-Fen Hsu
Hsiu-Chen Chen
Liang-Chieh Chen
Shiu-Wen Huang
Ming-Jen Hsu
author_facet Yu-Han Huang
Yu-Min Huang
Wei-Jan Huang
Meng-Chieh Yu
Chin-Hui Chuang
Ya-Fen Hsu
Hsiu-Chen Chen
Liang-Chieh Chen
Shiu-Wen Huang
Ming-Jen Hsu
author_sort Yu-Han Huang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Aberrant expression of histone deacetylases (HDACs) is associated with cancer drug resistance and tumor progression. While considerable studies and effort have been devoted to developing novel HDAC inhibitors in cancer therapy, hydroxamate-based HDAC inhibitors have gained growing interest for their broad-spectrum anti-tumor properties. We developed a series of HDAC inhibitors featuring a hydroxamate moiety, and WMJ-J-09 was selected due to its potent cytotoxic effect in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells, and its molecular mechanisms driving CRC cell death were characterized. WMJ-J-09 reduced cell viability, arrested the cell cycle at the G2/M phase, and triggered apoptosis. Mechanistically, it activated LKB1-p38MAPK signaling, leading to p53 phosphorylation and acetylation, which elevated p21 and suppressed survivin levels. WMJ-J-09 also acetylated α-tubulin, impaired microtubule assembly, and acetylated survivin, resulting in proteasomal degradation. Both LKB1 siRNA and anacardic acid, a histone acetyltransferase inhibitor, reversed WMJ-J-09-reduced survivin, confirming its dual effects on survivin at transcriptional and post-translational levels. In vivo, the subcutaneous growth of HCT116 CRC xenografts was reduced by WMJ-J-09. In conclusion, WMJ-J-09 causes CRC cell death via the LKB1-p53-survivin signaling pathway and HDAC inhibition, leading to acetylation of α-tubulin, p53, and survivin. This study highlights WMJ-J-09’s potential as a promising therapeutic candidate for CRC treatment.
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spelling doaj-art-aa9a13c681244825bcfce7e5bb3430412025-08-20T03:26:42ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-06-0115111710.1038/s41598-025-04714-wThe hydroxamate based HDAC inhibitor WMJ-J-09 induces colorectal cancer cell death by targeting tubulin and downregulating survivinYu-Han Huang0Yu-Min Huang1Wei-Jan Huang2Meng-Chieh Yu3Chin-Hui Chuang4Ya-Fen Hsu5Hsiu-Chen Chen6Liang-Chieh Chen7Shiu-Wen Huang8Ming-Jen Hsu9Division of Genetics and Genomics, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children’s HospitalDepartment of Surgery, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical UniversityDepartment of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Taipei Medical UniversityDepartment of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical UniversityDepartment of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical UniversityDivision of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Landseed HospitalDepartment of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical UniversitySchool of Medicine, National Sun Yat-Sen UniversityDepartment of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical UniversityDepartment of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical UniversityAbstract Aberrant expression of histone deacetylases (HDACs) is associated with cancer drug resistance and tumor progression. While considerable studies and effort have been devoted to developing novel HDAC inhibitors in cancer therapy, hydroxamate-based HDAC inhibitors have gained growing interest for their broad-spectrum anti-tumor properties. We developed a series of HDAC inhibitors featuring a hydroxamate moiety, and WMJ-J-09 was selected due to its potent cytotoxic effect in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells, and its molecular mechanisms driving CRC cell death were characterized. WMJ-J-09 reduced cell viability, arrested the cell cycle at the G2/M phase, and triggered apoptosis. Mechanistically, it activated LKB1-p38MAPK signaling, leading to p53 phosphorylation and acetylation, which elevated p21 and suppressed survivin levels. WMJ-J-09 also acetylated α-tubulin, impaired microtubule assembly, and acetylated survivin, resulting in proteasomal degradation. Both LKB1 siRNA and anacardic acid, a histone acetyltransferase inhibitor, reversed WMJ-J-09-reduced survivin, confirming its dual effects on survivin at transcriptional and post-translational levels. In vivo, the subcutaneous growth of HCT116 CRC xenografts was reduced by WMJ-J-09. In conclusion, WMJ-J-09 causes CRC cell death via the LKB1-p53-survivin signaling pathway and HDAC inhibition, leading to acetylation of α-tubulin, p53, and survivin. This study highlights WMJ-J-09’s potential as a promising therapeutic candidate for CRC treatment.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04714-wAcetylationHistone deacetylase (HDAC)Liver kinase B1 (LKB1)P53Survivin
spellingShingle Yu-Han Huang
Yu-Min Huang
Wei-Jan Huang
Meng-Chieh Yu
Chin-Hui Chuang
Ya-Fen Hsu
Hsiu-Chen Chen
Liang-Chieh Chen
Shiu-Wen Huang
Ming-Jen Hsu
The hydroxamate based HDAC inhibitor WMJ-J-09 induces colorectal cancer cell death by targeting tubulin and downregulating survivin
Scientific Reports
Acetylation
Histone deacetylase (HDAC)
Liver kinase B1 (LKB1)
P53
Survivin
title The hydroxamate based HDAC inhibitor WMJ-J-09 induces colorectal cancer cell death by targeting tubulin and downregulating survivin
title_full The hydroxamate based HDAC inhibitor WMJ-J-09 induces colorectal cancer cell death by targeting tubulin and downregulating survivin
title_fullStr The hydroxamate based HDAC inhibitor WMJ-J-09 induces colorectal cancer cell death by targeting tubulin and downregulating survivin
title_full_unstemmed The hydroxamate based HDAC inhibitor WMJ-J-09 induces colorectal cancer cell death by targeting tubulin and downregulating survivin
title_short The hydroxamate based HDAC inhibitor WMJ-J-09 induces colorectal cancer cell death by targeting tubulin and downregulating survivin
title_sort hydroxamate based hdac inhibitor wmj j 09 induces colorectal cancer cell death by targeting tubulin and downregulating survivin
topic Acetylation
Histone deacetylase (HDAC)
Liver kinase B1 (LKB1)
P53
Survivin
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04714-w
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