PNC-27

Anti-Cancer Peptide PNC-27 Kills Cancer Cells by Unique Interactions with Plasma Membrane-Bound hdm-2 and with Mitochondrial Membranes Causing Mitochondrial Disruption

PNC-27 Kills Cancer Cells Objective:

We have previously shown that the anti-cancer peptide PNC-27 kills cancer cells by co-localizing with membrane-expressed HDM-2, resulting in transmembrane pore formation causing extrusion of intracellular contents. We have also observed cancer cell mitochondrial disruption in PNC-27-treated cancer cells.

Our objectives are to determine: 1. if PNC-27 binds to the p53 binding site of HDM-2 (residues 1-109) in the cancer cell membrane and 2. if this peptide causes selective disruption of cancer cell mitochondria.TB-500 Benefits and Dosage

Methods that Kills Cancer Cells

For aim 1, we incubated MIA-PaCa-2 human pancreatic carcinoma cells with PNC-27 in the presence of a monoclonal antibody against the amino terminal p53 binding site of HDM-2 to determine if it, but not negative control immune serum, blocks PNC-27-induced tumor cell necrosis.

For the second aim, we incubated these cells with PNC-27 in the presence of two specific dyes that highlight normal organelle function: mitotracker for mitochondria and lysotracker for lysosomes. We also performed immuno-electron microscopy (IEM) with gold-labeled anti-PNC-27 antibody on the mitochondria of these cells treated with PNC-27.

Best Results PNC-27 for Cancer Cells

Monoclonal antibody to the p53 binding site of HDM-2 blocks PNC-27-induced cancer cell necrosis, whereas negative control immune serum does not.

The mitochondria of PNC-27-treated cancer cells fail to retain mitotracker dye while their lysosomes retain lysotracker dye. IEM of the mitochondria cancer cells reveals gold particles present on the mitochondrial membranes.TB-500

PUBLICATION RECORD

Article details

JournalMedical Research Archives

IssueVol 13 No 5 (2025): Vol.13, Issue 5, May 2025

SectionResearch Articles

Published30 May 2025

DOI10.18103/mra.v13i5.6471

ISSN2375-1924

03 · RIGHTS & REUSE

Rights & reuse

This article is published under a Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 3.0) and may be shared or distributed by anyone as long as attribution is given to the journal.Axotropin 10 IU

Conclusions: PNC-27 binds to the p53 binding site of HDM-2 (residues 1-109) inducing transmembrane pore formation and cancer cell necrosis. Furthermore, this peptide enters cancer cells and binds to the membranes of mitochondria, resulting in their disruption.