Biol. Pharm. Bull., 28(3),434-441, March 2005

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Catfish Egg Lectin Causes Rapid Activation of Multidrug Resistance 1 P-Glycoprotein as a Lipid Translocase


Shigeki SUGAWARA, Masahiro HOSONO, Yukiko OGAWA, Motoaki TAKAYANAGI, and Kazuo NITTA*

Cancer Research Institute, Tohoku Pharmaceutical University; 4-4-1 Komatsushima, Aoba-ku, Sendai 981-8558, Japan. * To whom correspondence should be addressed. e-mail: knitta@tohoku-pharm.ac.jp

Rhamnose-binding lectin from catfish (Silurus asotus) eggs (SAL) has the ability to induce externalization of phosphatidylserine (PS), followed by cell shrinkage in globotriaosylceramide (Gb3)-expressing Burkitt's lymphoma Raji cells. Because phospholipid scramblase and aminophospholipid translocase did not participate in SAL-induced PS externalization, we examined the relationship of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, such as multidrug resistance (MDR) 1 P-glycoprotein (MDR1 P-gp) and MDR-associated protein 1 (MRP1), for translocation of PS. Since cyclosporin A (MDR1 P-gp inhibitor) but not MK571 (MRP1 inhibitor) inhibited SAL-induced PS externalization, it was suggested that MDR1 P-gp is involved in this phenomenon. On the other hand, SAL activated both of the ABC transporters for efflux of rhodamine123 (MDR1 P-gp substrate, Rho123) and 5-carboxyfluorescein diacetate (MRP1 substrate, 5-CFDA) in Raji cells. In contrast, SAL did not activate these two transporters in Gb3-negative cell lines, such as K562 and doxorubicin-resistant K562 cells, involving not only PS externalization but also efflux of Rho123 or 5-CFDA. Since Gb3 and both transporters in Raji cells are located in the glycosphingolipid-enriched microdomain (GEM), it is suggested that the binding of SAL to Gb3 localized in the GEM specifically induces MDR1 P-gp activation in Raji cells.

Key words rhamnose-binding lectin; phosphatidylserine; annexin V; lipid translocation; multidrug resistance (MDR)1 P-glycoprotein; glycosphingolipid-enriched microdomain