Small interfering RNA-directed knockdown of uracil DNA glycosylase induces apoptosis and sensitizes human prostate cancer cells to genotoxic stress.

ABSTRACT: Uracil DNA glycosylase (UNG) is the primary enzyme responsible for removing uracil residues from DNA. Although a substantial body of evidence suggests that DNA damage plays a role in cancer cell apoptosis, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. In particular, very little is known about the role of base excision repair of misincorporated uracil in cell survival. To test the hypothesis that the repair of DNA damage associated with uracil misincorporation is critical for cancer cell survival, we used small interfering RNA (siRNA) to target the human UNG gene. In a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner, siRNA specifically inhibited UNG expression and modified the expression of several genes at both mRNA and protein levels. In LNCaP cells, p53, p21, and Bax protein levels increased

SUBMITTER: Pulukuri SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2730435 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature