Association of MAD2 expression with mitotic checkpoint competence in hepatoma cells

J Biomed Sci. 2004 Nov-Dec;11(6):920-7. doi: 10.1007/BF02254377.

Abstract

Chromosomal instability (CIN) refers to high rates of chromosomal gains and losses and is a major cause of genomic instability of cells. It is thought that CIN caused by loss of mitotic checkpoint contributes to carcinogenesis. In this study, we evaluated the competence of mitotic checkpoint in hepatoma cells and investigated the cause of mitotic checkpoint defects. We found that 6 (54.5%) of the 11 hepatoma cell lines were defective in mitotic checkpoint control as monitored by mitotic indices and flow-cytometric analysis after treatment with microtubule toxins. Interestingly, all 6 hepatoma cell lines with defective mitotic checkpoint showed significant underexpression of mitotic arrest deficient 2 (MAD2), a key mitotic checkpoint protein. The level of MAD2 underexpression was significantly associated with defective mitotic checkpoint response (p < 0.001). In addition, no mutations were found in the coding sequences of MAD2 in all 11 hepatoma cell lines. Our findings suggest that MAD2 deficiency may cause a mitotic checkpoint defect in hepatoma cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Blotting, Western
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / physiology*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / metabolism*
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Chromosomal Instability
  • DNA Mutational Analysis
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic*
  • Genome
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Mad2 Proteins
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Microtubules / metabolism
  • Mitosis*
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Spindle Apparatus*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • MAD2L1 protein, human
  • Mad2 Proteins
  • Repressor Proteins