Cdc20gene expression in AML cell lines

Evaluating the possible mechanism of action of a novel anti-fungal drug on cdc20gene expression in AML cell lines

Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is fast progressing cancer of the blood which originates in the bone marrow. Cdc20 is a specific cell division checkpoint protein that helps in the activation of the anaphase-promoting complex (APC) and promotes premature mitosis leading to the fast progressive nature of cancer in AML. Increased expression of Cdc20 has been implicated in various cancerous cells and is considered to be a potential target for anti-cancer drugs.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the mechanism of action, of a novel drug used to treat AML. The drug is an established antifungal agent and has been shown to cause cytotoxicity in AML cell lines. Hence, the present study evaluated the impact of the novel drug on Cdc20 expression. The evaluation was based on RNA levels and cDNA expressions, derived from AML cell lines compared to non-cancerous cell lines.

Reverse transcription was used to get the cDNA imprints. This was essential to probe the cDNA derived from the RNA samples with the cdc20 probe. The qRT-PCR approach was implemented to evaluate the changes in expression of RNA samples (based on cDNA expressions) that were treated with the experimental drug compared to samples that were untreated. This method was used to quantify the expression of RNA over certain periods of time. A housekeeping gene GAPDH was incorporated as an endogenous …