Significant expression of tafazzin (TAZ) protein in colon cancer cells and its downregulation by radiation

Surajit Pathak, Antara Banerjee, Wen-Jian Meng, Suman Kumar Nandy, Madhumala Gopinath, Xiao-Feng Sun

To demonstrate the radiation responses of TAZ in colon cancer. TAZ expression was examined in colon cancer cell lines SW480, KM12C, SW620 and KM12L4a. We used KM12C and KM12L4a for the experiment by using X-rays and UV rays (mW/cm(2)). We used HCT15 cell line to test the expression of TAZ by using an anti-TAZ drug, viz., 9-fluorenone, which is a hippo-yap/taz signaling inhibitor. The experimentation also involved exposing HCT15 cell line, to radiation. Cell proliferation and apoptosis studies were carried out. TAZ interactions with oncoproteins were screened and Livin, MAC30 and FXYD-3 were considered for in silico protein-protein interaction studies. TAZ protein was significantly downregulated after 2Gy radiations. 9-fluorenone inhibited the expression of TAZ. Action of 9-fluorenone along with radiation, decreased the percentage of proliferation and increased apoptosis. Computational studies predicted that TAZ interacts to oncoproteins Livin, MAC30 and FXYD-3. Our results suggest that TAZ plays a significant role in non-metastatic KM12C cells and is predominantly seen in the colon cancer cells isolated from primary stages of cancer. Thus, use of TAZ protein as a biomarker will be an efficient way to detect tumors in the early stages and treatment may be modulated with radiation before surgery/therapy.