Valosin-containing Protein is a Target of 5'-l Fuligocandin B and Enhances TRAIL Resistance in Cancer Cells.

Fuligocandin B ( 2 ) is a novel natural product that can overcome TRAIL resistance. We synthesized enatiomerically pure fuligocandin B ( 2 ) and its derivative 5'-I fuligocandin B ( 4 ), and found that the latter had an improved biological activity against the human gastric cancer cell line, AGS. We attached a biotin linker and photoactivatable aryl diazirine group to 5'-I fuligocandin B ( 4 ), and employed a pull-down assay to identify valosin-containing protein (VCP/p97), an AAA ATPase, as a 5'-I fuligocandin B ( 4 ) target protein. Knock-down of VCP by siRNA enhanced sensitivity to TRAIL in AGS cells. In addition, 4 enhanced CHOP and DR5 protein expression, and overall intracellular levels of ubiquitinated protein. These data suggest that endoplasmic reticulum stress caused through VCP inhibition by 4 increases CHOP-mediated DR5 up-regulation, which enhances TRAIL-induced cell death in AGS cells. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example to show a relationship between VCP and TRAIL-resistance-overcoming activity in cancer cells.