Methylation status of the gene encoding Akt2 in cinnamon extract treated MCF‐7 cells

Abstract

The role of epigenetics in cancer development and progression has exponentially grown in recent years. Polyphenolic compounds from green tea and other sources have been demonstrated to alter methylation status in a variety of genes, including those linked to cancer. Our studies suggest similar results may be possible from treatment of cells with cinnamon extract. We selected the MCF‐7 breast cancer cell line to explore the effects of cinnamon treatment on DNA methylation patterns. Following confirmation of total methylation changes we selected genes of interest in cancer development to complete methylation specific PCR aimed at determining the effects of gene specific methylation changes in cinnamon treated cells. Akt2 signaling can play a major role in different signaling pathways to prevent cellular apoptosis and lead to prolonged cell life. Research also demonstrates variable localization of the Akt2 protein, with confirmed identification in both the cytoplasm and the nucleus. Preliminary results in the lab demonstrate the potential for aqueous cinnamon extract to methylation the Akt2 gene in MCF‐7 cells, potentially decreasing expression of the protein. Here we will present our results demonstrating the methylation change on Akt2 upon cinnamon extract treatment as well as further characterize effects of cinnamon on Akt2 expression and localization. Collection of treated and untreated cells under various treatment regimes will allow further methylation analysis, RNA extraction followed by quantitative PCR to evaluation expression of Akt2. Additionally we will perform Western blot analysis on cytoplasmic and nuclear proteins to determine both protein expression and localization.Support or Funding InformationDepartments of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences and Biological and Allied Health Sciences, Ohio Northern University