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. 1987 May;55(5):493–497. doi: 10.1038/bjc.1987.100

Biochemical and ultrastructural alterations accompany the anti-proliferative effect of butyrate on melanoma cells.

J Nordenberg, L Wasserman, A Peled, Z Malik, K H Stenzel, A Novogrodsky
PMCID: PMC2001723  PMID: 2886147

Abstract

The effect of sodium butyrate on mouse and human melanoma cell lines was evaluated. Sodium butyrate (0.1-2mM) is shown to reduce the clonogenic potential of several melanoma cell lines. The antiproliferative effect of sodium butyrate is accompanied by a marked increase in the activity of the plasma-membrane bound enzyme gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. Sodium butyrate treated cells acquire a well developed rough endoplasmic reticulum and accumulate fat droplets. The development of the endoplasmic reticulum is associated with a marked increase in the activity of the enzyme marker NADPH cytochrome c reductase. It is suggested that the phenotypic alterations induced by sodium butyrate may serve as markers for the action of this agent on melanoma cells and other tumours.

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Selected References

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