Investigation of the Anticancer Effect of Azurin Produced from Pseudomonas Aeruginosa

Abstract

Azurin is a low molecular weight protein and member of the Cupredoxin family, it is produced by the bacteria Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, and it is a natural scaffold protein that has antiparasitic, antiviral, and, most notably, anti-cancerous properties. In the course of this study, 5 Pseudomonas Aeruginosa isolates were provided by the University of Mansoura and 4 screening processes took place, including gram stain, gel electrophoresis, SDS-PAGE, and electron microscopy, all in search for the isolate with the optimum azurin producing ability. 1 isolate was chosen for further testing against the breast cancer cell line MCF-7. Azurin was investigated for its ability to decrease cell viability and increase DNA damage. Azurin was shown to be an anticancer agent which achieves its ability by interacting with multiple targets and interfering in multiple steps in the progression of cancer, such as inhibiting P-Cadherin expression, increasing p53, reducing VEGFR-2 tyrosine kinase activity and interfering in the receptor tyrosine kinase EphB2-mediated signaling process.