In this study, we elucidated the molecular mechanism of silymarin by which silymarin may inhibits cell proliferation in human colorectal cancer cells in order to search the new potential anti-cancer target associated with the cell growth arrest. Silymarin reduced the level of c-Myc protein but not mRNA level indicating that silymarin-mediated downregulation of c-Myc may result from the proteasomal degradation. In the confirmation of silymarin-mediated c-Myc degradation, MG132 as a proteasome inhibitor attenuated c-Myc degradation by silymarin. In addition, silymarin phosphorylated the threonine-58 (Thr58) of c-Myc and the point mutation of Thr58 to alanine blocked its degradation by silymarin, which indicates that Thr58 phosphorylation may be an important modification for silymarin-mediated c-Myc degradation. We observed that the inhibition of ERK1/2, p38 and GSK3β blocked the Thr58 phosphorylation and subsequent c-Myc degradation by silymarin. Finally, the point mutation of Thr58 to alanine attenuated silymarin-mediated inhibition of the cell growth. The results suggest that silymarin induces the cell growth arrest through c-Myc proteasomal degradation via ERK1/2, p38 and GSK3β-dependent Thr58 phosphorylation.

• Hyun Ji Eo(Department of Medicinal Plant Resources, Andong National University, Andong 36729, Korea)
• Jin Boo Jeong(Department of Medicinal Plant Resources, Andong National University, Andong 36729, Korea, Agricultural Science and Technology Research Institute, Andong 36729, Korea)
• Jin Suk Koo(Department of Medicinal Plant Resources, Andong National University, Andong 36729, Korea ,Agricultural Science and Technology Research Institute, Andong 36729, Korea)
• Hyung Jin Jeong(Department of Medicinal Plant Resources, Andong National University, Andong 36729, Korea, Agricultural Science and Technology Research Institute, Andong 36729, Korea)