Arginine deiminase inhibits cell proliferation by arresting cell cycle and inducing apoptosis
H. Gong, F. Zölzer, G. von Recklinghausen, J. Rössler, S. Breit, W. Havers, T. Fotsis and L. SchweigererBiochemical and Biophysical Research Communications (1999), Vol. 261 pages 10-14
We have previously demonstrated that arginine deiminase inhibits the proliferation of vascular endothelial cells, but the mechanisms leading to growth inhibition have remained unclear. We report here that low concentrations of arginine deiminase purified from Mycoplasma arginini inhibit proliferation of various cultured cells by arresting the cell cycle in G1 and/or S phase with higher arginine deiminase concentrations leading to subsequent apoptosis. Our results demonstrate that arginine deiminase inhibits cell proliferation not only by depletion of arginine, but also by mechanisms involving the cell cycle and death signals.