Serine/threonine kinase gene (STK11) is identified as tumor suppressor gene whose mutation can lead to
Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS). STK11 is emerging as a multifunctional
protein, it activates 14 different
AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) family members, important in the regulation of cell polarity, cell cycle arrest, energy and hemostasis. Present study was designed to evaluate STK11
mRNA expression in MCF-7
cancer and MCF-10 normal breast cells lines.
mRNA expression was studied by real-time PCR. Further, human STK11 promoter construct was fused to a
luciferase reporter and transfected into both MCF-7 and MCF-10 cells to identify the promoter activity in these cells. STK11
mRNA was found significantly higher in MCF-7 compared to MCF-10 cells (p value < 0.0005) indicating its role in the onset of
breast cancer. Interestingly, it was found that the promoter activity of STK11 gene in MCF-7 cells was also significantly higher when compared to MCF-10 cells (p value < 0.005). Positive correlation was observed in promoter activity and gene expression (p = 0.048, r2 = 0.587). This study for the first time relates the altered STK11 gene expression in
breast cancer cells with altered promoter activity. The present finding may shed light on the new therapeutic approaches against
breast cancer by targeting gene or its promoter.