Identification and Characterization of a Novel NADPH Oxidase 1 (Nox1) Inhibitor That Suppresses Proliferation of Colon and Stomach Cancer Cells.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase (Nox)1 mediate cellular signalings involved in normal physiological processes, and aberrant control of Nox1 has been implicated in the pathogenesis of various diseases. Therefore, Nox1 could have great potential as a therapeutic target. Here, we identified a novel Nox1 inhibitor, NOS31 secreted from Stretomyces sp. and analyzed its chemical structure. Furthermore, NOS31 was found to selectively inhibit Nox1-mediated ROS generation, with only a marginal effect on other Nox isoforms (Nox2-5) and no ROS scavenging activity. This compound blocked both Nox organizer 1 (NOXO1)/Nox activator 1 (NOXA1)-dependent and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-stimulated Nox1-mediated ROS production in colon cancer cells. NOS31 inhibited the proliferation of several colon carcinoma and gastric cancer cell lines that upregulate the Nox1 system, whereas it had no appreciable effect on normal cells with low levels of Nox1. The finding suggests that NOS31 is a unique, potent Nox1 inhibitor of microbial origin and raises its possibility as a therapeutic agent for inhibiting gastrointestinal cancer cell growth.