Inhibition of Metastasis By the Porphyra Yezoensis Peptide in MCF-7 Cells

   Seaweeds have received a great deal of attention in recent years because they contain high amounts of proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Porphyra yezoensis is an intertidal marine red alga that has received increasing attention as a model organism owing to its important role in biological research. Therefore, this study examined this alga’s peptide activity on metastasis.

In this study, we also examined the effect of cell–cell adhesion mechanisms (especially β-catenin) on specific pathways. We focused on cell inhibition, cell motility, and proliferation through decreased β-catenin by downregulation of Wnt, and explored whether PPY activates the Ras/Mek/Elk pathway in MCF-7 cells. Ras protein levels, as well as Raf or Mek levels, significantly decreased after MCF-7 cell exposure to PPY. These signaling pathways are known to be important for cell differentiation and proliferation. The antitumor and metastatic effect of PPY is known to be mediated by inhibiting the activation of TGF-β1 and Wnt/β-signaling, accompanied by decreased Ras signaling in MCF-7 cells.