
CLC number:
On-line Access: 2026-02-06
Received: 2025-03-25
Revision Accepted: 2025-09-10
Crosschecked: 2026-02-06
Cited: 0
Clicked: 1451
Citations: Bibtex RefMan EndNote GB/T7714
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1131-7455
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9264-2929
Jianlu KONG, Ziyu ZHU, Yijie HU, Siyi ZHOU, Tianyi GU, Xiao SHEN, Huiming WANG, Mengfei YU, Yu LIU. Momordicine I induces ER stress and inhibits OSCC by targeting ribosomal proteins[J]. Journal of Zhejiang University Science B, 2026, 27(2): 164-180.
@article{title="Momordicine I induces ER stress and inhibits OSCC by targeting ribosomal proteins",
author="Jianlu KONG, Ziyu ZHU, Yijie HU, Siyi ZHOU, Tianyi GU, Xiao SHEN, Huiming WANG, Mengfei YU, Yu LIU",
journal="Journal of Zhejiang University Science B",
volume="27",
number="2",
pages="164-180",
year="2026",
publisher="Zhejiang University Press & Springer",
doi="10.1631/jzus.B2500142"
}
%0 Journal Article
%T Momordicine I induces ER stress and inhibits OSCC by targeting ribosomal proteins
%A Jianlu KONG
%A Ziyu ZHU
%A Yijie HU
%A Siyi ZHOU
%A Tianyi GU
%A Xiao SHEN
%A Huiming WANG
%A Mengfei YU
%A Yu LIU
%J Journal of Zhejiang University SCIENCE B
%V 27
%N 2
%P 164-180
%@ 1673-1581
%D 2026
%I Zhejiang University Press & Springer
%DOI 10.1631/jzus.B2500142
TY - JOUR
T1 - Momordicine I induces ER stress and inhibits OSCC by targeting ribosomal proteins
A1 - Jianlu KONG
A1 - Ziyu ZHU
A1 - Yijie HU
A1 - Siyi ZHOU
A1 - Tianyi GU
A1 - Xiao SHEN
A1 - Huiming WANG
A1 - Mengfei YU
A1 - Yu LIU
J0 - Journal of Zhejiang University Science B
VL - 27
IS - 2
SP - 164
EP - 180
%@ 1673-1581
Y1 - 2026
PB - Zhejiang University Press & Springer
ER -
DOI - 10.1631/jzus.B2500142
Abstract: oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide. This necessitates the development of innovative drugs with high efficiency, low toxicity, and good tolerance. Bitter melon extract has been reported to have potent anticancer activity against OSCC. We evaluated the effects of nine triterpenoids from bitter melon extract on OSCC using cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) proliferation and Transwell migration assays. Among the nine triterpenoids, momordicine I (MI) exhibited the strongest anticancer activity against OSCC. Animal experiments also showed that MI inhibited OSCC cell growth in vivo. Additionally, MI decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential and promoted apoptosis in OSCC. RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis revealed that MI induced an unfolded protein response (UPR) and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, which was confirmed by western blotting and reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA) and mass spectrometry (MS) analysis, combined with molecular docking, identified ribosomal proteins (ribosomal protein L7 (RPL7), RPL11, RPL12, RPL18, RPL30, RPL38, RPS13, and RPS25) as MI targets. By targeting ribosomal proteins, MI likely disrupts ribosome-mediated protein folding, leading to the UPR and ER stress. In summary, MI targets ribosomal proteins to induce ER stress and inhibit OSCC, highlighting its therapeutic potential.
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