13-Hydroxy-15-oxo-zoapatlin, an ent-kaurane diterpene, induces apoptosis in human leukemia cells, affecting thiol-mediated redox regulation

13-Hydroxy-15-oxo-zoapatlin (OZ), a nor-kaurane diterpene, was first described as a compound inhibiting the proliferation of human cancer cell lines. Successively, it was reported that OZ inhibits the G₂ DNA damage checkpoint and causes mitotic arrest. To get more insight into the molecular mechanism(s) underlying the antitumor potential of OZ, we evaluated the proapoptotic activity of this molecule. OZ was found to induce hypodiploidia and phosphatidylserine externalization, two hallmarks of apoptosis; to disrupt mitochondrial membrane potential; and to trigger caspase-3 activation. OZ-induced cell death, mostly dependent upon the presence of the α,β-carbonyl group, is strongly related to alterations in the cellular redox balance. The interaction of OZ with cellular components and proteins containing reactive thiols was evaluated by mass spectrometry-based approaches. A specific reactivity of this compound toward glutathione and thioredoxin was observed.