Assessing the anticancer properties of Biocyanin SLH (360G-Wellcome-211667_Z_18_Z)

Haemocyanins are oxygen-carrying proteins found in the haemolymph of molluscs and gastropods. They are of interest to biotech and medical research as strongly immunogenic carrier proteins, for making antibodies to conjugated peptides and for use as cancer vaccines. In addition, direct application of haemocyanin to tumours has been shown to produce an anticancer effect, and haemocyanins from several species including keyhole limpet have shown promise in the treatment of bladder cancer, colon cancer and melanoma. Particularly striking are their lack of toxicity and adverse effects. Recently, Mikota PLC have developed protocols for the purification of a new haemocyanin, Biocyanin SLH, from the slipper limpet Crepidula fornicata. The main aim of our proposal is to test the potential of Biocyanin SLH as an anticancer agent, by incubating it with a panel of cancer cell lines and assessing its ability to induce cell death. In addition, we will investigate the signalling pathways involved in the anticancer action of Biocyanin SLH, determining whether cell death occurs via apoptosis or necrosis, and analysing cellular production of stress molecules. Finally, we will label Biocyanin SLH with a fluorescent dye to track its interaction with cells using confocal microscopy. Keywords: haemocyanin, cancer, cell death.