TY - JOUR AB - TNF receptor‑associated factor 6 (TRAF6) has been reported to be associated with the development of cancer. Nevertheless, the exact role of TRAF6 in cancer remains unclear. The purpose of the present study was to explore the mechanism of 2‑benzoyl‑3‑hydroxy‑4‑methyl‑9H‑xanthen‑9‑one leading to the inhibition of the activation of AKT and TGF‑β‑activated kinase 1 (TAK1), and to the apoptosis of MCF‑7 cells. Using a computational docking program and examination of AKT and TAK1 level changes, a new small molecule was identified, 2‑benzoyl‑3‑hydroxy‑4‑methyl‑9H‑xanthen‑9‑one, which competitively bound to TRAF6. Next, the effect of this new compound on MCF‑7 cells' biological behavior was studied in vitro. MTT assays were used to investigate cell viability; flow cytometry and invasion assays were performed to detect early apoptosis and invasion in MCF‑7 cells, respectively. Immunoprecipitation, western blotting and caspase‑3/9 activity assays were carried out to explore changes in protein expression. Briefly, the present data indicated that 2‑benzoyl‑3‑hydroxy‑4‑methyl‑9H‑xanthen‑9‑one could suppress proliferation, induce early apoptosis and inhibit invasion in MCF‑7 cells by suppressing the expression of Bcl‑2 and promoting the expression of Bax, caspase‑9, and caspase‑3. These findings indicated that 2‑benzoyl‑3‑hydroxy‑4‑methyl‑9H‑xanthen‑9‑one could induce apoptosis by inhibiting the activation of AKT and TAK1, and affecting the Bcl‑2/Bax‑caspase‑9‑caspase‑3 pathway by competitively binding with TRAF6. AD - Department of Chemical Engineering, Shijiazhuang University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050035, P.R. China Department of Chemical Engineering, Shijiazhuang University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050035, P.R. China Department of Pathology and Key Laboratory of Kidney of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050035, P.R. China AU - Zhao,Xuan AU - Ren,Limei AU - Wang,Xiaoru AU - Han,Guangxin AU - Wang,Shuo AU - Yao,Qingguo AU - Qi,Yonghao DA - 2022/02/01 DO - 10.3892/etm.2021.11104 IS - 2 JO - Exp Ther Med KW - 2‑benzoyl‑3‑hydroxy‑4‑methyl‑9H‑xanthen‑9‑one TNF receptor‑associated factor 6 MCF‑7 AKT TGF‑β‑activated kinase 1 apoptosis PY - 2022 SN - 1792-0981 1792-1015 SP - 181 ST - Benzoyl‑xanthone derivative induces apoptosis in MCF‑7 cells by binding TRAF6 T2 - Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine TI - Benzoyl‑xanthone derivative induces apoptosis in MCF‑7 cells by binding TRAF6 UR - https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2021.11104 VL - 23 ER -