The inhibition of Ras farnesylation leads to an increase in p27^Kip1 and G1 cell cycle arrest

HR12 is a novel farnesyltransferase inhibitor (FTI). We have shown previously that HR12 induces phenotypic reversion of H-ras^V12-transformed Rat1 (Rat1/ras) fibroblasts. This reversion was characterized by formation of cell-cell contacts, focal adhesions and stress fibers. Here we show that HR12 inhibits anchorage independent and dependent growth of Rat1/ras cells. HR12 also suppresses motility and proliferation of Rat1/ras cells, in a wound healing assay. Rat1 fibroblasts transformed with myristoylated H-ras^V12 (Rat1/myr-ras) were resistant to HR12. Thus, the effects of HR12 are due to the inhibition of farnesylation of Ras. Cell growth of Rat1/ras cells was arrested at the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Analysis of cell cycle components showed that HR12 treatment of Rat1/ras cells led to elevated cellular levels of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27^Kip1 and inhibition of the kinase activity of the cyclin E/Cdk2 complex. This is the first time an FTI has been shown to lead to a rise in p27^Kip1 levels in ras-transformed cells. The data suggest a new mechanism for FTI action, whereby in ras-transformed cells, the FTI causes an increase in p27^Kip1 levels, which in turn inhibit cyclin E/Cdk2 activity, leading to G1 arrest.