Partial TEX14 peptides inhibit proliferation of cancer cells and have potential as anti-tumour agents.

TEX14 is essential for the formation and maintenance of the intercellular bridge (ICB) which is one of the major cellular junctions required for spermatogenesis. Previously, TEX14 was shown to block germ cell abscission prior to cytokinesis through the GPPX3Y (Gly-Pro-Pro-X-X-X-Tyr) motif. Although TEX14 could have the potential to inhibit cell proliferation, it is difficult for full-length TEX14 to be applied as anti-tumour agents because of its molecular size. In addition, the involvement of amino acids surrounding the GPPX3Y motif in the ICB formation as well as cell proliferation remains to be investigated for anti-tumour treatment. In this study, we show that partial peptides of TEX14, which include the GPPX3Y motif, are sufficient to inhibit the proliferation of a variety of cancer cells and efficiently induce apoptosis. In addition, the length and variation of amino acids surrounding the GPPX3Y motif might attenuate the efficiency of partial TEX14 peptides to inhibit cell proliferation as well as to induce apoptosis. Thus, our findings suggest that these TEX14 short peptides could be useful to suppress cell division in continuously proliferating cells such as cancer cells without affecting germ cell differentiation and have the potential as anti-tumour agents.