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In a report published December 10, 2021 in the journal PLoS ONE, Hiroshima University researchers summarize their findings that DIM, or 3,3'-diindolylmethane, also triggers Controlled whole-cell death and recycling of cellular components in fission yeast

"We found that the chemical compound DIM is able to induce a novel biological activity that disrupts the nuclear envelope of fission yeast," said Ueno, an associate professor at the Hiroshima Center for Healthy Aging Research

The nuclear envelope wraps the genetic information of the cell

"The integrity of the nuclear envelope is very important for human health," Ueno said

Part of the cellular repair process is called autophagy

"Our results suggest that the nuclear envelope may have been one of DIM's early targets," said paper author Parvaneh Emami, a graduate student at Hiroshima University's Graduate School of Integrated Life Sciences

The finding builds on a previous report by a German team that found that high concentrations of DIM can extend the lifespan of fission yeast

"Recent studies in humans suggest that DIM is a potential anticancer drug that can induce apoptosis in multiple cancer types, including breast, prostate, gastric, and pancreatic cancers," Ueno said

The researchers will continue to study the role of DIM in fission yeast

"We wanted to understand how DIM disrupts the nuclear envelope of fission yeast, which could lead to the development of a first-in-class drug to kill cancer cells," Emami said.

3,3'-Diindolylmethane induces apoptosis and autophagy in fission yeast