Effects of distamycin A on human leukocytes in vitro.
Distamycin A, an oligopeptide antibiotic, supplied at various concentrations for 24 h to human leukocytes in culture, has induced the appearance on some chromosomes of specific areas lacking spiralization. In particular, the centromeric regions of chromosomes 1, 3 and one C-group chromosome and the distal part of the long arm of the Y chromosome were despiralized. The possible nature of these regions is discussed.
D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002503:Centromere / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D002900:Chromosomes, Human, 1-3; D002906:Chromosomes, Human, 6-12 and X; D004214:Distamycins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008677:Metaphase / Q000187:drug effects; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D014998:Y Chromosome
D004214:Distamycins; D011758:Pyrroles