Cytotoxicity and cell cycle specificity of homoharringtonine.
The plant alkaloid, homoharringtonine, isolated from Cephalotaxus harringtonia is cytotoxic to HeLa, KB, and L cells growing in monolayer cell cultures. This effect appears to be cell-cycle specific. In synchronized KB cells, protein synthesis was preferentially inhibited in the G(1) and G(2) phases (70 and 45% inhibition, respectively) as might be expected for a protein-synthesis inhibitor.
D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D006248:Harringtonines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007739:L Cells; D008239:Lysine / Q000378:metabolism; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014529:Uridine / Q000378:metabolism
D000470:Alkaloids; D006248:Harringtonines; D008239:Lysine; D013936:Thymidine; D014529:Uridine