title: Rational design and molecular effects of a new topoisomerase II inhibitor, azatoxin.
abstract: Azatoxin [NSC 640737-M; 5.R,11aS-1H,6H,3-one-5,4,11,11a-tetrahydro-5-(3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydr oxyphenyl) oxazolo (3',4':1,6)pyrido-(3,4-b)indole] was rationally designed from a model for the pharmacophore of drugs with topoisomerase II inhibition activity. This pharmacophore has at least 2 domains: a quasiplanar polycyclic ring system proposed to bind between the DNA base pairs and a pendant substituent proposed to interact with the enzyme and/or to the DNA grooves. The present study shows that, in cell free systems, azatoxin induces a large number of double strand-breaks in linear Simian virus 40 and human c-myc DNA. These breaks yield cleavage patterns that are different from those of well established topoisomerase II inhibitors (epipodophyllotoxins, amsacrine, mitoxantrone). Azatoxin also inhibits the catalytic activity of purified topoisomerase II, and is a nonintercalator. The structure-activity relationship of 3 isomers and 6 derivatives of azatoxin shows a stringent stereochemical requirement for activity. The effects of azatoxin pendant ring substitution on topoisomerase II mediated DNA cleavage activity were similar to the relationship observed for etoposide.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Leteurtre
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Madalengoitia
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Orr
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Guzi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lehnert
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Macdonald
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pommier
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Cuzi
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000187:drug effects*; D004249:DNA Damage; D004264:DNA Topoisomerases, Type I / Q000494:pharmacology; D004278:DNA, Superhelical / Q000187:drug effects; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000187:drug effects; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D007211:Indoles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011034:Podophyllotoxin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D013539:Simian virus 40 / Q000235:genetics; D059005:Topoisomerase II Inhibitors
chemical_list: D004278:DNA, Superhelical; D004279:DNA, Viral; D007211:Indoles; D059005:Topoisomerase II Inhibitors; C075996:azatoxin; D004247:DNA; D004264:DNA Topoisomerases, Type I; D011034:Podophyllotoxin