Mechanism of action of chounghwamycin A.
The mechanism of action of chounghwamycin A to tumor cells resembles that of actinomycin D, preferentially inhibiting the synthesis of RNA. The interaction of chounghwamycin A with DNA was studied, and the results indicated that chounghwamycin A could not cause any scission in tested DNA. However, an induced mobility shift of the DNA in agarose gel electrophoresis was observed. When the concentration of chounghwamycin A gradually increased, the migration rate of closed circular form DNA is gradually slowed. At a critical concentration of chounghwamycin A, 15.6 micrograms/ml, the migration rate of closed circular form DNA reaches its minimum value. As more choungwamycin A is added, the mobility of the closed circular DNA increases gradually again, suggesting that the intercalation of chounghwamycin A in DNA is the primary mechanism of its action against tumor cells.
Liu
Y T
YT
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Yeh
S J
SJ
Liao
C L
CL
Chou
C F
CF
Shou
L
L
D000818:Animals; D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D002286:Carcinoma, Ehrlich Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D004270:DNA, Circular / Q000187:drug effects; D003609:Dactinomycin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D007700:Kinetics; D007941:Leukemia P388 / Q000378:metabolism; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D012313:RNA / Q000096:biosynthesis
D000903:Antibiotics, Antineoplastic; D004270:DNA, Circular; C049845:chounghwamycin A; D003609:Dactinomycin; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA