title: Cellular consequences of overproduction of DNA topoisomerase II in an ataxia-telangiectasia cell line.
abstract: Abnormal expression of the nuclear-associated enzyme DNA topoisomerase II (topoisomerase II) has been implicated in the in vitro phenotype of radiation hypersensitive ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) cells and in modifying sensitivity of eukaryotic cells to topoisomerase II-inhibitor drugs [e.g., the DNA intercalator amsacrine (mAMSA)]. To study such relationships, various SV40- and Epstein-Barr Virus-transformed human cell lines derived from normal, A-T, or UV-sensitive xeroderma pigmentosum donors have been assayed for their sensitivity to mAMSA together with direct and indirect measurements of topoisomerase II expression. We report on the identification of an SV40-transformed A-T fibroblast cell line with abnormally high levels of topoisomerase II in nuclear protein extracts as determined by immunoblotting, measurement of kinetoplast DNA decatenation activity, and mAMSA-dependent DNA-protein cross-linking activity in a filter binding assay. Using a flow cytometric assay for the analysis of reactivity of nuclei with a polyclonal antitopoisomerase II antibody, overproduction was found to occur in all phases of the cell cycle. High levels of topoisomerase II were associated with hypersensitivity (5-10-fold) to mAMSA-induced cell cycle delay, cell kill, and DNA strand breakage (assayed under protein-denaturing conditions). Xeroderma pigmentosum (group A) cells demonstrated normal responses to mAMSA. The results provide evidence that cellular potential for the generation of topoisomerase II-dependent DNA damage is a major factor in governing the sensitivity to mAMSA. Furthermore, underexpression of topoisomerase II does not appear to be a primary factor in describing the in vitro A-T phenotype. The findings also relate to how changes in chromatin structure and function may either reflect or dictate the expression of topoisomerase II in human cells.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council Clinical Oncology and Radiotherapeutics Unit, M.R.C. Centre, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Makinson
mesh_terms: D000677:Amsacrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001260:Ataxia Telangiectasia / Q000201:enzymology*; D002460:Cell Line; D004247:DNA / Q000187:drug effects; D004249:DNA Damage; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000677:Amsacrine; D004247:DNA; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II