title: The production of chromosomal alterations by beta-lapachone, an activator of topoisomerase I.
abstract: The frequencies of chromosomal aberrations and sister-chromatid exchanges (SCE) after exposure to beta-lapachone, an activator of mammalian topoisomerase I, were studied in Chinese hamster cells. A dose-dependent increase in the frequencies of SCE was observed in continuous treatments with beta-lapachone. Chromatid-type aberrations were obtained in cells exposed to beta-lapachone for one cell cycle but also in cells exposed during the G2 phase of the cell cycle, with a marked induction of exchange-type aberrations for both treatment schedules. We therefore propose that activation of topoisomerase I by beta-lapachone results in the production of chromosomal alterations. The cell cycle dependence of beta-lapachone clastogenic effects strongly suggests a mechanism for the formation of chromosomal aberrations after this drug closely resembling the one observed for the topoisomerase I inhibitor, camptothecin.
authors.affiliation: Centro di Genetica Evoluzionistica C.N.R., Università La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Degrassi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Salvia
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Berghella
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D006224:Cricetinae; D004249:DNA Damage; D004264:DNA Topoisomerases, Type I / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D009285:Naphthoquinones / Q000633:toxicity*; D012854:Sister Chromatid Exchange / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D009285:Naphthoquinones; C014638:beta-lapachone; D004264:DNA Topoisomerases, Type I