title: Crosslinking of cellular DNA by nitracrine and furocoumarin derivatives.
abstract: The anticancer drug, nitracrine, a 1-nitro-9-aminoalkyl derivative of acridine exhibits potent cytotoxic effects which are due to its metabolic activation, followed by covalent binding to macromolecules--DNA being the target for the drug. The renaturable fraction of DNA from L-1210 cells pretreated with nitracrine is assayed by means of ethidium bromide fluorescence assay and chromatography on hydroxyapatite column. The effect of the drug was compared with furocoumarins of different DNA crosslinking potencies. The existence of crosslinks in DNA upon incubation of cells with nitracrine (1-4 microM) have been confirmed with two different methods under the conditions where 8-methoxypsoralen, a classic crosslinking agent induced the renaturation. The DNA preparation isolated from the drug pretreated cells exhibited decreased transcriptional template activity with E. coli DNA-dependent RNA polymerase.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Chemistry, Institute of Physiology and Biochemistry, Medical University of Lódź, Poland.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Studzian
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tołwińska-Stańczyk
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wilmańska
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Palumbo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gniazdowski
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002417:Cattle; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011564:Furocoumarins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D009564:Nitracrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019384:Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D011564:Furocoumarins; D019384:Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors; D009564:Nitracrine; D004247:DNA