title: Stimulation of topoisomerase II-mediated DNA cleavage by three DNA-intercalating plant alkaloids: cryptolepine, matadine, and serpentine.
abstract: Cryptolepine, matadine, and serpentine are three indoloquinoline alkaloids isolated from the roots of African plants: Cryptolepis sanguinolenta, Strychnos gossweileri, and Rauwolfia serpentina, respectively. For a long time, these alkaloids have been used in African folk medicine in the form of plant extracts for the treatment of multiple diseases, in particular as antimalarial drugs. To date, the molecular basis for their diverse biological effects remains poorly understood. To elucidate their mechanism of action, we studied their interaction with DNA and their effects on topoisomerase II. The strength and mode of binding to DNA of the three alkaloids were investigated by spectroscopy. The alkaloids bind tightly to DNA and behave as typical intercalating agents. All three compounds stabilize the topoisomerase II-DNA covalent complex and stimulate the cutting of DNA by topoisomerase II. The poisoning effect is more pronounced with cryptolepine than with matadine and serpentine, but none of the drugs exhibit a preference for cutting at a specific base. Cryptolepine which binds 10-fold more tightly to DNA than the two related alkaloids proves to be much more cytotoxic toward B16 melanoma cells than matadine and serpentine. The cellular consequences of the inhibition of topoisomerase II by cryptolepine were investigated using the HL60 leukemia cell line. The flow cytometry analysis shows that the drug alters the cell cycle distribution, but no sign of drug-induced apoptosis was detected when evaluating the internucleosomal fragmentation of DNA in cells. Cryptolepine-treated cells probably die via necrosis rather than via apoptosis. The results provide evidence that DNA and topoisomerase II are the primary targets of cryptolepine, matadine, and serpentine.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U524, Laboratoire de Pharmacologie Antitumorale du Centre Oscar Lambret, IRCL, Lille, France.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dassonneville
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bonjean
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: De Pauw-Gillet
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Colson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Houssier
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Quetin-Leclercq
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Angenot
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bailly
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000494:pharmacology; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000187:drug effects; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D004563:Electrochemistry; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005454:Fluorescence Polarization; D018922:HL-60 Cells; D006801:Humans; D026121:Indole Alkaloids; D007211:Indoles; D007364:Intercalating Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011804:Quinolines; D046948:Secologanin Tryptamine Alkaloids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D059005:Topoisomerase II Inhibitors
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D026121:Indole Alkaloids; D007211:Indoles; D007364:Intercalating Agents; D011804:Quinolines; D046948:Secologanin Tryptamine Alkaloids; D059005:Topoisomerase II Inhibitors; C119972:matadine; C024015:cryptolepine; D004247:DNA; C009244:serpentine (alkaloid); D004250:DNA Topoisomerases, Type II