title: A novel naturally occurring tripyrrole with potential nuclease and anti-tumour properties.
abstract: The DNA targeting and membrane damaging activities of a novel tripyrrole 1 obtained as a red pigment from the Micrococcus sp. were investigated. It was found that compound 1 binds with DNA efficiently and facilitates copper-mediated DNA cleavage as well as peroxidation of membrane lipids by a process that does not require any external reducing agent. Compound 1 also showed impressive cytotoxicity to both mouse and human tumour cell lines. The membrane damaging ability of compound 1 might be vital in its nuclease and cytotoxicity properties. Interestingly, compared to the various DNA cleaving agents, compound 1 showed a preferential binding with the G-C rich domain.
authors.affiliation: Bio-Organic Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai 400 085, India.
authors.forename: Mahesh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Subramanian
authors.forename: Ramesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chander
authors.forename: Subrata
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chattopadhyay
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D004247:DNA / Q000187:drug effects; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004720:Endonucleases / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011758:Pyrroles; D004247:DNA; D004720:Endonucleases