title: Cytotoxicity of polyspermine-ribonuclease A and polyspermine-dimeric ribonuclease A.
abstract: Polyspermine-ribonuclease A (PS-RNase A) and polyspermine-dimeric ribonuclease A (PS-dimeric RNase A) were prepared by cross-linking ribonuclease A or its covalently linked dimer to polyspermine (PS) using dimethyl suberimidate. The two RNase A derivatives were tested for a possible antitumor action. The in vitro and in vivo cytotoxic activity of PS-RNase A, although strong, is not higher than that known for free polyspermine. PS-dimeric RNase A, which was characterized by mass spectroscopy, titration of free amine groups, and enzymatic assays, proved instead to be a definitely more efficient antitumor agent, both in vitro and in vivo. This result could tentatively be explained in view of the importance of positive charges for ribonuclease activity, considering the higher basicity of PS-dimeric RNase A compared to that of PS-(monomeric)RNase A. It must be also taken into account that the dimeric RNase A moiety of PS-dimeric RNase A could evade the cytoplasmic ribonuclease inhibitor, which instead could trap the monomeric RNase A moiety of the other derivative. The two RNase A derivatives degrade poly(A).poly(U) under conditions where native RNase A is inactive. The results of this work demonstrate once again the importance of positive charges for the functions of mammalian pancreatic type ribonucleases in general, in particular for RNase A derivatives, and the potential therapeutic use of the ribonuclease A derivatives.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biophysics and Informatics, 1st Medical Faculty of the Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Pavla
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Poucková
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morbio
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vottariello
authors.forename: Douglas V
authors.initials: DV
authors.lastname: Laurents
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Matousek
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Soucek
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gotte
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Donadelli
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Costanzo
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Libonati
mesh_terms: D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents / Q000737:chemistry; D019281:Dimerization; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D012259:Ribonuclease, Pancreatic / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; D013096:Spermine / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D003432:Cross-Linking Reagents; D013096:Spermine; D012313:RNA; D012259:Ribonuclease, Pancreatic