[HMG1 domains: the victims of circumstance]. / HMG1-domeny: zalozhniki obstoiatel'stv.

The method of circular dichroism (CD) was used to compare DNA behavior during its interaction with linker histone H1 and with non-histone chromosomal protein HMG1 at different ionic strength and at different protein content in the system. The role of negatively charged C-terminal fragment of HMG1 was analyzed using recombinant protein HMG1-(A + B), which lacks the C terminal amino acid sequence. The psi-type CD spectra were common for DNA interaction with histone H1, but no spectra of this type were observed in HMG1-DNA systems even at high ionic strength. The CD spectrum of the truncated recombinant protein at high salt concentration somewhat resembled the psi-type spectrum. Two very intense positive bands were located near 215 nm and near 273 nm, and the whole CD spectrum was positive. The role of C-terminal tail of HMG1 in formation of the ordered DNA-protein complexes is discussed.

DNA interaction and cytotoxicity of a new series of indolo[2,3-b]quinoxaline and pyridopyrazino[2,3-b]indole derivatives.

Absorption, melting temperature and linear dichroism measurements were performed to investigate the interaction with DNA of a series of 16 tricyclic and tetracyclic compounds related to the antiviral agent B-220. The relative DNA affinity of the test compounds containing an indolo[2,3-b]quinoxaline, pyridopyrazino[2,3-b]indoles or pyrazino[2,3-b]indole planar chromophore varies significantly depending on the nature of the side chain grafted onto the indole nitrogen. Compounds with a dimethylaminoethyl chain strongly bind to DNA and exhibit a preference for GC-rich DNA sequences, as revealed by DNase I footprinting. Weaker DNA interactions were detected with those bearing a morpholinoethyl side chain. The incorporation of a 2,3-dihydroxypropyl side chain does not reinforce the DNA interaction compared with the unsubstituted analogues. Both the DNA relaxation assay and cytotoxicity study using two human leukemia cell lines sensitive (HL-60) or resistant (HL-60/MX2) to the antitumor drug mitoxantrone, indicate that topoisomerase II is not a privileged target for the test compounds which only weakly interfere with the catalytic activity of the DNA cleaving enzyme. Cytometry studies showed that the most cytotoxic compounds induce a massive accumulation of cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. Collectively, the data show a relationship between DNA binding and cytotoxicity in the indolo[2,3-b]quinoxaline series.

Sequence-dependent binding of bis-amidine carbazole dications to DNA.

The conventional wisdom argues that DNA intercalators possess a condensed polyaromatic ring whereas DNA minor groove binders generally contain unfused aromatic heterocycles, frequently separated by amide bonds. Recently, this view has been challenged with the discovery of powerful intercalating agents formed by unfused aromatic molecules and groove binders containing a polyaromatic nucleus. Bis-amidinocarbazoles belong to this later category of drugs having a planar chromophore and capable of reading the genetic information accessible within the minor groove of AT-rich sequences [Tanious, F.A., Ding, D., Patrick, D.A., Bailly, C., Tidwell, R.R. & Wilson, W.D. (2000) Biochemistry 39, 12091-12101]. But in addition to the tight binding to AT sites, we show here that bis-amidinocarbazoles can also interact with GC sites. The extent and mode of binding of 2,7 and 3,6 substituted amidinocarbazoles to AT and GC sequences were investigated by complementary biochemical and biophysical methods. Absorption, fluorescence, melting temperature and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) measurements indicate that the position of the two amidine groups on the carbazole ring influences significantly the drug-DNA interaction. SPR and DNase I footprinting data confirm the AT-preference of the compounds and provide useful information on their additional interaction with GC sequences. The 3,6-carbazole binds approximately twice as strongly to the GC-containing hairpin oligomer than the 2,7-regioisomer. The high tendency of the 3,6 compound to intercalate into different types of DNA containing G.C base pairs is shown by electric linear dichroism. This work completes our understanding of the sequence-dependent DNA binding properties of carbazole dications.

Synthesis, cytotoxicity, DNA interaction and topoisomerase II inhibition properties of tetrahydropyrrolo[3,4-a]carbazole-1,3-dione and tetrahydropyrido-[3,2-b]pyrrolo[3,4-g]indole-1,3-dione derivatives.

Three tetrahydropyrrolo[3,4-a]carbazole-1,3-diones (6--8) and two tetrahydropyrido[3,2-b]pyrrolo[3,4-g]indole-1,3-diones (11--12) have been synthesized. Their interaction with DNA was probed by absorption and thermal melting studies. Compounds 8 and 12 both equipped with a hydroxyethyl-aminoethyl side-chain demonstrated higher affinities for poly(dA-dT)(2) than compounds 6, 7 and 11 bearing a dimethylaminoethyl side-chain. Circular and electric linear dichroism measurements showed that all five drugs behave as typical DNA intercalating agents. A plasmid cleavage assay was used to evaluate the capacity of the drugs to inhibit human topoisomerase II. Compounds 8 and 12 which bind strongly to DNA were found to stabilize DNA-topoisomerase II covalent complexes but their topoisomerase II inhibitory properties do not correlate with their cytotoxic potential. Compounds 6 and 7 are essentially inactive whereas compounds 8, 11 and 12 exhibit a high toxicity to P388 murine leukemia cells and provoke a marked accumulation in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. These compounds form a new class of DNA-targeted antitumor agents.

DNA interaction of the tyrosine protein kinase inhibitor PD153035 and its N-methyl analogue.

The brominated anilinoquinazoline derivative PD153035 exhibits a very high affinity and selectivity for the epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase (EGF-R TK) and shows a remarkable cytotoxicity against several types of tumor cell lines. In contrast, its N-methyl derivative, designated EBE-A22, has no effect on EGF-R TK but maintains a high cytotoxic profile. The present study was performed to explore the possibility that PD153035 and its N-methyl analogue might interact with double-stranded DNA, which is a primary target for many conventional antitumor agents. We studied the strength and mode of binding to DNA of PD153035 and EBE-A22 by means of absorption, fluorescence, and circular and linear dichroism as well as by a relaxation assay using human DNA topoisomerases. The results of various optical and gel electrophoresis techniques converge to show that both drugs bind to DNA and behave as typical intercalating agents. In particular, EBE-A22 unwinds supercoiled plasmid, stabilizes duplex DNA against heat denaturation, and produces negative CD and ELD signals, as expected for an intercalating agent. Extensive DNase I footprinting experiments performed with a large range of DNA substrates show that EBE-A22, but not PD153035, interacts preferentially with GC-rich sequences and discriminates against homooligomeric runs of A and T which are often cut more readily by the enzyme in the presence of the drug compared to the control. Altogether, the results provide the first experimental evidence that DNA is a target of anilinoquinazoline derivatives and suggest that this N-methylated ring system is a valid candidate for the development of DNA-targeted cytotoxic compounds. The possible relevance of selective DNA binding to activity is considered. The unexpected GC-selective binding properties of EBE-A22 entreat further exploration into the use of N-methylanilinoquinazoline derivatives as tools for designing sequence-specific DNA binding ligands.

Rebeccamycin analogues from indolo[2,3-c]carbazole.

Glycosylated indolocarbazoles related to the antibiotic rebeccamycin represent an important series of antitumor drugs. In the course of structure-activity relationship studies, we report the synthesis of two new derivatives containing an indolo[2,3-c]carbazole chromophore instead of the conventional indolo[2,3-a]carbazole unit found in the natural metabolites. The N-methylated compound 8 containing one glucose residue behaves as a typical DNA intercalating agent, as judged from circular and electric linear dichroism measurements with purified DNA. In contrast, the bis-glycosylated derivative 7 containing a glucose residue on each indole nitrogen has lost its capacity to form stable complexes with DNA. DNA relaxation experiments reveal that the two drugs 7 and 8 have weak effects on human DNA topoisomerase I. The modified conformation of the indolocarbazole chromophore is detrimental to the stabilization of topoisomerase I-DNA complexes. The lack of potent topoisomerase I inhibition leads to decreased cytotoxicity but, however, we observed that the DNA-intercalating mono-glycosyl derivative 8 is about 5 times more cytoxic than the bis-glycosyl analogue 7. The study suggests that the naturally-occurring indolo[2,3-a]carbazole skeleton should be preserved to maintain the topoisomerase I inhibitory and cytotoxic activities.

Novel dications with unfused aromatic systems: trithiophene and trifuran derivatives of furimidazoline.

We report the synthesis, interaction with DNA, topoisomerase II inhibition, and cytotoxicity of two novel unfused aromatic dications derived from the antimicrobial agent furimidazoline. The central diphenylfuran core of furimidazoline has been replaced with a trithiophene (DB358) or a trifuran (DB669) unit and the terminal imidazoline groups were preserved. The strength and mode of binding of the drugs to nucleic acids were investigated by complementary spectroscopic techniques including spectrophotometric, surface plasmon resonance, circular and linear dichroism measurements. The trifuran derivative forms intercalation complexes with double-stranded DNA, whereas the mode of binding of the trithiophene derivative varies depending on the drug/DNA ratio, as independently confirmed by NMR spectroscopic studies performed with (A-T)7 and (G-C)7 oligomers. Two-dimensional NMR data provided a molecular model for the binding of DB358 within the minor groove of the AATT sequence of the decanucleotide d(GCGAATTCGC)(2). DNase I footprinting experiments confirmed the sequence-dependent binding of DB358 to DNA. The trithiophene derivative interacts preferentially with AT-rich sequences at low concentrations, but can accomodate GC sites at higher concentrations. DNA relaxation assays revealed that DB358 stimulated DNA cleavage by topoisomerase II, in contrast to DB669. The substitution of N-alkylamidines for the imidazoline terminal groups abolished the capacity of the drug to poison topoisomerase II. At the cellular level, flow cytometry analysis indicated that DB358, which is about six times more cytotoxic than the trifuran analogue, induced a significant accumulation of HL-60 human leukemia cells in the G2/M phase. The incorporation of thiophene heterocycles appears as a convenient procedure to limit the strict AT selectivity of dications containing an extended unfused aromatic system and to design cytotoxic DNA intercalating agents acting as poisons for human topoisomerase II.

DNA but not topoisomerases is a target for a cytotoxic benzo[5,6]cyclohepta[b]indol-6-one derivative.

The interaction of a newly designed benzocycloheptaindol-6-one derivative with DNA has been investigated by complementary spectroscopic techniques including absorption, circular and linear dichroism. Footprinting measurements were performed to delineate the sequence-selectivity of the drug-DNA interaction and a plasmid relaxation assay was used to study the effects of the drug on human DNA topoisomerases I and II. The results clearly indicated that the test compound behaves as a typical DNA intercalating agent but does not stimulate DNA cleavage by topoisomerases. At the cellular level, the cytometry measurements showed that the drug provoked a marked accumulation of HL60 human leukemia cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. DNA is thus identified as a valid target for this new series of drugs particularly toxic to human (HL60) and murine (P388) leukemia cells.

DNA intercalation, topoisomerase II inhibition and cytotoxic activity of the plant alkaloid neocryptolepine.

Cryptolepine and neocryptolepine are two indoloquinoline alkaloids isolated from the roots of the African plant Cryptolepis sanguinolenta. Both drugs have revealed antibacterial and antiparasitic activities and are strongly cytotoxic to tumour cells. We have recently shown that cryptolepine can intercalate into DNA and stimulates DNA cleavage by human topoisomerase II. In this study, we have investigated the mechanism of action and cytotoxicity of neocryptolepine, which differs from the parent isomer only by the orientation of the indole unit with respect to the quinoline moiety. The biochemical and physicochemical results presented here indicate that neocryptolepine also intercalates into DNA, preferentially at GC-rich sequences, but exhibits a reduced affinity for DNA compared with cryptolepine. The two alkaloids interfere with the catalytic activity of human topoisomerase II but the poisoning activity is slightly more pronounced with cryptolepine than with its isomer. The data provide a molecular basis to account for the reduced cytotoxicity of neocryptolepine compared with the parent drug.

Sequence-recognition and cleavage of DNA by a netropsin-phenazine-di-N-oxide conjugate.

We report the synthesis, DNA-binding and cleaving properties, and cytotoxic activities of R-128, a hybrid molecule in which a bis-pyrrolecarboxamide-amidine element related to the antibiotic netropsin is covalently tethered to a phenazine-di-N-oxide chromophore. The affinity and mode of interaction of the conjugate with DNA were investigated by a combination of absorption spectroscopy, circular dichroism, and electric linear dichroism. This hybrid molecule binds to AT-rich sequences of DNA via a bimodal process involving minor groove binding of the netropsin moiety and intercalation of the phenazine moiety. The bidentate mode of binding was evidenced by linear dichroism using calf thymus DNA and poly(dA-dT).(dA-dT). In contrast, the drug fails to bind to poly(dG-dC).poly(dG-dC), because of the obstructive effect of the guanine 2-amino group exposed in the minor groove of this polynucleotide. DNase I footprinting studies indicated that the conjugate interacts preferentially with AT-rich sequences, but the cleavage of DNA in the presence of a reducing agent can occur at different sequences not restricted to the AT sites. The main cleavage sites were detected with a periodicity of about 10 base pairs corresponding to approximately one turn of the double helix. This suggests that the cleavage may be dictated by the structure of the double helix rather than the primary nucleotide sequence. The conjugate which is moderately toxic to cancer cells complements the tool box of reagents which can be utilized to produce DNA strand scission. The DNA cleaving properties of R-128 entreat further exploration into the use of phenazine-di-N-oxides as tools for investigating DNA structure.

Gas phase thermal denaturation of an oligonucleotide duplex and its complexes with minor groove binders.

Electrospray ionization with in-source collisionally induced dissociation has been used to probe the gas phase stability of an oligonucleotide duplex and its complexes with some minor groove binding drugs. On the basis of the arguments developed in detail by Drahos et al. (J. Mass Spectrom. 1999; 34:1373), this type of experiment can also be described as 'thermal denaturation in the gas phase'. We found that the gas phase denaturation curves were very similar to the solution phase denaturation curves determined by the traditional UV spectrophotometric method and, by analogy with the melting temperature T(m) which characterizes the stability in solution, we define a melting voltage V(m) to characterize the stability in the gas phase. A comparison of the T(m) and V(m) relative values suggests that the structure of the complexes is conserved during the electrospray process which transfers the ions from the solution to the gas phase.

Synthesis, DNA binding, topoisomerases inhibition and cytotoxic properties of 4-arylcarboxamidopyrrolo-2-carboxyanilides.

Three 4-arylcarboxamidopyrrolo-2-carboxyanilides bearing different substituents on the pyrrole nitrogen were synthesized and evaluated for their capacities to bind to specific sequences within the minor groove of DNA and to inhibit human topoisomerases I and II in vitro. The cytotoxicity of the drugs correlates with their DNA binding affinities. The two drugs bearing a N-methyl or N-benzyl pyrrole stabilize topoisomerase I-DNA complexes.

Substitution at the F-ring N-imide of the indolocarbazole antitumor drug NB-506 increases the cytotoxicity, DNA binding, and topoisomerase I inhibition activities.

The antitumor drug NB-506, which is currently undergoing phase I/II clinical trials, contains a DNA-intercalating indolocarbazole chromophore substituted with a glucose residue. In addition to interacting with DNA, the drug stabilizes the topoisomerase I-DNA covalent complex. To reinforce the DNA binding and anti-topoisomerase I activities of NB-506, an analogue containing a new substituent on the naphthalimide ring F was synthesized. The N-formylamino group of NB-506 has been replaced with a more hydrophilic group, N-bis(hydroxymethyl)methylamino. In this study we show that the incorporation of a longer substituent on the N6 position effectively reinforces both the interaction with DNA and the capacity of the drug to maintain the integrity of the topoisomerase I-DNA covalent complexes. The strength and the mode of binding of the drugs to DNA were studied by complementary biophysical techniques including absorption, fluorescence, and circular and linear dichroism. Various biochemical procedures were applied to investigate the effects on human topoisomerase I using plasmid DNA as well as restriction fragments. The drug binding sites and the positions of the topoisomerase I-mediated cleavage sites were mapped with nucleotide resolution using footprinting and sequencing techniques. Cytotoxicity measurements performed with various human cancer cell lines (HCT-116, DLD-1, MKN-45) indicate that the newly designed drug is 3 to 4 times more toxic to colon and gastric cancer cells than NB-506. Therefore, the results suggest that the antitumor activity of indolocarbazole-based drugs can be enhanced by incorporating DNA and/or topoisomerase I reactive groups. They also support the hypothesis that the substituent on the imide nitrogen on the F ring of NB-506 has direct interaction with the molecular target. The study helps to define the structure-activity relationships in the indolocarbazole series of antitumor agents targeting topoisomerase I.

Stimulation of topoisomerase II-mediated DNA cleavage by three DNA-intercalating plant alkaloids: cryptolepine, matadine, and serpentine.

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.

Intercalation into DNA is not required for inhibition of topoisomerase I by indolocarbazole antitumor agents.

The DNA-intercalating antitumor drug NB-506 is a potent topoisomerase poison currently undergoing phase I/II clinical trials. It contains a planar indolocarbazole chromophore substituted with a glucose residue. Up until now, it was thought that intercalation of the drug into DNA was essential for the stabilization of topoisomerase I-DNA covalent complexes. But, in the present study, we show that a regio-isomeric form of NB-506 has lost its capacity to intercalate into DNA, but remains an extremely potent topoisomerase I poison. The new analogue contains two hydroxyl groups at positions 2,10 instead of positions 1,11 in NB-506. The relocation of the two OH groups reduces considerably the strength of binding to DNA and prevents the drug from intercalating into the DNA double helix. However, the topoisomerase I inhibition capacity of the new analogue remains very high. The two drug isomers are equally potent at maintaining the integrity of the topoisomerase I-DNA covalent complexes, but stimulate cleavage at different sites on DNA. NB-506 stabilizes topoisomerase I preferentially at sites having a pyrimidine (T or C) and a G on the 5' and 3' sides of the cleaved bond, respectively. The 2,10-isomer induces topoisomerase I-mediated cleavage only at TG sites and, thus, behaves exactly as the reference topoisomerase I poison camptothecin. Finally, cytotoxicity measurements performed with a panel of murine and human cancer cell lines reveal that the newly designed drug is considerably (up to 100-fold) more toxic to tumor cells than the parent drug NB-506. We conclude that the DNA-binding and topoisomerase I poisoning activities of NB-506 can be viewed as two separate mechanisms.

Effect of compensatory organic osmolytes on resistance to freeze-drying of L929 cells and of their isolated chromatin.

(1) Compensatory organic osmolytes are stabilizers of macromolecular structures. During acclimation to dehydration or high salinity, they accumulate in cells and effectively protect them against disruption that might otherwise result from increased inorganic ion concentrations. (2) Circular and electric dichroism, analysis of the kinetics of digestion by micrococcal nuclease, and UV spectra between 190 and 305 nm were used to investigate the resistance to dehydration upon freezing or freeze-drying that could confer such compounds to chromatin isolated from cultured L929 cells. Some work was also done on intact cells in vivo. (3) Sorbitol, sucrose, and trehalose appear to protect isolated chromatin very effectively; proline is less effective. (4) These compounds also effectively protect chromatin from the disrupting effects of NaCl. (5) Cells loaded and grown with sorbitol, sucrose, or proline can tolerate larger decreases in hydration than control cells. They cannot, however, tolerate complete dehydration.

The plant alkaloid usambarensine intercalates into DNA and induces apoptosis in human HL60 leukemia cells.

Usambarensine is a plant alkaloid isolated from the roots of Strychnos usambarensis collected in Central Africa. This bis-indole compound displays potent antiamoebic activities and shows antigardial, antimalarial and cytotoxic effects. Usambarensine is highly toxic to B16 melanoma cells and inhibits the growth of leukemia and carcinoma cells. To date, the molecular basis for its diverse biological effects remains totally unknown. However, its capacity to inhibit nucleic acids synthesis in melanoma cells, on the one hand, and its structural analogy with DNA-binding pyridoindole plant alkaloids recently studied (cryptolepine and matadine), on the other hand, suggested that usambarensine could also bind to DNA. Consequently, we studied the strength and mode of binding to DNA of usambarensine by means of absorption, circular and linear dichroism. The results of the optical measurements indicate that the alkaloid effectively binds to DNA and behaves as a typical intercalating agent. Biochemical experiments indicated that, in contrast to cryptolepine and matadine, usambarensine does not interfere with the catalytic activity of topoisomerase II. Human HL60 leukemia cells were used to assess the cytotoxicity of the alkaloid and its effect on the cell cycle. Usambarensine treatment is associated with a loss of cells in the G1 phase accompanied with a large increase in the sub-G1 region which is characteristic of apoptotic cells. The DNA of usambarensine-treated cells was severely fragmented and the proteolytic activity of DEVD-caspases is enhanced. Usambarensine is thus characterized as DNA intercalator inducing apoptosis in leukemia cells.

Calorimetric investigation of ethidium and netropsin binding to chicken erythrocyte chromatin.

We have investigated the thermodynamic aspects of the ligand binding to chromatin, using isothermal titration calorimetry. Two classical DNA ligands were used: an intercalator, ethidium bromide, and a minor groove binder, netropsin. Stoichiometry, affinity constant, and thermodynamic parameters were determined at various salt concentrations and different temperatures. The effect of ionic strength was analyzed according to the Record theory applied to chromatin. We also compared the binding parameters on naked DNA, H1/H5-depleted chromatin, and chromatin. We demonstrated that the presence of histones on DNA still allows the ligand binding that takes place according to a simple one single-site model. For both ligand types, the thermodynamic driving force is enthalpic and the association is characterized by a somewhat weaker affinity and more scattered ligand distribution than on naked DNA. The ligand affinity is weakly altered by the salt-induced compaction of the chromatin and the binding is accompanied by a release of one counterion per ligand molecule. The temperature-dependent studies revealed the existence of a small heat capacity change associated with ligand binding to chromatin, together with an enthalpy-entropy compensation that maintains the free energy constant over the investigated temperature range.

The DNA intercalating alkaloid cryptolepine interferes with topoisomerase II and inhibits primarily DNA synthesis in B16 melanoma cells.

Cryptolepine hydrochloride is an indoloquinoline alkaloid isolated from the roots of Cryptolepis sanguinolenta. It is characterized by a multiplicity of host-mediated biological activities, including antibacterial, antiviral, and antimalarial properties. To date, the molecular basis for its diverse biological effects remains largely uncertain. Several lines of evidence strongly suggest that DNA might correspond to its principal cellular target. Consequently, we studied the strength and mode of binding to DNA of cryptolepine by means of absorption, fluorescence, circular, and linear dichroism, as well as by a relaxation assay using DNA topoisomerases. The results of various optical and gel electrophoresis techniques converge to reveal that the alkaloid binds tightly to DNA and behaves as a typical intercalating agent. In DNAase I footprinting experiments it was found that the drug interacts preferentially with GC-rich sequences and discriminates against homo-oligomeric runs of A and T. This study has also led to the discovery that cryptolepine is a potent topoisomerase II inhibitor and a promising antitumor agent. It stabilizes topoisomerase II-DNA covalent complexes and stimulates the cutting of DNA at a subset of preexisting topoisomerase II cleavage sites. Taking advantage of the fluorescence of the indoloquinoline chromophore, fluorescence microscopy was used to map cellular uptake of the drug. Cryptolepine easily crosses the cell membranes and accumulates selectively into the nuclei rather than in the cytoplasm of B16 melanoma cells. Quantitative analyses of DNA in cells after Feulgen reaction and image cytometry reveal that the drug blocks the cell cycle in G2/M phases. It is also shown that the alkaloid is more potent at inhibiting DNA synthesis rather than RNA and protein synthesis. Altogether, the results provide direct evidence that DNA is the primary target of cryptolepine and suggest that this alkaloid is a valid candidate for the development of tumor active compounds.

The orientation of norfloxacin bound to double-stranded DNA.

Norfloxacin is a widely used antibacterial agent that inhibits DNA gyrase. This fluoroquinolone drug has significant interaction with double-stranded DNA, as judged from absorption and circular dichroism measurements. The mode of binding of norfloxacin to a variety of DNAs and polynucleotides has been investigated by electric linear dichroism. In the presence of calf thymus DNA, the drug chromophore is significantly tilted with respect to the DNA axis. This molecular arrangement contradicts classical intercalation. The orientation of the quinolone drug varies depending on the sequence of the target DNA. Binding to alternating copolymers is largely preferred compared to the corresponding homopolymers. The drug interacts preferentially with poly(dG-dC).(dG-dC) rather than with the other polynucleotides. The deletion of the 2-amino group of guanine (G-->I substitution) or the addition of a methyl group on cytosine residues (C-->methyl-C substitution) affect the drug-DNA interaction. The results show that norfloxacin is capable of interacting with a variety of DNA sequences, possibly via both minor and major groove contacts.