Amine oxidase-mediated cytotoxicity of spermine and epinephrine to human myelogenous leukemia K562 cells.

The effects of spermine and beta-adrenoceptor agonists (epinephrine, terbutaline and orciprenaline) in the presence and in the absence of fetal bovine serum (FBS) on human myelogenous leukemia K562 cells viability (V) and survival (N/Nc) were examined. Spermine-FBS significantly decreased both V and N/Nc of K562 cells. Aminoguanidine (AG), an amine oxidase inhibitor, and reduced form of glutathione abolished this effect demonstrating that the spermine-FBS action was amine oxidase-mediated. Epinephrine expressed a strong cytotoxicity to K562 cells which was abolished by pargyline, a specific monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor, as well as by reduced form of glutathione. Terbutaline and orciprenaline exerted no cytotoxic activity to K562 cells cultured in FBS-supplemented medium, independently on the presence of spermine. However, terbutaline at concentrations of over 1 mmol strongly inhibited the cytotoxic effect on spermine-FBS. The relationship between cytotoxicity and chemical structure of beta-adrenoceptor agonists was discussed especially with respect to their stability toward oxidation.

The importance of the specific Z-DNA structure and polyamines in carcinogenesis: fact or fiction.

In this work some aspects of carcinogenesis are given. The importance of the emergence of Z or H DNA structure in the gene, or in the flanking gene sequences for the gene deletion and unusual gene recombination, is discussed. Some considerations on the role of selective pressure (of polyamines, of Mg2+, of the various levels of topoisomerase II, and of ATP) in the process of oncogene amplification, are given too.

Dopaminergic activity of some ergot alkaloid derivatives: relationship to their chemical structure.

Several ergot alkaloid derivatives have been tested for their ability to inhibit receptor binding of [3H]spiperone (D2 dopamine receptors) and [3H]dopamine (D3 dopamine receptors) in the bovine caudate nucleus. Dopaminergic activity was correlated to their chemical structure. The potencies of ergot alkaloids for displacing [3H]spiperone binding can be ranked in the following order: lisuride greater than ergosine greater than bromodihydroergosine greater than bromoergosine approximately dihydroergosine approximately ergosinine approximately dihydroergocryptine greater than bromoergocryptine greater than CH-29 717 greater than saccharinoergosinine = saccharinoergosine greater than dihydroergosinine. The potencies of these compounds for displacing [3H]dopamine binding can be ranked in the following order: lisuride greater than ergosinine approximately ergosine greater than dihydroergosine greater than bromodihydroergosine approximately CH-29 717 approximately bromoergocryptine approximately bromoergosine approximately dihydroergocryptine greater than saccharinoergosine, saccharinoergosinine, dihydroergosinine. Displacement of both radioligands was unaffected by GTP. Binding characteristics of ergot alkaloids examined revealed antagonist-like properties of binding to D2 and agonist-like properties of binding to D3 receptors. Introduction of bromine into position 2, selective hydrogenation of 9,10-dihydroderivatives, or isomerization in position 8 of the ergot alkaloid molecule did not drastically change binding parameters of these compounds. However, an alpha-configuration in position 8 combined with hydrogenation of the delta-9,10-double bond of dihydroergosinine, significantly decreased its affinity to both D2 and D3 receptors in comparison with dihydroergosine or ergosinine, suggesting stereoselectivity of dopamine receptors towards the pair dihydroergosine/dihydroergosinine.

Solubilization of dopamine-D2 receptors from synaptosomal membranes of the bovine caudate nucleus.

Dopamine D2-receptors were solubilized from synaptosomal membranes of the bovine caudate nucleus using different detergents. They were labelled with [3H]-spiperone and assayed by polyethylene glycol precipitation. CHAPS was found to be the best solubilizing agent among all detergents used. Optimal conditions for solubilization were: 0.25% CHAPS, 3.5 mg ml-1 protein, 25 min, 4 degrees C and the yield of D2-receptors was 18.6%. Addition of some sulphobetain detergents increased the extent of solubilization, 125 mM NaCl and 0.25 M sucrose decreased it, while SH-group protecting agents (2 mM dithiothreitol and 6 mM beta-mercaptoethanol), as well as MEGA-9 and MEGA-12 were almost ineffective. -log IC50 values for solubilized dopamine D2-receptors are in linear correlation with the corresponding values for membrane-bound receptors (r = 0.962, slope factor 0.96) and Kd value of solubilized receptors was 3.61 +/- 0.94 nM, while that of membrane-bound receptors was 1.25 +/- 0.10 nM. Specific binding of [3H]-spiperone to the solubilized receptors resolved by linear sucrose density gradient centrifugation shows two maxima, one in the first several fractions from the bottom and the other with an apparent S value of 7.3.