Protein-Linked DNA Strand Breaks Induced by NSC 314622, a Novel Noncamptothecin Topoisomerase I Poison

Abstract

NSC 314622 was found to have a cytotoxicity profile comparable to the topoisomerase I (top1) inhibitors camptothecin (CPT) and saintopin in the National Cancer Institute In Vitro Anticancer Drug Discovery Screen using the COMPARE analysis. Invitro data showed that NSC 314622 induced DNA cleavage in the presence of top1 at micromolar concentrations. Cleavage specificity was different from CPT in that NSC 314622 did not cleave all sites induced by CPT whereas some sites were unique to the NSC 314622 treatment. Top1-induced DNA cleavage was also more stable than cleavage induced by CPT. NSC 314622 did not induce DNA cleavage in the presence of human topoisomerase II. High concentrations of NSC 314622 did not produce detectable DNA unwinding, which suggests that NSC 314622 is not a DNA intercalator. DNA damage analyzed in human breast carcinoma MCF7 cells by alkaline elution showed that NSC 314622 induced protein-linked DNA single-strand breaks that reversed more slowly than CPT-induced strand breaks. CEM/C2, a CPT-resistant cell line because of a top1 point mutation [Cancer Res55:1339–1346 (1995)], was cross-resistant to NSC 314622. These results demonstrate that NSC 314622 is a novel top1-targeted drug with a unique chemical structure.

Footnotes

  • Send reprint requests to: Dr. Yves G. Pommier, Lab of Molecular Pharmacology, Division of Basic Sciences, NCI, NIH, Building 37, Room 5D02, Bethesda, MD 20892-4255. E-mail:pommier{at}nih.gov

  • Abbreviations:
    CPT
    camptothecin
    top
    topoisomerase
    bp
    base pair(s)
    DMSO
    dimethylsulfoxide
    GI50
    growth inhibition 50% concentrations
    NSC 314622
    5,6-dihydro-5,11-diketo-2,3-dimethoxy-6-methyl-8,9-methylenedioxy-11H-indeno(1,2-c)isoquinoline
    PCR
    polymerase chain reaction
    SDS
    sodium dodecyl sulfate
    SV40
    simian virus 40
    TBE
    Tris/borate/EDTA
    • Received December 17, 1997.
    • Accepted March 27, 1998.
« Previous | Next Article »Table of Contents