Reactions of [PtCl(dien)]Cl with glutathione,oxidized glutathione and S-methyl glutathione. Formation of an S-bridged dinuclear unit

The reaction of the monofunctional platinum compound [PtCl(dien)]Cl with the tripeptide glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and S-methyl glutathione (GS-Me) has been investigated by ¹H, ¹³C and ¹⁹⁵Pt magnetic resonance spectroscopy and by potentiometric titrations. It appears that platinum binds with a high degree of specificity to the GSH sulfhydryl group. The reaction of platinum with GSH proceeds in two steps. In the first step only one platinum binds to the sulfur atom and, in the second step, another [Pt(dien)]²⁺ unit binds to [Pt(dien)GS]⁺ forming an S-bridged dinuclear unit [{Pt(dien)}₂GS]³⁺. The rate of the first binding step is pH-dependent, whereas the rate of the second step is not. At pH < 7 the rate of the first binding step is slow compared to the rate of the second binding step. At pH > 10, on the other hand, the rate of the first binding step is faster than the rate of the second binding step. Consequently, at pH < 7 one can only isolate the [{Pt(dien)}₂GS]³⁺ complex. In the presence of free GSH, at pH > 7, one [Pt(dien)]²⁺ unit of [{Pt(dien)}₂GS]³⁺ dissociates forming [Pt(dien)GS]⁺. The mechanism of the pH-dependent rate of the first platinum binding step and the ligand-exchange reaction are discussed. GSSG reacts with [Pt(dien)]²⁺, also forming the S-bridged dinuclear unit [{Pt(dien)}₂GS]³⁺, probably through a redox disproportionation reaction with a catalytic function of [PtCl(dien)]Cl. GS-Me reacts with [Pt(dien)]²⁺ forming the S-coordinated [Pt(dien)GS-Me]²⁺. [Pt(dien)GS-Me]²⁺ exists as a pair of diastereomers due to different configurations about sulfur. The rate of the inversion of configuration at the coordinated sulfur atom is slow on the NMR time-scale.     

Ring-substituted diaqua(1,2-diphenylethylenediamine)platinum(II) sulfate reacts with DNA through a dissociable complex.

Ring-substituted diaqua(1,2-diphenylethylenediamine)platinum(II) sulfate shows unusual kinetics in its reaction with salmon testis DNA. The mechanism for diaqua[meso-1,2-bis(2,6-dichloro-4- hydroxyphenyl)ethylenediamine]platinum(II) sulfate, [Pt(H2O)2(meso-6)]2+SO4(2-), a representative of this series, has been investigated and compared with that for cis-[Pt(NH3)2(H2O)2]2+. Reactions were followed by atomic absorption, analytical HPLC of Pt-DNA digests, arrest of enzymatic DNA synthesis/degradation, ultraviolet and fluorescence spectrophotometry. Except for the formation of monofunctional DNA adducts, the kinetics of the platinum(II) complexes are comparable. The pseudo-first-order rate constant for the attack of DNA by [Pt(H2O)2(meso-6)]2+ follows the concentration of DNA in a hyperbolic fashion, which is in contrast to the linear dependence for cis-[Pt(NH3)2(H2O)2]2+. The hyperbolic dependence is typical for a dissociable DNA/drug complex preceding the coordination reaction. By studying the binding of free ligand to DNA, and by correlating ligand structures and electrostatic charges with effects on adduct formation, both the phenyl residues and the positive charge of the platinum(II) complex are shown to be crucial for the stability of the dissociable complex. A non-intercalative mode of binding to the DNA backbone is suggested. At the high concentrations of DNA found in cell nuclei, the reaction of the dissociable complex can, principally, become rate-limiting in the attack of DNA and thus reduce the cytotoxic efficiency of a drug.     

Renaturation effects of cis and trans platinum II and IV compounds on calf thymus deoxyribonucleic acid.

The effects of cis dichlorodiammine platinum [cis Pt(II)], trans dichlorodiammine platinum (trans Pt(II)], cis tetrachlorodiammine platinum [cis Pt(IV)], trans tetrachlorodiammine platinum [trans Pt(IV)], and ethylenediaminedichloride platinum [Pt(II)en] on the absorption spectra, and thermal hyper- and hypochromicity of calf thymus DNA were investigated. Platinum-induced renaturation was studied as one parameter of interstrand cross-linking. Based on a DNA cross-linking hypothesis, the tumor-inhibitory platinum compounds cis Pt(II), cis Pt(IV) and Pt(II)en would be expected to induce renaturation following thermal denaturation, whereas the ineffective drugs, trans Pt(II) and trans Pt(IV) would not. All five bind to DNA in such a way as to induce renaturation. However, cis Pt(IV) requires at least a 3- to 4-fold longer incubation time than is required by the other compounds to form the coordination bonds necessary for renaturation. Maximum renaturation with all compounds was observed at a molar Pt/base ratio of 0.05 except cis Pt(IV), with which it was 0.25. The rate of the formation of the platinum-coordinated cross-links by fresh cis Pt(II) suggests two reactions or types of reactions occur. The first is rapid and destabilizes the DNA helix, whereas the second is slow and responsible for renaturation following thermal denaturation. These results suggest that cis Pt(IV) may be activated cellularly and that cross-linking is not the primary mechanism of action of the tumor-inhibitory platinum compounds.     

In vitro binding of an orally active platinum antitumor drug, JM216 to metallothionein

The in vitro binding of an orally active anticancer drug JM216 to metallothionein is firstly investigated in this paper. It is revealed that a redox reaction following a substitution reaction from JM216 with rabbit liver Zn₇MT-II is presented. The reaction feature, the metal binding stoichiometry and the oxidation states of platinum and sulfur in the products are studied by UV-visible, chromatography and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy methods. Parts of MT are oxidized to precipitate products with intra and intermolecular CyS-SCy disulfides linkages. Pt(IV) is reduced to its Pt(II) counterpart. And the reduced Pt(II) replace the metal ions in native MTs. Meanwhile it can also cause the dimerization of MT. Increasing the reaction ratio of JM216 to MT leads to a concomitant increase in the apparent yield of the precipitate and dimeric products and the elevation of the binding stoichiometry of Pt to the protein. Based on the experimental data, the reaction mechanism between JM216 and Zn₇MT-II in vitro are discussed.     

Platinum(II) binding to metallothioneins

The reaction of equine renal metallothionein (MT) with excess K2PtCl4 at pH 2 results in a polymeric adduct containing 17 +/- 2 mol Pt/mol MT. A monomeric adduct containing 7 mol Pt/mol MT is obtained at neutral pH. Rates of reaction of Pt7MT with DTNB and iodoacetic acid are consistent with Pt2+ to cysteine thiolate coordination, and the extent of reaction in both cases is 11 +/- 2 mol cys/mol MT. Adducts from the reaction of K2PtCl4 with apoMT chemically modified at the N-terminal methionine residue, Cd7MT, and native MT are also reported. A structural model of Pt7MT is proposed in which the square planar tetrathiolate Pt(II) unit is incorporated into a three-metal beta cluster. Implications for the metabolism of platinum anticancer drugs are discussed.     

Reaction of 3-ethoxy-2-oxobutyraldehyde bis(thiosemicarbazonato) Cu(II) with Ehrlich cells. Binding of copper to metallothionein and its relationship to zinc metabolism and cell proliferation

The copper complex of 3-ethoxy-2-oxobutyraldehyde bis(thiosemicarbazone) or CuKTS is reduced and dissociated upon reaction with Ehrlich cells. Titration of the cells with the complex leads to the specific binding of copper to metallothionein with 1 to 1 displacement of its complement of zinc. Under conditions of complete titration of metallothionein, 1.25-2.5 nmol CuKTS/10(7) cells, cellular DNA synthesis is rapidly inhibited but no long term effects on cell proliferation are observed. The kinetics of redistribution of Cu and Zn in Ehrlich cells in culture and in animals were studied after pulse reaction of CuKTS with cells. After exposure of cells to the noncytotoxic concentration of 2.5 nmol of CuKTS/10(7) cells, nonmetallothionein bound copper is lost rapidly from the cells, after which copper in metallothionein decays. New zinc metallothionein is made as soon as exposed cells are placed in culture. New synthesis stops when the level of zinc in metallothionein reaches control levels. A second pulse treatment of cells with CuKTS to displace zinc from metallothionein again stimulates new synthesis of the protein to restore its normal concentration. The kinetics of metal metabolism in Ehrlich cells exposed to 5.5 nmol of CuKTS/10(7) cells, which inhibits cell proliferation, are qualitatively similar except there is a pronounced lag before new zinc metallothionein is synthesized. The Ehrlich ascites tumor in mice responds to CuKTS similarly to cells in culture. It is also shown that cultured Ehrlich cells do not make extra zinc metallothionein in the presence of high levels of ZnCl2, and fail to accumulate copper in the presence of large concentrations of CuCl2.     

Nature of active sites during complex formation of DNA and Pt (II) compounds]

Quantitative estimation of the binding of Pt (II) with DNA and its derivatives is carried out and the selectivity of this reaction is studied. Absorption spectra and binding curves of Pt (II) with GC- and AT-enriched DNA fractions, apurinic and apyrimidinic acids, poly A and deoxyribonucleotides are studied. The strongest Pt (II) binding was observed in cytosine-containing nucleic acid components. The reduction of Pt (II) to Pt (O) took place only in the presence of cytosine. Adenine component was found to form 1 : 1 complex with chloroplatinit. A model of Pt (II) : DNA complex is proposed, in which a metal ion is bound with cytosine cycle through N3 atom. A complex is formed due to a high electron-acceptor capacity of cytosine cycle, the charge being transferred between platinum and DNA base. Thus, complex-bound platinum is capable of oxidating platinum ions in the solution.     

Metallodrug-protein interaction probed by synchrotron terahertz and neutron scattering spectroscopy

This experimental work applied coherent synchrotron-radiation terahertz spectroscopy and inelastic neutron scattering to address two processes directly associated with the mode of action of metal-based anticancer agents that can severely undermine chemotherapeutic treatment: drug binding to human serum albumin, occurring during intravenous drug transport, and intracellular coordination to thiol-containing biomolecules (such as metallothioneins) associated with acquired drug resistance. Cisplatin and two dinuclear platinum (Pt)- and palladium (Pd)-polyamine agents developed by this research group, which have yielded promising results toward some types of human cancers, were investigated. Complementary synchrotron-radiation-terahertz and inelastic neutron scattering data revealed protein metalation, through S- and N-donor ligands from cysteine, methionine, and histidine residues. A clear impact of the Pt and Pd agents was evidenced, drug binding to albumin and metallothionein having been responsible for significant changes in the overall protein conformation, as well as for an increased flexibility and possible aggregation.     

Interaction of platinum with metallothionein-like ligands in the rat kidney after administration of cis-dichlorodiammine platinum II

After the administration of the anticancer drug cis-dichlorodiammine platinum II (cisplatin) to male rats, the Pt in the soluble fraction of the kidney is isolated, by gel filtration, in association with a high molecular weight component and a low molecular weight fraction. At 24 h, Pt is also recovered in a metallothionein-like fraction which elutes from Sephadex G-50 with a lower apparent molecular weight than endogenous (Cu, Zn)-thionein or Cd-thionein isolated from the kidneys of Cd2+-treated rats. None of these low molecular weight metal-binding fractions binds to Octyl Sepharose CL-4B. On DE-52 ion exchange chromatography, Cd-thionein is resolved into two isometallothioneins whereas the low molecular weight Pt-binding fraction is only partially purified and contains at least six components which elute at higher gradient concentrations than metallothionein. Pretreatment with Cd2+ which stimulates the synthesis of renal and hepatic metallothionein has no effect on the uptake and subcellular distribution of Pt in the liver and kidneys. Cisplatin treatment reduces the concentration of Cu and Zn in the renal metallothionein and other soluble protein fractions in the kidney. When administered to Cd2+-pretreated rats, cisplatin promotes the loss of Zn from the soluble protein fractions but causes the redistribution of Cd from the metallothionein to the high molecular weight fraction and fails to inhibit the Cd2+-induced accumulation of Cu in the kidneys and the binding of Cu to the soluble protein fractions. It is suggested that metallothionein probably does not have a significant role in the renal metabolism of Pt following the administration of cisplatin to rats.     

Comparison of the binding behavior of oxaliplatin, cisplatin and analogues to 5'-GMP in the presence of sulfur-containing molecules by means of capillary electrophoresis and electrospray mass spectrometry

Capillary electrophoresis as well as ESI-MS has been applied for investigating the influence of the sulfur-containing amino acids L-cysteine and L-methionine on the binding behavior of oxaliplatin (trans-R,R-diaminocyclohexane(oxalato)platinum(II)), cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II)), carboplatin (cis-diammine-1,1-cyclobutanedicarboxylatoplatinum(II)), cis-diammine(malonato)platinum(II) and cis-diammine(2-hydroxymalonato)platinum(II) to 5'-GMP. The presence of L-methionine resulted in a different kind of adduct formation which involves ammine release due to the trans-effect of sulfur. In addition, the time-dependent behavior of the reaction with 5'-GMP changed significantly. Due to the high stability of the diaminocyclohexane (DACH) platinum fragment, oxaliplatin showed a completely different behavior in comparison to diammine platinum complexes. Formation of [Pt(DACH)(L-Met-S,N)](+) inhibits coordination of 5'-GMP. Displacement of L-Met by 5'-GMP does not occur. Differences concerning the mode of action of oxaliplatin are expected. Characterization of the analytes was performed by UV, NMR and mass spectrometry.     

Reaction of [Pt(Gly-Gly-N,N',O)I]- with the N-acetylated dipeptide L-methionyl-L-histidine: selective platination of the histidine side chain by intramolecular migration of the platinum(II) complex

The reaction of the monofunctional [Pt(Gly-Gly-N,N′,O)I]⁻ complex, in which Gly-Gly is the dipeptide glycyl-glycine coordinated through two nitrogen and oxygen atoms, with the N-acetylated dipeptide l-methionyl-l-histidine (MeCOMet-His) studied by ¹H NMR spectroscopy. All reactions were carried out in 50 mM phosphate buffer at pD 7.4 and at 25 °C. In the initial stage of the reaction, the platinum(II) complex forms the kinetically favored [Pt(Gly-Gly-N,N′,O)(MeCOMet-His-S)]⁻ complex, with unidentate coordination of the MeCOMet-His dipeptide through the sulfur atom of the methionine residue. In the second stage of the reaction, complete intramolecular migration of the [Pt(Gly-Gly-N,N′,O)] unit from the sulfur to the N3 nitrogen atom of imidazole was observed and a new platinum(II)-peptide complex, [Pt(Gly-Gly-N,N′,O)(MeCOMet-His-N3)]⁻ was formed. In comparison with previous results obtained for the reaction of [Pt(dien)Cl]⁺ with different methionine- and histidine-containing peptides, this migration reaction was sufficiently fast and strongly selective to the N3 atom of the imidazole ring of the histidine side chain. This study is an important step in the development of new platinum(II) complexes for selective covalent modification of peptides and proteins.     

Platinum speciation used for elucidating activation or inhibition of Pt-containing anti-cancer drugs

This article reviews approaches on platinum speciation with respect to Pt drugs in anti-cancer therapies. The paper starts with the introduction of available platinum-based drugs and describes their assumed principle of action. It is now generally accepted that these Pt complexes exhibit their therapeutic action by coordination to DNA which leads to bending of the DNA structure and to an inhibition of the DNA polymerase progression. But dose-limiting side effects, including nephrotoxicity as well as resistance to some of these Pt compounds, are still a major problem. Platinum speciation moved increasingly into the focus of interest when it became clear that (1) the active drugs were the hydrolyzation products rather than the originally administered ones and (2) that the parallel formation of inactive Pt–protein complexes, which additionally reduce the efficacy of Pt anti-tumor agents, compete with the formation of the cytotoxic Pt-DNA lesions. Speciation analysis methods were employed based on chromatography or capillary electrophoresis respectively, each coupled to inductively coupled plasma (ICP)-mass spectrometry (MS) or electrospray ionization (ESI)-MS.The paper describes these Pt-speciation investigations, which started with exploring hydrolyzation kinetics in aqueous solutions. These experiments were followed by the speciation investigations in model solutions containing proteins or other sulphur-containing ligands, which could also be responsible for deactivation of the Pt agent in vivo. The experiments improved the understanding of the metabolite form, by which the metal complex enters the tumor cells, and whether and how this metabolized complex is already inactivated at this time. As an example, reaction kinetics of cisplatin (cis-[diamminedichloroplatinum(II)]) with albumin, transferrin, myoglobin, ubiquitin, and metallothionein were investigated and reaction products were speciated.Finally, Pt-speciation in serum of medicated cancer patients was conducted by several research groups, which are outlined in the Section “Investigations in serum”.The section “Investigations in urine of cancer treated patients” deals with speciation experiments on the Pt-metabolites excreted by the organism. By these means an assessment of the in vivo metabolism of Pt-drugs may be possible. Finally, the development of new anti-cancer metallodrugs needs the respective analytical techniques reported in the last section of the paper.     

Fast and slow versus strong and weak metal-DNA binding: consequences for anti-cancer activity

The binding of transition metal compounds to nucleic acids is discussed in the perspectives of kinetics and their anticancer activity. Kinetics of ligand exchange is primarily determined by the intrinsic properties of the metal ions, and to a lesser degree by the ligands coordinated already to the metal ion. Metal compounds having ligand-exchange rates of the same order of magnitude as cell-division processes, e.g. many Pt(iIIi), Ru(II) and Ru(III) compounds, are in use as chemotherapeutic drugs. Detailed knowledge of ligand exchange in such compounds is important for design of derivative and entirely new compounds. Metal coordination compounds of metal ions with much faster ligand-exchange reactions interact with DNA in a quite different way, namely primarily by compensation of negative charge of the polyanionic chain and are usually not active as anticancer agents. Examples of our recent work are presented in relation with experiments performed by others on new generations of platinum anti-cancer drugs.     

Yeast metallothionein. Sequence and metal-binding properties

The protein product of the CUP1 locus in Cu-resistant Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been purified and characterized. The protein was found to lack the first 8 amino acids predicted by the nucleotide sequence of the gene. The residues removed from the amino-terminal region include 5 hydrophobic residues, two of which are aromatic. The unique amino terminus starting at Gln9 of the putative DNA translation product was observed for metallothionein purified in the presence of various protease inhibitors or from a pep4 mutant yeast strain deficient in vacuolar proteases. The remainder of the primary structure of the protein is equivalent to the decoded DNA sequence, so yeast metallothionein is a 53-residue polypeptide of molecular weight 5655. The isolated protein contained 8 copper ions ligated by 12 cysteines/molecule. Reconstitution studies of the apo-molecule revealed that 8 mol eq of Cu(I) conferred maximal stability against proteolysis and depleted the zinc content of zinc-saturated metallothionein. These assays suggested that the protein has 8 binding sites for Cu(I). Ag(I) ions bound to the protein with the same stoichiometry. Yeast metallothionein was also observed to coordinate Cd(II) and Zn(II) ions in vitro. In studies of direct binding, protection against proteolysis, and metal ion exchange, these divalent ions were found to associate with the protein with a maximal stoichiometry of 4 ions/molecule. Yeast metallothionein thus exhibits two distinct binding configurations for Cu(I) and Cd(II) as does the mammalian protein.     

Carboxymethylation of horse-liver alcohol dehydrogenase in the crystalline state. The active-site zinc region and general anion-binding site of the enzyme correlated in primary and teritiary structures.

Horse liver alcohol dehydrogenase (isozyme EE) in the crystalline state was alkylated with iodoacetate under conditions resulting in the single substitution of Cys-46, which is a ligand to the active-site zinc atom. Alkylation was facilitated by the prior formation of a complex with imidazole bound to the zinc atom. Extent and specificity of the reaction were determined by use of 14C-labelled iodoacetate and by analyses of radioactive peptides after cleavage with trypsin. Ternary complexes of the enzyme with coenzymes and inhibitors effectively protected the protein against alkylation. ADP-ribose, Pt(CN)2-/4 , 1,10-phenanthroline, Au(CN)-/2 and AMP also prevented alkylation with decreasing effectiveness. Crystallographic studies of the alkylated enzyme show that the carboyxmethylated sulfur atom of Cys-46 is still liganded to the active-site zinc atom and that the iodide ion liberated during alkylation is bound as the fourth ligand to zinc, displacing imidazole. Crystallographic analyses were also performed of the binding of AMP and Pt(CN2-/4 to the enzyme. It was found that Arg-47 interacts with the phosphate moiety of the nucleotide. Lys-228 and Arg-47 interact in the platinate complex with the bulky anion, the center of which coincides with the position of the nucleotide phosphate. Some of the cyano-ligands to platinum occupy a crevice between the coenzyme phosphate binding site and the active-site zinc atom. The results of the combined studies on primary and tertiary structures confirm previous suggestions that iodoacetate enters the active site via reversible binding to an anion-binding site. This site interacts with the negatively charged groups of the coenzyme as well as with ADP-ribose, Pt(CN2-/4 and to a lesser extent Au(CN)-/2 and AMP, which therefore prevent the reversible binding of iodoacetate. 1,10-Phenanthroline does not block the binding site but interferes with alkylation presumably by changing the coordination of zinc. Identificationof this labelled residue in both chemical and crystallographic studies correlates the primary and tertiary structures. Characterizations of the active-site zinc region and the general anion-binding site are also presented.     

Metal binding in metallothioneins: Competition for cadmium and zinc between chelex-100 and metal binding sites in metallothionein

A study of the use of the metal chelation properties of Chelex-100 in metal binding reactions of metallothionein (MT), is described. The stoichiometric ratios of bound metals in MT were determined at several stages during a titration in which the Zn(II) in Zn₇MT was displaced by Cd(II), by using Chelex-100 to sequester the free zinc. The stoichiometric ratios provide convincing supporting evidence that the complicated circular dichroism spectral properties observed during the titration arise because the incoming cadmium is distributed across both domains in the protein. It is shown that Chelex-100 does not sequester zinc or cadmium directly from the metallothionein binding sites. Use of Chelex-100 over the temperature range −20 to 65 °C is demonstrated. The chelation capacity of Chelex-100 (in terms of μ metal ion/mg resin) has been determined for a range of elements important in metal toxicology, including: cadmium (33 μ), zinc (22 μ), copper (19 μ), silver (38 μ), lead (40 μ) and mercury (40 μ).     

The binding of gold(I) to metallothionein

The binding of gold(I) to metallothionein, MT, has been unambiguously established by the reaction of Na₂AuTM with purified horse kidney MT. Zinc was displaced more readily than cadmium although the latter could be displaced using large Au/Cd ratios. The metal exchange reactions were complete within 2 hr of mixing. Further evidence that such reactions might be physiologically significant were obtained by studying in vitro metal displacements in the liver cytosol of in vivo metal treated rats: When Na₂AuTM was added to the cytosol of rats administered CdCl₂ in vivo, zinc, copper and cadmium were displaced in 2/1/1 ratios from the metallothionein fraction. The zinc and cadmium displacement provide direct evidence that the gold was binding to MT. Addition of Cd⁺² to liver cytosol of gold-treated rats resulted in displacement of copper and zinc, but not gold, from the MT fractions. When liver MT is prepared from rats exposed to Au or Cd, the Cd/protein ratio increased during the preparation, but the Au/protein ratio decreased. The Mt-bound metals account for 95% of the cytosolic Cd but only 15%–30% of the cytosolic gold in these studies. Thus, the nonspecific binding of gold to MT in vivo should be considered as one aspect in its equilibration among protein binding sites, which include, inter alia, metallothionein. Gold was found to coelute with zinc and cadmium in the MT fraction of rat kidney cytosol, when both Cd and Na₂AuTM were administered to the rats. The possible significance of gold binding to MT in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis-chrysotherapy-is briefly discussed.     

In vivo and ex vivo displacement of zinc from metallothionein by cadmium and by mercury

Divalent cadmium and mercury ions are capable in vitro of displacement of zinc from metallothionein. This process has now been studied in vivo and ex vivo, using the isolated perfused rat liver system, in order to determine if this process can occur in the intact cell. Rats with normal and elevated (via preinduction with zinc) levels of hepatic zinc thionein were studied. Cd(II) completely displaces zinc from normal levels of metallothionein and on a one-to-one basis from elevated levels of metallothionein, both in vivo and ex vivo. Hg(II) displaces zinc from metallothionein (normal or elevated) rather poorly, as compared with Cd(II), in vivo, probably due to the kidneys preference for absorbing this metal. Ex vivo Hg(II) displaces zinc from metallothionein (normal or elevated) on a one-to-one basis, with considerably more mercury being incorporated into the protein than in vivo. The results of double-label ex vivo experiments using metal and [35S]cysteine (+/- cycloheximide) were consistent with the above experiments, indicating that de novo thionein synthesis was not required for short term incorporation of cadmium and mercury into metallothionein. These data are supportive of the hypothesis that cadmium and mercury incorporation into rat hepatic metallothionein during the first few hours after exposure to these metals can occur primarily by displacement of zinc from preexisting zinc thionein by a process which does not require new protein synthesis.     

Toxicity of platinum(II) amino acid (N,O) complexes parallels their binding to DNA as measured in a new solid phase assay involving a fluorescent HMG1 protein construct readout

 The compound [Pt(lysine)Cl₂] (Kplatin) was previously identified in a study of platinum amino acid complexes as a potential antitumor drug candidate. The DNA binding properties, high mobility group (HMG)-domain protein affinity for the platinated DNA, and cytotoxicity against HeLa cells of Kplatin and three related (N,O) chelated platinum(II) amino acid complexes, [Pt(arginine)Cl₂] (Rplatin), K[Pt(N_e-acetyllysine)Cl₂] (NacKplatin), and K[Pt(norleucine)Cl₂] (Norplatin), are reported. The four complexes have identical PtCl₂(N,O) coordination environments. A new solid phase screening methodology was devised in which platinated DNA probes are covalently attached to a nylon support and tested for their ability to bind a fluorescently labeled HMG-domain protein. The fluorescent HMG-domain protein was generated by expressing a fusion of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) with recombinant rat HMG1. Binding revealed by the solid phase method correlated well with the results of gel mobility shift and HeLa cytotoxicity assays. These results suggest that the net charge on the complex, rather than the nature of the side chain, is the most important factor underlying the DNA binding properties and toxicity of amino acid (N,O) chelated platinum complexes. This property explains why Kplatin was previously selected from the pool of platinum amino acid complexes based on the ability of its DNA adducts to bind HMG1. Received: 3 February 1999 / Accepted: 7 April 1999     

Radioimmunoassay of rat liver metallothionein

A simple, inexpensive and convenient radioimmunoassay for rat liver metallothionein has been developed. The double-antibody assay involves the labeling of homogeneous, rat liver zinc thionein with trace amounts of ¹⁰⁹Cd(II) to a specific activity of 1–2 × 10⁶ cpm/μg protein; the binding of this antigen by rabbit anti-rat liver metallothionein antiserum; the displacement of this antigen by unlabeled zinc thionein or cadmium, zinc-thionein; the precipitation of the rabbit antibody-rat antigen complex by goat anti-rabbit IgG immunoglobulins; and the binding of this precipitate to cellulose acetate filters. The radioimmunoassay is useful in the range of concentration of metallothionein of 10–500 ng protein. The assay is accurate as compared with a previous technique of quantitating metallothionein in extracts of rat liver. A radial immunodiffusion assay for metallothionein is also described.