Actinomycin D-deoxynucleotide complexes as models for the actinomycin D-DNA complex. The use of nuclear magnetic resonance to determine the stoichiometry and the geometry of the complexes.

The use of proton and carbon-13 magnetic resonance spectroscopy for the determination of the geometry and the stoichiometry of the actinomycin D-deoxyguanosine 5'-monophosphate complex is outlined. The dimerization of actinomycin D has been reexamined by recording the proton magnetic resonance spectrum of actinomycin D to much lower concentrations through the use of Fourier transform nuclear magnetic resonance techniques. The effect of the actinomycin D dimerization on the observed chemical shifts that results from the additon of nucleotides to an actinomycin D solution is directly demonstrated by comparing the actinomycin D-nucleotide titrations at both low (approximately 0.3 mM) and high (approximately 12 mM) concentrations of actinomycin D. In the presence of excess nucleotide the chemical shifts of the actinomycin D groups were essentially the same for both the low and high concentration titrations. The complexes of actinomycin D with pdG-dC, dG-dC, deoxyguanosine 3'-monophosphate, G-C, C-G, dIMP(5'), 2, 6-diaminopurine deoxyribose, and other nucleotides were also investigated by proton magnetic resonance and visible spectral titrations. These data were interpreted in terms of the molecular geometry of the complexes and in terms of the effect of the structure of the nucleotide base on the relative binding affinity of the nucleotides for the two nucleotide binding sites of actinomycin D. The carbon-13 chemical shifts of dGMP(5') were measured as a function of concentration over the concentration range of 0.5-0.025 M. The infinite dilution carbon-13 chemical shifts were graphically estimated from the dilution curves. These values were used to calculate the changes in the chemical shifts of the dGMP carbons that result from the formation of an actinomycin D-(dGMP)2 complex. It was not possible to interpret these carbon-13 chemical shift changes in terms of only ring current effects, which thus rules out the use of carbon-13 spectroscopy in the determination of the geometries of the actinomycin D complexes with the mono- and dinucleotides. The induced chemical shifts in the proton spectra may be used in the determination of the geometries of the complexes. A consideration of these data for the above nucleotide series shows that the predominant complex formed is one in which the guanine rings in the two nucleotide binding sites of actinomycin D are oriented in a manner very similar to that observed in the cocrystalline complex of actinomycin D with deoxyguanosine.     

Effect of exogenous factors on extracellular alkaline ribonuclease synthesis in Bacillus mesentericus

Bacillus mesentericus was found to assimilate nucleic acids as a source of nitrogen and phosphorus. Nucleic acids added to the medium as a source of nitrogen or phosphorus stimulated synthesis of ribonuclease. When washed bacterial cells were incubated for a short period of time in a fresh nutrient medium containing RNA, synthesis of RNAase was also induced. Synthesis of the enzyme was inhibited by high concentrations of chloramphenicol and actinomycin D, and stimulated by low concentrations of actinomycin D. Therefore, alkaline RNAase is an inducible enzyme which participates in the nutrition processes of bacteria.     

Achromosomal Division of Early Starfish Embryos Cultured in the Presence of Actinomycin D

Embryos of the starfish Asterina pectinifera were examined for their ability to undergo the early events of embryonic development in the presence of actinomycin D, a most widely used inhibitor of RNA synthesis. Fertilized eggs continued to divide eight or nine times in the presence of 25 μg ml⁻¹actinomycin D, although delay of development was observed. Chromatin disintegrated in the blastomeres of actinomycin D-treated embryos specifically at the 32-cell stage and the nucleus was undetectable at later stages. Before the 32-cell stage, RNA synthesis was not affected by the presence of actinomycin D whereas DNA synthesis was severely inhibited. The stage when achromosomal divisions cease and embryos begin to die corresponds to the period just before onset of blastulation, suggesting that the presence of the nucleus and chromosomes is a prerequisite for blastula formation and development beyond the 512-cell stage in this species.     

Intracellular distribution of transglutaminase activity during rat liver regeneration

Transglutaminase and ornithine decarboxylase activities have been assayed at intervals after partial hepatectomy in regenerating liver cells fractionated to obtain nuclear, cytoplasmic-particulate, and cytoplasmic-soluble fractions. Ornithine decarboxylase activity, localized entirely in the cytoplasmic fractions, undergoes a dramatic induction during the first 4 h after partial hepatectomy and remains elevated. This induction is very sensitive to inhibition by cycloheximide and actinomycin D, as previously reported. Transglutaminase activity is localized in both the cytoplasm and the nucleus with the highest specific activity in the nucleus. Nuclear transglutaminase activity approximately doubles in the first 2 h of liver regeneration, apparently as a result of a translocation of enzyme from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. Inhibitor studies indicate that the translocation is not dependent upon protein or RNA synthesis. In the first 2 h, actinomycin D slightly activates transglutaminase activity in the cytoplasmic-particulate and nuclear fractions. Only at 4 h after the onset of regeneration do actinomycin D and cycloheximide show some inhibition of transglutaminase activity indicating de novo synthesis at this time. A broad increase of transglutaminase activity occurs from hours 12–16 to hour 32 after partial hepatectomy in the nuclear and cytoplasmic-particulate fraction. These data suggest the existence of a function for transglutaminase in the nucleus of rat liver cells.     

Control of actinomycin D biosynthesis in Streptomyces parvullus: regulation of tryptophan oxygenase activity

Tryptophan oxygenase (tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase) activity increases immediately before the initiation of actinomycin D production by Streptomyces parvullus. We have attempted to discern whether this increase is due to a release from catabolite repression or to the synthesis of an inducer substance. The standard culture medium (glutamic acid-histidine-fructose medium) used in antibiotic production studies with S. parvullus contains l-glutamate as a major constituent. l-Glutamate is almost totally consumed before the onset of actinomycin D synthesis. The addition of 10 mM l-glutamate at this stage completely abolished actinomycin D production as well as tryptophan oxygenase synthesis. Fourteen amino acids were tested for a similar effect. Of these, l-glutamate and l-aspartate had the most dramatic effect on tryptophan oxygenase and beta-galactosidase (beta-d-galactosidase), another inducible enzyme. Standard glutamic acid-histidine-fructose medium, preincubated for 23 h to remove l-glutamate, allowed the synthesis of actinomycin D and tryptophan oxygenase by cells at a stage of growth normally considered too early for antibiotic production. A chemically defined medium lacking l-glutamate and adjusted to pH 8.0 was designed to simulate the preincubation medium. The transfer of cells to this artificial preincubation medium resulted in the appearance of tryptophan oxygenase as early as 19 h before normal synthesis occurred, eliminating the possibility that an inducer molecule is synthesized and excreted during the preincubation period. The results of these studies suggest that the increase in tryptophan oxygenase activity before the onset of actinomycin D synthesis, as well as the synthesis of actinomycin D itself, is due to a release from l-glutamate catabolite repression.     

Isoxaben Inhibits the Synthesis of Acid Insoluble Cell Wall Materials In Arabidopsis thaliana

The effect of the herbicide isoxaben on the incorporation of radiolabeled glucose, leucine, uracil, and acetate into acid insoluble cell wall material, protein, nucleic acids, and fatty acids, respectively, was measured. Dichlobenil, cycloheximide, actinomycin D, and cerulenin, inhibitors of the incorporation of these precursors into these macromolecular components, functioned as expected, providing positive controls. The incorporation of radiolabeled glucose into an acid insoluble cell wall fraction was severely inhibited by isoxaben at nanomolar concentrations. Amitrole, fluridone, ethalfluralin, and chlorsulfuron, as well as cycloheximide, actinomycin D, and cerulenin did not inhibit incorporation of glucose into this fraction, ruling out a general nonspecific effect of herbicides on glucose incorporation. The evidence thus suggests that isoxaben is an extremely powerful and specific inhibitor of cell wall biosynthesis.     

Effects of Actinomycin D on the Cytopathology Induced by Poliovirus in HEp-2 Cells

One possible mechanism of virus-induced cell damage is that the redistributed (released) lysosomal enzymes produce the cytopathic effect during cytolytic types of infections such as poliovirus in HEp-2 cells. To determine if the lysosomal enzyme redistribution and cell damage are host-cell directed, we studied sensitivity of these events to the action of actinomycin D. By the use of actinomycin D at concentrations producing the least toxicity but maximal effectiveness in shuting down cell RNA synthesis, it was shown that the cytopathic effect and enzyme redistribution were not inhibited and, therefore, not directly controlled and induced by the cell genome in response to the virus infection. Evaluation of cytopathic effect by a phase contrast microscopy method detected changes earlier than the erythrocin B uptake method.     

The effects of lysosomotropic amines on protein degradation, migration of nonhistone proteins to the nucleus, and cathepsin D in lymphocytes

Various lysosomotropic amines have two parallel effects in human lymphocytes: they inhibit the degradation of cellular proteins and increase the migration of nonhistone proteins (NHP) from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. The increased nuclear level of NHP is associated with increased cellular binding of [3H] actinomycin D, indicating an altered structure of chromatin. The agents inhibit the degradation of short- and long-lived proteins equally. Fractionation of the [3H] NHP of the nucleus according to pH 2.5-6.5 shows that [3H] NHP with a high rate of degradation in untreated cells correspond to [3H] NHP with a high rate of migration in cells treated with the agents. Eserine, amantadine, nicotine, atropine, benzylamine, and propranolol inhibit cathepsin D in concentrations causing proteolytic inhibition in cell cultures or in concentrations believed to be attained in lysosomes. The agents strongly inhibit the cellular accumulation of [3H] chloroquine. The data support the proposal that the migration of NHP from the cytoplasm to the nucleus is the direct consequence of inhibited degradation of these proteins in lysosomes by the amines.     

Immunoelectron microscope localization of Mr 90000 heat shock protein and Mr 70000 heat shock cognate protein in the salivary glands of Chironomus thummi

The Mr 90000 heat shock protein (hsp 90) and one of the Mr 70000 heat shock cognate proteins (hsc 70) were localized by immunoelectron microscopy in salavary gland cells of normal and heat-shocked larvae of Chironomus thummi using polyclonal antibodies raised against Drosophila proteins. Immunoblotting after separation of proteins by gel electrophoresis shows that these antibodies cross-react with the corresponding proteins of Chironomus. Hsp 90 was localized both in the cytoplasm and in the nucleus, where it is associated with intrachromosomal and extrachromosomal ribonucleoprotein (RNP) fibrils, as well as with the peripheral region of compact chromatin. After heat shock the concentration of hsp 90 increases in the nucleus. This increase is prevented by actinomycin D administration during the heat shock. Hsp 90 is associated with the chromatin of puffs repressed by heat shock and with the RNP fibrils of actively transcribing heat shock puffs. Hsc 70 is mainly found in RNP fibrils and in the periphery of compact chromatin. During heat shock the concentration of hsc 70 decreases in the cytoplasm while it becomes more abundant in association with chromatin and intrachromosomal and extrachromosomal RNP fibrils. These results suggest a translocation of the existing protein from the cytoplasm toward the nucleus. They are supported by observations of the effect of heat shock carried out in the presence of actinomycin D.by D.P. Bazett-Jones     

Mitochondrial protein p32 can accumulate in the nucleus

Human p32 was first isolated associated with the splicing factor ASF/SF-2. The p32 protein is translated as pre-protein from which a mitochondrial import signal is cleaved off to create the mature p32. The majority of p32 is consequently found in the mitochondria. In this study we investigated extramitochondrial p32. An increased nuclear localisation of endogenous p32 was demonstrated as a response to leptomycin B or actinomycin D treatment of cells. Mature p32 gene and deletion mutants were cloned into enhanced green fluorescence protein reporter plasmids. On transfection, EGFP-p32 protein was mainly localised to the cytoplasm and to a lesser extent to the nucleus of transfected COS cells. Upon treatment with actinomycin D or leptomycin B, the EGFP-p32 protein accumulated in the nucleus. Deletion analysis indicated which regions of EGFP-p32 are involved in nuclear export and nuclear import.     

LIGHT AND ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC RADIOAUTOGRAPHY OF HEPATIC CELL NUCLEOLI IN MICE TREATED WITH ACTINOMYCIN D

Nucleolar partition induced by actinomycin D was used to demonstrate some aspects of nucleolar RNA synthesis and release in mouse hepatic cells, with light and electron microscopic radioautography. The effect of the drug on RNA synthesis and nucleolar morphology was studied when actinomycin D treatment preceded labeling with tritiated orotic acid. Nucleolar partition, consisting of a segegration into granular and fibrillar parts was visible if a dosage of 25 µg of actinomycin D was used, but nucleolar RNA was still synthesized. After a dosage of 400 µg of actinomycin D, nucleolar RNA synthesis was completely stopped If labeling with tritiated orotic acid preceded treatment with 400 µg of actinomycin D, labeled nucleolar RNA was present 15 min after actinomycin D treatment while high resolution radioautography showed an association of silver grains with the granular component. At 30 min after actinomicyn D treatment all labeling was lost. Since labeling was associated with the granular component the progressive loss of label as a result of actinomycin D treatment indicated a release of nucleolar granules. The correlation between this release and the loss of 28S RNA from actinomycin D treated nucleoli as described in the literature is discussed.     

Colchicine resistant friend cells: Application to the study of actinomycin D induced erythroid differentiation

Colchicine resistant (Cch^R) mutants have been isolated from Friend erythroeleukemic cells by successive single-step selections. Measurements of the rate of uptake of [³H]-colchicine into whole cells, and the binding of [³H]-colchicine to cytoplasmic extracts, suggest that these mutants are colchicine-resistant due to a reduced membrane permeability to colchicine, rather than an altered intracellular colchicine-binding target. Consistent with this conclusion is the observation that non-toxic concentrations of Tween–80, a non-ionic detergent, potentiated colchicine uptake into mutant cells. In addition, these Friend cell mutants, like Cch^R mutants of other cell types, are cross-resistant to a variety of unrelated drugs, including daunomycin, puromycin, emetine, and actinomycin D. A comparison of the dose-response curves for the induction of Friend cell differentiation by actinomycin D of both wild-type and two Cch^R cells suggests that actinomycin D permeation is required for its effects on Friend cell differentiation. Potentiation of actinomycin D uptake by Tween–80 significantly lowered the concentration of drug required to induce hemoglobin synthesis in the Cch^R cells, but had no significant effect on either actinomycin D induction of Cch^S cells or DMSO induction of both Cch^S and Cch^R cells. In common with other chemical inducers of Friend cell differentiation, the addition of actinomycin D results in an early decrease in ⁸⁶ RbCl uptake, although this effect on transport occurred 14 hours later than that observed with DMSO.     

1H-NMR analysis of heteroassociation of caffeine with antibiotic actinomycin D in the aqueous solution

The molecular basis of the action of caffeine as a complex forming agent, an interceptor of aromatic drugs intercalating into DNA was studied by the example of the an anticancer antibiotic actinomycin D examined. The hetero-association of caffeine and actionomycin D was studied by one- and two-dimensional 1H-NMR spectroscopy (500 MHz). Concentration and temperature dependences of the proton chemical shifts of molecules in aqueous solution were measured. The equilibrium reaction constant of hetero-association of caffeine with actinomycin D (K = 246 +/- 48 M-1), the limiting chemical shifts of caffeine protons in complexes were determined. The most favourable structure of the 1:1 caffeine-actinomycin D hetero-complex in aqueous solution was constructed using the calculated values of the induced proton chemical shifts of molecules and the quantum-mechanical iso-shielding curves for caffeine and actinomycin D. The thermo-dynamical parameters of the hetero-complex formation between caffeine and actinomycin D were also determined. The structural and thermo-dynamical analysis showed that dispersive forces and hydrophobic interactions play the major role in hetero-association of caffeine and actinomycin D in aqueous-salt solution. The relative content of different complexes in mixed solutions containing caffeine and actinomycin D was calculated and distinctive features of the dynamic equilibrium of caffeine-actinomycin D hetero-associates were revealed as a function of concentration and temperature. It is concluded that hetero-association of caffeine and actinomycin D molecules a lowers the effective concentration of the drug in solution and hence the pharmacological activity of actinomycin D.     

Kinetics of Penicillinase Induction and Variation of Penicillinase Translation in Staphylococcus aureus

At neutral pH, the rate of penicillinase synthesis by staphylococci declines gradually after removal of free inducer, while at pH 5.4 enzyme formation is generally linear for an extended period. Linear synthesis of penicillinase was observed at neutral pH in nonsaturating concentrations (1 μg/ml) of actinomycin D. The rate of enzyme synthesis, corrected for inhibition of growth caused by the antibiotic, was relatively independent of the time of actinomycin addition. The lag preceding linear enzyme formation increased with the interval between induction and the addition of actinomycin. The findings are consistent with the concept that, at neutral pH, “operons” activated by induction are rapidly repressed, while at pH 5.4, this process is delayed.

At a concentration of 4 μg/ml, actinomycin D blocked penicillinase messenger synthesis and also elicited a short-lived acceleration of the increase of penicillinase activity in uninduced and, late after induction, in induced cultures. This effect did not require a functional genomic repressor mechanism since it occurred also in a penicillinase-constitutive strain. It required protein synthesis and could not be attributed to a greater enzyme stability in the presence of actinomycin. The results suggest enhanced penicillinase translation after addition of actinomycin D.