zinostatin and 5-5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-1-oxide

Neocarzinostatin (NCS) is one of the most potent antitumor agents. It contains a chromophore of a unique enediyne structure as its prosthetic group. Here, we report the generation of free radicals from NCS by the NADPH/cytochrome (cyt) P-450 reductase system. Free radical species, which were generated in the reaction mixture of NCS/NADPH/cyt P-450 reductase, were identified by using electron spin resonance spin trapping with 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO). The spin adducts of superoxide and hydroxyl radical (DMPO-OOH and DMPO-OH, respectively) were generated in the reaction of NCS with the NADPH/cyt P-450 reductase system. From kinetic analyses of DMPO-OOH generation as a function of the concentration of NCS, the Vmax/Km value of the reaction was 0.4 x 10(6) M-1min-1. In addition, we identified thiyl radical generation in this system in the presence of glutathione. These results indicate that NCS is a potent generator of free radicals in cells where cyt P-450 reductase is available. Moreover, it seems that free radicals, generated by enzymatic activation of NCS, are involved in cytotoxicity of NCS as well as in DNA damage.

Topics: Animals; Cell Death; Cyclic N-Oxides; Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy; Free Radicals; In Vitro Techniques; Kinetics; Microsomes, Liver; NADPH-Ferrihemoprotein Reductase; Rats; Reactive Oxygen Species; Spin Labels; Zinostatin