Nucleic Acids Research, 1983, Vol. 11, No. 23 8415-8420
© 1983
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY |
The effect of adriamycin on Z-DNA formation and DNA synthesis
MRC Unit for Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, Department of Medical Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Stellenbosch Medical School P.O. Box 63, Tygerberg, 7505, South Africa
Received September 27, 1983. Accepted November 2, 1983.
The ability of adriamycin to inhibit Z-DNA formation induced by a high-salt environment was investigated. ADM inhibited this conversion, such that in poly (dG-dC) total inhibition was observed at 1 ADM : 9 base pairs and in eukaryotic DNA (calf thymus) at 1 ADM : 11,5 base pairs. Even at low ADM con= centration, 1 ADM : 160 base pairs, some inhibition was observed. At similar ADM:DNA concentrations, an inhibition in DNA synthesis in cells in culture was observed, which showed some parallel with the inhibition of Z-DNA formation. A model is proposed where Z-DNA formation precedes DNA synthesis and where inhibition of the former could explain the antineoplastic nature of adriamycin.