On the differential cytotoxicity of actinomycin D.

Actinomycin D (AMD) at concentrations that inhibit cellular RNA synthesis by 85% or more causes an acute phase of lethal cell degeneration in HeLa cultures beginning as early as 3 hr after drug exposure, resulting in the nearly complete loss of viable cells by 12 hr. The loss of cells during this acute phase of lethality is closely dose dependent. Vero, WI38, or L cells are not susceptible to this early acute cyto-intoxication by AMD, and may begin to die only after 1-2 days. Differential susceptibility to acute cyto-intoxication by AMD, or other inhibitors of RNA synthesis (daunomycin or nogalamycin), among different types of cultured cells is analogous to that observed in vivo in certain tissues and tumors, and cannot be accounted for by differences in the effect of AMD on RNA, DNA, or protein syntheses, or by the over-all loss of preformed RNA. Actinomycin D in a dose that inhibits RNA synthesis causes an equivalent loss of the prelabeled RNA in all the cell types studied. Inhibition of protein synthesis with streptovitacin A or of DNA synthesis with hydroxyurea does not cause acute lethal injury in HeLa cells as does inhibition of RNA synthesis. Furthermore, since Vero or L cells divide at about the same rate as HeLa cells, no correlation can be drawn between the rate of cell proliferation and susceptibility to the cytotoxicity of AMD. Susceptibile cells are most vulnerable to intoxication by AMD in the G(1)-S interphase or early S phase. Inhibition of protein synthesis (which protects cells against damage by other agents affecting DNA) does not protect against AMD-induced injury. Although HeLa cells bind more AMD at a given dose than Vero or L cells, the latter cell types, given higher doses, can be made to bind proportionally more AMD without succumbing to acute cyto-intoxication. It is suggested that the differential susceptibility of these cell types to acute poisoning by AMD may reflect differences among various cells in the function or stability of certain RNA species not directly involved in translation whose presence is vital to cells. In HeLa cells, these critical species of RNA are presumed to have a short half-life.

Effects of streptovaricins and their degradation products on RNA-directed DNA polymerase of Rauscher leukemia virus.

The activities of streptovaricin complexes, streptovaricins, streptovals, and streptovarinic degradation products were elevated against RNA-directed DNA polymerases of Rauscher leukemia virus, DNA-dependent DNA polymerase of bacterial and mammalian cells, and DNA-dependent RNA polymerases of mammalian origin. The activities of streptovaricins were also listed for comparison purposes. The effects of streptovaricin complexes on viral DNA polymerases varied significantly from lot to lot, and streptovaricin complex lot 7 was the most active. All the streptovals and streptovaricin degradation products except varicinal A showed a marked improvement (twofold to tenfold) in activity against the viral enzyme over the parent streptovaricins. None of these compounds, however, displayed any significant effect on either the DNA polymerase of L1210 leukemia cells and Escherichia coli or the RNA polymerase of isolated nuclei of mouse liver. As a result of tests in these systems, some specific inhibitors of RNA-directed DNA polymerases of Rauscher leukemia virus were selected.

Effects of streptovaricins and their degradation products on infectivity of Rauscher leukemia virus.

The virucidal effects of streptovaricin (Sv) A, SvC, SvD, streptoval (Sval) C, Sval Fc, and streptovarone were evaluated by incubation of the drug with Rauscher leukemia virus (RLV) at 37 degrees C for 60 minutes prior to dillution and addition to cells (in vitro assay) or before ip injection into animals (in vivo assay). The in vitro and in vivo assays were plaque formation and splenomegaly, respectively. A dose-related effect was observed with all six compounds with the in vitro assay. On an equimolar basis, the Sv degradation products, i.e., Sval C, Sval Fc, and streptovarone were most inhibitory, followed by SvD; SvA and SvC were least active. At 0.0625 mumoles, the three Sv degradation products inactivated over 90% of the RLV. Similar results were obtained through the in vivo assay. At 0.06 mumoles, streptovarone, Sval C, and SvD showed 78,62, and 29% inhibition of splenomegaly, respectively; SvA and SvC were essentially inactive. A direct relationship was observed between inhibition on RNA-directed DNA polymrase of RLV by these compounds and their virucidal effects. No drug given at the time of injection, however, showed any significant effect on virus infective processes in vitro or in vivo. The reason for the lack of therapeutic effects of these compounds is discussed.

Effect of streptovaricin on the incorporation of uridine into cellular and viral RNA.

Poxvirus replication is inhibited by streptovaricin. The most readily observed effect is the inhibition of incorporation of [3H]uridine into viral mRNA, suggesting an inhibition of RNA synthesis. Streptovaricin also inhibits the incorporation of [3H]uridine into cellular RNA but not as severely as viral RNA. On the other hand, [3H]uridine incorporation into the RNA of Semliki Forest virus (SFV), which contains a positive strand RNA genome, does not seem to be inhibited by streptovaricin. The inhibitory effect of streptovaricin is completely reversible after removal of the inhibitor. In addition to inhibiting RNA synthesis, streptovaricin also may inhibit the methylation of cellular RNA. Viral RNA is stable in the presence of streptovaricin.

Chemical modification of streptovaricin C I. 19-O-substituted damavaricin C.

Damavaricin C, a degradative derivative of streptovaricin C, has reduced antibiotic activity relative to streptovaricin C. It has, however, a new phenolic hydroxyl group at the C-19 position of the naphthoquinone ring on which various groups can be substituted through an ether linkage. A series of 19-O-substituted derivatives of damavaricin C has been synthesized. The preparation of these derivatives, their in vitro antibacterial activities, in vitro inhibition of E. coli RNA polymerase, and lethal activity on the membrane mutants of E. coli are reported. It is believed that the original biological activity of damavaricin C is retained and that introduction of the functional groups at the C-19 position has increased the membrane diffusibility of the molecule.

Selective killing of human T cell lymphotropic virus type I-transformed cell lines by a damavaricin Fc derivative.

n-Pentyl ether of damavaricin Fc (n-pentyl DvFc) preferentially killed human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I)-transformed cell lines. The mechanism of action of the drug was investigated using MT-4 cells. Cytotoxic action was diminished by the removal of n-pentyl DvFc from the culture or by the addition of sulfhydryl compounds such as 2-mercaptoethanol and dithiothreitol. The killing activity of n-pentyl DvFc was also diminished by membrane-acting agents including quinidine and diphenylhydantoin. Influx and subsequent efflux of Ca2+ were observed when either HTLV-I infected (MT-4 cells) or uninfected cells were treated with n-pentyl DvFc. An efflux of K+ was observed in HTLV-I infected MT-4 cells immediately after the exposure of the cells to n-pentyl DvFc. The K+ efflux, however, was not observed in the uninfected T cells. n-Pentyl DvFc seems to act primarily on the cell surface of MT-4 cells, leading to the perturbation of membrane function. The restoration of cell growth, however, is critically dependent on the presence of dithiothreitol and 2-mercaptoethanol, implying a role for a free sulfhydryl group in the killing activity.

[Effect of streptovaricin on the multiplication of L line cells]. / O vliianii streptovaritsima na razmnozhenie kletok linii L.

An inhibitor of the reverse trascriptase-streptovaricin in a dose of 4 mkg/ml would induce an increase of the DNA amount in L cell nuclei, while its dosage of 8 mkg/ml decrease the amount of DNA, resulting in the differentiation of some population cells. Streptovaricin inhibited the L cell multiplication, rendering no significant effect on that of normal fibroblasts of C3H mice culture.