Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Actinomycin D-induced breakage of human KB cell DNA

Abstract

ACTINOMYCIN D is a potent inhibitor of RNA synthesis both in vitro and in vivo1,2. Its mode of action involves the intercalation with DNA at G-C regions and prevention of polymerase movement along the template3,4. Actinomycin D has also been shown to inhibit DNA synthesis, cell division and colony formation in mouse L cells5. We have studied the effects of this drug on the DNA of human KB cells in culture. Extensive DNA breakage was induced even at quite low concentrations of the drug.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Reich, E., and Goldberg, I. H., Proc. Nucleic Acid. Res., 3, 183–234 (1964).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Perry, R. P., and Kelley, D. E., J. Cell Physiol., 76, 127–139 (1970).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Sobell, H. M., Proc. Nucleic Acid. Res., 13, 153–190 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Richardson, J. P., J. molec. Biol., 21, 83–114 (1966).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Bacchetti, S., and Whitmore, G. F., Biophys. J., 9, 1427–1445 (1969).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Paleic, B., and Skarsgard, L. D., Int. J. Radiat. Biol., 21, 535–544 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Muller, W., and Crothers, D. M., J. molec. Biol., 35, 251–290 (1968).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Kresten, W., Keresten, H., and Szybalski, W., Biochemistry, 5, 236–244 (1966).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Waring, M., J. molec. Biol., 54, 247–279 (1970).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Elkind, M. M., Int. J. Radiat. Biol., 22, 313–324 (1972).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Goldstein, E. S., and Penman, S. J., J. molec. Biol., 80. 243–254 (1973).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

PATER, M., MAK, S. Actinomycin D-induced breakage of human KB cell DNA. Nature 250, 786–788 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1038/250786a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/250786a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing