TRANSITION-METAL-MEDIATED CYTOTOXICITY OF QUINOLONES TO L1210 CELLS

Transition metals tested, Cu2+, and Ni2+, were found effective in the induction of the cytotoxicity of the quinolones tested, nalidixic acid , oxolinic acid, and pipemidic acid, against L1210 leukemia cells in v itro, whereas the alkaline earth metal, Mg2+, was not The differential effect of the metals on the quinolone cytotoxicity can be explained b y their different mode of interaction with the quinolones. Our present difference spectroscopic titration data suggest that the transition m etals can form DNA-intercalating agents, with the quinolones, which ca n cause the cytotoxicity.