INDUCTION OF FLAT MORPHOLOGY IN IN K-RAS-TRANSFORMED FIBROBLASTS BY LYCORINE, AN ALKALOID ISOLATED FROM THE TROPICAL PLANT EUCHARIS-GRANDIFLORA

In the course of screening for Ras function inhibitors from plant extr acts, we isolated lycorine from a chloroform extract of Eucharis grand iflora leaves. Lycorine induced fiat morphology in K-ras-NRK cells aft er treatment for 2-3 days, whereas its morphological effect on NRK cel ls was weaker Lycorine was found to inhibit protein synthesis specific ally in cultured K-ras-NRK cells. it also lowered the cellular amount of Ras in 2-3 days.