Comparative DNA cross-linking by activated pyrrolizidine alkaloids

The toxicity and bioactivity of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), common const ituents of hundreds of plant species, and in herbal remedies and folk medic ines prepared thereof, are probably due to their ability to form DNA cross- linking. We investigated DNA cross-linking activity by chemically-activated PAs from four different structural classes in Madin-Darby bovine kidney (M DBK) cells and in pBR322 DNA. In cell culture, alpha,beta-unsaturated macro cyclic diester pyrroles dehydrosenecionine (DHSN), dehydroriddelliine (DHRD ) and the saturated macrocyclic diester pyrrole dehydromonocrotaline (DHMO) were significantly more potent cross-linkers than the simple necine base ( retronecine) and an N-oxide (indicine N-oxide; INO) as determined by alkali ne elution. The proportion of total DNA cross-links that were proteinase K- resistant (DNA-DNA cross-links) induced by the various pyrroles ranged from 0.08 (DHRN) to 0.67 (DHSN). Those pyrroles that were potent cross-linkers of cellular DNA also cross-linked, in a dose-dependent manner, Bam Hi-diges ted pBR322 DNA as assessed by a gel retardation assay. The possible functio nal relevance of pyrrole-DNA cross-links was determined by their ability to interrupt PCR amplification of a 1.129 kb segment of pBR322. Dehydroseneci onine completely inhibited amplification, while DHMO was of intermediate po tency, while DHRN and INO had no effect. Taken together, these studies sugg est that structural features, most notably the presence of a macrocyclic di ester, confer potent cross-link activity to PAs. In any event, DNA-DNA cros s-linking is probably biologically relevant as indicated by their interfere nce with DNA replication. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserve d.