Studies on the fluorescence labeling of human red blood cell membrane ghosts with 4'-(9-acridinylamino)methanesulfon-m-anisidide

Formation of the thiol adducts of 4'-(9-acridinylamino)methanesulfon-m-anisidide and their binding to deoxyribonucleic acid

We investigated the interactions of 4'-(9-acridinylamino)methanesulfon-m-anisidide (mAMSA) with thiol-containing compounds and the potential binding of the thiolytic adducts to DNA. All thiols tested (glutathione, cysteine, coenzyme A, 2-mercaptoethanol and lactate dehydrogenase) formed adducts with mAMSA as evidenced by changes in the absorption spectrum of mAMSA and induction of fluorescence. Spectral changes induced by the thiols were different, suggesting that each thiol induced specific changes in the electronic structure of the acridine nucleus. Treatment of glutathione with p-chloromercuribenzoate eliminated the absorption spectral changes and induction of fluorescence, indicating that the reduced-thiol group is involved. In high ionic strength buffer, addition of calf thymus DNA induced fluorescence-quenching of both the mAMSA-glutathione and mAMSA-cysteine adducts without spectral shift. Viscometric studies showed that mAMSA and mAMSA-glutathione intercalated into DNA and produced similar increases in the length of linear DNA.

Cellular association, intracellular distribution, and efflux of auranofin via sequential ligand exchange reactions

Auranofin (AF), an orally active, antiarthritic agent, modulates the functional activities of macrophages in vivo and in vitro. To better understand the molecular mechanism of action of auranofin with macrophages we have investigated its cellular association, intracellular distribution, and efflux with RAW 264.7 cells using auranofin radiolabeled within the triethylphosphine (Et3P) [3H], the gold [195Au] or the tetraacetylthioglucose (TATG)[14C] moieties of the molecule. Evaluation of the effects of auranofin on RAW 264.7 cells demonstrates that (1) cellular association of this compound was concentration, time and temperature dependent; (2) cellular association of AF was inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide but not by 2,4-dinitrophenol and NaF; (3) cellular association and uptake of Au and Et3P into cells was reduced when the drug was preincubated with increasing concentrations of fetal calf serum and albumin; (4) no tetraacetylthioglucose from the auranofin molecule became cell associated whereas the Au and Et3P moieties were internalized and distributed between the nuclear, cytosolic and membrane fractions of cells; and (5) efflux of Au and Et3P from RAW 264.7 cells was time and temperature dependent. Based on these data we propose a model, a sequential ligand exchange process, that describes the molecular interactions of auranofin and possibly other gold compounds with these cells.