Cryptophycin 1 binds to tubulin at a site distinct from the colchicine binding site and at a site that may overlap the vinca binding site

Cryptophycin 1 is a new cytotoxic antimicrotubule agent with excellent antitumor activity. The methods of Sackett (Biochemistry, 34, 7010-7019, 1995), utilizing the selective and specific proteolysis of alpha- and beta-tubulin by trypsin and chymotrypsin, was used to identify the cryptophycin 1 binding site on tubulin. Occupancy of the colchicine or vinca binding sites causes changes in the structure of tubulin that can be detected by proteolysis with trypsin and chymotrypsin. The addition of cryptophycin 1 to tubulin causes changes in both the tryptic and chymotryptic cleavage of tubulin consistent with occupation of the vinca binding site and distinct from occupation of the colchicine binding site. The effects of cryptophycin 1 on the tryptic digests are identical to the effects seen with vinblastine and differ saliently from the effects of maytansine and rhizoxin, other agents known to bind to the vinca site. The data suggest that the binding site of cryptophycin 1 may overlap the vinca binding site on tubulin.

Protection by green tea, black tea, and indole-3-carbinol against 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline-induced DNA adducts and colonic aberrant crypts in the F344 rat

Male F344 rats were exposed for 8 weeks to extracts of green tea (2% w/v) or black tea (1% w/v), or to 0.1% dietary indole-3-carbinol (I3C). In weeks 3 and 4 of the study, rats were given 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) every other day by oral gavage (50 mg/kg body wt) in order to induce aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in the colon. Compared with controls given IQ alone, all three inhibitors reduced the number of total aberrant crypts per colon, and green tea and I3C inhibited significantly the mean number of ACF (P < 0.05). Rats pre-treated with green tea, black tea, or I3C and given a single p.o. injection of 50 mg IQ/kg body wt 24-48 h before sacrifice had reduced levels of IQ-DNA adducts in the liver, and excreted lower amounts of IQ and other promutagens in the urine and feces. Inhibitors also reduced the excretion of IQ-sulfamate in the urine, but increased the relative amounts of IQ-5-O-sulfate and IQ-5-O-glucuronide. Western blotting together with assays for 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase and methoxyresorufin O-demethylase established that I3C preferentially induced cytochrome P4501A1 over 1A2, consistent with the altered profile of urinary metabolites. However, both teas caused slight induction of cytochrome P4501A2 versus 1A1, which would be predicted to enhance the activation of IQ. Thus, green tea and black tea are likely to protect against IQ-DNA adducts and ACF by mechanisms other than induction of cytochromes P450, such as inhibition of enzymes which activate IQ or the scavenging of reactive intermediates.