Cytotoxicity and DNA-binding property of non-diynene class of dynemicins and aza-anthraquinones.

Dynemicin A is a potent antibacterial and antitumor antibiotic having a striking hybrid structure of both anthraquinone as a DNA intercalator and diynene as a DNA strand breaker. We have investigated the DNA-binding property and cytotoxicity of non-diynene class of dynemicins (H, L, M, O and Q) and several related synthetic tri- and pentacyclic aza-anthraquinones 1a-3a (R = H) and 1b-3b (R = CH3). Among them, dynemicin H, L, M, O, Q, 1a, 1b and 2b exhibited DNA-binding property. All non-diynene class of dynemicins investigated exhibited intercalative binding activity, however, synthetic aza-anthraquinones 1a-3a did not show such ability. Dynemicin H, Q, 2a, 2b and 3b showed cytotoxicity against HL-60 and K-562 cell lines.