The effect of kazusamycin B on the cell cycle and morphology of cultured L1210 cells.

The effect of a potent antitumor antibiotic, kazusamycin B, on the cell cycle of L1210 cells was examined. Kazusamycin B arrested synchronized L1210 cells at G1 phase. Retardation of metaphase initiation was also observed. Flow cytometric analysis of kazusamycin B-treated asynchronized cells also confirmed G1 arresting effect of kazusamycin B. In addition, an unidentified cell population with lower fluorescence intensity than G1 population was observed when the cells were exposed to the drug longer than 12 hours. Morphology of kazusamycin B-treated L1210 cells revealed that the intranuclear structure changed within 4 hours, and that abnormal condensation of nuclei coincided with the appearance of unidentified population. Kazusamycin B inhibited RNA synthesis moderately but specifically at 2 hours. However, this inhibition might be a secondary effect of the antibiotic-induced structural abnormality of the nuclei.