Antitumor effect of methylglyoxal bis(butylamidinohydrazone), a new inhibitor of S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase, against human erythroid leukemia K 562 cells.

Methylglyoxal bis(butylamidinohydrazone) (MGBB) inhibited S-adenosylmethionine decarboxylase (SAMDC) activity competitively with S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) showing the Ki value of 1.8 X 10(-5) M. MGBB showed less SAMDC-stabilizing effect in rat liver in vivo than did methylglyoxal bis-(guanylhydrazone) (MGBG). MGBB inhibited the growth of human erythroid leukemia K 562 cells. Putrescine, spermidine and spermine concentrations in MGBB-treated cells were depressed to 56%, 58% and 88% of the values of control cells, respectively. [35S]Methionine incorporation into trichloroacetic acid-insoluble fraction was decreased in the inhibitor-treated cells.