4,6-Benzylidene-D-glucose, a benzaldehyde derivative that inhibits protein synthesis but not mitosis of NHIK 3025 cells.

The effect of the benzaldehyde derivative 4,6-benzylidene-D-glucose (BG) on cell-cycle kinetics, protein synthesis, and cell survival of human NHIK 3025 cells has been investigated. The effects are compared with results reported previously for benzaldehyde, which was shown to inhibit protein synthesis as well as induce metaphase inhibition. BG exerted an effect on protein synthesis similar to that of benzaldehyde, but did not affect metaphase. Inhibition of protein synthesis was measured as a reduction in the rate of incorporation of [3H]valine and is thus a measure of the rate of total protein synthesis. The quantitative effect on the rate of protein synthesis was equal for the two drugs when compared on a concentration basis. Both drugs induced inhibition of cell-cycle progression during interphase, which is thought to be a secondary result of the protein synthesis inhibition. The concentration of BG and the hydrolysis product benzaldehyde were determined in cell culture medium by high-performance liquid chromatography. BG was not found to be hydrolyzed to free benzaldehyde when in contact with cells or in a cell sonicate. The results indicate that BG is not metabolized but acts in the form of BG.