| dc.description.abstract | Abstract In previous studies, we observed that cells
treated with aminochrome obtained by oxidizing dopamine
with oxidizing agents dramatically changed cell morphology,
thus posing the question if such morphological
changes were dependent on aminochrome or the oxidizing
agents used to produce aminochrome. Therefore, to answer
this question, we have now purified aminochrome on a
CM-Sepharose 50–100 column and, using NMR studies,
we have confirmed that the resulting aminochrome was
pure and that it retained its structure. Fluorescence
microscopy with calcein-AM and transmission electron
microscopy showed that RCSN-3 cells presented an elongated
shape that did not change when the cells were
incubated with 50 lMaminochrome or 100 lMdicoumarol,
an inhibitor of DT-diaphorase. However, the cell were reduced
in size and the elongated shape become spherical when the
cells where incubated with 50 lM aminochrome in the
presence of 100 lM dicoumarol. Under these conditions,
actin, alpha-, and beta-tubulin cytoskeleton filament networks
became condensed around the cell membrane. Actin
aggregates were also observed in cells processes that connected
the cells in culture. These results suggest that aminochrome
one-electron metabolism induces the disruption
of the normal morphology of actin, alpha-, and beta-tubulin
in the cytoskeleton, and that DT-diaphorase prevents these
effects. | |
