SUBCELLULAR DISTRIBUTION OF HYPERICIN IN HUMAN CANCER CELLS |
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Authors: | Pavol Miskovsky Franck Sureau Laurent Chinsky Pierre-Yves Turpin |
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Institution: | Biophysics Division, Safarik University, Jesenna 5, 04154 Kosice, Slovakia;L.P.C.B. (CNRS UA 198), Institut Curie and UniversitéP. et M. Curie, 75231 Paris, Cedex 05, France |
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Abstract: | Confocal laser microspectrofluorometric measurements on human T47D mammary tumor cells have been performed to assess the intracellular distribution of hypericin within the various cell compartments: cytoplasmic membrane, cytoplasm and nucleus. Confocal fluorescence measurements obtained from microvolumes (? 1 μm3) located within the three sites of interest show that, while being primarily located in the cell membrane and cytoplasm after a short-term incubation in a 10?6M hypericin-containing culture medium, hypericin actually reaches the inside of the cell nucleus after a long-term incubation (210 min). Moreover, owing to the relative fluorescence quantum yields of hypericin determined in vitro when the molecule interacts with DNA, membrane and protein model systems, it is assumed that there is a significant accumulation of the drug into the cell nucleus. Consequently, the nucleus has to be considered as a possible target for the toxic action of hypericin. |
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