Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 26, 2026

Flow Cytometry-based Drug Screening System for the Identification of Small Molecules That Promote Cellular Differentiation of Glioblastoma Stem Cells
10:28

Flow Cytometry-based Drug Screening System for the Identification of Small Molecules That Promote Cellular Differentiation of Glioblastoma Stem Cells

Published on: January 10, 2018

Inhibition of DNA synthesis in human gliomas by roscovitine

J S Yakisich1, J Boethius, I O Lindblom

  • 1Applied Biochemistry, Clinical Research Center, Huddinge, Sweden.

Neuroreport
|November 26, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Roscovitine, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, significantly reduced DNA synthesis in human malignant gliomas. This potent effect was observed rapidly and was concentration-dependent, suggesting therapeutic potential.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Malignant gliomas are aggressive brain tumors with limited treatment options.
  • Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) play a crucial role in cell cycle progression and are often dysregulated in cancer.
  • Roscovitine is a CDK inhibitor with potential anti-cancer properties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the early effects of roscovitine on DNA synthesis in human malignant glioma tissue.
  • To determine the concentration-dependency and time-course of roscovitine's inhibitory action.

Main Methods:

  • Human malignant glioma tissue specimens were obtained immediately after resection.
  • Tissue was incubated with [3H]methylthymidine and varying concentrations of roscovitine or vehicle control.
  • DNA synthesis rate was quantified by measuring [3H]methylthymidine incorporation into DNA.

Main Results:

  • Roscovitine significantly inhibited DNA synthesis in all tested glioma specimens.
  • Inhibition ranged from 71% to 97%, with an average of 89% at 100 microM concentration.
  • The inhibitory effect was observed within 30 minutes and was dose-dependent.

Conclusions:

  • Roscovitine demonstrates potent and rapid inhibition of DNA synthesis in human malignant gliomas.
  • These findings support roscovitine's potential as a therapeutic agent for malignant gliomas.
  • Further research into roscovitine's efficacy and safety in glioma treatment is warranted.

More Related Videos

Evaluating In Vitro DNA Damage Using Comet Assay10:43

Evaluating In Vitro DNA Damage Using Comet Assay

Published on: October 11, 2017

Preparation Of Neovascular Tissues from Human Glioma Tissues for Quantitative Proteomics Analysis of Tumor Angiogenesis09:33

Preparation Of Neovascular Tissues from Human Glioma Tissues for Quantitative Proteomics Analysis of Tumor Angiogenesis

Published on: March 20, 2026

Related Concept Videos

Inhibition of Cdk Activity02:34

Inhibition of Cdk Activity

The orderly progression of the cell cycle depends on the activation of Cdk protein by binding to its cyclin partner. However, the cell cycle must be restricted when undergoing abnormal changes. Most cancers correlate to the deregulated cell cycle, and since Cdks are a central component of the cell cycle, Cdk inhibitors are extensively studied to develop anticancer agents. For instance, cyclin D associates with several Cdks, such as Cdk 4/6, to form an active complex. The cyclin D-Cdk4/6 complex...
Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer01:03

Rous Sarcoma Virus (RSV) and Cancer

Rous Sarcoma virus or RSV was discovered by F. Peyton Rous in the year 1911 as a filterable transmissible agent that could cause tumors in chickens. He won a Nobel Prize for this discovery in 1966. His experiments clearly demonstrated that some cancers could be caused by infectious agents and led to the discovery of many more cancer-causing viruses in animals as well as humans.
RSV is a retrovirus that contains two copies of a plus-strand  RNA genome. Its genome consists of four main open...
The Retinoblastoma Gene01:20

The Retinoblastoma Gene

Tumor suppressor genes are normal genes that can slow down cell division, repair DNA mistakes, or program the cells for apoptosis in case of irreparable damage. Hence, they play an essential role in preventing the proliferation of damaged cells.
The first-ever tumor suppressor gene called Rb was identified in retinoblastoma - a rare eye tumor in children. In inherited forms of the disease, a child inherits one defective copy of the Rb gene, which predisposes them to retinoblastoma. However,...
Inhibitors of Bacterial DNA Synthesis01:28

Inhibitors of Bacterial DNA Synthesis

Bacterial pathogens depend on precise and efficient DNA replication to sustain infection. Two type II topoisomerases—DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV—are critical to this process, as they resolve DNA supercoiling and unlink chromosomes during replication. Fluoroquinolones, synthetic derivatives of quinolones, exploit this mechanism by stabilizing the transient DNA–enzyme cleavage complex, preventing strand religation, and causing lethal double-strand breaks. These antibiotics are selectively...
Antiviral Nucleoside Inhibitors01:22

Antiviral Nucleoside Inhibitors

Antiviral Nucleoside InhibitorsAntiviral nucleoside inhibitors are structural analogs of natural nucleosides that interfere with viral DNA or RNA synthesis. These compounds selectively target viral polymerases due to their resemblance to host nucleosides, thereby disrupting viral genome replication.Mechanism of Acyclovir ActionAcyclovir is a guanosine analog with a three-carbon acyclic side chain. It selectively targets herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2),...