Alpha-actin synthesis changes in cultured cardiac myocytes: relationship to anthracycline structure

Four anthracyclines (AAs) were examined comparatively to determine effects on actin isoform synthesis in vitro. Cultured cardiac myocytes (CMCs) were incubated for 24 hours with 35 microCi sulfur 35-labeled methionine and 10(-10) to 10(-5) mol/L doxorubicin hydrochloride (Adriamycin) (ADR), daunomycin (DM), 5-iminodaunorubicin IDR), or 3'-deamino-3'-(3-cyano-4-morpholinyl)doxorubicin (MRA-CN). CMCs were harvested in buffered Triton X-100 and homogenized. Proteins in the extracts were fractionated by centrifugation. Equal protein quantities were subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, to two-dimensional electrophoresis, and to autoradiography. AAs caused a dose-dependent decrease in radiolabeling of CMC proteins in Triton-soluble and -insoluble fractions of the extracts. ADR and DM (10(-6) mol/L each) and IDR (10(-5) mol/L) decreased radiolabeling of CMC polypeptides including alpha-actin. In polypeptides extracted in the Triton X-100-soluble pool, the effect on CMC alpha-actin synthesis was greater than the effect on beta- or gamma-actin. CMC alpha-actin synthesis was susceptible to ADR and to DM in a dose-dependent fashion. Contrastingly, alpha-actin radiolabeling was not altered by exposing CMCs to 10(-5) mol/L MRA-CN. Decreased sarcomeric actin isoform synthesis in vitro may reflect forms of subcellular damage in this model of anthracycline cardiomyopathy.