Characterization of the uptake and toxicity of a fluorescent thiol reagent

3-(4-Maleimidylphenyl)-4-methyl-7-diethylamino coumarin (CPM), is a fluorescent thiol-binding agent. CPM is nontoxic to Chinese hamster V-79 cells (2 x 10(5) cells/ milliliter) exposed to 2.5 micrograms/milliliter for 30 minutes. However, both toxicity and cellular binding were directly dependent on the drug:cell ratio. Using flow cytometry, cellular binding of CPM correlated with inhibition of DNA synthesis. In cells pretreated with the thiol binding drugs N-ethylmaleimide, diamide and diethylmaleate or the carcinogens 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide and AF-2 (furylfuramide), the subsequent binding of CPM was reduced by 40% or more.