Daunorubicin metabolism: estimation of daunorubicin reductase

Abstract

1 Daunorubicin reductase, an enzyme ubiquitous in all mammalian tissues tested, converts daunorubicin, a cancer chemotherapeutic antibiotic, to daunorubicinol. A method for the estimation of daunorubicinol and daunorubicin reductase is described. 2 Daunorubicin and daunorubicinol were quantitatively extracted from enzyme assay mixtures with 0·3 n HCl in 50% ethanol and then completely hydrolysed to their respective aglycones. The aglycones were extracted, concentrated into toluene, separated by silicic acid microcolumn chromatography, and estimated by spectrofluorimetry. 3 Compared to previous methods, this method is highly reproducible and sensitive.