Reductive cleavage of anthracycline glycosides by microsomal nadphcytochrome c reductase.

Abstract

The action of [rat liver] NADPH-cytochrome c reductase to catalyze the reductive cleavage of anthracycline antibiotics [antitumor drugs] and their aglycones was studied under anaerobic conditions in the presence of NADPH. The anthracycline glycoside C-7 reductase which plays an important role in the metabolism of these antibiotics [aclacinomycin A, 1-deoxypyrromycin, aklavinone, adriamycin, adriamycinone, daunomycin, daunomycinone, dihydrodaunomycinone] in vivo is similar to or identical with the microsomal NADPH-cytochrome c reductase.