Using X-ray absorption spectroscopy and microprobe synchrotron radiation-X-ray fluorescence imaging for understanding the mode of action of arsenic anti-leukaemia agents

Authors

Kristie Munro, University of Wollongong
Carolyn T. Dillon, University of WollongongFollow
H H, University of Adelaide
Z. Cai, Argonne National Laboratories, Argonne, IL
B. Lai, Argonne National Laboratories, Argonne, IL
S Vogt, Argonne National Laboratories, Argonne, IL
M Cheah, Australian National Beamline Facility, Photon Factory, Tsukuba, Japan

RIS ID

63518

Publication Details

Munro, K., Dillon, C. T., Harris, H., Cai, Z., Lai, B., Vogt, S. & Cheah, M. (2012). Using X-ray absorption spectroscopy and microprobe synchrotron radiation-X-ray fluorescence imaging for understanding the mode of action of arsenic anti-leukaemia agents. In J. Ng, B. Noller, R. Naidu, J. Bundschuh & P. Bhattacharya (Eds.), Proceedings of the 4th International Congress on Arsenic in the Environment, As 2012 (pp. 193-195). CRC Press.

Abstract

Despite its reputation as a poison, arsenic is also a highly effective anti-leukaemia agent. In order to improve on its efficacy, a better understanding of the metabolism of arsenic, including the formation of specific arsenic metabolites, is necessary. In this study XAS was used to gain an understanding of the metabolism of arsenic in human hepatoma cells and microprobe SR-XRF imaging was used to determine potential targets for the identified arsenic species. It was found that the toxic arsenic metabolites, [MMAIII(GS)2] and [DMAIII(GS)], were produced in human cells and that these metabolites potentially interact with DNA or, more probably, proteins associated with DNA transcription.