The fusarin analog NG-391 impairs nucleic acid formation in K-562 leukemia cells

The clavicipitaceous fungus Metarhizium robertsii produces the fusarin-like mycotoxin NG-391. We report on the biological effects of NG-391 on K-562 human cancer cells, obtained with radionuclide incorporation assays, along with nucleosome release and caspase assays, respectively. Our data suggests that NG-391 does not induce caspase-dependent apoptosis, but interferes with nucleic acid biosynthesis in K-562 human cancer cells, while translation remains unaffected. (C) 2013 Phytochemical Society of Europe. Published by Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.