A protein factor that enhances amsacrine-mediated formation of topoisomerase II-DNA complexes in murine mastocytoma cell nuclei.

Extracts of K21 murine mastocytoma cells contain a factor that enhances formation of amsacrine-induced topoisomerase II-DNA complexes (PDCs) when added to isolated K21 nuclei. The PDC-enhancing activity is reduced in extracts from 2 or 6 h cycloheximide or cordycepin-treated cells, implying that continuous protein synthesis is required to maintain the factor. The factor is heat-labile, proteinase-sensitive and has other properties that distinguish it from the two known classes of topoisomerases. The data suggest that the factor is a labile protein with a molecular weight in excess of 50,000. This appears to be the first direct evidence of a protein factor that modulates drug-induced topoisomerase II action.