Merbarone has been used to study its effect on the occurrence of DNA lesions.
Biochem/physiol Actions
Thiobarbituric acid with aniline joined by an amide linkage forms merbarone. It is known to prolong cell cycle progression by inducing DNA double strand breaks, retarding S phase and arresting G2 phase. This delays cell entry into mitosis. Merbarone possesses cytotoxic and genotoxic action and promotes endoreduplication. Merbarone has mild antitumor action and is also found to nephrotoxic.
Selective topoisomerase II inhibitor. Blocks topo II-mediated DNA cleavage without stabilizing DNA-topo II-cleavable complexes. Induces apoptosis in CEM cells via caspase 3 dependent mechanism.