Obviation of drug resistance and affinity purification of P-glycoprotein by isoquinolinesulfonamides.

A newly synthesized isoquinolinesulfonamide named H-85; N-[2-[N-formyl-N-[[3-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-propenyl] amino] ethyl]-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide was found to reverse drug resistance in multidrug resistant P388 murine leukemic cells (P388/ADR). The energy-dependent extrusion of [3H]vinblastine from P388/ADR-cells was significantly suppressed by 10 microM H-85 but not so the efflux from the sensitive P388 cells. A 140-kDa protein overexpressed in P388/ADR cells was photoaffinity labeled with a vinblastine analog; N-(P-azid-[3-125I]salicyl-N'-(beta-aminoethyl) vindesine and H-85 selectively inhibited photolabeling of the 140-kDa protein. This 140-kDa protein was purified to apparent homogeneity by succeeding steps of phosphocellulose, DEAE-cellulose, and W-66 (a derivative of H-85)-coupled sepharose chromatography. The purified 140-kDa protein proved to be immunopositive with the P-glycoprotein-specific monoclonal antibody, C219.