SITES OF PHOTOSENSITIZATION BY DERIVATIVES OF HEMATOPORPHYRIN

Abstract

Abstract Leukemia L1210 cells were incubated in vitro with the tumor‐localizing product HPD (hem‐atoporphyrin derivative) for 0.5. 4 and 18 h. Effects of subsequent irradiation on viability, membrane transport and integrity, DNA synthesis and intracellular ATP concentration were assessed. Intracellular porphyrin pools were analyzed by HPLC. A 30 min incubation led to concentration of a readily‐exchangeable pool of monomeric HPD components at plasma membrane loci; irradiation resulted in photodamage to membrane transport and a loss in capacity for dye exclusion. In contrast, increasing the incubation time led to a corresponding increase in the size of a non‐exchangeable intracellular pool of other HPD components. Subsequent irradiation led to depletion of intracellular ATP and loss of capacity for biosynthesis of DNA, but little plasma membrane damage.