Hypophosphorylation of topoisomerase II in etoposide (VP-16)-resistant human leukemia K562 cells associated with reduced levels of β_II protein kinase C

We selected and characterized a 30-fold etoposide (VP-16)-resistant subline of K562 human leukemia cells (K/VP.5) that exhibits quantitative and qualitative changes in topoisomerase II, including hypophosphorylation of this drug target. The initial rate of topoisomerase II phosphorylation was reduced 3-fold in K/VP.5 compared with K562 cells, but the rate of dephosphorylation was similar. Analysis of potential topoisomerase II protein kinases revealed a 3-fold reduction in the level of the β_II protein kinase C (PKC) in K/VP.5 cells, whereas levels of α- and ε PKC, casein kinase II, p42^map kinase, and p34^cdc2 kinase were comparable for both cell lines. The PKC activator, bryostatin 1, together with K562 nuclear extracts potentiated VP-16-induced topoisomerase II/DNA covalent complex formation in nuclei isolated from K/VP.5 cells but not from K562 cells. Bryostatin 1 effects were blocked by the PKC inhibitor 7-O-methyl-hydroxy-staurosporine. Bryostatin 1 also up-regulated topoisomerase II phosphorylation and potentiated VP-16 activity in intact K/VP.5 cells but had no enhancing effect in K562 cells. 4β-Phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate and 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate did not potentiate VP-16-induced topoisomerase II/DNA complex formation in intact cells or in isolated K/VP.5 nuclei. Together, our results indicate that β_II PKC plays a role in modulating the VP-16-induced DNA binding activity of topoisomerase II in resistant K/VP.5 cells through a mechanism linked to phosphorylation of topoisomerase II.