The Effects of Two Disubstituted Coumarins on Mitosis and Respiration in Meristematic Cells

Abstract

Two disubstituted derivatives of coumarin (6,7-dihydroxycoumarin and 6,7-dimethoxycoumarin) were investigated for their effect on mitotic activity and energy metabolism of meristematic cells. Both coumarins lowered the rate of oxygen uptake by meristematic cells. It appeared that both compounds significantly reduced the number of cell divisions, although the methoxyl derivative caused a stronger mitostatic effect than the hydroxyl derivative. The mitostatic effect of the hydroxyl derivative was reduced whereas that of methoxyl derivative was enhanced by addition of exogenous ATP to the incubation medium. Both coumarins induced non-specific disturbances of mitosis as well as specific chromosome aberrations. The number of the latter increased due to simultaneous treatment of cells with the tested compounds and ATP. The results obtained indicate that both compounds are antimitotic agents and that mitotic abnormalities are produced by different mechanisms, related or not related to the energy metabolism of the cell.