THIOALKYL DERIVATIVES OF VITAMIN-K-3 AND VITAMIN-K3-OXIDE INHIBIT GROWTH OF HEP3B AND HEPG2 CELLS

A new hypothesis regarding the effect of vitamin K-3 On hepatoma cell growth is presented. In brief, exploration of cell growth activity has been identified with the action of p34(cdc2) kinase and its associated protein tyrosine phosphatase. After exploring a series of substituted derivatives of vitamin K and vitamin K-3 oxide, we suggest a mechanism involving alkylation at the active-site cysteine for the inhibition of the protein tyrosine phosphatase which controls the activity of the p34(cdc2) kinase. (C) 1995 Academic Press, Inc.