Effects of bleomycin on kinetoplast DNA and nuclear DNA in trypanosoma gambiense using in situ microfluorometry technique

The effect of Bleomycin, an anti-tumour antibiotic, on either kinetoplast DNA(K-DNA) or nuclear DNA(N-DNA) in a single Trypanosoma gambiense cell was measured successfully utilizing the in situ microfluorometry technique. This microfluorometric assay clearly revealed that the relative fluorescence intensity (RFI) of K-DNA and N-DNA was greatly reduced by bleomycin, suggesting the occurrence of the single strand breaks in these DNAs. The present results have shown that bleomycin acts on N-DNA stronger than K-DNA at least in Trypanosoma gambiense. Microfluorometry technique can be employed valuably for studying the DNA damages of several anti-protozoan drugs.