Inhibition of DNA polymerase λ by glucosyl compounds from soybean (Glycine max L.) and their associated inflammatory activity

Abstract During the screening of selective DNA polymerase (pol) inhibitors, we isolated two glucosyl compounds, a cerebroside (glucosyl ceramide, AS-1-4, compound 1 ) and a steroidal glycoside (eleutheroside A, compound 2 ) from soybean ( Glycine max L.). Compounds 1 and 2 selectively inhibited the activity of eukaryotic pol λ in vitro , with IC 50 values of 12.2 and 9.1 μM, respectively. These compounds did not influence the activities of other eukaryotic pols including those from the A-family (pol γ), B-family (pols α, δ and e), and Y-family (pols η, ι and κ), and also showed no effect on the activity of pol β which is of the same family (X) as pol λ. The tendency for in vitro pol λ inhibition by these compounds showed a positive correlation with the in vivo suppression of TPA (12- O -tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate)-induced inflammation in mouse ear. These results suggest that these glucosyl compounds from soybean may be useful for their anti-inflammatory properties.