Congo red (Zinc 03830554) is a high-affinity small molecule targeting mitochondrial DNA polymerase gamma (Pol γ), selectively kills MLH1 deficient cancer cells.
Congo red (Zinc 03830554) binds to the Pol γ protein and potently inhibits Pol γ strand displacement and one-nucleotide incorporation DNA synthesis activities in vitro and in vivo.
Congo red (Zinc 03830554) reduced the cell proliferation of MLH1 deficient HCT116 human colon cancer cells and suppressed HCT116 xenograft tumor growth, did not affect the MLH1 proficient cell proliferation and xenograft tumor growth.
Congo red (Zinc 03830554) caused mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death by inhibiting Pol γ activity and oxidative mtDNA damage repair, increasing the production of reactive oxygen species and oxidative mtDNA damage in MLH1 deficient cells.
Congo red is red in alkaline solution and blue in acid solution and used especially as an indicator and as a biological stain.