Bisindolylmaleimide I (GF109203X) is a potent and highly selective protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, exhibiting a Ki of 14 nM.

PKCα:20 nM, PKCγ:20 nM, PKCβI:17 nM, PKC:14 nM, PKC (bovine brain):10 nM, PKCβII:16 nM, FDGFR:65 μM

Bisindolylmaleimide I, as an ATP-competitive PKC inhibitor, prevents platelet aggregation induced by stimuli that activate PKC, and has the potential as a tool for studying the involvement of PKC in signal transduction pathways. [1] GF 109203X produces reversal activity on P-glycoprotein and MRP -mediated multidrug resistance. [2] [3] PKC inhibition by Bisindolylmaleimide I significantly reduces carbachol-stimulated ERK1/2 activation and the subsequent proliferation of SNU-407 colon cancer cells. [4]

GF109203X (10 μg/mouse, i.pl.) dose-dependently inhibits BK-induced mechanical allodynia in Wistar rats. [5]

Assay of protein kinase C: Protein kinase C is arrayed by measuring 32PI transferred from [gamma-32PI] ATP to lysine-rich histone type Ill-s. The reaction mixture (80 μL) contained 50 mM Tris-HCI. pH 7.4, 100 μM CaCl2, 10 mM MgCI2, 37.5 μL/mL histone type Ill-s, 10 μM [gamma-32PI] ATP (1250 cpm/pmol), 31 μM bovine brain phosphatidylserine and 0.5 μM 1,2 sn-dioleylglycerol. Fifteen μL of purified PKC (final concentration in assay 0.38 μg/mL) is added to the incubation mixture. After 10 min at 30°C, the reaction is stopped by addition of 30 μL of casein 30 mg/mL and 0.9 ml of 12% trichloroacetic acid. The acid precipitable material is collected by centrifugation, dissolved in 1N NaOH (100μL) and precipitated again with 1 ml of 12% trichloroacetic acid. The pellet is dissolved in 1N NaOH (100μL) and 32P incorporation is measured by scintillation counting in Aquasol.

Cell proliferation is monitored by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Cells are seeded in 96-well plates and allowed to grow overnight. The cells are serum-starved for 18–24 hours and then treated with 1 mM carbachol for 48 hours in 100 μL serum-free RPMI 1640. Inhibitors are added 30 min prior to carbachol treatment. Following the treatment, 10 μL of MTT solution (5 mg/ml) is applied to each well, and the plates were incubated for 3 h at 37 °C. After the medium is removed, the formazan crystals formed are solubilized in 100 μL DMSO. The absorbance at 570 nm is measured using a microplate reader and the background absorbance at 690 nm is subtracted. Each assay is performed in triplicate. (Only for Reference)