Biomedical subjects

Victor E Marquez

Publications and source records attributed to Victor E Marquez.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2005

Prosit, an online service to calculate pseudorotational parameters of nucleosides and nucleotides.

The online service PROSIT (Pseudo-Rotational Online Service and Interactive Tool) is a free service available at http://cactus.nci.nci.gov/prosit/ that performs pseudorotational analysis of nucleosides(tides). PROSIT reads the 3D coordinates of nucleosides and returns the pseudorotational phase angle P, puckering amplitude vmax and other related information. As examples, the sugar conformations in a parallel-stranded guanine tetraplex and a four-way Holliday junction are presented here.

Algorithms↗

PubMed2005

Zebularine: a unique molecule for an epigenetically based strategy in cancer chemotherapy. The magic of its chemistry and biology.

1-(beta-D-ribofuranosyl)-1,2-dihydropyrimidin-2-one (zebularine) is structurally 4-deamino cytidine. The increased electrophilic character of this simple aglycon endows the molecule with unique chemical and biological properties, making zebularine a versatile starting material for the synthesis of complex nucleosides and an effective inhibitor of cytidine deaminase and DNA cytosine methyltransferase. Zebularine is a stable, antitumor agent that preferentially targets cancer cells and shows activity both in vitro and in experimental animals, even after oral administration.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed2005

Engineering DNA topology with locked nucleosides: a structural study.

DNA dodecamers modified with nucleotide building blocks based on a bicyclo[3. 1.0]hexane system that effectively locks the ribose template into an RNA-like or North (N) conformation were analyzed by various biophysical techniques including high field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Replacement of either one or both of the center thymidines in the Dickerson Drew dodecamer (CGCGAAT*T*CGCG) caused a progressive shift in the bending propensity of the double helix as shown by a newly developed rapid technique that compares the residual dipolar coupling (RDC) values of the modified duplexes with those previously determined for the native DNA.

Biophysics↗

PubMed2005

Enhancement of antineoplastic action of 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine by zebularine on L1210 leukemia.

Tumor suppressor genes that have been silenced by aberrant DNA methylation are potential targets for reactivation by novel chemotherapeutic agents. The potent inhibitor of DNA methylation and antileukemic agent, 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-AZA-CdR, Decitabine), can reactivate silent tumor suppressor genes. One hindrance to the curative potential of 5-AZA-CdR is its rapid in vivo inactivation by cytidine deaminase (CD). An approach to overcome this obstacle is to use 5-AZA-CdR in combination with zebularine (Zeb), a potent inhibitor of CD. Zeb also possesses independent antineoplastic activity due to its inhibition of DNA methylation. We tested the capacity of 5-AZA-CdR and Zeb alone and in combination to inhibit growth and colony formation of different leukemic cell lines. 5-AZA-CdR and Zeb in combination produced a greater inhibition of growth against murine L1210 lymphoid leukemic cells, and a greater reduction in colony formation by L1210 and human HL-60 myeloid leukemic cells, than either agent alone. The ability of these agents to reactivate the tumor suppressor gene, p57KIP2, was also tested using RT-PCR. The combination produced a synergistic reactivation of p57KIP2 in HL-60 leukemic cells. A methylation-specific PCR assay showed that this combination also induced a significantly greater demethylation level of the p57KIP2 promoter than either drug alone. The in vivo antineoplastic activity of the agents was evaluated in mice with L1210 leukemia. A greater increase in survival time of mice with L1210 leukemia was observed with the combination than with either agent alone using three different dose schedules. The enhanced activity observed with 5-AZA-CdR plus Zeb in both murine and human leukemic cells lines provides a rationale for the clinical investigation of these drugs in patients with advanced leukemia. The probable mechanism of this drug interaction involves inhibition of CD by Zeb and the complementary inhibition of DNA methylation by both agents.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Potent antiviral activity of north-methanocarbathymidine against Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus.

Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) infection is a prerequisite for the development of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). Blocking lytic KSHV replication may hinder KS tumorigenesis. Here, we report potent in vitro anti-KSHV activity of 2'-exo-methanocarbathymidine [North-methanocarbathymidine (N-MCT)], a thymidine analog with a pseudosugar ring locked in the northern conformation, which has previously been shown to block the replication of herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2. N-MCT inhibited KSHV virion production in lytically induced KSHV-infected BCBL-1 cells with a substantially lower 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) than those of cidofovir (CDV) and ganciclovir (GCV) (IC50, mean +/- standard deviation: 0.08 +/- 0.03, 0.42 +/- 0.07, and 0.96 +/- 0.49 microM for N-MCT, CDV, and GCV, respectively). The reduction in KSHV virion production was accompanied by a corresponding decrease in KSHV DNA levels in the N-MCT-treated BCBL-1 cells, indicating that the compound blocked lytic KSHV DNA replication. A time- and dose-dependent accumulation of N-MCT-triphosphate (TP) was demonstrated in lytically induced BCBL-1 cells, while uninfected cells showed virtually no accumulation. The levels of N-MCT-TP were significantly decreased in the presence of 5'-ethynylthymidine, a potent inhibitor of herpesvirus thymidine kinase, resulting in the abrogation of anti-KSHV activity of N-MCT. N-MCT-TP more effectively blocked in vitro DNA synthesis by KSHV DNA polymerase with an IC50 of 6.24 +/- 0.08 microM (mean +/- standard deviation) compared to CDV-diphosphate (14.70 +/-2.47 microM) or GCV-TP (24.59 +/- 5.60 microM). Taken together, N-MCT is a highly potent and target-specific anti-KSHV agent which inhibits lytic KSHV DNA synthesis through its triphosphate metabolite produced in KSHV-infected cells expressing a virally encoded thymidine kinase.

Antiviral Agents↗

PubMed2005

Zebularine: a unique molecule for an epigenetically based strategy in cancer chemotherapy.

1-(Beta-d-ribofuranosyl)-1,2-dihydropyrimidin-2-one (zebularine) corresponds structurally to cytidine minus the exocyclic 4-amino group. The increased electrophilic character of its simple aglycon endows the molecule with unique biologic properties as a potent inhibitor of both cytidine deaminase and DNA cytosine methyltransferase. The latter activity makes zebularine a promising antitumor agent that is hydrolytically stable, preferentially targets cancer cells, and shows activity both in vitro and in experimental animals, even after oral administration.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed2004

Changes in DNA bending induced by restricting nucleotide ring pucker studied by weak alignment NMR spectroscopy.

Changes in bending of the DNA helix axis caused by the introduction of conformationally locked nucleotide analogs into the center region of the palindromic Dickerson dodecamer, d(CGCGAATTCGCG)(2), have been studied by NMR measurement of residual one-bond (13)C-(1)H dipolar couplings. Thymidine analogs, in which the deoxyribose was substituted by bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane, were incorporated in the T7, T8, and T7T8 positions. These nucleotide analogs restrict the ring pucker to the C2'-exo or "north" conformation, instead of C2'-endo or "south," which dominates in regular B-form DNA. For all three oligomers, bending toward the major groove is found relative to the native molecule. The effects are additive with bending of 5 +/- 1 degrees per locked nucleotide. Measurement of the change in bending is more accurate than measurement of the bending angle itself and requires far fewer experimental data.

Bridged Bicyclo Compounds↗

PubMed2004

Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance MS reveals the presence of a water molecule in an enzyme transition-state analogue complex.

The structures of several powerful inhibitors of hydrolytic enzymes resemble that of the altered substrate in the transition state, except that a hydrogen atom replaces one substituent (typically the leaving group). To test the hypothesis that a water molecule might be present in the gap resulting from this replacement, we examined a transition-state analogue complex formed by Escherichia coli cytidine deaminase by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance MS in electrospray mode. Upon nebularization from aqueous solution under conditions (pH 5.6) where the enzyme is active, cytidine deaminase remains dimeric in the vapor phase. In the presence of inhibitor, the enzyme's exact mass can be used to infer the presence at each active site of zinc, 5-fluoro-3,4-dihydrouridine, and a single water molecule.

Cyclotrons↗

PubMed2004

A 4'-C-ethynyl-2',3'-dideoxynucleoside analogue highlights the role of the 3'-OH in anti-HIV active 4'-C-ethynyl-2'-deoxy nucleosides.

4'-C-ethynyl-2'-deoxynucleosides belong to a novel class of nucleoside analogues endowed with potent activity against a wide spectrum of HIV viruses, including a variety of resistant clones. Although favorable selectivity indices were reported for several of these analogues, some concern still exists regarding the 3'-OH group and its role in cellular toxicity. To address this problem, we removed the 3'-OH group from 4'-C-ethynyl-2'-deoxycytidine (1a). This compound was chosen because of its combined high potency and low selectivity index. The removal of the 3'-OH was not straightforward; it required a different synthetic approach from the one used to synthesize the parent compound. Starting with glycidyl-4-methoxyphenyl ether, the target 4'-C-ethynyl-2',3'-dideoxycytidine analogue (rac-1h) was obtained after 13 steps. In a cellular assay, rac-1h was completely inactive (0.001-10 microM) against HIV(LAI), demonstrating the critical importance of the 3'-OH for antiviral activity. To determine whether the role of the 3'-OH was essential for the phosphorylation of the compound by cellular kinases or for inhibition of DNA polymerization, we synthesized and tested the 5'-triphosphate (rac-1h-TP) for its ability to inhibit HIV reverse transcriptase (RT). rac-1h-TP was slightly more potent than AZT-5'-triphosphate against wild-type HIV RT, suggesting that the role of the 3'-OH is crucial only for the activation of the drug by cellular kinases. The lipase-catalyzed resolution of rac-1h into ent-1h (beta-D-dideoxyribo) and ent-14 (beta-L-dideoxyribo) and the synthesis of the corresponding 5'-triphosphates established the stereochemical assignment based on HIV RT's preference for the beta-D-enantiomer, which was confirmed by assaying against the M184V variant, an RT mutant with a marked preference for incorporating nucleosides in the D-configuration.

Alkynes↗

PubMed2004

Conformationally constrained analogues of diacylglycerol (DAG). 23. Hydrophobic ligand-protein interactions versus ligand-lipid interactions of DAG-lactones with protein kinase C (PK-C).

The constrained glycerol backbone of DAG-lactones, when combined with highly branched alkyl chains, has engendered a series of DAG-lactone ligands capable of binding protein kinase C (PK-C) with affinities that approximate those of phorbol esters. These branched chains not only appear to be involved in making important hydrophobic contacts with the protein (specific interactions) but also provide adequate lipophilicity to facilitate partitioning into the lipid-rich membrane environment (nonspecific interactions). With the idea of minimizing the nonspecific interactions without reducing lipophilicity, the present work explores the strategy of relocating lipophilicity from the side chain to the lactone "core". Such a transfer of lipophilicity, exemplified by compounds 1 and 3, was conceived to allow the new hydrophobic groups on the lactone to engage in specific hydrophobic contacts inside the binding pocket without any expectation of interfering with the hydrogen-bonding network of the DAG-lactone pharmacophore. Surprisingly, both (E)-3 and (Z)-3 showed a significant decrease in binding affinity. From the molecular docking studies performed with the new ligands, we conclude that the binding pocket of the C1 domain of PK-C is sterically restricted and prevents the methyl groups at the C-3 position of the lactone from engaging in productive hydrophobic contacts with the receptor.

Binding Sites↗

PubMed2004

Macrocyclic diacylglycerol-bis-lactones as conformationally constrained analogues of diacylglycerol-lactones. Interactions with protein kinase C.

A series of macrocyclic diacylglycerol (DAG)-bis-lactones were investigated as extreme conformationally constrained analogues of DAG-lactones in order to seek more potent protein kinase C (PKC) ligands with higher binding affinities and less lipophilicity than previous compounds. The additional constraint achieved the desired objective as exemplified by the macrocyclic DAG-bis-lactone 57, which exhibited a 6-fold higher binding affinity for PKCalpha (K(i) = 6.07 nM) than the corresponding nonmacrocyclic 3-alkylidene DAG-lactone 6. A structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis of the macrocyclic DAG-bis-lactones demonstrated a parabolic relationship between activity and lipophilicity, as well as a predilection for the Z-alkylidene isomers as the preferred ligands. Molecular docking studies revealed that macrocyclic DAG-bis-lactone 57 bound to the C1b domain of PKCalpha exclusively in the sn-1 binding mode in contrast to DAG-lactone 6, which showed both sn-1 and sn-2 binding modes. It is proposed that the high potency displayed by these macrocyclic DAG-bis-lactones results from a set of more favorable hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions with PKCalpha as well as from a reduced entropy penalty due to conformational restriction.

Diglycerides↗

PubMed2004

Caught in the act: visualization of an intermediate in the DNA base-flipping pathway induced by HhaI methyltransferase.

Rotation of a DNA or RNA nucleotide out of the double helix and into a protein pocket ('base flipping') is a mechanistic feature common to some DNA/RNA-binding proteins. Here, we report the structure of HhaI methyltransferase in complex with DNA containing a south-constrained abasic carbocyclic sugar at the target site in the presence of the methyl donor byproduct AdoHcy. Unexpectedly, the locked south pseudosugar appears to be trapped in the middle of the flipping pathway via the DNA major groove, held in place primarily through Van der Waals contacts with a set of invariant amino acids. Molecular dynamics simulations indicate that the structural stabilization observed with the south-constrained pseudosugar will not occur with a north-constrained pseudosugar, which explains its lowered binding affinity. Moreover, comparison of structural transitions of the sugar and phosphodiester backbone observed during computational studies of base flipping in the M.HhaI-DNA-AdoHcy ternary complex indicate that the south-constrained pseudosugar induces a conformation on the phosphodiester backbone that corresponds to that of a discrete intermediate of the base-flipping pathway. As previous crystal structures of M.HhaI ternary complex with DNA displayed the flipped sugar moiety in the antipodal north conformation, we suggest that conversion of the sugar pucker from south to north beyond the middle of the pathway is an essential part of the mechanism through which flipping must proceed to reach its final destination. We also discuss the possibility of the south-constrained pseudosugar mimicking a transition state in the phosphodiester and sugar moieties that occurs during DNA base flipping in the presence of M.HhaI.

Binding Sites↗

PubMed2004

Synthesis and characterization of oligonucleotides containing conformationally constrained bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane pseudosugar analogs.

Oligodeoxyribonucleotides containing pseudorotationally locked sites derived from bicyclo[3.1.0]hexane pseudosugars have been synthesized using adenosine, thymidine and abasic versions of North- and South-methanocarba nucleosides. The reaction conditions for coupling and oxidation steps of oligonucleotide synthesis have been investigated and optimized to allow efficient and facile solid-phase synthesis using phosphoramidite chemistry. Our studies demonstrate that the use of iodine for P(III) to P(V) oxidation leads to strand cleavage at the sites where the pseudosugar is North. In contrast, the same cleavage reaction was not observed in the case of South pseudosugars. Iodine oxidation generates a 5'-phosphate oligonucleotide fragment on the resin and releases the North pseudosugar into the solution. This side reaction, which is responsible for the extremely low yields observed for the incorporation of the North pseudosugar analogs, has been studied in detail and can be easily overcome by replacing iodine with t-butylhydroperoxide as oxidant.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed2004

Conformationally constrained analogues of diacylglycerol. 24. Asymmetric synthesis of a chiral (R)-DAG-lactone template as a versatile precursor for highly functionalized DAG-lactones.

[structure: see text] Commercially available 2-methylenepropane-1,3-diol was converted to chiral epoxide (R)-2 via Sharpless asymmetric epoxidation in >96% ee. Regiospecific epoxide ring opening and reduction of the intermediate alkyne set the stage for a one-pot lactonization to give (R)-6, a convenient precursor for all functionalized chiral DAG-lactones used as potent PK-C ligands. The synthesis of the most potent DAG-lactones known to date, (Z)-10 and (E)-10, served to confirm PK-C's exclusive preference for the (R)-stereochemistry in this class of compounds.

Binding Sites↗

PubMed2004

Conformationally constrained analogues of diacylglycerol. 21. A solid-phase method of synthesis of diacylglycerol lactones as a prelude to a combinatorial approach for the synthesis of protein kinase C isozyme-specific ligands.

A solid-phase method for the synthesis of diacylglycerol lactones as protein kinase C ligands was developed, and a small array of nine compounds were selected with the idea of testing this methodology and forecasting the reliability of the biological data as a preamble for the construction of large chemical libraries to be synthesized under the same conditions. The process started with the loading of 5-(hydroxymethyl)-5-[(4-methoxyphenoxy)methyl]-3,4,5-trihydrofuran-2-one (1) to a 3,4-dihydro-2H-pyran resin packed inside IRORI MacroKan reactors. The elements of diversity were introduced at the alpha-alkylidene (R(1)) and acyl (R(2)) positions using a set of three different aldehydes and three different acid chlorides, respectively. An LDA-mediated aldol condensation with R(1)CHO in the presence of ZnCl(2) followed by a DBU-catalyzed elimination of the triflate of the resulting aldol gave the alpha-alkylidene intermediates as mixtures of geometric isomers. Removal of the aryl-protecting group followed by acylation with R(2)COCl introduced the second element of diversity. Acid-assisted cleavage of the compounds from the resin afforded the final targets. The biological results obtained using the crude samples directly obtained from the resin compared well with those from pure materials, as the K(i) values between the two sets varied only by a factor between 1.5 and 3.7.

Binding, Competitive↗

PubMed2004

Biochemical and structural characterization of (South)-methanocarbathymidine that specifically inhibits growth of herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase-transduced osteosarcoma cells.

Two analogs of the natural nucleoside dT featuring a pseudosugar with fixed conformation in place of the deoxyribosyl residue (carbathymidine analogs) were biochemically and structurally characterized for their acceptance by both human cytosolic thymidine kinase isoenzyme 1 (hTK1) and herpes simplex virus type 1 thymidine kinase (HSV1 TK) and subsequently tested in cell proliferation assays. 3'-exo-Methanocarbathymidine ((South)-methanocarbathymidine (S)-MCT), which is a substrate for HSV1 TK, specifically inhibited growth of HSV1 TK-transduced human osteosarcoma cells with an IC(50) value in the range of 15 microM without significant toxicity toward both hTK1-negative (TK(-)) and non-transduced cells. 2'-exo-Methanocarbathymidine ((North)-methanocarbathymidine (N)-MCT), which is a weak substrate for hTK1 and a substantial one for HSV1 TK, induced a specific growth inhibition in HSV1 TK-transfected cells comparable to that of (S)-MCT and ganciclovir. A growth inhibition activity was also observed with (N)-MCT and ganciclovir in non-transduced cells in a cell line-dependent manner, whereas TK(-) cells were not affected. The presented 1.95-A crystal structure of the complex (S)-MCT.HSV1 TK explains both the more favorable binding affinity and catalytic turnover of (S)-MCT for HSV1 TK over the North analog. Additionally the plasticity of the active site of the enzyme is addressed by comparing the binding of (North)- and (South)-carbathymidine analogs. The presented study of these two potent candidate prodrugs for HSV1 TK gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy suggests that (S)-MCT may be even safer to use than its North counterpart (N)-MCT.

Antiviral Agents↗

PubMed2004

Microarray analysis of epigenetic silencing of gene expression in the KAS-6/1 multiple myeloma cell line.

The epigenetic control of gene transcription in cancer has been the theme of many recent studies and therapeutic approaches. Carcinogenesis is frequently associated with hypermethylation and consequent down-regulation of genes that prevent cancer, e.g., those that control cell proliferation and apoptosis. We used the demethylating drug zebularine to induce changes in DNA methylation, then examined patterns of gene expression using cDNA array analysis and Restriction Landmark Genomic Scanning followed by RNase protection assay and reverse transcription-PCR to confirm the results. Microarray studies revealed that many genes were epigenetically regulated by methylation. We concluded that methylation decreased the expression of, or silenced, several genes, contributing to the growth and survival of multiple myeloma cells. For example, a number of genes (BAD, BAK, BIK, and BAX) involved in apoptosis were found to be suppressed by methylation. Sequenced methylation-regulated DNA fragments identified by Restriction Landmark Genomic Scanning were found to contain CpG islands, and some corresponded to promoters of genes that were regulated by methylation. We also observed that after the removal of the demethylating drug, the addition of interleukin 6 restored CpG methylation and re-established previously silenced gene patterns, thus implicating a novel role of interleukin 6 in processes regulating epigenetic gene repression and carcinogenesis.

Cell Line, Tumor↗

PubMed2004

Conformationally constrained analogues of diacylglycerol. 20. The search for an elusive binding site on protein kinase C through relocation of the carbonyl pharmacophore along the sn-1 side chain of 1,2-diacylglycerol lactones.

Previous studies with 1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG) lactones, which behave as high-affinity ligands for protein kinase C (PK-C), have established the importance of maintaining intact the pharmacophore triad of two carbonyl moieties (sn-1 and sn-2) and the primary alcohol. In addition, docking studies of DAG-lactones into an empty C1b receptor of PK-Cdelta (as it appears in complex with phorbol 13-O-acetate) have revealed that in either of the two possible binding alternatives (sn-1 or sn-2) only one carbonyl group of the DAG-lactone is involved in binding. Therefore, the unknown receptor for the orphaned carbonyl appears to lie outside the boundaries of this binary complex, possibly residing at the membrane or near the membrane-protein interface. A strategy to locate the optimal location of the unengaged carbonyl was conceived by utilizing a small group of DAG-lactones (1-4) with a highly branched chain adjacent to the sn-2 carbonyl such that sn-2 binding is favored. With these compounds, various locations of the sn-1 carbonyl along the side chain were tested for their binding affinity for PK-C. The results indicate that the location of the side chain sn-1 carbonyl in a DAG-lactone must have perfect mimicry to the sn-1 carbonyl of the parent DAG for it to display high binding affinity. A proposed model from this work is that the missing pharmacophore in the ternary complex, which includes the membrane, is close to the membrane-protein interface.

Binding Sites↗