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Biomedical subjects

Y C Cheng

Publications and source records attributed to Y C Cheng.

At least 199 records · Page 11Linked to original sources

Enzyme activity gel analysis of human immunodeficiency virus reverse transcriptase.

An activity gel analysis was performed in order to examine the catalytically active component of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reverse transcriptase in purified enzyme preparations and HIV-infected cell extracts. Immunoaffinity purified HIV reverse transcriptase contains two proteins with molecular weights 66,000 and 51,000 in approximately equal proportions. After denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and removal of sodium dodecyl sulfate, the p66 component of reverse transcriptase was sufficient for both DNA- and RNA-directed DNA synthesis. No DNA synthetic activity of p51 was observed. Recovery of p66 catalytic activity was approximately 10% that of DNA polymerase beta, and the density of the autoradiographic band corresponding to p66 was linear with enzyme concentration. No additional HIV-specific DNA polymerases besides p66 were observed in HIV-infected H9 cell extracts.

DNA Polymerase I↗

Interaction of Epstein-Barr virus DNA polymerase with aphidicolin, phosphonoformate and 5'-GMP.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specified DNA polymerase was purified from P3HR-1 cells, a Burkitt lymphoma EBV producer cell line, treated with phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (PDB) and n-butyrate. Its inhibition by aphidicolin, phosphonoformate (PFA) and 5'-GMP was examined. Aphidicolin could inhibit EBV DNA polymerase competitively with respect to dATP and dCTP and noncompetitively with respect to dGTP and dTTP; whereas 5'-GMP was a noncompetitive inhibitor with respect to all four dNTPs. Combinations of aphidicolin and PFA, or PFA and 5'-GMP, produced a mutually exclusive inhibition pattern of EBV DNA polymerase that suggested that the binding sites of these compounds on the enzyme molecule are kinetically overlapping.

Aphidicolin↗

Association of DNA topoisomerase I and RNA polymerase I: a possible role for topoisomerase I in ribosomal gene transcription.

RNA polymerase I preparations purified from a rat hepatoma contained DNA topoisomerase activity. The DNA topoisomerase associated with the polymerase had an Mr of 110,000, required Mg2+ but not ATP, and was recognized by anti-topoisomerase I antibodies. When added to RNA polymerase I preparations containing topoisomerase activity, anti-topoisomerase I antibodies were able to inhibit the DNA relaxing activity of the preparation as well as RNA synthesis in vitro. RNA polymerase II prepared by analogous procedures did not contain topoisomerase activity and was not recognized by the antibodies. The topoisomerase I: polymerase I complex was reversibly dissociated by column chromatography on Sephacryl S200 in the presence of 0.25 M (NH4)2SO4. Topoisomerase I was immunolocalized in the transcriptionally active ribosomal gene complex containing RNA polymerase I in situ. These data indicate that topoisomerase I and RNA polymerase I are tightly complexed both in vivo and in vitro, and suggest a role for DNA topoisomerase I in the transcription of ribosomal genes.

Animals↗

A pyrimidine-based "flexible" bisubstrate analogue inhibitor of human thymidylate synthase.

The synthesis and characterization of two "flexible" bisubstrate analogues of the intermediate in the thymidylate synthase reaction are reported. Steric constraints are minimized and diasteromeric mixtures avoided by using a pyrimidine-based analogue as the folate portion of the inhibitor while retaining all known important binding sites. A preliminary assessment of certain conformational parameters by NMR is presented. The compounds are shown to be potent competitive inhibitors with respect to dUMP or 5,10-CH2-H4PteGlu but gave mixed kinetics with respect to 5,10-CH2-H4PteGlu5 for human thymidylate synthase.

Binding Sites↗

Identification of amino acids in herpes simplex virus DNA polymerase involved in substrate and drug recognition.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) encodes a DNA polymerase that is similar in several respects to the replicative mammalian DNA polymerase alpha. Recently, these and other DNA polymerases have been shown to share several regions of protein sequence similarity. Despite these similarities, antiviral drugs that mimic natural polymerase substrates specifically inhibit herpesvirus DNA polymerases. To study amino acids involved in substrate and drug recognition, we have characterized and mapped altered drug sensitivity markers of nine HSV pol mutants and sequenced the relevant portions of these mutants. The mutations were found to occur within four relatively small regions. One such region, which we designate region A, has sequence similarity only to DNA polymerases that are sensitive to certain antiviral drugs. The other three regions contain sequences that are similar among various DNA polymerases. The multiple mutations occurring within two of these regions make it likely that the regions interact directly with drugs and substrates. Our results lead us to favor a model in which protein folding allows interactions among the four regions to form the substrate and drug binding sites.

Amino Acids↗

Interaction of 2-halogenated dATP analogs (F, Cl, and Br) with human DNA polymerases, DNA primase, and ribonucleotide reductase.

Recently, 2-halogenated deoxyadenosine analogs (F, Cl, and Br) have been shown to have antitumor activity. These analogs are phosphorylated by cells and are believed to exert their cytotoxic action at the nucleoside triphosphate level. In this work the interaction of these nucleoside triphosphate analogs with potential targets, such as DNA polymerase alpha, beta, and gamma, DNA primase, and ribonucleotide reductase was examined in detail. All of these compounds competitively inhibited the incorporation of dAMP into DNA by DNA polymerase alpha, beta, or gamma. F-dATP was able to completely substitute for dATP using DNA polymerase alpha and gamma, but not with DNA polymerase beta. Cl-dATP and Br-dATP substituted poorly for dATP using DNA polymerase alpha and beta. Extension of a 32P-labeled primer by DNA polymerase alpha, beta, or gamma on a single-stranded M13 template showed that these compounds were incorporated into the 3' end of the growing DNA chain and that elongation beyond the incorporated analogs was significantly retarded for Cl-dATP and Br-dATP using either DNA polymerase alpha or beta. DNA primase using poly(dC) as template was inhibited by these compounds at a concentration 4 to 5 times greater than that required for 2-F-araATP. The 2-halogenated dATP analogs were potent inhibitors of ADP reduction by ribonucleotide reductase. In conclusion, the cytotoxic action of 2-Cl-deoxyadenosine and 2-Br-deoxyadenosine may partially be mediated through the mechanism of "self-potentiation," by depression of the deoxynucleoside triphosphate pools due to inhibition of ribonucleotide reductase, which would facilitate their incorporation into DNA and result in the inhibition of DNA synthesis.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Induction of virus enzymes by phorbol esters and n-butyrate in Epstein-Barr virus genome-carrying Raji cells.

Phorbol esters and n-butyrate (SB) together could induce Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA polymerase and DNase activities in Raji cells (virus nonproducer). Neither 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) nor SB alone could induce these EBV enzyme activities, transcription of the EcoRI C-region or other EBV proteins in Raji cells. The enzyme induction caused by exposure of Raji cells to TPA-SB was the result of the synthesis of virus-specified RNA, and the increase of linear EBV DNA content in Raji cells caused by TPA alone was not sufficient for induction of EBV-enzyme activities. Temporal characteristics of the TPA-SB induction process, but not the phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate-SB induction process, in Raji cells were observed; a critical phase (10-24 h) postphorbol ester treatment in phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate-SB-treated Raji cells which was responsible for the synthesis of virus RNA and enzymes was found. Phospholipase C, which increases intracellular diacylglycerols (and subsequently activates protein kinase C) was able to partially substitute for TPA in the TPA-SB induction for EBV polymerase and DNase activities. Sphingosine, a protein kinase C inhibitor, partially prevented the induction of virus enzyme activities in Raji cells treated with phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate and SB. No apparent changes in the methylation state of EBV DNA (EcoRI C region) were observed when Raji cells were treated with SB and TPA, alone or in combination. These results suggest that induction of EBV polymerase and DNase activities by TPA-SB may involve protein kinase C activation and another factor triggered by SB which together increase transcription of EBV DNA.

Burkitt Lymphoma↗

Human immunodeficiency virus reverse transcriptase. General properties and its interactions with nucleoside triphosphate analogs.

Using affinity purified human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) reverse transcriptase the reaction assay conditions were determined. The optimum incorporation of dTMP into the (rA)n(dT)10 template with HIV reverse transcriptase required 6 mM MgCl2 and 80 mM KCl. The template specificity of HIV reverse transcriptase is quite different from those of the human gamma-polymerase-associated reverse transcriptase or avian virus reverse transcriptase. The preferential inhibition of HIV reverse transcriptase as compared to human gamma-reverse transcriptase was observed with several nucleoside analog triphosphates. The Ki values for thymidine triphosphate analogs with HIV reverse transcriptase ranged from 5 to 13 nM with decreasing effectiveness for 3'-fluoro greater than 3'-amino greater than 2',3'-dideoxy greater than 3'-azido groups. This study provides information on the structure activity relationships of the triphosphate analogs inhibitory effects on HIV reverse transcriptase versus human gamma-polymerase-associated reverse transcriptase, and the possible mechanisms of action of 3' azido thymidine and the 2',3'-dideoxynucleosides, and also identifies other nucleoside analogs for possible development as inhibitors of HIV.

Deoxyguanine Nucleotides↗

Cellular metabolism of 2',3'-dideoxycytidine, a compound active against human immunodeficiency virus in vitro.

The nucleoside analog 2',3'-dideoxycytidine (ddCyd) has been shown to inhibit the infectivity and cytopathic effect of human immunodeficiency virus on human OKT4+ lymphocytes in vitro. Metabolism of ddCyd by human T-lymphoblastic cells (Molt 4) negative for human immunodeficiency virus and OKT4 was examined. Molt 4 cells accumulated ddCyd and its phosphorylated derivatives into acid-soluble and acid-insoluble material in a dose-dependent manner. For each concentration tested, 2',3'-dideoxycytidine triphosphate represented 40% of the total acid-soluble pool of ddCyd metabolites. Uptake of 5 microM ddCyd was linear for 4 h after addition of drug. Efflux of ddCyd metabolites from cells followed a biphasic course with an initial retention half-life of 2.6 h for 2',3'-dideoxycytidine triphosphate. DNA, but not RNA, of cells incubated with [3H]ddCyd became radiolabeled. Nuclease and phosphatase treatment of DNA followed by reverse-phase high pressure liquid chromatography showed that the nucleoside was incorporated into DNA in its original form. ddCyd was not susceptible to deamination by human Cyd-dCyd deaminase. It was a poor substrate for human cytoplasmic and mitochondrial dCyd kinases, with Km values of 180 +/- 30 and 120 +/- 20 microM, respectively. DNA polymerases alpha, beta, and gamma varied in their sensitivity to inhibition by ddCTP with Ki values of 110 +/- 40, 2.6 +/- 0.3, and 0.016 +/- 0.008 microM, respectively; however, inhibition was competitive with dCTP in each case.

Cell Line↗

Transient protection of cultured human cells against antitumor agents by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate.

The tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) has been shown in cell cultures to enhance the frequency of resistance to methotrexate. However, we found that TPA could also partially protect human KB cells over a short time (72 h) from the cytotoxicity of several antitumor agents, including 4'-demethylepipodophyllotoxin 9-(4,6-O-ethylidene)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (VP-16), vincristine, mitoxantrone, and methotrexate, but not 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine or 5-fluorouracil. The modes of protection were different for methotrexate and VP-16. Protection by TPA was concentration dependent up to 40 nM and could be accomplished by a 2-h incubation of cells with TPA alone prior to drug treatment. This protection disappeared after a 24-h drug-free incubation. TPA-induced protection could not be mimicked by treatment of cells with 1-oleoyl-2-acetyl-glycerol (a stimulator of protein kinase C) or phospholipase C, which increased the cellular content of diacylglycerols. Thus the action of TPA on protein kinase C may not be sufficient to exert protection. Verapamil, a calcium-channel blocker which has been found to circumvent resistance of multiple drug-resistant cells, also circumvented the protective effect of TPA when used with VP-16. The presence of TPA during a 24-h exposure to radiolabeled VP-16 reduced the cellular drug content by about 30%, whereas verapamil enhanced drug content by at least 50% in TPA-treated and untreated cultures. Since substances with some TPA-like activity have been found in foods and in human circulation, the observation of clinical resistance to some compounds may partly be due to a related mechanism.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Study of ribonucleotide reductase in cells infected with six clinical isolates of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) with mutations in its larger subunit.

Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) induces a novel ribonucleotide reductase (RR) composed of two subunits (140 and 38 kDa) in infected cells. Other investigators have developed a monoclonal antibody, A6, against the 140-kDa subunit of RR and have found, in about 1% of the cases, an inability to detect this protein in cells infected with clinical isolates of HSV-2. We therefore investigated whether in such cases the clinical isolates were capable of inducing viral RR activity and whether the lack of detection of the 140-kDa protein by the monoclonal antibody was due to an alteration in the antigenic site of this protein. Six such isolates were examined and were found to induce RR activity, similar to HSV-2 (strain 333) RR, which did not require ATP for CDP reduction. Western blot analyses using A6 failed to detect the protein. However, R1, a polyclonal antibody raised against viral RR was capable of detecting this subunit. In addition, R1 was also capable of neutralizing RR activity induced by all the isolates and HSV-2 (strain 333). In conclusion, the lack of detection of the large subunit of RR was not due to the lack of induction but was due to an alteration in the antigenic site recognized by A6; this alteration did not appear to affect the properties of the induced RR activity.

Animals↗

Folate analogues as inhibitors of thymidylate synthase.

Recent demonstrations that deazafolate analogues may act as potent inhibitors of thymidylate synthase (TS) provided a firm rationale for the synthesis of N10-propargyl derivatives of 8-deazafolate and 8-deazaaminopterin (4). A complete assignment of the 1H NMR spectra of these compounds was made possible through application of 2D (COSY) techniques at 200 MHz. Data describing the inhibition of TS derived from human leukemia (K562) cells are presented. IC50 values of 2.25 and 1.26 microM were determined for 8-deaza-10-propargylfolate (3) and 8-deaza-10-propargylaminopterin, respectively. Comparison of the data for various folate analogues reveals a striking dependence of TS inhibitory potency upon the number of nitrogens in the folate pyrazine ring.

Aminopterin↗

Acetylenic nucleosides. 4. 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl-5-ethynylcytosine. Improved synthesis and evaluation of biochemical and antiviral properties.

5-Ethynyl-1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (EAC) was prepared from 1-(2,3,5-tri-O-acetyl-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl)cytosine by iodination followed by coupling with (trimethylsilyl)acetylene and deblocking. At 50 microM, EAC was found to inhibit the in vitro replication of herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 by greater than 99%. EAC also showed activity against a strain of HSV-1 resistant to (E)-5-(2-bromovinyl)-2'-deoxyuridine which has an alteration of the virus-induced thymidine kinase (TK). At 100 microM, EAC did not inhibit the in vitro growth of leukemia L1210 and HeLa cells. EAC was resistant to the action of dCR-CR deaminase, its rate of deamination being approximately 2% that of dCR. The compound was a poor substrate for dCR kinase, but it was phosphorylated by HSV-1- and HSV-2-induced TKs at 50% and 30%, respectively, the rate of thymidine.

Antiviral Agents↗

Studies on DNA topoisomerases I and II in herpes simplex virus type 2-infected cells.

It has been suggested that herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1 may induce a virus-specific DNA topoisomerase activity which copurifies with virus-induced DNA polymerase. We have examined DNA topoisomerase (TOPO) I and II activities in HSV-2-infected HeLa S3 cells. Both activities were partially purified using DEAE-cellulose, phosphocellulose and double-stranded DNA cellulose column chromatography. It was found that both activities could be separated from HSV-2-specific DNA polymerase. Throughout the purification TOPO I could be immunologically detected with a monoclonal antibody developed against human TOPO I. Regardless of the source, mock- or HSV-2-infected human cells, both types of topoisomerase were equally tolerant of 200 mM-KCl. There appeared to be no apparent heterogeneity of TOPO I in HeLa S3 cells through the course of the HSV-2 infection. We conclude that host cell topoisomerases are quite stable in HSV-2-infected HeLa S3 cells and that there is no evidence that HSV-2 is capable of inducing HSV-2-specific TOPO I and TOPO II activities.

Cell Transformation, Viral↗

Demonstration of viral thymidine kinase inhibitor and its effect on deoxynucleotide metabolism in cells infected with herpes simplex virus.

The thymidine analog 5'-ethynylthymidine was a potent inhibitor of herpes simplex virus type 1 (strain KOS)-induced thymidine kinase with a Ki value of 0.09 microM. 5'-Ethynylthymidine was less inhibitory against herpes simplex virus type 2 (strain 333)-induced thymidine kinase with a Ki of 0.38 microM and showed no inhibition against human cytosolic thymidine kinase under the conditions tested. The compound was effective against the altered thymidine kinase induced by acyclovir- and bromovinyldeoxyuridine-resistant virus variants. At 100 microM 5'-ethynylthymidine, the cellular pool size of dTTP in herpes simplex virus type 1-infected cells was 5% that of infected cells receiving no drug treatment, while there was no significant effect on the pool sizes of dATP, dGTP, and dCTP. There was a positive correlation between dTTP pools and the intracellular thymidine kinase activity of herpes simplex virus type 1-infected cells. When tested alone, 5'-ethynylthymidine exhibited no antiviral activity, but it antagonized the antiviral efficacy of five compounds which require viral thymidine kinase for their action.

Antiviral Agents↗