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Biomedical subjects

Y Pommier

Publications and source records attributed to Y Pommier.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

DNA fragmentation induced by protease activation in p53-null human leukemia HL60 cells undergoing apoptosis following treatment with the topoisomerase I inhibitor camptothecin: cell-free system studies.

We studied the role of proteases in apoptosis using a cell-free system prepared from a human leukemia cell line. HL60 cells are p53 null and extremely sensitive to a variety of apoptotic stimuli including DNA damage induced by the topoisomerase I inhibitor, camptothecin. We measured DNA fragmentation induced in isolated nuclei by cytosolic extracts using a filter elution assay. Cytosol from camptothecin-treated HL60 cells induced internucleosomal DNA fragmentation in nuclei from untreated cells. This fragmentation was suppressed by serine protease inhibitors. Serine proteases (trypsin, endoproteinase Glu-C, chymotrypsin A, and proteinase K) and papain by themselves induced DNA fragmentation in naive nuclei. This effect was enhanced in the presence of cytosol from untreated cells. Cysteine protease inhibitors (E-64, leupeptin, Ac-YVAD-CHO [ICE inhibitor]) did not affect camptothecin-induced DNA fragmentation. The apopain/Yama inhibitor, Ac-DEVD-CHO, and the proteasome inhibitor, MG-132, were also inactive both in the cell-free system and in whole cells. Interleukin-1 beta converting enzyme (ICE) or human immunodeficiency virus protease failed to induce DNA fragmentation in naive nuclei. Together, these results suggest that DNA damage activates serine protease(s) which in turn activate(s) nuclear endonuclease(s) during apoptosis in HL60 cells.

Apoptosis↗

Antiretroviral agents as inhibitors of both human immunodeficiency virus type 1 integrase and protease.

The human immunodeficiency virus type one integrase (HIV-1 integrase) is required for integration of a double-stranded DNA copy of the viral RNA genome into a host chromosome and for HIV replication. We have previously reported that phenolic moieties in compounds such as flavones, caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), tyrphostins, and curcumin confer inhibitory activity against HIV-1 integrase. We have investigated the actions of several recently described protease inhibitors, possessing novel structural features, on HIV-1 integrase. NSC 158393, which contains four 4-hydroxycoumarin residues, was found to exhibit antiviral, antiprotease, and antiintegrase activity. Both the DNA binding and catalytic activities (3'-processing and strand transfer) of integrase were inhibited at micromolar concentrations. Disintegration catalyzed by an integrase mutant containing only the central catalytic domain was also inhibited, indicating that the binding site for these compounds resides in the central 50-212 amino acids of HIV-1 integrase. Binding at or near the integrase catalytic site was also suggested by a global inhibition of the choice of attacking nucleophile in the 3'-processing reaction. NSC 158393 inhibited HIV-2, feline, and simian immunodeficiency virus integrases while eukaryotic topoisomerase I was inhibited at higher concentrations, suggesting selective inhibition of retroviral integrases. Molecular modeling studies revealed that the two hydroxyls and two carbonyl moieties in NSC 158393 may represent essential elements of the pharmacophore. Antiviral efficacy was observed with NSC 158393 derivatives that inhibited both HIV protease and integrase, and the most potent integrase inhibitors also inhibited HIV protease. Hydroxycoumarins may provide lead compounds for development of novel antiviral agents based upon the concurrent inhibition of two viral targets, HIV-1 integrase and protease.

4-Hydroxycoumarins↗

(-)-Arctigenin as a lead structure for inhibitors of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 integrase.

The natural dibenzylbutyrolactone type lignanolide (-)-arctigenin (2), an inhibitor of human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) replication in infected human cell systems, was found to suppress the integration of proviral DNA into the cellular DNA genome. In the present study 2 was tested with purified HIV-1 integrase and found to be inactive in the cleavage (3'-processing) and integration (strand transfer) assays. However, the semisynthetic 3-O-demethylated congener 9 characterized by a catechol substructure exhibited remarkable activities in both assays. Structure-activity relationship studies with 30 natural (1-6), semisynthetic (7-21), and synthetic (37-43, 45, 46) lignans revealed that (1) the lactone moiety is crucial since compounds with a butane-1,4-diol or tetrahydrofuran substructure and also lignanamide analogues lacked activity and (2) the number and arrangement of phenolic hydroxyl groups is important for the activity of lignanolides. The congener with two catechol substructures (7) was found to be the most active compound in this study. 7 was also a potent inhibitor of the "disintegration" reaction which models the reversal of the strand transfer reaction. The inhibitory activity of 7 with the core enzyme fragment consisting of amino acids 50-212 suggests that the binding site of 7 resides in the catalytic domain.

4-Butyrolactone↗

Application of the electrotopological state index to QSAR analysis of flavone derivatives as HIV-1 integrase inhibitors.

PURPOSE: A QSAR study based on electrotopological state (E-state) indices was conducted for a series of flavone HIV-1 integrase inhibitors to guide drug design. METHODS: E-state indices formulated to encode electronic and topological information for each skeletal atom in a molecule (Kier and Hall Pharm. Res. 7:801-807 (1990)) were calculated using the Molconn-X program, and partial least squares (PLS) multivariate regression was used to derive QSAR models. RESULTS: Predictive models with correlation coefficients (r2) of 0.98 (3 PLS components) and 0.99 (5 PLS components) and corresponding cross-validated correlation coefficients (c.v. r2) of 0.51 and 0.73, were obtained for inhibition of cleavage and integration, respectively, with one molecule omitted from the analysis. CONCLUSIONS: E-state indices at C6, C3', C5', C5, and O4 were found to be more important for prediction of activity than those for any of the other 12 flavone skeletal atoms that are common to the molecules in the data set.

Flavonoids↗

Effects of nucleotide analogues on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 integrase.

We extended our previous study with 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine nucleotides [Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 91:5771-5775 (1994)] and examined the effects on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) integrase of the nucleotides of three nucleoside analogues currently under evaluation in clinical trials: beta-D-2',3'-didehydro-3'-deoxythymidine, beta-D-2'-ara-fluoro-2', 3'-dideoxyadenosine, and beta-L-2',3'-dideoxy-3'-thiacytidine. Beta-D-2',3'-Didehydro-3'-deoxythymidine and beta-D-2'-ara-fluoro-2',3'-dideoxyadenosine nucleotides had IC50 values for strand transfer of 100 and 200 microM, respectively, whereas the corresponding 2',3'-dideoxynucleoside triphosphates, ddT triphosphate and ddA triphosphate, did not inhibit the integrase at 800 and 200 microM, respectively. Beta-L-2',3'-Dideoxy-3'-thiacytidine triphosphate had no effect up to 500 microM. The L-enantiomers of 5-fluoro-2',3'-dideoxycytidine monophosphate and triphosphate had IC50 values of approximately 40 microM, whereas their D-enantiomer isomers showed no inhibition at 200 microM. NAD, pyridoxal phosphate, and coumermycin A1, which exhibit no antiviral activity but are typically used to probe nucleotide binding sites, were also tested. NAD was inactive, and its etheno derivative exhibited activity at 1 mM. In contrast, pyridoxal phosphate (IC50 = 18 microM and coumermycin A1 (IC50 = 5 microM were potent inhibitors. None of the coumermycin monomeric derivatives were active integrase inhibitors. The physiological ribonucleotides ATP and GTP inhibited HIV-1 integrase at or near cellular concentrations, suggesting that they may regulate HIV-1 integrase activity in cells. In general, the active nucleotides tested inhibited binding of HIV-1 integrase to its substrate DNA an inhibited an integrase deletion mutant containing only amino acids 50-212, indicating that nucleotides bind to the enzyme catalytic core. Consisently, the choice of nucleophile in the 3'-processing reaction was blocked to the same extent regardless of the nucleotide used (water, glycerol, or the viral DNA hydroxyl) by the enzyme. These observations suggest new strategies for antiviral drug development that could be based on nucleotide analogues as inhibitors of HIV-1 integrase.

Antiviral Agents↗

Eukaryotic DNA topoisomerase I: genome gatekeeper and its intruders, camptothecins.

Topoisomerase I enzymes are ubiquitous and play a pivotal role in DNA transcription, replication, and repair. The eukaryotic form of this enzyme is highly conserved and its inhibition leads to accumulation of DNA strand breaks ('cleavable complexes') and ultimately cell death. An understanding of the role of eukaryotic topoisomerase I has led researchers to identify this enzyme as a potential target for anticancer therapy. Indeed, topoisomerase I is inhibited by samptothecin (isolated from a plant extract), and derivatives of this agent are being developed with improved physicochemical and pharmacologic characteristics. These agents may provide a new dimension to chemotherapy through their novel mechanism of action.

Animals↗

Expression of proliferation-associated nuclear autoantigens, p330d/CENP-F and PCNA, in differentiation and in drug-induced growth inhibition using two-parameter flow cytometry.

p330d/CENP-F is a recently described nuclear autoantigen that was detected in PHA-stimulated but not in resting peripheral lymphocytes. This protein accumulates in the nucleus during S-phase and reaches maximum levels during the G2 and M phases of the cell cycles. We compared the expression of p330d/CENP-F and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) during the induction of terminal myeloid differentiation of HL-60 tumour cells. HL-60 cells were induced to differentiate with retinoic acid (RA), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and 3-nitrobenzothiazolo [3,2-]quinolinium (NBQ), and collected at different intervals. Control and treated cells were analyzed by two-parameter flow cytometry using propidium iodide and antibodies to p330d/CENP-F and PCNA. The percentage of p330d/CENP-F and PCNA positive cells was found to be proportional to the percentage of proliferating cells. After two cell cycles (65 h), the percentage of p330d/CENP-F and PCNA positive cells was reduced proportionately to the number of cells that had differentiated. Reduction in the expression of both antigens was completed after 120 h when 80% to 85% of the cells were arrested in G1 and displayed the mature phenotype. The expression of p330d/CENP-F and PCNA was also assessed in the growth inhibition of HT-29 cells induced by various concentrations of camptothecin (CPT), etoposide (VP-16), and aphidicolin (APH). There was a dose-dependent displacement of cells to late S-phase by CPT while VP-16 induced cells to accumulate in G2+M, and as expected these effects caused a strong increase in the cellular levels of both antigens. The arrest of cells in G1 by APH led to a significant decrease in their expression. The dramatic reduction in p330d/CENP-F levels during differentiation, and the correlation of its expression with the cell cycle effects of the cytotoxic drugs are consistent with the behaviour expected for a proliferation marker.

Aphidicolin↗

[Apoptosis of human leukemic cells induced by topoisomerase I and II inhibitors].

Comparison between five human leukemic lines (BV173, HL60, U937, K562, KCL22) suggest that the main determinant of their sensitivity to topoisomerase I (camptothecin) and II (VP-16) inhibitors is their ability to regulate cell cycle progression in response to specific DNA damage, then to die through apoptosis: the more the cells inhibit cell cycle progression, the less sensitive they are. The final pathway of apoptosis induction involves a cytoplasmic signal, active at neutral pH, needing magnesium, sensitive to various protease inhibitors and activated directly by staurosporine. Modulators of intracellular signaling (calcium chelators, calmodulin inhibitors, PKC modulators, kinase and phosphatase inhibitors) have no significant influence upon apoptosis induction. Conversely, apoptosis induction pathway is modified during monocytic differentiation of HL60 cells induced by phorbol esters. Lastly, poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation and chromatine structure should regulate apoptotic DNA fragmentation that is prevented by 3-aminobenzamide and spermine, respectively.

Alkaloids↗

Silencing and selective methylation of the normal topoisomerase I gene in camptothecin-resistant CEM/C2 human leukemia cells.

Camptothecin resistance of the human leukemia CEM/C2 cells is associated with a topoisomerase I (top1) mutation: Asn722Ser (Fujimori, A. et al. Cancer Res. 55:1339-1346; 1995). The corresponding DNA point mutation generates a novel site for the restriction endonuclease DdeI. We found that only the mutated top1 transcript was detectable in CEM/C2 by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Genomic DNA analysis by Southern blotting with DdeI showed that both the mutated and normal top1 genes were present in CEM/C2 cells. The mechanism of normal top1 allele silencing was further investigated. Cytogenetic analysis with a human chromosome 20 specific probe and restriction mapping by Southern blotting showed that both cell lines had a similar copy number of chromosome 20, with the predominant population containing 5-6 copies, and no detectable top1 gene rearrangement. Southern blotting using methylcytosine-sensitive restriction endonuclease (HpaII) indicated differential top1 methylation in CEM/C2 cells. Global cytosine methylation, however, appeared similar in CEM/C2 and wild-type CEM cells. These results indicate that gene-specific DNA methylation can play a role in downregulating top1 gene(s) and in the cellular resistance to camptothecins.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗

Differential GADD45, p21CIP1/WAF1, MCL-1 and topoisomerase II gene induction and secondary DNA fragmentation after camptothecin-induced DNA damage in two mutant p53 human colon cancer cell lines.

Camptothecin (CPT) traps covalent DNA topoisomerase I-linked DNA single-strand breaks (cleavable complexes). To determine the differences in DNA damage signalling leading to differential sensitivity to CPT, two human colon cancer cell lines, SW620 and KM12, with nonfunctional p53 and the same level of topoisomerase I cleavable complex formation but differential sensitivity to CPT (Cancer Res. 56:4430-7; 1996) were studied. The levels of mRNA expression of DNA damage-inducible or death-related genes were measured at different times after CPT treatment. KM12 cells exhibited 3-fold higher basal levels of BCL-2 mRNA. Consistently, secondary DNA fragmentation, quantitated using a filter elution assay, was detected 24 h later and was 2-4-fold lower in KM12 cells than in SW620 cells. No induction of BAX was detected in either cell line. Consistent with the absence of functional p53, p21CIP1/WAF1 and GADD45 genes were not induced within the first 24 h. However, in SW620 cells, both mRNA levels were increased more than 10-fold at 48 h. The BCL-2-related gene MCL-1 and topoisomerase II mRNA were induced at 24 h, and topoisomerase I mRNA levels increased 3-fold at 48 h, only in SW620 cells. We conclude that cellular response to CPT-induced DNA damage can involve p53-independent pathways leading to the induction of p53-effector genes. Induction of these genes at the onset of apoptosis is associated with CPT sensitivity.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗

Acquired camptothecin resistance of human breast cancer MCF-7/C4 cells with normal topoisomerase I and elevated DNA repair.

A camptothecin (CPT)-resistant cell line (MCF-7/C4) was established from MCF-7 cells by mutagenic treatment with methylmethanesulfonate and selection with CPT. MCF-7/C4 is 30-fold resistant to CPT and is cross-resistant to UV and cis-dichlorodiammineplatinum(II) but not to VP-16 or ionizing radiation. Topoisomerase I (top1)-mediated cleavable complexes in the presence of CPT, measured by oligonucleotide assay and by alkaline elution, were similar in both cell lines. Other top1 parameters such as top1 protein, RNA levels, and DNA relaxation were also similar in both cell lines. Thus, CPT resistance is not due to alterations in top1 activity but is caused by changes in the downstream pathways from the top1-induced damage. Both cell lines had similar doubling time (22 hr), but MCF-7/C4 cells showed reduced S-phase fraction in the absence of CPT and reduced G2 delay after CPT treatment. p53, GADD45, and p21WAF1/CIP1 were induced similarly by CPT in both cell lines. The overall repair capacity estimated by the ability of cells to reactivate UV-damaged pSV-CAT plasmid was increased in MCF-7/C4 cells. These observations suggest that enhanced DNA repair is one of the factors involved in CPT resistance.

Breast Neoplasms↗

Potentiation of cisplatin cytotoxicity by 9-aminocamptothecin.

Camptothecin (CPT) derivatives are presently in ongoing Phase I/II clinical trials. The interactions between 9-aminocamptothecin (9AC) and cisplatin (CDDP) have been studied in the IGROV-1 human ovarian cancer cell line used in the National Cancer Institute Drug Discovery Anticancer Screen. One-h simultaneous treatment with 9AC and CDDP produced synergistic cytotoxicity. Under these conditions, 9AC delayed the reversal of CDDP-induced DNA interstrand cross-links (ISCs) without modifying the maximum ISC frequency at 6 h after drug treatment. CDDP did not affect the amount and the kinetics of reversion of 9AC-induced DNA single-strand breaks. Simultaneous treatment with CDDP and 9AC prolonged the DNA synthesis inhibition produced by each drug alone. Consistently, flow cytometry analyses showed enhanced S-phase arrest in cells treated with the CDDP-9AC combination. The DNA polymerase inhibitor aphidicolin also increased the residual CDDP-induced ISCs. These results suggest that prolonged inhibition of DNA synthesis by CPTs potentiate the cytotoxicity of CDDP by inhibiting the reversal of CDDP-induced DNA damage. Therefore, the combination of CPTs and CDDP appears to be worthwhile in cancer chemotherapy.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Effects of tyrphostins, protein kinase inhibitors, on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 integrase.

Efficient replication of HIV-1 requires establishment of the proviral state, i.e., the integration of a DNA copy of the viral genome, synthesized by reverse transcriptase, into a chromosome of the host cell. Integration is catalyzed by the viral integrase protein. We have previously reported that phenolic moieties in compounds such as napthoquinones, flavones, caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), and curcumin confer inhibitory activity against HIV-1 integrase. We have extended these findings by examining the effects of tryphostins, tyrosine kinase inhibitors. The catalytic activities of HIV-1 integrase and the formation of enzyme-DNA complexes using photocross-linking were examined. Both steps of the integration reaction, 3'-processing and strand transfer, were inhibited by tyrphostins at micromolar concentrations. The DNA binding activity of integrase was inhibited at higher concentrations of tryphostins. Disintegration, an apparent reversal of the strand transfer reaction, catalyzed by an integrase mutant lacking the N-terminal zinc finger and C-terminal DNA binding domains is also inhibited by tyrphostins, indicating that the binding site for these compounds resides in the central catalytic core of HIV-1 integrase. Binding of tyrphostins at or near the integrase catalytic site was also suggested by experiments showing a global inhibition of the choice of attacking nucleophile in the 3'-processing reaction. None of the tryphostins tested inhibited eukaryotic topoisomerase I, even at 100 microM, suggesting selectivity for integrase inhibition. Molecular-modeling studies have revealed that, after energy minimization, several tyrphostins may adopt folded conformations. The similarity of the tyrphostin family to other families of inhibitors is discussed. Tyrphostins may provide lead compounds for development of novel antiviral agents for the treatment of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome based upon inhibition of HIV-1 integrase.

Antiviral Agents↗

Hydroxylated aromatic inhibitors of HIV-1 integrase.

Efficient replication of HIV-1 requires integration of a DNA copy of the viral genome into a chromosome of the host cell. Integration is catalyzed by the viral integrase, and we have previously reported that phenolic moieties in compounds such as flavones, caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE, 2), and curcumin confer inhibitory activity against HIV-1 integrase. We now extend these findings by performing a comprehensive structure-activity relationship using CAPE analogues. Approximately 30 compounds have been prepared as HIV integrase inhibitors based on the structural lead provided by CAPE, which has previously been shown to exhibit an IC50 value of 7 microM in our integration assay. These analogues were designed to examine specific features of the parent CAPE structure which may be important for activity. Among the features examined for their effects on inhibitory potency were ring substitution, side chain length and composition, and phenyl ring conformational orientation. In an assay which measured the combined effect of two sequential steps, dinucleotide cleavage and strand transfer, several analogues have IC50 values for 3'-processing and strand transfer lower than those of CAPE. Inhibition of strand transfer was assayed using both blunt-ended and "precleaved" DNA substrates. Disintegration using an integrase mutant lacking the N-terminal zinc finger and C-terminal DNA-binding domains was also inhibited by these analogues, suggesting that the binding site for these compounds resides in the central catalytic core. Several CAPE analogues were also tested for selective activity against transformed cells. Taken together, these results suggest that the development of novel antiviral agents for the treatment of acquired immune deficiency syndrome can be based upon inhibition of HIV-1 integrase.

Animals↗

Cellular pharmacology of azatoxins (topoisomerase-II and tubulin inhibitors) in P-glycoprotein-positive and -negative cell lines.

Azatoxin (NSC 640737), a synthetic molecule, was rationally designed as a topoisomerase-II inhibitor and was shown to be a potent cytotoxic agent that inhibits both tubulin and topoisomerase II. A structure-activity relationship study allowed to select 3 derivatives that inhibit either tubulin (methylazatoxin) only or topoisomerase II (fluoroanilinoazatoxin and nitroanilino-azatoxin) in MTT assays performed on K562 and K562/ADM cells; the latter, expressing P-glycoprotein, indicated cross-resistance of K562/ADM cells to all 4 compounds. DNA double-strand breaks induced by the 3 azatoxins that inhibit topoisomerase II in vitro were decreased in K562/ADM as compared with K562 cells. Nitroanilino-azatoxin was the only compound for which resistance and reduced DNA damage observed in K562/ADM cells was partially reversed by verapamil, suggesting that nitroanilinoazatoxin was a substrate for P-glycoprotein. These results were confirmed by testing the cytotoxic activity of azatoxins on P-glycoprotein-expressing rat colon-carcinoma DHDK12/TRb cells in the absence and the presence of verapamil. Cell-cycle and mitotic-index studies indicated that azatoxin- and methyl-azatoxin-induced M-phase arrest was less in K562/ADM than in K562 cells. The G2 block induced by fluoro- and nitroanilinoazatoxins was delayed in K562/ADM cells. Verapamil increased cell-cycle inhibition induced by nitroanilinoazatoxin in K562/ADM cells without modifying cell-cycle effects of fluoroanilinoazatoxin. These results (i) are consistent with the specific inhibition of topoisomerase II or tubulin by azatoxin derivatives in cells; (ii) indicate that the nitro group of nitroanilinoazatoxin allows recognition and efflux by the P-glycoprotein; and (iii) suggest that cross-resistance of K562/ADM cells to other azatoxin derivatives is not mediated by P-glycoprotein.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Interaction of an alkylating camptothecin derivative with a DNA base at topoisomerase I-DNA cleavage sites.

DNA topoisomerase I (top1) is a ubiquitous nuclear enzyme. It is specifically inhibited by camptothecin, a natural product derived from the bark of the tree Camptotheca acuminata. Camptothecin and several of its derivatives are presently in clinical trial and exhibit remarkable anticancer activity. The present study is a further investigation of the molecular interactions between the drug and the enzyme-DNA complex. We utilized an alkylating camptothecin derivative, 7-chloromethyl-10,11-methylenedioxycamptothecin (7-ClMe-MDO-CPT), and compared its activity against calf thymus top1 in a DNA oligonucleotide containing a single top1 cleavage site with the activity of its nonalkylating analog, 7-ethyl-10,11-methylenedioxycamptothecin (7-Et-MDO-CPT). In the presence of top1, 7-ClMe-MDO-CPT produced a DNA fragment that migrated more slowly than the top1-cleaved DNA fragment observed with 7-Et-MDO-CPT. Top1 was unable to religate this fragment in the presence of high NaCl concentration or proteinase K at 50 degrees C. This fragment was resistant to piperidine treatment and was also formed with an oligonucleotide containing a 7-deazaguanine at the 5' terminus of the top1-cleaved DNA (base + 1). It was however cleaved by formic acid treatment followed by piperidine. These observations are consistent with alkylation of the +1 base (adenine or guanine) by 7-ClMe-MDO-CPT in the presence of top1 covalent complexes and provide direct evidence that camptothecins inhibit top1 by binding at the enzyme-DNA interface.

Alkylation↗

Processing of deoxyuridine mismatches and abasic sites by human immunodeficiency virus type-1 integrase.

We have examined the activities of HIV-1 integrase on substrates containing mismatches, composed of deoxyuridine at different positions in either the processed or nonprocessed strand of viral DNA, within and near the conserved CA dinucleotide of the U5 end of the HIV-1 LTR. Substitution in the processed strand of either the C or A of the CA dinucleotide or of the G 5' to the CA reduced strand transfer six-, three- and seven-fold respectively. 3'-processing was also reduced by substitution at the GC but not at the A. Substitution in the nonprocessed strand of the G nucleotide at the processing site abolished strand transfer while substitution of the T had no effect. DNA binding of HIV-1 integrase was not affected by deoxyuridine substitutions. Deoxyuridine substitution outside the trinucleotide remained compatible with enzyme activity. Enzymatically generated abasic sites were created at each mismatch to determine the effect of a missing base on integrase activity. Consistent with the deoxyuridine mismatch observations, 3'-processing and strand transfer were abolished when the abasic site was substituted for either of the nucleotides of the GCA trinucleotide. Integrase was, however, able to tolerate mismatches within this trinucleotide during the disintegration reaction. Taken together, these results suggest that base-mismatched or base-deleted substrates, which can be created by the proofreading-deficient HIV-1 RT, can be tolerated by HIV-1 integrase when located outside of the GCA trinucleotide at the U5 end of the LTR.

Base Sequence↗

Differential stabilization of eukaryotic DNA topoisomerase I cleavable complexes by camptothecin derivatives.

Camptothecins belong to a group of anticancer agents with a specific mechanism of action: stabilization and trapping of eukaryotic DNA topoisomerase I (top1) cleavable complexes. Two water-soluble camptothecin derivatives are in clinical trial, and their anticancer activity appears promising: topotecan and CPT-11. The latter is hydrolyzed to its active metabolite, SN-38. We have previously reported that SN-38 is among the most cytotoxic camptothecin derivatives and that the cleavable complexes induced by SN-38 are more stable than those induced by CPT in human colon carcinoma cells [Tanizawa et al. (1994) J. Natl. Cancer Inst, 86, 836-842]. Top1 inhibition was further investigated by determining the salt-induced religation rates of top1-cleavable complexes in fragments from the top1 cDNA. Religation depended on both the local DNA base sequence and the drug structure. Cleavable complexes induced by SN-38 and 10,11-methylenedioxycamptothecin were markedly more stable (less rapidly reversible) than those induced by CPT, topotecan, and 9-aminocamptothecin. The stability of 10-hydroxycamptothecin-induced cleavable complexes was intermediate to those of CPT and SN-38, indicating that both the 10-hydroxy and the 7-ethyl group of SN-38 probably interact with the drug binding site of top1-cleavable complexes. A DNA oligonucleotide containing a single top1 cleavage site was also used to compare the camptothecin derivatives. The salt stability of drug-induced cleavable complexes in the top1 oligonucleotide was correlated with the drug potencies to induce top1 cleavage. Cell killing requires that trapped cleavable complexes be converted to DNA damage as a result of replication fork collision.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗