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Antitumor activity of sugar-modified cytosine nucleosides.

Nucleoside analogues which show antimetabolic activity in cells have been successfully used in the treatment of various tumors. Nucleosides such as 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (araC), 6-mercaptopurine, fludarabine and cladribine play an important role in the treatment of leukemias, while gemcitabine, 5-fluorouracil and its prodrugs are used extensively in the treatment of many types of solid tumors. All of these compounds are metabolized similarly to endogenous nucleosides and nucleotides. Active metabolites interfere with the de novo synthesis of nucleosides and nucleotides or inhibit the DNA chain elongation after being incorporated into the DNA strand as terminators. Furthermore, nucleoside antimetabolites incorporated into the DNA strand induce strand-breaks and finally cause apoptosis. Nucleoside antimetabolites target one or more specific enzyme(s). The mode of inhibitory action on the target enzyme is not always similar even among nucleoside antimetabolites which have the same nucleoside base, such as araC and gemcitabine. Although both nucleosides are phosphorylated by deoxycytidine kinase and are also good substrates of cytidine deaminase, only gemcitabine shows antitumor activity against solid tumors. This suggests that differences in the pharmacological activity of these nucleoside antimetabolites may reflect different modes of action on target molecules. The design, in vitro cytotoxicity, in vivo antitumor activity, metabolism and mechanism of action of sugar-modified cytosine nucleosides, such as (2'S)-2'-deoxy-2'-C-methylcytidine (SMDC), 1-(2-deoxy-2-methylene-beta-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)cytosine (DMDC), 1-(2-C-cyano-2-deoxy-1-beta-D-arabino-pentofuranosyl)cytosine (CNDAC) and 1-(3-C-ethynyl-beta-D-ribo-pentofura-nosyl)cytosine (ECyd), developed by our groups, are discussed here.

Animals↗

In vivo and in vitro studies of the purine-cytosine permease of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Functional analysis of a mutant with an altered apparent transport constant of uptake.

The FCY2 gene of the purine-cytosine permease (PCP) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the allele fcy2-21 have been cloned on the yeast multicopy plasmid pJDB207. The corresponding plasmids were introduced into a S. cerevisiae strain carrying a chromosomal deletion at the FCY2 locus. The resulting strains were designated pAB4 and pAB25 respectively. The pAB25 strain, which carries the fcy2-21 allele, contains four amino acid changes in the open reading frame of the PCP (Weber et al., 1989). The influence of these mutations was studied on cells by determination of the uptake constants of purine bases and cytosine [apparent Michaelis constant of transport (Ktapp) and Vmax] and on plasma-membrane preparations, by measurements of binding parameters at equilibrium [(Kd and maximum amount of binding sites/Bmax)]. For strain pAB4, the Ktapp and Vmax of uptake were almost similar for all solutes considered [1.8-2.6 microM and 8.5-10.2 nmol.min-1.(10(7) cells)-1]. The main effect of the mutations in strain pAB25 was based on a large increase in Ktapp for all ligands except adenine. Plasma membranes of each strain displayed one class of specific binding sites. Variations in Kd of 0.4-1 microM were observed for pAB4. These slight variations had no effect on the Ktapp of uptake measured for the corresponding solutes. In contrast, using pAB25 membranes, Kd increased dramatically; 2.6 microM, 40 microM and 96 microM for adenine, cytosine and hypoxanthine, respectively. These increments were correlated to variations in Ktapp of the uptake for cytosine and hypoxanthine. Therefore, we conclude that modification in the Ktapp of uptake in the strain carrying fcy2-21 allele is merely due to a modification of the binding ability of the permease for its ligands.

Biological Transport↗

Purine-cytosine permease of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Effect of external pH on nucleobase uptake and binding.

The cloned FCY2 gene (strain pAB4) of the purine-cytosine permease (PCP) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the cloned allele fcy2-21 (strain pAB25) introduced into an S. cerevisiae strain carrying a chromosomal deletion at the FCY2 locus [Weber, E., Rodriguez, C., Chevallier, M. R. & Jund, R. (1990) Mol. Microbiol. 4, 585-596] were studied. The influence of external pH (varying over 3.5-6) has been analysed on the uptake of adenine, hypoxanthine and cytosine (Ktapp, apparent Michaelis constant and Vm) and on the binding constants of these three solutes (Kdapp, apparent half-saturation constant and Bmax, total binding sites) determined on plasma membranes. For pAB4, the variations of Ktapp and Vm were the same for the three bases, i.e. an increase in Ktapp when the pH increased and a maximum Vm around pH 5. For pAB25, Ktapp values varied in the same way and were significantly higher for the three bases than those found in pAB4. There was almost no variation of Vm for adenine, and there was a continuous decrease when the pH increased in the Vm of hypoxanthine and cytosine. Equilibrium binding measurements were performed for the three bases with plasma membrane isolated from pAB4 and pAB25. One single class of binding sites was detected. For pAB4, the affinity increased when the pH decreased for the three bases. The affinity of PCP for adenine was always greater than for cytosine or hypoxanthine. For pAB25, the same phenomenon was observed. However, the curves showing the variation of Kdapp as a function of pH were shifted towards more acidic pH values. A model was used to fit the experimental binding data obtained with hypoxanthine for the calculation of the dissociation constants of its binding to PCP and to determine the ionization constants of an amino acid involved in ligand binding. For pAB4, at acid pH, the dissociation constant was 1.7 +/- 0.4 microM. An amino acid displaying a pK of 3.8 was determined; this value was shifted to pK 4.8 when hypoxanthine was bound. For pAB25, the main effects of the mutation were a large decrease in the affinity of PCP for hypoxanthine (Kd of 14.4 +/- 4.3 microM) and a shift in the pK of the amino acid towards a more acidic pH (about 2.9). The pK of this group remained similar to the value obtained with pAB4 when hypoxanthine was bound. From these data, it is proposed that the binding of hypoxanthine and H+ is a random process.

Adenine↗

Inhibition of bacterial DNA cytosine-5-methyltransferase by S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine and some related compounds.

S-Adenosyl-L-homocysteine and five related compounds have been evaluated as inhibitors of a DNA cytosine-5-methyltransferase. DNA methylation was assayed in cell extracts from E. coli strain J6-2 dcm+, proficient in DNA cytosine-5-methyltransferase activity, containing substrate DNA isolated from E. coli strain J6-2 dcm-, a strain deficient in DNA cytosine-5-methyltransferase. S-Adenosyl-L-homocysteine and its 7-deaza analogue, S-tubercidinylhomocysteine, were competitive inhibitors of DNA cytosine-5-methyltransferase with Ki's of 14.2 and 17.6 microM, respectively, in the above enzyme assay.

DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases↗

Isolation of a mutant of Escherichia coli defective in cytosine-specific deoxyribonucleic acid methylase activity and in partial protection of bacteriophage lambda against restriction by cells containing the N-3 drug-resistance factor.

A mutant (designated mec(-)) of Escherichia coli F(+) 100 endo I(-)su(+) r(K) (-)m(K) (+) has been isolated which is defective in cytosine-specific deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) methylase activity. The DNA of this mutant, as well as the DNA of phages lambda and fd propagated in it, is virtually devoid of 5-methyl-cytosine (MeC); in contrast, the mutation has no significant effect on the level of N(6)-methyladenine in DNA. Phage lambda grown on the mec(-) mutant is more strongly restricted by N-3-containing cells than is lambda grown on the mec(+) parent. These results suggest that methylation of certain cytosine residues by the E. coli K-12 enzyme partially protects lambda DNA from either the N-3 restriction nuclease or against secondary degradation subsequent to N-3-specific degradation. Analysis of the MeC level in viral and cellular DNA obtained from mec(+), mec(+) (m(N3) (+)), and mec(-) (m(N3) (+)) strains has led to the conclusion that the R-factor controlled DNA-cytosine methylase may be capable of methylating a sequence(s) which is a substrate for the K-12 enzyme.

Adenine↗

Inhibition of transcription of cytosine-containing DNA in vitro by the alc gene product of bacteriophage T4.

The alc gene product (gpalc) of bacteriophage T4 inhibits the transcription of cytosine-containing DNA in vivo. We examined its effect on transcription in vitro by comparing RNA polymerase isolated from Escherichia coli infected with either wild-type T4D+ or alc mutants. A 50 to 60% decline in RNA polymerase activity, measured on phage T7 DNA, was observed by 1 min after infection with either T4D+ or alc mutants; this did not occur when the infecting phage lacked gpalt. In the case of the T4D+ strain but not alc mutants, this was followed by a further decrease. By 5 min after infection the activity of alc mutants was 1.5 to 2.5 times greater than that of the wild type on various cytosine-containing DNA templates, whereas there was little or no difference in activity on T4 HMdC-DNA, in agreement with the in vivo specificity. Effects on transcript initiation and elongation were distinguished by using a T7 phage DNA template. Rifampin challenge, end-labeling with [gamma-32P]ATP, and selective initiation with a dinucleotide all indicate that the decreased in vitro activity of the wild-type polymerase relative to that of the alc mutants was due to inhibition of elongation, not to any difference in initiation rates. Wild-type (but not mutated) gpalc copurified with RNA polymerase on heparin agarose but not in subsequent steps. Immunoprecipitation of modified RNA polymerase also indicated that gpalc was not tightly bound to RNA polymerase intracellularly. It thus appears likely that gpalc inhibits transcript elongation on cytosine-containing DNA by interacting with actively transcribing core polymerase as a complex with the enzyme and cytosine-rich stretches of the template.

Chloramphenicol↗

Eukaryotic cytosine methyltransferases.

Large-genome eukaryotes use heritable cytosine methylation to silence promoters, especially those associated with transposons and imprinted genes. Cytosine methylation does not reinforce or replace ancestral gene regulation pathways but instead endows methylated genomes with the ability to repress specific promoters in a manner that is buffered against changes in the internal and external environment. Recent studies have shown that the targeting of de novo methylation depends on multiple inputs; these include the interaction of repeated sequences, local states of histone lysine methylation, small RNAs and components of the RNAi pathway, and divergent and catalytically inert cytosine methyltransferase homologues that have acquired regulatory roles. There are multiple families of DNA (cytosine-5) methyltransferases in eukaryotes, and each family appears to be controlled by different regulatory inputs. Sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins, which regulate most aspects of gene expression, do not appear to be involved in the establishment or maintenance of genomic methylation patterns.

Animals↗

A conditional negative selection for Arabidopsis expressing a bacterial cytosine deaminase gene.

The enzyme activity for cytosine deaminase, which converts cytosine to uracil in bacterial, is usually undetected in higher plants and animals. The enzyme also catalyzes conversion of non-toxic 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) to 5- fluorouracil (5-FU), a toxic compound for plant growth. The gene encoding cytosine deaminase (codA) from Escherichia coli was fused to cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter (P35S), and cloned into a binary vector pLABR101. The resulting plasmid pLABR102 contained two marker genes for plants: a positive marker gene, bialaphos resistance (bar) gene driven by the promoter from nopaline synthase gene (Pnos) and a negative one, P35S-codA. The binary vector pLABR102 was transformed into Arabidopsis thaliana via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. In transgenic progenies (T3) of the second (T2) generation heterozygous for a single T-DNA insertion, a 3:1 segregation ratio was observed on both bialaphos (resistance to sensitive) and 5-FC (sensitive to unaffected). From T2 plants homozygous for the T-DNA insert, on the other hand, no segregation was detected: all the T3 seedlings were resistant to bialaphos and sensitive to 5-FC. PCR and Northern analyses showed that the 5-FC sensitivity in transgenic descendants was caused by the integration and expression of the chimeric codA gene in the Arabidopsis genome. The results indicated that cytosine deaminase from E. coli is functional and useful for negative selection in Arabidopsis, and that sensitivity to 5-FC as well as the positive bialaphos resistance are dominant traits in Arabidopsis.

Acetyltransferases↗

Paternal alcohol exposure affects sperm cytosine methyltransferase messenger RNA levels.

BACKGROUND: Although paternal alcohol exposure has been shown to affect the growth and behavior of offspring, the mechanisms underlying these effects still remain to be elucidated. This study examines one possible mechanism, namely, altered genomic imprinting as reflected by changes in sperm cytosine methyltransferase messenger RNA (mRNA) levels. METHODS: Male rats were treated with alcohol for 9 weeks before breeding. Resulting fetuses were counted and weighed, and paternal sperm was examined for changes in cytosine methyltransferase mRNA levels. RESULTS: Alcohol did not affect mating, fecundity, or litter size, but it did result in significantly decreased mean fetal weight, increased fetal runt incidence in offspring, and decreased cytosine methyltransferase mRNA levels in paternal sperm, compared with pair-fed and ad libitum controls. CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol-induced reductions in cytosine methyltransferase mRNA levels may reflect altered genomic imprinting caused by reduced DNA methylation, which, in turn, may lead to the expression of normally silent paternal alleles and may be a mechanism for paternal alcohol effects.

Alcohol Drinking↗

Mismatch dependent uracil/thymine-DNA glycosylases excise exocyclic hydroxyethano and hydroxypropano cytosine adducts.

Exocyclic adducts of DNA bases, such as etheno- and hydroxyalkano- ones, are generated by a variety of bifunctional agents, including endogenously formed products of lipid peroxidation. In this work we selectively modified cytosines in the 5'-d(TTT TTT CTT TTT CTT TTT CTT TTT T)-3' oligonucleotide using: chloroacetaldehyde to obtain 3,N(4)-alpha-hydroxyethano- (HEC) and 3,N(4)-etheno- (epsilonC), acrolein to obtain 3,N(4)-alpha-hydroxypropano- (HPC) and crotonaldehyde to obtain 3,N(4)-alpha-hydroxy-gamma-methylpropano- (mHPC) adducts of cytosine. The studied adducts are alkali-labile which results in oligonucleotide strain breaks at the sites of modification upon strong base treatment. The oligonucleotides carrying adducted cytosines were studied as substrates of Escherichia coli Mug, human TDG and fission yeast Thp1p glycosylases. All the adducts studied are excised by bacterial Mug although with various efficiency: epsilonC >HEC >HPC >mHPC. The yeast enzyme excises efficiently epsilonC>HEC>HPC, whereas the human enzyme excises only epsilonC. The pH-dependence curves of excision of eC, HEC and HPC by Mug are bell shaped and the most efficient excision of adducts occurs within the pH range of 8.6-9.6. The observed increase of excision of HEC and HPC above pH 7.2 can be explained by deprotonation of these adducts, which are high pK(a) compounds and exist in a protonated form at neutrality. On the other hand, since epsilonC is in a neutral form in the pH range studied, we postulate an involvement of an additional catalytic factor. We hypothesize that the enzyme structure undergoes a pH-induced rearrangement allowing the participation of Lys68 of Mug in catalysis via a hydrogen bond interaction of its epsilon-amino group with N(4) of the cytosine exocyclic adducts.

Base Pair Mismatch↗

Cytosine and orotic acid in urine of immunodeficient children.

We describe procedures for determining cytosine and orotic acid in urine. We determine cytosine by cation-exchange analysis with either HCl or pH 5.2 buffer as eluent. Orotic acid is first separated by an anion-exchange separative procedure; after lyophilization, the product is subjected to "high-pressure" liquid chromatography for further separation and detection. We analyzed urine from normal subjects and from immunodeficient children. Three children with severe combined immunodeficiency had increased levels of cytosine in urine (23-160 mmol/mol creatinine); one child with severe combined immunodeficiency and two children with other immunodeficiencies had normal urinary levels (less than 2 mmol/mol creatinine). Orotic acid excretion in urine was normal (1-5 mmol/mol creatinine) in all of th immunodeficient children. We discuss the possible significance of the increased cytosine excretion in the three children with severe combined immunodeficiency.

Child↗

[Lethal and mutagenic action of incorporated 5-3H-cytosine on extracellular phage lambda].

A study was made of the lethal and mutagenic effects on extracellular phage gamma of 5-3H-cytosine incorporated into DNA. The efficiencies of inactivation by incorporated 3H were equal for 5-3H-cytosine and [3H-methyl]-thymidine, but the yield of c-mutations for the former was 14 times higher. The lethal and mutagenic effects of incorporated 5-3H-cytosine did not depend on ung mutation of host cells which caused a deficiency in uracil-DNA-glycosylase. The mutagenic effect was not enhanced when SOS-repair system was induced by UV-radiation. The mutagenic effect of 5-3H-cytosine was associated with the modified mispairing bases but not with uracil residues.

Bacteriophage lambda↗

On tautomerism of the cytosine molecule.

Tautomerism of the cytosine molecule is discussed in connection with recent experimental matrix-isolation infrared spectroscopic measurements and recent ab initio calculations of relative stabilities of tautomers and of IR spectra for different tautomeric forms of the compound. Experimental IR spectra in the N-H and O-H stretching regions and in the C = O stretching region are presented for cytosine and for its several derivatives considered as model compounds. This experimental evidence, as well as the quantum-mechanical calculations (including both electron correlation and zero-point vibrational contributions), clearly indicate that two tautomers of cytosine, i.e. the amino-hydroxy and amino-oxo forms with the hydrogen atom at the N(1) position, exist in equilibrium when the cytosine molecule is isolated in an inert environment. The effect of the environment on the relative stabilities of several tautomers is also discussed briefly.

Cytosine↗

Deoxycytidine kinase and cytosine nucleoside deaminase activities in synchronized cultures of normal rat kidney cells.

Previous work has suggested that 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine 5'-triphosphate is the active metabolite of 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine. The amount of 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine 5'-triphosphate formed in tissues has been shown to be influenced by the relative levels of deoxycytidine kinase and cytosine deaminase. In this study we have measured the intracellular levels of deoxycytidine kinase and cytosine deaminase activities in synchronized cultures of normal rat kidney cells. The deoxycytidine kinase activity was found to be cell cycle related with a minor peak of activity in early G1 phase and a major peak of activity in middle and late S phase. The cytosine deaminase activity was also found to be cycle dependent with a peak of activity at G1 phase and another at S phase of the cell cycle. Similar results were obtained when cytosine deaminase activities were measured with cytidine, deoxycytidine, or 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine as substrate. Present studies also confirmed earlier studies by other workers that the main effect of 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine is in the late S phase of the cell cycle.

Cell Cycle↗

[Possibilities of forming a hydrogen-bonded cytosine-adenine pair in the structure of transfer ribonucleic acid and at the wobble-position of the codon-anticodon complex].

220 nucleotide sequences of tRNAs were investigated to elucidate the frequency of appearance of C-A pairs in their main two-stranded regions, in the positions 26--44 and 15--48. It was supposed, that in the formation of C-A pairs on antiparallel polynucleotide chains the atomic groups--N4-H and -N3 of cytosine make up H-bonds with the groups N7- and H-N6--of adenine. On parallel chains, H-bonds, probably, form -N6-H and --N1 groups of adenine with N3- and H-N4--of cytosine. The calculation results predicted a significant energy of ineraction between cytosine and adenine. By the investigation of the molecular models it was shown that the formation of H-bonded C-A pairs requires considerable changes of conformation in rebosephosphate chains. In addition a theoretical analysis revealed the possibility of formation of C-A pairs at the wobble-position of codon-anticodon complex. The significance of this nucleotide pair in the processes of genetic coding proved to depend on the stability of the codon-anticodon complex, modification of cytosine 34 and structural features of the distant regions of the tRNA.

Adenine↗

DNA cytosine C5 methyltransferase Dnmt1: catalysis-dependent release of allosteric inhibition.

We followed the cytosine C(5) exchange reaction with Dnmt1 to characterize its preference for different DNA substrates, its allosteric regulation, and to provide a basis for comparison with the bacterial enzymes. We determined that the methyl transfer is rate-limiting, and steps up to and including the cysteine-cytosine covalent intermediate are in rapid equilibrium. Changes in these rapid equilibrium steps account for many of the previously described features of Dnmt1 catalysis and specificity including faster reactions with premethylated DNA versus unmethylated DNA, faster reactions with DNA in which guanine is replaced with inosine [poly(dC-dG) vs poly(dI-dC)], and 10-100-fold slower catalytic rates with Dnmt1 relative to the bacterial enzyme M.HhaI. Dnmt1 interactions with the guanine within the CpG recognition site can prevent the premature release of the target base and solvent access to the active site that could lead to mutagenic deamination. Our results suggest that the beta-elimination step following methyl transfer is not mediated by free solvent. Dnmt1 shows a kinetic lag in product formation and allosteric inhibition with unmethylated DNA that is not observed with premethylated DNA. Thus, we suggest the enzyme undergoes a slow relief from allosteric inhibition upon initiation of catalysis on unmethylated DNA. Notably, this relief from allosteric inhibition is not caused by self-activation through the initial methylation reaction, as the same effect is observed during the cytosine C(5) exchange reaction in the absence of AdoMet. We describe limitations in the Michaelis-Menten kinetic analysis of Dnmt1 and suggest alternative approaches.

Allosteric Regulation↗

Reduced genomic cytosine methylation and defective cellular differentiation in embryonic stem cells lacking CpG binding protein.

Cytosine methylation at CpG dinucleotides is a critical epigenetic modification of mammalian genomes. CpG binding protein (CGBP) exhibits a unique DNA-binding specificity for unmethylated CpG motifs and is essential for early murine development. Embryonic stem cell lines deficient for CGBP were generated to further examine CGBP function. CGBP(-)(/)(-) cells are viable but show an increased rate of apoptosis and are unable to achieve in vitro differentiation following removal of leukemia inhibitory factor from the growth media. Instead, CGBP(-)(/)(-) embryonic stem cells remain undifferentiated as revealed by persistent expression of the pluripotent markers Oct4 and alkaline phosphatase. CGBP(-)(/)(-) cells exhibit a 60 to 80% decrease in global cytosine methylation, including hypo-methylation of repetitive elements, single-copy genes, and imprinted genes. Total DNA methyltransferase activity is reduced by 30 to 60% in CGBP(-)(/)(-) cells, and expression of the maintenance DNA methyltransferase 1 protein is similarly reduced. However, de novo DNA methyltransferase activity is normal. Nearly all aspects of the pleiotropic CGBP(-)(/)(-) phenotype are rescued by introduction of a CGBP expression vector. Hence, CGBP is essential for normal epigenetic modification of the genome by cytosine methylation and for cellular differentiation, consistent with the requirement for CGBP during early mammalian development.

Animals↗

High-dose cytosine arabinoside and daunorubicin as primary therapy in elderly patients with acute myelogenous leukemia. A phase I-II study of the Southeastern Cancer Study Group.

We undertook a phase I-II trial in elderly (age greater than or equal to 60 years) untreated acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) patients using brief, intensive therapy to improve induction rates and overall survival in older AML patients. Twenty-one patients ranging in age from 60 to 81 years (median, 66 years) were treated using either a 4- or 5-day course of high-dose cytosine arabinoside, 3 g/m2 intravenously (IV) every 12 hours; followed by daunorubicin, 45 mg/m2/d IV bolus for 3 consecutive days. Thirteen patients were entered at the first dose level (a 4-day course or eight doses of cytosine arabinoside), whereas eight patients underwent therapy at the second dose level (a 5-day course or ten doses). Patients who achieved a complete remission received a repeat course of high-dose cytosine arabinoside and daunorubicin within 4 weeks of attaining remission. Seven patients had an antecedant history of a myelodysplastic syndrome. Infection was the major complication experienced by this elderly patient group, and included ten episodes of bacteremia or fungemia (four of which were fatal) and five cases of pneumonia (one fatality). Nine of the 21 patients (three of 13 at the first dose level and six of eight at the second dose level) achieved a complete remission. Median remission duration was 9 months (range, 4-19+ months). Although high-dose cytosine arabinoside plus daunorubicin was an effective antileukemic therapy, it is too toxic to recommend for most elderly leukemic patients.

Aged↗