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Isolation and functional characterization of DNA-derived aptamers that act as thrombin inhibitors in human platelets and coagulation assays.

Aptamer sequences were isolated from defibrotide, a single-stranded, commercial DNA preparation and studied for thrombin inhibitory activity. Three different aptamers were identified, sequenced and their biological activity was determined in platelet aggregation and coagulation assays. All aptamers were potent inhibitors of thrombin-induced platelet aggregation and thromboxane formation and prolonged the thrombin time in human plasma. There was no effect of any of these compounds when a thromboxane mimetic (U 46.1619), collagen or thrombin activating peptide (TRAP-6) were used as agonists, excluding a nonspecific binding of the compounds to the thrombin receptor. The data suggest that thrombin-inhibitory aptamers are present in the mammalian genome and may constitute an endogenous antithrombin system.

Base Sequence↗

Defibrotide's activity on leukocytes and platelets in rabbits with diet-induced atherosclerosis.

Oral Defibrotide decreased leukocyte and platelet counts, raised by cholesterol diet, and the area (%) of aorta endothelial surface involved in atherosclerosis. Frequency of intimal thickening in blood vessels of kidneys and hearts and in cardiac valves was reduced by oral Defibrotide by 47%, 29% and 17%. It is suggested that oral Defibrotide reduced the involvement of the aorta in the atherosclerotic process by acting on leukocytes and platelets, to both reduce their number and deactivate them.

Administration, Oral↗

Coronary endothelium-protective effects of defibrotide in ischaemia and reperfusion.

Defibrotide is known to enhance prostacyclin (PGI2) release from the vascular endothelium. We investigated the vasoactive effects of defibrotide in isolated rat hearts perfused at constant flow subjected to ischaemia and reperfusion. Defibrotide at 10 or 100 micrograms/ml did not exert any direct vasoactive effect on normal rats hearts. However, ischaemia and reperfusion resulted in an impaired vasodilation to acetylcholine, an endothelium-dependent vasodilator. In contrast, the vasodilator response to the endothelium-independent dilator, nitroglycerin, was unaffected. Defibrotide, at 10 or 100 micrograms/ml, markedly restored the vasodilation to acetylcholine 10 nmol/l to 1 mumol/l (P less than 0.01) without influencing the vasodilator response to nitroglycerin (2 to 200 micrograms/l). Haemoglobin (150 nmol/l) inhibited the dilation to acetylcholine in response to defibrotide. However, no evidence of PGI2 release was observed with acetylcholine-induced vasodilation in the presence or absence of defibrotide. Additionally, 10-100 micrograms/ml of defibrotide did not significantly decrease superoxide radicals generated by a xanthine-xanthine oxidase synthetic system under conditions in which superoxide dismutase was effective. Thus, defibrotide appears to exert an endothelium-protective effect preserving endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) without directly scavenging free signals.

15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5↗

Novel mechanism of action of a prostacyclin enhancing agent in haemorrhagic shock.

Prostacyclin (PGI2) is a potent vasodilator, an inhibitor of platelet aggregation, and a membrane stabilizing agent with beneficial effects in ischemia and shock. We studied defibrotide, a new agent which enhances PGI2 release from vascular tissue, to determine its effects in a murine model of hemorrhagic shock. Hemorrhaged rats treated with defibrotide maintained post-reinfusion mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) at significantly higher values compared to rats receiving the vehicle (final MABP, 100 +/- 3 vs. 69 +/- 7 mm Hg, p less than 0.01). Defibrotide attenuated the release of the lysosomal hydrolase cathepsin D (p less than 0.02), and the plasma accumulation of free amino-nitrogen groups (p less than 0.02). The plasma activity of a myocardial depressant factor (MDF) was significantly lower in defibrotide treated shocked rats than in the vehicle group (29 +/- 4 vs. 61 +/- 8 U/ml, p less than 0.01). Moreover, plasma i6-keto-PGF1 alpha concentrations increased 3-fold above haemorrhaged rats receiving only the vehicle. This, as well as the improved MABP, was abolished by indomethacin. Additionally, defibrotide exerts an anti-proteolytic action in pancreatic homogenates, and a lysosomal stabilizing effect in large granule fractions of rat liver homogenates. Moreover, defibrotide enhanced the recovery from norepinephrine induced vasoconstriction in rat aortic rings having an intact endothelium (p less than 0.01 from vehicle), and augmented the release of i6-keto-PGF1 alpha, the stable metabolite of PGI2, from isolated rat aortae. Our results indicate that enhancement of endogenous vascular PGI2 release coupled with direct, or PGI2 mediated antiproteolytic and membrane stabilizing actions may be important physiological mechanisms counteracting the deleterious effects of hemorrhagic shock.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

Determination of sugar conformations by NMR in larger DNA duplexes using both dipolar and scalar data: application to d(CATGTGACGTCACATG)2.

Different methods for determining sugar conformations in large oligonucleotides have been evaluated using both J-coupling and NOE data. In order to stimulate COSY spectra, reliable estimates of line widths are required. We have measured T1p ( = T2) values for a large number of protons of the hexadecamer d(CATGTGACGTCACATG)2 using a new two-dimensional NMR experiment (T1RHOSY) to provide baseline information for the simulations. Both DQF-COSY and P.E.COSY cross-peaks have been systematically simulated as a function of line width, digitisation and signal-to-noise ratio. We find that for longer correlation times (tau > or = 5 ns), where line widths are comparable to or larger than active couplings, only sigma 1' (3J1'2'+3J1'2") is reasonably accurately determined (within +/- 1 Hz). Under these conditions, additional information is needed to determine the sugar conformation. We have used apparent distances H1'-H4' and H2"-H4', which provide a range of Ps over an interval of ca. 20 degrees. Complete analysis of time courses for intraresidue NOEs, with and without coupling constants, has also been evaluated for determining nucleotide conformations. Whereas Ps is poorly determined in the absence of both intrasugar NOEs and coupling constants, the range of solutions is decreased when intrasugar NOEs and sigma1' are also available. DQF-COSY, P.E.COSY and NOESY spectra at different mixing times of the hexadecamer d(CATGTGACGTCACATG)2 were recorded at three temperatures. A detailed analysis of the NOEs and coupling constants provided estimates of the sugar conformations in the hexadecamer. At 50 degrees C, the sugar conformations are well determined by the scalar and dipolar data, with pseudorotation phase angles of 126-162 degrees and mole fractions of the S conformation (fs) of 0.86 +/- 0.05. There was no statistically significant difference between fs for the purines and the pyrimidines, although there was a small tendency for Ps of the purines to be larger than those of the pyrimidines. At 25 degrees C, the sugar conformations were much less well determined, although the estimates of fs were the same within experimental error as at 50 degrees C. The experimental and theoretical results provide guidelines for the limits of conformational analysis of nucleic acids based on homonuclear NMR methods.

Base Sequence↗

Melting profile and temperature dependent binding constant of an anticancer drug daunomycin-DNA complex.

We calculate thermal fluctuational base pair opening probability and the drug binding constant of a daunomycin-bound Poly d(CGTA).Poly d(TACG) at temperatures from room temperature to its melting temperature. For comparison we also carry out a calculation on a drug-free DNA with the same sequence. Our calculations are carried out by means of a statistical approach using microscopic structures and established force fields and with cooperative effects incorporated into the algorithm. Both hydrogen bond disruption probabilities and drug unstacking probability are determined self-consistently. These probabilities are then used to determine temperature dependent base pair opening probabilities and the drug binding constant. The calculated base pair opening probabilities and drug binding constant are found to be in fair agreement with experiments carried out at room temperature. Our calculation shows cooperative base pair disruption and drug dissociation at certain critical temperatures close to the observed melting temperatures for similar helices. We find that the temperature dependence of the drug binding constant fits well to the van't Hoff relation, in agreement with observations. Our calculation indicates the occurrence of a premelting transition in the drug-bound DNA helix. Some comments are made about this premelting transition.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗

Transcriptional effect of aflatoxin B1 on cytosine and/or hypoxanthine containing DNAs.

The effect of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) on the template function for RNA synthesis of several single and double-stranded synthetic DNAs containing cytosine (C) and/or hypoxanthine (H) bases is studied in vitro. The results indicate that AFB1, after liver microsome activation, strongly inhibits the template function of poly[d(I-C)] and has little, if any, effect on polydI.polydC, polydI, or polydC. This conclusion is reached whether rat liver nuclear free RNA polymerase or E. coli RNA polymerase is used for the transcription. The mechanism of this inhibition is believed mainly due to the inhibition of elongation of RNA synthesis, because autoradiography of the [alpha-32 P]GTP labeled RNAs after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis clearly shows that the size of the RNA from AFB1 treated group is dramatically reduced. The evidence that the selective inhibition of poly[d(I-C)] template function is a direct reflection of the binding of AFB1 to poly[d(I-C)] is provided by the use of radioactive [3H]AFB1 for the binding and by spectrum analysis of the appearance of a broad AFB1-DNA adduct peak between 300 nm and 400 nm right after the typical DNA peak at 260 nm. These data, which are in direct support to our recent report (F.L. Yu, et al., Carcinogenesis, 11, 475-478, 1990), suggest that the binding of AFB1 prefers alternating, double-stranded DNA, and the binding affinity of AFB1 to DNA is greatly reduced when the bases are in either single- or double-stranded homopolymer forms.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aflatoxin B1↗

Normal coordinate analysis of 2'-deoxythymidine and 2'-deoxyadenosine.

The proposed valence force field allows us to reproduce the vibration modes of 2'-deoxythymidine and 2'-deoxyadenosine. The present calculations are based on the Wilson GF-method and a non-redundant set of symmetrical coordinates. The calculated wavenumbers have been compared to the available Raman and infrared peak positions observed in solid, amorphous or aqueous samples. Moreover, the results obtained with the present force field allow us to assign some of the characteristic vibration modes for the thymidine and adenosine residues involved in DNA double-helical chains.

Deoxyadenosines↗

Molecular mechanics calculations of dA12.dT12 and of the curved molecule d(GCTCGAAAAA)4.d(TTTTTCGAGC)4.

Using the AMBER software package (Weiner and Kollman 1981) substantially modified for electrostatic contributions, the structural energies of the double-stranded oligonucleotides dA12.dT12 and d(GCTCGAAAAA)4.d(TTTTTCGAGC)4 were minimized. Using various starting structures for the molecule dA12.dT12, one final structure is obtained which possesses the experimentally determined properties of poly(dA).poly(dT). This structure is an A-form-B-form-hybrid structure similar to that of Arnott et al. (1983). The dA-strand is similar to an A-form while the dT-strand is similar to normal B-form. This structure and separately optimized B-form sequence stretches were used to construct the double-stranded fragment d(GCTCGAAAAA)4 which again was optimized. This sequence, when imbedded in a DNA fragment as contiguous repeats, shows a gel migration anomaly which has been interpreted as stable curvature of the DNA (Diekmann 1986). The calculated structure of this sequence indeed has a curved helix axis and is discussed as a model for curved DNA. A theoretical formalism is presented which allows one to calculate the structural parameters of any nucleic acid double helix in two different geometrical representations. This formalism is used to determine the parameters of the base-pair orientations of the curved structure in terms of wedge as well as cylindrical parameters. In the structural model presented here, the curvature of the helix axis results from an alternation of two different DNA structures in which the base-pairs possess different angles with the helix axis ('cylinder tilt'). Resulting from geometric restraints, a negative cylinder tilt angle correlates strongly with the closing of the minor groove ('wedge roll'). The blocks with different structure are not exactly coincident with the dA5-blocks and the B-DNA stretches. Within the dA5 block, base-pair tilt and wedge roll adopt large values which proceed into the 3' flanking B-DNA sequence by about one base-pair. These properties of the structure calculated here are discussed in terms of different models explaining DNA curvature.

DNA↗

The fluorescence properties of a DNA probe. 4'-6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI).

Steady-state and dynamic fluorescence measurements have been performed on DAPI in solution and in complexes formed with a number of synthetic and natural polydeoxynucleotides. The decay of DAPI in buffer at pH 7 was decomposed using two exponentials having lifetime values of approximately 2.8 ns and 0.2 ns. The double exponential character of the decay was maintained over a large pH range from 3 to 9. At pH 1 the short component dominated, whereas at pH 12, only the long component was detectable. Two distinct spectra were associated with the two lifetime components; the short component was shifted to the red. The short lifetime component occurs in the presence of water. In water the excitation spectra depended on the emission wavelength and there was no viscosity dependence of the two forms. To explain these results we propose that there is a ground state conformer in which preferential solvation of the indole ring allows proton transfer in the excited state. DAPI complexed with polydeoxynucleotides retained most of the features of the decay of DAPI in solution. However, the complexes with fully AT-containing polymers stabilized the longer lifetime form of DAPI because the stronger binding enhanced solvent shielding. A gradual increase of the short lifetime component, which monitors dye solvent exposure, was obtained as the AT content was decreased. For polyd(GC) the decay was similar to that of free DAPI.

DNA↗

DNA-induced distamycin A fluorescence.

The fluorescent properties of the antibiotic distamycin A were investigated in a range of materials including Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes, chicken erythrocytes, calf thymus DNA and synthetic polynucleotides using both microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. A bright blue-white fluorescence was observed from kinetoplast DNA and chromatin after treatment with distamycin A under ultraviolet (365 nm) excitation. Considerable enhancement of distamycin A fluorescence (emission peak at 455 nm under 320-340 nm excitation) was found in the presence of DNA and poly(dA-dT).poly(dA-dT). We discuss a possible explanation for this unexpected fluorescent emission, as well as its implications for microscopic and fluorimetric studies.

Animals↗

Influence of 4'-6'-diamidino-2-phenylindole on the secondary structure and template activities of DNA and polydeoxynucleotides.

The interaction between 4'-6-Diamidino-2-Phenylindole-hydrochloride (DAPI) and a variety of DNAs and synthetic polydeoxynucleotides was investigated in order to delineate the nucleic acid structural features necessary for binding. The spectra of DAPI-DNA complexes, measured at various DAPI:DNA molar ratios (r), are hypochromic relative to DNA in the region of its maximum absorption. All the curves pass through an isosbestic point at 268 nm. A new maxima appears in the region of 380-392 nm for DAPI-DNA COMplexes. The magnitude of the peaks in the region are directly proportional to the amount of drug present in the complex. Studies with various DNA types and synthetic polydeoxynucleotides indicate that the drug preferentially binds to dAT-rich regions of DNA. This was also confirmed by enzymatic studies. The inhibition of template action by DAPI in a purified DNA-polymerase reaction was dependent on the dAT-content of the template. The implication of these data to explain a selective binding of DAPI to mitochondrial DNA have been discussed.

Amidines↗

Poly[d(C-A)].poly[d(G-T)] is highly transcribed in the testes of Drosophila hydei.

Microdissection of the lampbrush loops "threads" and "pseudonucleolus" of Y chromosomes from primary spermatocytes of Drosophila hydei and subsequent microcloning of the DNA yielded several recombinant DNA clones which cross-hybridized in screening the different clone banks. By DNA sequencing we found that the inserts of these cross-hybridizing clones contain blocks of poly[d(C-A].poly[d(G-T)]. Testis RNA contains a large fraction of transcripts with this simple repeated nucleotide sequence. With the aid of transcript in situ hybridization we discovered that the "cones" and "pseudonucleolus" lampbrush loops are the primary sites of transcription of poly[d(C-A)].poly[d(G-T)] in spermatocytes. In addition, we found a strand-specific transcription of (CA/GT)n. In both the "cones" and "pseudonucleolus" the (CA)n strand is transcribed, while in the "pseudonucleolus" (GT)n is also transcribed. Labelled (CA)n probes also react with the protein bodies in spermatid nuclei. These observations are discussed in the context of possible functions of (CA/GT)n transcripts in spermatogenesis.

Animals↗

Chromosome localization and orientation of the simple sequence repeat of human satellite I DNA.

The predominant chromosomal locations of human satellite I DNA were detected using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). Synthetic deoxyoligonucleotides designed from consensus sequences of the simple sequence repeats of satellite 1 were used as probes. The most abundant satellite I repeat, the -A-B-A-B-A- form, is located at the pericentromeric regions of chromosomes 3, 4, 13, 14, 15, 21, and 22. The less abundant -B-B-B-form was not detected on chromosome 4, but was present at all the other locations. A variation of FISH that allows strand-specific hybridization of single-stranded probes (CO-FISH) determined that the human satellite I sequences are predominantly arranged in head-to-tail fashion along the DNA strand.

Base Sequence↗