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Wang H, Yang S, Chen L, Li Y, He P, Wang G, Dong H, Ma P, Ding G. Tumor diagnosis using carbon-based quantum dots: Detection based on the hallmarks of cancer. Bioact Mater 2024; 33:174-222. [PMID: 38034499 PMCID: PMC10684566 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2023.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Carbon-based quantum dots (CQDs) have been shown to have promising application value in tumor diagnosis. Their use, however, is severely hindered by the complicated nature of the nanostructures in the CQDs. Furthermore, it seems impossible to formulate the mechanisms involved using the inadequate theoretical frameworks that are currently available for CQDs. In this review, we re-consider the structure-property relationships of CQDs and summarize the current state of development of CQDs-based tumor diagnosis based on biological theories that are fully developed. The advantages and deficiencies of recent research on CQDs-based tumor diagnosis are thus explained in terms of the manifestation of nine essential changes in cell physiology. This review makes significant progress in addressing related problems encountered with other nanomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Materials for Integrated Circuit, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200050, PR China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Superconducting Electronics (CENSE), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200050, PR China
- Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing, 100049, PR China
| | - Siwei Yang
- National Key Laboratory of Materials for Integrated Circuit, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200050, PR China
- Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing, 100049, PR China
| | - Liangfeng Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Materials for Integrated Circuit, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200050, PR China
- Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing, 100049, PR China
| | - Yongqiang Li
- National Key Laboratory of Materials for Integrated Circuit, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200050, PR China
- Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing, 100049, PR China
| | - Peng He
- National Key Laboratory of Materials for Integrated Circuit, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200050, PR China
- Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing, 100049, PR China
| | - Gang Wang
- Department of Microelectronic Science and Engineering, School of Physical Science and Technology, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, PR China
| | - Hui Dong
- National Key Laboratory of Materials for Integrated Circuit, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200050, PR China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Superconducting Electronics (CENSE), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200050, PR China
- Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing, 100049, PR China
| | - Peixiang Ma
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Orthopedic Implants, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200011, PR China
| | - Guqiao Ding
- National Key Laboratory of Materials for Integrated Circuit, Shanghai Institute of Microsystem and Information Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200050, PR China
- Center of Materials Science and Optoelectronics Engineering, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing, 100049, PR China
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2
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De Magis A, Limmer M, Mudiyam V, Monchaud D, Juranek S, Paeschke K. UV-induced G4 DNA structures recruit ZRF1 which prevents UV-induced senescence. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6705. [PMID: 37872164 PMCID: PMC10593929 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42494-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Senescence has two roles in oncology: it is known as a potent tumor-suppressive mechanism, which also supports tissue regeneration and repair, it is also known to contribute to reduced patient resilience, which might lead to cancer recurrence and resistance after therapy. Senescence can be activated in a DNA damage-dependent and -independent manner. It is not clear which type of genomic lesions induces senescence, but it is known that UV irradiation can activate cellular senescence in photoaged skin. Proteins that support the repair of DNA damage are linked to senescence but how they contribute to senescence after UV irradiation is still unknown. Here, we unraveled a mechanism showing that upon UV irradiation multiple G-quadruplex (G4) DNA structures accumulate in cell nuclei, which leads to the recruitment of ZRF1 to these G4 sites. ZRF1 binding to G4s ensures genome stability. The absence of ZRF1 triggers an accumulation of G4 structures, improper UV lesion repair, and entry into senescence. On the molecular level loss of ZRF1 as well as high G4 levels lead to the upregulation of DDB2, a protein associated with the UV-damage repair pathway, which drives cells into senescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio De Magis
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Department of Oncology, Hematology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Michaela Limmer
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Department of Oncology, Hematology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Venkat Mudiyam
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - David Monchaud
- Institut de Chimie Moléculaire de l'Université de Bourgogne (ICMUB), CNRS UMR 6302, Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, France
| | - Stefan Juranek
- Department of Oncology, Hematology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Katrin Paeschke
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
- Department of Oncology, Hematology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
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3
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Sato K, Knipscheer P. G-quadruplex resolution: From molecular mechanisms to physiological relevance. DNA Repair (Amst) 2023; 130:103552. [PMID: 37572578 DOI: 10.1016/j.dnarep.2023.103552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 07/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
Guanine-rich DNA sequences can fold into stable four-stranded structures called G-quadruplexes or G4s. Research in the past decade demonstrated that G4 structures are widespread in the genome and prevalent in regulatory regions of actively transcribed genes. The formation of G4s has been tightly linked to important biological processes including regulation of gene expression and genome maintenance. However, they can also pose a serious threat to genome integrity especially by impeding DNA replication, and G4-associated somatic mutations have been found accumulated in the cancer genomes. Specialised DNA helicases and single stranded DNA binding proteins that can resolve G4 structures play a crucial role in preventing genome instability. The large variety of G4 unfolding proteins suggest the presence of multiple G4 resolution mechanisms in cells. Recently, there has been considerable progress in our detailed understanding of how G4s are resolved, especially during DNA replication. In this review, we first discuss the current knowledge of the genomic G4 landscapes and the impact of G4 structures on DNA replication and genome integrity. We then describe the recent progress on the mechanisms that resolve G4 structures and their physiological relevance. Finally, we discuss therapeutic opportunities to target G4 structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koichi Sato
- Oncode Institute, Hubrecht Institute-KNAW & University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Puck Knipscheer
- Oncode Institute, Hubrecht Institute-KNAW & University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.
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4
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Wang J, Huang H, Zhao K, Teng Y, Zhao L, Xu Z, Zheng Y, Zhang L, Li C, Duan Y, Liang K, Zhou X, Cheng X, Xia Y. G-quadruplex in hepatitis B virus pregenomic RNA promotes its translation. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105151. [PMID: 37567479 PMCID: PMC10485161 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a hepatotropic DNA virus that has a very compact genome. Due to this genomic density, several distinct mechanisms are used to facilitate the viral life cycle. Recently, accumulating evidence show that G-quadruplex (G4) in different viruses play essential regulatory roles in key steps of the viral life cycle. Although G4 structures in the HBV genome have been reported, their function in HBV replication remains elusive. In this study, we treated an HBV replication-competent cell line and HBV-infected cells with the G4 structure stabilizer pyridostatin (PDS) and evaluated different HBV replication markers to better understand the role played by the G4. In both models, we found PDS had no effect on viral precore RNA (pcRNA) or pre-genomic RNA (pgRNA), but treatment did increase HBeAg/HBc ELISA reads and intracellular levels of viral core/capsid protein (HBc) in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting post-transcriptional regulation. To further dissect the mechanism of G4 involvement, we used in vitro-synthesized HBV pcRNA and pgRNA. Interestingly, we found PDS treatment only enhanced HBc expression from pgRNA but not HBeAg expression from pcRNA. Our bioinformatic analysis and CD spectroscopy revealed that pgRNA harbors a conserved G4 structure. Finally, we introduced point mutations in pgRNA to disrupt its G4 structure and observed the resulting mutant failed to respond to PDS treatment and decreased HBc level in in vitro translation assay. Taken together, our data demonstrate that HBV pgRNA contains a G4 structure that plays a vital role in the regulation of viral mRNA translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, Institute of Medical Virology, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, TaiKang Medical School, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Haiyan Huang
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers-Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Kaitao Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, Institute of Medical Virology, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, TaiKang Medical School, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yan Teng
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, Institute of Medical Virology, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, TaiKang Medical School, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Li Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, Institute of Medical Virology, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, TaiKang Medical School, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Zaichao Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, Institute of Medical Virology, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, TaiKang Medical School, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yingcheng Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, Institute of Medical Virology, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, TaiKang Medical School, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Lu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, Institute of Medical Virology, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, TaiKang Medical School, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Conghui Li
- Department of Pathophysiology, TaiKang Medical School, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yurong Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, Institute of Medical Virology, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, TaiKang Medical School, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Kaiwei Liang
- Department of Pathophysiology, TaiKang Medical School, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiang Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Polymers-Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
| | - Xiaoming Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, Institute of Medical Virology, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, TaiKang Medical School, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Department of Pathology, Hubei Clinical Center and Key Laboratory of Intestinal and Colorectal Diseases, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Hubei Jiangxia Laboratory, Wuhan, China.
| | - Yuchen Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Virology and Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, Institute of Medical Virology, TaiKang Center for Life and Medical Sciences, TaiKang Medical School, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Hubei Jiangxia Laboratory, Wuhan, China.
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5
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Vijay Kumar MJ, Morales R, Tsvetkov AS. G-quadruplexes and associated proteins in aging and Alzheimer's disease. FRONTIERS IN AGING 2023; 4:1164057. [PMID: 37323535 PMCID: PMC10267416 DOI: 10.3389/fragi.2023.1164057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Aging is a prominent risk factor for many neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Alzheimer's disease is characterized by progressive cognitive decline, memory loss, and neuropsychiatric and behavioral symptoms, accounting for most of the reported dementia cases. This disease is now becoming a major challenge and burden on modern society, especially with the aging population. Over the last few decades, a significant understanding of the pathophysiology of AD has been gained by studying amyloid deposition, hyperphosphorylated tau, synaptic dysfunction, oxidative stress, calcium dysregulation, and neuroinflammation. This review focuses on the role of non-canonical secondary structures of DNA/RNA G-quadruplexes (G4s, G4-DNA, and G4-RNA), G4-binding proteins (G4BPs), and helicases, and their roles in aging and AD. Being critically important for cellular function, G4s are involved in the regulation of DNA and RNA processes, such as replication, transcription, translation, RNA localization, and degradation. Recent studies have also highlighted G4-DNA's roles in inducing DNA double-strand breaks that cause genomic instability and G4-RNA's participation in regulating stress granule formation. This review emphasizes the significance of G4s in aging processes and how their homeostatic imbalance may contribute to the pathophysiology of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. J. Vijay Kumar
- The Department of Neurology, The University of Texas McGovern Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Rodrigo Morales
- The Department of Neurology, The University of Texas McGovern Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
- Centro Integrativo de Biologia y Quimica Aplicada (CIBQA), Universidad Bernardo O’Higgins, Santiago, Chile
| | - Andrey S. Tsvetkov
- The Department of Neurology, The University of Texas McGovern Medical School at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
- The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, United States
- UTHealth Consortium on Aging, The University of Texas McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX, United States
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6
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Dual Targeting Topoisomerase/G-Quadruplex Agents in Cancer Therapy-An Overview. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10112932. [PMID: 36428499 PMCID: PMC9687504 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10112932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Topoisomerase (Topo) inhibitors have long been known as clinically effective drugs, while G-quadruplex (G4)-targeting compounds are emerging as a promising new strategy to target tumor cells and could support personalized treatment approaches in the near future. G-quadruplex (G4) is a secondary four-stranded DNA helical structure constituted of guanine-rich nucleic acids, and its stabilization impairs telomere replication, triggering the activation of several protein factors at telomere levels, including Topos. Thus, the pharmacological intervention through the simultaneous G4 stabilization and Topos inhibition offers a new opportunity to achieve greater antiproliferative activity and circumvent cellular insensitivity and resistance. In this line, dual ligands targeting both Topos and G4 emerge as innovative, efficient agents in cancer therapy. Although the research in this field is still limited, to date, some chemotypes have been identified, showing this dual activity and an interesting pharmacological profile. This paper reviews the available literature on dual Topo inhibitors/G4 stabilizing agents, with particular attention to the structure-activity relationship studies correlating the dual activity with the cytotoxic activity.
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7
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Judasz E, Lisiak N, Kopczyński P, Taube M, Rubiś B. The Role of Telomerase in Breast Cancer's Response to Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:12844. [PMID: 36361634 PMCID: PMC9654063 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232112844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Currently, breast cancer appears to be the most widespread cancer in the world and the most common cause of cancer deaths. This specific type of cancer affects women in both developed and developing countries. Prevention and early diagnosis are very important factors for good prognosis. A characteristic feature of cancer cells is the ability of unlimited cell division, which makes them immortal. Telomeres, which are shortened with each cell division in normal cells, are rebuilt in cancer cells by the enzyme telomerase, which is expressed in more than 85% of cancers (up to 100% of adenocarcinomas, including breast cancer). Telomerase may have different functions that are related to telomeres or unrelated. It has been shown that high activity of the enzyme in cancer cells is associated with poor cell sensitivity to therapies. Therefore, telomerase has become a potential target for cancer therapies. The low efficacy of therapies has resulted in the search for new combined and more effective therapeutic methods, including the involvement of telomerase inhibitors and telomerase-targeted immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliza Judasz
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-806 Poznan, Poland
| | - Natalia Lisiak
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-806 Poznan, Poland
| | - Przemysław Kopczyński
- Centre for Orthodontic Mini-Implants at the Department and Clinic of Maxillofacial Orthopedics and Orthodontics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-812 Poznan, Poland
| | - Magdalena Taube
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-806 Poznan, Poland
| | - Błażej Rubiś
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 60-806 Poznan, Poland
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8
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Chen L, Dickerhoff J, Sakai S, Yang D. DNA G-Quadruplex in Human Telomeres and Oncogene Promoters: Structures, Functions, and Small Molecule Targeting. Acc Chem Res 2022; 55:2628-2646. [PMID: 36054116 PMCID: PMC9937053 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.2c00337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
DNA G-quadruplex secondary structures formed in guanine-rich human telomeres and oncogene promoters are functionally important and have emerged as a promising new class of cancer-specific drug targets. These globular intramolecular structures are stabilized by K+ or Na+ and form readily under physiological solution conditions. Moreover, G-quadruplexes are epigenetic features and can alter chromatin structure and function together with interactive proteins. Here, we discuss our efforts over the last two decades to understand the structures and functions of DNA G-quadruplexes formed in key oncogene promoters and human telomeres and their interactions with small molecules. Using high-field NMR spectroscopy, we determined the high-resolution structures of physiologically relevant telomeric G-quadruplexes in K+ solution with a major form (hybrid-2) and a minor form (hybrid-1), as well as a two-tetrad intermediate. The intrinsic structural polymorphism of telomeric DNA may be important for the biology of human telomeres, and we proposed a model for the interconversion. More recently, we have worked on G-quadruplexes of MYC, BCL2, PDGFR-β, VEGF, and k-RAS oncogene promoters. We determined the structure of the major G-quadruplex formed in the MYC promoter, a prototype for parallel G-quadruplexes. It is the first example of the parallel-stranded G3NG3 structure motif with a 1-nt loop, which is prevalent in promoter sequences and likely evolutionarily selected to initiate folding. Remarkably, the parallel MYC promoter G-quadruplexes are highly stable. Additionally, we determined the molecular structures of G-quadruplexes formed in human BCL2, VEGF, and PDGFR-β promoters, each adopting a unique structure. For example, the BCL2 promoter contains distinct interchangeable G-quadruplexes in two adjacent regions, suggesting precise regulation by different proteins. The PDGFR-β promoter adopts unique "broken-strand" and vacancy G-quadruplexes, which can be recognized by cellular guanine metabolites for a potential regulatory role.Structural information on G-quadruplexes in complex with small-molecules is critical for understanding specific recognition and structure-based rational drug design. Our studies show that many G-quadruplexes contain unique structural features such as capping and loop structures, allowing specific recognition by drugs and protein. This represents a paradigm shift in understanding DNA as a drug target: Rather than a uniform, nonselective binding site in duplex DNA, the G-quadruplex is being pursued as a new class of selectively targetable drug receptors. We focus on targeting the biologically relevant MYC promoter G-quadruplex (MycG4) with small molecules and have determined its first and additional drug complex structures. Very recently, we have discovered clinically tested indenoisoquinolines as strong MycG4 binders and potent MYC inhibitors. We have also discovered drugs targeting the unique dGMP-bound-vG4 formed in the PDGFR-β promoter. Moreover, we determined the complex structures of the first small molecules that specifically recognize the physiologically relevant human telomeric G-quadruplexes. Unlike the previously recognized dogma that the optimal G-quadruplex ligands are large aromatic or cyclic compounds, our results suggest that smaller asymmetric compounds with appropriate functional groups are better choices to specifically bind G-quadruplexes. This body of work lays a strong foundation for future work aimed at understanding the cellular functions of G-quadruplexes and G-quadruplex-targeted drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luying Chen
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, 575 Stadium Mall Drive, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Jonathan Dickerhoff
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, 575 Stadium Mall Drive, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
| | - Saburo Sakai
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, 575 Stadium Mall Drive, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- Biogeochemistry Research Center, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, 2-15, Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka-city, Kanagawa 237-0061, Japan
| | - Danzhou Yang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, 575 Stadium Mall Drive, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- Purdue Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, 201 University Street, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Purdue University, 560 Oval Drive, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
- Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery, Purdue University, 720 Clinic Drive, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, United States
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9
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Miglietta G, Marinello J, Russo M, Capranico G. Ligands stimulating antitumour immunity as the next G-quadruplex challenge. Mol Cancer 2022; 21:180. [PMID: 36114513 PMCID: PMC9482198 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-022-01649-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractG-quadruplex (G4) binders have been investigated to discover new anticancer drugs worldwide in past decades. As these ligands are generally not highly cytotoxic, the discovery rational was mainly based on increasing the cell-killing potency. Nevertheless, no G4 binder has been shown yet to be effective in cancer patients. Here, G4 binder activity at low dosages will be discussed as a critical feature to discover ligands with therapeutic effects in cancer patients. Specific effects of G4 binders al low doses have been reported to occur in cancer and normal cells. Among them, genome instability and the stimulation of cytoplasmic processes related to autophagy and innate immune response open to the use of G4 binders as immune-stimulating agents. Thus, we propose a new rational of drug discovery, which is not based on cytotoxic potency but rather on immune gene activation at non-cytotoxic dosage.
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10
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Katsuda Y, Sato SI, Inoue M, Tsugawa H, Kamura T, Kida T, Matsumoto R, Asamitsu S, Shioda N, Shiroto S, Oosawatsu Y, Yatsuzuka K, Kitamura Y, Hagihara M, Ihara T, Uesugi M. Small molecule-based detection of non-canonical RNA G-quadruplex structures that modulate protein translation. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:8143-8153. [PMID: 35801908 PMCID: PMC9371906 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Tandem repeats of guanine-rich sequences in RNA often form thermodynamically stable four-stranded RNA structures. Such RNA G-quadruplexes have long been considered to be linked to essential biological processes, yet their physiological significance in cells remains unclear. Here, we report a approach that permits the detection of RNA G-quadruplex structures that modulate protein translation in mammalian cells. The approach combines antibody arrays and RGB-1, a small molecule that selectively stabilizes RNA G-quadruplex structures. Analysis of the protein and mRNA products of 84 cancer-related human genes identified Nectin-4 and CapG as G-quadruplex-controlled genes whose mRNAs harbor non-canonical G-quadruplex structures on their 5′UTR region. Further investigations revealed that the RNA G-quadruplex of CapG exhibits a structural polymorphism, suggesting a possible mechanism that ensures the translation repression in a KCl concentration range of 25–100 mM. The approach described in the present study sets the stage for further discoveries of RNA G-quadruplexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yousuke Katsuda
- Division of Materials Science and Chemistry, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, 2-39-1 Kurokami, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 860-8555, Japan
| | - Shin-Ichi Sato
- Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan
| | - Maimi Inoue
- Division of Materials Science and Chemistry, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, 2-39-1 Kurokami, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 860-8555, Japan
| | - Hisashi Tsugawa
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Hirosaki University, 3 Bunkyo-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8561, Japan
| | - Takuto Kamura
- Division of Materials Science and Chemistry, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, 2-39-1 Kurokami, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 860-8555, Japan
| | - Tomoki Kida
- Division of Materials Science and Chemistry, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, 2-39-1 Kurokami, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 860-8555, Japan
| | - Rio Matsumoto
- Division of Materials Science and Chemistry, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, 2-39-1 Kurokami, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 860-8555, Japan
| | - Sefan Asamitsu
- Department of Genomic Neurology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, 2-2-1 Honjo, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan
| | - Norifumi Shioda
- Department of Genomic Neurology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, 2-2-1 Honjo, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan.,Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, 5-1 Oe, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 862-0973, Japan
| | - Shuhei Shiroto
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Hirosaki University, 3 Bunkyo-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8561, Japan
| | - Yoshiki Oosawatsu
- Division of Materials Science and Chemistry, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, 2-39-1 Kurokami, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 860-8555, Japan
| | - Kenji Yatsuzuka
- Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan
| | - Yusuke Kitamura
- Division of Materials Science and Chemistry, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, 2-39-1 Kurokami, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 860-8555, Japan
| | - Masaki Hagihara
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Hirosaki University, 3 Bunkyo-cho, Hirosaki, Aomori 036-8561, Japan
| | - Toshihiro Ihara
- Division of Materials Science and Chemistry, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, 2-39-1 Kurokami, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto 860-8555, Japan
| | - Motonari Uesugi
- Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan.,School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China
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11
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Research Progress on G-Quadruplexes in Human Telomeres and Human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (hTERT) Promoter. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2022; 2022:2905663. [PMID: 35707279 PMCID: PMC9192192 DOI: 10.1155/2022/2905663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The upregulation telomerase activity is observed in over 85-90% of human cancers and provides an attractive target for cancer therapies. The high guanine content in the telomere DNA sequences and the hTERT promoter can form G-quadruplexes (G4s). Small molecules targeting G4s in telomeres and hTERT promoter could stabilize the G4s and inhibit hTERT expression and telomere extension. Several G4 ligands have shown inhibitory effects in cancer cells and xenograft mouse models, indicating these ligands have a potential for cancer therapies. The current review article describes the concept of the telomere, telomerase, and G4s. Moreover, the regulation of telomerase and G4s in telomeres and hTERT promoter is discussed as well. The summary of the small molecules targeting G4s in telomeric DNA sequences and the hTERT promoter will also be shown.
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12
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Thaichana P, Summart R, Dejkriengkraikul P, Meepowpan P, Lee TR, Tuntiwechapikul W. Hydrosoluble Perylene Monoimide-Based Telomerase Inhibitors with Diminished Cytotoxicity. ACS OMEGA 2022; 7:16746-16756. [PMID: 35601338 PMCID: PMC9118414 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c01343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Telomerase is essential for the immortality characteristics of most cancers. Telomerase-specific inhibitors should render cancer cells to replicative senescence without acute cytotoxicity. Perylene-based G-quadruplex (G4) ligands are widely studied as telomerase inhibitors. Most reported perylene-based G4 ligands are perylene diimides (PDIs), which often suffer from self-aggregation in aqueous solutions. Previously, we found that PM2, a perylene monoimide (PMI), exhibited better solubility, G4 binding affinity, and telomerase inhibition than PIPER, the prototypic PDI. However, the acute cytotoxicity of PM2 was about 20-30 times more than PIPER in cancer cells. In this report, we replaced the piperazine side chain of PM2 with ethylenediamine to yield PM3 and replaced the N,N-diethylethylenediamine side chain of PM2 with the 1-(2-aminoethyl) piperidine to yield PM5. We found that asymmetric PMIs with two basic side chains (PM2, PM3, and PM5) performed better than PIPER (the prototypic PDI), in terms of hydrosolubility, G4 binding, in vitro telomerase inhibition, and suppression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) expression and telomerase activity in A549 cells. However, PM5 was 7-10 times less toxic than PM2 and PM3 in three cancer cell lines. We conclude that replacing the N,N-diethylethylenediamine side chain with the 2-aminoethylpiperidine on PMIs reduces the cytotoxicity in cancer cells without impacting G4 binding and telomerase inhibition. This study paves the way for synthesizing new PMIs with drug-like properties for selective telomerase inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pak Thaichana
- Department
of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang
Mai University, Chiang
Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Ratasark Summart
- Department
of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang
Mai University, Chiang
Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Pornngarm Dejkriengkraikul
- Department
of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang
Mai University, Chiang
Mai 50200, Thailand
- Center
for Research and Development of Natural Products for Health, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Puttinan Meepowpan
- Department
of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chiang
Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - T. Randall Lee
- Department
of Chemistry and the Texas Center for Superconductivity, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204-5003, United States
| | - Wirote Tuntiwechapikul
- Department
of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang
Mai University, Chiang
Mai 50200, Thailand
- Center
for Research and Development of Natural Products for Health, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
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13
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Ghafouri-Fard S, Abak A, Baniahmad A, Hussen BM, Taheri M, Jamali E, Dinger ME. Interaction between non-coding RNAs, mRNAs and G-quadruplexes. Cancer Cell Int 2022; 22:171. [PMID: 35488342 PMCID: PMC9052686 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-022-02601-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
G-quadruplexes are secondary helical configurations established between guanine-rich nucleic acids. The structure is seen in the promoter regions of numerous genes under certain situations. Predicted G-quadruplex-forming sequences are distributed across the genome in a non-random way. These structures are formed in telomeric regions of the human genome and oncogenic promoter G-rich regions. Identification of mechanisms of regulation of stability of G-quadruplexes has practical significance for understanding the molecular basis of genetic diseases such as cancer. A number of non-coding RNAs such as H19, XIST, FLJ39051 (GSEC), BC200 (BCYRN1), TERRA, pre-miRNA-1229, pre-miRNA-149 and miR-1587 have been found to contain G-quadraplex-forming regions or affect configuration of these structures in target genes. In the current review, we outline the recent research on the interaction between G-quadruplexes and non-coding RNAs, other RNA transcripts and DNA molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soudeh Ghafouri-Fard
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Atefe Abak
- Phytochemistry Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Aria Baniahmad
- Institute of Human Genetics, Jena University Hospital, 07740, Jena, Germany
| | - Bashdar Mahmud Hussen
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.,Center of Research and Strategic Studies, Lebanese French University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
| | - Mohammad Taheri
- Institute of Human Genetics, Jena University Hospital, 07740, Jena, Germany.
| | - Elena Jamali
- Skull Base Research Center, Loghman Hakin Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Marcel E Dinger
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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14
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Ruthenium(II) Polypyridyl Complexes and Their Use as Probes and Photoreactive Agents for G-quadruplexes Labelling. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27051541. [PMID: 35268640 PMCID: PMC8912042 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27051541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to their optical and electrochemical properties, ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes have been used in a wide array of applications. Since the discovery of the light-switch ON effect of [Ru(bpy)2dppz]2+ when interacting with DNA, the design of new Ru(II) complexes as light-up probes for specific regions of DNA has been intensively explored. Amongst them, G-quadruplexes (G4s) are of particular interest. These structures formed by guanine-rich parts of DNA and RNA may be associated with a wide range of biological events. However, locating them and understanding their implications in biological pathways has proven challenging. Elegant approaches to tackle this challenge relies on the use of photoprobes capable of marking, reversibly or irreversibly, these G4s. Indeed, Ru(II) complexes containing ancillary π-deficient TAP ligands can create a covalently linked adduct with G4s after a photoinduced electron transfer from a guanine residue to the excited complex. Through careful design of the ligands, high selectivity of interaction with G4 structures can be achieved. This allows the creation of specific Ru(II) light-up probes and photoreactive agents for G4 labelling, which is at the core of this review composed of an introduction dedicated to a brief description of G-quadruplex structures and two main sections. The first one will provide a general picture of ligands and metal complexes interacting with G4s. The second one will focus on an exhaustive and comprehensive overview of the interactions and (photo)reactions of Ru(II) complexes with G4s.
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15
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Debbarma S, Acharya PC. Targeting G-Quadruplex Dna For Cancer Chemotherapy. Curr Drug Discov Technol 2022; 19:e140222201110. [PMID: 35156574 DOI: 10.2174/1570163819666220214115408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The self-association of DNA formed by Hoogsteen hydrogen bonding comprises several layers of four guanine or G-tetrads or G4s. The distinct feature of G4s, such as the G-tetrads and loops, qualify structure-selective recognition by small molecules and various ligands and can act as potential anticancer therapeutic molecules. The G4 selective-ligands, can influence gene expression by targeting a nucleic acid structure rather than sequence. Telomere G4 can be targeted for cancer treatment by small molecules inhibiting the telomerase activity whereas c-MYC is capable of controlling transcription, can be targeted to influence transcription. The k-RAS is one of the most frequently encountered oncogenic driver mutations in pancreatic, colorectal, and lung cancers. The k-RAS oncogene plays important role in acquiring and increasing the drug resistance and can also be directly targeted by small molecules to combat k-RAS mutant tumors. Modular G4 ligands with different functional groups, side chains and rotatable bonds as well as conformation affect the binding affinity/selectivity in cancer chemotherapeutic interventions. These modular G4 ligands act by targeting the diversity of G4 loops and groves and assists to develop more drug-like compounds with selectivity. In this review, we present the recent research on synthetic G4 DNA-interacting ligands as an approach toward the discovery of target specific anticancer chemotherapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumanta Debbarma
- Department of Pharmacy, Tripura University, Suryamaninagar-799022, India
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16
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Galindo-Murillo R, Winkler L, Ma J, Hanelli F, Fleming AM, Burrows CJ, Cheatham TE. Riboflavin Stabilizes Abasic, Oxidized G-Quadruplex Structures. Biochemistry 2022; 61:265-275. [PMID: 35104101 PMCID: PMC8851688 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.1c00598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
![]()
The G-quadruplex
is a noncanonical fold of DNA commonly found at
telomeres and within gene promoter regions of the genome. These guanine-rich
sequences are highly susceptible to damages such as base oxidation
and depurination, leading to abasic sites. In the present work, we
address whether a vacancy, such as an abasic site, in a G-quadruplex
serves as a specific ligand recognition site. When the G-tetrad is
all guanines, the vacant (abasic) site is recognized and bound by
free guanine nucleobase. However, we aim to understand whether the
preference for a specific ligand recognition changes with the presence
of a guanine oxidation product 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (OG) adjacent
to the vacancy in the tetrad. Using molecular dynamics simulation,
circular dichroism, and nuclear magnetic resonance, we examined the
ability for riboflavin to stabilize abasic site-containing G-quadruplex
structures. Through structural and free energy binding analysis, we
observe riboflavin’s ability to stabilize an abasic site-containing
G-quadruplex only in the presence of an adjacent OG-modified base.
Further, when compared to simulation with the vacancy filled by free
guanine, we observe that the free guanine nucleobase is pushed outside
of the tetrad by OG to interact with other parts of the structure,
including loop residues. These results support the preference of riboflavin
over free guanine to fill an OG-adjacent G-quadruplex abasic vacancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Galindo-Murillo
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, 2000 East 30 South Skaggs 306, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Lauren Winkler
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, 2000 East 30 South Skaggs 306, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Jingwei Ma
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, 315 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112-0850, United States
| | - Fatjon Hanelli
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, 315 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112-0850, United States
| | - Aaron M Fleming
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, 315 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112-0850, United States
| | - Cynthia J Burrows
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, 315 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112-0850, United States
| | - Thomas E Cheatham
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Utah, 2000 East 30 South Skaggs 306, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
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17
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Noh B, Blasco-Conesa MP, Lai YJ, Ganesh BP, Urayama A, Moreno-Gonzalez I, Marrelli SP, McCullough LD, Moruno-Manchon JF. G-quadruplexes Stabilization Upregulates CCN1 and Accelerates Aging in Cultured Cerebral Endothelial Cells. FRONTIERS IN AGING 2022; 2:797562. [PMID: 35822045 PMCID: PMC9261356 DOI: 10.3389/fragi.2021.797562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Senescence in the cerebral endothelium has been proposed as a mechanism that can drive dysfunction of the cerebral vasculature, which precedes vascular dementia. Cysteine-rich angiogenic inducer 61 (Cyr61/CCN1) is a matricellular protein secreted by cerebral endothelial cells (CEC). CCN1 induces senescence in fibroblasts. However, whether CCN1 contributes to senescence in CEC and how this is regulated requires further study. Aging has been associated with the formation of four-stranded Guanine-quadruplexes (G4s) in G-rich motifs of DNA and RNA. Stabilization of the G4 structures regulates transcription and translation either by upregulation or downregulation depending on the gene target. Previously, we showed that aged mice treated with a G4-stabilizing compound had enhanced senescence-associated (SA) phenotypes in their brains, and these mice exhibited enhanced cognitive deficits. A sequence in the 3'-UTR of the human CCN1 mRNA has the ability to fold into G4s in vitro. We hypothesize that G4 stabilization regulates CCN1 in cultured primary CEC and induces endothelial senescence. We used cerebral microvessel fractions and cultured primary CEC from young (4-months old, m/o) and aged (18-m/o) mice to determine CCN1 levels. SA phenotypes were determined by high-resolution fluorescence microscopy in cultured primary CEC, and we used Thioflavin T to recognize RNA-G4s for fluorescence spectra. We found that cultured CEC from aged mice exhibited enhanced levels of SA phenotypes, and higher levels of CCN1 and G4 stabilization. In cultured CEC, CCN1 induced SA phenotypes, such as SA β-galactosidase activity, and double-strand DNA damage. Furthermore, CCN1 levels were upregulated by a G4 ligand, and a G-rich motif in the 3'-UTR of the Ccn1 mRNA was folded into a G4. In conclusion, we demonstrate that CCN1 can induce senescence in cultured primary CEC, and we provide evidence that G4 stabilization is a novel mechanism regulating the SASP component CCN1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Noh
- Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Maria P. Blasco-Conesa
- Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Yun-Ju Lai
- Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
- Solomont School of Nursing, Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA, United States
| | - Bhanu Priya Ganesh
- Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Akihiko Urayama
- Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Ines Moreno-Gonzalez
- Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Instituto de Investigacion Biomedica de Malaga-IBIMA, Malaga University, Malaga, Spain
- Networking Biomedical Research Networking Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Sean P. Marrelli
- Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Louise D. McCullough
- Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Jose Felix Moruno-Manchon
- Department of Neurology, McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
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18
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Zyner KG, Simeone A, Flynn SM, Doyle C, Marsico G, Adhikari S, Portella G, Tannahill D, Balasubramanian S. G-quadruplex DNA structures in human stem cells and differentiation. Nat Commun 2022; 13:142. [PMID: 35013231 PMCID: PMC8748810 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27719-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The establishment of cell identity during embryonic development involves the activation of specific gene expression programmes and is underpinned by epigenetic factors including DNA methylation and histone post-translational modifications. G-quadruplexes are four-stranded DNA secondary structures (G4s) that have been implicated in transcriptional regulation and cancer. Here, we show that G4s are key genomic structural features linked to cellular differentiation. We find that G4s are highly abundant in human embryonic stem cells and are lost during lineage specification. G4s are prevalent in enhancers and promoters. G4s that are found in common between embryonic and downstream lineages are tightly linked to transcriptional stabilisation of genes involved in essential cellular functions as well as transitions in the histone post-translational modification landscape. Furthermore, the application of small molecules that stabilise G4s causes a delay in stem cell differentiation, keeping cells in a more pluripotent-like state. Collectively, our data highlight G4s as important epigenetic features that are coupled to stem cell pluripotency and differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine G Zyner
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Angela Simeone
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Sean M Flynn
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Colm Doyle
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Giovanni Marsico
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Santosh Adhikari
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Guillem Portella
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - David Tannahill
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Shankar Balasubramanian
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0RE, UK.
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK.
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0SP, UK.
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19
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Antcliff A, McCullough LD, Tsvetkov AS. G-Quadruplexes and the DNA/RNA helicase DHX36 in health, disease, and aging. Aging (Albany NY) 2021; 13:25578-25587. [PMID: 34862880 PMCID: PMC8714159 DOI: 10.18632/aging.203738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
G-Quadruplex (G4) DNA (G4 DNA) and RNA (G4 RNA) are secondary nucleic acid structures that have multiple roles in vital cellular processes. G4 DNA- and RNA-binding proteins and unwinding helicases associate with and regulate G4s during virtually all processes that involve DNA and RNA. DEAH-Box helicase 36 (DHX36), a member of the large DExD/H box helicase family, enzymatically unwinds both G4 DNA and G4 RNA. By exerting its G4 helicase function, DHX36 regulates transcription, genomic stability, telomere maintenance, translation and RNA metabolism. This review will provide an overview of G4s and DHX36, including DHX36's potential role in neuronal development and neurodegeneration. We conclude with a discussion of the possible functions of G4s and DHX36 in the aging brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Antcliff
- Department of Neurology, The University of Texas McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Louise D. McCullough
- Department of Neurology, The University of Texas McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Andrey S. Tsvetkov
- Department of Neurology, The University of Texas McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- UTHealth Consortium on Aging, The University of Texas McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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20
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Pal S, Fatma K, Ravichandiran V, Dash J. Triazolyl Dibenzo[ a,c]phenazines Stabilize Telomeric G-quadruplex and Inhibit Telomerase. ASIAN J ORG CHEM 2021; 10:2921-2926. [PMID: 37823002 PMCID: PMC7614908 DOI: 10.1002/ajoc.202100468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
We herein report the synthesis and biophysical evaluation of triazolyl dibenzo[a,c]phenazine derivatives as a novel class of G-quadruplex ligands. The aromatic core facilitates π-π interaction and the flexible, protonatable side chains interact with the phosphate backbone of DNA via electrostatic interactions. Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) melting assay and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) studies suggest that these ligands show binding preference for the hTELO G-quadruplex over G-quadruplexes found in the promoter region of various oncogenes and duplex DNA. The in vitro telomeric repeat amplification protocol (Q-TRAP) assay reveals that these ligands reduce telomerase activity in cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarmistha Pal
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata-700032, India
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, NIPER-KOLKATA, Chunilal Bhawan (Adjacent to BCPL), 168, Maniktala Main Road P.O. Bengal Chemicals, P.S. Phoolbagan, Kolkata – 700054, West Bengal
| | - Khushnood Fatma
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata-700032, India
| | - Velayutham Ravichandiran
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, NIPER-KOLKATA, Chunilal Bhawan (Adjacent to BCPL), 168, Maniktala Main Road P.O. Bengal Chemicals, P.S. Phoolbagan, Kolkata – 700054, West Bengal
| | - Jyotirmayee Dash
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata-700032, India
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21
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Targeting of Telomeric Repeat-Containing RNA G-Quadruplexes: From Screening to Biophysical and Biological Characterization of a New Hit Compound. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221910315. [PMID: 34638655 PMCID: PMC8508872 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA G-quadruplex (G4) structures, either within gene promoter sequences or at telomeres, have been extensively investigated as potential small-molecule therapeutic targets. However, although G4s forming at the telomeric DNA have been extensively investigated as anticancer targets, few studies focus on the telomeric repeat-containing RNA (TERRA), transcribed from telomeres, as potential pharmacological targets. Here, a virtual screening approach to identify a library of drug-like putative TERRA G4 binders, in tandem with circular dichroism melting assay to study their TERRA G4-stabilizing properties, led to the identification of a new hit compound. The affinity of this compound for TERRA RNA and some DNA G4s was analyzed through several biophysical techniques and its biological activity investigated in terms of antiproliferative effect, DNA damage response (DDR) activation, and TERRA RNA expression in high vs. low TERRA-expressing human cancer cells. The selected hit showed good affinity for TERRA G4 and no binding to double-stranded DNA. In addition, biological assays showed that this compound is endowed with a preferential cytotoxic effect on high TERRA-expressing cells, where it induces a DDR at telomeres, probably by displacing TERRA from telomeres. Our studies demonstrate that the identification of TERRA G4-targeting drugs with potential pharmacological effects is achievable, shedding light on new perspectives aimed at discovering new anticancer agents targeting these G4 structures.
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22
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Banerjee N, Panda S, Chatterjee S. Frontiers in G-Quadruplex Therapeutics in Cancer: Selection of Small Molecules, Peptides and Aptamers. Chem Biol Drug Des 2021; 99:1-31. [PMID: 34148284 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.13910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
G-quadruplex, a unique secondary structure in nucleic acids found throughout human genome, elicited widespread interest in the field of therapeutic research. Being present in key regulatory regions of oncogenes, RNAs and telomere, G-quadruplex structure regulates transcription, translation, splicing etc. Changes in its structure and stability leads to differential expression of oncogenes causing cancer. Thus, targeting G-Quadruplex structures with small molecules/other biologics has shown elevated research interest. Covering previous reports, in this review we try to enlighten the facts on the structural diversity in G-quadruplex ligands aiming to provide newer insights to design first-in-class drugs for the next generation cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nilanjan Banerjee
- Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Road, Scheme VIIM, Kankurgachi, Kolkata, 700054, India
| | - Suman Panda
- Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Road, Scheme VIIM, Kankurgachi, Kolkata, 700054, India
| | - Subhrangsu Chatterjee
- Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Road, Scheme VIIM, Kankurgachi, Kolkata, 700054, India
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23
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Ličen M, Masiero S, Pieraccini S, Drevenšek-Olenik I. Reversible Photoisomerization in Thin Surface Films from Azo-Functionalized Guanosine Derivatives. ACS OMEGA 2021; 6:15421-15430. [PMID: 34151120 PMCID: PMC8210406 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c01879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Two novel azo-functionalized guanosine derivatives were synthesized, and their photoisomerization process was investigated in molecular monolayers at the air-water interface and in the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films on solid substrates. Measurements of surface pressure vs area isotherms, surface potential measurements, UV-visible (vis) absorption spectroscopy, Brewster angle microscopy (BAM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) were performed. Despite not having a typical amphiphilic molecular structure, the derivatives formed stable films on the water surface. They could also undergo repeated photoisomerization in all of the investigated thin-film configurations. The observations suggest that in the films at the air-water interface, the molecules first exhibit a conformational change, and then they reorient to an energetically more favored orientation. In the LB films transferred onto solid substrates, the isomerization process occurs on a similar time scale as in solution. However, the isomerization efficiency is about an order of magnitude lower than that in solution. Our results show that DNA nucleobases functionalized with azobenzene moieties are suitable candidates for the fabrication of photoactive two-dimensional (2D) materials that can provide all beneficial functionalities of DNA-based compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matjaž Ličen
- Faculty
of Mathematics and Physics, University of
Ljubljana, Jadranska 19, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Stefano Masiero
- Dipartimento
di Chimica “Giacomo Ciamician”, Alma Mater Studiorum—Università di Bologna, Via San Giacomo 11, I-40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Silvia Pieraccini
- Dipartimento
di Chimica “Giacomo Ciamician”, Alma Mater Studiorum—Università di Bologna, Via San Giacomo 11, I-40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Irena Drevenšek-Olenik
- Faculty
of Mathematics and Physics, University of
Ljubljana, Jadranska 19, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Department
of Complex Matter, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
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24
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Zhao J, Zhai Q. A highly selective switch-on fluorescence sensor targeting telomeric dimeric G-quadruplex. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2021; 40:127971. [PMID: 33753263 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2021.127971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The fluorescence probes with high selectivity and sensitivity for telomeric multimeric G-quadruplexes have attracted much attention. Nevertheless, few small molecules have exhibited telomeric multimeric G-quadruplexes recognition specificity. Thus, there is an urgent demand to develop specific fluorescence probes for telomeric multimeric G-quadruplexes. We reported herein the specific sensing of telomeric dimeric G-quadruplex TTA45 via a fluorescence light-up response using a commercially available triazine derivative HPTA-1 as a probe. HPTA-1 could discriminate the telomeric dimeric G-quadruplex TTA45 against other types of DNA structures accompanied by a drastic enhancement of the emission intensity without compromising the conformation and stability. Compared with most multimeric G-quadruplex recognition ligands, HPTA-1 had much simpler structure and lower molecular weight. The binding mechanism studies suggested that the distinct fluorescence response was caused by electrostatic and π-π stacking interactions of HPTA-1 with the pocket between two G-quadruplex units of telomeric dimeric G-quadruplex TTA45..
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingfang Zhao
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Qianqian Zhai
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
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25
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MacKenzie D, Watters AK, To JT, Young MW, Muratori J, Wilkoff MH, Abraham RG, Plummer MM, Zhang D. ALT Positivity in Human Cancers: Prevalence and Clinical Insights. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:2384. [PMID: 34069193 PMCID: PMC8156225 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13102384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Many exciting advances in cancer-related telomere biology have been made in the past decade. Of these recent advances, great progress has also been made with respect to the Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT) pathway. Along with a better understanding of the molecular mechanism of this unique telomere maintenance pathway, many studies have also evaluated ALT activity in various cancer subtypes. We first briefly review and assess a variety of commonly used ALT biomarkers. Then, we provide both an update on ALT-positive (ALT+) tumor prevalence as well as a systematic clinical assessment of the presently studied ALT+ malignancies. Additionally, we discuss the pathogenetic alterations in ALT+ cancers, for example, the mutation status of ATRX and DAXX, and their correlations with the activation of the ALT pathway. Finally, we highlight important ALT+ clinical associations within each cancer subtype and subdivisions within, as well as their prognoses. We hope this alternative perspective will allow scientists, clinicians, and drug developers to have greater insight into the ALT cancers so that together, we may develop more efficacious treatments and improved management strategies to meet the urgent needs of cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Maria M. Plummer
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, NY 11568, USA; (D.M.J.); (A.K.W.); (J.T.T.); (M.W.Y.); (J.M.); (M.H.W.); (R.G.A.)
| | - Dong Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine, New York Institute of Technology, Old Westbury, NY 11568, USA; (D.M.J.); (A.K.W.); (J.T.T.); (M.W.Y.); (J.M.); (M.H.W.); (R.G.A.)
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26
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Miclot T, Corbier C, Terenzi A, Hognon C, Grandemange S, Barone G, Monari A. Forever Young: Structural Stability of Telomeric Guanine Quadruplexes in the Presence of Oxidative DNA Lesions*. Chemistry 2021; 27:8865-8874. [PMID: 33871121 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202100993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Human telomeric DNA, in G-quadruplex (G4) conformation, is characterized by a remarkable structural stability that confers it the capacity to resist to oxidative stress producing one or even clustered 8-oxoguanine (8oxoG) lesions. We present a combined experimental/computational investigation, by using circular dichroism in aqueous solutions, cellular immunofluorescence assays and molecular dynamics simulations, that identifies the crucial role of the stability of G4s to oxidative lesions, related also to their biological role as inhibitors of telomerase, an enzyme overexpressed in most cancers associated to oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Miclot
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 90128, Palermo, Italy.,Université de Lorraine and CNRS, LPCT UMR 7019, 54000, Nancy, France
| | - Camille Corbier
- Université de Lorraine and CNRS, CRAN UMR 7039, 54000, Nancy, France
| | - Alessio Terenzi
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 90128, Palermo, Italy
| | - Cécilia Hognon
- Université de Lorraine and CNRS, LPCT UMR 7019, 54000, Nancy, France
| | | | - Giampaolo Barone
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, 90128, Palermo, Italy
| | - Antonio Monari
- Université de Lorraine and CNRS, LPCT UMR 7019, 54000, Nancy, France
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27
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Chen S, Zhao J, Shi B, Xu C, Zhao S. An ultrasensitive chemiluminescence strategy based on a microchip platform for telomerase detection at a single-cell level. Chem Commun (Camb) 2021; 57:3095-3098. [PMID: 33625437 DOI: 10.1039/d1cc00455g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
An ultrasensitive chemiluminescence strategy based on signal amplification with a microchip platform was proposed to detect telomerase. This strategy was successfully applied to the determination of lysate samples from HL-7702, HeLa, A549 and MCF-7 cell lines with the detection limit lower than 1 HeLa cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengyu Chen
- State Key Laboratory for the Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Medicinal Resources, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China.
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28
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Craciun AM, Rotaru A, Cojocaru C, Mangalagiu II, Danac R. New 2,9-disubstituted-1,10-phenanthroline derivatives with anticancer activity by selective targeting of telomeric G-quadruplex DNA. SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA. PART A, MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY 2021; 249:119318. [PMID: 33360205 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2020.119318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Fifteen new 1,10-phenanthrolines disubstituted at positions 2 and 9 via amide bonds with different heterocycles have been designed and synthesized as G-quadruplex DNA stabilizers. Ten compounds were evaluated for the in vitro anticancer activity against 60 human tumor cell lines panel, four of them showing a very good inhibitory activity on several cell lines. To assess the ability of the most active compounds to interact with G-quadruplex DNA (G4-DNA), circular dichroism experiments were performed. The potency of the compounds to stabilize the G4-DNA has been shown from the thermal denaturation experiments. The mechanism of compounds binding to DNA and to G4-DNA was theoretically investigated by molecular docking studies. The experimental results demonstrated excellent capacity of the two compounds bearing two pyridin-3-yl residues (methylated and non-methylated) to act as selective G-quadruplex binders with promising anticancer activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anda-Mihaela Craciun
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Chemistry, "Al. I. Cuza" University of Iasi, 11 Carol I, Iasi 700506, Romania; "Petru Poni" Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41A, Grigore Ghica Voda Alley, Iasi 700487, Romania
| | - Alexandru Rotaru
- "Petru Poni" Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41A, Grigore Ghica Voda Alley, Iasi 700487, Romania
| | - Corneliu Cojocaru
- "Petru Poni" Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, 41A, Grigore Ghica Voda Alley, Iasi 700487, Romania
| | - Ionel I Mangalagiu
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Chemistry, "Al. I. Cuza" University of Iasi, 11 Carol I, Iasi 700506, Romania
| | - Ramona Danac
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Chemistry, "Al. I. Cuza" University of Iasi, 11 Carol I, Iasi 700506, Romania.
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29
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Bhari VK, Kumar D, Kumar S, Mishra R. Shelterin complex gene: Prognosis and therapeutic vulnerability in cancer. Biochem Biophys Rep 2021; 26:100937. [PMID: 33553693 PMCID: PMC7859307 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2021.100937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomere encompasses a (TTAGGG)n tandem repeats, and its dysfunction has emerged as the epicenter of driving carcinogenesis by promoting genetic instability. Indeed, they play an essential role in stabilizing chromosomes and therefore protecting them from end-to-end fusion and DNA degradation. Telomere length homeostasis is regulated by several key players including shelterin complex genes, telomerase, and various other regulators. Targeting these regulatory players can be a good approach to combat cancer as telomere length is increasingly correlated with cancer initiation and progression. In this review, we have aimed to describe the telomere length regulator's role in prognostic significance and important drug targets in breast cancer. Moreover, we also assessed alteration in telomeric function by various telomere length regulators and compares this to the regulatory mechanisms that can be associated with clinical biomarkers in cancer. Using publicly available software we summarized mutational and CpG island prediction analysis of the TERT gene breast cancer patient database. Studies have reported that the TERT gene has prognostic significance in breast cancer progression however mechanistic approaches are not defined yet. Interestingly, we reported using the UCSC Xena web-based tool, we confirmed a positive correlation of shelterin complex genes TERF1 and TERF2 in recurrent free survival, indicating the critical role of these genes in breast cancer prognosis. Moreover, the epigenetic landscape of DNA damage repair genes in different breast cancer subtypes also being analyzed using the UCSC Xena database. Together, these datasets provide a comprehensive resource for shelterin complex gene profiles and define epigenetic landscapes of DNA damage repair genes which reveals the key role of shelterin complex genes in breast cancer with the potential to identify novel and actionable targets for treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikas Kumar Bhari
- Department of Biosciences, Manipal University Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
| | - Durgesh Kumar
- Department of Physiology, Government Medical College, Kannauj, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Surendra Kumar
- Department of Neurology, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India
| | - Rajeev Mishra
- Department of Biosciences, Manipal University Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
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30
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Savva L, Georgiades SN. Recent Developments in Small-Molecule Ligands of Medicinal Relevance for Harnessing the Anticancer Potential of G-Quadruplexes. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26040841. [PMID: 33562720 PMCID: PMC7914483 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26040841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
G-quadruplexes, a family of tetraplex helical nucleic acid topologies, have emerged in recent years as novel targets, with untapped potential for anticancer research. Their potential stems from the fact that G-quadruplexes occur in functionally-important regions of the human genome, such as the telomere tandem sequences, several proto-oncogene promoters, other regulatory regions and sequences of DNA (e.g., rDNA), as well as in mRNAs encoding for proteins with roles in tumorigenesis. Modulation of G-quadruplexes, via interaction with high-affinity ligands, leads to their stabilization, with numerous observed anticancer effects. Despite the fact that only a few lead compounds for G-quadruplex modulation have progressed to clinical trials so far, recent advancements in the field now create conditions that foster further development of drug candidates. This review highlights biological processes through which G-quadruplexes can exert their anticancer effects and describes, via selected case studies, progress of the last few years on the development of efficient and drug-like G-quadruplex-targeted ligands, intended to harness the anticancer potential offered by G-quadruplexes. The review finally provides a critical discussion of perceived challenges and limitations that have previously hampered the progression of G-quadruplex-targeted lead compounds to clinical trials, concluding with an optimistic future outlook.
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31
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Luo Y, Granzhan A, Verga D, Mergny JL. FRET-MC: A fluorescence melting competition assay for studying G4 structures in vitro. Biopolymers 2020; 112:e23415. [PMID: 33368198 DOI: 10.1002/bip.23415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
G-quadruplexes (G4) play crucial roles in biology, analytical chemistry and nanotechnology. The stability of G4 structures is impacted by the number of G-quartets, the length and positions of loops, flanking motifs, as well as additional structural elements such as bulges, capping base pairs, or triads. Algorithms such as G4Hunter or Quadparser may predict if a given sequence is G4-prone by calculating a quadruplex propensity score; however, experimental validation is still required. We previously demonstrated that this validation is not always straightforward, and that a combination of techniques is often required to unambiguously establish whether a sequence forms a G-quadruplex or not. In this article, we adapted the well-known FRET-melting assay to characterize G4 in batch, where the sequence to be tested is added, as an unlabeled competitor, to a system composed of a dual-labeled probe (F21T) and a specific quadruplex ligand. PhenDC3 was preferred over TMPyP4 because of its better selectivity for G-quadruplexes. In this so-called FRET-MC (melting competition) assay, G4-forming competitors lead to a marked decrease of the ligand-induced stabilization effect (∆Tm ), while non-specific competitors (e.g., single- or double-stranded sequences) have little effect. Sixty-five known sequences with different typical secondary structures were used to validate the assay, which was subsequently employed to assess eight novel sequences that were not previously characterized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Luo
- Université Paris Saclay, CNRS UMR9187, INSERM U1196, Institut Curie, Orsay, France.,Laboratoire d'Optique et Biosciences, Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, Inserm, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, Palaiseau, France
| | - Anton Granzhan
- Université Paris Saclay, CNRS UMR9187, INSERM U1196, Institut Curie, Orsay, France
| | - Daniela Verga
- Université Paris Saclay, CNRS UMR9187, INSERM U1196, Institut Curie, Orsay, France
| | - Jean-Louis Mergny
- Laboratoire d'Optique et Biosciences, Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, Inserm, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, Palaiseau, France
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32
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Chaudhuri R, Bhattacharya S, Dash J, Bhattacharya S. Recent Update on Targeting c-MYC G-Quadruplexes by Small Molecules for Anticancer Therapeutics. J Med Chem 2020; 64:42-70. [PMID: 33355454 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c01145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Guanine-rich DNA sequences have the propensity to adopt four-stranded tetrahelical G-quadruplex (G4) structures that are overrepresented in gene promoters. The structural polymorphism and physicochemical properties of these non-Watson-Crick G4 structures make them important targets for drug development. The guanine-rich nuclease hypersensitivity element III1 present in the upstream of P1 promoter of c-MYC oncogene has the ability to form an intramolecular parallel G4 structure. The G4 structure that forms transiently in the c-MYC promoter functions as a transcriptional repressor element. The c-MYC oncogene is overexpressed in a wide variety of cancers and plays a key role in cancer progression. Till now, a large number of compounds that are capable of interacting and stabilizing thec-MYC G4 have been reported. In this review, we summarize various c-MYC G4 specific molecules and discuss their effects on c-MYC gene expression in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ritapa Chaudhuri
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Semantee Bhattacharya
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Jyotirmayee Dash
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Santanu Bhattacharya
- School of Applied & Interdisciplinary Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata 700032, India.,Department of Organic Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012, India
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33
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Summart R, Thaichana P, Supan J, Meepowpan P, Lee TR, Tuntiwechapikul W. Superiority of an Asymmetric Perylene Diimide in Terms of Hydrosolubility, G-Quadruplex Binding, Cellular Uptake, and Telomerase Inhibition in Prostate Cancer Cells. ACS OMEGA 2020; 5:29733-29745. [PMID: 33251409 PMCID: PMC7689663 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c03505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Perylene diimide (PDI) derivatives have been studied as G-quadruplex ligands that suppress telomerase activity by facilitating G-quadruplex formation of telomeric DNA and the hTERT promoter. PIPER, the prototypical PDI, reduces telomerase activity in lung and prostate cancer cells, leading to telomere shortening and cellular senescence of these cells. However, PIPER suffers from poor hydrosolubility and the propensity to aggregate at neutral pH. In this report, we synthesized a new asymmetric PDI, aPDI-PHis, which maintains one N-ethyl piperidine side chain of PIPER and has histidine as another side chain. The results show that aPDI-PHis is superior to its symmetric counterparts, PIPER and PDI-His, in terms of hydrosolubility, G-quadruplex binding, cellular uptake, and telomerase inhibition in prostate cancer cells. These results suggest that one N-ethyl piperidine side chain of PDI is sufficient for G-quadruplex binding, while another side chain can be tuned to elicit desirable properties. These findings might lead to better PDIs for use as anticancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ratasark Summart
- Department
of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang
Mai University, 110 Intavaroros Road, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Pak Thaichana
- Department
of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang
Mai University, 110 Intavaroros Road, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Jutharat Supan
- Department
of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang
Mai University, 110 Intavaroros Road, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - Puttinan Meepowpan
- Department
of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chiang
Mai University, Chiang
Mai 50200, Thailand
| | - T. Randall Lee
- Department
of Chemistry and the Texas Center for Superconductivity, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77204-5003, United States
| | - Wirote Tuntiwechapikul
- Department
of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang
Mai University, 110 Intavaroros Road, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
- . Tel: +66-53-945323.
Fax: +66-53-894031
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34
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Sun Y, Zhao C, Cui T, Qin H, Niu J, Ren J, Qu X. Near-infrared-traceable DNA nano-hydrolase: specific eradication of telomeric G-overhang in vivo. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:9986-9994. [PMID: 32853337 PMCID: PMC7515709 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomeric DNA, whose length homeostasis is closely correlated with immortality of cancer cells, is regarded as a molecular clock for cellular lifespan. Regarding the capacity in forming G-quadruplex, G-rich 3′-overhang (G-overhang) has been considered as an attractive anticancer target. However, it is still challenging to precisely target telomeric G-overhang with current ligands because of the polymorphism of G-quadruplexes in cells. Herein, we construct a telomeric G-overhang-specific near-infrared-traceable DNA nano-hydrolase, which is composed of four parts: (i) dexamethasone for targeting cell nuclei; (ii) complementary DNA for hybridizing with G-overhang; (iii) multinuclear Ce(IV) complexes for hydrolyzing G-overhang; and (iv) upconversion nanoparticles for real-time tracking. The multivalent targeted DNA nano-hydrolase can be traced to precisely digest telomeric G-overhang, which contributes to telomeric DNA shortening and thereby causes cell aging and apoptosis. The anticancer treatment is further proved by in vivo studies. In this way, this design provides a telomeric G-overhang-specific eradication strategy based on a non-G-quadruplex targeting manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhuan Sun
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin 130022, China.,School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Chuanqi Zhao
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin 130022, China
| | - Tingting Cui
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin 130022, China.,School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Hongshuang Qin
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin 130022, China
| | - Jingsheng Niu
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin 130022, China.,School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Jinsong Ren
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin 130022, China.,School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Xiaogang Qu
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin 130022, China.,School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
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35
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Faheem MM, Seligson ND, Ahmad SM, Rasool RU, Gandhi SG, Bhagat M, Goswami A. Convergence of therapy-induced senescence (TIS) and EMT in multistep carcinogenesis: current opinions and emerging perspectives. Cell Death Discov 2020; 6:51. [PMID: 32566256 PMCID: PMC7295779 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-020-0286-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Revised: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug induced resistance is a widespread problem in the clinical management of cancer. Cancer cells, when exposed to cytotoxic drugs, can reprogram their cellular machinery and resist cell death. Evasion of cell death mechanisms, such as apoptosis and necroptosis, are part of a transcriptional reprogramming that cancer cells utilize to mediate cytotoxic threats. An additional strategy adopted by cancer cells to resist cell death is to initiate the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) program. EMT is a trans-differentiation process which facilitates a motile phenotype in cancer cells which can be induced when cells are challenged by specific classes of cytotoxic drugs. Induction of EMT in malignant cells also results in drug resistance. In this setting, therapy-induced senescence (TIS), an enduring "proliferative arrest", serves as an alternate approach against cancer because cancer cells remain susceptible to induced senescence. The molecular processes of senescence have proved challenging to understand. Senescence has previously been described solely as a tumor-suppressive mechanism; however, recent evidences suggest that senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) can contribute to tumor progression. SASP has also been identified to contribute to EMT induction. Even though the causes of senescence and EMT induction can be wholly different from each other, a functional link between EMT and senescence is still obscure. In this review, we summarize the evidence of potential cross-talk between EMT and senescence while highlighting some of the most commonly identified molecular players. This review will shed light on these two intertwined and highly conserved cellular process, while providing background of the therapeutic implications of these processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mir Mohd Faheem
- Cancer Pharmacology Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, 180001 India
- School of Biotechnology, University of Jammu, Jammu, 180006 India
| | - Nathan D. Seligson
- Department of Pharmacotherapy and Translational Research, The University of Florida, Jacksonville, FL USA
- Department of Pharmacogenomics and Translational Research, Nemours Children’s Specialty Care, Jacksonville, FL USA
| | - Syed Mudabir Ahmad
- Cancer Pharmacology Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, 180001 India
- Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR), CSIR- Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, 180001 India
| | - Reyaz Ur Rasool
- Perelman School of Medicine, Cancer Biology Division, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
| | - Sumit G. Gandhi
- Plant Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, 180001 India
| | - Madhulika Bhagat
- School of Biotechnology, University of Jammu, Jammu, 180006 India
| | - Anindya Goswami
- Cancer Pharmacology Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, 180001 India
- Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR), CSIR- Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, 180001 India
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36
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Liu P, Lu Z, Wu Y, Shang D, Zhao Z, Shen Y, Zhang Y, Zhu F, Liu H, Tu Z. Cellular Senescence-Inducing Small Molecules for Cancer Treatment. Curr Cancer Drug Targets 2020; 19:109-119. [PMID: 29848278 DOI: 10.2174/1568009618666180530092825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Revised: 02/10/2018] [Accepted: 03/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Recently, the chemotherapeutic drug-induced cellular senescence has been considered a promising anti-cancer approach. The drug-induced senescence, which shows both similar and different hallmarks from replicative and oncogene-induced senescence, was regarded as a key determinant of tumor response to chemotherapy in vitro and in vivo. To date, an amount of effective chemotherapeutic drugs that can evoke senescence in cancer cells have been reported. The targets of these drugs differ substantially, including senescence signaling pathways, DNA replication process, DNA damage pathways, epigenetic modifications, microtubule polymerization, senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), and so on. By summarizing senescence-inducing small molecule drugs together with their specific traits and corresponding mechanisms, this review is devoted to inform scientists to develop novel therapeutic strategies against cancer through inducing senescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Liu
- Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Ziwen Lu
- School of Pharmacy, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Yanfang Wu
- Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Dongsheng Shang
- Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China.,School of Pharmacy, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Zhicong Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Yanting Shen
- School of Pharmacy, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Yafei Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Feifei Zhu
- Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Hanqing Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Zhigang Tu
- Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
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Jin J, Hou J, Long W, Zhang X, Lu YJ, Li D, Zhang K, Wong WL. Synthesis of fluorescent G-quadruplex DNA binding ligands for the comparison of terminal group effects in molecular interaction: Phenol versus methoxybenzene. Bioorg Chem 2020; 99:103821. [PMID: 32279036 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2020.103821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Revised: 03/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
A number of new fluorescent nucleic acid binding ligands were synthesized by utilizing the non-specific thiazole orange dye as the basic scaffold for molecular design. Under simple synthetic conditions, the molecular scaffold of thiazole orange bridged with a terminal side-group (phenol or methoxybenzene) becomes more flexible because the newly added ethylene bridge is relatively less rigid than the methylene of thiazole orange. It was found that these molecules showed better selectivity towards G-quadruplex DNA structure in molecular interactions with different type of nucleic acids. The difference in terms of induced DNA-ligand interaction signal, selectivity, and binding affinity of the ligands with the representative nucleic acids including single-stranded DNA, double-stranded DNA, telomere and promoter G4-DNA and ribosomal RNA were investigated. The position of the terminal methoxyl groups was found showing strong influence both on binding affinity and fluorescent discrimination among 19 nucleic acids tested. The ligand with a methoxyl group substituted at the meta-position of the styryl moiety exhibited the best fluorescent recognition performance towards telo21 G4-DNA. A good linear relationship between the induced fluorescent binding signal and the concentration of telo21 was obtained. The comparison of ligand-DNA interaction properties including equilibrium binding constants, molecular docking, G4-conformation change and stabilization ability for G4-structures was also conducted. Two cancer cell lines (human prostate cancer cell (PC3) and human hepatoma cell (hepG2)) were selected to explore the inhibitory effect of the ligands on the cancer cell growth. The IC50 values obtained in the MTT assay for the two cancer cells were found in the range of 3.4-10.8 μM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingwei Jin
- School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen 529020, PR China; International Healthcare Innovation Institute (Jiangmen), Jiangmen 529040, PR China; Institute of Natural Medicine and Green Chemistry, School of Chemical Engineering and Light Industry, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Jinqiang Hou
- Department of Chemistry, Lakehead University and Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute, 980 Oliver Road, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6V4, Canada
| | - Wei Long
- Institute of Natural Medicine and Green Chemistry, School of Chemical Engineering and Light Industry, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Xinyue Zhang
- School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen 529020, PR China; International Healthcare Innovation Institute (Jiangmen), Jiangmen 529040, PR China
| | - Yu-Jing Lu
- Institute of Natural Medicine and Green Chemistry, School of Chemical Engineering and Light Industry, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Dongli Li
- School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen 529020, PR China; International Healthcare Innovation Institute (Jiangmen), Jiangmen 529040, PR China
| | - Kun Zhang
- School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen 529020, PR China; International Healthcare Innovation Institute (Jiangmen), Jiangmen 529040, PR China
| | - Wing-Leung Wong
- The State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; School of Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Wuyi University, Jiangmen 529020, PR China; International Healthcare Innovation Institute (Jiangmen), Jiangmen 529040, PR China.
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Amato R, Valenzuela M, Berardinelli F, Salvati E, Maresca C, Leone S, Antoccia A, Sgura A. G-quadruplex Stabilization Fuels the ALT Pathway in ALT-positive Osteosarcoma Cells. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11030304. [PMID: 32183119 PMCID: PMC7140816 DOI: 10.3390/genes11030304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Most human tumors maintain telomere lengths by telomerase, whereas a portion of them (10–15%) uses a mechanism named alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT). The telomeric G-quadruplex (G4) ligand RHPS4 is known for its potent antiproliferative effect, as shown in telomerase-positive cancer models. Moreover, RHPS4 is also able to reduce cell proliferation in ALT cells, although the influence of G4 stabilization on the ALT mechanism has so far been poorly investigated. Here we show that sensitivity to RHPS4 is comparable in ALT-positive (U2OS; SAOS-2) and telomerase-positive (HOS) osteosarcoma cell lines, unlinking the telomere maintenance mechanism and RHPS4 responsiveness. To investigate the impact of G4 stabilization on ALT, the cardinal ALT hallmarks were analyzed. A significant induction of telomeric doublets, telomeric clusterized DNA damage, ALT-associated Promyelocytic Leukaemia-bodies (APBs), telomere sister chromatid exchanges (T-SCE) and c-circles was found exclusively in RHPS4-treated ALT cells. We surmise that RHPS4 affects ALT mechanisms through the induction of replicative stress that in turn is converted in DNA damage at telomeres, fueling recombination. In conclusion, our work indicates that RHPS4-induced telomeric DNA damage promotes overactivation of telomeric recombination in ALT cells, opening new questions on the therapeutic employment of G4 ligands in the treatment of ALT positive tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Amato
- Department of Science, Roma Tre University, I-00146 Rome, Italy; (R.A.); (M.V.); (S.L.); (A.A.); (A.S.)
| | - Martina Valenzuela
- Department of Science, Roma Tre University, I-00146 Rome, Italy; (R.A.); (M.V.); (S.L.); (A.A.); (A.S.)
| | - Francesco Berardinelli
- Department of Science, Roma Tre University, I-00146 Rome, Italy; (R.A.); (M.V.); (S.L.); (A.A.); (A.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0657-33-6330
| | - Erica Salvati
- BPM-CNR Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, National Research Council, 00185 Rome, Italy;
- Oncogenomic and Epigenetic Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy;
| | - Carmen Maresca
- Oncogenomic and Epigenetic Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy;
| | - Stefano Leone
- Department of Science, Roma Tre University, I-00146 Rome, Italy; (R.A.); (M.V.); (S.L.); (A.A.); (A.S.)
| | - Antonio Antoccia
- Department of Science, Roma Tre University, I-00146 Rome, Italy; (R.A.); (M.V.); (S.L.); (A.A.); (A.S.)
| | - Antonella Sgura
- Department of Science, Roma Tre University, I-00146 Rome, Italy; (R.A.); (M.V.); (S.L.); (A.A.); (A.S.)
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Mulholland K, Sullivan HJ, Garner J, Cai J, Chen B, Wu C. Three-Dimensional Structure of RNA Monomeric G-Quadruplex Containing ALS and FTD Related G4C2 Repeat and Its Binding with TMPyP4 Probed by Homology Modeling based on Experimental Constraints and Molecular Dynamics Simulations. ACS Chem Neurosci 2020; 11:57-75. [PMID: 31800202 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.9b00572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The G-quadruplex-forming hexanucleotide repeat expansion (HRE), d(G4C2)n, within the human C9orf72 gene is the root cause for familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-frontotemporal dementia (ALS-FTD). A recent study has shown that TMPyP4 has good potential to work as a RNA G-quadruplex binder in treating ALS and FTD. Although the high-resolution structure of the monomeric DNA antiparallel G-quadruplex form of the monomeric hexanucleotide repeat was recently solved, the RNA parallel G-quadruplex structure and its complex with TMPyP4 are not available yet. In this study, we first constructed the homology model for the parallel monomeric RNA G-quadruplex of r(G4C2)3G4 based on experimental constraints and the parallel monomeric G-quadruplex DNA crystal structure. Although the G-tetra core of the homology model was stable observed in 15 μs molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, we observed that the loops adopt additional conformations besides the initial crystal conformation, where TMPyP4 binding was found to reduce the loop fluctuation of the RNA monomeric G-quadruplex. Next, we probed the elusive binding behavior of TMPyP4 to the RNA monomeric G-quadruplex. Encouragingly, the binding modes observed are similar to the modes observed in two experimental complexes of a parallel DNA G-quadruplex with TMPyP4. We also constructed a Markov state model to provide insights into the binding pathways. Together, the findings from our study may assist future development of G-quadruplex-specific ligands in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases like ALS and FTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Mulholland
- College of Science and Mathematics, Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey 08028, United States
| | - Holli-Joi Sullivan
- College of Science and Mathematics, Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey 08028, United States
| | - Joseph Garner
- College of Science and Mathematics, Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey 08028, United States
| | - Jun Cai
- College of Science and Mathematics, Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey 08028, United States
| | - Brian Chen
- College of Science and Mathematics, Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey 08028, United States
| | - Chun Wu
- College of Science and Mathematics, Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey 08028, United States
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Giangaspero F, Minasi S, Gianno F, Alzoubi H, Antonelli M, Buttarelli F. Mechanisms of telomere maintenance in pediatric brain tumors: Promising targets for therapy – A narrative review. GLIOMA 2020. [DOI: 10.4103/glioma.glioma_20_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
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41
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Li W, Mjekiqi E, Douma W, Wang X, Kavatsyuk O, Hoekstra R, Poully J, Schlathölter T. Hole Migration in Telomere-Based Oligonucleotide Anions and G-Quadruplexes. Chemistry 2019; 25:16114-16119. [PMID: 31614016 PMCID: PMC6972685 DOI: 10.1002/chem.201904105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Revised: 10/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Vacuum ultraviolet photoionization of a gas-phase oligonucleotide anion leads to the formation of a valence hole. This hole migrates towards an energetically favorable site where it can weaken bonds and ultimately lead to bond cleavage. We have studied Vacuum UV photoionization of deprotonated oligonucleotides containing the human telomere sequence dTTAGGG and G-quadruplex structures consisting of four dTGGGGT single strands, stabilized by NH4 + counter ions. The oligonucleotide and G-quadruplex anions were confined in a radiofrequency ion trap, interfaced with a synchrotron beamline and the photofragmentation was studied using time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Oligonucleotide 12-mers containing the 5'-TTAGGG sequence were found to predominantly break in the GGG region, whereas no selective bond cleavage region was observed for the reversed 5'-GGGATT sequence. For G-quadruplex structures, fragmentation was quenched and mostly non-dissociative single and double electron removal was observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Li
- Zernike Institute for Advanced MaterialsUniversity of GroningenNijenborgh 49747AGGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Edita Mjekiqi
- Zernike Institute for Advanced MaterialsUniversity of GroningenNijenborgh 49747AGGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Wessel Douma
- Zernike Institute for Advanced MaterialsUniversity of GroningenNijenborgh 49747AGGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Xin Wang
- Zernike Institute for Advanced MaterialsUniversity of GroningenNijenborgh 49747AGGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Oksana Kavatsyuk
- Zernike Institute for Advanced MaterialsUniversity of GroningenNijenborgh 49747AGGroningenThe Netherlands
- University College GroningenUniversity of GroningenHoendiepskade 23/249718 BGGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Ronnie Hoekstra
- Zernike Institute for Advanced MaterialsUniversity of GroningenNijenborgh 49747AGGroningenThe Netherlands
| | - Jean‐Christophe Poully
- CIMAP laboratory UMR 6252Université de Caen Normandie/CEA/CNRS/ENSICAENBd Becquerel14070CAEN Cedex 5France
| | - Thomas Schlathölter
- Zernike Institute for Advanced MaterialsUniversity of GroningenNijenborgh 49747AGGroningenThe Netherlands
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Falabella M, Fernandez RJ, Johnson FB, Kaufman BA. Potential Roles for G-Quadruplexes in Mitochondria. Curr Med Chem 2019; 26:2918-2932. [PMID: 29493440 DOI: 10.2174/0929867325666180228165527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2017] [Revised: 02/16/2018] [Accepted: 02/16/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Some DNA or RNA sequences rich in guanine (G) nucleotides can adopt noncanonical conformations known as G-quadruplexes (G4). In the nuclear genome, G4 motifs have been associated with genome instability and gene expression defects, but they are increasingly recognized to be regulatory structures. Recent studies have revealed that G4 structures can form in the mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) and potential G4 forming sequences are associated with the origin of mtDNA deletions. However, little is known about the regulatory role of G4 structures in mitochondria. In this short review, we will explore the potential for G4 structures to regulate mitochondrial function, based on evidence from the nucleus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Micol Falabella
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Center for Metabolism and Mitochondrial Medicine and Vascular Medicine Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Rafael J Fernandez
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - F Brad Johnson
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Brett A Kaufman
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Center for Metabolism and Mitochondrial Medicine and Vascular Medicine Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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Wróbel A, Kolesińska B, Frączyk J, Kamiński ZJ, Tankiewicz-Kwedlo A, Hermanowicz J, Czarnomysy R, Maliszewski D, Drozdowska D. Synthesis and cellular effects of novel 1,3,5-triazine derivatives in DLD and Ht-29 human colon cancer cell lines. Invest New Drugs 2019; 38:990-1002. [PMID: 31520321 PMCID: PMC7340680 DOI: 10.1007/s10637-019-00838-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
This study provides new information on the cellular effects of 1,3,5-triazine nitrogen mustards with different peptide groups in DLD and Ht-29 human colon cancer cell lines. A novel series of 2,4,6-trisubstituted 1,3,5-triazine derivatives bearing 2-chloroethyl and oligopeptide moieties was designed and synthesized. The most cytotoxic derivative was triazine with an Ala-Ala-OMe substituent on the ring (compound 7b). This compound induced time- and dose-dependent cytotoxicity in the DLD-1 and HT-29 colon cancer cell lines. The triazine derivative furthermore induced apoptosis through intracellular signaling pathway attenuation. Compound 7b may be a candidate for further evaluation as a chemotherapeutic agent against colorectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnieszka Wróbel
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Medical University of Bialystok, Białystok, Poland
| | - Beata Kolesińska
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Lodz, Poland
| | - Justyna Frączyk
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Lodz, Poland
| | | | - Anna Tankiewicz-Kwedlo
- Department of Monitored Pharmacotherapy, Medical University of Bialystok, Białystok, Poland
| | - Justyna Hermanowicz
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland
| | - Robert Czarnomysy
- Department of Synthesis and Technology of Drugs, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland
| | - Dawid Maliszewski
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Medical University of Bialystok, Białystok, Poland
| | - Danuta Drozdowska
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Medical University of Bialystok, Białystok, Poland.
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Ruggiero E, Richter SN. G-quadruplexes and G-quadruplex ligands: targets and tools in antiviral therapy. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 46:3270-3283. [PMID: 29554280 PMCID: PMC5909458 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 270] [Impact Index Per Article: 54.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2018] [Accepted: 03/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
G-quadruplexes (G4s) are non-canonical nucleic acids secondary structures that form within guanine-rich strands of regulatory genomic regions. G4s have been extensively described in the human genome, especially in telomeres and oncogene promoters; in recent years the presence of G4s in viruses has attracted increasing interest. Indeed, G4s have been reported in several viruses, including those involved in recent epidemics, such as the Zika and Ebola viruses. Viral G4s are usually located in regulatory regions of the genome and implicated in the control of key viral processes; in some cases, they have been involved also in viral latency. In this context, G4 ligands have been developed and tested both as tools to study the complexity of G4-mediated mechanisms in the viral life cycle, and as therapeutic agents. In general, G4 ligands showed promising antiviral activity, with G4-mediated mechanisms of action both at the genome and transcript level. This review aims to provide an updated close-up of the literature on G4s in viruses. The current state of the art of G4 ligands in antiviral research is also reported, with particular focus on the structural and physicochemical requirements for optimal biological activity. The achievements and the to-dos in the field are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela Ruggiero
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Padua 35121, Italy
| | - Sara N Richter
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, Padua 35121, Italy
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46
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Zhu J, Liu W, Chen C, Zhang H, Yue D, Li C, Zhang L, Gao L, Huo Y, Liu C, Giaccone G, Zhang B, Wang C. TPP1 OB-fold domain protein suppresses cell proliferation and induces cell apoptosis by inhibiting telomerase recruitment to telomeres in human lung cancer cells. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2019; 145:1509-1519. [PMID: 31016380 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-019-02921-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Maintaining telomeres by recruiting telomerase-to-chromosome ends is essential for cancer cell survival. Inhibiting telomerase recruitment to telomeres represents a novel strategy for telomere-based lung cancer therapy. However, approaches for interrupting telomerase recruitment for cancer therapy still need to be explored. METHODS The telomere-binding protein TPP1 is responsible for recruiting telomerase to telomeres and synthesizing telomeres through the association between the oligosaccharide/oligonucleotide-binding (OB)-fold domain of TPP1 and telomerase reverse transcriptase. We overexpressed the TPP1 OB domain (TPP1-OB) by lentivirus infection in lung cancer cells. Telomere length was examined by Southern blot analysis of terminal restriction fragments. The effects of TPP1-OB on cell proliferation, the cell cycle, apoptosis, chemosensitivity, and tumor growth were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. RESULT TPP1-OB inhibited the recruitment of telomerase to telomeres and shortened telomere length by acting as a dominant-negative mutant of TPP1. TPP1-OB resulted in reduced cell proliferation, G1 cell cycle arrest, and increased cell apoptosis in lung cancer cells. Cell apoptosis occurred mainly through the caspase-3-dependent signaling pathway. TPP1-OB also suppressed anchorage-independent growth and tumor growth in vivo. Moreover, we demonstrated that TPP1-OB enhances the sensitivity of lung cancer cells to the chemotherapeutic drug paclitaxel. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that inhibiting TPP1-mediated telomerase recruitment by expressing the TPP1-OB domain is a potential novel strategy for telomere-targeted lung cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinfang Zhu
- Department of Lung Cancer, Tianjin Lung Cancer Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Huan-Hu-Xi Road, Ti-Yuan-Bei, He Xi District, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Weiran Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Tianjin, China
| | - Chen Chen
- Department of Lung Cancer, Tianjin Lung Cancer Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Huan-Hu-Xi Road, Ti-Yuan-Bei, He Xi District, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Hua Zhang
- Department of Lung Cancer, Tianjin Lung Cancer Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Huan-Hu-Xi Road, Ti-Yuan-Bei, He Xi District, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Dongsheng Yue
- Department of Lung Cancer, Tianjin Lung Cancer Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Huan-Hu-Xi Road, Ti-Yuan-Bei, He Xi District, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Chenguang Li
- Department of Lung Cancer, Tianjin Lung Cancer Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Huan-Hu-Xi Road, Ti-Yuan-Bei, He Xi District, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Lianmin Zhang
- Department of Lung Cancer, Tianjin Lung Cancer Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Huan-Hu-Xi Road, Ti-Yuan-Bei, He Xi District, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Liuwei Gao
- Department of Lung Cancer, Tianjin Lung Cancer Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Huan-Hu-Xi Road, Ti-Yuan-Bei, He Xi District, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Yansong Huo
- Department of Lung Cancer, Tianjin Lung Cancer Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Huan-Hu-Xi Road, Ti-Yuan-Bei, He Xi District, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Chang Liu
- Department of Lung Cancer, Tianjin Lung Cancer Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Huan-Hu-Xi Road, Ti-Yuan-Bei, He Xi District, Tianjin, 300060, China
| | - Giuseppe Giaccone
- Department of Lung Cancer, Tianjin Lung Cancer Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Huan-Hu-Xi Road, Ti-Yuan-Bei, He Xi District, Tianjin, 300060, China.,Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Lung Cancer, Tianjin Lung Cancer Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Huan-Hu-Xi Road, Ti-Yuan-Bei, He Xi District, Tianjin, 300060, China.
| | - Changli Wang
- Department of Lung Cancer, Tianjin Lung Cancer Center, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Huan-Hu-Xi Road, Ti-Yuan-Bei, He Xi District, Tianjin, 300060, China.
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47
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Wu G, Chen L, Liu W, Yang D. Molecular Recognition of the Hybrid-Type G-Quadruplexes in Human Telomeres. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24081578. [PMID: 31013622 PMCID: PMC6514847 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24081578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2019] [Revised: 04/17/2019] [Accepted: 04/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
G-quadruplex (G4) DNA secondary structures formed in human telomeres have been shown to inhibit cancer-specific telomerase and alternative lengthening of telomere (ALT) pathways. Thus, human telomeric G-quadruplexes are considered attractive targets for anticancer drugs. Human telomeric G-quadruplexes are structurally polymorphic and predominantly form two hybrid-type G-quadruplexes, namely hybrid-1 and hybrid-2, under physiologically relevant solution conditions. To date, only a handful solution structures are available for drug complexes of human telomeric G-quadruplexes. In this review, we will describe two recent solution structural studies from our labs. We use NMR spectroscopy to elucidate the solution structure of a 1:1 complex between a small molecule epiberberine and the hybrid-2 telomeric G-quadruplex, and the structures of 1:1 and 4:2 complexes between a small molecule Pt-tripod and the hybrid-1 telomeric G-quadruplex. Structural information of small molecule complexes can provide important information for understanding small molecule recognition of human telomeric G-quadruplexes and for structure-based rational drug design targeting human telomeric G-quadruplexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanhui Wu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, 575 W Stadium Ave, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
| | - Luying Chen
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, 575 W Stadium Ave, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
| | - Wenting Liu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, 575 W Stadium Ave, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
| | - Danzhou Yang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, 575 W Stadium Ave, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
- Purdue Center for Cancer Research, 201 S University St, West Lafayette, IN 47906, USA.
- Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery, 720 Clinic Dr, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
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48
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Beauvarlet J, Bensadoun P, Darbo E, Labrunie G, Rousseau B, Richard E, Draskovic I, Londono-Vallejo A, Dupuy JW, Nath Das R, Guédin A, Robert G, Orange F, Croce S, Valesco V, Soubeyran P, Ryan KM, Mergny JL, Djavaheri-Mergny M. Modulation of the ATM/autophagy pathway by a G-quadruplex ligand tips the balance between senescence and apoptosis in cancer cells. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 47:2739-2756. [PMID: 30759257 PMCID: PMC6451122 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Revised: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
G-quadruplex ligands exert their antiproliferative effects through telomere-dependent and telomere-independent mechanisms, but the inter-relationships among autophagy, cell growth arrest and cell death induced by these ligands remain largely unexplored. Here, we demonstrate that the G-quadruplex ligand 20A causes growth arrest of cancer cells in culture and in a HeLa cell xenografted mouse model. This response is associated with the induction of senescence and apoptosis. Transcriptomic analysis of 20A treated cells reveals a significant functional enrichment of biological pathways related to growth arrest, DNA damage response and the lysosomal pathway. 20A elicits global DNA damage but not telomeric damage and activates the ATM and autophagy pathways. Loss of ATM following 20A treatment inhibits both autophagy and senescence and sensitizes cells to death. Moreover, disruption of autophagy by deletion of two essential autophagy genes ATG5 and ATG7 leads to failure of CHK1 activation by 20A and subsequently increased cell death. Our results, therefore, identify the activation of ATM by 20A as a critical player in the balance between senescence and apoptosis and autophagy as one of the key mediators of such regulation. Thus, targeting the ATM/autophagy pathway might be a promising strategy to achieve the maximal anticancer effect of this compound.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Beauvarlet
- Institut Bergonié, Université de Bordeaux, INSERM U1218, F-33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Paul Bensadoun
- Institut Bergonié, Université de Bordeaux, INSERM U1218, F-33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Elodie Darbo
- Institut Bergonié, Université de Bordeaux, INSERM U1218, F-33076 Bordeaux, France
- Centre de Bioinformatique de Bordeaux, université de Bordeaux, F-33000 Bordeaux France
| | - Gaelle Labrunie
- Institut Bergonié, Université de Bordeaux, INSERM U1218, F-33076 Bordeaux, France
- ARNA Laboratory, Université de Bordeaux, INSERM U1212, CNRS UMR 5320, IECB, F-33600, Pessac, France
| | - Benoît Rousseau
- Service commun des animaleries, Université de Bordeaux, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Elodie Richard
- Institut Bergonié, Université de Bordeaux, INSERM U1218, F-33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Irena Draskovic
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS, UMR3244, F-75005 Paris, France
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, UMR3244, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Arturo Londono-Vallejo
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS, UMR3244, F-75005 Paris, France
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, UMR3244, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Jean-William Dupuy
- Université de Bordeaux, Centre de Génomique Fonctionnelle, Plateforme Protéome, F-33000, Bordeaux, France
| | - Rabindra Nath Das
- ARNA Laboratory, Université de Bordeaux, INSERM U1212, CNRS UMR 5320, IECB, F-33600, Pessac, France
| | - Aurore Guédin
- ARNA Laboratory, Université de Bordeaux, INSERM U1212, CNRS UMR 5320, IECB, F-33600, Pessac, France
| | - Guillaume Robert
- Inserm U1065, C3M, Team: Myeloid Malignancies and Multiple Myeloma, Université Côte d’Azur, F-06204 Nice, France
| | - Francois Orange
- Université Côte d’Azur, Centre Commun de Microscopie Appliquée (CCMA), 06108 Nice, France
| | - Sabrina Croce
- Department of Biopathology, Institut Bergonié, F-33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Valerie Valesco
- Department of Biopathology, Institut Bergonié, F-33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Pierre Soubeyran
- Institut Bergonié, Université de Bordeaux, INSERM U1218, F-33076 Bordeaux, France
| | - Kevin M Ryan
- Cancer Research UK Beatson Institute, Glasgow, G611BD, UK and Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow,Glasgow G61 1QH, UK
| | - Jean-Louis Mergny
- ARNA Laboratory, Université de Bordeaux, INSERM U1212, CNRS UMR 5320, IECB, F-33600, Pessac, France
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic
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49
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Quinoline and quinolone dimers and their biological activities: An overview. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 161:101-117. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.10.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2018] [Revised: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 10/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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50
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Abstract
G-quadruplexes (G4s) have become one of the most exciting nucleic acid secondary structures. A noncanonical, four-stranded structure formed in guanine-rich DNA and RNA sequences, G-quadruplexes can readily form under physiologically relevant conditions and are globularly folded structures. DNA is widely recognized as a double-helical structure essential in genetic information storage. However, only ~3% of the human genome is expressed in protein; RNA and DNA may form noncanonical secondary structures that are functionally important. G-quadruplexes are one such example which have gained considerable attention for their formation and regulatory roles in biologically significant regions, such as human telomeres, oncogene-promoter regions, replication initiation sites, and 5'- and 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of mRNA. They are shown to be a regulatory motif in a number of critical cellular processes including gene transcription, translation, replication, and genomic stability. G-quadruplexes are also found in nonhuman genomes, particularly those of human pathogens. Therefore, G-quadruplexes have emerged as a new class of molecular targets for drug development. In addition, there is considerable interest in the use of G-quadruplexes for biomaterials, biosensors, and biocatalysts. The First International Meeting on Quadruplex DNA was held in 2007, and the G-quadruplex field has been growing dramatically over the last decade. The methods used to study G-quadruplexes have been essential to the rapid progress in our understanding of this exciting nucleic acid secondary structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danzhou Yang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, Purdue Center for Cancer Research, Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery, West Lafayette, IN USA
| | - Clement Lin
- Medicinal Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN USA
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