Properties of exonuclease-resistant, psoralen-conjugated oligodeoxyribonucleotides in vitro and in cell culture

Inhibition of transcription by platinated triplex-forming oligonucleotides

Platinated triplex-forming oligonucleotides (TFOs) consisting of 2'-methoxythymidine and 2'-methoxy-5-methylcytidine and an N-7 platinated deoxyguanosine ((Pt)G) at the 5'-((Pt)G-TFO), 3'-(TFO-G(Pt)), or 3'- and 5'-((Pt)G-TFO-G(Pt)) ends of the TFO form mono-((Pt)G-TFO and TFO-G(Pt)) and interstrand ((Pt)G-TFO-G(Pt)) cross-links with target DNA as a result of reaction of the (Pt)G with guanines adjacent to the homopurine TFO binding site in the target. The extent of cross-linking is greatest when the (Pt)G is located on the 3' end of the TFO and the target guanine is on the same strand as the TFO binding site. Multiple, contiguous deoxyguanosines in the TFO binding site or a cytosine adjacent to the G(Pt) of the TFO significantly reduce cross-linking. DNA reporter plasmids in which platinated TFOs were cross-linked at a site in the transcribed region between a CMV promoter and a luciferase reporter gene were transfected into Chinese hamster ovary cells, and luciferase expression was compared with that for the corresponding non-cross-linked plasmid. Luciferase expression was inhibited 95 % when TFO-G(Pt) was bound and cross-linked to the transcribed strand, demonstrating that the cross-linked TFO was able to block transcription elongation. Further inhibition (99 %) was observed in nucleotide excision repair (NER) deficient cells, suggesting that NER may repair this lesion. The 3'-G(Pt) group of TFO-G(Pt) protects the TFO from degradation by exonucleases found in mammalian serum. Taken together, these results suggest that platinated TFOs of the type TFO-G(Pt) may find applications as agents for suppressing DNA transcription and consequently inhibiting gene expression in mammalian cells.

Impact of site-specific nucleobase deletions on the arthritogenicity of DNA

Oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) containing unmethylated CpG motifs (CpG ODN) potently stimulate the innate and acquired immune system. We have compared the in vivo and in vitro inflammatogenic properties of CpG ODNs containing a specific nucleobase deletion either 5'-upstream (ODN-2) or 3'-downstream (ODN-3) of the CpG motif, comparing with a prototype CpG ODN (ODN-1). The frequency of arthritis was similar after intra-articular (i.a.) injections of ODN-1 or ODN-3, but was significantly lower (p < 0.02) after i.a. injections of ODN-2. In vitro production of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha was higher in mouse spleen cell cultures exposed to ODN-2 in comparison to ODN-1. In addition, the level of IL-10 induced by ODN-2 was higher than that induced by ODN-1. On the other hand, TNF-alpha, IL-10, and MCP-1 levels, as well as splenocyte proliferative responses were all significantly lower for ODN-3 than for ODN-1. These results suggest that a 5'-upstream nucleobase deletion reduces arthritogenicity, while maintaining or increasing the production of pro- and anti-inflammatory factors. In contrast, a 3'-downstream nucleobase deletion has no effect on arthritogenicity, despite significantly lower levels of proliferation and pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines, compared with ODN-1. This study indicates that specific structural elements within the ODN sequence but outside the CpG motif, modulate the immunostimulatory properties of CpG ODNs.

'Immunomers'--novel 3'-3'-linked CpG oligodeoxyribonucleotides as potent immunomodulatory agents

Oligodeoxyribonucleotides containing CpG dinucleotides (CpG DNAs) are currently being evaluated as novel immunomodulators in clinical trials. Recently, we showed that an accessible 5' end is required for immunostimulatory activity and blocking the 5' end of CpG DNA by conjugation of certain ligands abrogates immunostimulatory activity. Based on these results, we designed and synthesized 3'-3'-linked CpG DNAs that contained two or more identical CpG DNA segments, referred to here as 'immunomers'. The use of solid support bearing diDMT-glyceryl-linker permitted convenient synthesis of immunomers with both segments synthesized simultaneously, giving better yields and purity. The in vitro and in vivo studies suggest that as a result of accessibility to two 5' ends for recognition, immunomers show an enhanced immunostimulatory activity compared with linear CpG DNAs. We also studied the suitability of a number of different linkers for attaching the two segments of immunomers. A C3-linker was found to be optimal for joining the two segments of immunomers. Incorporation of multiple linkers between the two segments of immunomers resulted in different cytokine profiles depending on the nature and number of linkers incorporated. Additionally, the length of immunomer also plays a significant role in inducing immune responses. An immunomer containing 11 nt in each segment showed the highest activity and an 11mer linear CpG DNA failed to stimulate an immune response. These results suggest that immunomers have several advantages over conventional linear CpG DNAs for immunomodulatory activity studies.

Antisense sequence-directed cross-linking of DNA oligonucleotides by mitomycin C

Oligodeoxyribonucleotides (ODNs) conjugated with mitomycin C (MC) via (-CH2-)n tethers of different lengths (n = 6, 12) to their terminal 5'-phosphate were synthesized, and their interaction with target complementary single-stranded DNA oligonucleotides was investigated. MC, a clinically used natural anticancer drug, is known to act as a bioreductive alkylating agent of duplex DNA with a remarkable preference for 5'-d(CG) sequences. The usual enzymatic bioreductive techniques known to trigger MC to alkylate DNA were employed in the reaction between the MC-oligonucleotide conjugates and their targets radiolabeled by 32P at their 5'-phosphate. A slow-moving radiolabeled product, detected by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis using phosphorimaging techniques, was obtained in 15-25% yield with complementary DNA as target. Formation of these products was dependent upon complementary duplex formation. Evidence is presented that the DNA target is alkylated by the mitomycin C moiety of the ODN conjugate at the 2-amino group of a guanine base. These findings suggest that the MC-ODN conjugates may be useful specific inhibitors of cellular or viral gene expression. To our knowledge this is the first report on ODN conjugates of a reductively activated drug of known therapeutic value.