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Meriç N, Kar E, Kar F. 4-Methylthiazole triggers apoptosis and mitochondrial disruption in HL-60 cells. Mol Biol Rep 2024; 51:997. [PMID: 39297923 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-024-09939-y] [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: 07/26/2024] [Accepted: 09/12/2024] [Indexed: 09/21/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thiazole derivatives are gaining prominence in cancer research due to their potent anti-cancer effects and multifaceted biological activities. In leukemia research, these compounds are particularly studied for their ability to induce apoptosis, disrupt mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and modulate cell signaling pathways. METHODS AND RESULTS This study investigates the efficacy of 4-Methylthiazole in inducing apoptosis in HL-60 leukemia cells. Apoptosis was quantified via flow cytometry using FITC Annexin V and propidium iodide staining. Mitochondrial disruption was evaluated through alterations in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) as measured by the JC-1 assay. The compound significantly disrupted MMP, activated Caspase-3, and induced the release of Cytochrome C, all of which are critical markers of apoptosis (****p < 0.0001, ***p < 0.001, **p < 0.01, *p < 0.05). Additionally, treatment with 4-Methylthiazole markedly reduced CD45 and CD123 surface markers, indicating significant phenotypic alterations in leukemia cells (****p < 0.0001). High-dose treatment with 4-Methylthiazole significantly increased ROS levels, suggesting elevated oxidative stress and the presence of intracellular free radicals, contributing to its cytotoxic effects (*p < 0.05). A significant rise in TNF-α levels was observed post-treatment, indicating a pro-inflammatory response that may further inhibit leukemia cell viability. While IL-6 levels remained unchanged, a dose-dependent decrease in IL-10 levels was noted, suggesting a reduction in immunosuppressive conditions within the tumor microenvironment (*p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Overall, 4-Methylthiazole targets leukemia cells through multiple apoptotic mechanisms and modifies the immune landscape of the tumor microenvironment, enhancing its therapeutic potential. This study highlights the need for further clinical investigation to fully exploit the potential of thiazole derivatives in leukemia treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neslihan Meriç
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Kütahya Health Sciences University, Kütahya, Turkey.
| | - Ezgi Kar
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Kütahya Health Sciences University, Kütahya, Turkey
| | - Fatih Kar
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry, Kütahya Health Sciences University, Kütahya, Turkey
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2
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Nowak-Karnowska J, Głuszyńska A, Kosman J, Dembska A. Fluorescence Turn-Off Ligand for Parallel G-Quadruplexes. Molecules 2024; 29:3907. [PMID: 39202986 PMCID: PMC11357100 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29163907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2024] [Revised: 08/14/2024] [Accepted: 08/16/2024] [Indexed: 09/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Parallel-stranded G-quadruplex structures are found to be common in the human promoter sequences. We tested highly fluorescent 9-methoxyluminarine ligand (9-MeLM) binding interactions with different parallel G-quadruplexes DNA by spectroscopic methods such as fluorescence and circular dichroism (CD) titration as well as UV melting profiles. The results showed that the studied 9-MeLM ligand interacted with the intramolecular parallel G-quadruplexes (G4s) with similar affinity. The binding constants of 9-methoxyluminarine with different parallel G4s were determined. The studies upon oligonucleotides with different flanking sequences on c-MYC G-quadruplex suggest that 9-methoxyluminarine may preferentially interact with 3'end of the c-MYC promoter. The high decrease in 9-MeLM ligand fluorescence upon binding to all tested G4s indicates that 9-methoxyluminarine molecule can be used as a selective fluorescence turn-off probe for parallel G-quadruplexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Nowak-Karnowska
- Department of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 8, 61-614 Poznań, Poland; (J.N.-K.); (A.G.)
| | - Agata Głuszyńska
- Department of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 8, 61-614 Poznań, Poland; (J.N.-K.); (A.G.)
| | - Joanna Kosman
- Department of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 8, 61-614 Poznań, Poland; (J.N.-K.); (A.G.)
- Laboratory of Molecular Assays and Imaging, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznań, Poland
| | - Anna Dembska
- Department of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University, Uniwersytetu Poznańskiego 8, 61-614 Poznań, Poland; (J.N.-K.); (A.G.)
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3
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Paul R, Dutta D, Mukhopadhyay TK, Müller D, Lala B, Datta A, Schwalbe H, Dash J. A non-B DNA binding peptidomimetic channel alters cellular functions. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5275. [PMID: 38902227 PMCID: PMC11190219 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49534-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
DNA binding transcription factors possess the ability to interact with lipid membranes to construct ion-permeable pathways. Herein, we present a thiazole-based DNA binding peptide mimic TBP2, which forms transmembrane ion channels, impacting cellular ion concentration and consequently stabilizing G-quadruplex DNA structures. TBP2 self-assembles into nanostructures, e.g., vesicles and nanofibers and facilitates the transportation of Na+ and K+ across lipid membranes with high conductance (~0.6 nS). Moreover, TBP2 exhibits increased fluorescence when incorporated into the membrane or in cellular nuclei. Monomeric TBP2 can enter the lipid membrane and localize to the nuclei of cancer cells. The coordinated process of time-dependent membrane or nuclear localization of TBP2, combined with elevated intracellular cation levels and direct G-quadruplex (G4) interaction, synergistically promotes formation and stability of G4 structures, triggering cancer cell death. This study introduces a platform to mimic and control intricate biological functions, leading to the discovery of innovative therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raj Paul
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata, 700032, India
| | - Debasish Dutta
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata, 700032, India
| | - Titas Kumar Mukhopadhyay
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata, 700032, India
| | - Diana Müller
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Goethe, University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue Strasse 7, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Binayak Lala
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata, 700032, India
| | - Ayan Datta
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata, 700032, India
| | - Harald Schwalbe
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Center for Biomolecular Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ), Goethe, University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue Strasse 7, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Jyotirmayee Dash
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata, 700032, India.
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4
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Cai JH, Yang DY, Zhang JJ, Tan JH, Huang ZS, Chen SB. Constructing triazole-modified quinazoline derivatives as selective c-MYC G-quadruplex ligands and potent anticancer agents through click chemistry. Bioorg Chem 2024; 144:107173. [PMID: 38335759 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107173] [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: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
c-MYC is a hallmark of various cancers, playing a critical role in promoting tumorigenesis. The formation of G-quadruplex (G4) in the c-MYC promoter region significantly suppresses its expression. Therefore, developing small-molecule ligands to stabilize c-MYC G4 formation and subsequentially suppress c-MYC expression is an attractive topic for c-MYC-driven cancer therapy. However, achieving selective ligands for c-MYC G4 poses challenges. In this study, we developed a series of triazole-modified quinazoline (TMQ) derivatives as potential c-MYC G4 ligands and c-MYC transcription inhibitors from 4-anilinoquinazoline lead 7a using click chemistry. Importantly, the c-MYC G4 stabilizing ability and antiproliferation activity were well correlated among these new derivatives, particularly in the c-MYC highly expressed colorectal cancer cell line HCT116. Among them, compound A6 exhibited good selectivity in stabilizing c-MYC G4 and in suppressing c-MYC transcription better than 7a. This compound induced G4 formation, selectively inhibited G4-related c-MYC transcription and suppressed the progression of HCT116 cells. These findings identify a new c-MYC transcription inhibitor and provide new insights for optimizing c-MYC G4-targeting ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiong-Heng Cai
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Dan-Yan Yang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jun-Jie Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jia-Heng Tan
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhi-Shu Huang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Shuo-Bin Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New Drug Design and Evaluation, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
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5
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Cao S, Su Q, Chen YH, Wang ML, Xu Y, Wang LH, Lu YH, Li JF, Liu J, Hong XJ, Wang HY, Liu JP, Wang ZG. Molecular Insights into the Specific Targeting of c-MYC G-Quadruplex by Thiazole Peptides. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:623. [PMID: 38203794 PMCID: PMC10778990 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Stabilization of a G-quadruplex (G4) in the promotor of the c-MYC proto-oncogene leads to inhibition of gene expression, and it thus represents a potentially attractive new strategy for cancer treatment. However, most G4 stabilizers show little selectivity among the many G4s present in the cellular complement of DNA and RNA. Intriguingly, a crescent-shaped cell-penetrating thiazole peptide, TH3, preferentially stabilizes the c-MYC G4 over other promotor G4s, but the mechanisms leading to this selective binding remain obscure. To investigate these mechanisms at the atomic level, we performed an in silico comparative investigation of the binding of TH3 and its analogue TH1 to the G4s from the promotors of c-MYC, c-KIT1, c-KIT2, and BCL2. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations, combined with in-depth analyses of non-covalent interactions and bulk and per-nucleotide binding free energies, revealed that both TH3 and TH1 can induce the formation of a sandwich-like framework through stacking with both the top and bottom G-tetrads of the c-MYC G4 and the adjacent terminal capping nucleotides. This framework produces enhanced binding affinities for c-MYC G4 relative to other promotor G4s, with TH3 exhibiting an outstanding binding priority. Van der Waals interactions were identified to be the key factor in complex formation in all cases. Collectively, our findings fully agree with available experimental data. Therefore, the identified mechanisms leading to specific binding of TH3 towards c-MYC G4 provide valuable information to guide the development of new selective G4 stabilizers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sen Cao
- Institute of Ageing Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (S.C.); (Q.S.); (L.-H.W.); (Y.-H.L.); (J.-F.L.); (J.L.); (X.-J.H.); (H.-Y.W.)
| | - Qian Su
- Institute of Ageing Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (S.C.); (Q.S.); (L.-H.W.); (Y.-H.L.); (J.-F.L.); (J.L.); (X.-J.H.); (H.-Y.W.)
| | - Yong-Hao Chen
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (Y.-H.C.); (M.-L.W.); (Y.X.)
| | - Meng-Lu Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (Y.-H.C.); (M.-L.W.); (Y.X.)
| | - Yi Xu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (Y.-H.C.); (M.-L.W.); (Y.X.)
| | - Li-Hui Wang
- Institute of Ageing Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (S.C.); (Q.S.); (L.-H.W.); (Y.-H.L.); (J.-F.L.); (J.L.); (X.-J.H.); (H.-Y.W.)
| | - Yan-Hua Lu
- Institute of Ageing Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (S.C.); (Q.S.); (L.-H.W.); (Y.-H.L.); (J.-F.L.); (J.L.); (X.-J.H.); (H.-Y.W.)
| | - Jian-Feng Li
- Institute of Ageing Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (S.C.); (Q.S.); (L.-H.W.); (Y.-H.L.); (J.-F.L.); (J.L.); (X.-J.H.); (H.-Y.W.)
| | - Jun Liu
- Institute of Ageing Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (S.C.); (Q.S.); (L.-H.W.); (Y.-H.L.); (J.-F.L.); (J.L.); (X.-J.H.); (H.-Y.W.)
| | - Xiao-Jing Hong
- Institute of Ageing Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (S.C.); (Q.S.); (L.-H.W.); (Y.-H.L.); (J.-F.L.); (J.L.); (X.-J.H.); (H.-Y.W.)
| | - Hong-Yan Wang
- Institute of Ageing Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (S.C.); (Q.S.); (L.-H.W.); (Y.-H.L.); (J.-F.L.); (J.L.); (X.-J.H.); (H.-Y.W.)
| | - Jun-Ping Liu
- Institute of Ageing Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (S.C.); (Q.S.); (L.-H.W.); (Y.-H.L.); (J.-F.L.); (J.L.); (X.-J.H.); (H.-Y.W.)
| | - Zhi-Guo Wang
- Institute of Ageing Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China; (S.C.); (Q.S.); (L.-H.W.); (Y.-H.L.); (J.-F.L.); (J.L.); (X.-J.H.); (H.-Y.W.)
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Shukla A, Kumari S, Sankar M, Nair MS. Insights into the mechanism of binding of doxorubicin and a chlorin compound with 22-mer c-Myc G quadruplex. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2023; 1867:130482. [PMID: 37821013 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2023.130482] [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: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 09/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The interaction of small molecules with G quadruplexes is in focus due to its role in molecular recognition and therapeutic drug design. Stabilization of G-quadruplex structures in the promoter regions of oncogenes by small molecule binding has been demonstrated as a potential approach for cancer therapy. METHODS In this study, electronic spectroscopy (ultraviolet-visible, fluorescence, circular dichroism), differential scanning calorimetry, and molecular modeling were employed to explore the interactions between the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin and a chlorin compound 5,10,15,20-tetraphenyl-[2,3]-[bis(carboxy)-methano]chlorin (H2TPC(DAC)), and the c-Myc 22-mer G quadruplex DNA. RESULTS Spectroscopic studies indicated external binding of the compounds with partial stacking at the end quartets. Calorimetric studies and temperature dependent circular dichroism data displayed increased melting temperatures of G quadruplex structure on binding with the compounds. Circular dichroism spectra indicated that the G quadruplex structure is intact upon ligand binding. Both the compounds showed binding affinities of the order of 106 M-1. Fluorescence lifetime studies revealed static quenching as major mechanism for fluorescence quenching. Polymerase chain reaction stop assay hinted that binding of both ligands under study could inhibit the amplification of the DNA sequence. CONCLUSION Results show that doxorubicin and H2TPC(DAC) bind to the 22-mer c-Myc quadruplex structure with good affinity and induce stability. SIGNIFICANCE Doxorubicin and H2TPC(DAC) have demonstrated their affinity towards c-Myc G quadruplex DNA, stabilizing it and inhibiting expression and polymerization. The results can be of practical use in designing new analogs for the two compounds, which can become potent anti-cancer agents targeting the c-Myc GQ structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aishwarya Shukla
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand 247667, India
| | - Soni Kumari
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand 247667, India
| | - Muniappan Sankar
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand 247667, India
| | - Maya S Nair
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand 247667, India.
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7
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Sharma T, Kundu N, Kaur S, Shankaraswamy J, Saxena S. Why to target G-quadruplexes using peptides: Next-generation G4-interacting ligands. J Pept Sci 2023; 29:e3491. [PMID: 37009771 DOI: 10.1002/psc.3491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023]
Abstract
Guanine-rich oligonucleotides existing in both DNA and RNA are able to fold into four-stranded DNA secondary structures via Hoogsteen type hydrogen-bonding, where four guanines self-assemble into a square planar arrangement, which, when stacked upon each other, results in the formation of higher-order structures called G-quadruplexes. Their distribution is not random; they are more frequently present at telomeres, proto-oncogenic promoters, introns, 5'- and 3'-untranslated regions, stem cell markers, ribosome binding sites and so forth and are associated with various biological functions, all of which play a pivotal role in various incurable diseases like cancer and cellular ageing. Several studies have suggested that G-quadruplexes could not regulate biological processes by themselves; instead, various proteins take part in this regulation and can be important therapeutic targets. There are certain limitations in using whole G4-protein for therapeutics purpose because of its high manufacturing cost, laborious structure prediction, dynamic nature, unavailability for oral administration due to its degradation in the gut and inefficient penetration to reach the target site because of the large size. Hence, biologically active peptides can be the potential candidates for therapeutic intervention instead of the whole G4-protein complex. In this review, we aimed to clarify the biological roles of G4s, how we can identify them throughout the genome via bioinformatics, the proteins interacting with G4s and how G4-interacting peptide molecules may be the potential next-generation ligands for targeting the G4 motifs located in biologically important regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taniya Sharma
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida, India
| | - Nikita Kundu
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida, India
| | - Sarvpreet Kaur
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida, India
| | - Jadala Shankaraswamy
- Department of Fruit Science, College of Horticulture, Mojerla, Sri Konda Laxman Telangana State Horticultural University, Budwel, Telangana, India
| | - Sarika Saxena
- Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida, India
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8
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Deng Z, Richardson DR. The Myc Family and the Metastasis Suppressor NDRG1: Targeting Key Molecular Interactions with Innovative Therapeutics. Pharmacol Rev 2023; 75:1007-1035. [PMID: 37280098 DOI: 10.1124/pharmrev.122.000795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, resulting in ∼10 million deaths in 2020. Major oncogenic effectors are the Myc proto-oncogene family, which consists of three members including c-Myc, N-Myc, and L-Myc. As a pertinent example of the role of the Myc family in tumorigenesis, amplification of MYCN in childhood neuroblastoma strongly correlates with poor patient prognosis. Complexes between Myc oncoproteins and their partners such as hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and Myc-associated protein X (MAX) result in proliferation arrest and pro-proliferative effects, respectively. Interactions with other proteins are also important for N-Myc activity. For instance, the enhancer of zest homolog 2 (EZH2) binds directly to N-Myc to stabilize it by acting as a competitor against the ubiquitin ligase, SCFFBXW7, which prevents proteasomal degradation. Heat shock protein 90 may also be involved in N-Myc stabilization since it binds to EZH2 and prevents its degradation. N-Myc downstream-regulated gene 1 (NDRG1) is downregulated by N-Myc and participates in the regulation of cellular proliferation via associating with other proteins, such as glycogen synthase kinase-3β and low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6. These molecular interactions provide a better understanding of the biologic roles of N-Myc and NDRG1, which can be potentially used as therapeutic targets. In addition to directly targeting these proteins, disrupting their key interactions may also be a promising strategy for anti-cancer drug development. This review examines the interactions between the Myc proteins and other molecules, with a special focus on the relationship between N-Myc and NDRG1 and possible therapeutic interventions. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Neuroblastoma is one of the most common childhood solid tumors, with a dismal five-year survival rate. This problem makes it imperative to discover new and more effective therapeutics. The molecular interactions between major oncogenic drivers of the Myc family and other key proteins; for example, the metastasis suppressor, NDRG1, may potentially be used as targets for anti-neuroblastoma drug development. In addition to directly targeting these proteins, disrupting their key molecular interactions may also be promising for drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao Deng
- Centre for Cancer Cell Biology and Drug Discovery, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, Australia (Z.D., D.R.R.), and Department of Pathology and Biological Responses, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan (D.R.R.)
| | - Des R Richardson
- Centre for Cancer Cell Biology and Drug Discovery, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Nathan, Australia (Z.D., D.R.R.), and Department of Pathology and Biological Responses, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan (D.R.R.)
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9
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Bahls B, Aljnadi IM, Emídio R, Mendes E, Paulo A. G-Quadruplexes in c-MYC Promoter as Targets for Cancer Therapy. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11030969. [PMID: 36979947 PMCID: PMC10046398 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11030969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a societal burden demanding innovative approaches. A major problem with the conventional chemotherapeutic agents is their strong toxicity and other side effects due to their poor selectivity. Uncontrolled proliferation of cancer cells is due to mutations, deletions, or amplifications in genes (oncogenes) encoding for proteins that regulate cell growth and division, such as transcription factors, for example, c-MYC. The direct targeting of the c-MYC protein has been attempted but so far unsuccessfully, as it lacks a definite binding site for the modulators. Meanwhile, another approach has been explored since the discovery that G-quadruplex secondary DNA structures formed in the guanine-rich sequences of the c-MYC promoter region can downregulate the transcription of this oncogene. Here, we will overview the major achievements made in the last decades towards the discovery of a new class of anticancer drugs targeting G-quadruplexes in the c-MYC promoter of cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bárbara Bahls
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.Ulisboa), Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Israa M Aljnadi
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.Ulisboa), Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Rita Emídio
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.Ulisboa), Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Eduarda Mendes
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.Ulisboa), Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Alexandra Paulo
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.Ulisboa), Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal
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10
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Miclot T, Froux A, D'Anna L, Bignon E, Grandemange S, Barone G, Monari A, Terenzi A. Understanding the Interactions of Guanine Quadruplexes with Peptides as Novel Strategies for Diagnosis or Tuning Biological Functions. Chembiochem 2023; 24:e202200624. [PMID: 36598366 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202200624] [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: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Guanine quadruplexes (G4s) are nucleic acid structures exhibiting a complex structural behavior and exerting crucial biological functions in both cells and viruses. The specific interactions of peptides with G4s, as well as an understanding of the factors driving the specific recognition are important for the rational design of both therapeutic and diagnostic agents. In this review, we examine the most important studies dealing with the interactions between G4s and peptides, highlighting the strengths and limitations of current analytic approaches. We also show how the combined use of high-level molecular simulation techniques and experimental spectroscopy is the best avenue to design specifically tuned and selective peptides, thus leading to the control of important biological functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Miclot
- Universita di Palermo, Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies Viale delle Scienze, 90128, Palermo, Italy.,Université de Lorraine and CNRS, UMR 7019 LPCT, 54000, Nancy, France
| | - Aurane Froux
- Universita di Palermo, Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies Viale delle Scienze, 90128, Palermo, Italy.,Université de Lorraine and CNRS, UMR 7039 CRAN, 54000, Nancy, France
| | - Luisa D'Anna
- Universita di Palermo, Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies Viale delle Scienze, 90128, Palermo, Italy
| | - Emmanuelle Bignon
- Université de Lorraine and CNRS, UMR 7019 LPCT, 54000, Nancy, France
| | | | - Giampaolo Barone
- Universita di Palermo, Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies Viale delle Scienze, 90128, Palermo, Italy
| | - Antonio Monari
- Université Paris Cité and CNRS, ITODYS, 75006, Paris, France
| | - Alessio Terenzi
- Universita di Palermo, Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies Viale delle Scienze, 90128, Palermo, Italy
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11
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Nguyen LTA, Dang DT. RHAU Peptides Specific for Parallel G-Quadruplexes: Potential Applications in Chemical Biology. Mol Biotechnol 2023; 65:291-299. [PMID: 35984625 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-022-00552-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
G-quadruplexes (G4s) are non-canonical nucleic acid structures formed by guanine (G)-rich sequences, which are ubiquitously found in the human genome and transcriptome. Targeting G4s by specific ligands provides a powerful tool to monitor and regulate G4s-associated biological processes. RHAU peptides, derived from the G4-binding motif of "RNA Helicase associated with AU-rich element" (RHAU), have emerged as extraordinary ligands for specific recognition of parallel G4s. This review highlights the significances of recent studies investigating potential applications of the engineered RHAU peptides incorporated to different functional moieties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le Tuan Anh Nguyen
- Faculty of Biotechnology, Ho Chi Minh City Open University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Dung Thanh Dang
- Faculty of Biotechnology, Ho Chi Minh City Open University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
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12
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Biswas S, Basak S, Samui S, Pasadi S, Muniyappa K, Naskar J. Co‐Assembly of Peptide with G‐Quadruplex DNA: A Strategic Approach to Develop Anticancer Therapeutics. ChemistrySelect 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/slct.202203563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Soumi Biswas
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics University of Kalyani Nadia WB 741235 India
| | - Shubhanwita Basak
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics University of Kalyani Nadia WB 741235 India
| | - Satyabrata Samui
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics University of Kalyani Nadia WB 741235 India
| | - Sanjeev Pasadi
- Department of Biochemistry Indian Institute of Science Bangalore Karnataka 560 012 India
| | - K. Muniyappa
- Department of Biochemistry Indian Institute of Science Bangalore Karnataka 560 012 India
| | - Jishu Naskar
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics University of Kalyani Nadia WB 741235 India
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13
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Yan F, Fu Z, Li G, Wang Z. In Silico Investigation of the Molecular Mechanism of PARP1 Inhibition for the Treatment of BRCA-Deficient Cancers. Molecules 2023; 28:1829. [PMID: 36838818 PMCID: PMC9961911 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28041829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The protein PARP1, which plays a crucial role in DNA repair processes, is an attractive target for cancer therapy, especially for BRCA-deficient cancers. To overcome the acquired drug resistance of PARP1, PARP1 G-quadruplex (G4) identified in the PARP1-promotor region is gaining increasing attention. Aiming to explore the molecular mechanism of PARP1 inhibition with PARP1 G4 and PARP1 as potential targets, a comparative investigation of the binding characteristics of the newly identified G4 stabilizer MTR-106, which showed modest activity against talazoparib-resistant xenograft models and the FDA-approved PARP1 inhibitor (PARPi) talazoparib, were performed through molecular simulations. Combined analyses revealed that, relative to the groove binding of talazoparib, MTR-106 induced the formation of a sandwich framework through stacking with dT1 and the capping G-pair (dG2 and dG14) of PARP1 G4 to present largely enhanced binding affinity. For the binding with PARP1, although both were located in the catalytic pocket of PARP1, MTR-106 formed more extensive interactions with the surrounding PARP1 residues compared to talazoparib, in line with its increased binding strength. Importantly, vdW interaction was recognized as a decisive factor in the bindings with PARP1 G4 and PARP1. Collectively, these findings demonstrated the ascendancy of MTR-106 over talazoparib at the atomic level and revealed that the dual targeting of PARP1 G4 and PARP1 might be pivotal for PARPi that is capable of overcoming acquired drug resistance, providing valuable information for the design and development of novel drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengqin Yan
- Department of Radiotherapy, The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310022, China
| | - Zhenfu Fu
- Department of Radiotherapy, The Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Zhejiang Cancer Hospital), Institute of Basic Medicine and Cancer (IBMC), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310022, China
| | - Guo Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, China
- Hainan Province Clinical Medical Center, Hainan Hospital Affiliated to Hainan Medical University, Haikou 571199, China
| | - Zhiguo Wang
- Institute of Ageing Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
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14
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Roy S, Chakraborty N, Maiti B, Muniyappa K, Bhattacharya S. Design and Synthesis of Xanthone Analogues Conjugated with Aza-aromatic Substituents as Promising G-Quadruplex Stabilizing Ligands and their Selective Cancer Cell Cytotoxic Action. Chembiochem 2023; 24:e202200609. [PMID: 36455103 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202200609] [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: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
We have examined the stabilization of higher-order noncanonical G-quadruplex (G4) DNA structures formed by the G-rich sequences in the promoter region of oncogenes such as c-MYC, c-KIT, VEGF and BCl2 by newly synthesized, novel nitrogen-containing aromatics conjugated to xanthone moiety. Compounds with N-heterocyclic substituents such as pyridine (XNiso), benzimidazole (XBIm), quinoxaline (XQX) and fluorophore dansyl (XDan) showed greater effectiveness in stabilizing the G4 DNA as well as selective cytotoxicity for cancer cells (mainly A549) over normal cells both in terms of UV-Vis spectral titrations and cytotoxicity assay. Both fluorescence spectral titrimetric measurements and circular dichroism (CD) melting experiments further substantiated the G4 stabilization phenomenon by these small-molecular ligands. In addition, these compounds could induce the formation of parallel G4 structures in the absence of any added salt condition in Tris⋅HCl buffer at 25 °C. In a polymerase stop assay, the formation of stable G4 structures in the promoter of oncogenes and halting of DNA synthesis in the presence of the above-mentioned compounds was demonstrated by using oncogene promoter as the DNA synthesis template. Apoptosis-mediated cell death of the cancer cells was proved by Annexin V-PI dual staining assay and cell-cycle arrest occurred in the S phase of the cell cycles. The plausible mode of binding involves the stacking of the xanthone core on the G4 DNA plane with the possibility of interaction with the 5'-overhang as indicated by molecular dynamics simulation studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soma Roy
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India.,School of Applied & Interdisciplinary Sciences Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata, 700032, India
| | - Nirmal Chakraborty
- School of Applied & Interdisciplinary Sciences Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata, 700032, India
| | - Bappa Maiti
- School of Applied & Interdisciplinary Sciences Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata, 700032, India
| | - Kalappa Muniyappa
- Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India
| | - Santanu Bhattacharya
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India.,School of Applied & Interdisciplinary Sciences Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata, 700032, India
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15
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Synergistic effect of naphthalenediimide and squaraine ligand targeting G-quadruplex DNA in cancer cells. Chem Biol Interact 2023; 370:110330. [PMID: 36563735 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2022.110330] [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: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Targeting and stabilizing nonclassical DNA G-quadruplexes (G4s) with a ligand to inhibit cell proliferation is a very promising approach for cancer treatment. Here, we demonstrate that the combination of a naphthalenediimide (NDI) ligand and a squaraine ligand significantly improves the anticancer activity of either ligand alone. The NDI ligand binds the 5'-terminal of hybrid-type G4s and induces the topological conversion from a metastable hybrid to a stable parallel conformation, which allows the end-stacking of the squaraine ligand on the 3'-terminal of the resultant parallel-type G4 structure. Moreover, the NDI ligand promotes the diffusion of the squaraine ligand into the nucleus, and the synergistic effect of the two ligands improves the stability of G4s in cancer cells, blocks the cell cycle in the sub-G1 phase, and induces the DNA damage response. These findings will be helpful in the development of combinational ligands targeting DNA G4s with enhanced bioactivity toward the inhibition of cancer cell proliferation.
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16
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Weber LI, Hartl M. Strategies to target the cancer driver MYC in tumor cells. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1142111. [PMID: 36969025 PMCID: PMC10032378 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1142111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The MYC oncoprotein functions as a master regulator of cellular transcription and executes non-transcriptional tasks relevant to DNA replication and cell cycle regulation, thereby interacting with multiple proteins. MYC is required for fundamental cellular processes triggering proliferation, growth, differentiation, or apoptosis and also represents a major cancer driver being aberrantly activated in most human tumors. Due to its non-enzymatic biochemical functions and largely unstructured surface, MYC has remained difficult for specific inhibitor compounds to directly address, and consequently, alternative approaches leading to indirect MYC inhibition have evolved. Nowadays, multiple organic compounds, nucleic acids, or peptides specifically interfering with MYC activities are in preclinical or early-stage clinical studies, but none of them have been approved so far for the pharmacological treatment of cancer patients. In addition, specific and efficient delivery technologies to deliver MYC-inhibiting agents into MYC-dependent tumor cells are just beginning to emerge. In this review, an overview of direct and indirect MYC-inhibiting agents and their modes of MYC inhibition is given. Furthermore, we summarize current possibilities to deliver appropriate drugs into cancer cells containing derailed MYC using viral vectors or appropriate nanoparticles. Finding the right formulation to target MYC-dependent cancers and to achieve a high intracellular concentration of compounds blocking or attenuating oncogenic MYC activities could be as important as the development of novel MYC-inhibiting principles.
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17
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Roy S, Muniyappa K, Bhattacharya S. Deciphering the Binding Insights of Novel Disubstituted Anthraquinone Derivatives with G-Quadruplex DNA to Exhibit Selective Cancer Cell Cytotoxicity. ChemMedChem 2022; 17:e202200436. [PMID: 36161519 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202200436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Anthraquinone-based compounds are well-known as duplex DNA as well as G-quadruplex DNA binders. Implications of various anthraquinone derivatives for specific recognition of G-quadruplex DNA over duplex DNA is a 'challenging' research work that requires adequate experience with molecular design. To address this important issue, we designed and synthesized ten new 2,6-disubstituted anthraquinone-based derivatives with different functionalized piperazinyl side-chains. Among these, particular compounds with certain distant groups have shown selective and significant binding affinities toward the c-MYC and c-KIT G-quadruplex DNA over the duplex DNA, as noticed from various biophysical experiments. The structural difference of quadruplex and duplex DNA was utilized to probe these derivatives for the end-stacking mode of binding with G-quadruplex DNA. The ability of the ligands to halt DNA synthesis by stabilizing G-quadruplex structures is one of the crucial points to further apply them for quadruplex-mediated anti-cancer therapeutics. Interestingly, these ligands trigger apoptosis to exhibit selective cytotoxicity toward cancer cells over normal cells. This was further evidenced by ligand-induced cell cycle arrest as well as cellular apoptotic morphological changes. These blood-compatible ligands provided detailed structure-activity relationship approaches for the molecular design of anthraquinone-based G-quadruplex binders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soma Roy
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India.,School of Applied & Interdisciplinary Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata, 700032, India
| | - Kalappa Muniyappa
- Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India
| | - Santanu Bhattacharya
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, 560012, India.,School of Applied & Interdisciplinary Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata, 700032, India
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18
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Miclot T, Bignon E, Terenzi A, Grandemange S, Barone G, Monari A. G-Quadruplex Recognition by DARPIns through Epitope/Paratope Analogy. Chemistry 2022; 28:e202201824. [PMID: 35791808 PMCID: PMC9804223 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202201824] [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: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the mechanisms leading to the specific recognition of Guanine Guadruplex (G4) by DARPins peptides, which can lead to the design of G4 s specific sensors. To this end we carried out all-atom molecular dynamic simulations to unravel the interactions between specific nucleic acids, including human-telomeric (h-telo), Bcl-2, and c-Myc, with different peptides, forming a DARPin/G4 complex. By comparing the sequences of DARPin with that of a peptide known for its high affinity for c-Myc, we show that the recognition cannot be ascribed to sequence similarity but, instead, depends on the complementarity between the three-dimensional arrangement of the molecular fragments involved: the α-helix/loops domain of DARPin and the G4 backbone. Our results reveal that DARPins tertiary structure presents a charged hollow region in which G4 can be hosted, thus the more complementary the structural shapes, the more stable the interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Miclot
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and TechnologiesUniversità degli Studi di PalermoViale delle Scienze90128PalermoItaly,Université de Lorraine and CNRS LPCT UMR 701954000NancyFrance
| | | | - Alessio Terenzi
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and TechnologiesUniversità degli Studi di PalermoViale delle Scienze90128PalermoItaly
| | | | - Giampaolo Barone
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and TechnologiesUniversità degli Studi di PalermoViale delle Scienze90128PalermoItaly
| | - Antonio Monari
- Université de Lorraine and CNRS LPCT UMR 701954000NancyFrance,Université Paris Cité and CNRS, ITODYS75006ParisFrance
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19
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Effects of G-Quadruplex-Binding Plant Secondary Metabolites on c-MYC Expression. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23169209. [PMID: 36012470 PMCID: PMC9409388 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23169209] [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: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Guanine-rich DNA sequences tending to adopt noncanonical G-quadruplex (G4) structures are over-represented in promoter regions of oncogenes. Ligands recognizing G4 were shown to stabilize these DNA structures and drive their formation regulating expression of corresponding genes. We studied the interaction of several plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) with G4s and their effects on gene expression in a cellular context. The binding of PSMs with G4s formed by the sequences of well-studied oncogene promoters and telomeric repeats was evaluated using a fluorescent indicator displacement assay. c-MYC G4 folding topology and thermal stability, as well as the PMS influence on these parameters, were demonstrated by UV-spectroscopy and circular dichroism. The effects of promising PSMs on c-MYC expression were assessed using luciferase reporter assay and qPR-PCR in cancer and immortalized cultured cells. The ability of PMS to multi-targeting cell signaling pathways was analyzed by the pathway-focused gene expression profiling with qRT-PCR. The multi-target activity of a number of PSMs was demonstrated by their interaction with a set of G4s mimicking those formed in the human genome. We have shown a direct G4-mediated down regulation of c-MYC expression by sanguinarine, quercetin, kaempferol, and thymoquinone; these effects being modulated by PSM’s indirect influence via cell signaling pathways.
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20
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Wang X, Zhang M, Xiong XQ, Yang H, Wang P, Zhang K, Awadasseid A, Narva S, Wu YL, Zhang W. Design, synthesis and bioactivity of novel naphthalimide-benzotriazole conjugates against A549 cells via targeting BCL2 G-quadruplex and inducing autophagy. Life Sci 2022; 302:120651. [PMID: 35597548 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2022.120651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
AIMS In this study, a series of novel naphthalimide-benzotriazole conjugates (1a-3c) based on 1, 8-naphthalimide as a core skeleton, aiming at G-quadruplexes, were designed and synthesized, and their anti-cancer activity and mechanism were studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS Using the CCK-8 assay, FRET melting, EMSA, CD, and molecular docking, intracellular assays, western blotting, immunofluorescence, and flow cytometry. KEY FINDINGS By the CCK-8 assay, it was found that the compound, 2-(3-(piperazin-1-yl)propyl)-6-(1H-benzo [d][1,2,3]triazol-1-yl)-1H-benzo[de]isoquinoline-1,3(2H)-dione (3a), has better activity against A549 cells. Through extracellular assays, including FRET melting, EMSA, CD, and molecular docking, results showed that 3a selectively interacted with BCL2 G-quadruplex(es). Further studies by intracellular assays, including western blotting, immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, etc., verified that 3a mediated the death of A549 cells by two pathways: inhibition of the expression of the BCL2 gene, causing tumor cell apoptosis, and promotion of genetic instability, causing autophagy. This study suggests that the type of compounds, in particular, 3a, may be a potential molecule to explore for BCL2 G-quadruplex-targeted drugs against lung cancer. SIGNIFICANCE Our findings demonstrate that compound 3a as a BCL2 G-quadruplex ligand induces DNA damage, autophagy, and apoptosis in A549 cells. This study provides us with a type of lead compound as an anti-tumor drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Wang
- Lab of Chemical Biology and Molecular Drug Design, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China; Institute of Drug Development & Chemical Biology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China
| | - Mi Zhang
- Lab of Chemical Biology and Molecular Drug Design, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China; Institute of Drug Development & Chemical Biology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China
| | - Xu-Qiong Xiong
- Lab of Chemical Biology and Molecular Drug Design, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China; Institute of Drug Development & Chemical Biology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China.
| | - Hao Yang
- Lab of Chemical Biology and Molecular Drug Design, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China; Institute of Drug Development & Chemical Biology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China
| | - Panpan Wang
- Lab of Chemical Biology and Molecular Drug Design, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China; Institute of Drug Development & Chemical Biology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China
| | - Koutian Zhang
- Zhejiang Jianing Pharmaceutical Technology Co., Ltd, Hangzhou, 310051, China
| | - Annoor Awadasseid
- Lab of Chemical Biology and Molecular Drug Design, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China; Institute of Drug Development & Chemical Biology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China
| | - Suresh Narva
- Lab of Chemical Biology and Molecular Drug Design, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China; Institute of Drug Development & Chemical Biology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China
| | - Yan-Ling Wu
- Lab of Molecular Immunology, Virus Inspection Department, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, 310051, China.
| | - Wen Zhang
- Lab of Chemical Biology and Molecular Drug Design, College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China; Institute of Drug Development & Chemical Biology, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China.
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21
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Gorai A, Chaudhuri R, Mukhopadhyay TK, Datta A, Dash J. Thiazole Containing PNA Mimic Regulates c-MYC Gene Expression through DNA G-Quadruplex. Bioconjug Chem 2022; 33:1145-1155. [PMID: 35537180 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.2c00075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs), besides hybridizing to complementary DNA and RNAs, bind and stabilize DNA secondary structures. Herein, we illustrate the design and synthesis of PNA-like scaffolds by incorporating five-membered thiazole rings as modified bases instead of nucleobases and their subsequent effects on gene regulation by biophysical and in vitro assays. A thiazole-modified PNA trimer selectively recognizes c-MYC G-quadruplex (G4) DNA over other G4s and duplex DNA. It displays a high stabilization potential for the c-MYC G4 DNA and shows remarkable fluorescence enhancement with the c-MYC G4. It is flexible enough to bind at 5' and 3' ends as well as in the groove region of c-MYC G4. Furthermore, the PNA trimer easily permeates the cellular membrane and suppresses c-MYC mRNA expression in HeLa cells by targeting the promoter G4. This study illuminates modified PNAs as flexible molecular tools for selective targeting of noncanonical nucleic acids and modulating gene function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ananta Gorai
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata-700032, India
| | - Ritapa Chaudhuri
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata-700032, India
| | - Titas Kumar Mukhopadhyay
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata-700032, India
| | - Ayan Datta
- 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
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22
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Pramanik S, Mahato P, Pramanik U, Nandy A, Khamari L, Shrivastava S, Rai S, Mukherjee S. DNA-Templated Modulation in the Photophysical Properties of a Fluorescent Molecular Rotor Auramine O by Varying the DNA Composition. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:2658-2668. [PMID: 35357836 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c00172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
This work delineates an integrative approach combining spectroscopic and computational studies to decipher the association-induced fluorescence properties of a fluorescent molecular rotor, viz., auramine O (AuO), after interacting with 20-mer duplex DNA having diverse well-matched base pairs. While exploring the scarcely explored sequence-dependent interaction mechanism of AuO and DNA, we observed that DNA could act as a conducive scaffold to the formation of AuO dimer through noncovalent interactions at lower molecular density. The photophysical properties of AuO depend on the nucleotide compositions as described from sequence-dependent shifting in the emission and absorption maxima. Furthermore, we explored such DNA base pair-dependent fluorescence spectral characteristics of AuO toward discriminating the thermodynamically most stable single nucleotide mismatch in a 20-mer sequence. Our results are interesting and could be useful in developing analogues with further enhanced emission properties toward mismatched DNA sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srikrishna Pramanik
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal, Bhopal Bypass Road, Bhopal 462 066, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Paritosh Mahato
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal, Bhopal Bypass Road, Bhopal 462 066, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Ushasi Pramanik
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal, Bhopal Bypass Road, Bhopal 462 066, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Atanu Nandy
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal, Bhopal Bypass Road, Bhopal 462 066, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Laxmikanta Khamari
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal, Bhopal Bypass Road, Bhopal 462 066, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Shivam Shrivastava
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal, Bhopal Bypass Road, Bhopal 462 066, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Saurabh Rai
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal, Bhopal Bypass Road, Bhopal 462 066, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Saptarshi Mukherjee
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal, Bhopal Bypass Road, Bhopal 462 066, Madhya Pradesh, India
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23
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c-Myc Protein Level Affected by Unsymmetrical Bisacridines Influences Apoptosis and Senescence Induced in HCT116 Colorectal and H460 Lung Cancer Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23063061. [PMID: 35328482 PMCID: PMC8955938 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23063061] [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] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Unsymmetrical bisacridines (UAs) are highly active antitumor compounds. They contain in their structure the drugs previously synthesized in our Department: C-1311 and C-1748. UAs exhibit different properties than their monomer components. They do not intercalate to dsDNA but stabilize the G-quadruplex structures, particularly those of the MYC and KRAS genes. Since MYC and KRAS are often mutated and constitutively expressed in cancer cells, they can be used as therapeutic targets. Herein, we investigate whether UAs can affect the expression and protein level of c-Myc and K-Ras in HCT116 and H460 cancer cells, and if so, what are the consequences for the UAs-induced cellular response. UAs did not affect K-Ras, but they strongly influenced the expression and translation of the c-Myc protein, and in H460 cells, they caused its full inhibition. UAs treatment resulted in apoptosis, as confirmed by the morphological changes, the presence of sub-G1 population and active caspase-3, cleaved PARP, annexin-V/PI staining and a decrease in mitochondrial potential. Importantly, apoptosis was induced earlier and to a greater extent in H460 compared to HCT116 cells. Moreover, accelerated senescence occurred only in H460 cells. In conclusion, the strong inhibition of c-Myc by UAs in H460 cells may participate in the final cellular response (apoptosis, senescence).
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24
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The MYC oncogene - the grand orchestrator of cancer growth and immune evasion. Nat Rev Clin Oncol 2022; 19:23-36. [PMID: 34508258 PMCID: PMC9083341 DOI: 10.1038/s41571-021-00549-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 313] [Impact Index Per Article: 156.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The MYC proto-oncogenes encode a family of transcription factors that are among the most commonly activated oncoproteins in human neoplasias. Indeed, MYC aberrations or upregulation of MYC-related pathways by alternate mechanisms occur in the vast majority of cancers. MYC proteins are master regulators of cellular programmes. Thus, cancers with MYC activation elicit many of the hallmarks of cancer required for autonomous neoplastic growth. In preclinical models, MYC inactivation can result in sustained tumour regression, a phenomenon that has been attributed to oncogene addiction. Many therapeutic agents that directly target MYC are under development; however, to date, their clinical efficacy remains to be demonstrated. In the past few years, studies have demonstrated that MYC signalling can enable tumour cells to dysregulate their microenvironment and evade the host immune response. Herein, we discuss how MYC pathways not only dictate cancer cell pathophysiology but also suppress the host immune response against that cancer. We also propose that therapies targeting the MYC pathway will be key to reversing cancerous growth and restoring antitumour immune responses in patients with MYC-driven cancers.
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25
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A 1,10-phenanthroline derivative selectively targeting telomeric G-quadruplex induces cytoprotective autophagy, causing apoptosis of gastric cancer cells. Life Sci 2021; 287:120095. [PMID: 34715135 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.120095] [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: 05/12/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
AIMS This study aimed to evaluate the ability of compound 13d to induce autophagy and to promote apoptosis of tumor cells and its interaction mechanism. MATERIALS AND METHODS Using CCK-8 assay, transwell assay, fluorescence resonance energy transfer melting analysis (FRET), transmission electron microscopy, flow cytometry assay, immunofluorescence assay, Western blot analysis, and wound healing assay. KEY FINDINGS The results indicated that compound 13d could induce autophagy and apoptosis of gastric cancer cells. Moreover, the findings of CCK-8 assay, colony formation, migration and invasion assay, and wound healing assay revealed that compound 13d would effectively inhibit cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Its IC50 value is about 2.4 μM against gastric cancer cells, which is similar to positive drug‑platinum. 13d specific induction of telomere G-quadruplex formation was proved in extracellular FRET melting assay, and indirectly affected telomerase activity. G-quadruplex formation promoted cell apoptosis and autophagy. Upon incorporating the autophagy inhibitors 3-MA and HCQ, the expression of the autophagy marker protein LC3 was then checked, suggesting that the compound 13d influences the autophagy flux. Furthermore, knocking down the autophagy-related gene Atg5 to reduce the level of autophagy enhances the anti-tumor activity and increases apoptotic cells' proportion. Mechanistic experiments have shown that blocking the Akt/m-TOR signal pathway plays a crucial role in autophagy and G-quadruplex induced telomere dysfunction. DNA damage is the leading cause of autophagy. Compound 13d combined with autophagy inhibitor can inhibit tumor cells more effectively. SIGNIFICANCE Our findings demonstrate that compound 13d as a telomeric G-quadruplex ligand induces Telomere dysfunction, DNA damage response, autophagy, and apoptosis in gastric cancer cells by blocking the Akt/m-TOR signaling pathway.
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26
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Scalabrin M, Nadai M, Tassinari M, Lago S, Doria F, Frasson I, Freccero M, Richter SN. Selective Recognition of a Single HIV-1 G-Quadruplex by Ultrafast Small-Molecule Screening. Anal Chem 2021; 93:15243-15252. [PMID: 34762806 PMCID: PMC8613737 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.0c04106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
G-quadruplexes (G4s) are implicated in pathological processes such as cancer and infective diseases. Their targeting with G4-ligands has shown therapeutic capacity. Most of the current G4-ligands are planar molecules, do not discriminate among G4s, and have poor druglike properties. The available methods to identify compounds selective for one single G4 are often time-consuming. Here, we describe the development, validation, and application of an affinity-selection mass spectrometry method that employs unlabeled G4 oligonucleotides as targets and allows testing of up to 320 unmodified small molecules in a single tube. As a proof of concept, this method was applied to screen a library of 40 000 druglike molecules against two G4s, transcriptional regulators of the HIV-1 LTR promoter. We identified nonplanar pyrazolopyrimidines that selectively recognize and stabilize the major HIV-1 LTR G4 possibly by fitting and binding through H-bonding in its unique binding pocket. The compounds inhibit LTR promoter activity and HIV-1 replication. We propose this method to prompt the fast development of new G4-based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Scalabrin
- Department
of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, 35121 Padua, Italy
| | - Matteo Nadai
- Department
of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, 35121 Padua, Italy
| | - Martina Tassinari
- Department
of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, 35121 Padua, Italy
| | - Sara Lago
- Department
of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, 35121 Padua, Italy
| | - Filippo Doria
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Ilaria Frasson
- Department
of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, 35121 Padua, Italy
| | - Mauro Freccero
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Sara N. Richter
- Department
of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, 35121 Padua, Italy
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Wang Y, Li C, Hao X, Wang L, Ma X, Jin R, Kang C, Gao L. A naphthyridine-indole ligand for selective stabilization of G-quadruplexes and conformational conversion of hybrid topology. Bioorg Med Chem 2021; 48:116416. [PMID: 34560615 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2021.116416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Revised: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
The development of ligands to stabilize G-quadruplexes (G4s) or induce G4s to transition from metastable topology to stable topology is a potential strategy for inhibiting cancer cell proliferation. In this study, a novel G-quadruplex (G4) ligand based on a naphthyridine scaffold with two indole pendants, L5-DA, is reported to convert hybrid to the parallel topology. Circular dichroism (CD) and fluorescence spectroscopies were used to investigate the interactions between L5-DA and G4s. The CD spectra revealed that the L5-DA induced the conformational conversion from hybrid topologies to parallel topologies with a melting temperature increase of more than 30 °C. According to Förster resonance energy transfer assays, the presence of excess duplex competitor had no effect on the ligand-induced stabilization of the hybrid topology, confirming the L5-DA's selectivity for G4s over ds26. With IC50 values of 4.3 μM, the ligand showed significant cytotoxicity against HeLa cells and effectively induced growth inhibition and apoptosis in HeLa cells. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed an increase in BG4 foci in the presence of the L5-DA, confirming ligand-induced G4s stabilization in HeLa cells. According to these results, the combination of naphthyridine and indole scaffold was an effective design strategy for G4s stabilization and conformational conversion of metastable G4 topology for inhibiting cancer cell growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wang
- Laboratory of Polymer Composite and Engineering, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China; University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Chunjie Li
- Laboratory of Polymer Composite and Engineering, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China
| | - Xueyu Hao
- Laboratory of Polymer Composite and Engineering, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China; University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Liangpeng Wang
- Laboratory of Polymer Composite and Engineering, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China
| | - Xiaoye Ma
- Laboratory of Polymer Composite and Engineering, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China
| | - Rizhe Jin
- Laboratory of Polymer Composite and Engineering, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China
| | - Chuanqing Kang
- Laboratory of Polymer Composite and Engineering, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China; University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China.
| | - Lianxun Gao
- Laboratory of Polymer Composite and Engineering, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China
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Deiana M, Obi I, Andreasson M, Tamilselvi S, Chand K, Chorell E, Sabouri N. A Minimalistic Coumarin Turn-On Probe for Selective Recognition of Parallel G-Quadruplex DNA Structures. ACS Chem Biol 2021; 16:1365-1376. [PMID: 34328300 PMCID: PMC8397291 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.1c00134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
![]()
G-quadruplex (G4)
DNA structures are widespread in the human genome
and are implicated in biologically important processes such as telomere
maintenance, gene regulation, and DNA replication. Guanine-rich sequences
with potential to form G4 structures are prevalent in the promoter
regions of oncogenes, and G4 sites are now considered as attractive
targets for anticancer therapies. However, there are very few reports
of small “druglike” optical G4 reporters that are easily
accessible through one-step synthesis and that are capable of discriminating
between different G4 topologies. Here, we present a small water-soluble
light-up fluorescent probe that features a minimalistic amidinocoumarin-based
molecular scaffold that selectively targets parallel G4 structures
over antiparallel and non-G4 structures. We showed that this biocompatible
ligand is able to selectively stabilize the G4 template resulting
in slower DNA synthesis. By tracking individual DNA molecules, we
demonstrated that the G4-stabilizing ligand perturbs DNA replication
in cancer cells, resulting in decreased cell viability. Moreover,
the fast-cellular entry of the probe enabled detection of nucleolar
G4 structures in living cells. Finally, insights gained from the structure–activity
relationships of the probe suggest the basis for the recognition of
parallel G4s, opening up new avenues for the design of new biocompatible
G4-specific small molecules for G4-driven theranostic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Deiana
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Ikenna Obi
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Måns Andreasson
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Shanmugam Tamilselvi
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Karam Chand
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Erik Chorell
- Department of Chemistry, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Nasim Sabouri
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, 90187 Umeå, Sweden
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29
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Pandya N, Bhagwat SR, Kumar A. Regulatory role of Non-canonical DNA Polymorphisms in human genome and their relevance in Cancer. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2021; 1876:188594. [PMID: 34303788 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2021.188594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
DNA has the ability to form polymorphic structures like canonical duplex DNA and non-canonical triplex DNA, Cruciform, Z-DNA, G-quadruplex (G4), i-motifs, and hairpin structures. The alteration in the form of DNA polymorphism in the response to environmental changes influences the gene expression. Non-canonical structures are engaged in various biological functions, including chromatin epigenetic and gene expression regulation via transcription and translation, as well as DNA repair and recombination. The presence of non-canonical structures in the regulatory region of the gene alters the gene expression and affects the cellular machinery. Formation of non-canonical structure in the regulatory site of cancer-related genes either inhibits or dysregulate the gene function and promote tumour formation. In the current article, we review the influence of non-canonical structure on the regulatory mechanisms in human genome. Moreover, we have also discussed the relevance of non-canonical structures in cancer and provided information on the drugs used for their treatment by targeting these structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nirali Pandya
- Department of Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Indore, Simrol, Indore 453552, India
| | - Sonali R Bhagwat
- Department of Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Indore, Simrol, Indore 453552, India
| | - Amit Kumar
- Department of Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Indore, Simrol, Indore 453552, India.
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30
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Tateishi-Karimata H, Sugimoto N. Roles of non-canonical structures of nucleic acids in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:7839-7855. [PMID: 34244785 PMCID: PMC8373145 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer and neurodegenerative diseases are caused by genetic and environmental factors. Expression of tumour suppressor genes is suppressed by mutations or epigenetic silencing, whereas for neurodegenerative disease-related genes, nucleic acid-based effects may be presented through loss of protein function due to erroneous protein sequences or gain of toxic function from extended repeat transcripts or toxic peptide production. These diseases are triggered by damaged genes and proteins due to lifestyle and exposure to radiation. Recent studies have indicated that transient, non-canonical structural changes in nucleic acids in response to the environment can regulate the expression of disease-related genes. Non-canonical structures are involved in many cellular functions, such as regulation of gene expression through transcription and translation, epigenetic regulation of chromatin, and DNA recombination. Transcripts generated from repeat sequences of neurodegenerative disease-related genes form non-canonical structures that are involved in protein transport and toxic aggregate formation. Intracellular phase separation promotes transcription and protein assembly, which are controlled by the nucleic acid structure and can influence cancer and neurodegenerative disease progression. These findings may aid in elucidating the underlying disease mechanisms. Here, we review the influence of non-canonical nucleic acid structures in disease-related genes on disease onset and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hisae Tateishi-Karimata
- Frontier Institute for Biomolecular Engineering Research (FIBER), Konan University, 7-1-20 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Japan
| | - Naoki Sugimoto
- Frontier Institute for Biomolecular Engineering Research (FIBER), Konan University, 7-1-20 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Japan.,Graduate School of Frontiers of Innovative Research in Science and Technology (FIRST), Konan University, 7-1-20 Minatojima-minamimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0047, Japan
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31
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Sanchez-Martin V, Soriano M, Garcia-Salcedo JA. Quadruplex Ligands in Cancer Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:3156. [PMID: 34202648 PMCID: PMC8267697 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13133156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 06/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Nucleic acids can adopt alternative secondary conformations including four-stranded structures known as quadruplexes. To date, quadruplexes have been demonstrated to exist both in human chromatin DNA and RNA. In particular, quadruplexes are found in guanine-rich sequences constituting G-quadruplexes, and in cytosine-rich sequences forming i-Motifs as a counterpart. Quadruplexes are associated with key biological processes ranging from transcription and translation of several oncogenes and tumor suppressors to telomeres maintenance and genome instability. In this context, quadruplexes have prompted investigations on their possible role in cancer biology and the evaluation of small-molecule ligands as potential therapeutic agents. This review aims to provide an updated close-up view of the literature on quadruplex ligands in cancer therapy, by grouping together ligands for DNA and RNA G-quadruplexes and DNA i-Motifs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Sanchez-Martin
- Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research, Pfizer-University of Granada-Andalusian Regional Government, PTS Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain;
- Microbiology Unit, Biosanitary Research Institute IBS, University Hospital Virgen de las Nieves, 18014 Granada, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology III and Immunology, University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Miguel Soriano
- Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research, Pfizer-University of Granada-Andalusian Regional Government, PTS Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain;
- Centre for Intensive Mediterranean Agrosystems and Agri-Food Biotechnology (CIAMBITAL), University of Almeria, 04001 Almeria, Spain
| | - Jose Antonio Garcia-Salcedo
- Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research, Pfizer-University of Granada-Andalusian Regional Government, PTS Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain;
- Microbiology Unit, Biosanitary Research Institute IBS, University Hospital Virgen de las Nieves, 18014 Granada, Spain
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32
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Wang Y, Li C, Hao X, Wang L, Ma X, Jin R, Kang C, Gao L. Hydrogen-bond-driven dimers of naphthyridine derivatives for selective identification of DNA G-quadruplexes. Org Biomol Chem 2021; 19:4768-4774. [PMID: 33978052 DOI: 10.1039/d1ob00651g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
G-quadruplex (GQ) ligands as potential anti-cancer drugs have received extensive attention. Large aromatic systems are usually considered in the design of the ligands to improve the binding with GQs, which are typically constructed by the combination of small modules with covalent bonds. In this study, we presented a non-covalent bond approach to construct GQ ligands with an extended planar structure. The ligands were stable dimers assembled through quadruplex intermolecular hydrogen bonds between two molecules of naphthyridine derivatives. Spectroscopic analyses showed that dimeric ligands could stabilize GQs with an increase of the melting temperature up to 12 °C and induced conformational conversion of hybrid GQs. Confocal fluorescence microscopy confirmed the enrichment of naphthyridine ligands in the nucleus. The ligands showed moderate cytotoxicity against HeLa cells with an IC50 value of 7.5 μg mL-1 and effectively induced growth inhibition and apoptosis in HeLa cells. These results confirmed the feasibility of the quick building of GQ ligands through intermolecular interactions of simple molecules that are easily obtained during synthesis, which is helpful for GQ ligand design and quick establishment of a ligand library through the self-assembly of easily available molecular components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wang
- Laboratory of Polymer Composite and Engineering, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China. and University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Chunjie Li
- Laboratory of Polymer Composite and Engineering, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China.
| | - Xueyu Hao
- Laboratory of Polymer Composite and Engineering, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China. and University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Liangpeng Wang
- Laboratory of Polymer Composite and Engineering, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China.
| | - Xiaoye Ma
- Laboratory of Polymer Composite and Engineering, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China.
| | - Rizhe Jin
- Laboratory of Polymer Composite and Engineering, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China.
| | - Chuanqing Kang
- Laboratory of Polymer Composite and Engineering, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China. and University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Lianxun Gao
- Laboratory of Polymer Composite and Engineering, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, China.
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33
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Chaudhuri R, Fatma K, Dash J. Regulation of gene expression by targeting DNA secondary structures. J CHEM SCI 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12039-021-01898-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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34
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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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35
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Paul R, Dutta D, Das T, Debnath M, Dash J. G4 Sensing Pyridyl-Thiazole Polyamide Represses c-KIT Expression in Leukemia Cells. Chemistry 2021; 27:8590-8599. [PMID: 33851760 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202100907] [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: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Specific sensing and functional tuning of nucleic acid secondary structures remain less explored to date. Herein, we report a thiazole polyamide TPW that binds specifically to c-KIT1 G-quadruplex (G4) with sub-micromolar affinity and ∼1 : 1 stoichiometry and represses c-KIT proto-oncogene expression. TPW shows up to 10-fold increase in fluorescence upon binding with c-KIT1 G4, but shows weak or no quantifiable binding to other G4s and ds26 DNA. TPW can increase the number of G4-specific antibody (BG4) foci and mark G4 structures in cancer cells. Cell-based assays reveal that TPW can efficiently repress c-KIT expression in leukemia cells via a G4-dependent process. Thus, the polyamide can serve as a promising probe for G-quadruplex recognition with the ability to specifically alter c-KIT oncogene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raj Paul
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata, 700032, India
| | - Debasish Dutta
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata, 700032, India
| | - Tania Das
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata, 700032, India
| | - Manish Debnath
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata, 700032, India
| | - Jyotirmayee Dash
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Kolkata, 700032, India
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36
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Sun R, Guo X, Yang D, Tang Y, Lu J, Sun H. c-Myc G-quadruplex is sensitively and specifically recognized by a fluorescent probe. Talanta 2021; 226:122125. [PMID: 33676679 DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2021.122125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The G-quadruplex structure formed by the c-myc gene sequence has attracted much attention due to its important physiological function in biology and wide application in nanotechnology. So far, probes capable of recognition of c-myc G-quadruplex with both high specificity and sensitivity are still scarce. This work presented a cyanine dye fluorescent probe named Cy-1, which has almost no fluorescence in aqueous solution, but showing more than 1000-fold fluorescence enhancement for recognizing c-myc G-quadruplex. Cy-1 also has good specificity and can selectively recognize c-myc G-quadruplex from other a variety of G-quadruplex and non-G-quadruplex structures. These properties make Cy-1 a promising probe for c-myc G-quadruplex recognition in nanotechnology or biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranran Sun
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai, 201620, PR China; Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, PR China
| | - Xiaomeng Guo
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China
| | - Dawei Yang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China
| | - Yalin Tang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, PR China
| | - Jie Lu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai, 201620, PR China.
| | - Hongxia Sun
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, State Key Laboratory for Structural Chemistry of Unstable and Stable Species, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, PR China.
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37
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Onizuka K, Ganbold E, Ma Y, Sasaki S, Hazemi ME, Chen Y, Sato N, Ozawa M, Nagasawa K, Nagatsugi F. Selective alkylation of parallel G-quadruplex structure. Org Biomol Chem 2021; 19:2891-2894. [PMID: 33570069 DOI: 10.1039/d0ob02365e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The selective alkylation of nucleic acids is important for a medicinal approach and biological study. We now report a novel selective alkylation of the parallel G-quadruplex structure using the conjugate of the macrocyclic hexaoxazole L2G2-6OTD-1M1PA and vinyl-quinazolinone-S(O)Me (6OTD-VQ-S(O)Me).
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazumitsu Onizuka
- Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8577, Japan.
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G-quadruplex stabilization via small-molecules as a potential anti-cancer strategy. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 139:111550. [PMID: 33831835 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.111550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 03/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
G-quadruplexes (G4) are secondary four-stranded DNA helical structures consisting of guanine-rich nucleic acids, which can be formed in the promoter regions of several genes under proper conditions. Several cancer cells have been shown to emerge from genomic changes in the expression of crucial growth-regulating genes that allow cells to develop and begin to propagate in an undifferentiated state. Recent attempts have focused on producing treatments targeted at particular protein products of genes that are abnormally expressed. Many of the proteins found are hard to target and considered undruggable due to structural challenges, protein overexpression, or mutations that affect treatment resistance. The utilization of small molecules that stabilize secondary DNA structures existing in several possible oncogenes' promoters and modulate their transcription is a new strategy that avoids some of these problems. In this review, we outline the function of G-quadruplex stabilization in cancer by small-molecules with the aim to improve cancer therapy.
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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: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [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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Liu R, Shi P, Wang Z, Yuan C, Cui H. Molecular Mechanisms of MYCN Dysregulation in Cancers. Front Oncol 2021; 10:625332. [PMID: 33614505 PMCID: PMC7886978 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2020.625332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
MYCN, a member of MYC proto-oncogene family, encodes a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor N-MYC. Abnormal expression of N-MYC is correlated with high-risk cancers and poor prognosis. Initially identified as an amplified oncogene in neuroblastoma in 1983, the oncogenic effect of N-MYC is expanded to multiple neuronal and nonneuronal tumors. Direct targeting N-MYC remains challenge due to its "undruggable" features. Therefore, alternative therapeutic approaches for targeting MYCN-driven tumors have been focused on the disruption of transcription, translation, protein stability as well as synthetic lethality of MYCN. In this review, we summarize the latest advances in understanding the molecular mechanisms of MYCN dysregulation in cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruochen Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Cancer Center, Reproductive Medicine Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Reproductive Health (Chongqing Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Reproductive Health, Chongqing Population and Family Planning Science and Technology Research Institute), Chongqing, China
| | - Pengfei Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Cancer Center, Reproductive Medicine Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Reproductive Health (Chongqing Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Reproductive Health, Chongqing Population and Family Planning Science and Technology Research Institute), Chongqing, China
| | - Zhongze Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Cancer Center, Reproductive Medicine Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chaoyu Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Cancer Center, Reproductive Medicine Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hongjuan Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Silkworm Genome Biology, College of Sericulture, Textile and Biomass Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- Cancer Center, Reproductive Medicine Center, Medical Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Reproductive Health (Chongqing Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Reproductive Health, Chongqing Population and Family Planning Science and Technology Research Institute), Chongqing, China
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Tsutsumi H, Kuroda T, Kimura H, Goto Y, Suga H. Posttranslational chemical installation of azoles into translated peptides. Nat Commun 2021; 12:696. [PMID: 33514734 PMCID: PMC7846737 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-20992-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Azoles are five-membered heterocycles often found in the backbones of peptidic natural products and synthetic peptidomimetics. Here, we report a method of ribosomal synthesis of azole-containing peptides involving specific ribosomal incorporation of a bromovinylglycine derivative into the nascent peptide chain and its chemoselective conversion to a unique azole structure. The chemoselective conversion was achieved by posttranslational dehydrobromination of the bromovinyl group and isomerization in aqueous media under fairly mild conditions. This method enables us to install exotic azole groups, oxazole and thiazole, at designated positions in the peptide chain with both linear and macrocyclic scaffolds and thereby expand the repertoire of building blocks in the mRNA-templated synthesis of designer peptides. Azoles are five-membered heterocycles found in peptidic natural products and synthetic peptiodomimetics. Here the authors demonstrate a posttranslational chemical modification method for in vitro ribosomal synthesis of peptides with exotic azole groups at specific positions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haruka Tsutsumi
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Kuroda
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Kimura
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuki Goto
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Hiroaki Suga
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan.
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Chakraborti G, Jana R, Mandal T, Datta A, Dash J. Prolinamide plays a key role in promoting copper-catalyzed cycloaddition of azides and alkynes in aqueous media via unprecedented metallacycle intermediates. Org Chem Front 2021. [DOI: 10.1039/d0qo01150a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Room temperature copper-catalyzed cycloaddition of azides and alkynes (CuAAC) proceeds in the presence of a prolinamide ligand in aqueous media via unique metallacycles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gargi Chakraborti
- School of Chemical Sciences
- Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science
- Kolkata 700032
- India
| | - Rajkumar Jana
- School of Chemical Sciences
- Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science
- Kolkata 700032
- India
| | - Tirtha Mandal
- School of Chemical Sciences
- Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science
- Kolkata 700032
- India
| | - Ayan Datta
- School of Chemical Sciences
- Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science
- Kolkata 700032
- India
| | - Jyotirmayee Dash
- School of Chemical Sciences
- Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science
- Kolkata 700032
- India
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Tadele DS, Robertson J, Crispin R, Herrera MC, Chlubnová M, Piechaczyk L, Ayuda-Durán P, Singh SK, Gedde-Dahl T, Fløisand Y, Skavland J, Wesche J, Gjertsen BT, Enserink JM. A cell competition-based small molecule screen identifies a novel compound that induces dual c-Myc depletion and p53 activation. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100179. [PMID: 33303632 PMCID: PMC7948465 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra120.015285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2020] [Revised: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Breakpoint Cluster Region-Abelson kinase (BCR-Abl) is a driver oncogene that causes chronic myeloid leukemia and a subset of acute lymphoid leukemias. Although tyrosine kinase inhibitors provide an effective treatment for these diseases, they generally do not kill leukemic stem cells (LSCs), the cancer-initiating cells that compete with normal hematopoietic stem cells for the bone marrow niche. New strategies to target cancers driven by BCR-Abl are therefore urgently needed. We performed a small molecule screen based on competition between isogenic untransformed cells and BCR-Abl-transformed cells and identified several compounds that selectively impair the fitness of BCR-Abl-transformed cells. Interestingly, systems-level analysis of one of these novel compounds, DJ34, revealed that it induced depletion of c-Myc and activation of p53. DJ34-mediated c-Myc depletion occurred in a wide range of tumor cell types, including lymphoma, lung, glioblastoma, breast cancer, and several forms of leukemia, with primary LSCs being particularly sensitive to DJ34. Further analyses revealed that DJ34 interferes with c-Myc synthesis at the level of transcription, and we provide data showing that DJ34 is a DNA intercalator and topoisomerase II inhibitor. Physiologically, DJ34 induced apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and cell differentiation. Taken together, we have identified a novel compound that dually targets c-Myc and p53 in a wide variety of cancers, and with particularly strong activity against LSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dagim Shiferaw Tadele
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Joseph Robertson
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Richard Crispin
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Maria C Herrera
- Section for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Markéta Chlubnová
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Laure Piechaczyk
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Pilar Ayuda-Durán
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sachin Kumar Singh
- Department of Tumor Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Yngvar Fløisand
- Department of Hematology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jørn Skavland
- Precision Oncology Research Group, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Jørgen Wesche
- Department of Tumor Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Bjørn-Tore Gjertsen
- Precision Oncology Research Group, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Jorrit M Enserink
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Institute for Cancer Research, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
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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: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.3] [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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Pomeislová A, Vrzal L, Kozák J, Dobiaš J, Hubálek M, Dvořáková H, Reyes‐Gutiérrez PE, Teplý F, Veverka V. Kinetic Target-Guided Synthesis of Small-Molecule G-Quadruplex Stabilizers. ChemistryOpen 2020; 9:1236-1250. [PMID: 33304739 PMCID: PMC7713561 DOI: 10.1002/open.202000261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The formation of a G-quadruplex motif in the promoter region of the c-MYC protooncogene prevents its expression. Accordingly, G-quadruplex stabilization by a suitable ligand may be a viable approach for anticancer therapy. In our study, we used the 4-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)aniline molecule, previously identified as a fragment library screen hit, as a template for the SAR-guided design of a new small library of clickable fragments and subjected them to click reactions, including kinetic target-guided synthesis in the presence of a G-quadruplex forming oligonucleotide Pu24. We tested the clickable fragments and products of click reactions for their G-quadruplex stabilizing activity and determined their mode of binding to the c-MYC G-quadruplex by NMR spectroscopy. The enhanced stabilizing potency of click products in biology assays (FRET, Polymerase extension assay) matched the increased yields of in situ click reactions. In conclusion, we identified the newly synthesized click products of bis-amino derivatives of 4-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)aniline as potent stabilizers of c-MYC G-quadruplex, and their further evolution may lead to the development of an efficient tool for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Pomeislová
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and BiochemistryThe Czech Academy of Sciences Flemingovo nam. 2PragueCzech Republic
- Department of Organic ChemistryCharles UniversityPragueCzech Republic
| | - Lukáš Vrzal
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and BiochemistryThe Czech Academy of Sciences Flemingovo nam. 2PragueCzech Republic
- NMR laboratoryUniversity of Chemistry and TechnologyPragueCzech Republic
| | - Jaroslav Kozák
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and BiochemistryThe Czech Academy of Sciences Flemingovo nam. 2PragueCzech Republic
| | - Juraj Dobiaš
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and BiochemistryThe Czech Academy of Sciences Flemingovo nam. 2PragueCzech Republic
| | - Martin Hubálek
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and BiochemistryThe Czech Academy of Sciences Flemingovo nam. 2PragueCzech Republic
| | - Hana Dvořáková
- NMR laboratoryUniversity of Chemistry and TechnologyPragueCzech Republic
| | - Paul E. Reyes‐Gutiérrez
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and BiochemistryThe Czech Academy of Sciences Flemingovo nam. 2PragueCzech Republic
| | - Filip Teplý
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and BiochemistryThe Czech Academy of Sciences Flemingovo nam. 2PragueCzech Republic
| | - Václav Veverka
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and BiochemistryThe Czech Academy of Sciences Flemingovo nam. 2PragueCzech Republic
- Department of Cell BiologyCharles UniversityPragueCzech Republic
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Human MYC G-quadruplex: From discovery to a cancer therapeutic target. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2020; 1874:188410. [PMID: 32827579 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2020.188410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Overexpression of the MYC oncogene is a molecular hallmark of both cancer initiation and progression. Targeting MYC is a logical and effective cancer therapeutic strategy. A special DNA secondary structure, the G-quadruplex (G4), is formed within the nuclease hypersensitivity element III1 (NHE III1) region, located upstream of the MYC gene's P1 promoter that drives the majority of its transcription. Targeting such G4 structures has been a focus of anticancer therapies in recent decades. Thus, a comprehensive review of the MYC G4 structure and its role as a potential therapeutic target is timely. In this review, we first outline the discovery of the MYC G4 structure and evidence of its formation in vitro and in cells. Then, we describe the functional role of G4 in regulating MYC gene expression. We also summarize three types of MYC G4-interacting proteins that can promote, stabilize and unwind G4 structures. Finally, we discuss G4-binding molecules and the anticancer activities of G4-stabilizing ligands, including small molecular compounds and peptides, and assess their potential as novel anticancer therapeutics.
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Paluszkiewicz E, Horowska B, Borowa-Mazgaj B, Peszyńska-Sularz G, Paradziej-Łukowicz J, Augustin E, Konopa J, Mazerska Z. Design, synthesis and high antitumor potential of new unsymmetrical bisacridine derivatives towards human solid tumors, specifically pancreatic cancers and their unique ability to stabilize DNA G-quadruplexes. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 204:112599. [PMID: 32736230 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Revised: 06/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
New promising unsymmetrical bisacridine derivatives (UAs), have been developed. Three groups including 36 compounds were synthesized by the condensation of 4-nitro or 4-methylacridinone, imidazoacridinone and triazoloacridinone derivatives with 1-nitroacridine compounds linked with an aminoalkyl chain. Cytotoxicity screening revealed the high potency of these compounds against several tumor cell lines. Particularly, imidazoacridinone-1-nitroacridine dimers strongly inhibited pancreatic Panc-1, Mia-Pa-Ca-2, Capan-2 and prostate cancer DU-145 cell growth. The studied compounds showed very strong antitumor activity (T/C> 300%) against Walker 256 rat adenocarcinoma. The selected 26 UAs were tested against 12 human tumor xenografts in nude mice, including colon, breast, prostate and pancreatic cancers. The studies on the molecular mechanism of action demonstrated that these unsymmetrical dimers significantly responded to the presence of G-quadruplex not to dsDNA. Structure-activity relationships for UAs potency to G-quadruplex stabilization indicated that thermal stability of this drug-G-quadruplex complex depended not only on the structure of heterocyclic rings, but also on the properties of dialkylamino chains of the ring linkers. In conclusion, the presented studies identified the new group of effective antitumor agents against solid human tumors, particularly pancreatic Panc-1, BxPC-3 and Mia-Pa-Ca-2 and strongly indicated their distinctive interactions with DNA. In contrast to monomers, G-quadruplex not dsDNA is proposed to be the first molecular target for these compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Paluszkiewicz
- Chemical Faculty, Gdańsk University of Technology, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biochemistry, Narutowicza 11/12 Str., 80-233, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Barbara Horowska
- Chemical Faculty, Gdańsk University of Technology, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biochemistry, Narutowicza 11/12 Str., 80-233, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Barbara Borowa-Mazgaj
- FDA National Center for Toxicological Research, Biochemical Toxicology, Jefferson, United States
| | - Grażyna Peszyńska-Sularz
- Tri-City Central Animal Laboratory - Research and Service Centre, Medical University of Gdańsk, Dębinki 1 Str., 80-211, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Jolanta Paradziej-Łukowicz
- Tri-City Central Animal Laboratory - Research and Service Centre, Medical University of Gdańsk, Dębinki 1 Str., 80-211, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Ewa Augustin
- Chemical Faculty, Gdańsk University of Technology, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biochemistry, Narutowicza 11/12 Str., 80-233, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Jerzy Konopa
- Chemical Faculty, Gdańsk University of Technology, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biochemistry, Narutowicza 11/12 Str., 80-233, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Zofia Mazerska
- Chemical Faculty, Gdańsk University of Technology, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biochemistry, Narutowicza 11/12 Str., 80-233, Gdańsk, Poland.
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Tessaro F, Scapozza L. How 'Protein-Docking' Translates into the New Emerging Field of Docking Small Molecules to Nucleic Acids? Molecules 2020; 25:E2749. [PMID: 32545835 PMCID: PMC7355999 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25122749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In this review, we retraced the '40-year evolution' of molecular docking algorithms. Over the course of the years, their development allowed to progress from the so-called 'rigid-docking' searching methods to the more sophisticated 'semi-flexible' and 'flexible docking' algorithms. Together with the advancement of computing architecture and power, molecular docking's applications also exponentially increased, from a single-ligand binding calculation to large screening and polypharmacology profiles. Recently targeting nucleic acids with small molecules has emerged as a valuable therapeutic strategy especially for cancer treatment, along with bacterial and viral infections. For example, therapeutic intervention at the mRNA level allows to overcome the problematic of undruggable proteins without modifying the genome. Despite the promising therapeutic potential of nucleic acids, molecular docking programs have been optimized mostly for proteins. Here, we have analyzed literature data on nucleic acid to benchmark some of the widely used docking programs. Finally, the comparison between proteins and nucleic acid targets docking highlighted similarity and differences, which are intrinsically related to their chemical and structural nature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Tessaro
- Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva CMU, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland;
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Leonardo Scapozza
- Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva CMU, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland;
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
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Sengupta P, Chatterjee S. Inosine 5'-diphosphate, a molecular decoy rescues Nucleoside diphosphate kinase from c-MYC G-Quadruplex unfolding. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2020; 1864:129649. [PMID: 32492501 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2020.129649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Revised: 05/02/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The transcription-inhibitory G-Quadruplex(Pu27-GQ) at c-MYC promoter is challenging to target due to structural heterogeneity. Nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NM23-H2) specifically binds and unfolds Pu27-GQ to increase c-MYC transcription. Here, we used Inosine 5'-diphosphate (IDP) to disrupt NM23-H2-Pu27-GQ interactions and arrest c-MYC transcription without compromising NM23-H2-mediated kinase properties. METHODS Site-directed mutagenesis,31P-NMR and STD-NMR studies delineate the epitope of NM23-H2-IDP complex and characterize specific amino acids in NM23-H2 involved in Pu27-GQ and IDP interactions. Immunoprecipitations and phosphohistidine-immunoblots reveal how IDP blocks NM23-H2-Pu27 association to downregulate c-MYC transcription in MDAMB-231 cells exempting NM23-H2-mediated kinase properties. RESULTS NMR studies show that IDP binds to the Guanosine diphosphate-binding pocket of NM23-H2 (KD = 5.0 ± 0.276 μM). Arg88-driven hydrogen bonds to the terminal phosphate of IDP restricts P-O-P bond-rotation increasing its pKa (∆pKa = 0.85 ± 0.0025).9-inosinyl moiety of IDP is stacked over Phe60 phenyl ring driving trans-conformation of inosine and axial geometry of pyrophosphates. Chromatin immunoprecipitations revealed that these interactions rescue NM23-H2-driven Pu27-GQ unfolding, which triggers Nucleolin recruitment and lowers Sp1 occupancy at c-MYC promoter stabilizing Pu27-GQ. This silences c-MYC transcription that reduces c-MYC-Sp1 association amplifying Sp1 recruitment across P21 promoter stimulating P21 transcription and G2/M arrest. CONCLUSIONS IDP synergizes the effects of Pu27-GQ-interacting compounds to abrogate c-MYC transcription and induce apoptosis in MDAMB-231 cells by disrupting NM23-H2-Pu27-GQ interactions without affecting NM23-H2-mediated kinase properties. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE Our study provides a pragmatic approach for developing NM23-H2-targeting regulators to rescue NM23-H2 binding at structurally ambiguous Pu27-GQ that synergizes the anti-tumorigenic effects of GQ-based therapeutics with minimized off-target effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pallabi Sengupta
- Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, Centenary Campus, P-1/12, C.I.T. Scheme VIIM, Kankurgachi, Kolkata 700054, India
| | - Subhrangsu Chatterjee
- Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, Centenary Campus, P-1/12, C.I.T. Scheme VIIM, Kankurgachi, Kolkata 700054, India.
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G-quadruplex, Friend or Foe: The Role of the G-quartet in Anticancer Strategies. Trends Mol Med 2020; 26:848-861. [PMID: 32467069 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2020.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 166] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Revised: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The clinical applicability of G-quadruplexes (G4s) as anticancer drugs is currently being evaluated. Several G4 ligands and aptamers are undergoing clinical trials following the notable examples of quarfloxin and AS1411, respectively. In this review, we summarize the latest achievements and breakthroughs in the use of G4 nucleic acids as both therapeutic tools ('friends', as healing anticancer drugs) and targets ('foes', within the harmful cancer cell), particularly using aptamers and quadruplex-targeted ligands, respectively. We explore the recent research on synthetic G4 ligands toward the discovery of anticancer therapeutics and their mechanism of action. Additionally, we highlight recent advances in chemical and structural biology that enable the design of specific G4 aptamers to be used as novel anticancer agents.
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