Functions of the CSB Protein at Topoisomerase 2 Inhibitors-Induced DNA Lesions

Topoisomerase 2 (TOP2) inhibitors are drugs widely used in the treatment of different types of cancer. Processing of their induced-lesions create double-strand breaks (DSBs) in the DNA, which is the main toxic mechanism of topoisomerase inhibitors to kill cancer cells. It was established that the Nucleotide Excision Repair pathway respond to TOP2-induced lesions, mainly through the Cockayne Syndrome B (CSB) protein. In this paper, we further define the mechanism and type of lesions induced by TOP2 inhibitors when CSB is abrogated. In the absence of TOP2, but not during pharmacological inhibition, an increase in R-Loops was detected. We also observed that CSB knockdown provokes the accumulation of DSBs induced by TOP2 inhibitors. Consistent with a functional interplay, interaction between CSB and TOP2 occurred after TOP2 inhibition. This was corroborated with in vitro DNA cleavage assays where CSB stimulated the activity of TOP2. Altogether, our results show that TOP2 is stimulated by the CSB protein and prevents the accumulation of R-loops/DSBs linked to genomic instability.

Cell growth analysis and nucleotide excision repair modulation in breast cancer cells submitted to a protocol using doxorubicin and paclitaxel

INTRODUCTION

One of the most used regimens to treat breast cancer is the dose-dense ACT protocol, a combination of anthracycline doxorubicin (DOX) with cyclophosphamide and paclitaxel (PCTX). However, many tumors show resistance to the protocols applied. It is known that the nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway acts by removing the DOX-generated lesions, and this, together with other DNA repair pathways, can modulate the response to treatment.

AIMS

To evaluate the in vitro growth profile of breast cancer cells (MCF7), and the modulation of DNA repair genes, submitted to a protocol using DOX and PCTX in a similar regimen to what is used in clinical practice.

MAIN METHODS

MCF7 cells were treated with repeated cycles of DOX and PCTX and followed-up during and after each of the treatments. The population doubling of the remaining cells was calculated during the complete protocol and DNA repair gene expression was evaluated at different time-points.

KEY FINDINGS

An increase in all NER genes analyzed after the DOX treatment was observed, but not after the PCTX treatment. MRE11was overexpressed at all evaluated time-points. There was a resumption of NER genes overexpression profile when cells were maintained for follow-up and retook their growth pattern, indicating that DNA repair pathways can modulate their expression during the chemotherapy exposure.

Synthesis, molecular structure and antioxidant activity of bis [L(μ2-chloro)copper(II)] supported by phenoxy/naphthoxy-imine ligands

A new series of Cu(II) complexes [bis[{(μ₂-chloro)-2-MeO-Ph-CH₂-(N=CH)-2,4-tert-butyl-2-OC₆H₂)}Cu(II)] (Cu1); bis[{(μ₂-chloro)-2-MeS-Ph-CH₂-(N=CH)-2,4-tert-butyl-2-(OC₆H₂)}Cu(II)] (Cu2); bis[{(μ₂-chloro)-2-MeO-Ph-CH₂-(N=CH)-2-(OC₁₀H₆)} Cu(II)] (Cu3); bis[{(μ₂-chloro)-2-MeS-Ph-CH₂-(N=CH)-2-(OC₁₀H₆)}Cu(II)] complex (Cu4); bis[{2-MeS-Ph-CH₂-(N=CH)-2,4-tert-butyl-2-(OC₆H₂)}Cu(II)] (Cu5)] have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV-Visible and by X-ray crystallography for Cu1, Cu4 and Cu5. In the solid state, Cu1 features of a chloro-bridged dimer complex with κ² coordination of the monoanionic phenoxy-imine ligand onto the copper center. On the other hand, the molecular structure of Cu4 reveals the naphthoxy-imine ligand with pendant S-group coordinated to the copper atom in tridentate meridional fashion. Treatment of [Cu(OAc)₂·H₂O] with two equiv. of [2-MeS-Ph-CH₂-(N=CH)-2,4-tert-butyl-2-(HOC₆H₂)] led to a monomeric complex Cu5, with the ONS-donor Schiff base acting as a bidentate ligand. The redox behavior was explored by cyclic voltammetry. The reduction/oxidation potential of Cu(II) complexes depends on the structure and conformation of the central atom in the coordination compounds. Antioxidant activities of the complexes, Cu1 - Cu5, were determined by in vitro assays such as 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl free radicals (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radicals (ABTS⁺). The dinuclear compounds Cu1-Cu4, from the concentration of 5 μM, presented a good activity in scavenging DPPH radical. In addition, most of the Cu(II) complexes showed ABTS^.+ radical-scavenging activity. The monomeric complex Cu5 at all concentrations tested showed antioxidant inability. The cytotoxicity of the Cu1 and Cu3 was determined in V79 cell line by reduction of 3(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.