Doxorubicin-formaldehyde conjugate, doxoform: induction of apoptosis relative to doxorubicin

BACKGROUND

The anthracycline antitumor drug, doxorubicin (DOX), is proposed to catalyze the production of formaldehyde and bond to the formaldehyde at its amino sugar to produce an active metabolite that subsequently crosslinks DNA as part of the cytotoxic mechanism. Doxoform (DOXF), a synthetic formaldehyde conjugate of DOX, exhibits enhanced toxicity to numerous sensitive and resistant cancer cell lines. The aim of this study was to demonstrate that DOXF, at much lower drug levels, retains the apoptosis-inducing characteristics of DOX, consistent with DOXF being a prodrug to the DOX active metabolite.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

HeLa S3 and MCF-7 cells were treated with IC50-equivalent concentrations of DOX and DOXF and analyzed for DNA fragmentation and phosphatidylserine externalization, common morphological features of apoptosis. DNA fragmentation was detected by gel electrophoresis and TUNEL assay; phosphatidylserine externalization was detected by annexin V binding.

RESULTS

DNA fragmentation and phosphatidylserine externalization were detected in HeLa S3 cells following a 3 h treatment with either 86 nM equiv. DOXF or 1 microM DOX. No apoptotic features were observed for MCF-7 cells following a 3 h treatment with either DOXF (100 nM equiv.) or DOX (1 microM).

CONCLUSIONS

DOXF induced cell death in both cell lines at drug levels an order of magnitude lower than DOX. The similar behavior of DOXF and DOX supports the role of formaldehyde in the cytotoxic mechanism of the clinical anthracycline antitumor agents and provides further support for the proposition that DOXF is a prodrug to the DOX active metabolite.

Formaldehyde in human cancer cells: detection by preconcentration-chemical ionization mass spectrometry

A rapid and highly sensitive method for the detection of formaldehyde utilizing selected ion flow tube-chemical ionization mass spectrometry is reported. Formaldehyde in aqueous biological samples is preconcentrated by distillation and directly analyzed using gas-phase thermal energy proton transfer from H30+; this procedure can be performed in 30 min. The method detection limit for formaldehyde based on seven replicate measurements of reference water samples (2.5 mL) is 80 nM at the 99% confidence level. Detection is linear up to 130 microM. This technique allows the first measurement of natural formaldehyde levels in human cancer cells in vitro. Elevated levels of formaldehyde relative to the reference water are observed for doxorubicin-sensitive cells (MCF-7 breast cancer, K562 leukemia, HeLa S3 cervical cancer) with estimated intracellular formaldehyde concentrations ranging from 1.5 to 4.0 microM, whereas formaldehyde in doxorubicin-resistant MCF-7/Adr breast cancer cells is essentially at reference level. This trend is inverted for prostate cancer cells LNCaP (sensitive) and DU-145 (resistant). Correlation of natural formaldehyde level with doxorubicin cytotoxicity is a function of the expression of enzymes that neutralize oxidative stress and the drug efflux pump, P-170 glycoprotein.

Nuclear targeting and retention of anthracycline antitumor drugs in sensitive and resistant tumor cells

Recent and new results which support a drug-DNA covalent bonding mechanism for cell toxicity of the clinical antitumor drugs, daunorubicin, doxorubicin, and epidoxorubicin, are summarized. The mechanism involves the iron complex of the drugs inducing oxidative stress to yield formaldehyde, which then mediates covalent attachment to G-bases of DNA. At NGC sites the combination of covalent and non-covalent drug interactions serve to virtually crosslink the DNA. Structural data for virtual crosslinks are compared as a function of drug structure. Elucidation of the mechanism led to the synthesis and evaluation of drug formaldehyde conjugates, Daunoform, Doxoform, and Epidoxoform, as improved chemotherapeutics. Drug uptake, nuclear targeting, drug release, and cytotoxicity of the clinical drugs by sensitive and resistant breast and prostate cancer cells are contrasted with those of the corresponding formaldehyde conjugates. Conjugates are taken up better, retained longer, and are more toxic to a wide variety of tumor cells. The kinetics of drug release from Doxoform and Epidoxoform treated MCF-7/Adr cells are biexponential and correlate with the biexponential kinetics of drug release from extracellular DNA. The results of the lead conjugate, Epidoxoform, in the National Cancer Institute 60 human tumor cell screen are presented and discussed in terms of some resistance mechanisms. Epidoxoform shows increased toxicity to all panels relative to doxorubicin and epidoxorubicin, and this enhanced toxicity is especially evident with the more resistant cell lines.

Lack of glutathione conjugation to adriamycin in human breast cancer MCF-7/DOX cells. Inhibition of glutathione S-transferase p1-1 by glutathione conjugates from anthracyclines

One of the proposed mechanisms for multidrug resistance relies on the ability of resistant tumor cells to efficiently promote glutathione S-transferase (GST)-catalyzed GSH conjugation of the antitumor drug. This type of conjugation, observed in several families of drugs, has never been documented satisfactorily for anthracyclines. Adriamycin-resistant human breast cancer MCF-7/DOX cells, presenting a comparable GSH concentration, but a 14-fold increase of the GST P1-1 activity relative to the sensitive MCF-7 cells, have been treated with adriamycin in the presence of verapamil, an inhibitor of the 170 P-glycoprotein (P-gp) drug transport protein, and scrutinized for any production of GSH-adriamycin conjugates. HPLC analysis of cell content and culture broths have shown unequivocally that no GSH conjugates are present either inside the cell or in the culture broth. The only anthracycline present inside the cells after 24 hr of incubation was > 98% pure adriamycin. Confocal laser scanning microscopic observation showed that in MCF-7/DOX cells adriamycin was localized mostly in the Golgi apparatus rather than in the nucleus, the preferred site of accumulation for sensitive MCF-7 cells. These findings rule out GSH conjugation or any other significant biochemical transformation as the basis for resistance to adriamycin and as a ground for the anomalous localization of the drug in the cell. Adriamycin, daunomycin, and menogaril did not undergo meaningful conjugation to GSH in the presence of GST P1-1 at pH 7.2. Indeed, their synthetic C(7)-aglycon-GSH conjugates exerted a strong inhibitory effect on GST P1-1, with K(i) at 25 degrees in the 1-2 microM range, scarcely dependent on their stereochemistry at C(7).

Diagnostic potential of PhotoSELEX-evolved ssDNA aptamers

High sensitivity and specificity of two modified ssDNA aptamers capable of photocross-linking recombinant human basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF((155))) were demonstrated. The aptamers were identified through a novel, covalent, in vitro selection methodology called photochemical systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (PhotoSELEX). The aptamers exhibited high sensitivity for bFGF((155)) comparable with commercially available ELISA monoclonal antibodies with an absolute sensitivity of at least 0.058 ppt bFGF((155)) under prevailing test conditions. The aptamers exquisitely distinguished bFGF((155)) from consanguine proteins, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and platelet derived growth factor (PDGF). A commercially viable diagnostic system incorporating PhotoSELEX-evolved aptamers capable of simultaneous quantification of a large number of analyte molecules is also described. Such a system benefits from covalent bonding of aptamer to target protein allowing vigorous washing with denaturants to improve signal to noise.

Mass spectrometric measurement of formaldehyde generated in breast cancer cells upon treatment with anthracycline antitumor drugs

Selected ion flow tube-chemical ionization mass spectrometry was used to measure formaldehyde levels in human breast cancer cells in comparison with levels in cells treated with the antitumor drugs doxorubicin (DOX) and daunorubicin (DAU) and the daunorubicin-formaldehyde conjugate Daunoform (DAUF). The measurement was performed on cell lysates and showed only background levels of formaldehyde in untreated cells and drug-treated resistant cells (MCF-7/Adr cells) but levels above background in DOX- and DAU-treated sensitive cells (MCF-7 cells). The level of formaldehyde above background was a function of drug concentration (0.5-50 microM), treatment time (3-24 h), cell density (0.3 x 10(6) to 7 x 10(6) cells/mL), and cell viability (0-100%). Higher levels of formaldehyde were observed in lysates of MCF-7 cells treated at higher drug levels, unless the treatment resulted in low cell viability. Elevated levels were directly related to cell density and were observed even with 0.5 microM drug. A lower limit for excess formaldehyde in MCF-7 cells treated with 0.5 microM DAU for 24 h is 0.3 mM. Control experiments showed that formaldehyde was not produced after cell lysis. Lysates of sensitive and resistant cells treated with 0.5 micromolar equiv of the formaldehyde conjugate (DAUF) for 3 h showed only background levels of formaldehyde. The results support a mechanism for drug cytotoxicity which involves drug induction of metabolic processes leading to formaldehyde production followed by drug utilization of formaldehyde to virtually cross-link DNA.

Coordination chemistry of verdazyl radicals: group 12 metal (Zn, Cd, Hg) complexes of 1,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2,4-dimethyl-6-(2 pyridiyl)-1,2,4,5-tetrazin -3(2H)-one (pvdH3) and 1,5-dimethyl-3-(2 pyridil)-6-oxoverdazyl (pvd)

Ferricyanide oxidation of 1,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2,4-dimethyl-6-(2'-pyridyl)-1,2,4,5-tetrazin-3(2H)-one (pvdH3) produces the stable chelating free radical 1,5-dimethyl-3-(2'-pyridyl)-6-oxoverdazyl (pvd) as an orange solid. Combination of group 12 metal halides with the ligand pvdH3 in acetonitrile results in precipitation of metal complexes. The mercuric chloride complex crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1/c) with unit cell dimensions a = 8.5768(8) A, b = 19.1718(17) A, c = 8.5956(8) A, beta = 90.405 degrees, and V = 1413.4(2) A3. The mercuric ion is tricoordinate with a distorted trigonal planar geometry. Cadmium iodide and zinc chloride induce ring opening of the tetrazine resulting in pentacoordinate complexes of a hydrazone ligand. The cadmium iodide complex crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1 with cell dimensions a = 7.7184(8) A, b = 8.0240(9) A, c = 13.348(2) A, alpha = 97.876(4) degrees, beta = 95.594(6) degrees, gamma = 107.304(6) degrees, and V = 773.40(21) A3. Oxidation of all three metal complexes produces verdazyl radicals. Metal coordination is indicated by small changes in the EPR spectrum and by changes in the UV-visible spectrum, in particular the changes in the position of bands in the visible region. The metal halide-pvd complexes can also be synthesized by direct combination of metal halides with the free radical.

Mass spectral characterization of a protein-nucleic acid photocrosslink

A photocrosslink between basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF155) and a high affinity ssDNA oligonucleotide was characterized by positive ion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESIMS). The DNA was a 61-mer oligonucleotide photoaptamer bearing seven bromodeoxyuridines, identified by in vitro selection. Specific photocrosslinking of the protein to the oligonucleotide was achieved by 308 nm XeCl excimer laser excitation. The cross-linked protein nucleic acid complex was proteolyzed with trypsin. The resulting peptide crosslink was purified by PAGE, eluted, and digested by snake venom phosphodiesterase/alkaline phosphatase. Comparison of the oligonucleotide vs. the degraded peptide crosslink by high performance liquid chromatography coupled to an electrospray ionization triple quadrupole mass spectrometer showed a single ion unique to the crosslinked material. Sequencing by collision induced dissociation (MS/MS) on a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer revealed that this ion was the nonapeptide TGQYKLGSK (residues 130-138) crosslinked to a dinucleotide at Tyr133. The MS/MS spectrum indicated sequential fragmentation of the oligonucleotide to uracil covalently attached to the nonapeptide followed by fragmentation of the peptide bonds. Tyr133 is located within the heparin binding pocket, suggesting that the in vitro selection targeted this negative ion binding region of bFGF155.

Crystal structure of epidoxorubicin-formaldehyde virtual crosslink of DNA and evidence for its formation in human breast-cancer cells

Epidoxorubicin and daunorubicin are proposed to be cytotoxic to tumor cells by catalyzing production of formaldehyde through redox cycling and using the formaldehyde for covalent attachment to DNA at G bases. The crystal structure of epidoxorubicin covalently bound to a d(CGCGCG) oligomer was determined to 1.6 A resolution. The structure reveals slightly distorted B-form DNA bearing two molecules of epidoxorubicin symmetrically intercalated at the termini, with each covalently attached from its N3' to N2 of a G base via a CH2 group from the formaldehyde. The structure is analogous to daunorubicin covalently bound to d(CGCGCG) determined previously, except for additional hydrogen bonding from the epimeric O4' to O2 of a C base. The role of drug-DNA covalent bonding in cells was investigated with synthetic epidoxorubicin-formaldehyde conjugate (Epidoxoform) and synthetic daunorubicin-formaldehyde conjugate (Daunoform). Uptake and location of drug fluorophore in doxorubicin-resistant human breast-cancer cells (MCF-7/ADR cells) was observed by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. The fluorophore of Daunoform appeared more rapidly in cells and was released more rapidly from cells than the fluorophore of Epidoxoform over a 3 h exposure period. The fluorophore appeared predominantly in the nucleus of cells treated with both conjugates. The difference in uptake is explained in terms of the slower rate of hydrolysis of Epidoxoform to the species reactive with DNA and a proposed slower release from DNA based upon the crystal structures.

Nuclear targeting and nuclear retention of anthracycline-formaldehyde conjugates implicates DNA covalent bonding in the cytotoxic mechanism of anthracyclines

The anthracycline, antitumor drugs doxorubicin (DOX), daunorubicin (DAU), and epidoxorubicin (EPI) catalyze production of formaldehyde through induction of oxidative stress. The formaldehyde then mediates covalent bonding of the drugs to DNA. Synthetic formaldehyde conjugates of DOX, DAU, and EPI, denoted Doxoform (DOXF), Daunoform (DAUF), and Epidoxoform (EPIF), exhibit enhanced toxicity to anthracycline-sensitive and -resistant tumor cells. Uptake and retention of parent anthracycline antitumor drugs (DOX, DAU, and EPI) relative to those of their formaldehyde conjugates (DOXF, DAUF, and EPIF) were assessed by flow cytometry in both drug-sensitive MCF-7 cells and drug-resistant MCF-7/ADR cells. The MCF-7 cells took up more than twice as much drug as the MCF-7/ADR cells, and both cell lines took up substantially more of the formaldehyde conjugates than the parent drugs. Both MCF-7 and MCF-7/ADR cells retained fluorophore from DOXF, DAUF, and EPIF hours after drug removal, while both cell lines almost completely expelled DOX, DAU, and EPI within 1 h. Longer treatment with DOX, DAU, and EPI resulted in modest drug retention in MCF-7 cells following drug removal but poor retention of DOX, DAU, and EPI in MCF-7/ADR cells. Fluorescence microscopy showed that the formaldehyde conjugates targeted the nuclei of both sensitive and resistant cells, and remained in the nucleus hours after drug removal. Experiments in which [(3)H]Doxoform was used, synthesized from doxorubicin and [(3)H]formaldehyde, also indicated that Doxoform targeted the nucleus. Elevated levels of (3)H were observed in DNA isolated from [(3)H]Doxoform-treated MCF-7 and MCF-7/ADR cells relative to controls. The results implicate drug-DNA covalent bonding in the tumor cell toxicity mechanism of these anthracyclines.

Growth inhibition, nuclear uptake, and retention of anthracycline-formaldehyde conjugates in prostate cancer cells relative to clinical anthracyclines

Recent data indicate that the clinical anthracycline anti-tumor drugs, doxorubicin (DOX), daunorubicin (DAU), and epidoxorubicin (EPI), catalyze the production of formaldehyde through induction of oxidative stress and bind the formaldehyde to form a metabolite which covalently bonds to DNA. Based upon this discovery, anthracycline-formaldehyde conjugates were synthesized and evaluated in three metastatic prostate cancer cell lines, LNCaP, PC-3, and DU-145. The doxorubicin-formaldehyde conjugate, Doxoform (DOXF), inhibits the growth of PC-3 and DU-145 cells 50- and 80-fold better, respectively, than the corresponding clinical drug, DOX. Daunorubicin- and epidoxorubicin-formaldehyde conjugates, Daunoform and Epidoxoform (DAUF and EPIF), inhibit the growth about 6 to 10-fold better than the clinical drugs, DAU and EPI. In addition, DAUF, DOXF, and EPIF are 2- to 20-fold more toxic to the doxorubicin-sensitive metastatic prostate cancer cell line, LNCaP. Fluorescence microscopy indicates that the nucleus is the major target for all six drugs. Flow cytometry together with fluorescence microscopy shows that DOXF and EPIF are taken up more rapidly and more abundantly and are retained in the nucleus longer than DOX and EPI, respectively, especially in DU-145 cells. The enhanced toxicity of the anthracycline-formaldehyde conjugates is attributed to their increased nuclear uptake and retention and suggests that DOXF, DAUF, and EPIF are prodrugs to the active metabolites of the clinical drugs DOX, DAU, and EPI.

A redox pathway leading to the alkylation of nucleic acids by doxorubicin and related anthracyclines: application to the design of antitumor drugs for resistant cancer

Doxorubicin has been a constituent of antitumor drug protocols for a broad spectrum of cancers for more than two decades. Side effects and resistance continue to be important limitations. Drug targets responsible for both side effects and anti-tumor activity are cell membrane receptors, cell membrane lipids, nucleic acids and topoisomerase. Induction of oxidative stress is responsible for most if not all biological activity. An important consequence of oxidative stress is the production of formaldehyde which can subsequently be utilized by the drug for covalent bonding to nucleic acids and other targets as shown by in vitro experiments. Multidrug resistance mechanisms inhibit drug-induced DNA damage, drug uptake, and drug-induced oxidative stress. Synthetic anthracyclines conjugated to formaldehyde circumvent some if not all of the resistance mechanisms. Consequently, anthracycline-formaldehyde conjugates have potential for the treatment of resistant cancer.

Epidoxoform: a hydrolytically more stable anthracycline-formaldehyde conjugate toxic to resistant tumor cells

The recent discovery that the formaldehyde conjugates of doxorubicin and daunorubicin, Doxoform and Daunoform, are cytotoxic to resistant human breast cancer cells prompted the search for hydrolytically more stable anthracycline-formaldehyde conjugates. Doxoform and Daunoform consist of two molecules of the parent drug bound together with three methylene groups, two forming oxazolidine rings and one binding the oxazolidines together at their 3'-amino nitrogens. The 4'-epimer of doxorubicin, epidoxorubicin, reacts with formaldehyde at its amino alcohol functionality to produce a conjugate, Epidoxoform, in 59% yield whose structure consists of two molecules of epidoxorubicin bound together with three methylene groups in a 1, 6-diaza-4,9-dioxabicyclo[4.4.1]undecane ring system. The structure was established from spectroscopic data and is consistent with products from reaction of simpler vicinal trans-amino alcohols with formaldehyde. Epidoxoform hydrolyzes at pH 7.3 to an equilibrium mixture with dimeric and monomeric epidoxorubicin-formaldehyde conjugates without release of formaldehyde or epidoxorubicin. The hydrolysis follows the rate law (A if B) if C + D where A (Epidoxoform) is in rapid equilibrium with B, and B is in slow equilibrium with C and D. The forward rate constant for A/B going to C+D gives a half-life of approximately 2 h at 37 degrees C. At equilibrium the mixture is stable for at least 2 days. At pH 6.0, hydrolysis proceeds with first-order kinetics to epidoxorubicin and formaldehyde with a half-life of 15 min at 37 degrees C. Epidoxoform and epidoxorubicin plus formaldehyde react with the self-complementary DNA octamer (GC)4 to yield five drug-DNA adducts which have structures analogous to the doxorubicin-DNA adducts from reaction of Doxoform with (GC)4. Epidoxoform is 3-fold more toxic to MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and greater than 120-fold more toxic to MCF-7/ADR resistant cells than epidoxorubicin. Epidoxoform in equilibrium with its hydrolysis products is greater than 25-fold more toxic to resistant cells with respect to epidoxorubicin.

Cytoplasmic localization of anthracycline antitumor drugs conjugated with reduced glutathione: a possible correlation with multidrug resistance mechanisms

The accumulation of adriamycin (ADR), daunomycin (DAUNO) and their glutathione (GSH)-conjugates, recently obtained by anaerobic reaction of the parent anthracyclines with reduced GSH, was examined in drug-sensitive and multidrug resistant (MDR) cell lines using confocal laser scanning microscopy. In all drug-sensitive lines used (TVM-A12 and TVM-A197 human melanoma cells, K562 lymphoblastoid cells and MCF-7 human breast cancer cells) ADR and DAUNO were mostly located in the nuclei, while their GSH-conjugates were found only in the cytoplasm, predominantly in the Golgi region. On the contrary, in MDR MCF-7/Dox cells, both conjugated and non conjugated anthracyclines gave fluorescence only in the cytoplasm, mostly in the Golgi region, the intensity of the fluorescence being stronger in cells pretreated with verapamil. Viability assay showed that the GSH-conjugate are significantly less cytotoxic than the parent anthracyclines in sensitive cells and showed the same scarce cytotoxicity in MDR MCF-7/Dox cells. These results demonstrate that conjugation of anthracycline antitumor drugs with GSH prevents their access to the nucleus and decreases their cytotoxicity. Furthermore, the observations on MCF-7/Dox suggest that GSH-conjugation of anthracycline might occur in resistant cells and can be in part responsible for the MDR in breast cancer cells.

Production of formaldehyde and DNA-adriamycin or DNA-daunomycin adducts, initiated through redox chemistry of dithiothreitol/iron, xanthine oxidase/NADH/iron, or glutathione/iron

The reaction of the antitumor drugs adriamycin and daunomycin with the self-complementary DNA oligonucleotide (GC)4 to generate DNA-drug adducts was investigated as a function of redox reaction conditions. The redox systems dithiothreitol (DTT)/Fe(III) and xanthine oxidase/ NADH both gave the same distribution of four DNA-anthracycline adducts. In each of these adducts the anthracycline is bonded via a methylene linkage between the 3'-amino group of the drug and the 2-amino group of a deoxyguanosine of the DNA. The methylene linkage results from reaction of the drug and DNA with in situ-generated formaldehyde via Schiff base chemistry [Taatjes, D.J., Gaudiano, G., Resing, K., and Koch, T.H. (1997) J. Med. Chem. 40, 1276-1286]. Formaldehyde production is promoted by iron, inhibited by metal-chelating agents, and does not require drug. Iron enhances formaldehyde production by a factor of 30, EDTA inhibits its formation by a factor of 2, and Desferal inhibits its formation by a factor of more than 20. Hydrogen peroxide accumulates in significant quantities only with xanthine oxidase/NADH in the presence of Desferal. The results are explained in terms of Fenton oxidation of Tris buffer to formaldehyde. Biological reagents also cause DNA-drug adduct formation; reduction of ferric ion with glutathione in phosphate buffer in the presence of spermine produced the same DNA-drug adducts. The observations are discussed in terms of cytotoxicity resulting from iron chelated to adriamycin catalyzing in vivo production of formaldehyde which links adriamycin to DNA and tumor cell resistance resulting from factors which decrease formaldehyde.

Doxoform and Daunoform: anthracycline-formaldehyde conjugates toxic to resistant tumor cells

The recent discovery that the clinically important antitumor drugs doxorubicin and daunorubicin alkylate DNA via catalytic production of formaldehyde prompted the synthesis of derivatives bearing formaldehyde. Reaction of the parent drugs with aqueous formaldehyde at pH 6 produced in 40-50% yield conjugates consisting of two molecules of the parent drug as oxazolidine derivatives bound together at their 3'-nitrogens by a methylene group. The structures were established as bis(3'-N-(3'-N,4'-O-methylenedoxorubicinyl)) methane (Doxoform) and bis(3'-N-(3'-N,4'-O-methylenedaunorubicinyl))methane (Daunoform) from spectroscopic data. Both derivatives are labile with respect to hydrolysis to the parent drugs. 3'-N,4'-O-Methylenedoxorubicin and 3'-N,4'-O-methylenedaunorubicin are intermediates in the hydrolysis. Daunoform reacts with the self-complementary deoxyoligonucleotide (GC)4 faster than the combination of daunorubicin and formaldehyde at an equivalent concentration to given drug-DNA adducts. In spite of hydrolytic instability, Doxoform is 150-fold more toxic to MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and 10000-fold more toxic to MCF-7/ADR resistant cells. Toxicity to resistant cancer cells is interpreted in terms of higher lipophilicity of the derivatives and circumvention of catalytic formaldehyde production.

Redox pathway leading to the alkylation of DNA by the anthracycline, antitumor drugs adriamycin and daunomycin

Reaction of the anthracycline, antitumor drugs adriamycin and daunomycin with the self-complementary DNA oligonucleotide GCGCGCGC, (GC)4, in the presence of the reducing agent dithiothreitol, the oxidizing agent hydrogen peroxide, or the alkylating agent formaldehyde gives a similar mixture of DNA-drug adducts. Negative ion electrospray mass spectra indicate that adduct formation involves coupling of the DNA to the anthracycline via a methylene group and that the major adduct is duplex DNA containing two molecules of anthracycline, each bound to a separate strand of the DNA via a methylene group. The source of the methylene group is formaldehyde. A molecular structure with each anthracycline intercalated at a 5'-CpG-3' site and covalently bound from its 3'-amino group to a 2-amino group of a 2'-deoxyguanosine nucleotide is proposed based upon spectral data and a relevant crystal structure. The reaction of (GC)4 with the anthracyclines and formaldehyde forms an equilibrium mixture with DNA-drug adducts which is shifted toward free DNA by dilution. The results suggest a pathway to the inhibition of transcription by reductively activated adriamycin and daunomycin. Reductive activation in the presence of oxygen yields hydrogen peroxide; hydrogen peroxide oxidizes constituents in the reaction mixture to formaldehyde; and formaldehyde couples the drug to DNA. In this regard, hydrogen peroxide reacts with adriamycin via Baeyer-Villiger reactions at the 13-position to yield 2, 3, and formaldehyde. Formaldehyde also results from hydrogen peroxide oxidation of Tris [tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane] present in transcription buffer and spermine, a polyamine commonly associated with DNA in vivo, presumably via the Fenton reaction.

Photocross-linking of nucleic acids to associated proteins

Photocross-linking is a useful technique for the partial definition of the nucleic acid-protein interface of nucleoprotein complexes. It can be accomplished by one or two photon excitations of wild-type nucleoprotein complexes or by one photon excitation of nucleoprotein complexes bearing one or more substitutions with photoreactive chromophores. Chromophores that have been incorporated into nucleic acids for this purpose include aryl azides, 5-azidouracil, 8-azidoadenine, 8-azidoguanine, 4-thiouracil, 5-bromouracil, 5-iodouracil, and 5-iodocytosine. The various techniques and chromophores are described and compared, with attention to the photochemical mechanism.

Using in vitro selection to direct the covalent attachment of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Rev protein to high-affinity RNA ligands

We have used an in vitro selection procedure called crosslinking SELEX (SELEX = systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment) to identify RNA sequences that bind with high affinity and crosslink to the Rev protein from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). A randomized RNA library substituted with the photoreactive chromophore 5-iodouracil was irradiated with monochromatic UV light in the presence of Rev. Those sequences with the ability to photocrosslink to Rev were partitioned from the rest of the RNA pool, amplified, and used for the next round of selection. Rounds of photocrosslinking selection were alternated with rounds of selection for RNA sequences with high affinity to Rev. This iterative, dual-selection method yielded RNA molecules with subnanomolar dissociation constants and high efficiency photocrosslinking to Rev. Some of the RNA molecules isolated by this procedure form a stable complex with Rev that is resistant to denaturing gel electrophoresis in the absence of UV irradiation. In vitro selection of nucleic acids by using modified nucleotides allows the isolation of nucleic acid molecules with potentially limitless chemical capacities to covalently attack a target molecule.

An RNA-protein contact determined by 5-bromouridine substitution, photocrosslinking and sequencing

An analogue of the replicase translational operator of bacteriophage R17, that contains a 5-bromouridine at position -5 (RNA 1), complexes with a dimer of the coat protein and photocrosslinks to the coat protein in high yield upon excitation at 308 nm with a xenon chloride excimer laser. Tryptic digestion of the crosslinked nucleoprotein complex followed by Edman degradation of the tryptic fragment bearing the RNA indicates crosslinking to tyrosine 85 of the coat protein. A control experiment with a Tyr 85 to Ser 85 variant coat protein showed binding but no photocrosslinking at saturating protein concentration. This is consistent with the observation from model compound studies of preferential photocrosslinking of BrU to the electron rich aromatic amino acids tryptophan, tyrosine, and histidine with 308 nm excitation.

Telomeric protein-DNA point contacts identified by photo-cross-linking using 5-bromodeoxyuridine

The Oxytricha telomere protein specifically recognizes single-stranded telomeric DNA, forming an extremely salt resistant and kinetically stable nucleoprotein complex. The absence of information on how this heterodimeric protein binds to DNA prompted this photo-cross-linking study. Multiple protein-DNA photo-cross-links are formed upon UV irradiation of Oxytricha telomeres reconstituted with a synthetic oligonucleotide terminating in 5'-T16T15T14T13G12G11G10G9T8T7T6T5G4G3G2G1-3'. Site-specific substitution of certain nucleotides with 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) greatly increased the photo-cross-linking yield, each substitution favoring a specific protein-DNA cross-link. For example, substitution of BrdU for T7 resulted in 25% cross-linking of the bound DNA, a 10-fold increase over the unsubstituted DNA. Both subunits of the telomere protein cross-link to, and are therefore near, the DNA. Three point contacts within this nucleoprotein complex, involving the alpha subunit, were established using BrdU substitution: Tyr239, Tyr142, and His292 cross-link to G3, T15, and T7, respectively. One photo-cross-link, Tyr239-G3, occurs amid a short acidic stretch of the alpha subunit, counter to expectations for amino acids that approach the polyanionic DNA. The two remaining cross-links are to amino acids in hydrophobic regions of the primary polypeptide sequence, consistent with the hypothesis that hydrophobic interactions account for the salt resistance (> 2 M NaCl) of this protein-DNA complex. These two photo-cross-links suggest that the telomere protein may bind telomeric single-stranded DNA by intercalation of aromatic residues into a nucleotide lattice.

Photocrosslinking of 5-iodouracil-substituted RNA and DNA to proteins

5-Iodouracil-substituted RNA and DNA were crosslinked regiospecifically to associated proteins in yields of 70 to 94% of bound nucleic acid. Irradiation of the iodouracil chromophore with monochromatic, long-wavelength ultraviolet radiation (325 nanometers) eliminates excitation of other nucleic acid and protein chromophores. The combination of high crosslinking yields, excellent specificity, and elimination of photodamage to other chromophores represents an important advance toward the precise identification of contacts in nucleoprotein complexes.

Detection and possible origins of aminomalonic acid in protein hydrolysates

Aminomalonic acid (Ama) was first detected in alkaline hydrolysates of proteins in 1984. In this work we describe our search for the origin of aminomalonic acid in alkaline hydrolysates of proteins. We have developed a technique for quantitation of aminomalonic acid based upon gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Using this technique, we find approximately 0.3 Ama/1000 amino acids in hydrolysates of Escherichia coli protein. We have demonstrated that Ama is not formed from any of the 20 major amino acids during the hydrolysis procedure. Furthermore, the amount of Ama found does not depend on the presence of small amounts of O2 during the hydrolysis. Thus far, we have not been able to demonstrate an artifactual origin for Ama. The results described above suggest that Ama may indeed be a constituent of proteins before the hydrolysis procedure. Possible origins of Ama include errors in protein synthesis and oxidative damage to amino acid residues in proteins.

Cardiovascular implant calcification: a survey and update

Calcification of cardiovascular prosthetic implants is a common and important problem. This review provides an update based upon the Conference on Cardiovascular Implant Calcification held as part of the 13th World Congress of the International Society for Heart Research, 1989. A variety of cardiovascular prostheses are affected clinically by calcification, including bioprosthetic heart valves, aortic homografts and trileaflet polymeric valve prostheses. In addition, experimental studies have demonstrated calcification of artificial heart devices in ventricular assist systems in long-term calf studies. The pathophysiology of this disease process is incompletely understood. A common element between the various types of cardiovascular implant calcification is the localization of calcific deposits to devitalized cells and membranous debris. Prevention of cardiovascular implant calcification by either biomaterial modifications or regional drug therapy (controlled release) is being investigated.

A specific, UV-induced RNA-protein cross-link using 5-bromouridine-substituted RNA

The well-characterized RNA binding site of the bacteriophage R17 coat protein has been used to investigate the cross-linking of protein to 5-bromouridine (BrU)-substituted RNA using medium-wavelength UV light. We have demonstrated a specific RNA-protein cross-link and identified the site on the RNA of protein attachment. Formation of the covalent complex is dependent upon the presence of BrU at position -5 of the RNA and specific binding of the RNA by coat protein. The amount of cross-linking increases with time and depends on the light source and conditions used. Irradiations using a broad-spectrum UV transilluminator (peak at 312 nm) or monochromatic XeCl excimer laser (308 nm) gave levels of cross-linking exceeding 20 and 50%, respectively. The quantum yield of photo-cross-linking, determined with 308-nm excitation, was 0.003. While little strand breakage or debromination of the RNA occurred, significant protein photodamage was observed.

Redox chemistry of anthracycline antitumor drugs and use of captodative radicals as tools for its elucidation and control

The oxomorpholinyl radicals are unique materials in organic and medicinal chemistry. Their closest parallel lies in inorganic chemistry with dithionite, which exists in equilibrium with sulfur dioxide radical anion, also a one-electron reducing agent. However, dithionite is a more powerful reducing agent and is probably more toxic. The rate of release of the oxomorpholinyl radical from its dimer is medium and is structure dependent, which provides for some level of control. The oxomorpholinyl radicals TM-3 and DHM-3 are selective one-electron reducing agents for the anthracyclines, generating sequentially semiquinone and hydroquinone redox states. Formation of the reduced states of the anthracyclines is probably relevant to their cytotoxic activity. Semiquinones and hydroquinones react rapidly with molecular oxygen to yield superoxide. Hydroquinone redox states with anaerobic conditions in protic media at pH 7-8 undergo glycosidic cleavage to form quinone methides; in aprotic media or at pH less than 4, they tautomerize to leuco forms. Quinone methides react with protons from solvent to form 7-deoxyaglycons, with some nucleophiles to form adducts, and with molecular oxygen to form semiquinone methide. The reactivity of the quinone methide is a function of substitution; nucleophilic addition is facilitated by the absence of a hydroxyl group at the 11-position and by proper location of the nucleophile. Quinone methides and semiquinone methides are both viable transients for covalently linking anthracycline aglycons to biological macromolecules. DHM-3 dimer is of possible pharmaceutical value for the detoxification of quinone antitumor drugs and for the improvement of chemotherapy through modulating the redox chemistry of the quinone antitumor drugs.

Photochemical reduction of 5-bromouracil by cysteine derivatives and coupling of 5-bromouracil to cystine derivatives

Irradiation of pH 7, aqueous solutions of 5-bromouracil (BU) in the presence of cysteine peptide-like derivatives at 308 nm using a XeCl excimer laser yielded initial formation of only uracil (U) and the corresponding cystine derivative. Continued irradiation yielded an S-uracilylcysteinyl adduct as well as additional U and cystine derivative. Similar irradiation of a solution of BU and a cystine derivative yielded initial formation of U and the S-uracilylcysteinyl adduct. Formation of these products as well as secondary products of uracil photochemistry was observed upon irradiation of the respective solutions with 254 nm light. With 308 nm laser excitation, U-Cys adduct formation and reduction of BU to U are proposed to occur via initial electron transfer from the disulfide of the cystine derivative to triplet BU. The quantum yield of BU destruction with 308 nm excitation in the presence of cystine derivative is 1.1 X 10(-3). Reaction of triplet BU with the cysteine derivative does not yield U-Cys adduct but U and cystine derivative. A possible byproduct of reduction of triplet BU to U by a cysteinyl residue in a protein BU-DNA complex is a sulphenyl bromide which might yield a protein-DNA crosslink via nucleophilic substitution on sulfur by a nucleophilic site in DNA.

Experimental chemotherapy-induced skin necrosis in swine. Mechanistic studies of anthracycline antibiotic toxicity and protection with a radical dimer compound

The reactivity of antitumor anthracycline and mitomycin C antibiotics with the oxomorpholinyl radical dimers, bi(3,5,5-trimethyl-2-oxomorpholin-3-yl) (TM3) and bi(3,5-dimethyl-5-hydroxymethyl-2-oxomorpholin-3-yl) (DHM3), was studied in vitro. The oxomorpholinyl radical reduced daunorubicin to a quinone methide intermediate that reacted with solvent to form 7-deoxydaunorubicinone. The solvolysis reaction followed first order kinetics, and the reactivity rate constants (k2) measured for seven anthracycline analogues ranged from 2 X 10(-2) s-1 to 8.0 X 10(-4) s-1. The chemical reactivity of each anthracycline quinone methide correlated with the total skin toxicity caused by the respective parent anthracycline following injection into swine skin. Microscopic examination of experimental lesions in swine skin resemble those observed in humans after inadvertant chemotherapy extravasation. Hydrocortisone sodium succinate was not effective for the treatment of doxorubicin-induced skin necrosis, whereas DHM3 was effective for the treatment of skin necrosis caused by all seven anthracyclines and by the quinone containing antibiotic, mitomycin C.

Doxorubicin-induced skin necrosis in the swine model: protection with a novel radical dimer

The treatment of doxorubicin (DOX) extravasation tissue injury is poorly defined. A swine model has been developed to study DOX skin toxicity and potential pharmacologic antidotes. Intradermal injections of DOX in miniature female weanling swine produced predictable and dose-dependent ulcerations that closely resemble lesions observed in humans following extravasation of DOX. The ulcers reached maximal size at 3 weeks following DOX administration and were completely healed by 7 weeks. Bi(3,5-dimethyl-5-hydroxymethyl-2-oxomorpholin-3-yl) (DHM3) is a radical dimer that can react with DOX in vitro to produce deoxydoxorubicin aglycone, an inactive anthracycline metabolite. When DHM3 was administered into the same intradermal injection site 15 minutes after DOX, the maximum ulcer size was reduced 80%, and the healing time was reduced to 5 weeks. The protection from toxicity was highly dependent on the time interval between DOX and DHM3 injections, with no protection noted after a 60-minute interval. Our data verify the swine model as a useful tool to study DOX-induced extravasation injury. Furthermore, DHM3 is an effective antidote for DOX-induced skin necrosis and has potential for clinical use.

Radical dimer rescue of toxicity and improved therapeutic index of adriamycin in tumor-bearing mice

The product of adriamycin (ADR) reductive glycosidic cleavage is the pharmacologically inactive 7-deoxyadriamycin aglycone. Bi(3,5-dimethyl-5-hydroxymethyl-2-oxomorpholin-3-yl) (DHM3) is a radical dimer which reacts with ADR in vitro to produce this aglycone. We utilized DHM3 to prevent ADR toxicity in mice. CD2F1 male mice were given a single dose of ADR, 25 mg/kg i.p., which was acutely lethal as indicated by a median survival time of 7 days. DHM3 administered as a single i.p. dose of 50 mg/kg 15 or 30 min following ADR provided significant protection with median survival times greater than 9 wk. Mice bearing ascitic L1210 leukemic cells were given ADR, 0, 6.6, 15, or 25 mg/kg i.p. 1 day following inoculation of tumor. DHM3 administered as a single 50 mg/kg i.p. dose 20 min after ADR had no significant effect on ADR efficacy at the lower dose range (% treated versus control = 171 and 285 for 6.6 and 15.0 mg/kg, respectively). Less than 15% of the animals in these treatment groups were long-term survivors. However, following high doses of ADR (25 mg/kg), DHM3 protected mice from ADR lethality and over 70% of animals were long-term survivors. The determination of parent ADR and ADR aglycone content in several tissues indicated that the concentration of ADR was reduced in those animals that received DHM3 15 min after ADR. Correspondingly an increase in ADR aglycone concentration in each tissue resulted from DHM3 treatment. DHM3 represents a novel class of compounds that can ameliorate ADR toxicity and has potential use as a rescue agent.

Aminomalonic acid: identification in Escherichia coli and atherosclerotic plaque

Aminomalonic acid (Ama) has been isolated from proteins of Escherichia coli and human atherosclerotic plaque. The presence of Ama has important biological implications because the malonic acid moiety potentially imparts calcium binding properties to protein. Ama was obtained by anaerobic alkaline hydrolysis and identified by chromatographic behavior, quantitative acid-mediated decarboxylation to glycine, and unambiguous gas chromatographic/mass spectral detection. The chromatographic, chemical, and mass spectral properties of naturally occurring Ama were identical to those of the synthetic compound. Amino acid analysis and GC/mass spectrometry also revealed the presence of beta-carboxyaspartic acid and gamma-carboxyglutamic acid in the base hydrolysate of human atherosclerotic plaque. The ratio of Ama to beta-carboxyaspartic acid to gamma-carboxyglutamic acid was 20:1:10, and the quantity of Ama per 1,000 glycine residues was 0.2. Ama is a relatively unstable, minor amino acid in complex structures such as bacteria or tissues. This may explain why it has escaped detection previously, despite intensive investigation.

Prevention of adriamycin toxicity

Mice treated with lethal doses of adriamycin (A1) (IP) are rescued with a single IP dose of 3,5,5-trimethyl-2-morpholinon-3-yl radical dimer (TM3). The in vivo rescue is assumed to be analogous to the in vitro reaction of TM3 with A1 that produces the non-toxic 7-deoxy-adriamycinone (7dAone). TM3 prevents death if given within 60 min following A1 administration. Control A1-treated mice died by 8 days (median survival time) whereas TM3 rescued A1-treated mice had a median survival time of greater than 60 days.

Unusual zwitterion of D,L-beta-carboxyaspartic acid: pKa and X-ray crystallographic measurements

An investigation of the acidic properties and molecular structure of the new natural amino acid beta-carboxyaspartic acid (Asa) is described. The four pKas of Asa were determined by using a microtitration technique and are 0.8 +/- 0.2, 2.5 +/- 0.1, 4.7 +/- 0.1, and 10.9 +/- 0.1. The three pKas of 5-hydantoinmalonic acid were similarly measured and are 1.85 +/- 0.05, 4.63 +/- 0.05, and 10.20 +/- 0.05. 5-Hydantoinmalonic acid was used as a model for Asa with peptide bonds. Asa crystallizes in the monoclinic space group Cc with four molecules per unit cell of dimensions a = 13.112 (3) A, b = 8.207 (3) A, and c = 7.292 (2) A and beta = 108.03 (2) degrees. The structure was solved by direct methods and refined to final values for the discrepancy indices of R = 0.029 and wR = 0.036. The two molecules of Asa are linked by a very strong hydrogen bond between one of the beta-carboxyls and the alpha-carboxyl group of an adjacent molecule. Analysis of the pKa data indicates that the predominate zwitterion in solution results from ionization of a beta-carboxyl group. The X-ray data indicate that in the solid state the negative charge of the zwitterion is distributed approximately equally between one of the beta-carboxyls and the alpha-carboxyl group.