Structural relationship of curcumin derivatives binding to the BRCT domain of human DNA polymerase lambda

We previously reported that phenolic compounds, petasiphenol and curcumin (diferuloylmethane), were a selective inhibitor of DNA polymerase lambda (pol lambda) in vitro. The purpose of this study was to investigate the molecular structural relationship of curcumin and 13 chemically synthesized derivatives of curcumin. The inhibitory effect on pol lambda (full-length, i.e. intact pol lambda including the BRCA1 C- terminal [BRCT] domain) by some derivatives was stronger than that by curcumin, and monoacetylcurcumin (compound 13) was the strongest pol lambda inhibitor of all the compounds tested, achieving 50% inhibition at a concentration of 3.9 microm. The compound did not influence the activities of replicative pols such as alpha, delta, and epsilon. It had no effect on pol beta activity either, although the three-dimensional structure of pol beta is thought to be highly similar to that of pol lambda. Compound 13 did not inhibit the activity of the C-terminal catalytic domain of pol lambda including the pol beta-like core, in which the BRCT motif was deleted from its N-terminal region. MALDI-TOF MS analysis demonstrated that compound 13 bound selectively to the N-terminal domain of pol lambda, but did not bind to the C-terminal region. Based on these results, the pol lambda-inhibitory mechanism of compound 13 is discussed.

5-(Hydroxymethyl)-2-furfural: a selective inhibitor of DNA polymerase lambda and terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase

5-(Hydroxymethyl)-2-furfural (HMF), a pyrolysate of carbohydrate isolated from instant coffee (Coffea arabica L.), selectively inhibits the activities of mammalian DNA polymerase lambda (pol lambda) and terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase (TdT) which are family X pols, in vitro. The compound influenced neither the activities of replicative DNA polymerases such as alpha, delta, and epsilon, nor even the activity of pol beta which is from the same family and thought to have a very similar three-dimensional structure to the pol beta-like region of pol lambda. Since parts of HMF such as furan, furfuryl alcohol, and 2-furaldehyde did not influence the activities of any enzymes tested, the substituted form of furan with a hyroxymethyl group and a formyl group might be important for the inhibition of pol lambda and TdT. The inhibitory effect of HMF on intact pol lambda (i.e., residues 1-575), a truncated pol lambda lacking the N-terminal BRCA1 C-terminus domain (133-575, del-1 pol lambda) and another truncated pol lambda lacking the N-terminal proline-rich region (245-575, del-2 pol lambda) was dose-dependent, and 50% inhibition was observed at a concentration of 26.1, 10.3, and 4.6 microM, respectively. The IC(50) value of HMF for TdT was the same as that for del-2 pol lambda (5.5 microM). The HMF-induced inhibition of both pol lambda and TdT activities was competitive with respect to both the DNA template-primer and the dNTP substrate. On the basis of these results, HMF was suggested to bind to the pol beta-like region of pol lambda and TdT.

Effective form of sulfoquinovosyldiacyglycerol (SQDG) vesicles for DNA polymerase inhibition

Sulfoquinovosyldiacyglycerol (SQDG) has a wide range of biological activities that make it an attractive compound for the development of new drugs. Chemically synthesized beta-SQDG-C(18:0) (1,2-di-O-stearoyl-3-O-(6-deoxy-6-sulfo-beta-d-glucopyranosyl)-sn-glycerol), for example, has a potent inhibitory effect on DNA polymerases. We investigated the properties of the vesicle form of beta-SQDG-C(18:0) as the monomer has low solubility in water. The structure of the beta-SQDG-C(18:0) vesicles are highly influenced by NaCl concentration in preparation process. At low NaCl concentrations, the beta-SQDG-C(18:0) vesicles have high surface curvature and form small unilamellar vesicles. Increases in NaCl concentration, resulted in decreased surface curvature and a tendency for beta-SQDG-C(18:0) to form large multilamellar vesicles. The small unilamellar vesicles showed a potent inhibitory effect on DNA polymerase beta, whereas the large multilamellar vesicles had no such effect. We investigated further the relationship between vesicle size and activity by preparing smaller vesicles (262, 99 and 43 nm in diameter) using an extrusion technique. These smaller vesicles had a greater inhibitory effect on DNA polymerase beta activity than non-extruded vesicles. beta-SQDG-C(18:0) vesicles, especially those of small size, were effective in DNA polymerase inhibition and are expected to have high applicability in DNA polymerase study.

Monoacetylcurcumin: A new inhibitor of eukaryotic DNA polymerase λ and a new ligand for inhibitor-affinity chromatography

We previously reported that a phenolic compound, curcumin (diferuloylmethane), was a selective inhibitor of DNA polymerase lambda (pol lambda) in vitro [Y. Mizushina, M. Hirota, C. Murakami, T. Ishidoh, S. Kamisuki, N. Shimazaki, M. Takemura, M. Perpelescu, M. Suzuki, H. Yoshida, F. Sugawara, O. Koiwai, K. Sakaguchi, Some anti-chronic inflammatory compounds are DNA polymerase lambda-specific inhibitors, Biochem. Pharmacol. 66 (2003) 1935-1944.]. We also found that monoacetylcurcumin ([1E,4Z,6E]-7-(4''-acetoxy-3''-methoxyphenyl)-5-hydroxy-1-(4'-hydroxy-3'-methoxyphenyl)hepta-1,4,6-trien-3-on), a chemically synthesized derivative of curcumin, was a stronger pol lambda inhibitor than curcumin, achieving 50% inhibition at a concentration of 3.9microM. Monoacetylcurcumin did not influence the activities of replicative pols such as alpha, delta, and epsilon, and showed no effect even on the activity of pol beta, the three-dimensional structure of which is thought to be highly similar to that of pol lambda. The compound-induced inhibition of pol lambda activity was non-competitive with respect to both the DNA template-primer and the dNTP substrate. Monoacetylcurcumin did not inhibit the activity of the C-terminal catalytic domain of pol lambda including the pol beta-like core, in which the BRCT motif was deleted. The compound did not influence the activities of prokaryotic pols or other mammalian DNA metabolizing enzymes such as calf primase of pol alpha, calf terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase, human telomerase, human immunodeficiency virus type-1 reverse transcriptase, T7 RNA polymerase, T4 polynucleotide kinase, and bovine deoxyribonuclease I. Therefore, we concluded that monoacetylcurcumin is a selective inhibitor of pol lambda and could be used as a chromatographic ligand to purify pol lambda. We then made a monoacetylcurcumin-conjugated column with epoxy-activated Sepharose 6B. In the column, pol lambda of full length was selectively adsorbed and eluted.

Inhibitory effect of tocotrienol on eukaryotic DNA polymerase lambda and angiogenesis

Tocotrienols, vitamin E compounds that have an unsaturated side chain with three double bonds, selectively inhibited the activity of mammalian DNA polymerase lambda (pol lambda) in vitro. These compounds did not influence the activities of replicative pols such as alpha, delta, and epsilon, or even the activity of pol beta which is thought to have a very similar three-dimensional structure to the pol beta-like region of pol lambda. Since delta-tocotrienol had the strongest inhibitory effect among the four (alpha- to delta-) tocotrienols, the isomer's structure might be an important factor in the inhibition of pol lambda. The inhibitory effect of delta-tocotrienol on both intact pol lambda (residues 1-575) and a truncated pol lambda lacking the N-terminal BRCA1 C-terminus (BRCT) domain (residues 133-575, del-1 pol lambda) was dose-dependent, with 50% inhibition observed at a concentration of 18.4 and 90.1microM, respectively. However, del-2 pol lambda (residues 245-575) containing the C-terminal pol beta-like region was unaffected. Tocotrienols also inhibited the proliferation of and formation of tubes by bovine aortic endothelial cells, with delta-tocotrienol having the greatest effect. These results indicated that tocotrienols targeted both pol lambda and angiogenesis as anti-cancer agents. The relationship between the inhibition of pol lambda and anti-angiogenesis by delta-tocotrienol was discussed.

Selective inhibitors of terminal deoxyribonucleotidyltransferase (TdT): baicalin and genistin

Studies of mammalian terminal deoxyribonucleotidyltransferase (TdT) are facilitated by use of inhibitors that selectively knock down the activity of the enzyme. We have screened for selective inhibitors of TdT and identified a natural compound with this property in the Japanese vegetable, Arctium lappa. The compound has little effect on the activities of mammalian DNA polymerases, such as alpha, beta, delta or lambda polymerase, and prokaryotic DNA polymerases, such as Taq DNA polymerase, T4 DNA polymerase and Klenow fragment. H1- and C13-NMR spectroscopic analyses showed the compound to be baicalin, a compound previously reported as an anti-inflammatory or antipyretic agent. The IC50 value of baicalin to TdT was 18.6 microM. We also found that genistin, a baicalin derivative known to be antimutagenic, more selectively inhibited TdT activity than baicalin, although its IC50 value was weaker (28.7 microM). Genistin and baicalin also inhibited the activity of truncated TdT (the so-called pol beta core domain) in which the BRCT motif was deleted in its N-terminal region. In kinetic analyses, inhibition by either genistin or baicalin was competitive with the primer and non-competitive with the dNTP substrate. The compounds may, therefore, bind directly to the primer-binding site of TdT and simultaneously disturb dNTP substrate incorporation into the primer. Genistin and baicalin should prove to be useful agents for studying TdT.

(+)-Myristinins A and D from Knema elegans, which inhibit DNA polymerase beta and cleave DNA

A survey of crude plant extracts for DNA polymerase beta inhibitors resulted in the identification of a methyl ethyl ketone extract prepared from Knema elegans that strongly inhibited the enzyme. Subsequent bioassay-guided fractionation of the extract, using an assay to monitor the activity of DNA polymerase beta, led to the isolation of two potent inhibitors, (+)-myristinins A (1) and D (2), which are known flavans having unusual structures. (+)-Myristinins A and D exhibited IC50 values of 12 and 4.3 microM, respectively, as inhibitors of DNA polymerase beta in the presence of bovine serum albumin (BSA), and 2.7 and 1.2 microM in the absence of BSA. As such, they are the most potent DNA polymerase beta inhibitors reported to date. Compounds 1 and 2 potentiated the cytotoxicity of bleomycin toward cultured P388D1 cells, reducing the number of viable cells by at least 30% when employed at 9 microM concentration for 6 h in the presence of an otherwise nontoxic concentration of bleomycin (75 nM). Principles 1 and 2 also induced strong Cu2+-dependent DNA strand scission in a DNA cleavage assay. Accordingly, 1 and 2 exhibit two activities, namely, DNA polymerase beta inhibition and DNA damage.

Lyase activities intrinsic to Escherichia coli polymerases IV and V

Escherichia coli DNA polymerase IV and V (pol IV and pol V) are error-prone DNA polymerases that are induced as part of the SOS regulon in response to DNA damage. Both are members of the Y-family of DNA polymerases. Their principal biological roles appear to involve translesion synthesis (TLS) and the generation of mutational diversity to cope with stress. Although neither enzyme is known to be involved in base excision repair (BER), we have nevertheless observed apurinic/apyrimidinic 5'-deoxyribose phosphate (AP/5'-dRP) lyase activities intrinsic to each polymerase. Pols IV and V catalyze cleavage of the phosphodiester backbone at the 3'-side of an apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) site as well as the removal of a 5'-deoxyribose phosphate (dRP) at a preincised AP site. The specific activities of the two error-prone polymerase-associated lyases are approximately 80-fold less than the associated lyase activity of human DNA polymerase beta, which is a key enzyme used in short patch BER. Pol IV forms a covalent Schiff's base intermediate with substrate DNA that is trapped by sodium borohydride, as proscribed by a beta-elimination mechanism. In contrast, a NaBH(4) trapped intermediate is not observed for pol V, even though the lyase specific activity of pol V is slightly higher than that of pol IV. Incubation of pol V (UmuD'(2)C) with a molar excess of UmuD drives an exchange of subunits to form UmuD'D+insoluble UmuC causing inactivation of polymerase and lyase activities. The concomitant loss of both activities is strong evidence that pol V contains a bona fide lyase activity.

Determination of apoptosis, uracil incorporation, DNA strand breaks, and sister chromatid exchanges under conditions of thymidylate deprivation in a model of BER deficiency

Thymidylate synthase (TS) is an important target of several chemotherapeutic agents. During TS inhibition, dTTP levels decrease with a subsequent increase in dUTP. Uracil incorporated into the genome is removed by base excision repair (BER). BER has been hypothesized to play a role in the response to thymidylate deprivation, despite a lack of direct evidence. We previously found that beta-pol null murine fibroblasts were approximately six-fold more resistant than wild-type cells to raltitrexed, a folate-based inhibitor specific for TS. In this study, a number of endpoints were determined to understand the influence of BER and beta-pol during raltitrexed treatment. Raltitrexed induced apoptosis in wild-type cells to a greater extent than in beta-pol null cells. A PARP inhibitor decreased the sensitivity to raltitrexed, although the extent was not different between wild-type and beta-pol null cells. No evidence was seen for extensive strand break formation that preceded apoptosis, although raltitrexed induced more sister chromatid exchanges in wild-type cells. Increased levels of uracil in DNA were detected following treatment in wild-type and beta-pol null cells. However, uracil levels were only approximately two-fold higher in DNA from treated cells compared to untreated. Uracil DNA glycosylase activity was slightly higher in beta-pol null cells, although not sufficiently different to explain the difference in sensitivity to raltitrexed. Taken together, the data suggest that the sensitivity of the wild-type cells to raltitrexed is not associated with activation of PARP-1 dependent BER, extensive uracil incorporation into DNA and persistent strand breaks, but rather with changes suggestive of DNA recombination.

Sulfoquinovosylmonoacylglycerol inhibitory mode analysis of rat DNA polymerase beta

We have previously reported that sulfoquinovosylmonoacylglycerol (SQMG) is a potent inhibitor of mammalian DNA polymerases. DNA polymerase beta (pol beta) is one of the most important enzymes protecting the cell against DNA damage by base excision repair. In this study, we characterized the inhibitory action of SQMG against rat pol beta. SQMG competed with both the substrate and the template-primer for binding to pol beta. A gel mobility shift assay and a polymerase activity assay showed that SQMG competed with DNA for a binding site on the N-terminal 8-kDa domain of pol beta, subsequently inhibiting its catalytic activity. Fragments of SQMG such as sulfoquinovosylglycerol (SQG) and fatty acid (myristoleic acid, MA) weakly inhibited pol beta activity and the inhibitory effect of a mixture of SQG and MA was stronger than that of SQG or MA. To characterize this inhibition more precisely, we attempted to identify the interaction interface between SQMG and the 8-kDa domain by NMR chemical shift mapping. Firstly, we determined the binding site on a fragment of SQMG, the SQG moiety. We observed chemical shift changes primarily at two sites, the residues comprising the C-terminus of helix-1 and the N-terminus of helix-2, and residues in helix-4. Finally, based on our present results and our previously reported study of the interaction interface of fatty acids, we constructed two three-dimensional models of a complex between the 8-kDa domain and SQMG and evaluated them by the mutational analysis. The models show a SQMG interaction interface that is consistent with the data.

Affinity capture of a mammalian DNA polymerase beta by inhibitors immobilized to resins used in solid-phase organic synthesis

The application of resins normally used in solid-phase organic synthesis to the affinity capture of a mammalian DNA polymerase beta (pol beta) is reported. Lithocholic acid (LCA), an inhibitor of pol beta, was immobilized on various solid supports, and the batch affinity purification of pol beta from a mixture of proteins using these LCA-immobilized resins was examined. Of the resins tested, TentaGel was the most effective at purifying pol beta and at resisting nonspecific absorption of proteins. The immobilized LCA recognized pol beta specifically, which resulted in pol beta binding to the resin. Using the LCA-immobilized resin, it was possible to purify pol beta from a mixture of proteins. Furthermore, it was possible to concentrate pol beta from a crude nuclear extract of human T lymphoma Molt4 cells. To facilitate the immobilization of compounds on TentaGel resins, we also designed and prepared photoaffinity beads containing a photoreactive group at the free termini of the TentaGel resin. The pol beta inhibitors LCA, C18-beta-SQDG, and epolactaene were immobilized on the photoaffinity beads by photoreaction. The batch affinity purification of pol beta from a protein mixture could be also achieved with these beads.

Incorporation of non-nucleoside triphosphate analogues opposite to an abasic site by human DNA polymerases beta and lambda

A novel class of non-nucleoside triphosphate analogues, bearing hydrophobic groups sterically similar to nucleosides linked to the alpha-phosphate but lacking the chemical functional groups of nucleic acids, were tested against six different DNA polymerases (polymerases). Human polymerases alpha, beta and lambda, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae polymerase IV, were inhibited with different potencies by these analogues. On the contrary, Escherichia coli polymerase I and HIV-1 reverse transcriptase were not. Polymerase beta incorporated these derivatives in a strictly Mn++-dependent manner. On the other hand, polymerase lambda could incorporate some alkyltriphosphate derivatives with both Mg++ and Mn++, but only opposite to an abasic site on the template strand. The active site mutant polymerase lambda Y505A showed an increased ability to incorporate the analogues. These results show for the first time that neither the base nor the sugar moieties of nucleotides are required for incorporation by family X DNA polymerases.

Acylphloroglucinol derivatives from Mahurea palustris

Five new acylphloroglucinol derivatives, mahureones A-E (1, 3-6), have been isolated from the leaves of Mahurea palustris, and their structures determined by spectroscopic means. During the isolation process, several byproducts (7-9) were formed by reaction of one of the isoprenyl side chains with TFA, water, and acetonitrile. All the compounds were assayed for their ability to inhibit human DNA polymerase beta. The most active compounds, mahureones A (1) and D (5), exhibited IC50 values in the 10 microM range.

Base excision repair in nucleosomes lacking histone tails

Recently, we developed an in vitro system using human uracil DNA glycosylase (UDG), AP endonuclease (APE), DNA polymerase beta (pol beta) and rotationally positioned DNA containing a single uracil associated with a 'designed' nucleosome, to test short-patch base excision repair (BER) in chromatin. We found that UDG and APE carry out their catalytic activities with reduced efficiency on nucleosome substrates, showing a distinction between uracil facing 'out' or 'in' from the histone surface, while DNA polymerase beta (pol beta) is completely inhibited by nucleosome formation. In this report, we tested the inhibition of BER enzymes by the N-terminal 'tails' of core histones that take part in both inter- and intra-nucleosome interactions, and contain sites of post-translational modifications. Histone tails were removed by limited trypsin digestion of 'donor' nucleosome core particles and histone octamers were exchanged onto a nucleosome-positioning DNA sequence containing a single G:U mismatch. The data indicate that UDG and APE activities are not significantly enhanced with tailless nucleosomes, and the distinction between rotational settings of uracil on the histone surface is unaffected. More importantly, the inhibition of pol beta activity is not relieved by removal of the histone tails, even though these tails interact with DNA in the G:U mismatch region. Finally, inclusion of X-ray cross complement group protein 1 (XRCC1) or Werner syndrome protein (WRN) had no effect on the BER reactions. Thus, additional activities may be required in cells for efficient BER of at least some structural domains in chromatin.

Hinge Residue Ile260 of DNA Polymerase β Is Important for Enzyme Activity and Fidelity†

DNA polymerases ensure efficient insertion of the correct dNTP into the DNA substrate. They have evolved mechanisms for discriminating among very similar dNTP substrates. DNA polymerase beta is a repair polymerase that provides a model system for a direct study of insertion fidelity. In this study, we examined the role of hinge residue Ile260 of the rat Polbeta on enzyme activity and accuracy. We changed residue I260 to every other amino acid residue and used genetic screens to assess the activity and fidelity of the resulting mutants. The I260D, -E, -K, -N, and -R mutants are significantly less active than wild-type Polbeta. Interestingly, I260H and I260Q are active but exhibit mutator activity. This suggests that the nonpolar nature of residue 260 is important for maintaining the activity and fidelity of Polbeta. We employ molecular modeling as an aid in explaining the observed phenotypes and propose a mechanism whereby the positioning of the DNA substrate in the enzyme and within the surface of the hinge may be a key player in forming an optimal active site for phosphodiester bond formation between Watson-Crick base pairs.

(+)-Myristinin A, a Naturally Occurring DNA Polymerase β Inhibitor and Potent DNA-Damaging Agent

The first stereoselective total synthesis of the naturally occurring flavan myristinin A has been accomplished, as well as its biochemical evaluation. This synthesis verified the structural assignment and allowed for the determination of the absolute stereochemistry. Myristinin A exhibits biochemical activity both as a potent DNA-damaging agent and DNA polymerase beta inhibitor. Relaxation of supercoiled plasmid DNA was observed at picomolar concentrations, in addition to inhibition of polymerase beta at low micromolar concentrations.

Modulation of cellular response to cisplatin by a novel inhibitor of DNA polymerase beta

DNA polymerase beta (Pol beta) is an error-prone enzyme whose up-regulation has been shown to be a genetic instability enhancer as well as a contributor to cisplatin resistance in tumor cells. In this work, we describe the isolation of new Pol beta inhibitors after high throughput screening of 8448 semipurified natural extracts. In vitro, the selected molecules affect specifically Pol beta-mediated DNA synthesis compared with replicative extracts from cell nuclei. One of them, masticadienonic acid (MA), is particularly attractive because it perturbs neither the activity of the purified replicative Pol delta nor that of nuclear HeLa cell extracts. With an IC50 value of 8 microM, MA is the most potent of the Pol beta inhibitors found so far. Docking simulation revealed that this molecule could substitute for single-strand DNA in the binding site of Pol beta by binding Lys35, Lys68, and Lys60, which are the main residues involved in the interaction Pol beta/single-strand DNA. Selected inhibitors also affect the Pol beta-mediated translesion synthesis (TLS) across cisplatin adducts; MA was still the most efficient. Therefore, masticadienonic acid sensitized the cisplatin-resistant 2008C13*5.25 human tumor cells. Our data suggest that molecules such as masticadienonic acid could be suitable in conjunction with cisplatin to enhance anticancer treatments.

Analysis of interactions of DNA polymerase beta and reverse transcriptases of human immunodeficiency and mouse leukemia viruses with dNTP analogs containing a modified sugar residue

Substrate properties of various morpholinonucleoside triphosphates in the reaction of DNA elongation catalyzed by DNA polymerase beta, reverse transcriptase of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1 RT), and reverse transcriptase of Moloney murine leukemia virus (M-MuLV RT) were compared. Morpholinonucleoside triphosphates were utilized by DNA polymerase beta and HIV-1 reverse transcriptase as substrates, which terminated further synthesis of DNA, but were virtually not utilized by M-MuLV reverse transcriptase. The kinetic parameters of morpholinoderivatives of cytosine (MorC) and uridine (MorU) were determined in the reaction of primer elongation catalyzed by DNA polymerase beta and HIV-1 reverse transcriptase. MorC was a more effective substrate of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and significantly less effective substrate of DNA polymerase beta than MorU. The possible use of morpholinonucleoside triphosphates as selective inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase is discussed.

Inhibitory Effect of Mispyric Acid on Mammalian DNA Polymerases

Mispyric acid is a novel natural triterpene dicarboxylic acid which has inhibitory activity against DNA polymerase beta (pol beta) isolated from the plant, Mischocarpus pyriformis. In this report, we examine the selectivity of the inhibitory activity against mammalian pols and the mode of inhibition in vitro. Natural mispyric acid (compound 1) inhibited the activities of all the mammalian pols tested (pol alpha, beta, gamma, delta and epsilon) with an IC50 value in the range of 3.6-44.5 microM. The inhibition was strongest for pol gamma among these five pols. The enantiomer of mispyric acid (compound 2, ent-mispyric acid) had similar effects to those of the natural compound. However, derivatives of compounds 1 and 2 with hydroxyl groups instead of carboxyl groups (i.e., compounds 3 and 4, respectively) exhibited no inhibitory effect on mammalian pols. The moiety of two carboxylic acids in mispyric acid was important for the inhibition of pols, and the stereoisomers of mispyric acid had no inhibitory effect.

New lupane triterpenoids from Solidago canadensis that inhibit the lyase activity of DNA polymerase β

Bioassay-directed fractionation of a methyl ethyl ketone extract of Solidago canadensis L. (Asteraceae), using an assay to detect the lyase activity of DNA polymerase beta, resulted in the isolation of the four new lupane triterpenoids 1-4 and the seven known compounds lupeol, lupeyl acetate, ursolic acid, cycloartenol, cycloartenyl palmitate, alpha-amyrin acetate, and stigmasterol. The structures of the new compounds were established as 3beta-(3R-acetoxyhexadecanoyloxy)-lup-20(29)-ene (1), 3beta-(3-ketohexadecanoyloxy)-lup-20(29)-ene (2), 3beta-(3R-acetoxyhexadecanoyloxy)-29-nor-lupan-20-one (3), and 3beta-(3-hetohexadecanoyloxy)-29-nor-lupan-20-one (4), respectively, on the basis of extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic interpretation and chemical modification studies. All 11 compounds were inhibitory to the lyase activity of DNA polymerase beta.

Tumor suppressor APC blocks DNA polymerase beta-dependent strand displacement synthesis during long patch but not short patch base excision repair and increases sensitivity to methylmethane sulfonate

In the present investigation, we report a previously unsuspected function of the tumor suppressor protein, APC (adenomatous polyposis coli), in the regulation of base excision repair (BER). We identified a proliferating cell nuclear antigen-interacting protein-like box sequence in APC that binds DNA polymerase beta and blocks DNA polymerase beta-mediated strand-displacement synthesis in long patch BER without affecting short patch BER. We further showed that the colon cancer cell line expressing the wild-type APC gene was more sensitive to a DNA-methylating agent due to decreased DNA repair by long patch BER than the cell line expressing the mutant APC gene lacking the proliferating cell nuclear antigen-interacting protein-like box. Experiments based on RNA interference showed that the wild-type APC gene expression is required for DNA methylation-induced sensitivity of colon cancer cells. Thus, APC may play a critical role in determining utilization of long versus short patch BER pathways and affect the susceptibility of colon cancer cells to carcinogenic and chemotherapeutic agents.

Marine sesquiterpenoids that inhibit the lyase activity of DNA polymerase beta

Bioassay-directed fractionation of an extract of the marine species Spongia sp. led to the discovery of the new sesquiterpenoid derivative 17-O-isoprenyldictyoceratin-C (1), the known sesquiterpenoid derivative dictyoceratin-C (2), and the sesquiterpenoid quinone ilimaquinone (3), in addition to the nucleoside 2'-deoxyuridine. The structure of the new compound 1 was determined on the basis of spectroscopic methods and by conversion of dictyoceratin-C (2) to 1.

DNA polymerase beta lyase inhibitors from Maytenus putterlickoides

During a survey of plant secondary metabolites for DNA polymerase beta lyase inhibitors, we found that a crude methyl ethyl ketone extract prepared from Maytenus putterlickoides showed strong inhibition of the lyase activity of DNA polymerase beta in an in vitro assay. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the extract, using an in vitro assay, resulted in the discovery of a new active principle, 30-(4'-hydroxybenzoyloxy)-11alpha-hydroxylupane-20(29)-en-3-one (1), as well as a known compound, (-)-epicatechin (2). Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited DNA polymerase beta lyase inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 62.8 and 18.5 microM, respectively. Compound 2 was capable of potentiating the action of the monofunctional methylating agent methyl methanesulfonate in cultured human cancer cells, consistent with the possible utility of inhibitors of this type in vivo.

Biscoumarin derivatives from Edgeworthia gardneri that inhibit the lyase activity of DNA polymerase beta

Bioassay-guided fractionation of an active methyl ethyl ketone extract of Edgeworthia gardneri, using an assay to monitor DNA polymerase beta lyase inhibition, resulted in the isolation of three known biscoumarin derivatives, 7-hydroxy-3,7'-dicoumaryl ether (edgeworin, 1), 7-hydroxy-6-methoxy-3,7'-dicoumaryl ether (daphnoretin, 2), and 6,7-dihydroxy-3,7'-dicoumaryl ether (edgeworthin, 3). Compounds 1-3 inhibited the lyase activity of DNA polymerase beta with IC(50) values of 7.3 microg/mL (22.5 microM), 43.0 microg/mL (122.3 microM), and 32.1 microg/mL (94.8 microM), respectively.

Dideoxynucleoside triphosphate-sensitive DNA polymerase from rice is involved in base excision repair and immunologically similar to mammalian DNA pol beta

A single polypeptide with ddNTP-sensitive DNA polymerase activity was purified to near homogeneity from the shoot tips of rice seedlings and analysis of the preparations by SDS-PAGE followed by silver staining showed a polypeptide of 67 kDa size. The DNA polymerase activity was found to be inhibitory by ddNTP in both in vitro DNA polymerase activity assay and activity gel analysis. Aphidicolin, an inhibitor of other types of DNA polymerases, had no effect on plant enzyme. The 67 kDa rice DNA polymerase was found to be recognized by the polyclonal antibody (purified IgG) made against rat DNA polymerase beta (pol beta) both in solution and also on Western blot. The recognition was found to be very specific as the activity of Klenow enzyme was unaffected by the antibody. The ability of rice nuclear extract to correct G:U mismatch of oligo-duplex was observed when oligo-duplex with 32P-labeled lower strand containing U (at 22nd position) was used as substrate. Differential appearance of bands at 21-mer, 22-mer, and 51-mer position in presence of dCTP was visible only with G:U mismatch oligo-duplex, but not with G:C oligo-duplex. While ddCTP or polyclonal antibody against rat-DNA pol beta inhibits base excision repair (BER), aphidicolin had no effect. These results for the first time clearly demonstrate the ability of rice nuclear extract to run BER and the involvement of ddNTP-sensitive pol beta type DNA polymerase. Immunological similarity of the ddNTP-sensitive DNA polymerase beta of rice and rat and its involvement in BER revealed the conservation of structure and function of ddNTP-sensitive DNA pol beta in plant and animal.