A novel use for the comet assay: detection of topoisomerase II inhibitors

BACKGROUND

The simple and quick comet assay can quantitatively detect DNA cleavage in cells. This study aimed to determine whether the comet assay could be used to detect topoisomerase (topo) II inhibitors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

HT-29 colon cancer cells were pre-incubated with aclarubicin, a topo II antagonist, then treated with topo II poisons: etoposide (VP-16), teniposide (VM-26), 4'-(acridinylamino) methansulfon-m-anisidide (m-AMSA) and adriamycin (doxorubicin). We also tested a topo I poison (camptothecin) and a microtubule depolymerization inhibitor (taxol).

RESULTS

Aclarubicin significantly reduced DNA cleavage induced by topo II poisons, but not that induced by camptothecin. In HL-60/MX2 cells (containing no topo II beta and reduced topo II alpha), DNA breakage induced by topo II poisons was lower. Also, aclarubicin antagonized topo I-mediated camptothecin-induced DNA cleavage in these resistant cells.

CONCLUSIONS

The comet assay can be used to detect topo II poisons in cultured cells. Also, aclarubicin has a dual topo I and topo II antagonism, with "preferential antagonism" of topo II when topo II beta catalytic activity is normally expressed.

N-terminal and core-domain random mutations in human topoisomerase II alpha conferring bisdioxopiperazine resistance

Random mutagenesis of human topoisomerase II alpha cDNA followed by functional expression in yeast cells lacking endogenous topoisomerase II activity in the presence of ICRF-187, identified five functional mutations conferring cellular bisdioxopiperazine resistance. The mutations L169F, G551S, P592L, D645N, and T996L confer > 37, 37, 18, 14, and 19 fold resistance towards ICRF-187 in a 24 h clonogenic assay, respectively. Purified recombinant L169F protein is highly resistant towards catalytic inhibition by ICRF-187 in vitro while G551S, D645N, and T996L proteins are not. This demonstrates that cellular bisdioxopiperazine resistance can result from at least two classes of mutations in topoisomerase II; one class renders the protein non-responsive to bisdioxopiperazine compounds, while an other class does not appear to affect the catalytic sensitivity towards these drugs. In addition, our results indicate that different protein domains are involved in mediating the effect of bisdioxopiperazine compounds.

Synthesis and antiproliferative activity of some variously substituted acridine and azacridine derivatives

A group of 9-substituted acridine and azacridine derivatives (m-AMSA analogues) were synthesised following classical procedures as potential antitumour agents with inhibitory effects on DNA topoisomerase II. Some were found to have noticeable cytotoxicity against human HL-60 and HeLa cells grown in culture. Their non-covalent interactions with calf thymus DNA have been studied using fluorescence quenching. We evaluated DNA damage produced by the tested compounds by means of DNA filter elution and protein precipitation techniques. Catalytic studies carried out with purified topoisomerase confirmed these agents as antitopoisomerase inhibitors. Chemotherapy of solid-tumour-bearing mice with tested compounds allowed an aza-analogue (compound IIIb), as potent as m-AMSA but less toxic towards the host, to be recognised.

Apoptotic effects of different drugs on cultured retinoblastoma Y79 cells

This paper deals with the apoptotic effect exerted in human retinoblastoma Y79 cells by a number of compounds. A remarkable effect was observed after treatment with DNA-damaging agents, such as camptothecin, etoposide, cisplatin and carboplatin; camptothecin was found to be the most efficacious. Treatment with these compounds induced the appearance of morphological features of apoptosis in the cells together with the distinct fragmentation of DNA, as shown by agarose gel electrophoresis. These effects were also accompanied by a remarkable increase in the level of p53. Many other compounds, which are not DNA-damaging agents, induced the morphological features of apoptosis but none of them were capable of increasing the level of p53. Among these compounds, Taxol, suramin and sodium butyrate also stimulated the oligonucleosomal fragmentation of DNA, while C2-ceramide, a cell-permeable analogue of ceramide, and vitamin D3 were not effective in the induction of DNA laddering in Y79 cells. Apoptosis was dependent on macromolecular synthesis with all the compounds tested.

Mutations at arg486 and glu571 in human topoisomerase IIalpha confer resistance to amsacrine: relevance for antitumor drug resistance in human cells

Human topoisomerase II, a nuclear protein involved in chromosome segregation, is the target of amsacrine and other clinically important anticancer drugs. The enzyme is expressed as alpha and beta isoforms whose mutation/down-regulation has been implicated in drug resistance. To understand the role of target mutations in cellular drug resistance, we have used yeast to select and characterize plasmid-borne human topoisomerase IIalpha mutants resistant to amsacrine. Single point changes of Glu571 to Lys (E571K) or Arg486 to Lys (R486K) in the conserved PLRGK motif, both of which reside in the GyrB homology domain of human topoisomerase IIalpha, were frequently selected and could be shown in vivo to confer >25-fold and >100-fold resistance, respectively, to amsacrine and approximately 3-fold cross-resistance to etoposide. Highly purified E571K and R486K human topoisomerase IIalpha proteins required 100-fold higher levels of amsacrine to induce DNA cleavage similar to that of wild-type protein, consistent with a resistance mechanism involving reduced cleavable complex formation. Our functional studies of the R486K mutation, previously identified in two amsacrine-resistant human cell lines and in human biopsy material, establish unequivocally that it confers resistance, and suggest mechanisms for its phenotypic expression in vivo. These results differ significantly from previous work using yeast topoisomerase II as a model system: introduction of the equivalent mutation to R486K (R476K) into the yeast enzyme did not give amsacrine resistance. We conclude that species-specific differences in topoisomerase II enzymes can affect the drug resistance phenotype of particular mutations and highlight the need to study the relevant human homolog.

Werner's syndrome lymphoblastoid cells are hypersensitive to topoisomerase II inhibitors in the G2 phase of the cell cycle

Werner's syndrome (WS) is a rare autosomal recessive human disorder and the patients exhibit many symptoms of accelerated ageing in their early adulthood. The gene (WRN) responsible for WS has been biochemically characterised as a 3'-5' helicase and is homologous to a number of RecQ superfamily of helicases. The yeast SGS1 helicase is considered as a human WRN homologue and SGS1 physically interacts with topoisomerases II and III. In view of this, it has been hypothesised that the WRN gene may also interact with topoisomerases II and III. The purpose of this study is to determine whether the loss of function of WRN protein alters the sensitivity of WS cells to agents that block the action of topoisomerase II. This study deals with the comparison of the chromosomal damage induced by the two anti-topoisomerase II drugs, VP-16 and amsacrine, in both G1 and G2 phases of the cell cycle, in lymphoblastoid cells from WS patients and from a healthy donor. Our results show that the WS cell lines are hypersensitive to chromosome damage induced by VP-16 and amsacrine only in the G2 phase of the cell cycle. No difference either in the yield of the induced aberrations or SCEs was found after treatment of cells at G1 stage. These data might suggest that in WS cells, because of the mutation of the WRN protein, the inhibition of topoisomerase II activity results in a higher rate of misrepair, probably due to some compromised G2 phase processes involving the WRN protein.

A mutation in yeast topoisomerase II that confers hypersensitivity to multiple classes of topoisomerase II poisons

A mutation was constructed in the CAP homology domain of yeast topoisomerase II that resulted in hypersensitivity to the intercalating agent N-[4-(9-acridinylamino)-3-methoxy-phenyl]methanesulfonamide and the fluoroquinolone 6, 8-difluoro-7-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)-1-cyclopropyl-4-quinolone-3-carboxyli c acid, but not to etoposide. This mutation, which changes threonine at position 744 to proline, also confers hypersensitivity to anti-bacterial fluoroquinolones. The purified T744P mutant protein had wild type enzymatic activity in the absence of drugs, and no alteration in drug-independent DNA cleavage. Enhanced DNA cleavage in the presence of N-[4-(9-acridinylamino)-3-methoxy-phenyl]methanesulfonamide and fluoroquinolones was observed, in agreement with the results observed in vivo. DNA cleavage was also seen in the presence of norfloxacin and oxolinic acid, two quinolones that are inactive against eukaryotic topoisomerase II. The hypersensitivity was not associated with heat-stable covalent complexes, as was seen in another drug-hypersensitive mutant. Molecular modeling suggests that the mutation in the CAP homology domain may displace amino acids that play important roles in catalysis by topoisomerase II and may explain the drug-hypersensitive phenotype.

Cleavage of DNA induced by 9-anilinoacridine inhibitors of topoisomerase II in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum

Due to resistance by Plasmodium falciparum, the most virulent strain of the four species of human malaria parasites, to most currently used antimalarial drugs, development of new effective antimalarials is urgently needed. Derivatives of 9-anilinoacridine, an antitumor drug, have been shown to inhibit P. falciparum growth in culture and to inhibit parasite DNA topoisomerase II activity in vitro. Using KCl-SDS precipitation assay to detect the presence of protein-DNA complexes within parasite cells, an indicator of DNA topoisomerase II inactivation, derivatives containing 3,6-diNH(2) substitutions with 1'-electron donating (NMe(2), CH(2)NMe(2), NHSO(2)Me, OH, OMe), and 1'-electron withdrawing (SO(2)NH(2)) groups produced protein-DNA complexes. However, the antimalarial pyronaridine, 9-anilinoazaacridine, did not generate protein-DNA complexes, although it was capable of inhibiting P. falciparum DNA topoisomerase II activity in vitro. These results should prove useful in future designs of novel antimalarial compounds directed against parasite DNA topoisomerase II.

In vitro sensitivity of Trichomonas vaginalis to DNA topoisomerase II inhibitors

Vaginal trichomoniasis is a highly prevalent sexually transmitted disease caused by a microaerophilic protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis. The disease is one of the most common sexually transmitted disease and can augment the predisposition of individuals to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Although the disease can be treated with metronidazole and related 5-nitroimidazole, cases of trichomonal vaginitis which are refractory to standard treatment seems to be increasing. Clearly, new antitrichomonad agents are needed and DNA topoisomerase II may acts as a new target for antitrichomonad agents. In this study, in vitro sensitivity of T. vaginalis to DNA topoisomerase II was investigated. Axenic culture of local strain of T. vaginalis was performed. Both eukaryotic and prokaryotic DNA topoisomerase II inhibitors such as ellipticine, amsacrine and fluoroquinolones were tested for effectiveness against T. vaginalis in vitro compared to metronidazole. T. vaginalis was sensitive to metronidazole under aerobic conditions. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of eukaryotic DNA topoisomerase II inhibitors, ellipticine and amsacrine, were 6.4 mM and 64 mM, respectively. The MICs of prokaryotic DNA topoisomerase II or DNA gyrase inhibitors; ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin and norfloxacin were 64, 960 and 1,280 mM, respectively. Based on the results, among DNA topoisomerase II inhibitors ellipticine was the most effective drug against T. vaginalis in vitro whereas fluoroquinolones did not show high antitrichomonad activity.

Gametocytocidal activity of pyronaridine and DNA topoisomerase II inhibitors against multidrug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum in vitro

Gametocytocidal activities of pyronaridine and DNA topoisomerase II inhibitors against two isolates of multidrug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum, KT1 and KT3 were determined. After sorbitol treatment, pure gametocyte cultures of Plasmodium falciparum containing mostly young gametocytes (stage II and III) obtained on day 11 were exposed to the drugs for 48 h. The effect of the drugs on gametocyte development was assessed by counting gametocytes on day 15 of culture. Pyronaridine was the most effective gametocytocidal drug against P. falciparum isolates KT1 and KT3 with 50% inhibitory concentration of 6 and 20 nM, respectively. Moreover, the 50% inhibitory concentration of pyronaridine was lower than that of primaquine which is the only drug used to treat malaria patients harboring gametocytes. Prokaryotic (norfloxacin) and eukaryotic (amsacrine and etoposide) DNA topoisomerase II inhibitors were only effective against asexual but not sexual stages of the malaria parasites. Pyronaridine has both schizontocidal and gametocytocidal activities against the human malaria parasite, P. falciparum.

An antitumor drug-induced topoisomerase cleavage complex blocks a bacteriophage T4 replication fork in vivo

Many antitumor and antibacterial drugs inhibit DNA topoisomerases by trapping covalent enzyme-DNA cleavage complexes. Formation of cleavage complexes is important for cytotoxicity, but evidence suggests that cleavage complexes themselves are not sufficient to cause cell death. Rather, active cellular processes such as transcription and/or replication are probably necessary to transform cleavage complexes into cytotoxic lesions. Using defined plasmid substrates and two-dimensional agarose gel analysis, we examined the collision of an active replication fork with an antitumor drug-trapped cleavage complex. Discrete DNA molecules accumulated on the simple Y arc, with branch points very close to the topoisomerase cleavage site. Accumulation of the Y-form DNA required the presence of a topoisomerase cleavage site, the antitumor drug, the type II topoisomerase, and a T4 replication origin on the plasmid. Furthermore, all three arms of the Y-form DNA were replicated, arguing strongly that these are trapped replication intermediates. The Y-form DNA appeared even in the absence of two important phage recombination proteins, implying that Y-form DNA is the result of replication rather than recombination. This is the first direct evidence that a drug-induced topoisomerase cleavage complex blocks the replication fork in vivo. Surprisingly, these blocked replication forks do not contain DNA breaks at the topoisomerase cleavage site, implying that the replication complex was inactivated (at least temporarily) and that topoisomerase resealed the drug-induced DNA breaks. The replication fork may behave similarly at other types of DNA lesions, and thus cleavage complexes could represent a useful (site-specific) model for chemical- and radiation-induced DNA damage.

Altered drug interaction and regulation of topoisomerase IIbeta: potential mechanisms governing sensitivity of HL-60 cells to amsacrine and etoposide

Topoisomerase II (topo II), an enzyme essential for cell viability, is present in mammalian cells as the alpha- and beta-isoforms. In human leukemia HL-60/S or HL-60/doxorubicin (DOX)0.05 cells, the levels of topo IIalpha- or beta-protein were similar in either asynchronous exponential or synchronized cultures. Although topo IIalpha was hypophosphorylated in HL-60/DOX0.05 compared with HL-60/S cells, both overall and site-specific hyperphosphorylation of topo IIbeta was apparent in HL-60/DOX0.05 compared with HL-60/S cells. The phosphorylation of topo IIalpha and not beta was enhanced in the S and G(2) + M phases of HL-60/S cells. In contrast, an increase in the phosphorylation of topo IIbeta compared with alpha was apparent in the G(1) and S phases of HL-60/DOX0.05 cells. The cytotoxicity and depletion of topo IIalpha or beta in cells treated with drug for 1 h revealed that mole-for-mole, amsacrine was 2-fold more effective than etoposide in killing HL-60/S or HL-60/DOX0.05 cells and in depleting the beta versus alpha topo II protein. Present results demonstrate that: 1) hyperphosphorylation of topo IIbeta in HL-60/DOX0.05 cells may be a compensatory consequence of the hypophosphorylation of topo IIalpha to maintain normal topo II function during proliferation, and 2) enhanced sensitivity of HL-60/S or HL-60/DOX0.05 cells to amsacrine may be due to the preferential interaction and depletion of topo IIbeta.

Murine transgenic cells lacking DNA topoisomerase IIbeta are resistant to acridines and mitoxantrone: analysis of cytotoxicity and cleavable complex formation

Murine transgenic cell lines lacking DNA topoisomerase II (topo II)beta have been used to assess the importance of topo IIbeta as a drug target. Western blot analysis confirmed that the topo IIbeta -/- cell lines did not contain topo IIbeta protein. In addition, both the topo IIbeta +/+ and topo IIbeta -/- cell lines contained similar levels of topo IIalpha protein. The trapped in agarose DNA immunostaining assay (TARDIS) was used to detect topo IIalpha and beta cleavable complexes in topo IIbeta -/- and topo IIbeta +/+ cells. These results show that both topo IIalpha and beta are in vivo targets for etoposide, mitoxantrone, and amsacrine (mAMSA) in topo IIbeta +/+ cells. As expected, only the alpha-isoform was targeted in topo IIbeta -/- cells. Clonogenic assays comparing the survival of topo IIbeta -/- and topo IIbeta +/+ cells were carried out to establish whether the absence of topo IIbeta caused drug resistance. Increased survival of topo IIbeta -/- cells compared with topo IIbeta +/+ cells was observed after treatment with amsacrine (mAMSA), methyl N-(4'-[9-acridinylamino]-2-methoxyphenyl) carbamate hydrochloride (AMCA), methyl N-(4'-[9-acridinylamino]-2-methoxyphenyl)carbamate hydrochloride (mAMCA), mitoxantrone, and etoposide. These studies showed that topo IIbeta -/- cells were significantly more resistant to mAMSA, AMCA, mAMCA, and mitoxantrone, than topo IIbeta +/+ cells, indicating that topo IIbeta is an important target for the cytotoxic effects of these compounds.

Psammaplin A, a natural phenolic compound, has inhibitory effect on human topoisomerase II and is cytotoxic to cancer cells

We evaluated the topoisomerase II (Topo II) inhibitory activity of psammaplin A (PSA), a naturally occurring biphenolic compound, and its cytotoxicity to some human cancer cells including P-glycoprotein (Pgp)-overexpressing multidrug resistant (MDR) cell line. PSA completely inhibited the DNA relaxation activity of Topo II at 75.0 microM. It also completely inhibited the DNA decatenation activity of Topo II at 75.0 microM, and showed about 50% inhibitory activity at 18.8 microM. In the cytotoxicity assay, the effective concentrations that cause 50% inhibition of cell growth (EC50) were 0.48, 0.39, 1.83 and 3.76 microM to A549, SK-OV-3, HCT15 and HCT15/CL02 (MDR cell line established from HCT15 cells) cancer cells, respectively. In the presence of 8.0 microM of verapamil (VER), a well-known MDR modulator, the EC50 of PSA to HCT15/CL02 cells was reduced about 2.1 fold. Meanwhile, the EC50s of standard Topo II inhibitory drugs such as doxorubicin, etoposide and mitoxantrone to HCT15/CL02 cells were reduced about 8.5, 9.3 and 8.1 fold in the presence of 8.0 microM VER, respectively. From the results, we conclude that PSA has Topo II inhibitory activity, and its cytotoxicity to cancer cells is not so strongly affected by Pgp-associated MDR phenotype in comparison with some Topo II inhibitory anticancer drugs used in the clinic.

Inhibition of DNA topoisomerase II catalytic activity by the antiviral agents 7-chloro-1,3-dihydroxyacridone and 1,3,7-trihydroxyacridone

Previously we reported that the antiproliferative and antiviral actions of 7-chloro-1,3 dihydroxyacridone (compound 1) and its derivatives may be mediated through the inhibition of mammalian DNA topoisomerase II. In the present work, we have extended our investigation into the mechanism of topoisomerase II inhibition by these agents. Both compound 1 and its 7-OH derivative, compound 2, inhibited topoisomerase II catalytic activity in vitro, yet neither agent affected the activity of topoisomerase I. DNA unwinding assays indicated that compound 1 and compound 2 bound to DNA, although no correlation was found between DNA unwinding and topoisomerase II catalytic inhibition. Neither agent enhanced topoisomerase II-mediated DNA cleavage in vitro; however, both compound 1 and compound 2 antagonized breaks induced by etoposide and amsacrine. Experiments indicate that interference with etoposide-stimulated breaks results from inhibition of topoisomerase II * DNA binding by compound 1. These findings suggest that compound 1 and its derivatives may represent a novel structural class of topoisomerase II catalytic inhibitors.

Carbamate analogues of amsacrine active against non-cycling cells: relative activity against topoisomerases IIalpha and beta

PURPOSE

Methyl N-(4'-(9-acridinylamino)-phenyl)carbamate hydrochloride (AMCA) and methyl N-(4'-(9-acridinylamino)-2-methoxyphenyl)carbamate hydrochloride (mAMCA) are analogues of the topoisomerase II (topo II) poison amsacrine, and are distinguished from amsacrine by their high cytotoxicity towards non-cycling cells. Since mammalian cells contain two forms (alpha and beta) of topo II and the alpha isoform is down-regulated in non-cycling cells, we have considered whether these carbamate analogues target topo IIbeta selectively.

METHODS

A drug permeable yeast strain (JN394 top2-4) was transformed using a shuttle vector containing either human top2alpha, human top2alpha or yeast top2 under the control of a GAL1 promoter. The strain was analysed at a non-permissive temperature, where only the plasmid-borne topo II was active.

RESULTS

AMCA and mAMCA produced comparable levels of cell killing with human DNA topo IIalpha, human DNA topo IIbeta and yeast DNA topo II. Two other acridine derivatives N-[2-(dimethylamino)ethyl]acridine-4-carboxamide (DACA) and its 7-chloro derivative, which like AMCA and mAMCA are able to overcome multidrug resistance mechanisms, were much more active against human DNA topo IIalpha than against human DNA topo IIbeta and yeast DNA topo II. A series of mutant Chinese hamster and human lines with defined topo lesions, including the HL60/MX2 line that lacks topo IIbeta expression, was also used to compare resistance to amsacrine, AMCA and etoposide. Loss of topo IIbeta activity had a greater effect on amsacrine and AMCA than on etoposide. Resistance of murine Lewis lung cultures in exponential and plateau phase was also measured. Loss of topo IIalpha activity, as measured in both mutant cells expressing lower amounts of enzyme and in cells in plateau phase, resulted in concomitant acquisition of resistance that was greatest for etoposide and least for AMCA.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that the carbamate analogues of amsacrine recognize both topo IIalpha and beta in cells.

Enhanced amsacrine-induced mutagenesis in plateau-phase Chinese hamster ovary cells, with targeting of +1 frameshifts to free 3' ends of topoisomerase II cleavable complexes

Previous work showed that the DNA double-strand cleaving agents bleomycin and neocarzinostatin were more mutagenic in plateau-phase than in log-phase cells. To determine whether topoisomerase II poisons that produce double-strand breaks by trapping of cleavable complexes would, likewise, induce mutations specific to plateau-phase cells, aprt mutations induced by amsacrine in both log-phase and plateau-phase CHO cells were analyzed. The maximum aprt mutant frequencies obtained were 7 x 10(-6) after treatment with 0.02 microM amsacrine in log phase and 27 x 10(-6) after treatment with 1 microM amsacrine in plateau phase, compared with a spontaneous frequency of < 1 x 10(-6). Base substitutions dominated the spectrum of mutations in log-phase cells, but were much less prevalent in plateau-phase cells. Both spectra also included small deletions, insertions and duplications, as well as few large-scale deletions or rearrangements. About 5% of the log-phase mutants and 16% of the plateau-phase mutants were +1 frameshifts, and all but one of these were targeted to potential free 3' termini of cleavable complexes, as determined by mapping of cleavage sites in DNA treated with topoisomerase II plus amsacrine in vitro. Thus, these insertions may arise from templated extension of the exposed 3' terminus by a DNA polymerase, followed by resealing of the strand, as shown previously for acridine-induced frameshifts in T4 phage.

Human small cell lung cancer NYH cells selected for resistance to the bisdioxopiperazine topoisomerase II catalytic inhibitor ICRF-187 demonstrate a functional R162Q mutation in the Walker A consensus ATP binding domain of the alpha isoform

Bisdioxopiperazine drugs such as ICRF-187 are catalytic inhibitors of DNA topoisomerase II, with at least two effects on the enzyme: namely, locking it in a closed-clamp form and inhibiting its ATPase activity. This is in contrast to topoisomerase II poisons as etoposide and amsacrine (m-AMSA), which act by stabilizing enzyme-DNA-drug complexes at a stage in which the DNA gate strand is cleaved and the protein is covalently attached to DNA. Human small cell lung cancer NYH cells selected for resistance to ICRF-187 (NYH/187) showed a 25% increase in topoisomerase IIalpha level and no change in expression of the beta isoform. Sequencing of the entire topoisomerase IIalpha cDNA from NYH/187 cells demonstrated a homozygous G-->A point mutation at nucleotide 485, leading to a R162Q conversion in the Walker A consensus ATP binding site (residues 161-165 in the alpha isoform), this being the first drug-selected mutation described at this site. Western blotting after incubation with ICRF-187 showed no depletion of the alpha isoform in NYH/187 cells in contrast to wild-type (wt) cells, whereas equal depletion of the beta isoform was observed in the two sublines. Alkaline elution assay demonstrated a lack of inhibition of etoposide-induced DNA single-stranded breaks in NYH/187 cells, whereas this inhibition was readily apparent in NYH cells. Site-directed mutagenesis in human topoisomerase IIalpha introduced into a yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain with a temperature-conditional yeast TOP2 mutant demonstrated that R162Q conferred resistance to the bisdioxopiperazines ICRF-187 and -193 but not to etoposide or m-AMSA. Both etoposide and m-AMSA induced more DNA cleavage with purified R162Q enzyme than with the wt. The R162Q enzyme has a 20-25% decreased catalytic capacity compared to the wt and was almost inactive at <0.25 mM ATP compared to the wt. Kinetoplast DNA decatenation by the R162Q enzyme at 1 mM ATP was not resistant to ICRF-187 compared to wt, whereas it was clearly less sensitive than wt to ICRF-187 at low ATP concentrations. This suggests that it is a shift in the equilibrium to an open-clamp state in the enzyme's catalytic cycle caused by a decreased ATP binding by the mutated enzyme that is responsible for bisdioxopiperazine resistance.

A unique paclitaxel-mediated modulation of the catalytic activity of topoisomerase IIalpha

Paclitaxel (Taxol) is known to act by polymerizing and stabilizing microtubules. In spite of a known target, the existence of additional targets is suggested by a poor understanding of the mechanism(s) underlying eventual cell death by paclitaxel and by the drug's high efficacy, as compared to other spindle poisons. Based on the enhanced sensitivity of a mutant DNA double-strand break repair-deficient Chinese hamster ovary cell line to paclitaxel as well as to various topoisomerase (Topo) II poisons, it was hypothesized that paclitaxel, in addition to having an effect on microtubules, may also alter the activity of Topo II. This study demonstrates the unique, in vitro effects of paclitaxel on Topo II activity as investigated by monitoring the decatenation of kinetoplast DNA and relaxation of supercoiled plasmid DNA by Topo II. Unlike classical anti-topoisomerase drugs, low concentrations of paclitaxel (0.02-500 nM) stimulated Topo II catalytic activity, while higher concentrations over 5 microM inhibited the activity of Topo II. Furthermore, these effects of paclitaxel appear to be mediated through a direct interaction of paclitaxel with Topo II rather than an interaction with DNA or DNA-Topo II complexes. Collectively, the evidence presented suggests the existence of an atypical interaction between Topo II and paclitaxel that may disrupt the normal functioning of the enzyme.

Effect of cellular ATP depletion on topoisomerase II poisons. Abrogation Of cleavable-complex formation by etoposide but not by amsacrine

Topoisomerase (topo) II poisons have been categorized into ATP-independent and -dependent drugs based on in vitro studies. We investigated drug-induced topoII-DNA complexes in intact cells almost completely depleted of ATP. Virtually no DNA single-strand breaks (SSBs), as measured by alkaline elution, were detected in energy-depleted cells treated with the topoII poisons etoposide, teniposide, daunorubicin, doxorubicin, mitoxantrone, or clerocidin. This inhibition was reversible; subsequent incubation with glucose restored the level of DNA SSBs. The effect of ATP depletion was specific for topoII, because topoI-mediated cleavable complexes induced by camptothecin were unaffected by ATP depletion. Furthermore, etoposide-induced DNA-protein complexes and DNA double-strand breaks, as measured by filter elution techniques, and topoIIalpha and -beta trapping, as measured by a band depletion assay, were completely inhibited by energy depletion. Differences in drug transport could not explain the effect of ATP depletion. The topoII poison amsacrine (m-AMSA) was unique with respect to ATP dependence. In ATP-depleted cells, m-AMSA-induced DNA SSBs, DNA double-strand breaks, DNA-protein complexes, topoIIalpha and -beta trapping were only modestly reduced. The accumulation of m-AMSA was reduced in ATP-depleted cells, which indicates that drug transport could contribute to the modest decrease in m-AMSA-induced cleavable complexes. In conclusion, drug-induced topoII-DNA complexes were completely antagonized in ATP-depleted cells, except in the case of m-AMSA. One possible interpretation is that m-AMSA mainly produces prestrand passage DNA lesions, whereas the other topoII poisons tested exclusively stabilize poststrand passage DNA lesions in intact cells.

Absence of topoisomerase IIbeta in an amsacrine-resistant human leukemia cell line with mutant topoisomerase IIalpha

Numerous chemotherapeutic agents act via stabilization of a topoisomerase (topo) II-DNA complex. HL-60/AMSA, a human leukemia cell line, is resistant to intercalator-mediated DNA complex formation and cytotoxicity. HL-60/AMSA contains a mutant form of topo IIalpha that was thought to explain this resistance. However, our present data show that expression of topo IIbeta RNA in HL-60/AMSA is only 10% of that in HL-60, and topo IIbeta protein levels are undetectable. Southern analysis of topo IIbeta shows no differences in gene dosage between the two cell lines but does show differences in the restriction patterns. These data suggest that decreased topo IIbeta expression may contribute to the intercalator resistance of HL-60/AMSA cells.

Induction of diplochromosomes in mammalian cells by inhibitors of topoisomerase II

Diplochromosomes, consisting of four chromatids lying side-by-side, instead of the normal two, are produced when cells go through two rounds of DNA replication without separation of chromatids. They are thus an indication of the failure of the normal chromosome separation mechanism. In the present experiments, induction of diplochromosomes by inhibitors of topoisomerase II (Topo II) was used to provide further evidence that Topo II is required for separation of daughter chromosomes. Actively growing cultures of CHO cells were treated with Colcemid, and separated into metaphase and interphase fractions, each of which was treated for 2 h with the Topo II inhibitor being tested. The cells were then cultivated in fresh medium without inhibitor for periods of between 18 and 44 h, and metaphase cells once again accumulated by treatment with Colcemid. Chromosome preparations were made in the standard way and stained with Giemsa. Up to 2,000 metaphases were counted from each culture, and the proportion with diplochromosomes calculated. At appropriate concentrations, the Topo II inhibitors etoposide and mitoxantrone induced substantial levels of metaphases with diplochromosomes in cultures that had been treated when the cells were in interphase (up to 30% and 11%, respectively). Amsacrine, however, only produced a smaller proportion (4.7%) of metaphases with diplochromosomes after a much longer culture period following treatment. All the inhibitors caused severe chromosome damage. When used to treat metaphase cells, mitoxantrone and amsacrine only induced diplochromosomes after prolonged culture, although a small number of diplochromosomes were seen after etoposide treatment and a shorter period of culture. Results with cells treated in metaphase might indicate that Topo II is, in fact, not required for anaphase chromosome separation, although it is clearly important for segregation of newly replicated DNA.

High single dose of mitoxantrone and cytarabine in acute non-lymphocytic leukemia: a pharmacokinetic and clinical study

In a phase I-II study, the authors evaluated the intracellular pharmacokinetics, toxicity, and efficiency of a high dose of mitoxantrone given as first induction in acute non-lymphocytic leukemia. Twenty-two patients with previously untreated de novo ANLL were included and received 30 or 40 mg/m2 mitoxantrone on day 1 by intravenous infusion over 1 hour and 500 mg/m2 ara-C twice a day for 5 days. If there was no complete remission (CR), a second induction with ara-C, etoposide, and amsacrine was given. The CR rate after two courses with this regimen was 77%. Median duration of severe neutropenia was 18 days in the 30-mg/m2 group and 25 days in the 40-mg/m2 group. Two patients had fatal lung complications probably unrelated to mitoxantrone. A third patient had a possible mitoxantrone-induced reversible lung complication. In the leukemic cells, we found a high accumulation of mitoxantrone which, in contrast to the plasma concentration, remained stable during the 48 hours studied. Compared with previous results with 12 mg/m2 mitoxantrone, the AUC for intracellular concentrations versus time for the first 20 hours studied was increased by 150% to 0.638 nmol/mg cell protein x hour with 30 mg/m2 mitoxantrone and by 260% to 1.103 nmol/mg cell protein x hour with 40 mg/m2 mitoxantrone. In conclusion, a high dose of mitoxantrone results in a high intracellular exposure of the leukemic cells, which may be an advantage in improving survival of these patients.

Quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) for 9-anilinoacridines: a comparative analysis

A new analysis of the quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) of the antitumor activity of anilinoacridines against L1210 leukemia in mice and mouse toxicity is reported. QSAR have also been derived for the inhibitory activity of the anilinoacridines with tumor cells and their binding to DNA. These results are compared with reactivity with simple nucleophiles. The comparative analysis shows the importance of electron releasing substituents (in general negative coefficients with the Hammett parameter sigma+) throughout the various systems and the complete lack of hydrophobic interactions from DNA to cells to mice. The presence of steric terms suggests that a protein receptor is involved. The study shows that QSAR has an important role to play in improving the efficiency in the design of bioactive compounds and that care must be taken in the design of a set of congeners so that the necessary parameters are available to do the QSAR analysis. Our study illustrates the value of comparative QSAR in generalizing our understanding of chemical-biological interactions.