51
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Duan J, Wang X, Kizer ME. Biotechnological and Therapeutic Applications of Natural Nucleic Acid Structural Motifs. Top Curr Chem (Cham) 2020; 378:26. [PMID: 32067108 DOI: 10.1007/s41061-020-0290-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Genetic information and the blueprint of life are stored in the form of nucleic acids. The primary sequence of DNA, read from the canonical double helix, provides the code for RNA and protein synthesis. Yet these already-information-rich molecules have higher-order structures which play critical roles in transcription and translation. Uncovering the sequences, parameters, and conditions which govern the formation of these structural motifs has allowed researchers to study them and to utilize them in biotechnological and therapeutic applications in vitro and in vivo. This review covers both DNA and RNA structural motifs found naturally in biological systems including catalytic nucleic acids, non-coding RNA, aptamers, G-quadruplexes, i-motifs, and Holliday junctions. For each category, an overview of the structural characteristics, biological prevalence, and function will be discussed. The biotechnological and therapeutic applications of these structural motifs are highlighted. Future perspectives focus on the addition of proteins and unnatural modifications to enhance structural stability for greater applicability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinwei Duan
- Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, College of Sciences, Chang'an University, Xi'an, 710064, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
- Holonyak Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
| | - Xing Wang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
- Holonyak Micro and Nanotechnology Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
| | - Megan E Kizer
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
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52
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Massó-Vallés D, Beaulieu ME, Soucek L. MYC, MYCL, and MYCN as therapeutic targets in lung cancer. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2020; 24:101-114. [PMID: 32003251 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2020.1723548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality globally. Despite recent advances with personalized therapies and immunotherapy, the prognosis remains dire and recurrence is frequent. Myc is an oncogene deregulated in human cancers, including lung cancer, where it supports tumorigenic processes and progression. Elevated Myc levels have also been associated with resistance to therapy.Areas covered: This article summarizes the genomic and transcriptomic studies that compile evidence for (i) MYC, MYCN, and MYCL amplification and overexpression in lung cancer patients, and (ii) their prognostic significance. We collected the most recent literature regarding the development of Myc inhibitors where the emphasis is on those inhibitors tested in lung cancer experimental models and their potential for future clinical application.Expert opinion: The targeting of Myc in lung cancer is potentially an unprecedented opportunity for inhibiting a key player in tumor progression and maintenance and therapeutic resistance. Myc inhibitory strategies are on the path to their clinical application but further work is necessary for the assessment of their use in combination with standard treatment approaches. Given the role of Myc in immune suppression, a significant opportunity may exist in the combination of Myc inhibitors with immunotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Laura Soucek
- Peptomyc S.L., Edifici Cellex, Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.,Edifici Cellex, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Barcelona, Spain.,Institució Catalana De Recerca I Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universitat Autònoma De Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
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53
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Xuan TF, Liu J, Wang ZQ, Chen WM, Lin J. Fluorescent Detection of the Ubiquitous Bacterial Messenger 3',5' Cyclic Diguanylic Acid by Using a Small Aromatic Molecule. Front Microbiol 2020; 10:3163. [PMID: 31993044 PMCID: PMC6970945 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.03163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 12/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
3′,5′ Cyclic diguanylic acid (c-di-GMP) has been shown to play a central role in the regulation of bacterial physiological processes such as biofilm formation and virulence production, and is regarded as a potential target for the development of anti-infective drugs. A method for the facile detection of the bacterial level of cellular c-di-GMP is required to explore the details of c-di-GMP signaling and design drugs on the basis of this pathway. Current methods of c-di-GMP detection have limited sensitivity or difficultly in probe preparation. Herein a new fluorescent probe is reported for the detection of c-di-GMP at concentrations as low as 500 nM. The probe was developed on the basis of the G-quadruplex formation of c-di-GMP induced by aromatic molecules. When used on crude bacterial cell lysates, it can effectively distinguish between the low c-di-GMP levels of bacteria in plankton and the high c-di-GMP levels in biofilm. The method described here is simple, inexpensive, sensitive, and suitable for practical applications involving the rapid detection of cellular c-di-GMP levels in vitro after simple bacterial lysis and filtration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teng-Fei Xuan
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jun Liu
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zi-Qiang Wang
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wei-Min Chen
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jing Lin
- International Cooperative Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Modernization and Innovative Drug Development of Chinese Ministry of Education (MOE), College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
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Sengupta P, Banerjee N, Roychowdhury T, Dutta A, Chattopadhyay S, Chatterjee S. Site-specific amino acid substitution in dodecameric peptides determines the stability and unfolding of c-MYC quadruplex promoting apoptosis in cancer cells. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 46:9932-9950. [PMID: 30239898 PMCID: PMC6212778 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
c-MYC proto-oncogene harbours a transcription-inhibitory quadruplex-forming scaffold (Pu27) upstream P1 promoter providing anti-neoplastic therapeutic target. Previous reports showed the binding profile of human Cathelicidin peptide (LL37) and telomeric G-quadruplex. Here, we truncated the quadruplex-binding domain of LL37 to prepare a small library of peptides through site-specific amino acid substitution. We investigated the intracellular selectivity of peptides for Pu27 over other oncogenic quadruplexes and their role in c-MYC promoter repression by dual-luciferase assays. We analysed their thermodynamics of binding reactions with c-MYC quadruplex isomers (Pu27, Myc22, Pu19) by Isothermal Titration Calorimetry. We discussed how amino acid substitutions and peptide helicity enhanced/weakened their affinities for c-MYC quadruplexes and characterized specific non-covalent inter-residual interactions determining their selectivity. Solution NMR structure indicated that KR12C, the best peptide candidate, selectively stabilized the 5′-propeller loop of c-MYC quadruplex by arginine-driven electrostatic-interactions at the sugar-phosphate backbone while KR12A peptide destabilized the quadruplex inducing a single-stranded hairpin-like conformation. Chromatin immunoprecipitations envisaged that KR12C and KR12A depleted and enriched Sp1 and NM23-H2 (Nucleoside diphosphate kinase) occupancy at Pu27 respectively supporting their regulation in stabilizing and unfolding c-MYC quadruplex in MCF-7 cells. We deciphered that selective arresting of c-MYC transcription by KR12C triggered apoptotic-signalling pathway via VEGF-A-BCL-2 axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pallabi Sengupta
- Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VII (M), Kolkata 700054, India
| | - Nilanjan Banerjee
- Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VII (M), Kolkata 700054, India
| | - Tanaya Roychowdhury
- Cancer Biology and Inflammatory Disorder Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4, Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Anindya Dutta
- Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VII (M), Kolkata 700054, India
| | - Samit Chattopadhyay
- Cancer Biology and Inflammatory Disorder Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4, Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Subhrangsu Chatterjee
- Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VII (M), Kolkata 700054, India
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Han F, Chen Q, Su J, Zheng A, Chen K, Sun S, Wu H, Jiang L, Xu X, Yang M, Yang F, Zhu J, Zhang L. MicroRNA-124 regulates cardiomyocyte apoptosis and myocardial infarction through targeting Dhcr24. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2019; 132:178-188. [PMID: 31100313 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2019.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2018] [Revised: 04/14/2019] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
AIMS microRNA-124(miR-124) has recently been reported to be elevated in cardiovascular disease. In this study, we aimed to investigate the exact role of miR-124 in cardiomyocytes and myocardial infarction, identifying the functional target and its regulatory mechanisms. METHODS AND RESULTS Cultured cardiomyocytes, myocardial-infarction mouse model, and clinical data were used to study the effects of miR-124 on myocardial ischemia. Expression of miR-124 was up-regulated in H2O2 and hypoxia induced cardiomyocyte injury. miR-124 over-expression significantly increased cardiomyocyte apoptosis, whereas miR-124 inhibition attenuated cell death. 3β-hydroxysteroid-Delta24 reductase (Dhcr24), a multi-functional enzyme implicated in cholesterol synthesis and various diseases, was identified as a novel functional target of miR-124 in cardiac myocytes. The miR-124-Dhcr24 axis was responsible for cardiomyocyte apoptosis regulation. Furthermore, myocardial infarction induced miR-124 activation and Dhcr24 reduction in vivo. Modulation of miR-124 by intra-myocardial injection of agomiR or antagomiR was capable of manipulating cardiomyocyte apoptosis and myocardial infarction in mice. More importantly, circulating miR-124 was also observed to be elevated in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients and was correlated with myocardial injury and cardiac function. CONCLUSION Our findings strongly demonstrated that miR-124 targeting Dhcr24 regulates oxidative stress and hypoxia induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis and myocardial infarction. The miR-124-Dhcr24 axis could be a potential biomarker as well as the therapeutic target for AMI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Han
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qishan Chen
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Jia Su
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ancheng Zheng
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Kai Chen
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shasha Sun
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hong Wu
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Liujun Jiang
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xiaolei Xu
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Mei Yang
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Feng Yang
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jianhua Zhu
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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Zhai Q, Gao C, Ding J, Zhang Y, Islam B, Lan W, Hou H, Deng H, Li J, Hu Z, Mohamed HI, Xu S, Cao C, Haider SM, Wei D. Selective recognition of c-MYC Pu22 G-quadruplex by a fluorescent probe. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 47:2190-2204. [PMID: 30759259 PMCID: PMC6412119 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2018] [Revised: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 01/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Nucleic acid mimics of fluorescent proteins can be valuable tools to locate and image functional biomolecules in cells. Stacking between the internal G-quartet, formed in the mimics, and the exogenous fluorophore probes constitutes the basis for fluorescence emission. The precision of recognition depends upon probes selectively targeting the specific G-quadruplex in the mimics. However, the design of probes recognizing a G-quadruplex with high selectivity in vitro and in vivo remains a challenge. Through structure-based screening and optimization, we identified a light-up fluorescent probe, 9CI that selectively recognizes c-MYC Pu22 G-quadruplex both in vitro and ex vivo. Upon binding, the biocompatible probe emits both blue and green fluorescence with the excitation at 405 nm. With 9CI and c-MYC Pu22 G-quadruplex complex as the fluorescent response core, a DNA mimic of fluorescent proteins was constructed, which succeeded in locating a functional aptamer on the cellular periphery. The recognition mechanism analysis suggested the high selectivity and strong fluorescence response was attributed to the entire recognition process consisting of the kinetic match, dynamic interaction, and the final stacking. This study implies both the single stacking state and the dynamic recognition process are crucial for designing fluorescent probes or ligands with high selectivity for a specific G-quadruplex structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianqian Zhai
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China
- College of Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Chao Gao
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China
| | - Jieqin Ding
- College of Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Yashu Zhang
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China
| | - Barira Islam
- UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, 29–39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UK
| | - Wenxian Lan
- State Key Laboratory of Bioorganic and Natural Products Chemistry and Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Life Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 345 Lingling Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Haitao Hou
- College of Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Hua Deng
- College of Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Jun Li
- College of Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Zhe Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China
| | - Hany I Mohamed
- College of Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Benha University, Benha 13518, Egypt
| | - Shengzhen Xu
- College of Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Chunyang Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Bioorganic and Natural Products Chemistry and Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Life Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 345 Lingling Road, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Shozeb M Haider
- UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, 29–39 Brunswick Square, London WC1N 1AX, UK
| | - Dengguo Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China
- College of Science, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
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Steinberger J, Robert F, Hallé M, Williams DE, Cencic R, Sawhney N, Pelletier D, Williams P, Igarashi Y, Porco JA, Rodriguez AD, Kopp B, Bachmann B, Andersen RJ, Pelletier J. Tracing MYC Expression for Small Molecule Discovery. Cell Chem Biol 2019; 26:699-710.e6. [PMID: 30880156 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2019.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2018] [Revised: 12/19/2018] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Our inability to effectively "drug" targets such as MYC for therapeutic purposes requires the development of new approaches. We report on the implementation of a phenotype-based assay for monitoring MYC expression in multiple myeloma cells. The open reading frame (ORF) encoding an unstable variant of GFP was engineered immediately downstream of the MYC ORF using CRISPR/Cas9, resulting in co-expression of both proteins from the endogenous MYC locus. Using fluorescence readout as a surrogate for MYC expression, we implemented a pilot screen in which ∼10,000 compounds were prosecuted. Among known MYC expression inhibitors, we identified cardiac glycosides and cytoskeletal disruptors to be quite potent. We demonstrate the power of CRISPR/Cas9 engineering in establishing phenotype-based assays to identify gene expression modulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jutta Steinberger
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Francis Robert
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Maxime Hallé
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - David E Williams
- Departments of Chemistry and Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada
| | - Regina Cencic
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Neha Sawhney
- Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, 37235, USA
| | - Dylan Pelletier
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Philip Williams
- Department of Chemistry, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA
| | - Yasuhiro Igarashi
- Biotechnology Research Center, Toyama Prefectural University, Toyama 939-0398, Japan
| | - John A Porco
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Molecular Discovery (BU-CMD), Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Abimael D Rodriguez
- Molecular Sciences Research Center, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR 00926, USA
| | - Brigitte Kopp
- Department of Pharmacognosy, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Brian Bachmann
- Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, 37235, USA
| | - Raymond J Andersen
- Departments of Chemistry and Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada
| | - Jerry Pelletier
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada; The Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Research Center and the Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
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58
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Debnath M, Fatma K, Dash J. Chemical Regulation of DNA i‐Motifs for Nanobiotechnology and Therapeutics. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201813288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Manish Debnath
- School of Chemical SciencesIndian Association for the Cultivation of Science Jadavpur Kolkata- 700032 India
| | - Khushnood Fatma
- School of Chemical SciencesIndian Association for the Cultivation of Science Jadavpur Kolkata- 700032 India
| | - Jyotirmayee Dash
- School of Chemical SciencesIndian Association for the Cultivation of Science Jadavpur Kolkata- 700032 India
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Debnath M, Fatma K, Dash J. Chemical Regulation of DNA i-Motifs for Nanobiotechnology and Therapeutics. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2019; 58:2942-2957. [PMID: 30600876 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201813288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Revised: 12/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
DNA sequences rich in cytosine have the propensity, under acidic pH, to fold into four-stranded intercalated DNA structures called i-motifs. Recent studies have provided significant breakthroughs that demonstrate how chemists can manipulate these structures for nanobiotechnology and therapeutics. The first section of this Minireview discusses the development of advanced functional nanostructures by synthetic conjugation of i-motifs with organic scaffolds and metal nanoparticles and their role in therapeutics. The second section highlights the therapeutic targeting of i-motifs with chemical scaffolds and their significance in biology. For this, first we shed light on the long-lasting debate regarding the stability of i-motifs under physiological conditions. Next, we present a comparative analysis of recently reported small molecules for specifically targeting i-motifs over other abundant DNA structures and modulating their function in cellular systems. These advances provide new insights into i-motif-targeted regulation of gene expression, telomere maintenance, and therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manish Debnath
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata-, 700032, India
| | - Khushnood Fatma
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata-, 700032, India
| | - Jyotirmayee Dash
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata-, 700032, India
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Asamitsu S, Obata S, Yu Z, Bando T, Sugiyama H. Recent Progress of Targeted G-Quadruplex-Preferred Ligands Toward Cancer Therapy. Molecules 2019; 24:E429. [PMID: 30682877 PMCID: PMC6384606 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24030429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 193] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Revised: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 01/23/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
A G-quadruplex (G4) is a well-known nucleic acid secondary structure comprising guanine-rich sequences, and has profound implications for various pharmacological and biological events, including cancers. Therefore, ligands interacting with G4s have attracted great attention as potential anticancer therapies or in molecular probe applications. To date, a large variety of DNA/RNA G4 ligands have been developed by a number of laboratories. As protein-targeting drugs face similar situations, G-quadruplex-interacting drugs displayed low selectivity to the targeted G-quadruplex structure. This low selectivity could cause unexpected effects that are usually reasons to halt the drug development process. In this review, we address the recent research on synthetic G4 DNA-interacting ligands that allow targeting of selected G4s as an approach toward the discovery of highly effective anticancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sefan Asamitsu
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwakecho, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan.
| | - Shunsuke Obata
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwakecho, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan.
| | - Zutao Yu
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwakecho, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan.
| | - Toshikazu Bando
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwakecho, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan.
| | - Hiroshi Sugiyama
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwakecho, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan.
- Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Science (WPI-iCeMS) Kyoto University, Yoshida-Ushinomiyacho, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan.
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Developing Novel G-Quadruplex Ligands: from Interaction with Nucleic Acids to Interfering with Nucleic Acid⁻Protein Interaction. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24030396. [PMID: 30678288 PMCID: PMC6384609 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24030396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Revised: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
G-quadruplex is a special secondary structure of nucleic acids in guanine-rich sequences of genome. G-quadruplexes have been proved to be involved in the regulation of replication, DNA damage repair, and transcription and translation of oncogenes or other cancer-related genes. Therefore, targeting G-quadruplexes has become a novel promising anti-tumor strategy. Different kinds of small molecules targeting the G-quadruplexes have been designed, synthesized, and identified as potential anti-tumor agents, including molecules directly bind to the G-quadruplex and molecules interfering with the binding between the G-quadruplex structures and related binding proteins. This review will explore the feasibility of G-quadruplex ligands acting as anti-tumor drugs, from basis to application. Meanwhile, since helicase is the most well-defined G-quadruplex-related protein, the most extensive research on the relationship between helicase and G-quadruplexes, and its meaning in drug design, is emphasized.
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Jana S, Panda D, Saha P, Pantos̨ GD, Dash J. Dynamic Generation of G-Quadruplex DNA Ligands by Target-Guided Combinatorial Chemistry on a Magnetic Nanoplatform. J Med Chem 2018; 62:762-773. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b01459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Snehasish Jana
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Deepanjan Panda
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Puja Saha
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - G. Dan Pantos̨
- Department of Chemistry, University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, U.K
| | - Jyotirmayee Dash
- School of Chemical Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata 700032, India
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Verga D, N'Guyen CH, Dakir M, Coll JL, Teulade-Fichou MP, Molla A. Polyheteroaryl Oxazole/Pyridine-Based Compounds Selected in Vitro as G-Quadruplex Ligands Inhibit Rock Kinase and Exhibit Antiproliferative Activity. J Med Chem 2018; 61:10502-10518. [PMID: 30457335 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b01023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Heptaheteroaryl compounds comprised of oxazole and pyridine units (TOxaPy) are quadruplex DNA (G4)-interactive compounds. Herein, we report on the synthesis of parent compounds bearing either amino side chains (TOxaPy-1-5) or featuring an isomeric oxazole-pyridine central connectivity (iso-TOxapy, iso-TOxapy 1-3) or a bipyridine core (iso-TOxabiPy). The new isomeric series showed significant G4-binding activity in vitro, and remarkably, three compounds (iso-TOxaPy, iso-TOxaPy-1, and iso-TOxabiPy) exhibited high antiproliferative activity toward a tumor panel of cancer cell lines. However, these compounds do not behave as typical G-quadruplex (G4) binders, and the kinase profiling assay revealed that the best antiproliferative molecule iso-TOxaPy selectively inhibited Rock-2. The targeting of Rock kinase was confirmed in cells by the dephosphorylation of Rock-2 substrates, the decrease of stress fibers, and peripheral focal adhesions, as well as the induction of long neurite-like extensions. Remarkably, two of these molecules were able to inhibit the growth of cells organized as spheroids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Verga
- "Chemistry, Modelling and Imaging for Biology", CNRS UMR9187-INSERM U1196, Institut Curie, Research Center Orsay, Bât 110, University Paris-Sud , 91405 Orsay , France
| | - Chi-Hung N'Guyen
- "Chemistry, Modelling and Imaging for Biology", CNRS UMR9187-INSERM U1196, Institut Curie, Research Center Orsay, Bât 110, University Paris-Sud , 91405 Orsay , France
| | - Malika Dakir
- University of Grenoble Alpes, CNRS UMR 5309, Inserm 1209, CHU Grenoble Alpes, IAB , 38400 Grenoble , France
| | - Jean-Luc Coll
- University of Grenoble Alpes, CNRS UMR 5309, Inserm 1209, CHU Grenoble Alpes, IAB , 38400 Grenoble , France
| | - Marie-Paule Teulade-Fichou
- "Chemistry, Modelling and Imaging for Biology", CNRS UMR9187-INSERM U1196, Institut Curie, Research Center Orsay, Bât 110, University Paris-Sud , 91405 Orsay , France
| | - Annie Molla
- University of Grenoble Alpes, CNRS UMR 5309, Inserm 1209, CHU Grenoble Alpes, IAB , 38400 Grenoble , France
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Asamitsu S, Bando T, Sugiyama H. Ligand Design to Acquire Specificity to Intended G-Quadruplex Structures. Chemistry 2018; 25:417-430. [PMID: 30051593 DOI: 10.1002/chem.201802691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2018] [Revised: 07/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
A G-quadruplex is a nucleic acid secondary structure that is adopted by guanine-rich sequences, and is considered to be relevant in various pharmacological and biological contexts. G-Quadruplexes have also attracted great attention in the field of DNA nanotechnology because of their extremely high thermal stability and the availability of many defined structures. To date, a large repertory of DNA/RNA G-quadruplex-interactive ligands has been developed by numerous laboratories. Several relevant reviews have also been published that have helped researchers to grasp the full scope of G-quadruplex research from its outset to the present. This review focuses on the G-quadruplex ligands that allow targeting of specific G-quadruplexes. Moreover, unique ligands, successful methodologies, and future perspectives in relation to specific G-quadruplex recognition are also addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sefan Asamitsu
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwakecho, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | - Toshikazu Bando
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwakecho, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Sugiyama
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-Oiwakecho, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan.,Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Science (WPI-iCeMS), Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan
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Abstract
This paper is in recognition of the 100th birthday of Dr. Herbert Tabor, a true pioneer in the polyamine field for over 70 years, who served as the editor-in-chief of the Journal of Biological Chemistry from 1971 to 2010. We review current knowledge of MYC proteins (c-MYC, MYCN, and MYCL) and focus on ornithine decarboxylase 1 (ODC1), an important bona fide gene target of MYC, which encodes the sentinel, rate-limiting enzyme in polyamine biosynthesis. Although notable advances have been made in designing inhibitors against the "undruggable" MYCs, their downstream targets and pathways are currently the main avenue for therapeutic anticancer interventions. To this end, the MYC-ODC axis presents an attractive target for managing cancers such as neuroblastoma, a pediatric malignancy in which MYCN gene amplification correlates with poor prognosis and high-risk disease. ODC and polyamine levels are often up-regulated and contribute to tumor hyperproliferation, especially of MYC-driven cancers. We therefore had proposed to repurpose α-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO), an FDA-approved, orally available ODC inhibitor, for management of neuroblastoma, and this intervention is now being pursued in several clinical trials. We discuss the regulation of ODC and polyamines, which besides their well-known interactions with DNA and tRNA/rRNA, are involved in regulating RNA transcription and translation, ribosome function, proteasomal degradation, the circadian clock, and immunity, events that are also controlled by MYC proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- André S Bachmann
- From the Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49503 and
| | - Dirk Geerts
- the Department of Medical Biology, Amsterdam University Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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