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Brázda V, Šislerová L, Cucchiarini A, Mergny JL. G-quadruplex propensity in H. neanderthalensis, H. sapiens and Denisovans mitochondrial genomes. NAR Genom Bioinform 2024; 6:lqae060. [PMID: 38817800 PMCID: PMC11137754 DOI: 10.1093/nargab/lqae060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Current methods of processing archaeological samples combined with advances in sequencing methods lead to disclosure of a large part of H. neanderthalensis and Denisovans genetic information. It is hardly surprising that the genome variability between modern humans, Denisovans and H. neanderthalensis is relatively limited. Genomic studies may provide insight on the metabolism of extinct human species or lineages. Detailed analysis of G-quadruplex sequences in H. neanderthalensis and Denisovans mitochondrial DNA showed us interesting features. Relatively similar patterns in mitochondrial DNA are found compared to modern humans, with one notable exception for H. neanderthalensis. An interesting difference between H. neanderthalensis and H. sapiens corresponds to a motif found in the D-loop region of mtDNA, which is responsible for mitochondrial DNA replication. This area is directly responsible for the number of mitochondria and consequently for the efficient energy metabolism of cell. H. neanderthalensis harbor a long uninterrupted run of guanines in this region, which may cause problems for replication, in contrast with H. sapiens, for which this run is generally shorter and interrupted. One may propose that the predominant H. sapiens motif provided a selective advantage for modern humans regarding mtDNA replication and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Václav Brázda
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 612 00 Brno, Czech Republic
- Brno University of Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Purkyňova 118, 612 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Lucie Šislerová
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 612 00 Brno, Czech Republic
- Brno University of Technology, Faculty of Chemistry, Purkyňova 118, 612 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Anne Cucchiarini
- Laboratoire d’Optique et Biosciences (LOB), Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91120 Palaiseau, France
| | - Jean-Louis Mergny
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 612 00 Brno, Czech Republic
- Laboratoire d’Optique et Biosciences (LOB), Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91120 Palaiseau, France
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2
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Miranda A, Cucchiarini A, Esnault C, Andrau JC, Oliveira PA, Mergny JL, Cruz C. G-quadruplex forming motifs in the promoter region of the B-MYB proto-oncogene. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 270:132244. [PMID: 38729459 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.132244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
To combat cancer, a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms and behaviors involved in carcinogenesis is crucial, as tumorigenesis is a complex process influenced by various genetic events and disease hallmarks. The B-MYB gene encodes a transcription factor involved in cell cycle regulation, survival, and differentiation in normal cells. B-MYB can be transformed into an oncogene through mutations, and abnormal expression of B-MYB has been identified in various cancers, including lung cancer, and is associated with poor prognosis. Targeting this oncogene is a promising approach for anti-cancer drug design. B-MYB has been deemed undruggable in previous reports, necessitating the search for novel therapeutic options. In this study, we found that the B-MYB gene promoter contains several G/C rich motifs compatible with G-quadruplex (G4) formation. We investigated and validated the existence of G4 structures in the promoter region of B-MYB, first in vitro using a combination of bioinformatics, biophysical, and biochemical methods, then in cell with the recently developed G4access method.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Miranda
- CICS-UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal; Centre for Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Inov4Agro, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Anne Cucchiarini
- Laboratoire d'Optique et Biosciences, École Polytechnique, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91120 Palaiseau, France
| | - Cyril Esnault
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, University of Montpellier, CNRS-UMR, 5535 Montpellier, France
| | - Jean-Christophe Andrau
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, University of Montpellier, CNRS-UMR, 5535 Montpellier, France
| | - Paula A Oliveira
- Centre for Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Inov4Agro, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta de Prados, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Jean-Louis Mergny
- Laboratoire d'Optique et Biosciences, École Polytechnique, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91120 Palaiseau, France.
| | - Carla Cruz
- CICS-UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal; Departamento de Química, Universidade da Beira Interior, Rua Marquês de Ávila e Bolama, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal.
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3
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Léguillier V, Heddi B, Vidic J. Recent Advances in Aptamer-Based Biosensors for Bacterial Detection. BIOSENSORS 2024; 14:210. [PMID: 38785684 PMCID: PMC11117931 DOI: 10.3390/bios14050210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
The rapid and sensitive detection of pathogenic bacteria is becoming increasingly important for the timely prevention of contamination and the treatment of infections. Biosensors based on nucleic acid aptamers, integrated with optical, electrochemical, and mass-sensitive analytical techniques, have garnered intense interest because of their versatility, cost-efficiency, and ability to exhibit high affinity and specificity in binding bacterial biomarkers, toxins, and whole cells. This review highlights the development of aptamers, their structural characterization, and the chemical modifications enabling optimized recognition properties and enhanced stability in complex biological matrices. Furthermore, recent examples of aptasensors for the detection of bacterial cells, biomarkers, and toxins are discussed. Finally, we explore the barriers to and discuss perspectives on the application of aptamer-based bacterial detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Léguillier
- INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institut, Université Paris-Saclay, UMR 1319, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France;
- ENS Paris-Saclay, Laboratoire de Biologie et Pharmacologie Appliquée (LBPA), UMR8113 CNRS, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Brahim Heddi
- ENS Paris-Saclay, Laboratoire de Biologie et Pharmacologie Appliquée (LBPA), UMR8113 CNRS, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Jasmina Vidic
- INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institut, Université Paris-Saclay, UMR 1319, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France;
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4
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Bhatt U, Cucchiarini A, Luo Y, Evans CW, Mergny JL, Iyer KS, Smith NM. Preferential formation of Z-RNA over intercalated motifs in long noncoding RNA. Genome Res 2024; 34:217-230. [PMID: 38355305 PMCID: PMC10984386 DOI: 10.1101/gr.278236.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Secondary structure is a principal determinant of lncRNA function, predominantly regarding scaffold formation and interfaces with target molecules. Noncanonical secondary structures that form in nucleic acids have known roles in regulating gene expression and include G-quadruplexes (G4s), intercalated motifs (iMs), and R-loops (RLs). In this paper, we used the computational tools G4-iM Grinder and QmRLFS-finder to predict the formation of each of these structures throughout the lncRNA transcriptome in comparison to protein-coding transcripts. The importance of the predicted structures in lncRNAs in biological contexts was assessed by combining our results with publicly available lncRNA tissue expression data followed by pathway analysis. The formation of predicted G4 (pG4) and iM (piM) structures in select lncRNA sequences was confirmed in vitro using biophysical experiments under near-physiological conditions. We find that the majority of the tested pG4s form highly stable G4 structures, and identify many previously unreported G4s in biologically important lncRNAs. In contrast, none of the piM sequences are able to form iM structures, consistent with the idea that RNA is unable to form stable iMs. Unexpectedly, these C-rich sequences instead form Z-RNA structures, which have not been previously observed in regions containing cytosine repeats and represent an interesting and underexplored target for protein-RNA interactions. Our results highlight the prevalence and potential structure-associated functions of noncanonical secondary structures in lncRNAs, and show G4 and Z-RNA structure formation in many lncRNA sequences for the first time, furthering the understanding of the structure-function relationship in lncRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uditi Bhatt
- School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Anne Cucchiarini
- Laboratoire d'Optique et Biosciences, École Polytechnique, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91120 Palaiseau, France
| | - Yu Luo
- Laboratoire d'Optique et Biosciences, École Polytechnique, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91120 Palaiseau, France
| | - Cameron W Evans
- School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Jean-Louis Mergny
- Laboratoire d'Optique et Biosciences, École Polytechnique, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91120 Palaiseau, France
| | - K Swaminathan Iyer
- School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Nicole M Smith
- School of Molecular Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia;
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Luo Y, Granzhan A, Marquevielle J, Cucchiarini A, Lacroix L, Amrane S, Verga D, Mergny JL. Guidelines for G-quadruplexes: I. In vitro characterization. Biochimie 2023; 214:5-23. [PMID: 36596406 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2022.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Besides the well-known DNA double-helix, non-canonical nucleic acid structures regulate crucial biological activities. Among these oddities, guanine-rich DNA sequences can form unusual four-stranded secondary structures called G-quadruplexes (G4s). G4-prone sequences have been found in the genomes of most species, and G4s play important roles in essential processes such as transcription, replication, genome integrity and epigenetic regulation. Here, we present a short overview of G-quadruplexes followed by a detailed description of the biophysical and biochemical methods used to characterize G4s in vitro. The principles, experimental details and possible shortcomings of each method are discussed to provide a comprehensive view of the techniques used to study these structures. We aim to provide a set of guidelines for standardizing research on G-quadruplexes; these guidelines are not meant to be a dogmatic set of rules, but should rather provide useful information on the methods currently used to study these fascinating motifs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Luo
- Laboratoire D'Optique et Biosciences, Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, Inserm, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91120, Palaiseau, France; CNRS UMR9187, INSERM U1196, Université Paris-Saclay, F-91405, Orsay, France
| | - Anton Granzhan
- CNRS UMR9187, INSERM U1196, Université Paris-Saclay, F-91405, Orsay, France; CNRS UMR9187, INSERM U1196, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, F-91405, Orsay, France
| | - Julien Marquevielle
- Université de Bordeaux, ARNA Laboratory, INSERM U1212, CNRS UMR 5320, IECB, 33076, Bordeaux, France
| | - Anne Cucchiarini
- Laboratoire D'Optique et Biosciences, Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, Inserm, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91120, Palaiseau, France
| | - Laurent Lacroix
- Institut de Biologie de L'Ecole Normale Supérieure (IBENS), Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM, Université PSL, Paris, France
| | - Samir Amrane
- Université de Bordeaux, ARNA Laboratory, INSERM U1212, CNRS UMR 5320, IECB, 33076, Bordeaux, France
| | - Daniela Verga
- CNRS UMR9187, INSERM U1196, Université Paris-Saclay, F-91405, Orsay, France; CNRS UMR9187, INSERM U1196, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, F-91405, Orsay, France.
| | - Jean-Louis Mergny
- Laboratoire D'Optique et Biosciences, Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, Inserm, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91120, Palaiseau, France; Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.
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6
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Saad M, Zhang R, Cucchiarini A, Mehawej C, Mergny JL, Mroueh M, Faour WH. G-quadruplex forming sequences in the genes coding for cytochrome P450 enzymes and their potential roles in drug metabolism. Biochimie 2023; 214:45-56. [PMID: 37660977 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2023.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
The majority of drugs are metabolized by cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes, primarily belonging to the CYP1, CYP2 and CYP3 families. Genetic variations are the main cause of inter-individual differences in drug response, which constitutes a major concern in pharmacotherapy. G-quadruplexes (G4s), are non-canonical DNA and RNA secondary structures formed by guanine-rich sequences. G4s have been implicated in cancer and gene regulation. In this study, we investigated putative G4-forming sequences (PQSs) in the CYP genes. Our findings reveal a high density of PQSs in the full genes of CYP family 2. Moreover, we observe an increased density of PQSs in the promoters of CYP family 1 genes compared to non-CYP450 genes. Importantly, stable PQSs were also identified in all studied CYP genes. Subsequently, we assessed the impact of the most frequently reported genetic mutations in the selected genes and the possible effect of these mutations on G4 formation as well as on the thermodynamic stability of predicted G4s. We found that 4 SNPs overlap G4 sequences and lead to mutated DNA and RNA G4 forming sequences in their context. Notably, the mutation in the CYP2C9 gene, which is associated with impaired (S)-warfarin metabolism in patients, alters a G4 sequence. We then demonstrated that at least 10 of the 13 chosen cytochrome P450 G4 candidates form G-quadruplex structures in vitro, using a combination of spectroscopic methods. In conclusion, our findings indicate the potential role of G-quadruplexes in the regulation of cytochrome genes, and emphasize the importance of G-quadruplexes in drug metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona Saad
- Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon
| | - Rongxin Zhang
- Laboratoire d'Optique et Biosciences, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, CNRS, INSERM, Université Paris-Saclay, 91120, Palaiseau, France; State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Anne Cucchiarini
- Laboratoire d'Optique et Biosciences, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, CNRS, INSERM, Université Paris-Saclay, 91120, Palaiseau, France
| | - Cybel Mehawej
- Department of Human Genetics, Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon
| | - Jean-Louis Mergny
- Laboratoire d'Optique et Biosciences, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, CNRS, INSERM, Université Paris-Saclay, 91120, Palaiseau, France.
| | - Mohamad Mroueh
- School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon
| | - Wissam H Faour
- Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon.
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Ferret L, Alvarez-Valadez K, Rivière J, Muller A, Bohálová N, Yu L, Guittat L, Brázda V, Kroemer G, Mergny JL, Djavaheri-Mergny M. G-quadruplex ligands as potent regulators of lysosomes. Autophagy 2023; 19:1901-1915. [PMID: 36740766 PMCID: PMC10283436 DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2023.2170071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Guanine-quadruplex structures (G4) are unusual nucleic acid conformations formed by guanine-rich DNA and RNA sequences and known to control gene expression mechanisms, from transcription to protein synthesis. So far, a number of molecules that recognize G4 have been developed for potential therapeutic applications in human pathologies, including cancer and infectious diseases. These molecules are called G4 ligands. When the biological effects of G4 ligands are studied, the analysis is often limited to nucleic acid targets. However, recent evidence indicates that G4 ligands may target other cellular components and compartments such as lysosomes and mitochondria. Here, we summarize our current knowledge of the regulation of lysosome by G4 ligands, underlying their potential functional impact on lysosome biology and autophagic flux, as well as on the transcriptional regulation of lysosomal genes. We outline the consequences of these effects on cell fate decisions and we systematically analyzed G4-prone sequences within the promoter of 435 lysosome-related genes. Finally, we propose some hypotheses about the mechanisms involved in the regulation of lysosomes by G4 ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucille Ferret
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, INSERM UMRS 1138, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, Equipe labellisée par la Ligue contre le Cancer, Institut universitaire de France, Paris, France
- Metabolomics and Cell Biology Platforms, Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
| | - Karla Alvarez-Valadez
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, INSERM UMRS 1138, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, Equipe labellisée par la Ligue contre le Cancer, Institut universitaire de France, Paris, France
- Metabolomics and Cell Biology Platforms, Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
| | - Jennifer Rivière
- Department of Medicine III, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Alexandra Muller
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, INSERM UMRS 1138, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, Equipe labellisée par la Ligue contre le Cancer, Institut universitaire de France, Paris, France
- Metabolomics and Cell Biology Platforms, Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
| | - Natalia Bohálová
- Department of Biophysical Chemistry and Molecular Oncology, Institute of Biophysics, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Luo Yu
- Laboratoire d’Optique et Biosciences, Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91128Palaiseau, France
- CNRS UMR9187, INSERM U1196, Université Paris-Saclay, Orsay, France
| | - Lionel Guittat
- Laboratoire d’Optique et Biosciences, Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91128Palaiseau, France
- UFR SMBH, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, Bobigny, France
| | - Vaclav Brázda
- Department of Biophysical Chemistry and Molecular Oncology, Institute of Biophysics, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Guido Kroemer
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, INSERM UMRS 1138, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, Equipe labellisée par la Ligue contre le Cancer, Institut universitaire de France, Paris, France
- Metabolomics and Cell Biology Platforms, Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
- Institut du Cancer Paris CARPEM, Department of Biology, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Louis Mergny
- Department of Biophysical Chemistry and Molecular Oncology, Institute of Biophysics, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
- Laboratoire d’Optique et Biosciences, Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91128Palaiseau, France
| | - Mojgan Djavaheri-Mergny
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, INSERM UMRS 1138, Sorbonne Université, Université Paris Cité, Equipe labellisée par la Ligue contre le Cancer, Institut universitaire de France, Paris, France
- Metabolomics and Cell Biology Platforms, Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
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Liu H, Yang X, Huang B, Liu H. A universal approach for synthesis of copper nanoclusters templated by G-rich oligonucleotide sequences and their applications in sensing. SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA. PART A, MOLECULAR AND BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY 2023; 297:122740. [PMID: 37080047 DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2023.122740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Herein, five common G4 sequences have been selected, including three different length of telomere DNA, hemin aptamer, and thrombin aptamer, to synthesize Cu nanoclusters (Cu NCs) in-situ. All G4s are proper templates for Cu NCs with low temperature treatment. The particles (G4-Cu NCs) smaller than 3 nm in diameter were obtained and showed light green fluorescence. This is the first report of metal clusters templated by G4s in-situ. As proof of the concept, hemin and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were used as the targets to test whether the system can monitor the interaction between G4s and its substrate. The results suggest that G4-Cu NCs can indicate the behavior of G4 and its interaction with hemin, and sensing ALP is achieved with the aid of ATP. The linear ranges of hemin and ALP are 300-4000 nM and 10-500 U/L, respectively, and the corresponding limits of detection as low as 97 nM for hemin and 2.8 U/L for ALP. Moreover, this present system has been successfully applied for the detection of ALP in human serum samples with satisfactory recoveries. This synthesis approach is universal, and it can be easily extended to evaluating the formation of G4, or monitoring the interaction between G4 and its substrate, or selective targeting individual G4, or sensitive detection of other important biomarkers by changing template G4 sequence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Liu
- Department of Head and Neck Cancer Center, Chongqing University Cancer Hospital &Chongqing Cancer Institute, Chongqing 400000, China
| | - Xuliang Yang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Chongqing City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing 400000, China
| | - Bo Huang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Chongqing City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing 400000, China
| | - Hongxiang Liu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Chongqing City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chongqing 400000, China.
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9
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Bignon C, Longhi S. In Vivo Protein-Protein Binding Competition Assay Based on Split-GFP Reassembly: Proof of Concept. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13020354. [PMID: 36830723 PMCID: PMC9952896 DOI: 10.3390/biom13020354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The split-green fluorescent protein (GFP) reassembly assay is a well-established approach to study protein-protein interactions (PPIs). In this assay, when two interacting proteins X and Y, respectively fused to residues 1-157 and to residues 158-237 of GFP, are co-expressed in E. coli, the two GFP halves are brought to sufficient proximity to reassociate and fold to recreate the functional GFP. At constant protein expression level, the intensity of fluorescence produced by the bacteria is proportional to the binding affinity of X to Y. We hypothesized that adding a third partner (Z) endowed with an affinity for either X or Y would lead to an in vivo competition assay. We report here the different steps of the set-up of this competition assay, and define the experimental conditions required to obtained reliable results. Results show that this competition assay is a potentially interesting tool for screening libraries of binding inhibitors, Z being either a protein or a chemical reagent.
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Goswami P, Šislerová L, Dobrovolná M, Havlík J, Šťastný J, Brázda V. Interaction of C-terminal p53 isoforms depends strongly upon DNA sequence and topology. Biochimie 2022; 208:93-99. [PMID: 36549455 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2022.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The p53 protein is a key tumor suppressor and the most commonly mutated and down-regulated protein in human tumors. It functions mainly through interaction with DNA, and p53 acts as a transcription factor that recognizes the so-called p53 target sites on the promoters of various genes. P53 has been shown to exist as many isoforms, including three C-terminal isoforms that are produced by alternative splicing. Because the C-terminal domain is responsible for sequence-nonspecific binding and regulation of p53 binding, we have analyzed DNA recognition by these C-terminal isoforms. Using atomic force microscopy, we show for the first time that all C-terminal isoforms recognize superhelical DNA. It is particularly noteworthy that a sequence-specific p53 consensus binding site is bound by p53α and β isoforms with similar affinities, whilst p53α shows higher binding to a quadruplex sequence than both p53β and p53γ, and p53γ loses preferential binding to both the consensus binding sequence and the quadruplex-forming sequence. These results show the important role of the variable p53 C-terminal amino acid sequences for DNA recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pratik Goswami
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 612 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Lucie Šislerová
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 612 00, Brno, Czech Republic; Faculty of Chemistry, Brno University of Technology, Purkyňova 118, 612 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Michaela Dobrovolná
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 612 00, Brno, Czech Republic; Faculty of Chemistry, Brno University of Technology, Purkyňova 118, 612 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Havlík
- Department of Informatics, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 1, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Šťastný
- Department of Informatics, Mendel University in Brno, Zemědělská 1, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic; Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Brno University of Technology, Technická 2, 616 69, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Václav Brázda
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 612 00, Brno, Czech Republic; Faculty of Chemistry, Brno University of Technology, Purkyňova 118, 612 00, Brno, Czech Republic.
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11
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Dobrovolná M, Bohálová N, Peška V, Wang J, Luo Y, Bartas M, Volná A, Mergny JL, Brázda V. The Newly Sequenced Genome of Pisum sativum Is Replete with Potential G-Quadruplex-Forming Sequences-Implications for Evolution and Biological Regulation. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:8482. [PMID: 35955617 PMCID: PMC9369095 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
G-quadruplexes (G4s) have been long considered rare and physiologically unimportant in vitro curiosities, but recent methodological advances have proved their presence and functions in vivo. Moreover, in addition to their functional relevance in bacteria and animals, including humans, their importance has been recently demonstrated in evolutionarily distinct plant species. In this study, we analyzed the genome of Pisum sativum (garden pea, or the so-called green pea), a unique member of the Fabaceae family. Our results showed that this genome contained putative G4 sequences (PQSs). Interestingly, these PQSs were located nonrandomly in the nuclear genome. We also found PQSs in mitochondrial (mt) and chloroplast (cp) DNA, and we experimentally confirmed G4 formation for sequences found in these two organelles. The frequency of PQSs for nuclear DNA was 0.42 PQSs per thousand base pairs (kbp), in the same range as for cpDNA (0.53/kbp), but significantly lower than what was found for mitochondrial DNA (1.58/kbp). In the nuclear genome, PQSs were mainly associated with regulatory regions, including 5'UTRs, and upstream of the rRNA region. In contrast to genomic DNA, PQSs were located around RNA genes in cpDNA and mtDNA. Interestingly, PQSs were also associated with specific transposable elements such as TIR and LTR and around them, pointing to their role in their spreading in nuclear DNA. The nonrandom localization of PQSs uncovered their evolutionary and functional significance in the Pisum sativum genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaela Dobrovolná
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic; (M.D.); (N.B.); (V.P.)
- Faculty of Chemistry, Brno University of Technology, Purkyňova 118, 612 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Natália Bohálová
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic; (M.D.); (N.B.); (V.P.)
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Vratislav Peška
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic; (M.D.); (N.B.); (V.P.)
| | - Jiawei Wang
- Laboratoire d’Optique et Biosciences (LOB), Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, CEDEX, 91128 Palaiseau, France; (J.W.); (Y.L.)
| | - Yu Luo
- Laboratoire d’Optique et Biosciences (LOB), Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, CEDEX, 91128 Palaiseau, France; (J.W.); (Y.L.)
- CNRS UMR9187, INSERM U1196, Université Paris-Saclay, CEDEX, 91405 Orsay, France
| | - Martin Bartas
- Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, 710 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic;
| | - Adriana Volná
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, 710 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic;
| | - Jean-Louis Mergny
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic; (M.D.); (N.B.); (V.P.)
- Laboratoire d’Optique et Biosciences (LOB), Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, CEDEX, 91128 Palaiseau, France; (J.W.); (Y.L.)
| | - Václav Brázda
- Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic; (M.D.); (N.B.); (V.P.)
- Faculty of Chemistry, Brno University of Technology, Purkyňova 118, 612 00 Brno, Czech Republic
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12
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Luo Y, Verga D, Mergny JL. Iso-FRET: an isothermal competition assay to analyze quadruplex formation in vitro. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:e93. [PMID: 35670668 PMCID: PMC9458428 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Algorithms have been widely used to predict G-quadruplexes (G4s)-prone sequences. However, an experimental validation of these predictions is generally required. We previously reported a high-throughput technique to evidence G4 formation in vitro called FRET-MC. This method, while convenient and reproducible, has one known weakness: its inability to pin point G4 motifs of low thermal stability. As such quadruplexes may still be biologically relevant if formed at physiological temperature, we wanted to develop an independent assay to overcome this limitation. To this aim, we introduced an isothermal version of the competition assay, called iso-FRET, based on a duplex-quadruplex competition and a well-characterized bis-quinolinium G4 ligand, PhenDC3. G4-forming competitors act as decoys for PhenDC3, lowering its ability to stabilize the G4-forming motif reporter oligonucleotide conjugated to a fluorescence quencher (37Q). The decrease in available G4 ligand concentration restores the ability of 37Q to hybridize to its FAM-labeled short complementary C-rich strand (F22), leading to a decrease in fluorescence signal. In contrast, when no G4-forming competitor is present, PhenDC3 remains available to stabilize the 37Q quadruplex, preventing the formation of the F22 + 37Q complex. Iso-FRET was first applied to a reference panel of 70 sequences, and then used to investigate 23 different viral sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Luo
- Laboratoire d'Optique et Biosciences, Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, Inserm, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91128 Palaiseau, France.,CNRS UMR9187, INSERM U1196, Université Paris-Saclay, F-91405 Orsay, France
| | - Daniela Verga
- CNRS UMR9187, INSERM U1196, Université Paris-Saclay, F-91405 Orsay, France.,CNRS UMR9187, INSERM U1196, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, F-91405 Orsay, France
| | - Jean-Louis Mergny
- Laboratoire d'Optique et Biosciences, Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, Inserm, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91128 Palaiseau, France
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13
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Kasyanenko N, Qiushi Z, Bakulev V, Sokolov P, Yakovlev K. DNA Conformational Changes Induced by Its Interaction with Binuclear Platinum Complexes in Solution Indicate the Molecular Mechanism of Platinum Binding. Polymers (Basel) 2022; 14:polym14102044. [PMID: 35631926 PMCID: PMC9143540 DOI: 10.3390/polym14102044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Platinum anticancer drugs inhibit the division of cancer cells through a DNA binding mechanism. The bimetallic platinum compounds have a possibility for blocking DNA replication via the cross-linking of DNA functional groups at different distances. Many compounds with metals of the platinum group have been tested for possible antitumor activity. The main target of their biological action is a DNA molecule. A combined approach to the study of the interaction of DNA with biologically active compounds of this type is proposed. The capabilities of various methods (hydrodynamic, spectral, microscopy) in obtaining information on the type of binding of coordination compounds to DNA are compared. The analysis of DNA binding with platinum binuclear compounds containing pyrazine, tetrazole, 5- methyltetrazole, 3-propanediamine as bridging ligands in a solution was carried out with the methods of circular dichroism (CD), luminescent spectroscopy (LS), low gradient viscometry (LGV), flow birefringence (FB) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The competitive binding of different platinum compounds to DNA and the analysis of platinum attachment to DNA after protonation of its nitrogen bases simply indicates the involvement of N7 guanine in binding. Fluorescent dye DAPI was also used to recognize the location of platinum compounds in DNA grooves. DNA conformational changes recorded by variations in persistent length, polyelectrolyte swelling, DNA secondary structure, and its stability clarify the molecular mechanism of the biological activity of platinum compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Kasyanenko
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Polymer Physics, Saint Petersburg State University, 7/9 Universitetskaya emb., 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia; (Z.Q.); (V.B.); (P.S.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Zhang Qiushi
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Polymer Physics, Saint Petersburg State University, 7/9 Universitetskaya emb., 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia; (Z.Q.); (V.B.); (P.S.)
| | - Vladimir Bakulev
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Polymer Physics, Saint Petersburg State University, 7/9 Universitetskaya emb., 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia; (Z.Q.); (V.B.); (P.S.)
| | - Petr Sokolov
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Polymer Physics, Saint Petersburg State University, 7/9 Universitetskaya emb., 199034 St. Petersburg, Russia; (Z.Q.); (V.B.); (P.S.)
| | - Konstantin Yakovlev
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Saint Petersburg State Chemical-Pharmaceutical Academy, 14, Prof. Popov str., 197376 St. Petersburg, Russia;
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14
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Cantara A, Luo Y, Dobrovolná M, Bohalova N, Fojta M, Verga D, Guittat L, Cucchiarini A, Savrimoutou S, Häberli C, Guillon J, Keiser J, Brázda V, Mergny JL. G-quadruplexes in helminth parasites. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:2719-2735. [PMID: 35234933 PMCID: PMC8934627 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Parasitic helminths infecting humans are highly prevalent infecting ∼2 billion people worldwide, causing inflammatory responses, malnutrition and anemia that are the primary cause of morbidity. In addition, helminth infections of cattle have a significant economic impact on livestock production, milk yield and fertility. The etiological agents of helminth infections are mainly Nematodes (roundworms) and Platyhelminths (flatworms). G-quadruplexes (G4) are unusual nucleic acid structures formed by G-rich sequences that can be recognized by specific G4 ligands. Here we used the G4Hunter Web Tool to identify and compare potential G4 sequences (PQS) in the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes of various helminths to identify G4 ligand targets. PQS are nonrandomly distributed in these genomes and often located in the proximity of genes. Unexpectedly, a Nematode, Ascaris lumbricoides, was found to be highly enriched in stable PQS. This species can tolerate high-stability G4 structures, which are not counter selected at all, in stark contrast to most other species. We experimentally confirmed G4 formation for sequences found in four different parasitic helminths. Small molecules able to selectively recognize G4 were found to bind to Schistosoma mansoni G4 motifs. Two of these ligands demonstrated potent activity both against larval and adult stages of this parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Cantara
- Institute of Biophysics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Yu Luo
- CNRS UMR9187, INSERM U1196, Université Paris-Saclay, F-91405 Orsay, France.,Laboratoire d'Optique et Biosciences, Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91128 Palaiseau, France
| | - Michaela Dobrovolná
- Faculty of Chemistry, Brno University of Technology, Purkyňova 118, 612 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Natalia Bohalova
- Institute of Biophysics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Miroslav Fojta
- Institute of Biophysics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Daniela Verga
- CNRS UMR9187, INSERM U1196, Université Paris-Saclay, F-91405 Orsay, France.,CNRS UMR9187, INSERM U1196, Institut Curie, PSL Research University, F-91405 Orsay, France
| | - Lionel Guittat
- Laboratoire d'Optique et Biosciences, Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91128 Palaiseau, France.,Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, UFR SMBH, Bobigny, France
| | - Anne Cucchiarini
- Laboratoire d'Optique et Biosciences, Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91128 Palaiseau, France
| | - Solène Savrimoutou
- ARNA Laboratory, Université de Bordeaux, INSERM U1212, CNRS UMR 5320, UFR des Sciences Pharmaceutiques, Bordeaux, France
| | - Cécile Häberli
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jean Guillon
- ARNA Laboratory, Université de Bordeaux, INSERM U1212, CNRS UMR 5320, UFR des Sciences Pharmaceutiques, Bordeaux, France
| | - Jennifer Keiser
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Infection Biology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland.,University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Václav Brázda
- Institute of Biophysics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Chemistry, Brno University of Technology, Purkyňova 118, 612 00 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jean Louis Mergny
- Institute of Biophysics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Královopolská 135, 612 65 Brno, Czech Republic.,Laboratoire d'Optique et Biosciences, Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91128 Palaiseau, France
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15
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I. V. Ramos C, A. S. Almodôvar V, Candeias N, Santos T, Cruz C, Graça P. M. S. Neves M, Tomé AC. Diketopyrrolo[3,4–c]pyrrole derivative as a promising ligand for the stabilization of G-quadruplex DNA structures. Bioorg Chem 2022; 122:105703. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2022.105703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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16
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Tian S, Welte T, Mai J, Liu Y, Ramirez M, Shen H. Identification of an Aptamer With Binding Specificity to Tumor-Homing Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells. Front Pharmacol 2022; 12:752934. [PMID: 35126104 PMCID: PMC8814529 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.752934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) play a critical role in tumor growth and metastasis. Since they constantly infiltrate into the tumor tissue, these cells are considered as an ideal carrier for tumor-targeted drug delivery. We recently identified a DNA-based thioaptamer (T1) with tumor accumulating activity, demonstrated its potential on tumor targeting and drug delivery. In the current study, we have carried out structure-activity relationship analysis to further optimize the aptamer. In the process, we have identified a sequence-modified aptamer (M1) that shows an enhanced binding affinity to MDSCs over the parental T1 aptamer. In addition, M1 can penetrate into the tumor tissue more effectively by hitchhiking on MDSCs. Taken together, we have identified a new reagent for enhanced tumor-targeted drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaohui Tian
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Academic Institute, Houston, TX, United States,Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Thomas Welte
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Academic Institute, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Junhua Mai
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Academic Institute, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Yongbin Liu
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Academic Institute, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Maricela Ramirez
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Academic Institute, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Haifa Shen
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Academic Institute, Houston, TX, United States,Weill Cornell Medical College, White Plains, NY, United States,*Correspondence: Haifa Shen,
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17
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Detecting G4 unwinding. Methods Enzymol 2022; 672:261-281. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2022.03.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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18
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Molnár OR, Végh A, Somkuti J, Smeller L. Characterization of a G-quadruplex from hepatitis B virus and its stabilization by binding TMPyP4, BRACO19 and PhenDC3. Sci Rep 2021; 11:23243. [PMID: 34853392 PMCID: PMC8636512 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-02689-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Specific guanine rich nucleic acid sequences can form non-canonical structures, like the four stranded G-quadruplex (GQ). We studied the GQ-forming sequence (named HepB) found in the genome of the hepatitis B virus. Fluorescence-, infrared- and CD-spectroscopy were used. HepB shows a hybrid form in presence of K+, but Na+, Li+, and Rb+ induce parallel structure. Higher concentrations of metal ions increase the unfolding temperature, which was explained by a short thermodynamic calculation. Temperature stability of the GQ structure was determined for all these ions. Na+ has stronger stabilizing effect on HepB than K+, which is highly unusual. The transition temperatures were 56.6, 53.8, 58.5 and 54.4 °C for Na+, K+, Li+, and Rb+ respectively. Binding constants for Na+ and K+ were 10.2 mM and 7.1 mM respectively. Study of three ligands designed in cancer research for GQ targeting (TMPyP4, BRACO19 and PhenDC3) showed unequivocally their binding to HepB. Binding was proven by the increased stability of the bound form. The stabilization was higher than 20 °C for TMPyP4 and PhenDC3, while it was considerably lower for BRACO19. These results might have medical importance in the fight against the hepatitis B virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orsolya Réka Molnár
- Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, 1094, Hungary
| | - András Végh
- Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, 1094, Hungary.,Department of Ophthalmology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, 1085, Hungary
| | - Judit Somkuti
- Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, 1094, Hungary
| | - László Smeller
- Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, 1094, Hungary.
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19
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Somkuti J, Molnár OR, Grád A, Smeller L. Pressure Perturbation Studies of Noncanonical Viral Nucleic Acid Structures. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:1173. [PMID: 34827166 PMCID: PMC8615049 DOI: 10.3390/biology10111173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
G-quadruplexes are noncanonical structures formed by guanine-rich sequences of the genome. They are found in crucial loci of the human genome, they take part in the regulation of important processes like cell proliferation and cell death. Much less is known about the subjects of this work, the viral G-quadruplexes. We have chosen three potentially G-quadruplex-forming sequences of hepatitis B. We measured the stability and the thermodynamic parameters of these quadruplexes. We also investigated the potential stabilization of these G-quadruplexes by binding a special ligand that was originally developed for cancer therapy. Fluorescence and infrared spectroscopic measurements were performed over wide temperature and pressure ranges. Our experiments indicate the small unfolding volume change of all three oligos. We found a difference between the unfolding of the 2-quartet and the 3-quartet G-quadruplexes. All three G-quadruplexes were stabilized by TMPyP4, which is a cationic porphyrin developed for stabilizing the human telomere.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - László Smeller
- Department of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, 1094 Budapest, Hungary; (J.S.); (O.R.M.); (A.G.)
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20
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Targeting of Telomeric Repeat-Containing RNA G-Quadruplexes: From Screening to Biophysical and Biological Characterization of a New Hit Compound. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221910315. [PMID: 34638655 PMCID: PMC8508872 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA G-quadruplex (G4) structures, either within gene promoter sequences or at telomeres, have been extensively investigated as potential small-molecule therapeutic targets. However, although G4s forming at the telomeric DNA have been extensively investigated as anticancer targets, few studies focus on the telomeric repeat-containing RNA (TERRA), transcribed from telomeres, as potential pharmacological targets. Here, a virtual screening approach to identify a library of drug-like putative TERRA G4 binders, in tandem with circular dichroism melting assay to study their TERRA G4-stabilizing properties, led to the identification of a new hit compound. The affinity of this compound for TERRA RNA and some DNA G4s was analyzed through several biophysical techniques and its biological activity investigated in terms of antiproliferative effect, DNA damage response (DDR) activation, and TERRA RNA expression in high vs. low TERRA-expressing human cancer cells. The selected hit showed good affinity for TERRA G4 and no binding to double-stranded DNA. In addition, biological assays showed that this compound is endowed with a preferential cytotoxic effect on high TERRA-expressing cells, where it induces a DDR at telomeres, probably by displacing TERRA from telomeres. Our studies demonstrate that the identification of TERRA G4-targeting drugs with potential pharmacological effects is achievable, shedding light on new perspectives aimed at discovering new anticancer agents targeting these G4 structures.
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21
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Santos T, Salgado GF, Cabrita EJ, Cruz C. G-Quadruplexes and Their Ligands: Biophysical Methods to Unravel G-Quadruplex/Ligand Interactions. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:769. [PMID: 34451866 PMCID: PMC8401999 DOI: 10.3390/ph14080769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Revised: 07/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Progress in the design of G-quadruplex (G4) binding ligands relies on the availability of approaches that assess the binding mode and nature of the interactions between G4 forming sequences and their putative ligands. The experimental approaches used to characterize G4/ligand interactions can be categorized into structure-based methods (circular dichroism (CD), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography), affinity and apparent affinity-based methods (surface plasmon resonance (SPR), isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and mass spectrometry (MS)), and high-throughput methods (fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-melting, G4-fluorescent intercalator displacement assay (G4-FID), affinity chromatography and microarrays. Each method has unique advantages and drawbacks, which makes it essential to select the ideal strategies for the biological question being addressed. The structural- and affinity and apparent affinity-based methods are in several cases complex and/or time-consuming and can be combined with fast and cheap high-throughput approaches to improve the design and development of new potential G4 ligands. In recent years, the joint use of these techniques permitted the discovery of a huge number of G4 ligands investigated for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Overall, this review article highlights in detail the most commonly used approaches to characterize the G4/ligand interactions, as well as the applications and types of information that can be obtained from the use of each technique.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiago Santos
- CICS-UBI—Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade da Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal;
| | - Gilmar F. Salgado
- ARNA Laboratory, Université de Bordeaux, Inserm U1212, CNRS UMR 5320, IECB, 33607 Pessac, France;
| | - Eurico J. Cabrita
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal;
- Associate Laboratory i4HB—Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, 2819-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - Carla Cruz
- CICS-UBI—Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade da Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal;
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22
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Qiao Y, Luo Y, Long N, Xing Y, Tu J. Single-Molecular Förster Resonance Energy Transfer Measurement on Structures and Interactions of Biomolecules. MICROMACHINES 2021; 12:492. [PMID: 33925350 PMCID: PMC8145425 DOI: 10.3390/mi12050492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Single-molecule Förster resonance energy transfer (smFRET) inherits the strategy of measurement from the effective "spectroscopic ruler" FRET and can be utilized to observe molecular behaviors with relatively high throughput at nanometer scale. The simplicity in principle and configuration of smFRET make it easy to apply and couple with other technologies to comprehensively understand single-molecule dynamics in various application scenarios. Despite its widespread application, smFRET is continuously developing and novel studies based on the advanced platforms have been done. Here, we summarize some representative examples of smFRET research of recent years to exhibit the versatility and note typical strategies to further improve the performance of smFRET measurement on different biomolecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Qiao
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China; (Y.Q.); (Y.L.); (N.L.)
| | - Yuhan Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China; (Y.Q.); (Y.L.); (N.L.)
| | - Naiyun Long
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China; (Y.Q.); (Y.L.); (N.L.)
| | - Yi Xing
- Institute of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China;
| | - Jing Tu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China; (Y.Q.); (Y.L.); (N.L.)
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