Structural flexibility in human topoisomerase I revealed in multiple non-isomorphous crystal structures

Resistance to TOP-1 Inhibitors: Good Old Drugs Still Can Surprise Us

Irinotecan (SN-38) is a potent and broad-spectrum anticancer drug that targets DNA topoisomerase I (Top1). It exerts its cytotoxic effects by binding to the Top1-DNA complex and preventing the re-ligation of the DNA strand, leading to the formation of lethal DNA breaks. Following the initial response to irinotecan, secondary resistance is acquired relatively rapidly, compromising its efficacy. There are several mechanisms contributing to the resistance, which affect the irinotecan metabolism or the target protein. In addition, we have demonstrated a major resistance mechanism associated with the elimination of hundreds of thousands of Top1 binding sites on DNA that can arise from the repair of prior Top1-dependent DNA cleavages. Here, we outline the major mechanisms of irinotecan resistance and highlight recent advancements in the field. We discuss the impact of resistance mechanisms on clinical outcomes and the potential strategies to overcome resistance to irinotecan. The elucidation of the underlying mechanisms of irinotecan resistance can provide valuable insights for the development of effective therapeutic strategies.

Evodiamine and Rutaecarpine as Potential Anticancer Compounds: A Combined Computational Study

Evodiamine (EVO) and rutaecarpine (RUT) are the main active compounds of the traditional Chinese medicinal herb Evodia rutaecarpa. Here, we fully optimized the molecular geometries of EVO and RUT at the B3LYP/6-311++G (d, p) level of density functional theory. The natural population analysis (NPA) charges, frontier molecular orbitals, molecular electrostatic potentials, and the chemical reactivity descriptors for EVO and RUT were also investigated. Furthermore, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and the analysis of the binding free energies of EVO and RUT were carried out against the anticancer target topoisomerase 1 (TOP1) to clarify their anticancer mechanisms. The docking results indicated that they could inhibit TOP1 by intercalating into the cleaved DNA-binding site to form a TOP1−DNA−ligand ternary complex, suggesting that they may be potential TOP1 inhibitors. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations evaluated the binding stability of the TOP1−DNA−ligand ternary complex. The calculation of binding free energy showed that the binding ability of EVO with TOP1 was stronger than that of RUT. These results elucidated the structure−activity relationship and the antitumor mechanism of EVO and RUT at the molecular level. It is suggested that EVO and RUT may be potential compounds for the development of new anticancer drugs.

Design and Synthesis of Indenoisoquinolines Targeting Topoisomerase I and Other Biological Macromolecules for Cancer Chemotherapy

The discovery that certain indenoisoquinolines inhibit the religation reaction of DNA in the topoisomerase I-DNA-indenoisoquinoline ternary complex led to a structure-based drug design research program which resulted in three representatives that entered Phase I clinical trials in cancer patients at the National Cancer Institute. This has stimulated a great deal of interest in the design and execution of new synthetic pathways for indenoisoquinoline production. More recently, modulation of the substitution pattern and chemical nature of substituents on the indenoisoquinoline scaffold has resulted in a widening scope of additional biological targets, including RXR, PARP-1, MYC promoter G-quadruplex, topoisomerase II, estrogen receptor, VEGFR-2, HIF-1α, and tyrosyl DNA phosphodiesterases 1 and 2. Furthermore, convincing evidence has been advanced supporting the potential use of indenoisoquinolines for the treatment of diseases other than cancer. The rapidly expanding indenoisoquinoline knowledge base has provided a firm foundation for further advancements in indenoisoquinoline chemistry, pharmacology, and therapeutics.

Natural Compounds as Therapeutic Agents: The Case of Human Topoisomerase IB

Natural products are widely used as source for drugs development. An interesting example is represented by natural drugs developed against human topoisomerase IB, a ubiquitous enzyme involved in many cellular processes where several topological problems occur due the formation of supercoiled DNA. Human topoisomerase IB, involved in the solution of such problems relaxing the DNA cleaving and religating a single DNA strand, represents an important target in anticancer therapy. Several natural compounds inhibiting or poisoning this enzyme are under investigation as possible new drugs. This review summarizes the natural products that target human topoisomerase IB that may be used as the lead compounds to develop new anticancer drugs. Moreover, the natural compounds and their derivatives that are in clinical trial are also commented on.

Topoisomerase IB: a relaxing enzyme for stressed DNA

DNA topoisomerase I enzymes relieve the torsional strain in DNA; they are essential for fundamental molecular processes such as DNA replication, transcription, recombination, and chromosome condensation; and act by cleaving and then religating DNA strands. Over the past few decades, scientists have focused on the DNA topoisomerases biological functions and established a unique role of Type I DNA topoisomerases in regulating gene expression and DNA chromosome condensation. Moreover, the human enzyme is being investigated as a target for cancer chemotherapy. The active site tyrosine is responsible for initiating two transesterification reactions to cleave and then religate the DNA backbone, allowing the release of superhelical tension. The different steps of the catalytic mechanism are affected by various inhibitors; some of them prevent the interaction between the enzyme and the DNA while others act as poisons, leading to TopI-DNA lesions, breakage of DNA, and eventually cellular death. In this review, our goal is to provide an overview of mechanism of human topoisomerase IB action together with the different types of inhibitors and their effect on the enzyme functionality.

Topoisomerase Inhibitors and Targeted Delivery in Cancer Therapy

DNA topoisomerases are enzymes that catalyze the alteration of DNA topology with transiently induced DNA strand breakage, essential for DNA replication. Topoisomerases are validated cancer chemotherapy targets. Anticancer agents targeting Topoisomerase I and II have been in clinical use and proven to be highly effective, though with significant side effects. There are tremendous efforts to develop new generation of topoisomerase inhibitors. Targeted delivery of topoisomerase inhibitors is another way to reduce the side effects. Conjugates of topoisomerases inhibitors with antibody, polymer, or small molecule are developed to target these inhibitors to tumor sites.

The human DNA topoisomerase I mutant Gly717Asp: Higher religation rate is not always associated with camptothecin resistance

DNA topoisomerases are key enzyme responsible for modulating the topological state of the DNA by breaking and rejoining of DNA strand. Characterization of a Gly717Asp mutation in the human topoisomerase was performed using several catalytic assays. The mutant enzyme was shown to have comparable cleavage and fast religation rate as compared to the wild-type protein. Addition of the anticancer drug camptothecin significantly reduced the religation step. The simulative approaches and analysis of the cleavage/religation equilibrium indicate that the mutation is able to modify the architecture of the drug binding site, increasing the persistence of the drug for the enzyme-DNA covalent complex. Taken together these results indicate that the structure modification of the drug binding site is the key reason for the increasing CPT persistence and furthermore provide the possibility for new anti-cancer drug discovery.

Resolving polymorphs and radiation-driven effects in microcrystals using fixed-target serial synchrotron crystallography

The ability to determine high-quality, artefact-free structures is a challenge in micro-crystallography, and the rapid onset of radiation damage and requirement for a high-brilliance X-ray beam mean that a multi-crystal approach is essential. However, the combination of crystal-to-crystal variation and X-ray-induced changes can make the formation of a final complete data set challenging; this is particularly true in the case of metalloproteins, where X-ray-induced changes occur rapidly and at the active site. An approach is described that allows the resolution, separation and structure determination of crystal polymorphs, and the tracking of radiation damage in microcrystals. Within the microcrystal population of copper nitrite reductase, two polymorphs with different unit-cell sizes were successfully separated to determine two independent structures, and an X-ray-driven change between these polymorphs was followed. This was achieved through the determination of multiple serial structures from microcrystals using a high-throughput high-speed fixed-target approach coupled with robust data processing.

Non-mutagenic Ru(ii) complexes: cytotoxicity, topoisomerase IB inhibition, DNA and HSA binding

Herein we discuss five ruthenium(ii) complexes with good cytotoxicity against cancer cells.

Ru/Fe bimetallic complexes: Synthesis, characterization, cytotoxicity and study of their interactions with DNA/HSA and human topoisomerase IB

Three ruthenium/iron-based compounds, 1: [Ru(MIm)(bipy)(dppf)]PF₆ (MIm = 2-mercapto-1-methylimidazole anion), 2: [RuCl(Im)(bipy)(dppf)]PF₆ (Im = imidazole), and 3: [Ru(tzdt)(bipy)(dppf)]PF₆ (tzdt = 1,3-thiazolidine-2-thione anion) (dppf = 1,1'-bis(diphenylphosphine)ferrocene and bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine), were synthesized, and characterized by elemental analyses, conductivity, UV/Vis, IR, ¹H, ¹³C and ³¹P{1H} NMR spectroscopies, and by electrochemical technique. The complex 3 was also characterized by single-crystal X-ray. The three ruthenium(II) complexes show cytotoxicity against DU-145 (prostate carcinoma cells) and A549 (lung carcinoma cells) tumor cells. The free ligands do not exhibit any cytotoxic activity, such as evident by the IC₅₀ values higher than 200 μM. UV/Vis and viscosity experiments showed that the complexes interact weakly with the DNA molecule, via electrostatic forces. The interaction of the complexes 1-3 with the HSA is moderate, with K_b values in range of 10⁵-10⁷ M^-1, presenting a static mechanism of interaction stabilized by hydrophobic. Complexes 2 and 3 showed high affinity for the FA7 HSA site as evidenced by fluorescence spectroscopy and molecular docking. Complexes 1-3 were tested as potential human Topoisomerase IB inhibitors by analysing the different steps of the enzyme catalytic cycle. The results indicate that all compounds efficiently inhibit the DNA relaxation and the cleavage reaction, in which the effect increases upon pre-incubation. Complexes 1 and 2 are also able to slow down the religation reaction.

Real-Time Label-Free Direct Electronic Monitoring of Topoisomerase Enzyme Binding Kinetics on Graphene

Monolayer graphene field-effect sensors operating in liquid have been widely deployed for detecting a range of analyte species often under equilibrium conditions. Here we report on the real-time detection of the binding kinetics of the essential human enzyme, topoisomerase I interacting with substrate molecules (DNA probes) that are immobilized electrochemically on to monolayer graphene strips. By monitoring the field-effect characteristics of the graphene biosensor in real-time during the enzyme-substrate interactions, we are able to decipher the surface binding constant for the cleavage reaction step of topoisomerase I activity in a label-free manner. Moreover, an appropriate design of the capture probes allows us to distinctly follow the cleavage step of topoisomerase I functioning in real-time down to picomolar concentrations. The presented results are promising for future rapid screening of drugs that are being evaluated for regulating enzyme activity.

Intermolecular Complementation between Two Varicella-Zoster Virus pORF30 Terminase Domains Essential for DNA Encapsidation

The herpesviral terminase complex is part of the intricate machinery that delivers a single viral genome into empty preformed capsids (encapsidation). The varicella-zoster virus (VZV) terminase components (pORF25, pORF30, and pORF45/42) have not been studied as extensively as those of herpes simplex virus 1 and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). In this study, VZV bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) were generated with small (Δ30S), medium (Δ30M), and large (Δ30L) ORF30 internal deletions. In addition, we isolated recombinant viruses with specific alanine substitutions in the putative zinc finger motif (30-ZF3A) or in a conserved region (region IX) with predicted structural similarity to the human topoisomerase I core subdomains I and II (30-IXAla, 30-620A, and 30-622A). Recombinant viruses replicated in an ORF30-complementing cell line (ARPE30) but failed to replicate in noncomplementing ARPE19 and MeWo cells. Transmission electron microscopy of 30-IXAla-, 30-620A-, and 30-622A-infected ARPE19 cells revealed only empty VZV capsids. Southern analysis showed that cells infected with parental VZV (VZVLUC) or a repaired virus (30R) contained DNA termini, whereas cells infected with Δ30L, 30-IXAla, 30-620A, or 30-622A contained little or no processed viral DNA. These results demonstrated that pORF30, specifically amino acids 619 to 624 (region IX), was required for DNA encapsidation. A luciferase-based assay was employed to assess potential intermolecular complementation between the zinc finger domain and conserved region IX. Complementation between 30-ZF3A and 30-IXAla provided evidence that distinct pORF30 domains can function independently. The results suggest that pORF30 may exist as a multimer or participate in higher-order assemblies during viral DNA encapsidation.

IMPORTANCE

Antivirals with novel mechanisms of action are sought as additional therapeutic options to treat human herpesvirus infections. Proteins involved in the viral DNA encapsidation process have become promising antiviral targets. For example, letermovir is a small-molecule drug targeting HCMV terminase that is currently in phase III clinical trials. It is important to define the structural and functional characteristics of proteins that make up viral terminase complexes to identify or design additional terminase-specific compounds. The VZV ORF30 mutants described in this study represent the first VZV terminase mutants reported to date. Targeted mutations confirmed the importance of a conserved zinc finger domain found in all herpesvirus ORF30 terminase homologs but also identified a novel, highly conserved region (region IX) essential for terminase function. Homology modeling suggested that the structure of region IX is present in all human herpesviruses and thus represents a potential structurally conserved antiviral target.

Mutation of Gly717Phe in human topoisomerase 1B has an effect on enzymatic function, reactivity to the camptothecin anticancer drug and on the linker domain orientation

Human topoisomerase 1B controls the topological state of supercoiled DNA allowing the progression of fundamental cellular processes. The enzyme, which is the unique molecular target of the natural anticancer compound camptothecin, acts by cleaving one DNA strand and forming a transient protein-DNA covalent adduct. In this work the role of the Gly717 residue, located in a α-helix structure bridging the active site and the linker domain, has been investigated mutating it in Phe. The mutation gives rise to drug resistance in vivo as observed through a viability assay of yeast cells. In vitro activity assays show that the mutant is characterized by a fast religation rate, only partially reduced by the presence of the drug. Comparative molecular dynamics simulations of the native and mutant proteins indicate that the mutation of Gly717 affects the motion orientation of the linker domain, changing its interaction with the DNA substrate, likely affecting the strand rotation and religation rate. The mutation also causes a slight rearrangement of the active site and of the drug binding site, providing an additional explanation for the lowered effect of camptothecin toward the mutant.

Role of 13-(di)phenylalkyl berberine derivatives in the modulation of the activity of human topoisomerase IB

Topoisomerases IB are anticancer and antimicrobial targets whose inhibition by several natural and non-natural compounds has been documented. The inhibition effect by berberine and some 13-(di)phenylalkyl berberine derivatives has been tested towards human topoisomerase IB. Derivatives belonging to the 13-diphenylalkyl series display an efficient inhibition of the DNA relaxation and cleavage step, that increases upon pre-incubation with the enzyme. The religation step of the enzyme catalytic cycle is not affected by compounds and only slightly upon pre-incubation. The binding of the protein to the DNA substrate occurs also in the presence of the compounds, as monitored by a DNA shift assay, indicating that the compounds are not able to inhibit the formation of the enzyme-DNA complex but that they act as catalytic inhibitors.

Simulations of DNA topoisomerase 1B bound to supercoiled DNA reveal changes in the flexibility pattern of the enzyme and a secondary protein-DNA binding site

Human topoisomerase 1B has been simulated covalently bound to a negatively supercoiled DNA minicircle, and its behavior compared to the enzyme bound to a simple linear DNA duplex. The presence of the more realistic supercoiled substrate facilitates the formation of larger number of protein–DNA interactions when compared to a simple linear duplex fragment. The number of protein–DNA hydrogen bonds doubles in proximity to the active site, affecting all of the residues in the catalytic pentad. The clamp over the DNA, characterized by the salt bridge between Lys369 and Glu497, undergoes reduced fluctuations when bound to the supercoiled minicircle. The linker domain of the enzyme, which is implicated in the controlled relaxation of superhelical stress, also displays an increased number of contacts with the minicircle compared to linear DNA. Finally, the more complex topology of the supercoiled DNA minicircle gives rise to a secondary DNA binding site involving four residues located on subdomain III. The simulation trajectories reveal significant changes in the interactions between the enzyme and the DNA for the more complex DNA topology, which are consistent with the experimental observation that the protein has a preference for binding to supercoiled DNA.

Sequence selectivity of the cleavage sites induced by topoisomerase I inhibitors: a molecular dynamics study

Topoisomerase IB (Top1) inhibitors, such as camptothecin (CPT), stabilize the Top1-DNA cleavage complex in a DNA sequence-dependent manner. The sequence selectivity of Top1 inhibitors is important for targeting specific genomic sequences of therapeutic value. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this selectivity remain largely unknown. We performed molecular dynamics simulations to delineate structural, dynamic and energetic features that contribute to the differential sequence selectivity of the Top1 inhibitors. We found the sequence selectivity of CPT to be highly correlated with the drug binding energies, dynamic and structural properties of the linker domain. Chemical insights, gained by per-residue binding energy analysis revealed that the non-polar interaction between CPT and nucleotide at the +1 position of the cleavage site was the major (favorable) contributor to the total binding energy. Mechanistic insights gained by a potential of mean force analysis implicated that the drug dissociation step was associated with the sequence selectivity. Pharmaceutical insights gained by our molecular dynamics analyses explained why LMP-776, an indenoisoquinoline derivative under clinical development at the National Institutes of Health, displays different sequence selectivity when compared with camptothecin and its clinical derivatives.

Molecular mechanism of the camptothecin resistance of Glu710Gly topoisomerase IB mutant analyzed in vitro and in silico

BACKGROUND

DNA topoisomerases are key enzymes that modulate the topological state of DNA through the breaking and rejoining of DNA strands. Human topoisomerase IB can be inhibited by several compounds that act through different mechanisms, including clinically used drugs, such as the derivatives of the natural compound camptothecin that reversibly bind the covalent topoisomerase-DNA complex, slowing down the religation of the cleaved DNA strand, thus inducing cell death. Three enzyme mutations, which confer resistance to irinotecan in an adenocarcinoma cell line, were recently identified but the molecular mechanism of resistance was unclear.

METHODS

The three resistant mutants have been investigated in S. cerevisiae model system following their viability in presence of increasing amounts of camptothecin. A systematical analysis of the different catalytic steps has been made for one of these mutants (Glu710Gly) and has been correlated with its structural-dynamical properties studied by classical molecular dynamics simulation.

RESULTS

The three mutants display a different degree of camptothecin resistance in a yeast cell viability assay. Characterization of the different steps of the catalytic cycle of the Glu710Gly mutant indicated that its resistance is related to a high religation rate that is hardly affected by the presence of the drug. Analysis of the dynamic properties through simulation indicate that the mutant displays a much lower degree of correlation in the motion between the different protein domains and that the linker almost completely loses its correlation with the C-terminal domain, containing the active site tyrosine.

CONCLUSIONS

These results indicate that a fully functional linker is required to confer camptothecin sensitivity to topoisomerase I since the destabilization of its structural-dynamical properties is correlated to an increase of religation rate and drug resistance.

Replacement of the human topoisomerase linker domain with the plasmodial counterpart renders the enzyme camptothecin resistant

A human/plasmodial hybrid enzyme, generated by swapping the human topoisomerase IB linker domain with the corresponding domain of the Plasmodium falciparum enzyme, has been produced and characterized. The hybrid enzyme displays a relaxation activity comparable to the human enzyme, but it is characterized by a much faster religation rate. The hybrid enzyme is also camptothecin resistant. A 3D structure of the hybrid enzyme has been built and its structural-dynamical properties have been analyzed by molecular dynamics simulation. The analysis indicates that the swapped plasmodial linker samples a conformational space much larger than the corresponding domain in the human enzyme. The large linker conformational variability is then linked to important functional properties such as an increased religation rate and a low drug reactivity, demonstrating that the linker domain has a crucial role in the modulation of the topoisomerase IB activity.

Drugging topoisomerases: lessons and challenges

Topoisomerases are ubiquitous enzymes that control DNA supercoiling and entanglements. They are essential during transcription and replication, and topoisomerase inhibitors are among the most effective and most commonly used anticancer and antibacterial drugs. This review consists of two parts. In the first part ("Lessons"), it gives background information on the catalytic mechanisms of the different enzyme families (6 different genes in humans and 4 in most bacteria), describes the "interfacial inhibition" by which topoisomerase-targeted drugs act as topoisomerase poisons, and describes clinically relevant topoisomerase inhibitors. It generalizes the interfacial inhibition principle, which was discovered from the mechanism of action of topoisomerase inhibitors, and discusses how topoisomerase inhibitors kill cells by trapping topoisomerases on DNA rather than by classical enzymatic inhibition. Trapping protein-DNA complexes extends to a novel mechanism of action of PARP inhibitors and could be applied to the targeting of transcription factors. The second part of the review focuses on the challenges for discovery and precise use of topoisomerase inhibitors, including targeting topoisomerase inhibitors using chemical coupling and encapsulation for selective tumor delivery, use of pharmacodynamic biomarkers to follow drug activity, complexity of the response determinants for anticancer activity and patient selection, prospects of rational combinations with DNA repair inhibitors targeting tyrosyl-DNA-phosphodiesterases 1 and 2 (TDP1 and TDP2) and PARP, and the unmet need to develop inhibitors for type IA enzymes.

A derivative of the natural compound kakuol affects DNA relaxation of topoisomerase IB inhibiting the cleavage reaction

Topoisomerases IB are anticancer and antimicrobial targets whose inhibition by several natural and synthetic compounds has been documented over the last three decades. Here we show that kakuol, a natural compound isolated from the rhizomes of Asarum sieboldii, and a derivative analogue are able to inhibit the DNA relaxation mediated by the human enzyme. The analogue is the most efficient one and the inhibitory effect is enhanced upon pre-incubation with the enzyme. Analysis of the different steps of the catalytic cycle indicates that the inhibition occurs at the cleavage level and does not prevent DNA binding. Molecular docking shows that the compound preferentially binds near the active site at the bottom of the catalytic residue Tyr723, providing an atomistic explanation for its inhibitory activity.

ALOG domains: provenance of plant homeotic and developmental regulators from the DNA-binding domain of a novel class of DIRS1-type retroposons

Members of the Arabidopsis LSH1 and Oryza G1 (ALOG) family of proteins have been shown to function as key developmental regulators in land plants. However, their precise mode of action remains unclear. Using sensitive sequence and structure analysis, we show that the ALOG domains are a distinct version of the N-terminal DNA-binding domain shared by the XerC/D-like, protelomerase, topoisomerase-IA, and Flp tyrosine recombinases. ALOG domains are distinguished by the insertion of an additional zinc ribbon into this DNA-binding domain. In particular, we show that the ALOG domain is derived from the XerC/D-like recombinases of a novel class of DIRS-1-like retroposons. Copies of this element, which have been recently inactivated, are present in several marine metazoan lineages, whereas the stramenopile Ectocarpus, retains an active copy of the same. Thus, we predict that ALOG domains help establish organ identity and differentiation by binding specific DNA sequences and acting as transcription factors or recruiters of repressive chromatin. They are also found in certain plant defense proteins, where they are predicted to function as DNA sensors. The evolutionary history of the ALOG domain represents a unique instance of a domain, otherwise exclusively found in retroelements, being recruited as a specific transcription factor in the streptophyte lineage of plants. Hence, they add to the growing evidence for derivation of DNA-binding domains of eukaryotic specific TFs from mobile and selfish elements.

New Topoisomerase I mutations are associated with resistance to camptothecin

Background

Topoisomerase I (TOP1) is a nuclear enzyme that catalyzes the relaxation of supercoiled DNA during DNA replication and transcription. TOP1 is the molecular target of camptothecin and related drugs such as irinotecan and SN38 (irinotecan's active metabolite). Irinotecan is widely used as an anti-cancer agent in the treatment of metastatic colon cancer. However, its efficacy is often limited by the development of resistance.

Methods

We previously established several SN38 resistant HCT116-derived clones to study the mechanisms underlying resistance to SN38. Here, we investigated whether resistance to SN38 in these cell lines could be linked to the presence of TOP1 mutations and changes in its expression and activity. Functional analyses were performed on these cell lines challenged with SN38 and we specifically monitored the double strands breaks with γH2AX staining and replication activity with molecular combing.

Results

In SN38 resistant HCT116 clones we identified three new TOP1 mutations, which are located in the core subdomain III (p.R621H and p.L617I) and in the linker domain (p.E710G) and are packed together at the interface between these two domains. The presence of these TOP1 mutations in SN38 resistant HCT116 cells did not modify TOP1 expression or intrinsic activity. Conversely, following challenge with SN38, we observed a decrease of TOP1-DNA cleavage complexes and a reduction in double-stranded break formation). In addition, we showed that SN38 resistant HCT116 cells present a strong decrease in the SN38-dependent asymmetry of replication forks that is characteristic of SN38 sensitive HCT116 cells.

Conclusions

These results indicate that the TOP1 mutations are involved in the development of SN38 resistance. We hypothesize that p.L617, p.R621 and p.E710 TOP1 residues are important for the functionality of the linker and that mutation of one of these residues is sufficient to alter or modulate its flexibility. Consequently, linker fluctuations could have an impact on SN38 binding by reducing the enzyme affinity for the drug.

Evidences of a natively unfolded state for the human topoisomerase IB N-terminal domain

The N-terminal domain of human topoisomerase IB has been expressed, purified and characterized by spectroscopic techniques. CD spectra as a function of concentration and pH indicate that the domain does not possess any defined secondary structure. The protein is probably in a natively unfolded state since its denaturation curve is indicative of a non-cooperative transition. Evidence of a partially folded structure comes from the fluorescence spectrum of ANS, whose intensity increases in presence of the domain. Indication of a partial structural arrangement of the domain comes also from the endogenous fluorescence of tryptophans that is centred at 350 nm in the native and shifts to 354 nm in the fully denaturated protein. Interestingly despite the poor structural degree, as also confirmed by a predictive approach, the domain efficiently binds DNA, suggesting that the absence of a defined 3D structure has a functional meaning that permits the domain to be available for the interaction with different molecular partners.

Structure ofD-tyrosyl-tRNATyrdeacylase using home-source Cu Kα and moderate-quality iodide-SAD data: structural polymorphism and HEPES-bound enzyme states

D-Tyrosyl-tRNATyrdeacylase (DTD) is an editing enzyme that removes D-amino acids from mischarged tRNAs. The crystal structure ofPlasmodium falciparumDTD (PfDTD) was determined using the iodide-SAD phasing method. Iodide-derivatized PfDTD crystals were obtained using the quick cryo-soaking procedure in which native crystals were soaked for a short period of 10–30 s in cryoprotectant solution containing 0.2–1 MNaI. Iodide-SAD data sets were collected to 3.3 and 2.74 Å resolution from PfDTD crystals that belonged to two different space groups,P43andP1, using an in-house X-ray copper-anode source. This is the first report to detail structure solution using low iodide anomalous signal, modest resolution and redundancy and average solvent content for SAD phasing of 984 and 1312 amino acids in the triclinicP1 and tetragonalP43space groups, respectively. A total of 85% and 56% of the residues were automatically built into the iodide-phased electron-density maps usingPHENIX AutoBuild. The structure of HEPES-bound PfDTD was subsequently determined by molecular replacement and refined to 2.83 Å resolution. The crystals obtained from various batches of crystallization trials of PfDTD exhibited polymorphism in terms of belonging to different crystal forms and space groups. Even within a given crystal system the unit-cell parameters showed high non-isomorphism. These packing variations were exploited in order to conduct a systematic study of conformational changes in PfDTD. It is shown that the disposition of a ten-residue insertion loop affects packing within the PfDTD crystals and seems to determine the non-isomorphism in unit-cell parameters. By tracking the changes in PfDTD unit cells, it was possible to map conformational differences within PfDTD that may be of significance for enzyme activity.

Evidence of the crucial role of the linker domain on the catalytic activity of human topoisomerase I by experimental and simulative characterization of the Lys681Ala mutant

The functional and structural-dynamical properties of the Lys681Ala mutation in the human topoisomerase IB linker domain have been investigated by catalytic assays and molecular dynamics simulation. The mutant is characterized by a comparable cleavage and a strongly reduced religation rate when compared to the wild type protein. The mutant also displays perturbed linker dynamics, as shown by analysis of the principal components of the motion, and a reduced electrostatic interaction with DNA. Inspection of the inter atomic distances in proximity of the active site shows that in the mutant the distance between the amino group of Lys532 side chain and the 5′ OH of the scissile phosphate is longer than the wild type enzyme, providing an atomic explanation for the reduced religation rate of the mutant. Taken together these results indicate the existence of a long range communication between the linker domain and the active site region and points out the crucial role of the linker in the modulation of the catalytic activity.

Mutational analysis of the preferential binding of human topoisomerase I to supercoiled DNA

Human topoisomerase I binds DNA in a topology-dependent fashion with a strong preference for supercoiled DNAs of either sign over relaxed circular DNA. One hypothesis to account for this preference is that a second DNA-binding site exists on the enzyme that mediates an association with the nodes present in supercoiled DNA. The failure of the enzyme to dimerize, even in the presence of DNA, appears to rule out the hypothesis that two binding sites are generated by dimerization of the protein. A series of mutant protein constructs was generated to test the hypotheses that the homeodomain-like core subdomain II (residues 233-319) provides a second DNA-binding site, or that the linker or basic residues in core subdomain III are involved in the preferential binding to supercoiled DNAs. When putative DNA contact points within core subdomain II were altered or the domain was removed altogether, there was no effect on the ability of the enzyme to recognize supercoiled DNA, as measured by both a gel shift assay and a competition binding assay. However, the preference for supercoils was noticeably reduced for a form of the enzyme lacking the coiled-coil linker region or when pairs of lysines were changed to glutamic acids in core subdomain III. The results obtained implicate the linker and solvent-exposed basic residues in core subdomain III in the preferential binding of human topoisomerase I to supercoiled DNA.

Imaging and studying human topoisomerase I on mica surfaces in air and in liquid by atomic force microscopy

In this study, the topography of human topoisomerase I (TOPO I) on mica surfaces in air and in liquid has been studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The average height of TOPO I on mica surface in air measured by AFM was 2.59+/-0.32 nm. After adsorption of the 0.3 U/microl TOPO I on mica surfaces for 2 h, and then imaged in liquid by AFM, well-separated single TOPO I was observed. The average height of TOPO I on mica surfaces in liquid measured by AFM was 2.93+/-0.42 nm. After adsorption of the 4 U/microl TOPO I on mica surfaces for 1.5 h, TOPO I monolayer can be formed. The produced TOPO I monolayer on mica was flat and exhibited good stability.

DNA topoisomerases: harnessing and constraining energy to govern chromosome topology

DNA topoisomerases are a diverse set of essential enzymes responsible for maintaining chromosomes in an appropriate topological state. Although they vary considerably in structure and mechanism, the partnership between topoisomerases and DNA has engendered commonalities in how these enzymes engage nucleic acid substrates and control DNA strand manipulations. All topoisomerases can harness the free energy stored in supercoiled DNA to drive their reactions; some further use the energy of ATP to alter the topology of DNA away from an enzyme-free equilibrium ground state. In the cell, topoisomerases regulate DNA supercoiling and unlink tangled nucleic acid strands to actively maintain chromosomes in a topological state commensurate with particular replicative and transcriptional needs. To carry out these reactions, topoisomerases rely on dynamic macromolecular contacts that alternate between associated and dissociated states throughout the catalytic cycle. In this review, we describe how structural and biochemical studies have furthered our understanding of DNA topoisomerases, with an emphasis on how these complex molecular machines use interfacial interactions to harness and constrain the energy required to manage DNA topology.

Role of a tryptophan anchor in human topoisomerase I structure, function and inhibition

Human Top1 (topoisomerase I) relaxes supercoiled DNA during cell division and transcription. Top1 is composed of 765 amino acids and contains an unstructured N-terminal domain of 200 amino acids, and a structured functional domain of 565 amino acids that binds and relaxes supercoiled DNA. In the present study we examined the region spanning the junction of the N-terminal domain and functional domain (junction region). Analysis of several published Top1 structures revealed that three tryptophan residues formed a network of aromatic stacking interactions and electrostatic interactions that anchored the N-terminus of the functional domain to sub-domains containing the nose cone and active site. Mutation of the three tryptophan residues (Trp(203)/Trp(205)/Trp(206)) to an alanine residue, either individually or together, in silico revealed that the individual tryptophan residue's contribution to the tryptophan 'anchor' was additive. When the three tryptophan residues were mutated to alanine in vitro, the resulting mutant Top1 differed from wild-type Top1 in that it lacked processivity, exhibited resistance to camptothecin and was inactivated by urea. The results indicated that the tryptophan anchor stabilized the N-terminus of the functional domain and prevented the loss of Top1 structure and function.

Tryptophane-205 of human topoisomerase I is essential for camptothecin inhibition of negative but not positive supercoil removal

Positive supercoils are introduced in cellular DNA in front of and negative supercoils behind tracking polymerases. Since DNA purified from cells is normally under-wound, most studies addressing the relaxation activity of topoisomerase I have utilized negatively supercoiled plasmids. The present report compares the relaxation activity of human topoisomerase I variants on plasmids containing equal numbers of superhelical twists with opposite handedness. We demonstrate that the wild-type enzyme and mutants lacking amino acids 1–206 or 191–206, or having tryptophane-205 replaced with a glycine relax positive supercoils faster than negative supercoils under both processive and distributive conditions. In contrast to wild-type topoisomerase I, which exhibited camptothecin sensitivity during relaxation of both negative and positive supercoils, the investigated N-terminally mutated variants were sensitive to camptothecin only during removal of positive supercoils. These data suggest different mechanisms of action during removal of supercoils of opposite handedness and are consistent with a recently published simulation study [Sari and Andricioaei (2005) Nucleic Acids Res., 33, 6621–6634] suggesting flexibility in distinct parts of the enzyme during clockwise or counterclockwise strand rotation.

Molecular modelling studies on the interactions of human DNA topoisomerase IB with pyridoxal-compounds

Candida guilliermondii and human DNA topoisomerases I are inhibited by PL (pyridoxal), PLP (pyridoxal 5'-phosphate) and PLP-AMP (pyridoxal 5'-diphospho-5'-adenosine) (PL<PLP<PLP-AMP). We have recently shown that PLP acted as a competitive inhibitor of C. guilliermondii topoisomerase I, impeding the formation of the cleavable complex from a selective binding to an active site lysine. The targeted lysine in C. guilliermondii topoisomerase I occupies a position equivalent to that of lysine 532 (K(532)) in human topoisomerase I. K(532) acts as a general acid catalyst and is essential for the enzyme activity. This observation has suggested that, in the cell, PLP could down-regulate topoisomerases IB. We have proposed that PLP could be used as a new lead for anticancer drugs trapping the active site lysine (K(532)) and also as a tool to explore the enzyme dynamics required for catalysis. Now we explore the effects of PL, PLP and PLP-AMP on topoisomerases by a molecular modelling approach using the crystal structure of the human topoisomerase I active site and the conformation of K(39)-PLP moiety in Bacillus subtilis alanine racemase as templates. In the modified topoisomerase I several reactive atoms of the K(532)-PLP moiety are at close distance of the catalytic residues R(488), R(590), H(632) and Y(723,) suggesting that PLP develops disturbing interactions with these important residues. These interactions and the corresponding induced fit in the active site conformation are compared with the ones occurring with PL and PLP-AMP. The results could be useful in the search of topoisomerase I inhibitors related to the pyridoxal family.

Human topoisomerase I C-terminal domain fragment containing the active site tyrosine is a molten globule: implication for the formation of competent productive complex

Human topoisomerase I (topo I) is an essential cellular enzyme that relaxes DNA supercoiling. The 6.3 kDa C-terminal domain of topo I contains the active site tyrosine (Tyr723) but lacks enzymatic activity by itself. Activity can be fully reconstituted when the C-terminal domain is associated with the 56 kDa core domain. Even though several crystal structures of topo I/DNA complexes are available, crystal structures of the free topo I protein or its individual domain fragments have been difficult to obtain. In this report we analyze the human topo I C-terminal domain structure using a variety of biophysical methods. Our results indicate that this fragment protein (topo6.3) appears to be in a molten globule state. It appears to have a native-like tertiary fold that contains a large population of alpha-helix secondary structure and extensive surface hydrophobic regions. Topo6.3 is known to be readily activated with the association of the topo I core domain, and the molten globule state of topo6.3 is likely to be an energy-favorable conformation for the free topo I C-terminal domain protein. The structural fluctuation and plasticity may represent an efficient mechanism in the topo I functional pathway, where the flexibility aids in the complementary association with the core domain and in the formation of a fully productive topo I complex.

Inhibition of topoisomerase I cleavage activity by thiol-reactive compounds: importance of vicinal cysteines 504 and 505

DNA topoisomerase I (Top1) is a nuclear enzyme that plays a crucial role in the removal of DNA supercoiling associated with replication and transcription. It is also the target of the anticancer agent, camptothecin (CPT). Top1 contains eight cysteines, including two vicinal residues (504 and 505), which are highly conserved across species. In this study, we show that thiol-reactive compounds such as N-ethylmaleimide and phenylarsine oxide can impair Top1 catalytic activity. We demonstrate that in contrast to CPT, which inhibits Top1-catalyzed religation, thiolation of Top1 inhibited the DNA cleavage step of the reaction. This inhibition was more pronounced when Top1 was preincubated with the thiol-reactive compound and could be reversed in the presence of dithiothreitol. We also established that phenylarsine oxide-mediated inhibition of Top1 cleavage involved the two vicinal cysteines 504 and 505, as this effect was suppressed when cysteines were mutated to alanines. Interestingly, mutation of Cys-505 also altered Top1 sensitivity to CPT, even in the context of the double Cys-504 to Cys-505 mutant, which relaxed supercoiled DNA with a comparable efficiency to that of wild-type Top1. This indicates that cysteine 505, which is located in the lower Lip domain of human Top1, is critical for optimal poisoning of the enzyme by CPT and its analogs. Altogether, our results suggest that conserved vicinal cysteines 504 and 505 of human Top1 play a critical role in enzyme catalytic activity and are the target of thiol-reactive compounds, which may be developed as efficient Top1 catalytic inhibitors.

Structural basis for specificity in the poxvirus topoisomerase

Although smallpox has been eradicated from the human population, it is presently feared as a possible agent of bioterrorism. The smallpox virus codes for its own topoisomerase enzyme that differs from its cellular counterpart by requiring a specific DNA sequence for activation of catalysis. Here we present crystal structures of the smallpox virus topoisomerase enzyme bound both covalently and noncovalently to a specific DNA sequence. These structures reveal the basis for site-specific DNA recognition, and they explain how catalysis is likely activated by formation of a specific enzyme-DNA interface. Unexpectedly, the poxvirus enzyme uses a major groove binding alpha helix that is not present in the human enzyme to recognize part of the core recognition sequence and activate the enzyme for catalysis. The topoisomerase-DNA complex structures also provide a three-dimensional framework that may facilitate the rational design of therapeutic agents to treat poxvirus infections.

Rotation of DNA around intact strand in human topoisomerase I implies distinct mechanisms for positive and negative supercoil relaxation

Topoisomerases are enzymes of quintessence to the upkeep of superhelical DNA, and are vital for replication, transcription and recombination. An atomic-resolution model for human topoisomerase I in covalent complex with DNA is simulated using molecular dynamics with external potentials that mimic torque and bias the DNA duplex downstream of a single-strand cut to rotate around the intact strand, according to the prevailing enzymatic mechanism. The simulations reveal the first dynamical picture of how topoisomerase accommodates large-scale motion of DNA as it changes its supercoiling state, and indicate that relaxation of positive and negative supercoils are fundamentally different. To relax positive supercoils, two separate domains (the 'lips') of the protein open up by about 10-14 A, whereas to relax negative supercoils, a continuous loop connecting the upper and lower parts (and which was a hinge for opening the lips) stretches about 12 A while the lips remain unseparated. Normal mode analysis is additionally used to characterize the functional flexibility of the protein. Remarkably, the same combination of low-frequency eigenvectors exhibit the dominant contribution for both rotation mechanisms through a see-saw motion. The simulated mechanisms suggest mutations to control the relaxation of either type of supercoiling selectively and advance a hypothesis for the debated role of the N-terminal domain in supercoil relaxation.

Molecular determinants of topoisomerase I poisoning by lamellarins: comparison with camptothecin and structure-activity relationships

A series of lamellarin derivatives have been studied as topoisomerase I (Top1) inhibitors. Molecular models of the ternary complexes formed between the DNA-Top1 ensemble and lamellarin D (LMD) or camptothecin (CPT) fully intercalated into the duplex DNA have been built and studied by means of nanosecond molecular dynamics simulations in aqueous solution. Our results show that the 20-OH and 8-OH of LMD can participate in hydrogen-bonding interactions with the side chains of Glu356 and Asn722, respectively, the latter being consistent with the finding that CEM/C2 cells, which are resistant to CPT, are cross-resistant to LMD. Our models also account for the observation that LMD stabilizes Top1 cleavage at CG sites in addition to the TG sites observed for CPT and rationalize the structure-activity relationships within the series. The deleterious effect of replacing the 20-OH in LMD with a hydrogen was confirmed using a set of thermodynamic integration free energy simulations.

Human DNA topoisomerase I: relaxation, roles, and damage control

Human DNA topoisomerase I is an essential enzyme involved in resolving the torsional stress associated with DNA replication, transcription, and chromatin condensation. The catalytic cycle of the enzyme consists of DNA cleavage to form a covalent enzyme-DNA intermediate, DNA relaxation, and finally, re-ligation of the phosphate backbone to restore the continuity of the DNA. Structure/function studies have elucidated a flexible enzyme that relaxes DNA through coordinated, controlled movements of distinct enzyme domains. The cellular roles of topoisomerase I are apparent throughout the nucleus, but the concentration of processes acting on ribosomal DNA results in topoisomerase I accumulation in the nucleolus. Although the activity of topoisomerase I is required in these processes, the enzyme can also have a deleterious effect on cells. In the event that the final re-ligation step of the reaction cycle is prevented, the covalent topoisomerase I-DNA intermediate becomes a toxic DNA lesion that must be repaired. The complexities of the relaxation reaction, the cellular roles, and the pathways that must exist to repair topoisomerase I-mediated DNA damage highlight the importance of continued study of this essential enzyme.

N-terminal region of the large subunit of Leishmania donovani bisubunit topoisomerase I is involved in DNA relaxation and interaction with the smaller subunit

Leishmania donovani topoisomerase I is an unusual bisubunit enzyme. We have demonstrated earlier that the large and small subunit could be reconstituted in vitro to show topoisomerase I activity. We extend our biochemical study to evaluate the role of the large subunit in topoisomerase activity. The large subunit (LdTOP1L) shows a substantial degree of homology with the core DNA binding domain of the topoisomerase IB family. Two N-terminal truncation constructs, LdTOP1Delta39L (lacking amino acids 1-39) and LdTOP1Delta99L (lacking amino acids 1-99) of the large subunit were generated and mixed with intact small subunit (LdTOP1S). Our observations reveal that residues within amino acids 1-39 of the large subunit have significant roles in modulating topoisomerase I activity (i.e. in vitro DNA relaxation, camptothecin sensitivity, cleavage activity, and DNA binding affinity). Interestingly, the mutant LdTOP1Delta99LS was unable to show topoisomerase I activity. Investigation of the loss of activity indicates that LdTOP1Delta99L was unable to pull down glutathione S-transferase-LdTOP1S in an Ni(2+)-nitrilotriacetic acid co-immobilization experiment. For further analysis, we co-expressed LdTOP1L and LdTOP1S in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3)pLysS cells. The lysate shows topoisomerase I activity. Immunoprecipitation revealed that LdTOP1L could interact with LdTOP1S, indicating the subunit interaction in bacterial cells, whereas immunoprecipitation of bacterial lysate co-expressing LdTOP1Delta99L and LdTOP1S reveals that LdTOP1Delta99L was significantly deficient at interacting with LdTOP1S to reconstitute topoisomerase I activity. This study demonstrates that heterodimerization between the large and small subunits of the bisubunit enzyme appears to be an absolute requirement for topoisomerase activity. The residue within amino acids 1-39 from the N-terminal end of the large subunit regulates DNA topology during relaxation by controlling noncovalent DNA binding or by coordinating DNA contacts by other parts of the enzyme.

Pyridoxal 5'-phosphate inactivates DNA topoisomerase IB by modifying the lysine general acid

The present results demonstrate that pyridoxal, pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (PLP) and pyridoxal 5'-diphospho-5'-adenosine (PLP-AMP) inhibit Candida guilliermondii and human DNA topoisomerases I in forming an aldimine with the epsilon-amino group of an active site lysine. PLP acts as a competitive inhibitor of C.guilliermondii topoisomerase I (K(i) = 40 microM) that blocks the cleavable complex formation. Chemical reduction of PLP-treated enzyme reveals incorporation of 1 mol of PLP per mol of protein. The limited trypsic proteolysis releases a 17 residue peptide bearing a lysine-bound PLP (KPPNTVIFDFLGK*DSIR). Targeted lysine (K*) in C.guilliermondii topoisomerase I corresponds to that found in topoisomerase I of Homo sapiens (K532), Candida albicans (K468), Saccharomyces cerevisiae (K458) and Schizosaccharomyces pombe (K505). In the human enzyme, K532, belonging to the active site acts as a general acid catalyst and is therefore essential for activity. The spatial orientation of K532-PLP within the active site was approached by molecular modeling using available crystallographic data. The PLP moiety was found at close proximity of several active residues. PLP could be involved in the cellular control of topoisomerases IB. It constitutes an efficient tool to explore topoisomerase IB dynamics during catalysis and is also a lead for new drugs that trap the lysine general acid.

Position- and orientation-specific enhancement of topoisomerase I cleavage complexes by triplex DNA structures

Topoisomerase I (Top1) activities are sensitive to various endogenous base modifications, and anticancer drugs including the natural alkaloid camptothecin. Here, we show that triple helix-forming oligonucleotides (TFOs) can enhance Top1-mediated DNA cleavage by affecting either or both the nicking and the closing activities of Top1 depending on the position and the orientation of the triplex DNA structure relative to the Top1 site. TFO binding 1 bp downstream from the Top1 site enhances cleavage by inhibiting religation and to a lesser extent DNA nicking. In contrast, TFO binding 4 bp downstream from the Top1 site enhances DNA nicking especially when the 3' end of the TFO is proximal to the Top1 site. However, when the orientation of the triplex is inverted, with its 5' terminus 4 bp downstream from the Top1 site, religation is also inhibited. These position- and orientation-dependent effects of triplex structures on the Top1-mediated DNA cleavage and religation are discussed in the context of molecular modeling and effects of TFO on DNA twist and mobility at the duplex/triplex junction.

Analysis of human topoisomerase I inhibition and interaction with the cleavage site +1 deoxyguanosine, via in vitro experiments and molecular modeling studies

Human topoisomerase I (Top1) plays a pivotal role in cell replication and transcription, and therefore is an important anti-cancer target. Homocamptothecin is a lead compound for inhibiting Top1, and is composed of five conjugated planar rings (A-E). The homocamptothecin E-ring beta-hydroxylactone opens slowly to a carboxylate at pH>7.0. We analyzed, which form of homocamptothecin was biochemically relevant in the following ways: (1) the homocamptothecin carboxylate was tested for activity in vitro and found to be inactive; (2) homocamptothecin was incubated with Top1 and dsDNA, and we found that the homocamptothecin beta-hydroxylactone form was stabilized; (3) the homocamptothecin E-ring beta-hydroxylactone was modified to prevent opening, and the derivatives were either inactive or had low activity. These results indicated that the homocamptothecin beta-hydroxylactone was the active form, and that an E-ring carbonyl oxygen and adjacent unsubstituted/unprotonated ring atom were required for full activity. Homocamptothecin and derivatives were docked into a Top1/DNA active site model, in which the +1 deoxyguanosine was rotated out of the helix, in order to compare the interaction energies between the ligands and the Top1/DNA active site with the in vitro activities of the ligands. It was found that the ligand interaction energies and in vitro activities were correlated, while the orientations of the ligands in the Top1/DNA active site explained the importance of the E-ring beta-hydroxylactone independently of E-ring opening. An essential component of this Top1/DNA active site model is the rotated +1 deoxyguanosine, and in vitro experiments and molecular modeling studies supported rotation of the +1 deoxyguanosine out of the helix. These results allow for the rational design of more potent Top1 inhibitors through engineered interactions with as yet unutilized Top1 active-site residues including: Glu356, Asn430, and Lys751.

Role of the linker domain and the 203-214 N-terminal residues in the human topoisomerase I DNA complex dynamics

The influence of the N-terminal residues 203-214 and the linker domain on motions in the human topoisomerase I-DNA complex has been investigated by comparing the molecular dynamics simulations of the system with (topo70) or without (topo58/6.3) these regions. Topo58/6.3 is found to fluctuate more than topo70, indicating that the presence of the N-terminal residues and the linker domain dampen the core and C-terminal fluctuations. The simulations also show that residues 203-207 and the linker domain participate in a network of correlated movements with key regions of the enzyme, involved in the human topoisomerase I catalytic cycle, providing a structural-dynamical explanation for the better DNA relaxation activity of topo70 when compared to topo58/6.3. The data have been examined in relation to a wealth of biochemical, site-directed mutagenesis and crystallographic data on human topoisomerase I. The simulations finally show the occurrence of a network of direct and water mediated hydrogen bonds in the proximity of the active site, and the presence of a water molecule in the appropriate position to accept a proton from the catalytic Tyr-723 residue, suggesting that water molecules have an important role in the stabilization and function of this enzyme.

Structure, molecular mechanisms, and evolutionary relationships in DNA topoisomerases

Topoisomerases are enzymes that use DNA strand scission, manipulation, and rejoining activities to directly modulate DNA topology. These actions provide a powerful means to effect changes in DNA supercoiling levels, and allow some topoisomerases to both unknot and decatenate chromosomes. Since their initial discovery over three decades ago, researchers have amassed a rich store of information on the cellular roles and regulation of topoisomerases, and have delineated general models for their chemical and physical mechanisms. Topoisomerases are now known to be necessary for the survival of cellular organisms and many viruses and are rich clinical targets for anticancer and antimicrobial treatments. In recent years, crystal structures have been obtained for each of the four types of topoisomerases in a number of distinct conformational and substrate-bound states. In addition, sophisticated biophysical methods have been utilized to study details of topoisomerase reaction dynamics and enzymology. A synthesis of these approaches has provided researchers with new physical insights into how topoisomerases employ chemistry and allostery to direct the large-scale molecular motions needed to pass DNA strands through each other.

Mechanisms of camptothecin resistance by human topoisomerase I mutations

Human topoisomerase I relaxes superhelical tension associated with DNA replication, transcription and recombination by reversibly nicking one strand of duplex DNA and forming a covalent 3'-phosphotyrosine linkage. This enzyme is the sole target of the camptothecin family of anticancer compounds, which acts by stabilizing the covalent protein-DNA complex and enhancing apoptosis through blocking the advancement of replication forks. Mutations that impart resistance to camptothecin have been identified in several regions of human topoisomerase I. We present the crystal structures of two camptothecin-resistant forms of human topoisomerase I (Phe361Ser at 2.6A resolution and Asn722Ser at 2.3A resolution) in ternary complexes with DNA and topotecan (Hycamtin), a camptothecin analogue currently in widespread clinical use. While the alteration of Asn722 to Ser leads to the elimination of a water-mediated contact between the enzyme and topotecan, we were surprised to find that a well-ordered water molecule replaces the hydrophobic phenylalanine side-chain in the Phe361Ser structure. We further consider camptothecin-resistant mutations at seven additional sites in human topoisomerase I and present structural evidence explaining their possible impact on drug binding. These results advance our understanding of the mechanism of cell poisoning by camptothecin and suggest specific modifications to the drug that may improve efficacy.

Regions within the N-terminal domain of human topoisomerase I exert important functions during strand rotation and DNA binding

The human topoisomerase I N-terminal domain is the only part of the enzyme still not crystallized and the function of this domain remains enigmatical. In the present study, we have addressed the specific functions of individual N-terminal regions of topoisomerase I by characterizing mutants lacking amino acid residues 1-202 or 191-206 or having tryptophane-205 substituted by glycine in a broad variety of in vitro activity assays. As a result of these investigations we find that mutants altered in the region 191-206 distinguished themselves from the wild-type enzyme by a faster strand rotation step, insensitivity towards the anti-cancer drug camptothecin in relaxation and the inability to ligate blunt end DNA fragments. The mutant lacking amino acid residues 1-202 was impaired in blunt end DNA ligation and showed wild-type sensitivity towards camptothecin in relaxation. Taken together, the presented data support a model according to which tryptophane-205 and possibly other residues located between position 191-206 coordinates the restriction of free strand rotation during the topoisomerization step of catalysis. Moreover, tryptophane-205 appears important for the function of the bulk part of the N-terminal domain in direct DNA interaction.

Single mutation in the linker domain confers protein flexibility and camptothecin resistance to human topoisomerase I

DNA topoisomerase I relaxes supercoiled DNA by the formation of a covalent intermediate in which the active-site tyrosine is transiently bound to the cleaved DNA strand. The antineoplastic agent camptothecin specifically targets DNA topoisomerase I, and several mutations have been isolated that render the enzyme camptothecin-resistant. The catalytic and structural dynamical properties of a human DNA topoisomerase I mutant in which Ala-653 in the linker domain was mutated into Pro have been investigated. The mutant is resistant to camptothecin and in the absence of the drug displays a cleavage-religation equilibrium strongly shifted toward religation. The shift is mainly because of an increase in the religation rate relative to the wild type enzyme, indicating that the unperturbed linker is involved in slowing religation. Molecular dynamics simulation indicates that the Ala to Pro mutation increases the linker flexibility allowing it to sample a wider conformational space. The increase in religation rate of the mutant, explained by means of the enhanced linker flexibility, provides an explanation for the mutant camptothecin resistance.