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Panda S, Roychowdhury T, Dutta A, Chakraborty S, Das T, Chatterjee S. ALTering Cancer by Triggering Telomere Replication Stress through the Stabilization of Promoter G-Quadruplex in SMARCAL1. ACS Chem Biol 2024; 19:1433-1439. [PMID: 38959478 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.4c00285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
Most of the human cancers are dependent on telomerase to extend the telomeres. But ∼10% of all cancers use a telomerase-independent, homologous recombination mediated pathway called alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT). Due to the poor prognosis, ALT status is not being considered yet in the diagnosis of cancer. No such specific treatment is available to date for ALT positive cancers. ALT positive cancers are dependent on replication stress to deploy DNA repair pathways to the telomeres to execute homologous recombination mediated telomere extension. SMARCAL1 (SWI/SNF related, matrix-associated, actin-dependent regulator of chromatin, subfamily A-like 1) is associated with the ALT telomeres to resolve replication stress thus providing telomere stability. Thus, the dependency on replication stress regulatory factors like SMARCAL1 made it a suitable therapeutic target for the treatment of ALT positive cancers. In this study, we found a significant downregulation of SMARCAL1 expression by stabilizing the G-quadruplex (G4) motif found in the promoter of SMARCAL1 by potent G4 stabilizers, like TMPyP4 and BRACO-19. SMARCAL1 downregulation led toward the increased localization of PML (promyelocytic leukemia) bodies in ALT telomeres and triggered the formation of APBs (ALT-associated promyelocytic leukemia bodies) in ALT positive cell lines, increasing telomere replication stress and DNA damage at a genomic level. Induction of replication stress and hyper-recombinogenic phenotype in ALT positive cells mediated by G4 stabilizing molecules already highlighted their possible application as a new therapeutic window to target ALT positive tumors. In accordance with this, our study will also provide a valuable insight toward the development of G4-based ALT therapeutics targeting SMARCAL1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suman Panda
- Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, EN 80, Sector V, Bidhan Nagar, Kolkata 700091 West Bengal, India
| | - Tanaya Roychowdhury
- Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave, New York, New York 10065, United States of America
| | - Anindya Dutta
- Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, EN 80, Sector V, Bidhan Nagar, Kolkata 700091 West Bengal, India
| | - Sourio Chakraborty
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Centenary Campus, Bose Institute, P-1/12 C.I.T. Scheme VII-M, Kolkata 700054, India
| | - Tanya Das
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Centenary Campus, Bose Institute, P-1/12 C.I.T. Scheme VII-M, Kolkata 700054, India
| | - Subhrangsu Chatterjee
- Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, EN 80, Sector V, Bidhan Nagar, Kolkata 700091 West Bengal, India
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2
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Merlino F, Marzano S, Zizza P, D’Aria F, Grasso N, Carachino A, Iachettini S, Biroccio A, Fonzo SD, Grieco P, Randazzo A, Amato J, Pagano B. Unlocking the potential of protein-derived peptides to target G-quadruplex DNA: from recognition to anticancer activity. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:6748-6762. [PMID: 38828773 PMCID: PMC11229374 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae471] [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: 04/15/2024] [Revised: 05/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Noncanonical nucleic acid structures, particularly G-quadruplexes, have garnered significant attention as potential therapeutic targets in cancer treatment. Here, the recognition of G-quadruplex DNA by peptides derived from the Rap1 protein is explored, with the aim of developing novel peptide-based G-quadruplex ligands with enhanced selectivity and anticancer activity. Biophysical techniques were employed to assess the interaction of a peptide derived from the G-quadruplex-binding domain of the protein with various biologically relevant G-quadruplex structures. Through alanine scanning mutagenesis, key amino acids crucial for G-quadruplex recognition were identified, leading to the discovery of two peptides with improved G-quadruplex-binding properties. However, despite their in vitro efficacy, these peptides showed limited cell penetration and anticancer activity. To overcome this challenge, cell-penetrating peptide (CPP)-conjugated derivatives were designed, some of which exhibited significant cytotoxic effects on cancer cells. Interestingly, selected CPP-conjugated peptides exerted potent anticancer activity across various tumour types via a G-quadruplex-dependent mechanism. These findings underscore the potential of peptide-based G-quadruplex ligands in cancer therapy and pave the way for the development of novel therapeutic strategies targeting these DNA structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Merlino
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Simona Marzano
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Pasquale Zizza
- Translational Oncology Research Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome 00144, Italy
| | - Federica D’Aria
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Nicola Grasso
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Alice Carachino
- Translational Oncology Research Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome 00144, Italy
| | - Sara Iachettini
- Translational Oncology Research Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome 00144, Italy
| | - Annamaria Biroccio
- Translational Oncology Research Unit, IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome 00144, Italy
| | - Silvia Di Fonzo
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste S. C. p. A., Science Park, Trieste 34149, Italy
| | - Paolo Grieco
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Antonio Randazzo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Jussara Amato
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Bruno Pagano
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Naples 80131, Italy
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3
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Research Progress on G-Quadruplexes in Human Telomeres and Human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (hTERT) Promoter. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2022; 2022:2905663. [PMID: 35707279 PMCID: PMC9192192 DOI: 10.1155/2022/2905663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The upregulation telomerase activity is observed in over 85-90% of human cancers and provides an attractive target for cancer therapies. The high guanine content in the telomere DNA sequences and the hTERT promoter can form G-quadruplexes (G4s). Small molecules targeting G4s in telomeres and hTERT promoter could stabilize the G4s and inhibit hTERT expression and telomere extension. Several G4 ligands have shown inhibitory effects in cancer cells and xenograft mouse models, indicating these ligands have a potential for cancer therapies. The current review article describes the concept of the telomere, telomerase, and G4s. Moreover, the regulation of telomerase and G4s in telomeres and hTERT promoter is discussed as well. The summary of the small molecules targeting G4s in telomeric DNA sequences and the hTERT promoter will also be shown.
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4
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Banerjee N, Panda S, Chatterjee S. Frontiers in G-Quadruplex Therapeutics in Cancer: Selection of Small Molecules, Peptides and Aptamers. Chem Biol Drug Des 2021; 99:1-31. [PMID: 34148284 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.13910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
G-quadruplex, a unique secondary structure in nucleic acids found throughout human genome, elicited widespread interest in the field of therapeutic research. Being present in key regulatory regions of oncogenes, RNAs and telomere, G-quadruplex structure regulates transcription, translation, splicing etc. Changes in its structure and stability leads to differential expression of oncogenes causing cancer. Thus, targeting G-Quadruplex structures with small molecules/other biologics has shown elevated research interest. Covering previous reports, in this review we try to enlighten the facts on the structural diversity in G-quadruplex ligands aiming to provide newer insights to design first-in-class drugs for the next generation cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nilanjan Banerjee
- Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Road, Scheme VIIM, Kankurgachi, Kolkata, 700054, India
| | - Suman Panda
- Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Road, Scheme VIIM, Kankurgachi, Kolkata, 700054, India
| | - Subhrangsu Chatterjee
- Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Road, Scheme VIIM, Kankurgachi, Kolkata, 700054, India
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5
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Zell J, Rota Sperti F, Britton S, Monchaud D. DNA folds threaten genetic stability and can be leveraged for chemotherapy. RSC Chem Biol 2021; 2:47-76. [PMID: 35340894 PMCID: PMC8885165 DOI: 10.1039/d0cb00151a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Damaging DNA is a current and efficient strategy to fight against cancer cell proliferation. Numerous mechanisms exist to counteract DNA damage, collectively referred to as the DNA damage response (DDR) and which are commonly dysregulated in cancer cells. Precise knowledge of these mechanisms is necessary to optimise chemotherapeutic DNA targeting. New research on DDR has uncovered a series of promising therapeutic targets, proteins and nucleic acids, with application notably via an approach referred to as combination therapy or combinatorial synthetic lethality. In this review, we summarise the cornerstone discoveries which gave way to the DNA being considered as an anticancer target, and the manipulation of DDR pathways as a valuable anticancer strategy. We describe in detail the DDR signalling and repair pathways activated in response to DNA damage. We then summarise the current understanding of non-B DNA folds, such as G-quadruplexes and DNA junctions, when they are formed and why they can offer a more specific therapeutic target compared to that of canonical B-DNA. Finally, we merge these subjects to depict the new and highly promising chemotherapeutic strategy which combines enhanced-specificity DNA damaging and DDR targeting agents. This review thus highlights how chemical biology has given rise to significant scientific advances thanks to resolutely multidisciplinary research efforts combining molecular and cell biology, chemistry and biophysics. We aim to provide the non-specialist reader a gateway into this exciting field and the specialist reader with a new perspective on the latest results achieved and strategies devised.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Zell
- Institut de Chimie Moléculaire de l'Université de Bourgogne, ICMUB CNRS UMR 6302, UBFC Dijon France
| | - Francesco Rota Sperti
- Institut de Chimie Moléculaire de l'Université de Bourgogne, ICMUB CNRS UMR 6302, UBFC Dijon France
| | - Sébastien Britton
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, IPBS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS Toulouse France
- Équipe Labellisée la Ligue Contre le Cancer 2018 Toulouse France
| | - David Monchaud
- Institut de Chimie Moléculaire de l'Université de Bourgogne, ICMUB CNRS UMR 6302, UBFC Dijon France
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Lang DK, Kaur R, Arora R, Saini B, Arora S. Nitrogen-Containing Heterocycles as Anticancer Agents: An Overview. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2020; 20:2150-2168. [DOI: 10.2174/1871520620666200705214917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2019] [Revised: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Background:
Cancer is spreading all over the world, and it is becoming the leading cause of major
deaths. Today’s most difficult task for every researcher is to invent a new drug that can treat cancer with minimal
side effects. Many factors, including pollution, modern lifestyle and food habits, exposure to oncogenic
agents or radiations, enhanced industrialization, etc. can cause cancer. Treatment of cancer is done by various
methods that include chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery and immunotherapy in combination or singly along
with kinase inhibitors. Most of the anti-cancer drugs use the concept of kinase inhibition.
Objective:
The number of drugs being used in chemotherapy has heterocycles as their basic structure in spite of
various side effects. Medicinal chemists are focusing on nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds like pyrrole,
pyrrolidine, pyridine, imidazole, pyrimidines, pyrazole, indole, quinoline, oxadiazole, azole, benzimidazole,
etc. as the key building blocks to develop active biological compounds. The aim of this study is to attempt
to compile a dataset of nitrogen-containing heterocyclic anti-cancer drugs.
Methods:
We adopted a structural search on notorious journal publication websites and electronic databases
such as Bentham Science, Science Direct, PubMed, Scopus, USFDA, etc. for the collection of peer-reviewed
research and review articles for the present review. The quality papers were retrieved, studied, categorized into
different sections, analyzed and used for article writing.
Conclusion:
As per FDA databases, nitrogen-based heterocycles in the drug design are almost 60% of unique
small-molecule drugs. Some of the nitrogen-containing heterocyclic anti-cancer drugs are Axitinib, Bosutinib,
Cediranib, Dasatanib (Sprycel®), Erlotinib (Tarceva®), Gefitinib (Iressa®), Imatinib (Gleevec®), Lapatinib (Tykerb
®), Linifanib, Sorafenib (Nexavar®), Sunitinib (Sutent®), Tivozanib, etc. In the present review, we shall focus
on the overview of nitrogen-containing heterocyclic active compounds as anti-cancer agents.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rajwinder Kaur
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab, India
| | - Rashmi Arora
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab, India
| | - Balraj Saini
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab, India
| | - Sandeep Arora
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab, India
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Gadgil RY, Romer EJ, Goodman CC, Rider SD, Damewood FJ, Barthelemy JR, Shin-Ya K, Hanenberg H, Leffak M. Replication stress at microsatellites causes DNA double-strand breaks and break-induced replication. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:15378-15397. [PMID: 32873711 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra120.013495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Revised: 08/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Short tandemly repeated DNA sequences, termed microsatellites, are abundant in the human genome. These microsatellites exhibit length instability and susceptibility to DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) due to their tendency to form stable non-B DNA structures. Replication-dependent microsatellite DSBs are linked to genome instability signatures in human developmental diseases and cancers. To probe the causes and consequences of microsatellite DSBs, we designed a dual-fluorescence reporter system to detect DSBs at expanded (CTG/CAG) n and polypurine/polypyrimidine (Pu/Py) mirror repeat structures alongside the c-myc replication origin integrated at a single ectopic chromosomal site. Restriction cleavage near the (CTG/CAG)100 microsatellite leads to homology-directed single-strand annealing between flanking AluY elements and reporter gene deletion that can be detected by flow cytometry. However, in the absence of restriction cleavage, endogenous and exogenous replication stressors induce DSBs at the (CTG/CAG)100 and Pu/Py microsatellites. DSBs map to a narrow region at the downstream edge of the (CTG)100 lagging-strand template. (CTG/CAG) n chromosome fragility is repeat length-dependent, whereas instability at the (Pu/Py) microsatellites depends on replication polarity. Strikingly, restriction-generated DSBs and replication-dependent DSBs are not repaired by the same mechanism. Knockdown of DNA damage response proteins increases (Rad18, polymerase (Pol) η, Pol κ) or decreases (Mus81) the sensitivity of the (CTG/CAG)100 microsatellites to replication stress. Replication stress and DSBs at the ectopic (CTG/CAG)100 microsatellite lead to break-induced replication and high-frequency mutagenesis at a flanking thymidine kinase gene. Our results show that non-B structure-prone microsatellites are susceptible to replication-dependent DSBs that cause genome instability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rujuta Yashodhan Gadgil
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, USA
| | - Eric J Romer
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, USA
| | - Caitlin C Goodman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, USA
| | - S Dean Rider
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, USA
| | - French J Damewood
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, USA
| | - Joanna R Barthelemy
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, USA
| | - Kazuo Shin-Ya
- Biomedical Information Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Helmut Hanenberg
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head/Neck Surgery, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany; Department of Pediatrics III, University Children's Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Michael Leffak
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, USA.
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8
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Piekna-Przybylska D, Bambara RA, Maggirwar SB, Dewhurst S. G-quadruplex ligands targeting telomeres do not inhibit HIV promoter activity and cooperate with latency reversing agents in killing latently infected cells. Cell Cycle 2020; 19:2298-2313. [PMID: 32807015 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2020.1796268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Altered telomere maintenance mechanism (TMM) is linked to increased DNA damage at telomeres and telomere uncapping. We previously showed that HIV-1 latent cells have altered TMM and are susceptible to ligands that target G-quadruplexes (G4) at telomeres. Susceptibility of latent cells to telomere targeting could potentially be used to support approaches to eradicate HIV reservoirs. However, G4 ligands also target G-quadruplexes in promoters blocking gene transcription. Since HIV promoter sequence can form G-quadruplexes, we investigated whether G4 ligands interfere with HIV-1 promoter activity and virus reactivation from latency, and whether telomere targeting could be combined with latency reversing agents (LRAs) to promote elimination of HIV reservoirs. Our results indicate that Sp1 binding region in HIV-1 promoter can adopt G4 structures in duplex DNA, and that in vitro binding of Sp1 to G-quadruplex is blocked by G4 ligand, suggesting that agents targeting telomeres interfere with virus reactivation. However, our studies show that G4 agents do not affect HIV-1 promoter activity in cell culture, and do not interfere with latency reversal. Importantly, primary memory CD4 + T cells infected with latent HIV-1 are more susceptible to combined treatment with LRAs and G4 ligands, indicating that drugs targeting TMM may enhance killing of HIV reservoirs. Using a cell-based DNA repair assay, we also found that HIV-1 infected cells have reduced efficiency of DNA mismatch repair (MMR), and base excision repair (BER), suggesting that altered TMM in latently infected cells could be associated with accumulation of DNA damage at telomeres and changes in telomeric caps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorota Piekna-Przybylska
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester , Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Robert A Bambara
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester , Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Sanjay B Maggirwar
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University , Washington, DC, USA
| | - Stephen Dewhurst
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester , Rochester, NY, USA
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Abstract
Several decades elapsed between the first descriptions of G-quadruplex nucleic acid structures (G4s) assembled in vitro and the emergence of experimental findings indicating that such structures can form and function in living systems. A large body of evidence now supports roles for G4s in many aspects of nucleic acid biology, spanning processes from transcription and chromatin structure, mRNA processing, protein translation, DNA replication and genome stability, and telomere and mitochondrial function. Nonetheless, it must be acknowledged that some of this evidence is tentative, which is not surprising given the technical challenges associated with demonstrating G4s in biology. Here I provide an overview of evidence for G4 biology, focusing particularly on the many potential pitfalls that can be encountered in its investigation, and briefly discuss some of broader biological processes that may be impacted by G4s including cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- F. Brad Johnson
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
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10
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Berei J, Eckburg A, Miliavski E, Anderson AD, Miller RJ, Dein J, Giuffre AM, Tang D, Deb S, Racherla KS, Patel M, Vela MS, Puri N. Potential Telomere-Related Pharmacological Targets. Curr Top Med Chem 2020; 20:458-484. [DOI: 10.2174/1568026620666200109114339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Revised: 11/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Telomeres function as protective caps at the terminal portion of chromosomes, containing
non-coding nucleotide sequence repeats. As part of their protective function, telomeres preserve genomic
integrity and minimize chromosomal exposure, thus limiting DNA damage responses. With
continued mitotic divisions in normal cells, telomeres progressively shorten until they reach a threshold
at a point where they activate senescence or cell death pathways. However, the presence of the enzyme
telomerase can provide functional immortality to the cells that have reached or progressed past
senescence. In senescent cells that amass several oncogenic mutations, cancer formation can occur due
to genomic instability and the induction of telomerase activity. Telomerase has been found to be expressed
in over 85% of human tumors and is labeled as a near-universal marker for cancer. Due to this
feature being present in a majority of tumors but absent in most somatic cells, telomerase and telomeres
have become promising targets for the development of new and effective anticancer therapeutics.
In this review, we evaluate novel anticancer targets in development which aim to alter telomerase
or telomere function. Additionally, we analyze the progress that has been made, including preclinical
studies and clinical trials, with therapeutics directed at telomere-related targets. Furthermore, we review
the potential telomere-related therapeutics that are used in combination therapy with more traditional
cancer treatments. Throughout the review, topics related to medicinal chemistry are discussed,
including drug bioavailability and delivery, chemical structure-activity relationships of select therapies,
and the development of a unique telomere assay to analyze compounds affecting telomere elongation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Berei
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, Rockford, IL 61107, United States
| | - Adam Eckburg
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, Rockford, IL 61107, United States
| | - Edward Miliavski
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, Rockford, IL 61107, United States
| | - Austin D. Anderson
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, Rockford, IL 61107, United States
| | - Rachel J. Miller
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, Rockford, IL 61107, United States
| | - Joshua Dein
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, Rockford, IL 61107, United States
| | - Allison M. Giuffre
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, Rockford, IL 61107, United States
| | - Diana Tang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, Rockford, IL 61107, United States
| | - Shreya Deb
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, Rockford, IL 61107, United States
| | - Kavya Sri Racherla
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, Rockford, IL 61107, United States
| | - Meet Patel
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, Rockford, IL 61107, United States
| | - Monica Saravana Vela
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, Rockford, IL 61107, United States
| | - Neelu Puri
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, Rockford, IL 61107, United States
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11
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Abstract
The double-helical structure of genomic DNA is both elegant and functional in that it serves both to protect vulnerable DNA bases and to facilitate DNA replication and compaction. However, these design advantages come at the cost of having to evolve and maintain a cellular machinery that can manipulate a long polymeric molecule that readily becomes topologically entangled whenever it has to be opened for translation, replication, or repair. If such a machinery fails to eliminate detrimental topological entanglements, utilization of the information stored in the DNA double helix is compromised. As a consequence, the use of B-form DNA as the carrier of genetic information must have co-evolved with a means to manipulate its complex topology. This duty is performed by DNA topoisomerases, which therefore are, unsurprisingly, ubiquitous in all kingdoms of life. In this review, we focus on how DNA topoisomerases catalyze their impressive range of DNA-conjuring tricks, with a particular emphasis on DNA topoisomerase III (TOP3). Once thought to be the most unremarkable of topoisomerases, the many lives of these type IA topoisomerases are now being progressively revealed. This research interest is driven by a realization that their substrate versatility and their ability to engage in intimate collaborations with translocases and other DNA-processing enzymes are far more extensive and impressive than was thought hitherto. This, coupled with the recent associations of TOP3s with developmental and neurological pathologies in humans, is clearly making us reconsider their undeserved reputation as being unexceptional enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna H Bizard
- Center for Chromosome Stability and Center for Healthy Aging, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Ian D Hickson
- Center for Chromosome Stability and Center for Healthy Aging, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
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12
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Kamura T, Katsuda Y, Kitamura Y, Ihara T. G-quadruplexes in mRNA: A key structure for biological function. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2020; 526:261-266. [PMID: 32209257 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.02.168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2019] [Revised: 02/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/29/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The last several years have seen exciting advances in the understanding of the structure and function of higher-order structures of RNA. Expression levels of some specific genes were shown to be directly regulated by environmentally-responsive formation of certain secondary structures such as stem-loops and pseudoknots. Even among these noncanonical structures, RNA G-quadruplexes, which form on the regions of guanine-rich sequences in mRNA, are highly stable structures that are involved in a variety of biological processes. However, many questions regarding the biological significance of RNA G-quadruplexes remain unsettled, mainly because it is difficult to locate the structures in mRNA. This review focuses on emerging methods that locate RNA G-quadruplexes in mRNA by computational and biochemical techniques. In addition, recent reports on the biological functions of RNA G-quadruplexes are also covered to highlight their various roles in cells, such as in regulating mRNA processing and translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takuto Kamura
- Division of Materials Science and Chemistry, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, 2-39-1 Kurokami, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-8555, Japan
| | - Yousuke Katsuda
- Division of Materials Science and Chemistry, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, 2-39-1 Kurokami, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-8555, Japan.
| | - Yusuke Kitamura
- Division of Materials Science and Chemistry, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, 2-39-1 Kurokami, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-8555, Japan
| | - Toshihiro Ihara
- Division of Materials Science and Chemistry, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Kumamoto University, 2-39-1 Kurokami, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto, 860-8555, Japan
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13
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Amato R, Valenzuela M, Berardinelli F, Salvati E, Maresca C, Leone S, Antoccia A, Sgura A. G-quadruplex Stabilization Fuels the ALT Pathway in ALT-positive Osteosarcoma Cells. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11030304. [PMID: 32183119 PMCID: PMC7140816 DOI: 10.3390/genes11030304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Most human tumors maintain telomere lengths by telomerase, whereas a portion of them (10–15%) uses a mechanism named alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT). The telomeric G-quadruplex (G4) ligand RHPS4 is known for its potent antiproliferative effect, as shown in telomerase-positive cancer models. Moreover, RHPS4 is also able to reduce cell proliferation in ALT cells, although the influence of G4 stabilization on the ALT mechanism has so far been poorly investigated. Here we show that sensitivity to RHPS4 is comparable in ALT-positive (U2OS; SAOS-2) and telomerase-positive (HOS) osteosarcoma cell lines, unlinking the telomere maintenance mechanism and RHPS4 responsiveness. To investigate the impact of G4 stabilization on ALT, the cardinal ALT hallmarks were analyzed. A significant induction of telomeric doublets, telomeric clusterized DNA damage, ALT-associated Promyelocytic Leukaemia-bodies (APBs), telomere sister chromatid exchanges (T-SCE) and c-circles was found exclusively in RHPS4-treated ALT cells. We surmise that RHPS4 affects ALT mechanisms through the induction of replicative stress that in turn is converted in DNA damage at telomeres, fueling recombination. In conclusion, our work indicates that RHPS4-induced telomeric DNA damage promotes overactivation of telomeric recombination in ALT cells, opening new questions on the therapeutic employment of G4 ligands in the treatment of ALT positive tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Amato
- Department of Science, Roma Tre University, I-00146 Rome, Italy; (R.A.); (M.V.); (S.L.); (A.A.); (A.S.)
| | - Martina Valenzuela
- Department of Science, Roma Tre University, I-00146 Rome, Italy; (R.A.); (M.V.); (S.L.); (A.A.); (A.S.)
| | - Francesco Berardinelli
- Department of Science, Roma Tre University, I-00146 Rome, Italy; (R.A.); (M.V.); (S.L.); (A.A.); (A.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0657-33-6330
| | - Erica Salvati
- BPM-CNR Institute of Molecular Biology and Pathology, National Research Council, 00185 Rome, Italy;
- Oncogenomic and Epigenetic Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy;
| | - Carmen Maresca
- Oncogenomic and Epigenetic Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, 00144 Rome, Italy;
| | - Stefano Leone
- Department of Science, Roma Tre University, I-00146 Rome, Italy; (R.A.); (M.V.); (S.L.); (A.A.); (A.S.)
| | - Antonio Antoccia
- Department of Science, Roma Tre University, I-00146 Rome, Italy; (R.A.); (M.V.); (S.L.); (A.A.); (A.S.)
| | - Antonella Sgura
- Department of Science, Roma Tre University, I-00146 Rome, Italy; (R.A.); (M.V.); (S.L.); (A.A.); (A.S.)
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14
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Developing Novel G-Quadruplex Ligands: from Interaction with Nucleic Acids to Interfering with Nucleic Acid⁻Protein Interaction. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24030396. [PMID: 30678288 PMCID: PMC6384609 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24030396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Revised: 01/10/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
G-quadruplex is a special secondary structure of nucleic acids in guanine-rich sequences of genome. G-quadruplexes have been proved to be involved in the regulation of replication, DNA damage repair, and transcription and translation of oncogenes or other cancer-related genes. Therefore, targeting G-quadruplexes has become a novel promising anti-tumor strategy. Different kinds of small molecules targeting the G-quadruplexes have been designed, synthesized, and identified as potential anti-tumor agents, including molecules directly bind to the G-quadruplex and molecules interfering with the binding between the G-quadruplex structures and related binding proteins. This review will explore the feasibility of G-quadruplex ligands acting as anti-tumor drugs, from basis to application. Meanwhile, since helicase is the most well-defined G-quadruplex-related protein, the most extensive research on the relationship between helicase and G-quadruplexes, and its meaning in drug design, is emphasized.
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15
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Sullivan HJ, Readmond C, Radicella C, Persad V, Fasano TJ, Wu C. Binding of Telomestatin, TMPyP4, BSU6037, and BRACO19 to a Telomeric G-Quadruplex-Duplex Hybrid Probed by All-Atom Molecular Dynamics Simulations with Explicit Solvent. ACS OMEGA 2018; 3:14788-14806. [PMID: 30555989 PMCID: PMC6289566 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.8b01574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
A promising anticancer therapeutic strategy is the stabilization of telomeric G-quadruplexes using G-quadruplex-binding small molecules. Although many G-quadruplex-specific ligands have been developed, their low potency and selectivity to G-quadruplexes over duplex remains unsolved. Recently, a crystal structure of a telomeric 3' quadruplex-duplex hybrid was reported and the quadruplex-duplex interface was suggested to a good target to address the issues. However, there are no high-resolution complex structures reported for G-quadruplex ligands except for a docked BSU6037. In this study, molecular dynamic (MD) binding simulations with a free ligand were used to study binding poses and dynamics of four representative ligands: telomestatin, TMPyP4, BSU6037, and BRACO19. The MD data showed that BSU6037 was able to fully intercalate into the interface whereas TMPyP4 and BRACO19 could only maintain partial intercalation into the interface and telomestatin only binds at the quadruplex and duplex ends. Both linear ligands, BSU6037 and BRACO19, were able to interact with the interface, yet they were not selective over duplex DNA. The DNA geometry, binding modes, and binding pathways were systematically characterized, and the binding energy was calculated and compared for each system. The interaction of the ligands to the interface was by the means of an induced-fit binding mechanism rather than a lock-key mechanism, consisting of the DNA unfolding at the interface to allow entrance of the drug and then the refolding and repacking of the DNA and the ligand to further stabilize the G-quadruplex. On the basis of the findings in this study, modifications were suggested to optimize the interface binding for TMPyp4 and telomestatin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holli-Joi Sullivan
- Chemistry
& Biochemistry and Department of Molecular & Cellular Biosciences, College of Science and Mathematics, Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey 08028, United States
| | - Carolyn Readmond
- Chemistry
& Biochemistry and Department of Molecular & Cellular Biosciences, College of Science and Mathematics, Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey 08028, United States
| | - Christina Radicella
- Chemistry
& Biochemistry and Department of Molecular & Cellular Biosciences, College of Science and Mathematics, Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey 08028, United States
| | - Victoria Persad
- Chemistry
& Biochemistry and Department of Molecular & Cellular Biosciences, College of Science and Mathematics, Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey 08028, United States
| | - Thomas J. Fasano
- Chemistry
& Biochemistry and Department of Molecular & Cellular Biosciences, College of Science and Mathematics, Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey 08028, United States
| | - Chun Wu
- Chemistry
& Biochemistry and Department of Molecular & Cellular Biosciences, College of Science and Mathematics, Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey 08028, United States
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16
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Oxadiazole/Pyridine-Based Ligands: A Structural Tuning for Enhancing G-Quadruplex Binding. Molecules 2018; 23:molecules23092162. [PMID: 30154319 PMCID: PMC6225118 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23092162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2018] [Revised: 08/16/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-macrocyclic heteroaryls represent a valuable class of ligands for nucleic acid recognition. In this regard, non-macrocyclic pyridyl polyoxazoles and polyoxadiazoles were recently identified as selective G-quadruplex stabilizing compounds with high cytotoxicity and promising anticancer activity. Herein, we describe the synthesis of a new family of heteroaryls containing oxadiazole and pyridine moieties targeting DNA G-quadruplexes. To perform a structure–activity analysis identifying determinants of activity and selectivity, we followed a convergent synthetic pathway to modulate the nature and number of the heterocycles (1,3-oxazole vs. 1,2,4-oxadiazole and pyridine vs. benzene). Each ligand was evaluated towards secondary nucleic acid structures, which have been chosen as a prototype to mimic cancer-associated G-quadruplex structures (e.g., the human telomeric sequence, c-myc and c-kit promoters). Interestingly, heptapyridyl-oxadiazole compounds showed preferential binding towards the telomeric sequence (22AG) in competitive conditions vs. duplex DNA. In addition, G4-FID assays suggest a different binding mode from the classical stacking on the external G-quartet. Additionally, CD titrations in the presence of the two most promising compounds for affinity, TOxAzaPy and TOxAzaPhen, display a structural transition of 22AG in K-rich buffer. This investigation suggests that the pyridyl-oxadiazole motif is a promising recognition element for G-quadruplexes, combining seven heteroaryls in a single binding unit.
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17
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Mackay A, Burford A, Carvalho D, Izquierdo E, Fazal-Salom J, Taylor KR, Bjerke L, Clarke M, Vinci M, Nandhabalan M, Temelso S, Popov S, Molinari V, Raman P, Waanders AJ, Han HJ, Gupta S, Marshall L, Zacharoulis S, Vaidya S, Mandeville HC, Bridges LR, Martin AJ, Al-Sarraj S, Chandler C, Ng HK, Li X, Mu K, Trabelsi S, Brahim DHB, Kisljakov AN, Konovalov DM, Moore AS, Carcaboso AM, Sunol M, de Torres C, Cruz O, Mora J, Shats LI, Stavale JN, Bidinotto LT, Reis RM, Entz-Werle N, Farrell M, Cryan J, Crimmins D, Caird J, Pears J, Monje M, Debily MA, Castel D, Grill J, Hawkins C, Nikbakht H, Jabado N, Baker SJ, Pfister SM, Jones DTW, Fouladi M, von Bueren AO, Baudis M, Resnick A, Jones C. Integrated Molecular Meta-Analysis of 1,000 Pediatric High-Grade and Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma. Cancer Cell 2017; 32:520-537.e5. [PMID: 28966033 PMCID: PMC5637314 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2017.08.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 660] [Impact Index Per Article: 94.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2017] [Revised: 07/14/2017] [Accepted: 08/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
We collated data from 157 unpublished cases of pediatric high-grade glioma and diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma and 20 publicly available datasets in an integrated analysis of >1,000 cases. We identified co-segregating mutations in histone-mutant subgroups including loss of FBXW7 in H3.3G34R/V, TOP3A rearrangements in H3.3K27M, and BCOR mutations in H3.1K27M. Histone wild-type subgroups are refined by the presence of key oncogenic events or methylation profiles more closely resembling lower-grade tumors. Genomic aberrations increase with age, highlighting the infant population as biologically and clinically distinct. Uncommon pathway dysregulation is seen in small subsets of tumors, further defining the molecular diversity of the disease, opening up avenues for biological study and providing a basis for functionally defined future treatment stratification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan Mackay
- Division of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK; Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Anna Burford
- Division of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK; Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Diana Carvalho
- Division of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK; Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Elisa Izquierdo
- Division of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK; Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Janat Fazal-Salom
- Division of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK; Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Kathryn R Taylor
- Division of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK; Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK; Department of Neurology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Lynn Bjerke
- Division of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK; Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Matthew Clarke
- Division of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK; Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Mara Vinci
- Division of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK; Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Meera Nandhabalan
- Division of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK; Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Sara Temelso
- Division of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK; Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Sergey Popov
- Division of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK; Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK; Department of Cellular Pathology, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK
| | - Valeria Molinari
- Division of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK; Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Pichai Raman
- The Center for Data Driven Discovery in Biomedicine (D(3)b), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Division of Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Angela J Waanders
- The Center for Data Driven Discovery in Biomedicine (D(3)b), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Division of Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Harry J Han
- The Center for Data Driven Discovery in Biomedicine (D(3)b), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Division of Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Saumya Gupta
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Lynley Marshall
- Pediatric Oncology Drug Development Team, Children and Young People's Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton, UK
| | - Stergios Zacharoulis
- Pediatric Oncology Drug Development Team, Children and Young People's Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton, UK
| | - Sucheta Vaidya
- Pediatric Oncology Drug Development Team, Children and Young People's Unit, Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton, UK
| | | | - Leslie R Bridges
- Department of Cellular Pathology, St George's Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Andrew J Martin
- Department of Neurosurgery, St George's Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Safa Al-Sarraj
- Department of Neuropathology, Kings College Hospital, London, UK
| | | | - Ho-Keung Ng
- Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xingang Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University and Brain Science Research Institute, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Kun Mu
- Department of Pathology, Shandong University School of Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Saoussen Trabelsi
- Department of Cytogenetics and Reproductive Biology, Farhat Hached Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Dorra H'mida-Ben Brahim
- Department of Cytogenetics and Reproductive Biology, Farhat Hached Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Alexei N Kisljakov
- Department of Pathology, Morozov Children's Hospital, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Dmitry M Konovalov
- Department of Pathology, Dmitrii Rogachev Research and Clinical Centre of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology, Moscow, Russian Federation
| | - Andrew S Moore
- UQ Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; Oncology Services Group, Children's Health Queensland Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, Australia; The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, Brisbane, Australia
| | | | - Mariona Sunol
- Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Deu, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Ofelia Cruz
- Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Deu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jaume Mora
- Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Deu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ludmila I Shats
- Division of Oncology, Pediatric Oncology and Radiotherapy, St Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University, St Petersburg, Russian Federation
| | - João N Stavale
- Department of Pathology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Lucas T Bidinotto
- Molecular Oncology Research Centre, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Rui M Reis
- Molecular Oncology Research Centre, Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos, São Paulo, Brazil; Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), Medical School, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal and ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Natacha Entz-Werle
- Pédiatrie Onco-Hématologie - Pédiatrie III, Centre Hospitalier Régional et Universitaire Hautepierre, Strasbourg, France
| | - Michael Farrell
- Histopathology Department, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jane Cryan
- Histopathology Department, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Darach Crimmins
- Department of Neurosurgery, Temple Street Children's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - John Caird
- Department of Neurosurgery, Temple Street Children's University Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Jane Pears
- Department of Paediatric Oncology, Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Michelle Monje
- Department of Neurology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Marie-Anne Debily
- Département de Cancerologie de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent, Institut Gustav Roussy, Villejuif, France
| | - David Castel
- Département de Cancerologie de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent, Institut Gustav Roussy, Villejuif, France
| | - Jacques Grill
- Département de Cancerologie de l'Enfant et de l'Adolescent, Institut Gustav Roussy, Villejuif, France
| | - Cynthia Hawkins
- Pediatric Laboratory Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Hamid Nikbakht
- Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Nada Jabado
- The Center for Data Driven Discovery in Biomedicine (D(3)b), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Suzanne J Baker
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Stefan M Pfister
- Division of Pediatric Neuro-oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany; Hopp-Children's Cancer Center at the NCT Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - David T W Jones
- Division of Pediatric Neuro-oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany; Hopp-Children's Cancer Center at the NCT Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Maryam Fouladi
- Department of Pediatrics, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - André O von Bueren
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen, Germany; Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Hospital of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland; Department of Pediatrics, CANSEARCH Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Michael Baudis
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Adam Resnick
- The Center for Data Driven Discovery in Biomedicine (D(3)b), Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Division of Neurosurgery, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Division of Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Chris Jones
- Division of Molecular Pathology, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK; Division of Cancer Therapeutics, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK.
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18
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Berardinelli F, Coluzzi E, Sgura A, Antoccia A. Targeting telomerase and telomeres to enhance ionizing radiation effects in in vitro and in vivo cancer models. MUTATION RESEARCH-REVIEWS IN MUTATION RESEARCH 2017; 773:204-219. [PMID: 28927529 DOI: 10.1016/j.mrrev.2017.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2016] [Revised: 02/13/2017] [Accepted: 02/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
One of the hallmarks of cancer consists in the ability of tumor cells to divide indefinitely, and to maintain stable telomere lengths throughout the activation of specific telomere maintenance mechanisms (TMM). Therefore in the last fifteen years, researchers proposed to target telomerase or telomeric structure in order to block limitless replicative potential of cancer cells providing a fascinating strategy for a broad-spectrum cancer therapy. In the present review, we report in vitro and in vivo evidence regarding the use of chemical agents targeting both telomerase or telomere structure and showing promising antitumor effects when used in combination with ionizing radiation (IR). RNA interference, antisense oligonucleotides (e.g., GRN163L), non-nucleoside inhibitors (e.g., BIBR1532) and nucleoside analogs (e.g., AZT) represent some of the most potent strategies to inhibit telomerase activity used in combination with IR. Furthermore, radiosensitizing effects were demonstrated also for agents acting directly on the telomeric structure such as G4-ligands (e.g., RHPS4 and Telomestatin) or telomeric-oligos (T-oligos). To date, some of these compounds are under clinical evaluation (e.g., GRN163L and KML001). Advantages of Telomere/Telomerase Targeting Compounds (T/TTCs) coupled with radiotherapy may be relevant in the treatment of radioresistant tumors and in the development of new optimized treatment plans with reduced dose adsorbed by patients and consequent attenuation of short- end long-term side effects. Pros and cons of possible future applications in cancer therapy based on the combination of T/TCCs and radiation treatment are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Berardinelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze, Università Roma Tre, Rome Italy; Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, INFN, Sezione di Roma Tre, Rome, Italy.
| | - E Coluzzi
- Dipartimento di Scienze, Università Roma Tre, Rome Italy
| | - A Sgura
- Dipartimento di Scienze, Università Roma Tre, Rome Italy; Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, INFN, Sezione di Roma Tre, Rome, Italy
| | - A Antoccia
- Dipartimento di Scienze, Università Roma Tre, Rome Italy; Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, INFN, Sezione di Roma Tre, Rome, Italy
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19
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Effects of Replication and Transcription on DNA Structure-Related Genetic Instability. Genes (Basel) 2017; 8:genes8010017. [PMID: 28067787 PMCID: PMC5295012 DOI: 10.3390/genes8010017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2016] [Revised: 12/21/2016] [Accepted: 12/26/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Many repetitive sequences in the human genome can adopt conformations that differ from the canonical B-DNA double helix (i.e., non-B DNA), and can impact important biological processes such as DNA replication, transcription, recombination, telomere maintenance, viral integration, transposome activation, DNA damage and repair. Thus, non-B DNA-forming sequences have been implicated in genetic instability and disease development. In this article, we discuss the interactions of non-B DNA with the replication and/or transcription machinery, particularly in disease states (e.g., tumors) that can lead to an abnormal cellular environment, and how such interactions may alter DNA replication and transcription, leading to potential conflicts at non-B DNA regions, and eventually result in genetic stability and human disease.
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20
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Mulholland K, Wu C. Binding of Telomestatin to a Telomeric G-Quadruplex DNA Probed by All-Atom Molecular Dynamics Simulations with Explicit Solvent. J Chem Inf Model 2016; 56:2093-2102. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.6b00473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kelly Mulholland
- College of Science and Mathematics, Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey 08028, United States
| | - Chun Wu
- College of Science and Mathematics, Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey 08028, United States
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21
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Biochemical and cell biological assays to identify and characterize DNA helicase inhibitors. Methods 2016; 108:130-41. [PMID: 27064001 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2016.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2016] [Revised: 04/04/2016] [Accepted: 04/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The growing number of DNA helicases implicated in hereditary disorders and cancer indicates that this particular class of enzymes plays key roles in genomic stability and cellular homeostasis. Indeed, a large body of work has provided molecular and cellular evidence that helicases act upon a variety of nucleic acid substrates and interact with numerous proteins to enact their functions in replication, DNA repair, recombination, and transcription. Understanding how helicases operate in unique and overlapping pathways is a great challenge to researchers. In this review, we describe a series of experimental approaches and methodologies to identify and characterize DNA helicase inhibitors which collectively provide an alternative and useful strategy to explore their biological significance in cell-based systems. These procedures were used in the discovery of biologically active compounds that inhibited the DNA unwinding function catalyzed by the human WRN helicase-nuclease defective in the premature aging disorder Werner syndrome. We describe in vitro and in vivo experimental approaches to characterize helicase inhibitors with WRN as the model, anticipating that these approaches may be extrapolated to other DNA helicases, particularly those implicated in DNA repair and/or the replication stress response.
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22
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Müller S, Rodriguez R. G-quadruplex interacting small molecules and drugs: from bench toward bedside. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2014; 7:663-79. [DOI: 10.1586/17512433.2014.945909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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23
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Safa L, Delagoutte E, Petruseva I, Alberti P, Lavrik O, Riou JF, Saintomé C. Binding polarity of RPA to telomeric sequences and influence of G-quadruplex stability. Biochimie 2014; 103:80-8. [PMID: 24747047 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2014.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2013] [Accepted: 04/09/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Replication protein A (RPA) is a single-stranded DNA binding protein that plays an essential role in telomere maintenance. RPA binds to and unfolds G-quadruplex (G4) structures formed in telomeric DNA, thus facilitating lagging strand DNA replication and telomerase activity. To investigate the effect of G4 stability on the interactions with human RPA (hRPA), we used a combination of biochemical and biophysical approaches. Our data revealed an inverse relationship between G4 stability and ability of hRPA to bind to telomeric DNA; notably small G4 ligands that enhance G4 stability strongly impaired G4 unfolding by hRPA. To gain more insight into the mechanism of binding and unfolding of telomeric G4 structures by RPA, we carried out photo-crosslinking experiments to elucidate the spatial arrangement of the RPA subunits along the DNA strands. Our results showed that RPA1 and RPA2 are arranged from 5' to 3' along the unfolded telomeric G4, as already described for unstructured single-stranded DNA, while no contact is possible with RPA3 on this short oligonucleotide. In addition, these data are compatible with a 5' to 3' directionality in G4 unfolding by hRPA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Layal Safa
- Structure des Acides Nucléiques, Télomères et Evolution, Inserm U1154, CNRS UMR 7196, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 43 rue Cuvier, 75231 Paris cedex 05, France; Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 4 place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Emmanuelle Delagoutte
- Structure des Acides Nucléiques, Télomères et Evolution, Inserm U1154, CNRS UMR 7196, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 43 rue Cuvier, 75231 Paris cedex 05, France
| | - Irina Petruseva
- Novosibirsk Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Siberian Division of Russian Academy of Science, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Patrizia Alberti
- Structure des Acides Nucléiques, Télomères et Evolution, Inserm U1154, CNRS UMR 7196, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 43 rue Cuvier, 75231 Paris cedex 05, France
| | - Olga Lavrik
- Novosibirsk Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Siberian Division of Russian Academy of Science, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Jean-François Riou
- Structure des Acides Nucléiques, Télomères et Evolution, Inserm U1154, CNRS UMR 7196, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 43 rue Cuvier, 75231 Paris cedex 05, France.
| | - Carole Saintomé
- Structure des Acides Nucléiques, Télomères et Evolution, Inserm U1154, CNRS UMR 7196, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 43 rue Cuvier, 75231 Paris cedex 05, France; Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 4 place Jussieu, 75005 Paris, France.
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24
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G-quadruplex structures in the human genome as novel therapeutic targets. Molecules 2013; 18:12368-95. [PMID: 24108400 PMCID: PMC6270421 DOI: 10.3390/molecules181012368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2013] [Revised: 09/24/2013] [Accepted: 09/27/2013] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
G-quadruplexes are secondary structures that may form within guanine-rich nucleic acid sequences. Telomeres have received much attention in this regard since they can fold into several distinct intramolecular G-quadruplexes, leading to the rational design and development of G-quadruplex-stabilizing molecules. These ligands were shown to selectively exert an antiproliferative and chemosensitizing activity in in vitro and in vivo tumor models, without appreciably affecting normal cells. Such findings point to them as possible drug candidates for clinical applications. Other than in telomeres, G-quadruplexes may form at additional locations in the human genome, including gene promoters and untranslated regions. For instance, stabilization of G-quadruplex structures within the promoter of MYC, KIT, or KRAS resulted in the down-regulation of the corresponding oncogene either in gene reporter assays or in selected experimental models. In addition, the alternative splicing of a number of genes may be affected for a therapeutic benefit through the stabilization of G-quadruplexes located within pre-mRNAs. It is now emerging that G-quadruplex structures may act as key regulators of several biological processes. Consequently, they are considered as attractive targets for broad-spectrum anticancer therapies, and much effort is being made to develop a variety of ligands with improved G-quadruplex recognition properties. Quarfloxin, a fluoroquinolone derivative designed to target a G-quadruplex within ribosomal DNA and disrupt protein-DNA interactions, has entered clinical trials for different malignancies. This review will provide some hints on the role of G-quadruplex structures in biological processes and will evaluate their implications as novel therapeutic targets.
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25
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Iachettini S, Stevens MF, Frigerio M, Hummersone MG, Hutchinson I, Garner TP, Searle MS, Wilson DW, Munde M, Nanjunda R, D'Angelo C, Zizza P, Rizzo A, Cingolani C, De Cicco F, Porru M, D'Incalci M, Leonetti C, Biroccio A, Salvati E. On and off-target effects of telomere uncapping G-quadruplex selective ligands based on pentacyclic acridinium salts. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2013; 32:68. [PMID: 24330541 PMCID: PMC3849007 DOI: 10.1186/1756-9966-32-68] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2013] [Accepted: 08/29/2013] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Quadruplexes DNA are present in telomeric DNA as well as in several cancer-related gene promoters and hence affect gene expression and subsequent biological processes. The conformations of G4 provide selective recognition sites for small molecules and thus these structures have become important drug-design targets for cancer treatment. The DNA G-quadruplex binding pentacyclic acridinium salt RHPS4 (1) has many pharmacological attributes of an ideal telomere-targeting agent but has undesirable off-target liabilities. Notably a cardiovascular effect was evident in a guinea pig model, manifested by a marked and sustained increase in QTcB interval. In accordance with this, significant interaction with the human recombinant β2 adrenergic receptor, and M1, M2 and M3 muscarinic receptors was observed, together with a high inhibition of the hERG tail current tested in a patch clamp assay. Two related pentacyclic structures, the acetylamines (2) and (3), both show a modest interaction with β2 adrenergic receptor, and do not significatively inhibit the hERG tail current while demonstrating potent telomere on-target properties comparing closely with 1. Of the two isomers, the 2-acetyl-aminopentacycle (2) more closely mimics the overall biological profile of 1 and this information will be used to guide further synthetic efforts to identify novel variants of this chemotype, to maximize on-target and minimize off-target activities. Consequently, the improvement of toxicological profile of these compounds could therefore lead to the obtainment of suitable molecules for clinical development offering new pharmacological strategies in cancer treatment.
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Chung WJ, Heddi B, Tera M, Iida K, Nagasawa K, Phan AT. Solution Structure of an Intramolecular (3 + 1) Human Telomeric G-Quadruplex Bound to a Telomestatin Derivative. J Am Chem Soc 2013; 135:13495-501. [DOI: 10.1021/ja405843r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Wan Jun Chung
- School of Physical and Mathematical
Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Brahim Heddi
- School of Physical and Mathematical
Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
| | - Masayuki Tera
- Department
of Biotechnology and Life Science, Faculty of Technology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Japan
- Bioorganic Research Institute, Suntory Foundation for Life Science, Japan
| | - Keisuke Iida
- Department
of Biotechnology and Life Science, Faculty of Technology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Japan
| | - Kazuo Nagasawa
- Department
of Biotechnology and Life Science, Faculty of Technology, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Japan
| | - Anh Tuân Phan
- School of Physical and Mathematical
Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
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Micco M, Collie GW, Dale AG, Ohnmacht SA, Pazitna I, Gunaratnam M, Reszka AP, Neidle S. Structure-based design and evaluation of naphthalene diimide G-quadruplex ligands as telomere targeting agents in pancreatic cancer cells. J Med Chem 2013; 56:2959-74. [PMID: 23514618 DOI: 10.1021/jm301899y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 141] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Tetra-substituted naphthalene diimide (ND) derivatives with positively charged termini are potent stabilizers of human telomeric and gene promoter DNA quadruplexes and inhibit the growth of human cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. The present study reports the enhancement of the pharmacological properties of earlier ND compounds using structure-based design. Crystal structures of three complexes with human telomeric intramolecular quadruplexes demonstrate that two of the four strongly basic N-methyl-piperazine groups can be replaced by less basic morpholine groups with no loss of intermolecular interactions in the grooves of the quadruplex. The new compounds retain high affinity to human telomeric quadruplex DNA but are 10-fold more potent against the MIA PaCa-2 pancreatic cancer cell line, with IC50 values of ~10 nM. The lead compound induces cellular senescence but does not inhibit telomerase activity at the nanomolar dosage levels required for inhibition of cellular proliferation. Gene array qPCR analysis of MIA PaCa-2 cells treated with the lead compound revealed significant dose-dependent modulation of a distinct subset of genes, including strong induction of DNA damage responsive genes CDKN1A, DDIT3, GADD45A/G, and PPM1D, and repression of genes involved in telomere maintenance, including hPOT1 and PARP1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marialuisa Micco
- The School of Pharmacy, University College London, London WC1N 1AX, UK
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28
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Douarre C, Mergui X, Sidibe A, Gomez D, Alberti P, Mailliet P, Trentesaux C, Riou JF. DNA damage signaling induced by the G-quadruplex ligand 12459 is modulated by PPM1D/WIP1 phosphatase. Nucleic Acids Res 2013; 41:3588-99. [PMID: 23396447 PMCID: PMC3616712 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkt073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The triazine derivative 12459 is a potent G-quadruplex ligand that triggers apoptosis or delayed growth arrest, telomere shortening and G-overhang degradation, as a function of its concentration and time exposure to the cells. We have investigated here the DNA damage response induced by 12459 in A549 cells. Submicromolar concentrations of 12459 triggers a delayed Chk1-ATR–mediated DNA damage response associated with a telomeric dysfunction and a G2/M arrest. Surprisingly, increasing concentrations of 12459 leading to cell apoptosis induced a mechanism that bypasses the DNA damage signaling and leads to the dephosphorylation of Chk1 and γ-H2AX. We identified the phosphatase Protein Phosphatase Magnesium dependent 1D/Wild-type P53-Induced Phosphatase (PPM1D/WIP1) as a factor responsible for this dephosphorylation. SiRNA-mediated depletion of PPM1D/WIP1 reactivates the DNA damage signaling by 12459. In addition, PPM1D/WIP1 is activated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by 12459. ROS generated by 12459 are sufficient to trigger an early DNA damage in A549 cells when PPM1D/WIP1 is depleted. However, ROS inactivation by N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) treatment does not change the apoptotic response induced by 12459. Because PPM1D expression was recently reported to modulate the recruitment of DNA repair molecules, our data would suggest a cycle of futile protection against 12459, thus leading to a delayed mechanism of cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Céline Douarre
- Laboratoire d'Onco-pharmacologie, JE 2428, Université de Reims, 51 rue Cognacq Jay, 51096 Reims cedex, France
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29
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Franceschin M, Rizzo A, Casagrande V, Salvati E, Alvino A, Altieri A, Ciammaichella A, Iachettini S, Leonetti C, Ortaggi G, Porru M, Bianco A, Biroccio A. Aromatic core extension in the series of N-cyclic bay-substituted perylene G-quadruplex ligands: increased telomere damage, antitumor activity, and strong selectivity for neoplastic over healthy cells. ChemMedChem 2012; 7:2144-54. [PMID: 23097341 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201200348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2012] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Based on previous work on both perylene and coronene derivatives as G-quadruplex binders, a novel chimeric compound was designed: N,N'-bis[2-(1-piperidino)-ethyl]-1-(1-piperidinyl)-6-[2-(1-piperidino)-ethyl]-benzo[ghi]perylene-3,4:9,10-tetracarboxylic diimide (EMICORON), having one piperidinyl group bound to the perylene bay area (positions 1, 12 and 6, 7 of the aromatic core), sufficient to guarantee good selectivity, and an extended aromatic core able to increase the stacking interactions with the terminal tetrad of the G-quadruplex. The obtained "chimera" molecule, EMICORON, rapidly triggers extensive DNA damage of telomeres, associated with the delocalization of telomeric protein protection of telomeres 1 (POT1), and efficiently limits the growth of both telomerase-positive and -negative tumor cells. Notably, the biological effects of EMICORON are more potent than those of the previously described perylene derivative (PPL3C), and more interestingly, EMICORON appears to be detrimental to transformed and tumor cells, while normal fibroblasts expressing telomerase remain unaffected. These results identify a new promising G-quadruplex ligand, structurally and biologically similar on one side to coronene and on the other side to a bay-monosubstituted perylene, that warrants further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Franceschin
- Dipartimento di Chimica, Sapienza Università di Roma, P.le.A. Moro 5, 00185 Roma, Italy
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30
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Müller S, Sanders DA, Di Antonio M, Matsis S, Riou JF, Rodriguez R, Balasubramanian S. Pyridostatin analogues promote telomere dysfunction and long-term growth inhibition in human cancer cells. Org Biomol Chem 2012; 10:6537-46. [PMID: 22790277 PMCID: PMC3700226 DOI: 10.1039/c2ob25830g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2012] [Accepted: 06/21/2012] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The synthesis, biophysical and biological evaluation of a series of G-quadruplex interacting small molecules based on a N,N'-bis(quinolinyl)pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide scaffold is described. The synthetic analogues were evaluated for their ability to stabilize telomeric G-quadruplex DNA, some of which showed very high stabilization potential associated with high selectivity over double-stranded DNA. The compounds exhibited growth arrest of cancer cells with detectable selectivity over normal cells. Long-time growth arrest was accompanied by senescence, where telomeric dysfunction is a predominant mechanism together with the accumulation of restricted DNA damage sites in the genome. Our data emphasize the potential of a senescence-mediated anticancer therapy through the use of G-quadruplex targeting small molecules based on the molecular framework of pyridostatin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Müller
- Department of Chemistry , University of Cambridge , Lensfield Road , Cambridge , CB2 1EW , UK . ; ; Tel: +44 (0)1223 336347
| | - Deborah A. Sanders
- Department of Chemistry , University of Cambridge , Lensfield Road , Cambridge , CB2 1EW , UK . ; ; Tel: +44 (0)1223 336347
| | - Marco Di Antonio
- Department of Chemistry , University of Cambridge , Lensfield Road , Cambridge , CB2 1EW , UK . ; ; Tel: +44 (0)1223 336347
| | - Stephanos Matsis
- Department of Chemistry , University of Cambridge , Lensfield Road , Cambridge , CB2 1EW , UK . ; ; Tel: +44 (0)1223 336347
| | - Jean-François Riou
- Regulation et Dynamique des Genomes , Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle , INSERM U565 , CNRS UMR 7196 , Paris , France
| | - Raphaël Rodriguez
- Department of Chemistry , University of Cambridge , Lensfield Road , Cambridge , CB2 1EW , UK . ; ; Tel: +44 (0)1223 336347
| | - Shankar Balasubramanian
- Department of Chemistry , University of Cambridge , Lensfield Road , Cambridge , CB2 1EW , UK . ; ; Tel: +44 (0)1223 336347
- Cancer Research UK , Cambridge Research Institute , Li Ka Shing Center , Cambridge , CB2 0RE , UK
- School of Clinical Medicine , University of Cambridge , Cambridge , CB2 0SP , UK
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31
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Sidibe A, Hamon F, Largy E, Gomez D, Teulade-Fichou MP, Trentesaux C, Riou JF. Effects of a halogenated G-quadruplex ligand from the pyridine dicarboxamide series on the terminal sequence of XpYp telomere in HT1080 cells. Biochimie 2012; 94:2559-68. [PMID: 22796264 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2012.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2012] [Accepted: 07/05/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Non-canonical four-stranded structures called G-quadruplexes can form among telomere repeats during its replication. Small molecule ligands able to interact and to stabilize G-quadruplexes were shown to disrupt the binding of essential telomeric components, such as POT1 and to trigger a telomeric dysfunction associated with a delayed growth arrest in tumor cells. We describe here the chemical synthesis and the G-quadruplex binding properties of three halogenated analogs of the 360A ligand that belongs to the 2,6 pyridine dicarboxamide series. 360A is now commonly used as a benchmark both for biophysical and cellular assays as this compound was shown to display a potent affinity and selectivity for telomeric G-quadruplex DNA over duplex DNA and to induce delayed growth inhibition in HT1080 tumor cell line. Two biophysical assays indicate that, in most cases, the presence of the halogen atom seems to slightly improve the interaction with the telomeric quadruplex. For stability reasons, the bromo derivative (360A-Br) was selected for the cellular assays. Since POT1 participates to the fine tuning of the C-strand end resection during telomere replication, we investigated the effect of 360A-Br to alter the terminal nucleotide composition of XpYp telomere in HT1080 cells using C-STELA. HT1080 cells treated for up to 24 days with 360A-Br presented some minor but significant variations of C-strand terminal nucleotide composition, also observed with a partial siRNA depletion of POT1. The relevance of these minor modifications of the telomeric C-strand resection induced by 360A-Br in HT1080 cells are discussed.
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32
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Binding of gemini bisbenzimidazole drugs with human telomeric G-quadruplex dimers: effect of the spacer in the design of potent telomerase inhibitors. PLoS One 2012; 7:e39467. [PMID: 22737240 PMCID: PMC3380826 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0039467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2012] [Accepted: 05/21/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The study of anticancer agents that act via stabilization of telomeric G-quadruplex DNA (G4DNA) is important because such agents often inhibit telomerase activity. Several types of G4DNA binding ligands are known. In these studies, the target structures often involve a single G4 DNA unit formed by short DNA telomeric sequences. However, the 3′-terminal single-stranded human telomeric DNA can form higher-order structures by clustering consecutive quadruplex units (dimers or n-mers). Herein, we present new synthetic gemini (twin) bisbenzimidazole ligands, in which the oligo-oxyethylene spacers join the two bisbenzimidazole units for the recognition of both monomeric and dimeric G4DNA, derived from d(T2AG3)4 and d(T2AG3)8 human telomeric DNA, respectively. The spacer between the two bisbenzimidazoles in the geminis plays a critical role in the G4DNA stability. We report here (i) synthesis of new effective gemini anticancer agents that are selectively more toxic towards the cancer cells than the corresponding normal cells; (ii) formation and characterization of G4DNA dimers in solution as well as computational construction of the dimeric G4DNA structures. The gemini ligands direct the folding of the single-stranded DNA into an unusually stable parallel-stranded G4DNA when it was formed in presence of the ligands in KCl solution and the gemini ligands show spacer length dependent potent telomerase inhibition properties.
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Bilsland AE, Cairney CJ, Keith WN. Targeting the telomere and shelterin complex for cancer therapy: current views and future perspectives. J Cell Mol Med 2012; 15:179-86. [PMID: 21199331 PMCID: PMC3822786 DOI: 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2010.01253.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Aberrant telomere homeostasis is essential for cell immortality, enabling cells to evade telomere dependent senescence. Disruption of telomere structure and function in cancer cells is highly toxic as shown by detailed pre-clinical evaluation of telomerase inhibitors. Under telomerase inhibition, cells must divide sufficiently frequently to allow one or more telomeres to shorten to an unprotected length. Functioning telomeres are disguised from the DNA damage machinery by DNA remodelling and other activities of the telomere binding complex shelterin. Direct interference with shelterin has been shown to result in cell killing and small molecules directly targeting telomere DNA also have anti-tumour effects partially dependent on shelterin disruption. However, shelterin components have not generally been regarded as therapeutic targets in their own right. In this review, we explore the possibilities for therapeutic targeting of the shelterin complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan E Bilsland
- University of Glasgow, Institute of Cancer Sciences, Beatson Laboratories, Bearsden, Glasgow, UK
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34
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Durant ST. Telomerase-independent paths to immortality in predictable cancer subtypes. J Cancer 2012; 3:67-82. [PMID: 22315652 PMCID: PMC3273709 DOI: 10.7150/jca.3965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2011] [Accepted: 01/28/2012] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The vast majority of cancers commandeer the activity of telomerase - the remarkable enzyme responsible for prolonging cellular lifespan by maintaining the length of telomeres at the ends of chromosomes. Telomerase is only normally active in embryonic and highly proliferative somatic cells. Thus, targeting telomerase is an attractive anti-cancer therapeutic rationale currently under investigation in various phases of clinical development. However, previous reports suggest that an average of 10-15% of all cancers lose the functional activity of telomerase and most of these turn to an Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres pathway (ALT). ALT-positive tumours will therefore not respond to anti-telomerase therapies and there is a real possibility that such drugs would be toxic to normal telomerase-utilising cells and ultimately select for resistant cells that activate an ALT mechanism. ALT exploits certain DNA damage response (DDR) components to counteract telomere shortening and rapid trimming. ALT has been reported in many cancer subtypes including sarcoma, gastric carcinoma, central nervous system malignancies, subtypes of kidney (Wilm's Tumour) and bladder carcinoma, mesothelioma, malignant melanoma and germ cell testicular cancers to name but a few. A recent heroic study that analysed ALT in over six thousand tumour samples supports this historical spread, although only reporting an approximate 4% prevalence. This review highlights the various methods of ALT detection, unravels several molecular ALT models thought to promote telomere maintenance and elongation, spotlights the DDR components known to facilitate these and explores why certain tissues are more likely to subvert DDR away from its usually protective functions, resulting in a predictive pattern of prevalence in specific cancer subsets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen T Durant
- AstraZeneca - DNA Damage Response, Bioscience, Oncology iMed, Alderley Park, Cheshire, SK10 4TG, England, UK
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35
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Xu HJ, Stefan L, Haudecoeur R, Vuong S, Richard P, Denat F, Barbe JM, Gros CP, Monchaud D. Porphyrin-templated synthetic G-quartet (PorphySQ): a second prototype of G-quartet-based G-quadruplex ligand. Org Biomol Chem 2012; 10:5212-8. [DOI: 10.1039/c2ob25601k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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36
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Hamon F, Largy E, Guédin-Beaurepaire A, Rouchon-Dagois M, Sidibe A, Monchaud D, Mergny JL, Riou JF, Nguyen CH, Teulade-Fichou MP. An Acyclic Oligoheteroaryle That Discriminates Strongly between Diverse G-Quadruplex Topologies. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2011. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201103422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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37
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Hamon F, Largy E, Guédin-Beaurepaire A, Rouchon-Dagois M, Sidibe A, Monchaud D, Mergny JL, Riou JF, Nguyen CH, Teulade-Fichou MP. An Acyclic Oligoheteroaryle That Discriminates Strongly between Diverse G-Quadruplex Topologies. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2011; 50:8745-9. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.201103422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2011] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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38
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Collie GW, Parkinson GN. The application of DNA and RNA G-quadruplexes to therapeutic medicines. Chem Soc Rev 2011; 40:5867-92. [PMID: 21789296 DOI: 10.1039/c1cs15067g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 461] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The intriguing structural diversity in folded topologies available to guanine-rich nucleic acid repeat sequences have made four-stranded G-quadruplex structures the focus of both basic and applied research, from cancer biology and novel therapeutics through to nanoelectronics. Distributed widely in the human genome as targets for regulating gene expression and chromosomal maintenance, they offer unique avenues for future cancer drug development. In particular, the recent advances in chemical and structural biology have enabled the construction of bespoke selective DNA based aptamers to be used as novel therapeutic agents and access to detailed structural models for structure based drug discovery. In this critical review, we will explore the important underlying characteristics of G-quadruplexes that make them functional, stable, and predictable nanoscaffolds. We will review the current structural database of folding topologies, molecular interfaces and novel interaction surfaces, with a consideration to their future exploitation in drug discovery, molecular biology, supermolecular assembly and aptamer design. In recent years the number of potential applications for G-quadruplex motifs has rapidly grown, so in this review we aim to explore the many future challenges and highlight where possible successes may lie. We will highlight the similarities and differences between DNA and RNA folded G-quadruplexes in terms of stability, distribution, and exploitability as small molecule targets. Finally, we will provide a detailed review of basic G-quadruplex geometry, experimental tools used, and a critical evaluation of the application of high-resolution structural biology and its ability to provide meaningful and valid models for future applications (255 references).
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Affiliation(s)
- Gavin W Collie
- CRUK Biomolecular Structure Group, The School of Pharmacy, University of London, London, UK WC1N 1AX
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39
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Bertrand H, Granzhan A, Monchaud D, Saettel N, Guillot R, Clifford S, Guédin A, Mergny J, Teulade‐Fichou M. Recognition of G‐Quadruplex DNA by Triangular Star‐Shaped Compounds: With or Without Side Chains? Chemistry 2011; 17:4529-39. [DOI: 10.1002/chem.201002810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2010] [Revised: 01/03/2011] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hélène Bertrand
- Institut Curie, Centre de Recherche, CNRS UMR176, Centre Universitaire Paris XI, Bât. 110, 91405 Orsay (France), Fax: (+33) 169075381
| | - Anton Granzhan
- Institut Curie, Centre de Recherche, CNRS UMR176, Centre Universitaire Paris XI, Bât. 110, 91405 Orsay (France), Fax: (+33) 169075381
| | - David Monchaud
- Institut Curie, Centre de Recherche, CNRS UMR176, Centre Universitaire Paris XI, Bât. 110, 91405 Orsay (France), Fax: (+33) 169075381
- Current address: Institut de Chimie Moléculaire, CNRS UMR5260, Université de Bourgogne (ICMUB), Faculté des Sciences Mirande, 9, Avenue Alain Savary, 21000 Dijon (France)
| | - Nicolas Saettel
- Institut Curie, Centre de Recherche, CNRS UMR176, Centre Universitaire Paris XI, Bât. 110, 91405 Orsay (France), Fax: (+33) 169075381
| | - Régis Guillot
- Institut de Chimie Moléculaire et des Matériaux d'Orsay, CNRS UMR8182, Université Paris Sud XI, Bât. 420, 91405 Orsay (France)
| | - Sarah Clifford
- Département de chimie minérale, analytique et appliquée Université de Genève, quai Ernest‐Ansermet 30, 1211 Genève 4 (Switzerland)
| | - Aurore Guédin
- Laboratoire des Régulations et Dynamique du Génome, INSERM U565, CNRS UMR5153, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 43, Rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris (France)
- INSERM U869, Université de Bordeaux, Institut Européen de Chimie et Biologie, 2, Rue Robert Escarpit, 33607 Pessac (France)
| | - Jean‐Louis Mergny
- Laboratoire des Régulations et Dynamique du Génome, INSERM U565, CNRS UMR5153, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, 43, Rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris (France)
- INSERM U869, Université de Bordeaux, Institut Européen de Chimie et Biologie, 2, Rue Robert Escarpit, 33607 Pessac (France)
| | - Marie‐Paule Teulade‐Fichou
- Institut Curie, Centre de Recherche, CNRS UMR176, Centre Universitaire Paris XI, Bât. 110, 91405 Orsay (France), Fax: (+33) 169075381
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Folini M, Venturini L, Cimino-Reale G, Zaffaroni N. Telomeres as targets for anticancer therapies. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2011; 15:579-93. [DOI: 10.1517/14728222.2011.556621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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41
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Inhibition of helicase activity by a small molecule impairs Werner syndrome helicase (WRN) function in the cellular response to DNA damage or replication stress. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2011; 108:1525-30. [PMID: 21220316 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1006423108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 142] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Modulation of DNA repair proteins by small molecules has attracted great interest. An in vitro helicase activity screen was used to identify molecules that modulate DNA unwinding by Werner syndrome helicase (WRN), mutated in the premature aging disorder Werner syndrome. A small molecule from the National Cancer Institute Diversity Set designated NSC 19630 [1-(propoxymethyl)-maleimide] was identified that inhibited WRN helicase activity but did not affect other DNA helicases [Bloom syndrome (BLM), Fanconi anemia group J (FANCJ), RECQ1, RecQ, UvrD, or DnaB). Exposure of human cells to NSC 19630 dramatically impaired growth and proliferation, induced apoptosis in a WRN-dependent manner, and resulted in elevated γ-H2AX and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) foci. NSC 19630 exposure led to delayed S-phase progression, consistent with the accumulation of stalled replication forks, and to DNA damage in a WRN-dependent manner. Exposure to NSC 19630 sensitized cancer cells to the G-quadruplex-binding compound telomestatin or a poly(ADP ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor. Sublethal dosage of NSC 19630 and the chemotherapy drug topotecan acted synergistically to inhibit cell proliferation and induce DNA damage. The use of this WRN helicase inhibitor molecule may provide insight into the importance of WRN-mediated pathway(s) important for DNA repair and the replicational stress response.
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42
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[Senescence and cellular immortality]. Bull Cancer 2010; 97:1275-83. [PMID: 21051314 DOI: 10.1684/bdc.2010.1205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Senescence was originally described from the observation of the limited ability of normal cells to grow in culture, and may be generated by telomere erosion, accumulation of DNA damages, oxidative stress and modulation of oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes. Senescence corresponds to a cellular response aiming to control tumor progression by limiting cell proliferation and thus constitutes an anticancer barrier. Senescence is observed in pre-malignant tumor stages and disappears from malignant tumors. Agents used in standard chemotherapy also have the potential to induce senescence, which may partly explain their therapeutic activities. It is possible to restore senescence in tumors using targeted therapies that triggers telomere dysfunction or reactivates suppressor genes functions, which are essential for the onset of senescence.
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Tetrasubstituted naphthalene diimide ligands with selectivity for telomeric G-quadruplexes and cancer cells. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2010; 20:6459-63. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2010.09.066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2010] [Revised: 09/10/2010] [Accepted: 09/13/2010] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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Small-molecule-mediated G-quadruplex isolation from human cells. Nat Chem 2010; 2:1095-8. [PMID: 21107376 DOI: 10.1038/nchem.842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 150] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2010] [Accepted: 08/16/2010] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Nucleic acids containing stretches of tandem guanines can fold into four-stranded structures called G-quadruplexes. The existence of such sequences in genomic DNA suggests the occurrence of these motifs in cells, with potential implications in a number of biological processes relevant to cancer. Small molecules have proven to be valuable tools to dissect cell circuitry. Here, we describe a synthetic small molecule derived from an N,N'-bis(2-quinolinyl)pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide, which is designed to mediate the selective isolation of G-quadruplex nucleic acids. The methodology was successfully applied to a range of DNA and RNA G-quadruplexes in vitro. We demonstrate the general applicability of the method by isolating telomeric DNA-containing G-quadruplex motifs from cells. We show that telomeres are targets for the probe, providing further evidence of the formation of G-quadruplexes in human cells.
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Abstract
Alternate DNA structures that deviate from B-form double-stranded DNA such as G-quadruplex (G4) DNA can be formed by sequences that are widely distributed throughout the human genome. G-quadruplex secondary structures, formed by the stacking of planar quartets composed of four guanines that interact by Hoogsteen hydrogen bonding, can affect cellular DNA replication and transcription, and influence genomic stability. The unique metabolism of G-rich chromosomal regions that potentially form quadruplexes may influence a number of biological processes including immunoglobulin gene rearrangements, promoter activation and telomere maintenance. A number of human diseases are characterized by telomere defects, and it is proposed that G-quadruplex structures which form at telomere ends play an important role in telomere stability. Evidence from cellular studies and model organisms suggests that diseases with known defects in G4 DNA helicases are likely to be perturbed in telomere maintenance and cellular DNA replication. In this minireview, we discuss the connections of G-quadruplex nucleic acids to human genetic diseases and cancer based on the recent literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuliang Wu
- Laboratory of Molecular Gerontology, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Rosu F, Gabelica V, Smargiasso N, Mazzucchelli G, Shin-Ya K, De Pauw E. Cation involvement in telomestatin binding to g-quadruplex DNA. J Nucleic Acids 2010; 2010. [PMID: 20700418 PMCID: PMC2911584 DOI: 10.4061/2010/121259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2010] [Accepted: 04/13/2010] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The binding mode of telomestatin to G-quadruplex DNA has been investigated using electrospray mass spectrometry, by detecting the intact complexes formed in ammonium acetate. The mass measurements show the incorporation of one extra ammonium ion in the telomestatin complexes. Experiments on telomestatin alone also show that the telomestatin alone is able to coordinate cations in a similar way as a crown ether. Finally, density functional theory calculations suggest that in the G-quadruplex-telomestatin complex, potassium or ammonium cations are located between the telomestatin and a G-quartet. This study underlines that monovalent cation coordination capabilities should be integrated in the rational design of G-quadruplex binding ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Rosu
- Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Liège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
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47
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Folini M, Pivetta C, Zagotto G, De Marco C, Palumbo M, Zaffaroni N, Sissi C. Remarkable interference with telomeric function by a G-quadruplex selective bisantrene regioisomer. Biochem Pharmacol 2010; 79:1781-90. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2010.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2010] [Revised: 02/23/2010] [Accepted: 02/24/2010] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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Monchaud D, Granzhan A, Saettel N, Guédin A, Mergny JL, Teulade-Fichou MP. "One ring to bind them all"-part I: the efficiency of the macrocyclic scaffold for g-quadruplex DNA recognition. J Nucleic Acids 2010; 2010. [PMID: 20725629 PMCID: PMC2915875 DOI: 10.4061/2010/525862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2010] [Accepted: 02/18/2010] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Macrocyclic scaffolds are particularly attractive for designing selective G-quadruplex ligands essentially because, on one hand, they show a poor affinity for the “standard” B-DNA conformation and, on the other hand, they fit nicely with the external G-quartets of quadruplexes. Stimulated by the pioneering studies on the cationic porphyrin TMPyP4 and the natural product telomestatin, follow-up studies have developed, rapidly leading to a large diversity of macrocyclic structures with remarkable-quadruplex binding properties and biological activities. In this review we summarize the current state of the art in detailing the three main categories of quadruplex-binding macrocycles described so far (telomestatin-like polyheteroarenes, porphyrins and derivatives, polyammonium cyclophanes), and in addressing both synthetic issues and biological aspects.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Monchaud
- Section Recherche, Institut Curie, CNRS UMR176, Centre Universitaire Paris XI, Batiment 110, 91405 Orsay, France
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Piazza A, Boulé JB, Lopes J, Mingo K, Largy E, Teulade-Fichou MP, Nicolas A. Genetic instability triggered by G-quadruplex interacting Phen-DC compounds in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Nucleic Acids Res 2010; 38:4337-48. [PMID: 20223771 PMCID: PMC2910037 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkq136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
G-quadruplexes are nucleic acid secondary structures for which many biological roles have been proposed but whose existence in vivo has remained elusive. To assess their formation, highly specific G-quadruplex ligands are needed. Here, we tested Phen-DC3 and Phen-DC6, two recently released ligands of the bisquinolinium class. In vitro, both compounds exhibit high affinity for the G4 formed by the human minisatellite CEB1 and inhibit efficiently their unwinding by the yeast Pif1 helicase. In vivo, both compounds rapidly induced recombination-dependent rearrangements of CEB1 inserted in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae genome, but did not affect the stability of other tandem repeats lacking G-quadruplex forming sequences. The rearrangements yielded simple-deletion, double-deletion or complex reshuffling of the polymorphic motif units, mimicking the phenotype of the Pif1 inactivation. Treatment of Pif1-deficient cells with the Phen-DC compounds further increased CEB1 instability, revealing additional G4 formation per cell. In sharp contrast, the commonly used N-methyl-mesoporphyrin IX G-quadruplex ligand did not affect CEB1 stability. Altogether, these results demonstrate that the Phen-DC bisquinolinium compounds are potent molecular tools for probing the formation of G-quadruplexes in vivo, interfere with their processing and elucidate their biological roles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurèle Piazza
- Recombinaison et Instabilité Génétique, Institut Curie Centre de Recherche, CNRS UMR3244, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75248 Paris Cedex 05, France
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