Radical Cation Transport and Reaction in RNA/DNA Hybrid Duplexes: Effect of Global Structure on Reactivity

A series of anthraquinone-linked DNA and DNA/RNA hybrid duplexes was prepared and examined to assess the effect of global structure on long-range charge transport. Spectroscopic and chemical evidence indicates that the DNA/RNA hybrid duplexes adopt an overall A-form-like structure. Irradiation of the covalently linked anthraquinone group injects a radical cation and leads to remote damage at GG steps, which is revealed as strand breaks by subsequent treatment with piperidine. Radical cation transport through the A-form hybrid duplex occurs, but the strand cleavage at GG steps in the hybrid is much less efficient than it is in duplex DNA. These findings are interpreted within the phonon-assisted polaron-like hopping model to show that the reaction of a radical cation with H2O in the A-form helix is inhibited relative to this reaction in B-form DNA

Efficient Synthesis of DNA Containing the Guanine Oxidation-Nitration Product 5-Guanidino-4-nitroimidazole: Generation by a Postsynthetic Substitution Reaction

A convertible nucleoside was synthesized and used to prepare the 2‘-deoxynucleoside of 5-guanidino-4-nitroimidazole, a putative in vivo product of the reaction of peroxynitrite with guanine. The convertible nucleoside was incorporated into an oligodeoxynucleotide by the phosphoramidite method and converted postsynthetically to yield an oligodeoxynucleotide containing 5-guanidino-4-nitroimidazole at a specific site. The oligodeoxynucleotide was inserted into a viral genome. Melting temperature analysis revealed that duplexes containing 5-guanidino-4-nitroimidazole were greatly destabilized relative to unmodified duplexes

Kinetics of Carboplatin−DNA Binding in Genomic DNA and Bladder Cancer Cells As Determined by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry

Cisplatin and carboplatin are platinum-based drugs that are widely used in cancer chemotherapy. The cytotoxicity of these drugs is mediated by platinum−DNA monoadducts and intra- and interstrand diadducts, which are formed following uptake of the drug into the nucleus of cells. The pharmacodynamics of carboplatin display fewer side effects than for cisplatin, albeit with less potency, which may be due to differences in rates of DNA adduct formation. We report the use of accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS), a sensitive detection method often used for radiocarbon quantitation, to measure both the kinetics of [14C]carboplatin−DNA adduct formation with genomic DNA and drug uptake and DNA binding in T24 human bladder cancer cells. Only carboplatin−DNA monoadducts contain radiocarbon in the platinated DNA, which allowed for calculation of kinetic rates and concentrations within the system. The percent of radiocarbon bound to salmon sperm DNA in the form of monoadducts was measured by AMS over 24 h. Knowledge of both the starting concentration of the parent carboplatin and the concentration of radiocarbon in the DNA at a variety of time points allowed calculation of the rates of Pt−DNA monoadduct formation and conversion to toxic cross-links. Importantly, the rate of carboplatin−DNA monoadduct formation was approximately 100-fold slower than that reported for the more potent cisplatin analogue, which may explain the lower toxicity of carboplatin. T24 human bladder cancer cells were incubated with a subpharmacological dose of [14C]carboplatin, and the rate of accumulation of radiocarbon in the cells and nuclear DNA was measured by AMS. The lowest concentration of radiocarbon measured was approximately 1 amol/10 μg of DNA. This sensitivity may allow the method to be used for clinical applications

Oxidation of 7,8-Dihydro-8-oxoguanine Affords Lesions That Are Potent Sources of Replication Errors in Vivo^†

Three single-stranded DNA genomes have been constructed that contain the 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2‘-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) oxidation products oxaluric acid, oxazalone, and cyanuric acid. Oligonucleotides containing each lesion were synthesized by treating an oligonucleotide containing a single 8-oxodG with peroxynitrite, and the desired products were isolated by HPLC. The modified oligonucleotides were ligated into M13mp7L2 bacteriophage DNA in such a way that the lesion was situated at a known site in the lacZ gene fragment of the viral genome. The circular genomes were transfected into wild-type AB1157 Escherichia coli. The relative efficiency of lesion bypass by DNA polymerase was determined by counting the number of initial independent infections produced by each genome relative to that of an unmodified DNA control. Viral progeny were analyzed for mutation frequency and type by PCR amplification of the insert region followed by a recently developed post-labeling assay. All three secondary lesions were readily bypassed, causing G → T transversions at frequencies at least an order of magnitude higher than 8-oxodG. These data establish a model whereby the modestly mutagenic primary lesion 8-oxodG is oxidized in vivo to much more highly mutagenic secondary lesions

Characterization of Oxaliplatin−DNA Adduct Formation in DNA and Differentiation of Cancer Cell Drug Sensitivity at Microdose Concentrations

(trans-R,R)-1,2-Diaminocyclohexaneoxalatoplatinum(II) (oxaliplatin) is a recently approved platinum analogue for use in the chemotherapy of metastatic colorectal cancer. Like many cytotoxic drugs, oxaliplatin exerts its antitumor effects by covalent modification of DNA. We report an accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) assay to measure the kinetics of oxaliplatin-induced DNA damage and repair. We determined the apparent rate of oxaliplatin adduction to salmon sperm DNA. The oxaliplatin−DNA adduct distribution was further investigated at the nucleoside level by HPLC-AMS. Cultured platinum-sensitive testicular (833K) and platinum-resistant breast and bladder (MDA-MB-231 and T24, respectively) cancer cells were incubated with a subpharmacological concentration of oxaliplatin (0.2 µM). Both cellular and DNA radiocarbon contents in the drug-sensitive testicular cells had approximately twice the area under the curve as compared to the more platinum-resistant cell lines, implying that differential accumulation of the drug may be responsible for the sensitivity of cancer cells to platinum treatment. The lowest concentration of radiocarbon measured was approximately 1 ± 0.1 amol/µg of DNA, when assaying 1 µg of DNA. This sensitivity for measuring oxaliplatin−DNA adducts is the highest reported to date. The sensitivity offered by this method may be applicable to other DNA-damaging drugs, metabolisms studies, and diagnostics development

The Hydantoin Lesions Formed from Oxidation of 7,8-Dihydro-8-oxoguanine Are Potent Sources of Replication Errors in Vivo^†

Single-stranded DNA genomes have been constructed that site-specifically contain the 7,8-dihydro-8-oxo-2‘-deoxyguanine (8-oxoG) oxidation products guanidinohydantoin (Gh) and the two stable stereoisomers of spiroiminodihydantoin (Sp1 and Sp2). The circular viral genomes were transfected into wild-type AB1157 Escherichia coli, and the efficiency of lesion bypass by DNA polymerase(s) was assessed. Viral progeny were analyzed for mutation frequency and type using the recently developed restriction endonuclease and postlabeling (REAP) assay. Gh was bypassed nearly as efficiently as the parent 8-oxoG but was highly mutagenic, causing almost exclusive G → C transversions. The stereoisomers Sp1 and Sp2 were, in comparison, much stronger blocks to DNA polymerase extension and caused a mixture of G → T and G → C transversions. The ratio of G → T to G → C mutations for each Sp lesion was dependent on the stereochemical configuration of the base. All observed mutation frequencies were at least an order of magnitude higher than those caused by 8-oxoG. Were these lesions to be formed in vivo, our data show that they are absolutely miscoding and may be refractory to repair after translesion synthesis

Urea Lesion Formation in DNA as a Consequence of 7,8-Dihydro-8-oxoguanine Oxidation and Hydrolysis Provides a Potent Source of Point Mutations

The DNA oxidation product 7,8-dihydro-8-oxoguanine (8-oxoG) forms several mutagenic oxidation products, including a metastable oxaluric acid (Oa) derivative. We report here that a synthetic oligonucleotide containing Oa hydrolyzes under simulated “in vivo” conditions to form a mutagenic urea (Ua) lesion. Using the Oa 2‘-deoxyribonucleoside as a model, the hydrolysis rate depended strongly upon the concentrations of bicarbonate and divalent magnesium. In buffered solutions containing physiologically relevant levels of these species, the half-life of Oa nucleoside was approximately 40 h at 37 °C. The mutagenic properties of Ua in DNA were investigated using a M13mp7L2 bacteriophage genome containing Ua at a specific site. Transfection of the lesion-containing genome into wild-type AB1157 Escherichia coli allowed determination of the mutation frequency and DNA polymerase bypass efficiency from the resulting progeny phage. Ua was bypassed with an efficiency of 11% as compared to a guanine control and caused a 99% G→T mutation frequency, assuming the lesion originated from G, which is at least an order of magnitude higher than the mutation frequency of 8-oxoG under the same conditions. SOS induction of bypass DNA polymerase(s) in the bacteria prior to transfection caused the mutation frequency and type to shift to 43% G→T, 46% G→C, and 10% G→A mutations. We suggest that Ua is instructional, meaning that the shape of the lesion and its interactions with DNA polymerases influence which nucleotide is inserted opposite the lesion during replication and that the instructional nature of the lesion is modulated by the size of the binding pocket of the DNA polymerase. Replication past Ua, when formed by hydrolysis of the 8-oxoG oxidation product Oa, denotes a pathway that nearly quantitatively generates point mutations in vivo

Lipid Cross-Linking of Nanolipoprotein Particles Substantially Enhances Serum Stability and Cellular Uptake

Nanolipoprotein particles (NLPs) consist of a discoidal phospholipid lipid bilayer confined by an apolipoprotein belt. NLPs are a promising platform for a variety of biomedical applications due to their biocompatibility, size, definable composition, and amphipathic characteristics. However, poor serum stability hampers the use of NLPs for in vivo applications such as drug formulation. In this study, NLP stability was enhanced upon the incorporation and subsequent UV-mediated intermolecular cross-linking of photoactive DiynePC phospholipids in the lipid bilayer, forming cross-linked nanoparticles (X-NLPs). Both the concentration of DiynePC in the bilayer and UV exposure time significantly affected the resulting X-NLP stability in 100% serum, as assessed by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) of fluorescently labeled particles. Cross-linking did not significantly impact the size of X-NLPs as determined by dynamic light scattering and SEC. X-NLPs had essentially no degradation over 48 h in 100% serum, which is a drastic improvement compared to non-cross-linked NLPs (50% degradation by ∼10 min). X-NLPs had greater uptake into the human ATCC 5637 bladder cancer cell line compared to non-cross-linked particles, indicating their potential utility for targeted drug delivery. X-NLPs also exhibited enhanced stability following intravenous administration in mice. These results collectively support the potential utility of X-NLPs for a variety of in vivo applications

Diagnostic Microdosing Approach to Study Gemcitabine Resistance

Gemcitabine metabolites cause the termination of DNA replication and induction of apoptosis. We determined whether subtherapeutic “microdoses” of gemcitabine are incorporated into DNA at levels that correlate to drug cytotoxicity. A pair of nearly isogenic bladder cancer cell lines differing in resistance to several chemotherapy drugs were treated with various concentrations of ¹⁴C-labeled gemcitabine for 4–24 h. Drug incorporation into DNA was determined by accelerator mass spectrometry. A mechanistic analysis determined that RRM2, a DNA synthesis protein and a known resistance factor, substantially mediated gemcitabine toxicity. These results support gemcitabine levels in DNA as a potential biomarker of drug cytotoxicity