Laurence Hurley

The human bcl-2 gene contains a GC-rich region upstream of the P1 promoter that has been shown to be critically involved in the regulation of bcl-2 gene expression. We have demonstrated that the guanine-rich strand of the DNA in this region can form any one of three distinct intramolecular G-quadruplex structures. Mutation and deletion analysis permitted isolation and identification of three overlapping DNA sequences within this element that formed the three individual G-quadruplexes. Each of these was characterized using nondenaturing gel analysis, DMS footprinting, and circular dichroism. The central G-quadruplex, which is the most stable, forms a mixed parallel/antiparallel structure consisting of three tetrads connected by loops of one, seven, and three bases. Three different G-quadruplex-interactive agents were found to further stabilize these structures, with individual selectivity toward one or more of these G-quadruplexes. Collectively, these results suggest that the multiple G-quadruplexes identified in the promoter region of the bcl-2 gene are likely to play a similar role to the G-quadruplexes in the c-myc promoter in that their formation could serve to modulate gene transcription. Last, we demonstrate that the complexity of the G-quadruplexes in the bcl-2 promoter extends beyond the ability to form any one of three separate G-quadruplexes to each having the capacity to form either three or six different loop isomers. These results are discussed in relation to the biological significance of this G-quadruplex-forming element in modulation of bcl-2 gene expression and the inherent complexity of the system where different G-quadruplexes and loop isomers are possible.

Abstract:

We have synthesized a series of polyintercalating compounds, including the first known tetraintercalator, based on the 1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetracarboxylic diimide chromophore. The chromophores are attached in a head-to-tail arrangement by peptide linkers and are synthesized by standard solid phase peptide synthesis methods. We report evidence, based on UV-visible spectroscopy and viscometry, that the compounds are fully intercalated upon binding to double-stranded DNA. Using DNAse I footprinting experiments, the bisintercalator 2 was found to bind to DNA in a cooperative manner. The footprinting results as well as association and dissociation kinetics data reveal that the compounds exhibit a tremendous preference for GC over AT sequences. A mode of binding is proposed in which the compounds intercalate completely from the major groove, and not in a threading manner as may be suggested by their structures. A kinetic scheme is proposed that takes into account the observed cooperativity and fits the data for the dissociations of the polyintercalators from poly(dAdT), although a similar scheme could not adequately model their dissociations from poly(dGdC) or from calf thymus DNA.

PMID: 1662513;Abstract:

U-77779 is a symmetrical dimer of the spirocyclopropyl allkylating subunit of (+)-CC-1065 in which the linker consists of two indole subunits separated by a ureido group. This compound was synthesized by scientists of the Upjohn Company and was found to be more active in both anti-tumor efficacy and cytotoxicity than its mono-alkylating analogs. Using three different 21-base pair DNA duplexes containing U-77779 reactive sequences, we have shown that U-77779 produces a stable interstrand cross-linked species that loses its internal self complementarity. A comparison of U-77779 with the mono-alkylating analogs of (+)-CC-1065 shows that it appears to have an increased sequence selectivity such that, while monoalkylating compounds like (+)-CC-1065 react at more than one site, U-77779 reacts only at sites where there are two suitably positioned alkylation sites. Chemical footprinting with 1,10-phenanthroline-copper complex revealed a six base pair cross-linked region between the two covalently modified adenines with modulated cleavage outside this region. In the case of hydroxyl radical footprinting, considerable variability of the extent of cleavage within the cross-linked sequence was found. These results are discussed in terms of likely induced conformational changes in DNA. In contrast to (+)-CC-1065, non-denaturing gel electrophoresis did not reveal any net bending of DNA due to U-77779, which we believe is due to the 180 out-of-phase bending produced on opposite strands of DNA by the cross-linker.

PMID: 582800;Abstract:

The biosynthesis of the antitumor antibiotic sibiromycin by Streptosporangium sibiricum requires the construction of four units: the amino sugar from glucose; the anthranilate ring from DL-tryptophan probably via kynurenine; the aromatic methyl group from methionine; the propylidene proline from L-tyrosine with the loss of two aromatic carbons and addition of a C-1 from methionine. Retention of tritium from DL-[5-³H]tryptophan in sibiromycin suggests an NIH shift during hydroxylation of an intermediate. © 1979 American Chemical Society.

PMID: 581831;PMCID: PMC352597;Abstract:

Biosynthetic intermediates between tryptophan and the anthranilate mioeties of tomaymycin and sibiromycin have been suggested, based upon a combination of feeding experiments with either carbon-14-labeled substrates or competition experiments between radiolabeled tryptophan and unlabeled intermediates. In the case of sibiromycin and tomaymycin, substitution of the aromatic ring most likely takes place at the kynurenine stage. Feeding experiments with the antramycin culture were inconclusive, most likely because of the cell impermeability.