Interactions of surface-confined DNA with electroreduced mitomycin C comparison with acid-activated mitomycin C

The anticancer activity of the antineoplastic drug mitomycin C (MC) was investigated using transfer stripping cyclic voltammetry (TSCV) with single-stranded DNA-modified hanging mercury drop electrode (HMDE). Reductive activation of MC is necessary for drug covalent binding to DNA, and we have found that some potential-controlled interactions of MC with DNA occur at the electrode, i.e. MC can be activated by electroreduction. Acid and electroreductive MC activations were compared and different adducts were subsequently generated, suggesting that the drug can bind to DNA in more than one way. Under conditions of acid activated MC, a monofunctional adduct between C-1 of MC and N-7 of guanine was formed on the electrode surface, reduced at - 0.44 V (vs. SCE). However, when the DNA-modified electrode was immersed in a MC solution and potentials corresponding to the quinone moiety reduction (- 0.3 V or more negative vs. SCE) were applied, an intrastrand bifunctional adduct between C-1 and C-10 of MC and two N-7 of a pair of adjacent guanines in ssDNA were formed at the electrode, reduced at - 0.49 V, i.e. 50 mV more negative than the monoadduct. The results presented in this paper show for the first time electrochemical detection of DNA-MC adducts at the hanging mercury drop electrode.     

Reductive alkylation of DNA by mitomycin A, a mitomycin with high redox potential

The mitomycins are a group of antitumor antibiotics that covalently bind to DNA upon reductive activation. Mitomycin A (1b; MA) is more toxic than its clinically useful mitomycin C (1a; MC). The greater toxicity of mitomycin A has been previously attributed to its higher reduction potential. In this report, the DNA alkylation products of reductively activated MA were isolated and characterized by conversion to the known 7-amino mitosene-deoxyguanosine adducts. The three major adducts formed were identified as a monoadduct, N2-(2"beta-amino-7"-methoxymitosen-1"alpha-yl)- 2'-deoxyguanosine (5), a decarbamoyl monoadduct, N2-(2"beta-amino-10"-decarbamoyl-7"-methoxymitosen-1"alpha-y l)-2'- deoxyguanosine (6), and a bisadduct, N2-(2"beta-amino-10"-deoxyguanosin-N2-yl-7-methoxymitosen-1" alpha- yl)-2'-deoxyguanosine (7). Under all reductive activation conditions employed, MA selectively alkylated the 2-amino group of guanine in DNA, like MC. In addition, both MA and MC alkylated DNA and cross-linked oligonucleotides to a similar extent. However, variations in the reductive activation conditions (H2/PtO2, Na2S2O4, or enzymatic) affected the distribution of the three major MA adducts in a different manner than the distribution of MC adducts was affected. A mechanism is proposed wherein the 7-methoxy substituent of MA allows initial indiscriminate activation of either of the drugs' two electrophilic sites. While oxygen inhibited cross-linking by MC, similar aerobic conditions exhibited little influence on the cross-linking ability of MA. Hence, the greater toxicity of MA may be influenced by increased and nonselective activation and cross-link formation in both aerobic and anaerobic cells. This effect is a direct consequence of the higher redox potential of MA as compared to MC.     

Interaction of the antitumor antibiotic mitomycin C with Z-DNA

Mitomycin C (MC), an antitumor antibiotic, alkylated Z-DNAs such as poly(dG-dC)/Co(NH3)3+(6), poly(dG-m5dC)/Mg2+ and brominated poly(dG-dC) upon reductive activation. Computer-generated energy-minimized molecular models indicated that monofunctional alkylation of Z-DNA at the N2-position of guanine by MC did not distort Z-DNA geometry, but bifunctional alkylation, leading to interstrand crosslinks between two N2-positions of guanine was sterically unfavorable. The above three Z-DNA's were exposed both to monofunctionally and bifunctionally activated MC in separate experiments and the resulting covalent MC-polynucleotide complexes were examined for conformation and for covalent MC-adducts, by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy and HPLC analysis of nuclease digests, respectively. Monofunctionally activated MC alkylated all three polynucleotides in their Z-forms, resulting in the same monofunctional N2-guanine adduct as that known to be formed with B-DNA. Upon bifunctional activation of MC, poly(dG-dC/Co(NH3)3+(6) reverted to the B-form and bifunctional (cross-link) adducts were detected, identical again with those formed with B-DNA. Poly(dG-m5dC), however, remained in the Z-form after the alkylation and only a monofunctional adduct could be detected. It was concluded that Z-DNA is subject to monofunctional alkylation by MC but cannot be cross-linked. The latter process occurs only when the Z-DNA is labile enough [as is in the case of poly(dG-dC)] to have some B-form in equilibrium at the site of the first formed monolinked adduct; the cross-linking then occurs at such local B-sites, pulling the overall B in equilibrium Z equilibrium irreversibly to the left. These results are in accord with the predictions from the above modeling. The irreversible "lock" by the MC cross-link on B-DNA may be exploited for probing Z-DNA intermediacy in various DNA functions.     

Production of singlet oxygen and superoxide radicals by psoralens and their biological significance

We have investigated a series of linear and angular furocoumarins, capable of forming either the monofunctional adducts (single strand) or bifunctional adducts (interstrand cross-links) with DNA with a view to examine the relationship of their skin photosensitizing potency, their ability to produce singlet oxygen (1O2) or superoxide radicals (O-.2 or HO.2), and their carcinogenic activity. The significance of photochemical interactions of psoralens and DNA is well known in skin photosensitization and skin carcinogenesis. Our data suggest that both monofunctional and bifunctional psoralens produce 1O2 and O-.2, and these reactive forms of oxygen may contribute to the development of skin cancer and membrane-damaging effects of these furocoumarins.     

Interaction of trans-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) with DNA: formation of monofunctional adducts and their reaction with glutathione

Bifunctional reactions with DNA are responsible for the toxic action of the cancer chemotherapeutic drug cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cis-DDP). Thiourea has previously been used to trap transient monofunctional adducts in DNA before they rearrange to the toxic lesions. In these studies, thiourea was used to quantify the monofunctional adducts produced by the ineffective isomer trans-DDP. Rather than trapping monofunctional adducts, thiourea labilized them from DNA. At short time periods, 85% of trans-DDP bound to double-stranded DNA as monofunctional adducts of deoxyguanosine. Rearrangement to bifunctional adducts in double-stranded DNA was 50% complete in 24 h but was much more rapid in single-stranded DNA with 100% complete rearrangement in 24 h. The ineffectiveness of trans-DDP therefore results from a high proportion of monofunctional adducts in DNA that rearrange very slowly to toxic bifunctional adducts. The persistent monofunctional adducts react rapidly with glutathione, which would further reduce their potential toxicity by preventing them from rearranging to more toxic bifunctional adducts.     

Production of active oxygen species (1O2 and O2-.) by psoralens and ultraviolet radiation (320-400 nm)

Furocoumarins (psoralens) are potent skin photosensitizing agents that are used in combination with long-wavelength ultraviolet radiation (320-400 nm) in the treatment of psoriasis and other skin diseases. Twelve linear and angular psoralens, capable of forming monofunctional and bifunctional adducts with DNA, were examined with a view to elucidate the role of 1O2 and O2-. in evoking skin photosensitization reactions and skin carcinogenesis. The results showed that both linear psoralens (capable of forming interstrand cross-links) and isopsoralens (angular, monofunctional type) and 3-carbethoxypsoralen (a linear and monofunctional type) produced 1O2 and O2-., although at varying degrees. Psoralen and 3-carbethoxypsoralen produced 1O2 greater than isopsoralens (angelicins). However, nonphotosensitizing angelicin, 5-methylangelicin, and 4,8-dimethyl-5'-carboxypsoralen produced 1O2 greater than 8-methoxypsoralen and 5-methoxypsoralen. The three monofunctional angelicin derivatives (isopsoralens) produced more O2-. than 8-methoxypsoralen, 5-methoxypsoralen, and 3,4'-dimethyl-8-methoxypsoralen. 3-Carbethoxypsoralen, a potent generator of 1O2 and a moderate producer of O2-., was highly photolabile. Until recently, skin photosensitization reactions (erythema, edema, damage to DNA or the membrane of cutaneous cells, the inhibition of scheduled DNA synthesis and skin carcinogenesis, etc.) were believed to involve photocyclo-addition of psoralens to DNA mediated by a type-I or anoxic reaction (a sensitizer-substrate interaction through the transfer of hydrogen atoms or electrons, but no direct involvement of molecular oxygen). Oxygen-dependent sensitized photodynamic reactions of type-II, involving the production of reactive oxygen (1O2 and O2-.), were believed not to mediate psoralen photosensitization reactions. We suggest that 1O2 and O2-. may also participate in skin photosensitization and cell membrane-damaging reactions. The fact that certain monofunctional isopsoralens produce 1O2 and O2-. at rates comparable to or better than bifunctional psoralens suggests that these reactive moieties of oxygen could play a major role in explaining their recently observed carcinogenic property and cell membrane-damaging reactions (e.g., edema or inflammation, etc.).     

Synthesis of Mitomycin C and Decarbamoylmitomycin C N2 deoxyguanosine-adducts

Mitomycin C (MC) and Decarbamoylmitomycin C (DMC) – a derivative of MC lacking the carbamate on C10 – are DNA alkylating agents. Their cytotoxicity is attributed to their ability to generate DNA monoadducts as well as intrastrand and interstrand cross-links (ICLs). The major monoadducts generated by MC and DMC in tumor cells have opposite stereochemistry at carbon one of the guanine–mitosene bond: trans (or alpha) for MC and cis (or beta) for DMC. We hypothesize that local disruptions of DNA structure from trans or cis adducts are responsible for the different biochemical responses produced by MC and DMC. Access to DNA substrates bearing cis and trans MC/DMC lesions is essential to verify this hypothesis. Synthetic oligonucleotides bearing trans lesions can be obtained by bio-mimetic methods. However, this approach does not yield cis adducts. This report presents the first chemical synthesis of a cis mitosene DNA adduct. We also examined the stereopreference exhibited by the two drugs at the mononucleotide level by analyzing the formation of cis and trans adducts in the reaction of deoxyguanosine with MC or DMC using a variety of activation conditions. In addition, we performed Density Functional Theory calculations to evaluate the energies of these reactions. Direct alkylation under autocatalytic or bifunctional conditions yielded preferentially alpha adducts with both MC and DMC. DFT calculations showed that under bifunctional activation, the thermodynamically favored adducts are alpha, trans, for MC and beta, cis, for DMC. This suggests that the duplex DNA structure may stabilize/oriente the activated pro-drugs so that, with DMC, formation of the thermodynamically favored beta products are possible in a cellular environment.     

Conformation, protein recognition and repair of DNA interstrand and intrastrand cross-links of antitumor trans-[PtCl2(NH3)(thiazole)

Replacement of one ammine in clinically ineffective trans-[PtCl2(NH3)2] (transplatin) by a planar N-heterocycle, thiazole, results in significantly enhanced cytotoxicity. Unlike 'classical' cisplatin {cis-[PtCl2(NH3)2]} or transplatin, modification of DNA by this prototypical cytotoxic transplatinum complex trans-[PtCl2(NH3)(thiazole)] (trans-PtTz) leads to monofunctional and bifunctional intra or interstrand adducts in roughly equal proportions. DNA fragments containing site-specific bifunctional DNA adducts of trans-PtTz were prepared. The structural distortions induced in DNA by these adducts and their consequences for high-mobility group protein recognition, DNA polymerization and nucleotide excision repair were assessed in cell-free media by biochemical methods. Whereas monofunctional adducts of trans-PtTz behave similar to the major intrastrand adduct of cisplatin [J. Kasparkova, O. Novakova, N. Farrell and V. Brabec (2003) Biochemistry, 42, 792-800], bifunctional cross-links behave distinctly differently. The results suggest that the multiple DNA lesions available to trans-planaramine complexes may all contribute substantially to their cytotoxicity so that the overall drug cytotoxicity could be the sum of the contributions of each of these adducts. However, acquisition of drug resistance could be a relatively rare event, since it would have to entail resistance to or tolerance of multiple, structurally dissimilar DNA lesions.     

Role of hydrogen in the activation and regulation of hydrogen oxidation by the soluble hydrogenase from Alcaligenes eutrophus H16.

The activation kinetics of the H2-oxidizing activity of the soluble hydrogenase from Alcaligenes eutrophus H16 were investigated. Activation with Na2S2O4 plus 101 kPa H2 resulted in a rapid increase in activity over 1 h and constant activity after 3 h incubation. Less-stable activations were achieved if enzyme was incubated with Na2S2O4 under 1 kPa H2 or 101 kPa N2. The enzyme could also be partly activated either with NADH alone or with H2 alone. The level of activity obtained with both 101 kPa H2 and NADH present was greater than that obtained with either 101 kPa H2 or NADH alone. Activation with H2 plus NADH was virtually independent of NADH concentration but highly dependent on H2 concentration. The effects of various concentrations of H2 and constant concentration of NADH on the level of activation were the same whether H2 oxidation was assayed by H2-dependent Methylene Blue or NAD+ reduction. Diaphorase activity did not require activation and was little affected by the treatments that activated H2-oxidizing activity. The results suggest that H2 plays an important role in regulating the level of H2-oxidizing activity in this soluble hydrogenase.     

Conversion of monofunctional DNA adducts of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II) to bifunctional lesions. Effect on the in vitro replication of single-stranded DNA by Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I and eukaryotic DNA polymerases alpha

Reaction of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (II) with single-stranded M13 phage DNA in vitro produced monofunctional platinum-DNA adducts on guanine and bifunctional lesions with either two guanine bases (GG) or one adenine and one guanine (AG). When DNA containing a majority of monofunctional platinum-DNA lesions was dialyzed against 10 mM NaCIO4 at 37 degrees C, conversion of monoadducts to bifunctional lesions was observed. We examined the effect of post-treatment formation of bifunctional lesions on DNA synthesis by Escherichia coli DNA polymerase I and highly purified eukaryotic DNA polymerase alpha from Drosophila melanogaster and calf thymus. Arrest sites on the platinated template were determined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Monofunctional lesions did not appear to block DNA synthesis. Inhibition of replication increased as bifunctional platinum-DNA lesions formed during post-treatment incubation; GG adducts inhibited replication more than AG. These results suggest that bifunctional GG platinum-DNA adducts may be the major toxic damage of cisplatin.     

DNA adducts of antitumor trans-[PtCl2 (E-imino ether)2].

It has been shown recently that some analogues of clinically ineffective trans-diamminedichloroplatinum (II) (transplatin) exhibit antitumor activity. This finding has inverted the empirical structure-antitumor activity relationships delineated for platinum(II) complexes, according to which only the cis geometry of leaving ligands in the bifunctional platinum complexes is therapeutically active. As a result, interactions of trans platinum compounds with DNA, which is the main pharmacological target of platinum anticancer drugs, are of great interest. The present paper describes the DNA binding of antitumor trans-[PtCl(2)(E-imino ether)(2)] complex (trans-EE) in a cell-free medium, which has been investigated using three experimental approaches. They involve thiourea as a probe of monofunctional DNA adducts of platinum (II) complexes with two leaving ligands in the trans configuration, ethidium bromide as a probe for distinguishing between monofunctional and bifunctional DNA adducts of platinum complexes and HPLC analysis of the platinated DNA enzymatically digested to nucleosides. The results show that bifunctional trans-EE preferentially forms monofunctional adducts at guanine residues in double-helical DNA even when DNA is incubated with the platinum complex for a relatively long time (48 h at 37 degrees C in 10 mM NaCIO(4). It implies that antitumor trans-EE modifies DNA in a different way than clinically ineffective transplatin, which forms prevalent amount of bifunctional DNA adducts after 48 h. This result has been interpreted to mean that the major adduct of trans-EE, occurring in DNA even after long reaction times, is a monofunctional adduct in which the reactivity of the second leaving group is markedly reduced. It has been suggested that the different properties of the adducts formed on DNA by transplatin and trans-EE are relevant to their distinct clinical efficacy.     

Effects of vanadate on the oxidation of NADH by xanthine oxidase

Vanadate (V(V)) stimulates the oxidation of NADH by xanthine oxidase and superoxide dismutase eliminates the effect of V(V). Paraquat stimulates both the oxidation of NADH by xanthine oxidase and the V(V) enhancement of that oxidation. Xanthine, which is a better substrate for xanthine oxidase than is NADH, causes a V(V)-dependent co-oxidation of NADH which is transient and eliminated by SOD. Urate inhibits the V(V)-stimulated oxidation of NADH by xanthine oxidase or by Rose Bengal plus light. Measurement of rates of both O2- production and V(V)-stimulated NADH oxidation showed that many molecules of NADH were oxidized per O2-. These chain lengths were an inverse function of overall reaction rate. Minimum chain lengths, calculated on the basis of 100% univalent reduction of O2 to O2-, were smaller than measured average chain lengths by a factor of five. All of these results are in accord with the view that V(V) does not directly affect the activity of the enzyme, but rather catalyzes the free radical chain oxidation of NADH by O2-. It was further shown that phosphate was not involved and that the active form of V(V) was orthovanadate, rather than decavanadate.     

The regulation of xanthine oxidase. Inhibition by reduced nicotinamide–adenine dinucleotide of rat liver xanthine oxidase type D and of chick liver xanthine dehydrogenase

1. Rat liver xanthine oxidase type D (NAD(+)-dependent) and chick liver xanthine oxidase are inhibited by NADH, which competes with NAD(+). 2. The addition of a NADH-reoxidizing system in the assay of these enzyme activities is proposed. 3. Rat liver xanthine oxidase type O (oxygen-dependent) is not affected by NADH.     

Enzymatic and energetic properties of the aerobic respiratory chain-linked NADH oxidase system in the marine bacterium Pseudomonas nautica

Membranes of Pseudomonas nautica, grown aerobically on a complex medium, oxidized both NADH and deamino-NADH as substrates. The activity of membrane-bound NADH oxidase was activated by monovalent cations including Na+, Li+, and K+. The activation by Na+ was higher than that by Li+ and K+. The maximum activity of NADH oxidase was obtained at about pH 9.0 in the presence of 0.08 M NaCl. The NADH oxidase activity was completely inhibited by 60 microM 2-heptyl-4-hydroxyquinoline-N-oxide (HQNO), while the NADH:quinone oxidoreductase activity was about 37% inhibited by 60 microM HQNO. The activities of NADH oxidase and NADH:quinone oxidoreductase were about 40% inhibited by 60 microM rotenone. The fluorescence quenching technique revealed that electron transfer from NADH to ubiquinone-1 (Q-1) or oxygen generated a membrane potential (deltapsi) which was larger and more stable in the presence of Na+ than in the absence of Na+. However, the All was highly sensitive to a protonophore, carbonyl-cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) even at alkaline pH.     

DNA binding by antitumor trans-[PtCl2(NH3)(thiazole)]. Protein recognition and nucleotide excision repair of monofunctional adducts

Antitumor effects of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cisplatin) and the clinical inactivity of its trans isomer (transplatin) have been considered a paradigm for the classical structure-activity relationships of platinum drugs. However, several new analogues of transplatin which exhibit a different spectrum of cytostatic activity including activity in tumor cells resistant to cisplatin have been recently identified. Analogues containing the planar amine ligand of the general structure trans-[PtCl(2)(NH(3))(L)], where L = planar amine, represent an example of such compounds. DNA is believed to be the major pharmacological target of platinum compounds. To contribute to the understanding of mechanisms underlying the activation of trans geometry in transplatin analogues containing planar amine ligands, various biochemical and biophysical methods were employed in previous studies to analyze the global modifications of natural DNA by trans-[PtCl(2)(NH(3))(L)]. These initial studies have revealed some unique features of the DNA binding mode of this class of platinum drugs. As the monofunctional lesions represent a significant fraction of stable adducts formed in DNA by bifunctional antitumor trans-platinum compounds with planar ligands, we analyzed in the present work short DNA duplexes containing the single, site-specific monofunctional adduct of a representative of this class of platinum drugs, antitumor trans-[PtCl(2)(NH(3))(thiazole)]. It has been shown that, in contrast to the adducts of monodentate chlorodiethylenetriamineplatinum(II) chloride or [PtCl(NH(3))(3)]Cl, the monofunctional adduct of trans-[PtCl(2)(NH(3))(thiazole)] inhibits DNA synthesis and creates a local conformational distortion similar to that produced in DNA by the major 1,2-GG intrastrand CL of cisplatin, which is considered the lesion most responsible for its anticancer activity. In addition, the monofunctional adducts of trans-[PtCl(2)(NH(3))(thiazole)] are recognized by HMGB1 domain proteins and removed by the nucleotide excision repair system similarly as the 1,2-GG intrastrand CL of cisplatin. The results of the present work further support the view that the simple chemical modification of the structure of an inactive platinum compound alters its DNA binding mode into that of an active drug and that processing of the monofunctional DNA adducts of the trans-platinum analogues in tumor cells may be similar to that of the major bifunctional adducts of "classical" cisplatin.     

NADH: quinone oxidoreductase as a site of Na+-dependent activation in the respiratory chain of marine Vibrio alginolyticus.

The site of Na+-dependent activation in the respiratory chain of the marine bacterium, Vibrio alginolyticus, was investigated. The respiratory chain system contained ubiquinones (Q), menaquinones (MK), cytochromes b(560), c(553), d(630), and o(560). The membrane-bound and partially purified NADH dehydrogenase was stimulated 2- to 3-fold by the addition of 0.2 M Na+ or K+ and no specific requirement for Na+ was observed in this reaction step. The cytochrome oxidase showed no requirement for monovalent cations. The respiratory activity (NADH oxidase) of the membrane was lost on removal of the quinones, and the reincorporation of authentic Q-10 or MK-4 restored the activity. The rate of MK-4 reduction by NADH (menaquinone reductase) as measured using MK-4 incorporated membrane was activated by Na+, but only slightly by K+. The apparent Ka for Na+ was 78 mM for both menaguinone reductase and NADH oxidase. The requirement for Na+ of menaquinone reductase was greatly reduced in the presence of 0.2 M K+. Ubiquinone reductase as measured by using Q-10 incorporated membrane was also activated more effectively by Na+ than by K+. These results strongly suggested that the site of Na+-dependent activation in the respiratory chain of marine V. alginolyticus was at the step of NADH; quinone oxidoreductase.     

Reevaluation of interaction of cis-dichloro(ethylenediamine)platinum(II) with DNA

Intrastrand cross-links represent the majority of modifications in DNA resulting from interaction with the cancer chemotherapeutic drug cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cis-DDP). These adducts were recently characterized although several discrepancies remained to be resolved. In these studies, [3H]-cis-dichloro(ethylenediamine)platinum(II) (cis-DEP) was used because of the convenience of the radiolabel; this analogue produces adducts at identical sites in DNA as cis-DDP. Both drugs platinate the following sequences in DNA: GG, 65%; AG, 25%; GNG, 6%. The adduct at AG sequences invariably has adenine on the 5'-terminus of the dimer. The present enzyme digestion protocol included P1 nuclease, which produced complete digestion rather than as previously reported. The frequency of platination at GG was too high to be explained by an initial monofunctional platination at any guanine. However, direct bifunctional attack preferentially at GG was obviated because monofunctional adducts could be trapped with thiourea at short time periods. After short incubations, with cis-DEP and removal of unreacted drug, the monofunctional adducts slowly rearranged to bifunctional adducts. It is suggested that this evolution of adducts may result from the drug "walking" along the double helix, a phenomenon that does not appear to occur in single-stranded DNA.     

Characterization of bifunctional adducts produced in DNA by trans-diamminedichloroplatinum(II)

The cancer chemotherapeutic drug cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cis-DDP) produces bifunctional reactions with DNA which appear critical to its toxic action. The relative inefficacy of the isomer trans-DDP results from its production of predominantly monofunctional adducts in DNA. However, trans-DDP is also toxic and this is presumed to result from bifunctional reaction. These reactions have been characterized by platinating pure DNA followed by enzyme digestion, HPLC separation and analysis by atomic absorption and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Bifunctional adducts occur between deoxyguanosine (dG) and either deoxyadenosine (dA), deoxycytidine (dC) or another dG. Although dG-Pt-dG occurs in both double-stranded (approximately 40% of total adducts) and single-stranded DNA (approximately 60%) there is a marked preference for formation of dG-Pt-dC in double-stranded DNA (approximately 50%) and dG-Pt-dA in single-stranded DNA (approximately 35%). Only dG-Pt-dG forms rapidly; the other adducts derive from rapid formation of a monofunctional dG-Pt and further reaction with dA or dC over many hours.     

Recognition of specific DNA sequences by mitomycin C for alkylation.

Synthetic oligodeoxyribonucleotides were reacted with mitomycin C (MC) under conditions which restricted MC to monofunctional alkylating activity. The yields of monofunctional alkylation of oligonucleotides with variable sequence were determined by enzymatic digestion of the reaction mixture to unreacted nucleosides and the product of alkylation, a MC-deoxyguanosine adduct (2), followed by quantitative analysis by HPLC. The relative yields of 2 reflected relative monoalkylation reactivities. They were compared in a series of oligonucleotides having the sequence 5'-NGN' in which the 5'-base was varied while the 3'-base was kept constant as T. Under Na2S2O4 activation conditions a striking enhancement of the yield was observed at the 5'-CG sequence: 36%, compared to 2% at 5'-AG and 4.1% at 5'-TG. The 5'-GG sequence also showed enhanced reactivity although to a lesser extent (14.7%). The enhancements were specific to the duplex state of the oligonucleotides. Using NADPH:cytochrome c reductase as the reducing agent gave similar results. MC activated by acidic pH also displayed 5'-CG alkylation specificity. 10-Decarbamoyl-MC activated by Na2S2O4 showed the same 5'-CG specificity as MC. Replacement of deoxyguanosine by deoxyinosine in the opposite strand at a 5'-CG site abolished the enhancement of alkylation. Such replacement at a 5'-GG site had a similar effect. It was found that the base 3' to the guanine had only a relatively modest modulating effect on the enhanced reactivity of the G at the 5'-CG sequence. This 3'-base effect appeared to be independent of the 5'-base of the 5'-NGN' triplet. The order of reactivity is 3'-(C greater than T greater than A).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)