Synthesis and physicochemical properties of 2'-deoxy-2',2'-difluoro-beta-D-ribofuranosyl and 2'-deoxy-2',2'-difluoro-alpha-D-ribofuranosyl oligonucleotides

We present procedures for nucleoside and oligonucleotide synthesis, binding affinity (Tm) and structural analysis (CD spectra) of 2'-deoxy-2',2'-difluoro-alpha-D-ribofuranosyl and 2'-deoxy-2',2'-difluoro-beta-D-ribofuranosyl oligothymidylates. Possible reasons for the thermal instability of duplexes formed between these compounds and RNA or DNA targets are discussed.     

Stereospecific 2'-amination and 2'-chlorination of adenosine by Actinomadura in the biosynthesis of 2'-amino-2'-deoxyadenosine and 2'-chloro-2'-deoxycoformycin

2'-Amino-2'-deoxyadenosine and 2'-chloro-2'-deoxycoformycin (2'-CldCF) are two nucleoside antibiotics produced by Actinomadura. The biosynthesis of these two nucleoside antibiotics has been studied by the addition of [U-14C]adenosine with or without unlabeled adenine to cultures of Actinomadura. By this experimental approach, it is possible to demonstrate that adenosine is the direct precursor for the biosynthesis of 2'-amino-2'-deoxyadenosine and 2'-CldCF. These conclusions are based on the observation that the percentage distribution of 14C in the aglyconic and pentofuranosyl moieties of 2'-amino-2'-deoxyadenosine and 2'-CldCF were similar to the distribution of 14C in the adenine and ribosyl moieties of the [U-14C]adenosine (i.e., 48:52) added to cultures of Actinomadura. Experimentally, the percentage distribution of 14C in the (i) adenine:2-amino-2-deoxy-beta-D-ribofuranose of 2'-amino-2'-deoxyadenosine is 51:49; (ii) 8-(R)-3,6,7,8-tetrahydroimidazo[4,5-d]-[1,3-diazepin-8-o1]:2 -chloro-2- beta-D-ribofuranose of 2'-CldCF is 45:55; and (iii) adenine:ribose of the adenosine isolated from the RNA of Actinomadura is 42:58. Further proof that adenosine is the direct precursor for the biosynthesis 2'-amino-2'-deoxyadenosine and 2'-CldCF was demonstrated by the addition of 75 mumol of unlabeled adenine together with [U-14C]adenosine to nucleoside-producing cultures of Actinomadura. The percentage distribution of 14C in the aglycon and the sugar moieties of 2'-amino-2'-deoxyadenosine and 2'-CldCF were 46:54 and 47:53, respectively; the percentage distribution of 14C in the adenine and ribose moieties of the adenosine isolated from the RNA of Actinomadura was 51:49. These data show that the hydroxyl on C-2' of the ribosyl moiety of adenosine undergoes a replacement by a 2'-amino or a 2'-chloro group to form 2'-amino-2'-deoxyadenosine or 2'-CldCF with retention of stereconfiguration at C-2'. Finally, Actinomadura can utilize inorganic chloride from the medium as demonstrated by the isolation of [36Cl]2'-CldCF following the addition of [36Cl]chloride to the culture medium. Mechanisms for the regioselective modification of the C-2' hydroxyl group and stereospecific insertion of the amino and chloro groups are discussed.     

Synthesis and properties of 2'-O-methyl-2-thiouridine and oligoribonucleotides containing 2'-O-methyl-2-thiouridine

A new method for the synthesis of 2'-O-methyl-2-thiouridine (s2Um) found in thermophilic bacterial tRNA was developed. Structural properties of s2Um and s2Um(p)U were studied by using 1H NMR spectroscopy. A modified nonaribonucleotide (RNA*: 5'-CGUUs2UmUUGC-3') was synthesized to study the base-recognition ability of s2Um in formation of RNA-RNA and RNA DNA duplexes. The UV melting experiments revealed that RNA*-RNA and RNA*-DNA duplexes having an s2U-A base pair are more stable than those having a U-A base pair. On the contrary, the thermal stability of RNA*-RNA and RNA*-DNA duplexes having an s2U-G wobble base pair was much lower than that of the unmodified duplexes having a natural U-G base pair. It is concluded that s2Um has higher selectivity toward A over G than unmodified U.     

A concise synthesis of 4-nitrophenyl 2-azido-2-deoxy- and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-mannopyranosides

4-nitrophenyl 3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-azido-2-deoxy-alpha- and beta-D-mannopyranosides were prepared from methyl 4,6-O-benzylidene-alpha-D-glucopyranoside and 1,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-alpha-D-glucopyranose, respectively. Chemoselective reduction of both azides with hydrogen sulfide readily afforded 4-nitrophenyl 2-acetamido-4,6-di-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-alpha-D- and -beta-D-mannopyranosides in higher yields than reduction with triphenylphosphine or a polymer-supported triarylphosphine. Subsequent de-O-acetylation yielded 4-nitrophenyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-alpha-D-mannopyranoside and 4-nitrophenyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-mannopyranoside in 20% and 44% overall yields, respectively.     

Short synthesis of 2-methoxyestradiol and 2-hydroxyestradiol

The estrogen metabolite 2-methoxyestradiol was synthesized from estradiol bis-THP-ether which was 2-hydroxylated using the superbase LIDAKOR, trimethyl borate, and H(2)O(2), then methylated and deprotected to obtain 2-methoxyestradiol in three steps and 61% yield. 2-Hydroxyestradiol was obtained by deprotecting the 2-hydroxyestradiol bis-THP-ether from the first step.     

Structural comparisons of mouse histones 2A.X and 2A.Z with 2A.1 and 2A.2

The tryptic peptide patterns of the recently described H2A species H2A.X and H2A.Z from mouse were compared with the tryptic peptide patterns of the major mouse H2A's, H2A.1 and H2A.2. The identities of the H2A.1 peptides were determined by comparing their in vivo labeling with various 14C-labeled amino acids with the expected labeling determined from the known sequence. All the H2A.1 tryptic peptides larger than dipeptides were accounted for. The procedure was repeated for H2A.2, H2A.X and H2A.Z. H2A.X was found to have large regions of sequence identical to that of H2A.1 with the variability occurring mainly near the N and C termini. Mouse H2A.X had some sequence characteristics found in the sequenced H2A's of trout and sea urchin. In contrast, H2A.Z was found to have only two peptides in common with H2A.1; in addition, the labeling patterns of the non-identical peptides were too different to suggest analogous peptides. We conclude from these studies that H2A.Z differs considerably from H2A.1 in major portions of its sequence.     

Stereoselective Synthesis of 2-Amino-2-deoxy-d-arabinose and 2-Deoxy-d-ribose

An efficient method for the stereoselective synthesis of 2-amino-2-deoxy-d-arabinose and 2-deoxy-d-ribose is described.

The key step in this method was accomplished by the nucleophilic addition of methyl isocyanoacetate to 2,3-O-isopropylidene-d-glyceraldehyde with high erythro-selectivity (nearly 100%).

Subsequent intermolecular cyclization predominantly gave the desired oxazoline derivative (trans-form), in which two new chiral centers were formed. The oxazoline derivative was efficiently converted to both 2-amino-2-deoxy-d-arabinose and 2-deoxy-d-ribose.     

TXA2/PGI2与心血管疾病

血栓素(Thromboxane,TXA2)和前列环素(Prostacyclin,PGI2)均为花生四烯酸的代谢物,是前列腺素(Prostaglandins,PGs)中生物活性最强的一对。在正常情况下,二者在体内保持一定的平衡,相互拮抗、相互协调,共同维持血液循环畅通,与心血管疾病关系密切。本文即就其生物特性及与心血管病的关系等进行综述,对人们全面认识TXA2/PGI2具有一定的参考价值。     

2'-Deoxy-2'-fluoro-beta-D-arabinonucleosides and oligonucleotides (2'F-ANA): synthesis and physicochemical studies

Recently, hybrids of RNA and D-arabinonucleic acids (ANA) as well as the 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro-D-arabinonucleic acid analog (2'F-ANA) were shown to be substrates of RNase H. This enzyme is believed to be involved in the primary mechanism by which antisense oligonucleotides cause a reduction in target RNA levels in vivo. To gain a better understanding of the properties of arabinose based oligonucleotides, we have prepared a series of 2'F-ANA sequences of homopolymeric (A and T) and mixed base composition (A, T, G and C). UV thermal melting and circular dichroic (CD) studies were used to ascertain the thermodynamic stability and helical conformation of 2'F-ANA/RNA and 2'F-ANA/DNA hybrids. It is shown that 2'F-ANA has enhanced RNA affinity relative to that of DNA and phosphorothioate DNA. The 2'-fluoroarabino modification showed favorable pairing to single-stranded DNA also. This is in sharp contrast to ANA, which forms weak ANA/DNA hybrids at best. According to the measured thermodynamic parameters for duplex formation, the increased stability of hybrids formed by 2'F-ANA (e.g., 2'F-ANA/RNA) appears to originate from conformational pre-organization of the fluorinated sugars and a favorable enthalpy of hybridization. In addition, NMR spectroscopy revealed a five-bond coupling between the 2'F and the base protons (H6/H8) of 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro-beta-D-arabinonucleosides. This observation is suggestive of a through-space interaction between 2'F and H6/H8 atoms. CD experiments indicate that 2'F-ANA/RNA hybrids adopt an 'A-like' structure and show more resemblance to DNA/RNA hybrids than to the pure RNA/RNA duplex. This feature is believed to be an important factor in the mechanism that allows RNase H to discriminate between 2'F-ANA/RNA (or DNA/RNA) and RNA/RNA duplexes.     

PPP2R2A在乳腺癌细胞中结合GFPT2并导致其去磷酸化

PPP2R2A是PP2A磷酸酶的调控亚基之一,以往的研究报道显示,PPP2R2A可促进肿瘤细胞生存和生长。本研究通过串联亲和纯化联合HPLC-Chip-ESI/MS/MS筛选PPP2R2A的相互作用蛋白质,分析结果显示,L-谷氨酰胺-D-果糖-6-磷酸转氨酶1(Glutamine-fructose-6-phosphate transaminase 1,GFPT1)和L-谷氨酰胺-D-果糖-6-磷酸转氨酶2(Glutamine-fructose-6-phosphate transaminase 2,GFPT2)是PPP2R2A可能的结合蛋白。通过免疫荧光共定位、GST Pull-down和免疫共沉淀等方法,进一步确认了PPP2R2A和GFPT1及GFPT2的相互结合。通过shRNA下调PPP2R2A后,GFPT2的磷酸化水平显著增加,但GFPT1的磷酸化水平改变不明显。GFPT2是O-GlcNAC糖基化修饰通路中的一个限速酶,在乳腺癌细胞MDA-MB-231中下调PPP2R2A后,蛋白质O-GlcNAC糖基化修饰水平增加。这些结果表明,PPP2R2A可直接结合GFPT2,并导致其去磷酸化,进而影响细胞内O-GlcNAC糖基化修饰。     

Trimeric architecture of homomeric P2X2 and heteromeric P2X1+2 receptor subtypes

Of the three major classes of ligand-gated ion channels, nicotinic receptors and ionotropic glutamate receptors are known to be organized as pentamers and tetramers, respectively. The architecture of the third class, P2X receptors, is under debate, although evidence for a trimeric assembly is accumulating. Here we provide biochemical evidence that in addition to the rapidly desensitising P2X1 and P2X3 receptors, the slowly desensitising subtypes P2X2, P2X4, and P2X5 are trimers of identical subunits. Similar (heteromeric) P2X subunits also formed trimers, as shown for co-expressed P2X1 and P2X2 subunits, which assembled efficiently to a P2X1+2 receptor that was exported to the plasma membrane. In contrast, P2X6 subunits, which are incapable of forming functional homomeric channels in Xenopus oocytes, were retained in the ER as apparent tetramers and high molecular mass aggregates. Altogether, we conclude from these data that a trimeric architecture is the structural hallmark of functional homomeric and heteromeric P2X receptors.     

Aminopyridazine derivatives and TXA2-PGI2 balance

Experiments carried out under the conditions adopted showed the strong affinity of aminopyridazine derivatives for the eicosanoids TXA2 and PGI2. But this affinity depended on the chemical structure of the molecule: a small change in the radical grafted onto the pyridazine ring could completely modify the pharmacological activity of the molecule. Consequently it should be possible to control the properties of pyridazine derivatives according to pharmacological needs. Thus: --pyridazin-3-one derivatives were mainly active on TXA2 biosynthesis: 2-aminoalkyl 5-arylidene 6-methyl (4H) pyridazin-3-ones inhibited the TXA2-synthesizing activity of cardiac tissue whereas 3-amino 4,6-diaryl pyridazin-3-ones were specific inhibitors of the TXA2 synthetase in vitro, but these effects were weak. --pyridazine derivatives were devoid of any effect on the TXA2-synthesizing activity of cardiac tissue: they acted on either TXA2 synthetase or PGI2 synthetase according to the radicals grafted onto the pyridazine ring. --none of the compounds under study was active on the PGI2-synthesizing activity of cardiac tissue.     

Smurf2 is a TRAF2 binding protein that triggers TNF-R2 ubiquitination and TNF-R2-induced JNK activation

TRAF2 plays a central role in TNF-induced signalling to NF-κB and JNK/p38 MAPK. To better understand the molecular mechanisms that mediate this dual function of TRAF2, we performed a yeast two-hybrid screening for TRAF2 interacting proteins using the Sos recruitment system. This resulted in the identification of the E3 ubiquitin ligase Smurf2 as a TRAF2 binding protein. TRAF2 overexpression was shown to trigger Smurf2 ubiquitination and the formation of a TNF-R2/Smurf2 complex. Smurf2 on its turn promoted TNF-R2 ubiquitination and the relocalization of TNF-R2 as well as TRAF2 to a detergent-insoluble cell fraction. This was associated with enhanced TNF-R2-induced JNK activation, whereas TNF-R2-induced NF-κB activation remained unaffected. These results suggest an important role for Smurf2 binding to TRAF2 in determining specific signalling outputs of TNF-R2.     

E2A and E2-2 are subunits of B-cell-specific E2-box DNA-binding proteins.

A class of helix-loop-helix (HLH) proteins, including E2A (E12 and E47), E2-2, and HEB, that bind in vitro to DNA sequences present in the immunoglobulin (Ig) enhancers has recently been identified. E12, E47, E2-2, and HEB are each present in B cells. The presence of many different HLH proteins raises the question of which of the HLH proteins actually binds the Ig enhancer elements in B cells. Using monoclonal antibodies specific for both E2A and E2-2, we show that both E2-2 and E2A polypeptides are present in B-cell-specific Ig enhancer-binding complexes. E2-box-binding complexes in pre-B cells contain both E2-2 and E2A HLH subunits, whereas in mature B cells only E2A gene products are present. We show that the difference in E2-box-binding complexes in pre-B and mature B cells may be caused by differential expression of E2A and E2-2.     

TIN2 binds TRF1 and TRF2 simultaneously and stabilizes the TRF2 complex on telomeres

Human telomeres contain two related telomeric DNA-binding proteins, TRF1 and TRF2. The TRF1 complex contains the TRF1 interacting partner, TIN2, as well as PIP1 and POT1 and regulates telomere-length homeostasis. The TRF2 complex is primarily involved in telomere protection and contains the TRF2 interacting partner human (h)Rap1 as well as several factors involved in the DNA damage response. A prior report showed that conditional deletion of murine TRF1 reduced the presence of TRF2 on telomeres. Here we showed that TRF2 is also lost from human telomeres upon TRF1 depletion with small interfering RNA prompting a search for the connection between the TRF1 and TRF2 complexes. Using mass spectrometry and co-immunoprecipitation, we found that TRF1, TIN2, PIP1, and POT1 are associated with the TRF2-hRap1 complex. Gel filtration identified a TRF2 complex containing TIN2 and POT1 but not TRF1 indicating that TRF1 is not required for this interaction. Co-immunoprecipitation, Far-Western assays, and two-hybrid assays showed that TIN2, but not POT1 or PIP1, interacts directly with TRF2. Furthermore, TIN2 was found to bind TRF1 and TRF2 simultaneously, showing that TIN2 can link these telomeric proteins. This connection appeared to stabilize TRF2 on the telomeres as the treatment of cells with TIN2 small interfering RNA resulted in a decreased presence of TRF2 and hRap1 at chromosome ends. The TIN2-mediated cooperative binding of TRF1 and TRF2 to telomeres has important implications for the mechanism of telomere length regulation and protection.     

Calmodulin binds HER2 and modulates HER2 signaling

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), a member of the ErbB family of receptor tyrosine kinases, has defined roles in neoplastic transformation and tumor progression. Overexpression of HER2 is an adverse prognostic factor in several human neoplasms and, particularly in breast cancer, correlates strongly with a decrease in overall patient survival. HER2 stimulates breast tumorigenesis by forming protein-protein interactions with a diverse array of intracellular signaling molecules, and evidence suggests that manipulation of these associations holds therapeutic potential. To modulate specific HER2 interactions, the region(s) of HER2 to which each target binds must be accurately identified. Calmodulin (CaM), a ubiquitously expressed Ca²⁺ binding protein, interacts with multiple intracellular targets. Interestingly, CaM binds the juxtamembrane region of the epidermal growth factor receptor, a HER2 homolog. Here, we show that CaM interacts, in a Ca²⁺-regulated manner, with two distinct sites on the N-terminal portion of the HER2 intracellular domain. Deletion of residues 676-689 and 714-732 from HER2 prevented CaM-HER2 binding. Inhibition of CaM function or deletion of the CaM binding sites from HER2 significantly decreased both HER2 phosphorylation and HER2-stimulated cell growth. Collectively, these data suggest that inhibition of CaM-HER2 interaction may represent a rational therapeutic strategy for the treatment of patients with breast cancer. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: 11th European Symposium on Calcium.