Mapping the FEN1 interaction domain with hTERT

The activity of telomerase in cancer cells is tightly regulated by numerous proteins including DNA replication factors. However, it is unclear how replication proteins regulate telomerase action in higher eukaryotic cells. Previously we have demonstrated that the multifunctional DNA replication and repair protein flap endonuclease 1 (FEN1) is in complex with telomerase and may regulate telomerase activity in mammalian cells. In this study, we further analyzed the nature of this association. Our results show that FEN1 and telomerase association occurs throughout the S phase, with the maximum association in the mid S phase. We further mapped the physical domains in FEN1 required for this association and found that the C-terminus and the nuclease domain of FEN1 are involved in this interaction, whereas the PCNA binding ability of FEN1 is dispensable for the interaction. These results provide insights into the nature of possible protein–protein associations that telomerase participates in for maintaining functional telomeres.     

Synthesis, structure, DNA binding and cleavage properties of ternary amino acid Schiff base-phen/bipy Cu(II) complexes

Ternary Cu(II) complexes [Cu(II)(saltrp)(B)] (1,2), (saltrp = salicylidene tryptophan, B = 1,10 phenathroline (1) or 2,2′ bipyridine (2)) were synthesized and characterized. Complex 2 was structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray crystallography. The molecular structure shows a distorted square pyramidal coordination geometry (CuN₃O₂) in which the ONO donor Schiff base is bonded to the Cu(II) in the basal plane. The N,N donor heterocyclic base displays an axial-equatorial binding mode. CT-DNA binding studies revealed that the complexes show good binding propensity (Intrinsic binding constant, K_b = 3.32 × 10⁵ M⁻¹ for 1 and K_b = 3.10 × 10⁵ M⁻¹ for 2). The catalytic role of these complexes in the oxidative and hydrolytic cleavage of DNA was studied in detail. Complex 1 binds and cleaves DNA more efficiently as compared to 2. From the kinetic experiments, rate constants for the hydrolysis of phosphodiester bond of DNA backbone were determined as 1.94 h⁻¹ and 1.05 h⁻¹ for 1 and 2 respectively. It amounts to (2.93-5.41) × 10⁷ fold rate enhancement compared to uncatalyzed double stranded DNA, which is impressive as compared to related Cu(II) Schiff base complexes.     

A PCSK9-binding antibody that structurally mimics the EGF(A) domain of LDL-receptor reduces LDL cholesterol in vivo

Proprotein convertase subtilisin-like/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) regulates LDL cholesterol levels by inhibiting LDL receptor (LDLr)-mediated cellular LDL uptake. We have identified a fragment antigen-binding (Fab) 1D05 which binds PCSK9 with nanomolar affinity. The fully human antibody 1D05-IgG2 completely blocks the inhibitory effects of wild-type PCSK9 and two gain-of-function human PCSK9 mutants, S127R and D374Y. The crystal structure of 1D05-Fab bound to PCSK9 reveals that 1D05-Fab binds to an epitope on the PCSK9 catalytic domain which includes the entire LDLr EGF(A) binding site. Notably, the 1D05-Fab CDR-H3 and CDR-H2 loops structurally mimic the EGF(A) domain of LDLr. In a transgenic mouse model (CETP/LDLr-hemi), in which plasma lipid and PCSK9 profiles are comparable to those of humans, 1D05-IgG2 reduces plasma LDL cholesterol to 40% and raises hepatic LDLr protein levels approximately fivefold. Similarly, in healthy rhesus monkeys, 1D05-IgG2 effectively reduced LDL cholesterol 20%-50% for over 2 weeks, despite its relatively short terminal half-life (t(1/2) = 3.2 days). Importantly, the decrease in circulating LDL cholesterol corresponds closely to the reduction in free PCSK9 levels. Together these results clearly demonstrate that the LDL-lowering effect of the neutralizing anti-PCSK9 1D05-IgG2 antibody is mediated by reducing the amount of PCSK9 that can bind to the LDLr.     

Doxorubicin immunoconjugates containing bivalent,lysosomally-cleavable dipeptide linkages

Bivalent doxorubicin (DOX)-dipeptides (16a-c) were prepared and conjugated to the monoclonal antibody BR96. The dipeptides are cleaved by lysosomal proteases following internalization of the resulting immunoconjugates. Conjugate 18b demonstrated antigen-specific in vitro tumor cell killing activity (IC(50)=0.2 microM) that was equipotent to DOX with a near doubling of drug molecules/MAb. Size exclusion chromatography showed 18b to be a noncovalent dimer that was formed immediately upon conjugation.     

Overexpression of α2,3sialyl T-antigen in breast cancer determined by miniaturized glycosyltransferase assays and confirmed using tissue microarray immunohistochemical analysis

Glycan structure alterations during cancer regulate disease progression and represent clinical biomarkers. The study determined the degree to which changes in glycosyltransferase activities during cancer can be related to aberrant cell-surface tumor associated carbohydrate structures (TACA). To this end, changes in sialyltransferase (sialylT), fucosyltransferase (fucT) and galactosyltransferase (galT) activity were measured in normal and tumor tissue using a miniaturized enzyme activity assay and synthetic glycoconjugates bearing terminal LacNAc Type-I (Galβ1-3GlcNAc), LacNAc Type-II (Galβ1-4GlcNAc), and mucin core-1/Type-III (Galβ1-3GalNAc) structures. These data were related to TACA using tissue microarrays containing 115 breast and 26 colon cancer specimen. The results show that primary human breast and colon tumors, but not adjacent normal tissue, express elevated β1,3GalT and α2,3SialylT activity that can form α2,3SialylatedType-IIIglycans (Siaα2-3Galβ1-3GalNAc). Prostate tumors did not exhibit such elevated enzymatic activities. α1,3/4FucT activity was higher in breast, but not in colon tissue. The enzymology based prediction of enhanced α2,3sialylated Type-III structures in breast tumors was verified using histochemical analysis of tissue sections and tissue microarrays. Here, the binding of two markers that recognize Galβ1-3GalNAc (peanut lectin and mAb A78-G/A7) was elevated in breast tumor, but not in normal control, only upon sialidase treatment. These antigens were also upregulated in colon tumors though to a lesser extent. α2,3sialylatedType-III expression correlated inversely with patient HER2 expression and breast metastatic potential. Overall, enzymology measurements of glycoT activity predict truncated O-glycan structures in tumors. High expression of the α2,3sialylated T-antigen O-glycans occur in breast tumors. A transformation from linear core-1 glycan to other epitopes may accompany metastasis.     

Halobetasol propionate-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) for skin targeting by topical delivery

The clinical use of halobetasol propionate (HP) is related to some adverse effects like irritation, pruritus and stinging. The purpose of this work was to construct HP-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (HP-SLN) formulation with skin targeting to minimizing the adverse side effects and providing a controlled release. HP-SLN were prepared by solvent injection method and formula was optimized by the application of 3² factorial design. The nanoparticulate dispersion was evaluated for particle size and entrapment efficiency (EE). Optimized batch was characterized for differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction study and finally incorporated into polymeric gels of carbopol for convenient application. The nanoparticulate gels were evaluated comparatively with the commercial product with respect to ex-vivo skin permeation and deposition study on human cadaver skins and finally skin irritation study. HP-SLN showed average size between 200?nm and 84–94% EE. DSC studies revealed no drug-excipient incompatibility and amorphous dispersed of HP in SLN. Ex vivo study of HP-SLN loaded gel exhibited prolonged drug release up to 12?h where as in vitro drug deposition and skin irritation studies showed that HP-SLN formulation can avoid the systemic uptake, better accumulative uptake of the drug and nonirritant to the skin compared to marketed formulation. These results indicate that the studied HP-SLN formulation represent a promising carrier for topical delivery of HP, having controlled drug release, and potential of skin targeting with no skin irritation.