靶向G-四链体的小分子配体在癌症治疗中应用的研究进展

G-四链体是一类由Hoogsteen氢键维持稳定的,富含鸟嘌呤的DNA或RNA二级结构。人类基因组中存在大量潜在的形成G-四链体的序列,所形成的G-四链体结构能够调控基因组的稳定性、DNA复制和基因表达,其中包括很多与癌症相关基因。因此寻找能够诱导DNA的G富集区域形成G-四链体结构的配体,进而筛选潜在抗癌药物的先导化合物,已成为癌症治疗研究的热点之一。本文对近年来发现和设计的以G-四链体为靶点的小分子配体,按照靶向的G-四链体结构类型和配体的分子结构进行分类,综述了这类化合物在癌症治疗方面的研究进展,分析了相关靶向治疗存在的问题,并对未来的研究方向进行了展望。     

用结晶紫为荧光指示剂筛选G-四链体的小分子配体

基于结晶紫(CV)与G-四链体的特异性结合以及结晶紫和端粒DNA(G-DNA)、G-四链体作用后荧光强度的差异,以天然抗肿瘤中药槲皮素为研究对象,建立了一种简单、快速、无标记筛选G-四链体配体的方法。研究了槲皮素与G-DNA的相互作用,并考察了G-DNA在K+存在下形成G-四链体后与槲皮素的作用情况。该方法已用于筛选G-四链体的小分子配体。     

DNA G-四链体识别探针研究进展

G-四链体是一种由富含鸟嘌呤核酸序列形成的独特的二级结构,广泛分布于真核生物基因组,如端粒DNA、r DNA和一系列基因中的启动子区域。G-四链体结构对很多重要的生理过程如基因的转录、复制、重组以及保持染色体的稳定性方面具有重要作用。G-四链体的特异、高灵敏检测将为进一步了解G-四链体结构在人类细胞基因组中的分布、功能和机制奠定基础,也可能为靶向G-四链体的肿瘤治疗方法提供新的思路。因而过去几十年人们一直致力于开发设计具有高选择性和高灵敏度的G-四链体识别探针,这些探针已经广泛应用于溶液中G-四链体的识别,而且具有良好的选择性。目前也有少数探针能够直接用于检测活体G-四链体结构。本文综述了一些常见的靶向G-四链体的小分子配体,以及它们在染色体和活体细胞G-四链体检测中的应用。笔者希冀本文能为设计识别G-四链体的高性能探针,进一步实现活细胞内G-四链体的检测提供借鉴。     

以G-四链体为靶点的小分子端粒酶抑制剂研究进展

富含鸟嘌呤碱基的DNA序列能够通过鸟嘌呤环的互联作用形成四链螺旋结构,这种结构被称为G-四链体。G-四链体由于能够抑制端粒酶的活性而成为抗肿瘤药物的新靶点,能促使G-四链体形成或稳定该结构的物质则可能对癌症有潜在的治疗意义。本文对以G-四链体为靶点的小分子端粒酶抑制剂的研究进行了综述。     

DNA G-四链体的结构完整性对催化性质的影响

DNA酶中的G-四链体-血红素(G4-hemin)DNA酶结构具有较高的设计性和化学稳定性,因此格外受研究者关注.G-平面作为辅酶因子hemin的结合位点,不仅提供大π平面与hemin结合,而且其平面上的G碱基还可以充当近端配位基团与hemin进行配位.因此,研究G-平面完整性在G4-DNA酶体系中的作用具有重要意义....     

电喷雾质谱法研究天然产物小分子识别人类端粒G-四链体及复合物的热稳定性

利用电喷雾质谱(ESI-MS)研究了12种天然产物小分子与人类端粒G-四链体结构的非共价相互作用和识别功能, 比较了不同小分子与人类端粒G-四链体的结合强弱, 发现了一种新的识别小分子——防己诺林碱对人类端粒G-四链体有很好的结合. 通过质谱升温实验比较了小分子结合对G-四链体热稳定性的影响, 防己诺林碱的结合使G-四链体的离子的解离温度(T1/2)上升到200 ℃. 利用分子模拟对G-四链体DNA与小分子结合的模式以及稳定性进行了探讨, 给出了防己诺林碱可能的结合位点和结合模式, Autodock计算出来的结合能约为-31.5 kJ·mol-1. 同原来的平面型分子不同, 防己诺林碱是一类新型结构的分子, 为设计合成新型G-四链体识别分子提供了新的结构模型.     

基于G-四链体结构多态性的核酸纳米技术

G-四链体是由富G核酸形成的独特四链螺旋结构,区别于遵循A-T、G-C碱基互补配对原则形成的传统Watson-Crick双链结构.基于G-四链体的特异分子识别特性,能够引导纳米粒子的有序组装、赋予纳米器件以刺激一响应功能,使得核酸纳米技术领域的内容更丰富多样.本文介绍了G-四链体的结构多态性,从纳米材料组装和纳米器件设...     

凝胶原位探测c-Myc G-四链体的结构多态性

G-四链体(G4)在某些条件下可形成聚集结构,丰富了其结构多态性,但影响了其结构与功能研究。本研究建立了对平行G4 c-Myc及衍生序列形成的分子内结构和分子间聚集体同时分离与原位探测的方法,并讨论了末端碱基对c-Myc形成聚集体的影响。首先通过荧光光谱研究了硫磺素T(Thioflavin T,ThT)与G4的相互作用,发现ThT对含不同A/T末端的c-Myc响应不同;比较典型分子间平行以及反平行单体G4,发现ThT结合分子间平行G4能使其荧光强烈激活。用ThT对凝胶中的G4条带特异性染色,再用Stains-all对所有DNA条带染色,通过ImageJ获得DNA条带经双重染色的光密度比值,发现分子间平行单体G4或分子间G4聚集体的光密度比值大于1,分子内平行G4的光密度比值约为0.5,非G4结构的光密度比值接近0;发现末端碱基影响c-Myc聚集体的形成,在K⁺溶液中增加末端碱基利于形成G4聚集体,其中T作用更强;在Na⁺溶液中只有末端含两个或以上的A利于其形成G4聚集体。本研究利用特异性与非特异性的染料组合在胶上原位探测G4构型多态性的策略,...     

邻菲罗啉衍生物与G-四链体DNA的识别

设计合成了一种新型邻菲罗啉衍生物,用IR,<'1>H-NMR,<'13>C-NMR和质谱进行了结构表征.在包含100mM NaCl的Tris-HCl(pH 7.4)缓冲溶液中,利用荧光共振能量转移熔点(FRET-melting)分析以及紫外可见光谱研究了此化合物对人端粒G-四链体DNA(AG<,3>T<,2>AG<,3...     

连接环、末端碱基及一价阳离子对G-四链体结构的影响

研究了G-四链体中的连接环(Loop)、末端碱基和一价阳离子对其结构的影响,发现在K+溶液中Loop短的序列易形成平行结构,无末端碱基时容易形成多聚体,而反平行或混合平行/反平行的G-四链体则难以形成多聚体;一价阳离子K+,NH+4和Na+促进形成平行结构及多聚体的能力依次减弱.在平行G-四链体的3’或5’端增加非G碱基,或改变阳离子使其形成非平行结构,均可抑制多聚体的形成.Loop长度影响G-四链体的热稳定性,Loop短的序列可形成很稳定的分子内结构;无末端碱基的G-四链体多聚体的稳定性低于单个G-四链体,且多聚体随着温度升高而变小.结果表明,在K+溶液中,无末端碱基的平行G-四链体序列首先形成分子内结构,然后通过π-π堆积形成多聚体;末端碱基及反平行或混合平行/反平行G-四链体中的Loop可阻碍末端堆积作用,抑制多聚体的形成.本研究为G-四链体的结构与功能研究提供了有用信息.     

A Thermodynamic Perspective on Potential G-Quadruplex Structures as Silencer Elements in the MYC Promoter

Multiple G-tracts within the promoter region of the c-myc oncogene may fold into various G-quadruplexes with the recruitment of different tracts and guanosine residues for the G-core assembly. Thermodynamic profiles for the folding of wild-type and representative truncated as well as mutated sequences were extracted by comprehensive DSC experiments. The unique G-quadruplex involving consecutive G-tracts II–V with formation of two one-nucleotide and one central two-nucleotide propeller loop, previously proposed to be the biologically most relevant species, was found to be the most stable fold in terms of its Gibbs free energy of formation at ambient temperatures. Its stability derives from its short propeller loops but also from the favorable type of loop residues. Whereas quadruplex folds with long propeller loops are significantly disfavored, a snap-back loop structure formed by incorporating a 3’-terminal guanosine into the empty position of a tetrad seems highly competitive based on its thermodynamic stability. However, its destabilization by extending the 3’-terminus questions the significance of such a species under in vivo conditions.     

Using Macrocyclic G-Quadruplex Ligands to Decipher the Interactions Between Small Molecules and G-Quadruplex DNA

This study aims to deepen the knowledge of the current state of rational G4-ligand design through the design and synthesis of a novel set of compounds based on indoles, quinolines, and benzofurans and their comparisons with well-known G4-ligands. This resulted in novel synthetic methods and G4-ligands that bind and stabilize G4 DNA with high selectivity. Furthermore, the study corroborates previous studies on the design of G4-ligands and adds deeper explanations to why a) macrocycles offer advantages in terms of G4-binding and -selectivity, b) molecular pre-organization is of key importance in the development of strong novel binders, c) an electron-deficient aromatic core is essential to engage in strong arene-arene interactions with the G4-surface, and d) aliphatic amines can strengthen interactions indirectly through changing the arene electrostatic nature of the compound. Finally, fundamental physicochemical properties of selected G4-binders are evaluated, underscoring the complexity of aligning the properties required for efficient G4 binding and stabilization with feasible pharmacokinetic properties.     

Exploring the Parallel G-Quadruplex Nucleic Acid World: A Spectroscopic and Computational Investigation on the Binding of the c-myc Oncogene NHE III1 Region by the Phytochemical Polydatin

Trans-polydatin (tPD), the 3-β-D-glucoside of the well-known nutraceutical trans-resveratrol, is a natural polyphenol with documented anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, and immunoregulatory effects. Considering the anticancer activity of tPD, in this work, we aimed to explore the binding properties of this natural compound with the G-quadruplex (G4) structure formed by the Pu22 [d(TGAGGGTGGGTAGGGTGGGTAA)] DNA sequence by exploiting CD spectroscopy and molecular docking simulations. Pu22 is a mutated and shorter analog of the G4-forming sequence known as Pu27 located in the promoter of the c-myc oncogene, whose overexpression triggers the metabolic changes responsible for cancer cells transformation. The binding of tPD with the parallel Pu22 G4 was confirmed by CD spectroscopy, which showed significant changes in the CD spectrum of the DNA and a slight thermal stabilization of the G4 structure. To gain a deeper insight into the structural features of the tPD-Pu22 complex, we performed an in silico molecular docking study, which indicated that the interaction of tPD with Pu22 G4 may involve partial end-stacking to the terminal G-quartet and H-bonding interactions between the sugar moiety of the ligand and deoxynucleotides not included in the G-tetrads. Finally, we compared the experimental CD profiles of Pu22 G4 with the corresponding theoretical output obtained using DichroCalc, a web-based server normally used for the prediction of proteins’ CD spectra starting from their “.pdb” file. The results indicated a good agreement between the predicted and the experimental CD spectra in terms of the spectral bands’ profile even if with a slight bathochromic shift in the positive band, suggesting the utility of this predictive tool for G4 DNA CD investigations.     

Crystal Structure of an i-Motif from the HRAS Oncogene Promoter

An i-motif is a non-canonical DNA structure implicated in gene regulation and linked to cancers. The C-rich strand of the HRAS oncogene, 5′-CGCCC GTGCCC TGCGCCC GCAACCC GA-3′ (herein referred to as iHRAS), forms an i-motif in vitro but its exact structure was unknown. HRAS is a member of the RAS proto-oncogene family. About 19 % of US cancer patients carry mutations in RAS genes. We solved the structure of iHRAS at 1.77 Å resolution. The structure reveals that iHRAS folds into a double hairpin. The two double hairpins associate in an antiparallel fashion, forming an i-motif dimer capped by two loops on each end and linked by a connecting region. Six C−C⁺ base pairs form each i-motif core, and the core regions are extended by a G−G base pair and a cytosine stacking. Extensive canonical and non-canonical base pairing and stacking stabilizes the connecting region and loops. The iHRAS structure is the first atomic resolution structure of an i-motif from a human oncogene. This structure sheds light on i-motifs folding and function in the cell.     

Dyads of G-Quadruplex Ligands Triggering DNA Damage Response and Tumour Cell Growth Inhibition at Subnanomolar Concentration

Naphthalene diimide (NDI) dyads exhibiting a different substitution pattern and linker length have been synthesised and evaluated as G-quadruplex (G4) ligands, by investigating their cytotoxicity in selected cell lines. The dyads with the long C₇ linker exhibit extremely low IC₅₀ values, below 10 nm , on different cancer cell lines. Contrary, the dyads with the shorter C₄ linker were much less effective, with IC values increasing up to 1 μm . Among the three dyads with the longest linker, small differences in the IC₅₀ values emerge, suggesting that the linker length plays a more important role than the substitution pattern. We have further shown that the dyads are able to induce cellular DNA damage response, which is not limited to the telomeric regions and is likely the origin of their cytotoxicity. Both absorption titration and dynamic light scattering of the most cytotoxic dyads in the presence of hTel22 highlight their ability to induce effective G4 aggregation, acting as non-covalent cross-linking agents.     

双过氧钒配合物与吡啶类配体相互作用的NMR研究

为探讨单齿/双齿吡啶类配体对反应平衡的影响,在模拟生理条件下(0.15mol·L-1NaCl溶液),应用多核(1H、13C和51V)多维(COSY,HSQC和HMBC)以及变温NMR技术研究双过氧钒配合物[OV(O2)2(D2O)]-/[OV(O2)2(HOD)]-(简写为bpV)与系列吡啶类配体的相互作用,研究结果表明bpV与有机配体的反应性从强到弱的顺序为:2,2′-联吡啶2,2′-联吡啶-4,4′-二甲酸根吡啶异烟酸根,这说明双齿吡啶类配体配位能力强于单齿配体,而不带羧基的吡啶类配体(单齿或双齿)配位能力强于所对应的带羧基的取代吡啶,竞争配位导致一系列新的6配位(配体为吡啶或异烟酸根)或7配位(配体为2,2′-联吡啶或2,2′-联吡啶-4,4′-二甲酸根)的过氧钒物种[OV(O2)2LL′]n-(LL′=吡啶类配体,n=1,2,3)生成。     

ESI Mass Spectrometric Exploration of Selective Recognition of G-Quadruplex in c-myb Oncogene Promoter Using a Novel Flexible Cyclic Polyamide

In this research, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) was used to probe the binding selectivity of a flexible cyclic polyamide (cβ) to G-quadruplexes from the long G-rich sequences in the c-myb oncogene promoter. The results show that three G-rich sequences, including d[(GGA)₃GGTCAC(GGA)₄], d[(GGA)₄GAA(GGA)₄], and d[(GGA)₃GGTCAC(GGA)₄GAA(GGA)₄] species in the c-myb promoter can form parallel G-quadruplexes, and cβ selectively binds towards these G-quadruplexes over both several other G-quadruplexes and the duplex DNA. These properties of cβ have profound implications on future studies of the regulation of c-myb oncogene expression.

咪唑类配体与双过氧钒配合物相互作用的NMR研究

为探讨咪唑环上取代基团对反应平衡的影响, 在模拟生理条件(0.15 mol·L-1 NaCl溶液)下, 应用多核(1H、13C和51V)、扩散排序谱(DOSY)以及变温NMR等谱学技术研究双过氧钒配合物NH4[OV(O2)2{2-(2’-Pyri-dine)-Imidazole}]·4H2O(简写为bpV(Imi-Py))和咪唑类配体(咪唑、2-甲基鄄咪唑、4-甲基-咪唑和组氨酸)的相互作用, 其从强到弱的顺序为咪唑≈4-甲基-咪唑>2-甲基-咪唑>组氨酸. 研究结果表明, 咪唑环上取代基团空间位阻对反应平衡产生较大影响,同时竞争配位的结果导致新的6 配位过氧物种[OV(O2)2L]-(L 为咪唑类配体)的生成, 当配体为4-甲基-咪唑和组氨酸时, 生成的则是一对异构体.