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J A Hartley

Publications and source records attributed to J A Hartley.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1997

The sequence specificity of alkylation for a series of benzoic acid mustard and imidazole-containing distamycin analogues: the importance of local sequence conformation.

The covalent sequence specificity of a series of nitrogen mustard and imidazole-containing analogues of distamycin was determined using modified sequencing techniques. The analogues tether benzoic acid mustard (BAM) and possess either one, two or three imidazole units. Examination of the alkylation specificity revealed that BAM produced guanine-N7 lesions in a pattern similar to conventional nitrogen mustards. The monoimidazole-BAM conjugate also produced guanine-N7 alkylation in a similar pattern to BAM, but at a 100-fold lower dose. The diimidazole and triimidazole conjugates did not produce detectable guanine-N7 alkylation but only alkylated at selected sites in the minor groove. Unexpectedly, the alkylation specificity at equivalent doses was nearly identical to that found for the previously reported pyrrole-BAM conjugates. The consensus sequence, 5'-TTTTGPuwas strongly alkylated by the triimidazole conjugate in preference to other similar sites including three occurrences of 5'-TTTTAA. Footprinting studies were carried out to examine the non-covalent DNA binding interactions. These studies revealed that the tripyrrole- BAM conjugate bound non-covalently to the same AT-rich sites as distamycin. In contrast, whereas the Im3lexitropsin bound non-covalently to GC-rich sequences, the triimidazole-BAM conjugate did not detectably footprint to either GC- or AT-rich regions at equivalent doses. The results indicate that the alkylation event is not solely dictated by the non-covalent binding and might be influenced by a unique sequence dependent conformational feature of the consensus sequence 5'-TTTTGPu.

Alkylation↗
PubMed1997

DNA repair capacity and cisplatin sensitivity of human testis tumour cells.

Metastatic testicular germ cell tumours can be cured using cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy. To investigate the role of DNA repair in cisplatin sensitivity, we measured the formation and removal of cisplatin adducts in the whole genome and in specific genomic regions in 3 testis and 3 bladder cancer cell lines. Following a 1 hr exposure to 50 microM cisplatin, the mean level of DNA platination was lower in the testis tumour cell lines. During a 72 hr post-treatment incubation period, the 3 bladder cell lines removed platinum from the overall genome, whereas 2 of the testis tumour cell lines showed relatively little reduction of DNA platination. The third testis tumour cell line, SuSa, showed an intermediate capacity to remove cisplatin. Cisplatin-induced damage and repair in selected regions of the actively transcribed N-ras gene and the inactive CD3delta gene were measured using quantitative PCR. The data were in agreement with those obtained with atomic absorption spectroscopy for the whole genome, showing that the bladder lines were repair-proficient: 2 of the testis tumour cell lines showed no repair, and the third testis line, SuSa, showed an intermediate level of repair in these 2 genes. Our findings confirm that reduced capacity to repair cisplatin-damaged DNA may contribute to the hypersensitivity of testis tumour cells to DNA-damaging agents.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1997

Inhibition of bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase in vitro transcription by DNA-binding pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepines.

The interactions of several pyrrolo[2, 1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine (PBD) antitumor antibiotics with linearized plasmid pGEM-2-N-ras DNA have been analyzed by quantitative in vitro transcription (QIVT) and in vitro transcription footprinting (IVTF) methods. A concentration-dependent inhibitory effect of the PBDs on transcription is observed using both techniques. The rank order for overall inhibition of transcription by the QIVT method is found to be: sibiromycin > tomaymycin > anthramycin > DC-81 > neothramycin, whereas the IVTF experiments show a different ranking: sibiromycin > anthramycin > neothramycin > tomaymycin. In addition, stimulation of transcription was observed at low PBD concentrations in both the QIVT and IVTF experiments. These results demonstrate unequivocally that the formation of PBD-DNA adducts at AGA-5' base sequences on the transcribed strand results in transcription blockage for all PBDs examined. Furthermore, the sequence of flanking base pairs appears to influence the degree of blocking, with the sequences ACAGAAA-5', AAAGATG-5', AGAGATA-5', and CAAGAAC-5' providing the most pronounced blocks for all PBDs studied in this system. Neothramycin and tomaymycin cause additional blocks at some GGA-5' and TGA-5' sequences. Parallel MPE-Fe(II) footprinting studies have revealed PBD binding sites on both the transcribing and nontranscribing strands, although all transcription blocks determined from the IVTF assays are due to drug bound on the transcribing DNA template strand.

Anthramycin↗
PubMed1997

KW-2149 (7-N-[2-[gamma-L-glutamylamino]ethyldithioethyl]mitomycin C). A new mitomycin C analogue activated by serum.

KW-2149 (7-N-[2-[gamma-L-glutamylamino]ethyldithioethyl]mitomycin C) is a new mitomycin-C analogue in clinical trial. This study demonstrates that KW-2149, unlike mitomycin C, is activated to a cytotoxic species by extracellular metabolism in serum. The metabolising activity differs between batches of serum and species of origin. Human serum had high activity (which resulted in a 150-fold enhancement of cytotoxicity), whereas mouse serum had low activity. In the presence of serum, the rate of uptake of 3H-KW-2149 into cells increased by 8-fold and drug binding to DNA by 32-fold. The metabolising activity of serum can partially be replaced by glutathione. No anticancer drug has previously been described whose toxicity is mediated by metabolism in serum.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Cross-linking and sequence specific alkylation of DNA by aziridinyl quinones. 2. Structure requirements for sequence selectivity.

The cytotoxicities and DNA sequence selectivity for guanine-N7 alkylation of 22 mono- and disubstituted 2,5-diaziridinyl-1,4-benzoquinones have been investigated. Several quinones produced patterns of alkylation following reduction with a selectivity for 5'-TGC-3' sequences. This sequence selectivity appeared to be dependent only on the presence of a hydrogen in position-6 of the quinone. A computer model, based on published crystallographic data, was used to explain this selectivity. The sequence selective quinones were generally more cytotoxic that the quinones which reacted randomly.

Alkylation↗
PubMed1997

Structure-activity relationship of a series of C-terminus modified aminoalkyl, diaminoalkyl- and anilino-containing analogues of the benzoic acid mustard distamycin derivative tallimustine: synthesis, DNA binding and cytotoxicity studies.

As part of our investigations into the design of more cytotoxic analogues of the experimental anticancer drug tallimustine, 1, C-terminus modified aminoalkyl-, 2a-c, diaminoalkyl-, 3, and anilino-containing, 4, derivatives have been synthesized. Compounds 2a-c differ by 2, 3, or 4 methylene units in the C-terminus, respectively. Results from an ethidium displacement study on poly(dA-dT), poly(dG-dC), calf thymus DNA and T4 coliphage DNA showed that compounds 2-4 interact in the minor groove of the polynucleotides with a preference for poly(dA-dT) over poly(dG-dC). Compound 4 bound more weakly to the DNAs than 2a-c and 3. Using a CD dilution assay compounds 2a-c and 3 were demonstrated to bind irreversibly to calf thymus DNA. The sequence selectivity by which compounds 2-4 alkylate DNA was demonstrated using a Taq polymerase stop assay. All the compounds alkylated preferentially at the 3'-purine residue in a 5'-TTTTGPu-3' sequence (Pu = A or G). This observed sequence specificity is similar to that of tallimustine and a related compound 5. At an equimolar concentration the aminoalkyl compounds 2a-c (2b > 2a > 2c), and diaminoalkyl compound 3 were more efficient at alkylating these sequences than the anilino compound 4. Following a one hour exposure of human chronic myeloid leukemia K562 cells, compounds 2b and 3 have lower IC50 values (1.64 microM and 3.03 microM, respectively) than tallimustine (5 microM) and similar values to a related compound 5 (2.2 microM). The order of cytotoxicity for all the compounds is 2b > 5 > 3 > 2a > 1 > 2c = 4. These results indicate that the cytotoxicities of these compounds are related to their relative ability to alkylate the consensus DNA binding sequence.

Alkylation↗
PubMed1997

Alkylation specificity for a series of distamycin analogues that tether chlorambucil.

The sequence specificity of alkylation for a series of pyrrole- and imidazole-containing analogues of distamycin that tether the nitrogen mustard chlorambucil (CHL) was determined using modified sequencing techniques. Examination of the sequence specificity of alkylation for the imidazole-CHL conjugates using a Taq polymerase stop assay revealed that although the doses required to produce similar amounts of damage were at least 10-fold lower, the sequence specificity of alkylation was essentially identical to that seen for CHL. The guanine-N7 alkylation pattern, which consisted of guanines within runs of guanines, was confirmed using a piperidine cleavage assay. The pyrrole-CHL conjugates also produced a similar pattern of alkylation to that seen for CHL, but one exception was a unique site strongly alkylated only by the di- and tripyrrole-CHL conjugates. The unique lesions, at AG for the dipyrrole-CHL conjugate and G for the tripyrrole-CHL conjugate in the sequence 5'-GAAGAT, were confirmed as minor groove adenine- and guanine-N3 lesions using a thermal cleavage assay.

Alkylation↗
PubMed1996

DNA repair in cisplatin-sensitive and resistant human cell lines measured in specific genes by quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

More than 80% of patients with testicular germ cell tumours (TGCT) are cured using cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy, and resistance to cisplatin is the final barrier to the cure of nearly all patients with this disease. In this study, we used quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR) to investigate the role of DNA repair in cisplatin resistance in two genes, one transcribed and one not transcribed. Three pairs of cisplatin-sensitive and resistant cell lines were used, two derived from TGCT and one from a bladder cancer. In these pairs of sublines, we observed no major differences between the repair of cisplatin-induced damage in the transcribed and nontranscribed genes, nor did there appear to be any relationship between DNA repair capacity and the development of cisplatin resistance. Despite the strong indication that the sensitivity of testis tumour cells to cisplatin is related to their reduced ability to repair cisplatin-damaged DNA, these cells apparently do not become resistant to cisplatin by acquiring DNA repair capacity.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed1996

Cross-linking and sequence specific alkylation of DNA BY aziridinylquinones. 1. Quinone methides.

The cytotoxicities and DNA cross-linking abilities of 16 1,4-benzoquinones have been investigated. All of the alkylmonoaziridinyl-1,4-benzoquinones were able to interstrand crosslink DNA after reduction and were cytotoxic in vitro. Compounds lacking an aziridine group were unable to cross-link DNA and were less cytotoxic. The methyl analogues were shown to preferentially react at TGC sequences. From comparing the structural requirements for crosslinking and the cytotoxicities, a mechanism has been proposed wherein some hydroquinones can associate and react at TGC sequences in DNA. These hydroquinones can subsequently autoxidize to form a reactive quinone methide which reacts at the opposite strand to form a cross-link.

Alkylation↗
PubMed1996

Dendritic cells in normal and asthmatic airways: expression of the alpha subunit of the high affinity immunoglobulin E receptor (Fc epsilon RI -alpha).

BACKGROUND: Immunoglobulin E (IgE) plays an important role in asthma, with total serum IgE levels closely related to both clinical expression of the disease and airway hyperresponsiveness. IgE binds to a high affinity cell-surface receptor (Fc epsilon RI) which is present on mast cells and which has also recently been demonstrated on cutaneous dendritic cells. If pulmonary dendritic cells were also able to express this receptor, this would have important implications with regard to their potential role in asthma. OBJECTIVES: The aims of the study were to investigate the expression of the alpha subunit of the high affinity IgE receptor (Fc epsilon RI-alpha) in normal and asthmatic airways, and to analyse its cellular provenance with particular emphasis on the dendritic cell. METHODS: Bronchial biopsy specimens were obtained using fibreoptic bronchoscopy from 10 atopic asthmatics and nine non-atopic non-asthmatic control subjects. Specimens were processed into glycolmethacrylate resin and analysed by immunohistochemistry using specific monoclonal antibodies against Fc epsilon RI-alpha, and against tryptase and CD1a, markers for mast cells and dendritic cells, respectively. RESULTS: The numbers of dendritic cells were significantly higher in the airways of asthmatics compared with those of control subjects (P < 0.02). Analysis of sequential sections revealed that the alpha subunit of Fc epsilon RI was localized to both mast cells and dendritic cells. The proportion of dendritic cells expressing Fc epsilon RI-alpha was significantly increased in the asthmatic group (P < 0.003). CONCLUSION: These results support the hypothesis that dendritic cells play an important role in allergic asthma although the functional significance of Fc epsilon RI-alpha expression needs further investigation.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Sequence specificity of alkylation for a series of nitrogen mustard-containing analogues of distamycin of increasing binding site size: evidence for increased cytotoxicity with enhanced sequence specificity.

The covalent sequence specificity of a series of nitrogen mustard-containing analogues of distamycin was determined using modified sequencing techniques. The analogues tether benzoic acid mustard (BAM) and possess either one, two, or three pyrrole-amide units. Previous characterization of the biological profile of the series revealed an increase in cytotoxicity for each corresponding increase in the number of pyrrole units, while showing poor cross-link formation in isolated and cellular DNA. Examination of the sequence specificity revealed that BAM produced guanine-N7 lesions in similar manner to other conventional nitrogen mustards. The monopyrrole BAM conjugate also produced guanine-N7 alkylation in a similar pattern to BAM. However, alkylation of adenines was also seen that was found to be minor groove adenine-N3 lesions. The dipyrrole and tripyrrole conjugates did not produce detectable guanine-N7 alkylation but only alkylated in AT tracts. In addition, the tripyrrole conjugate preferentially alkylated only a subset of those sites alkylated by the monopyrrole and dipyrrole conjugates. Two sites, 5'-TTTTGG and 5'-TTTTGA, confirmed as guanine-N3 and adenine-N3 lesions, respectively, were strongly alkylated by the tripyrrole conjugate in preference to other similar sites including three occurrences of 5'-TTTTAA. Footprinting studies comparing distamycin and the tripyrrole conjugate showed identical non-covalent recognition of AT-rich sites. Hence, the drug that possessed the most enhanced sequence specificity for alkylation was also the most cytotoxic of this series.

Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating↗
PubMed1995

The effect of AT and GC sequence specific minor groove-binding agents on restriction endonuclease activity.

The ability of the naturally occurring A/T specific DNA minor groove binders netropsin and diastamycin A and two synthetic G/C selective oligopeptide analogues (1 and 2), to interfere with the catalytic activity of restriction endonucleases has been investigated. Enzymes were chosen to have A/T rich (EcoRI, EcoRV) or G/C rich (BalI, NruI) recognition sequences. An agarose gel assay was used to measure the cleavage of 32P-labelled DNA and ligand-DNA binding data was obtained using methidium-propyl EDTA footprinting. Netropsin and distamycin bind at the recognition sites, and dose-dependently inhibited cleavage by, EcoRI and EcoRV, (EcoRI > EcoRV). They were also more effective at inhibiting the catalytic activity of BalI than either 1 or 2. NruI was inhibited by distamycin and 2, but not by netropsin or 1. DNA footprinting revealed that neither 1 or 2 bound to the BalI or NruI recognition sequences under the conditions used whereas netropsin and distamycin footprint at adjacent sites. 1 binds to two of the three recognition sequences for the enzyme Fnu4HI (GCNGC) in the fragment studied and was shown to inhibit DNA cleavage only at these two sites. 2 binds strongly to two GGGCTC sequences which are recognition sites for the enzyme BanII. In this case a pronounced stimulation of cleavage was observed in the presence of 2 over a wide dose range. The results indicate that enzyme inhibition does not necessarily result from simultaneous occupancy of a common site, or at nearby flanking sequences, and in some circumstances, a pronounced stimulation of enzyme cleavage can occur.

Autoradiography↗
PubMed1995

Antitumor imidazotetrazines. 32. Synthesis of novel imidazotetrazinones and related bicyclic heterocycles to probe the mode of action of the antitumor drug temozolomide.

A series of new imidazo[5,1-d]-1,2,3,5-tetrazinones with additional hydrogen-bonding or ionic substituents at the 8-carboxamide position of the antitumor drugs temozolomide (1) and mitozolomide (2) has been prepared. None of these compounds were significantly more cytotoxic in vitro against the mouse TLX5 lymphoma than the lead structures. Molecular modeling techniques have been used to design benzo- and pyrazolo[4,3-d]-1,2,3-triazinones bearing carboxamide groups in appropriate positions which are isosteric with temozolomide and mitozolamide but which cannot ring open to alkylating species. As predicted, these compounds have no inhibitory properties against human GM892A or Raji cell lines in vitro. Temozolomide and the spermidine-temozolomide conjugate 28 preferentially methylate guanines within guanine-rich sequences in DNA, but no experimental evidence has been found to support the hypothesis that such regions are involved in catalyzing the ring opening of the imidazotetrazinone prodrugs to their active forms.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

DNA sequence-specific adenine alkylation by the novel antitumor drug tallimustine (FCE 24517), a benzoyl nitrogen mustard derivative of distamycin.

FCE 24517, a novel distamycin derivative possessing potent antitumor activity, is under initial clinical investigation in Europe. In spite of the presence of a benzoyl nitrogen mustard group this compound fails to alkylate the N7 position of guanine, the major site of alkylation by conventional nitrogen mustards. Characterisation of DNA-drug adducts revealed only a very low level of adenine adduct formation. Using a modified Maxam-Gilbert sequencing method the consensus sequence for FCE 24517-adenine adduct formation was found to be 5'-TTTTGA-3'. A single base modification in the hexamer completely abolishes the alkylation of adenine. Using a Taq polymerase stop assay alkylations were confirmed at the A present in the hexamer TTTTGA and, in addition, in one out of three TTTTAA sequences present in the plasmid utilized. The sequence specificity of alkylation by FCE 24517 is therefore the most striking yet observed for an alkylating agent of small molecular weight.

Adenine↗