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Staffan Eriksson

Publications and source records attributed to Staffan Eriksson.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Structures of thymidine kinase 1 of human and mycoplasmic origin.

Cytosolic thymidine kinase 1, TK1, is a well known cell-cycle-regulated enzyme of importance in nucleotide metabolism as well as an activator of antiviral and anticancer drugs such as 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (AZT). We have now determined the structures of the TK1 family, the human and Ureaplasma urealyticum enzymes, in complex with the feedback inhibitor dTTP. The TK1s have a tetrameric structure in which each subunit contains an alpha/beta-domain that is similar to ATPase domains of members of the RecA structural family and a domain containing a structural zinc. The zinc ion connects beta-structures at the root of a beta-ribbon that forms a stem that widens to a lasso-type loop. The thymidine of dTTP is hydrogen-bonded to main-chain atoms predominantly coming from the lasso loop. This binding is in contrast to other deoxyribonucleoside kinases where specific interactions occur with side chains. The TK1 structure differs fundamentally from the structures of the other deoxyribonucleoside kinases, indicating a different evolutionary origin.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Transcriptional regulation of the mouse deoxycytidine kinase: identification and functional analysis of nuclear protein binding sites at the proximal promoter.

Deoxycytidine kinase (EC 2.7.1.74, dCK) catalyzes the phosphorylation of deoxynucleosides and several nucleoside analogues that are important in antiviral and cancer chemotherapy. The enzyme is predominantly expressed in lymphoid tissue by as yet poorly defined mechanisms. In this work, we have studied the mouse dCK regulatory region to understand the molecular details of the tissue specific expression of the enzyme. DNase I footprinting and electrophoretic mobility shift assays using nuclear extracts from mouse lymphocytes (EL-4, T cells; J558, B cells) and non-lymphoid cells (L929, fibroblasts) demonstrated the existence of at least six cis-acting elements (FP-1-FP-6) within the proximal promoter region. Functional analysis revealed that all the elements necessary to promote high level transcription of the mdCK gene are located downstream the transcription start site. 5'-Deletion and site-directed mutagenesis assays demonstrated the importance of four GC-rich regions, which bind Sp-1 and Sp-3 transcription factors. In addition, we identified a site (FP-3) located at the -282 to -310 nucleotide region of the promoter, which binds NF-1, only in B cells. Analysis of point mutations introduced at the different regions revealed functional differences in their role in mdCK transcription in the cell lines used.

5' Flanking Region↗

Human deoxycytidine kinase as a deoxyribonucleoside phosphorylase.

Human deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) is a key enzyme in the 5'-phosphorylation of purine and pyrimidine deoxynucleosides with deoxycytidine as the most efficient substrate. The ability of dCK to degrade 2'-deoxyribonucleosides to free nucleobases and 2-deoxy-alpha-d-ribofuranose-1-phosphate was demonstrated by 1H-31P correlation spectroscopy and by isotope enzyme kinetic methods. The reaction depended on inorganic phosphate, and dCK showed maximum cleavage activity between pH 7 and pH 8. In this pH range, [HPO4(2-)] is the dominant phosphate species, most likely being the phosphate donor. All natural deoxyribonucleosides could be cleaved and the Vmax of the phosphorylytic reaction compared to the kinase reaction was about 2-10%. The formation of free nucleobases occurred only with reduced dCK, because the reaction was highly dependent on the presence of reducing agents such as dithiotreitol. Thus, recombinant dCK can act as a phosphorylase, similar to the nucleoside phosphorylase family of enzymes. This catalytic activity is important for the design of in vitro experiments with dCK, such as crystallization and NMR spectroscopy.

Catalysis↗

Synthesis of ethyleneoxide modified 3-carboranyl thymidine analogues and evaluation of their biochemical, physicochemical, and structural properties.

Eleven 3-carboranyl thymidine analogues (3CTAs) containing highly hydrophilic and flexible ethyleneoxide moieties were synthesized as potential agents for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) and their biochemical and physicochemical properties were evaluated. Based on specific structural features, this library of 3CTAs was divided into three subgroups. The first group contained 3CTAs with 1-4 ethyleneoxide units between the thymidine (Thd) scaffold and a carborane cluster. The second group of 3CTAs contained a pentylene spacer between Thd and the carborane and 2-4 ethyleneoxide units additionally attached to the carborane cluster. The third group contained three 3CTAs all with pentylene spacers and four ethylene units but with different carborane cages. The ethyleneoxide modified 3CTAs were good substrates of thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) and poor substrates of human mitochondrial thymidine kinase 2 (TK2) as determined in phosphoryl transfer assays. In the first group of 3CTAs, all the compounds were efficiently phosphorylated regardless of varying spacer lengths (37-42% of the activity of Thd). The second group of 3CTAs was less effectively phosphorylated (17-26% of the activity of Thd) probably due to a less favorable sterical orientation of Thd within the active site of TK1 and/or an increased lipophilicity compared with the first group. In the third group of structural isomers, no significant differences in phosphorylation rates were observed (17-25%). A structure-function hypothesis explaining these results is presented.

Boron Compounds↗

Evaluation of human thymidine kinase 1 substrates as new candidates for boron neutron capture therapy.

Thymidine analogs containing o-carboranylalkyl groups at the 3-position were screened as potential substrates for human thymidine kinase 1 (TK1), an enzyme that is selectively expressed in a variety of rapidly proliferating cells, including tumor cells. On the basis of previous studies, 12 of these were identified as potential delivery agents for boron neutron capture therapy, a therapeutic method used for the treatment of high-grade brain tumors. Compound 4 with a pentylene spacer between the o-carborane cage and the thymidine scaffold and compound 10, which has an additional dihydroxypropyl substituent at the o-carborane cage, were the best substrates for TK1 with kcat/Km values of 27% and 36% relative to that of thymidine, respectively. These compounds showed partial competitive inhibition for thymidine phosphorylation by TK1. Neither compound was a substrate of recombinant human thymidine phosphorylase nor were their respective 5'-monophosphates substrates of 5'-deoxynucleotidase 1, thereby indicating potential in vivo stability. The octanol/water partition coefficient for compound 10 was 2.09, suggesting that it has excellent physiochemical properties for crossing the blood brain barrier and penetrating brain tissue. The in vitro cytotoxic effect of the 12 analogs was moderate to low in mammalian cell cultures with IC50 values between 10 and 160 micromol/L. Compounds 4 and 10 were taken up selectively and retained by the murine fibroblast L929 cell line, in contrast to its TK1-deficient variant. These findings suggest that compound 10 is a promising candidate for selective delivery of boron-10 to malignant cells, and additional in vivo studies are planned to evaluate it for boron neutron capture therapy of brain tumors.

5'-Nucleotidase↗

Boron-containing nucleosides as potential delivery agents for neutron capture therapy of brain tumors.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate both in vitro and in vivo a series of boron-containing nucleosides that potentially could be used as delivery agents for neutron capture therapy. The rationale for their synthesis was based on the fact that proliferating neoplastic cells have increased requirements for nucleic acid precursors, and, therefore, they should preferentially localize in the tumor. A series of 3-carboranlyalkyl thymidine analogs has been synthesized and a subset, designated N4, N5, and N7, and the corresponding 3-dihydroxypropyl derivatives, designated N4-2OH, N5-2OH, and N7-2OH, have been selected for evaluation. Using these compounds as substrates for recombinant human thymidine kinase-1 and the mitochondrial isoenzyme thymidine kinase-2, the highest phosphorylation levels relative to thymidine were seen with N5 and the corresponding dihydroxypropyl analog N5-2OH. In contrast, N4, N4-OH, N7, and N7-OH had substantially lower phosphorylation levels. To compare compounds with high and low thymidine kinase-1 substrate activity, N5 and N7 and the corresponding dihydroxypropyl derivatives were selected for evaluation of their cellular toxicity, uptake and retention by the F98 rat glioma, human MRA melanoma, and murine L929 cell lines, all of which are thymidine kinase-1(+), and a mutant L929 cell line that is thymidine kinase-1(-). N5-2OH was the least toxic (IC50, 43-70 microm), and N7 and N7-2OH were the most toxic (IC50, 18-49 microm). The highest boron uptake was seen with N7-2OH by the MRA 27 melanoma and L929 wild-type (wt) cell lines. The highest retention was seen with L929 (wt) cells, and this ranged from 29% for N5-2OH to 46% for N7. Based on the in vitro toxicity and uptake data, N5-2OH was selected for in vivo biodistribution studies either in rats bearing intracerebral implants of the F98 glioma or in mice bearing either s.c. or intracerebral implants of L929 (wt) tumors. At 2.5 hours after convection-enhanced delivery, the boron values for the F98 glioma and normal brain were 16.2 +/- 2.3 and 2.2 microg/g, respectively, and the tumor to brain ratio was 8.5. Boron values at 4 hours after convection-enhanced delivery of N5-2OH to mice bearing intracerebral implants of L929 (wt) or L929 thymidine kinase-1(-) tumors were 39.8 +/- 10.8 and 12.4 +/- 1.6 microg/g, respectively, and the corresponding normal brain values were 4.4 and 1.6 microg/g, thereby indicating that there was selective retention by the thymidine kinase-1(+) tumors. Based on these favorable in vitro and in vivo data, neutron capture therapy studies will be initiated using N5-2OH in combination with two non-cell cycle dependent boron delivery agents, boronophenylalanine and sodium borocaptate.

Animals↗

Detection of an alternatively spliced form of deoxycytidine kinase mRNA in the 2'-2'-difluorodeoxycytidine (gemcitabine)-resistant human ovarian cancer cell line AG6000.

Gemcitabine (2'-2'-difluorodeoxycytidine (dFdC)) is a deoxycytidine analogue that is effective against solid tumors, including lung cancer and ovarian cancer. dFdC requires the phosphorylation by deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) as a primary step in its activation. Deficiency of dCK is associated with resistance against this compound both in vitro in cancer cell lines and in clinical practice in acute myeloid leukemia and solid tumors. The human ovarian cancer cell line AG6000 is 100,000-fold resistant against dFdC compared to its parent cell line A2780. This cell line proved to be dCK deficient in enzyme activity assays and by Western blot analysis, but by RT-PCR, a normal and a truncated dCK mRNA was found. Sequencing revealed that exon 3 was deleted from the dCK cDNA, resulting in a 74-aa-long open-reading frame due to the generation of a premature stop codon. No gross genomic alteration was observed at the dCK locus, suggesting the involvement of post-transcription mechanisms. Transient transfection experiments indicated that the truncated dCK transcripts are not translated to protein. To study the functional role of the truncated dCK transcripts, both A2780 cells and AG6000 cells were stably transfected with human and rat dCK. The results indicated that over-expression of full-length dCK genes in AG6000 failed to completely reverse the sensitivity to dFdC or other drugs.

Alternative Splicing↗

Mechanisms of cross-resistance between nucleoside analogues and vincristine or daunorubicin in leukemic cells.

The aim of this study was to clarify the biochemical and molecular mechanisms behind the cross-resistance to nucleoside analogues (NAs) in four erythroleukemic cell lines with acquired resistance to the anthracycline daunorubicin and to the vinca alkaloid vincristine, expressing high levels of p-glycoprotein (P-gp, MDR1). All resistant strains exhibited cross-resistance to NA (cladribine and cytosine arabinoside)-induced apoptosis, assessed by caspase-3-like activation and were less sensitive to NA cytotoxicity in MTT assay. Real-time PCR and enzyme activity analysis showed reduced amounts of deoxycytidine kinase (35-80%) and elevated levels of 5'-nucleotidases (50-100%). The ratio 5'-nucleotidase to deoxycytidine kinase increased between 2.5- and 7.5-folds in resistant cells. This is in agreement with the observation that 5'-nucleotidase/deoxycytidine kinase ratio might be an important factor in predicting resistance to NAs. Implications of this finding for combining anthracyclines or vinca alkaloids with NAs toward leukemic cells are discussed.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

Sensitive nonradiometric method for determining thymidine kinase 1 activity.

BACKGROUND: Thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) is a cytoplasmic enzyme, produced only in the S-phase of proliferating cells, that has potential as a tumor marker. Specific determination of TK1 in serum is difficult, in part because of differences in the physical properties of serum TK1 compared with cytoplasmic TK1. METHODS: The first step in the new assay was phosphorylation of 3'-azido-2',3'-deoxythymidine (AZT) to AZT 5'-monophosphate (AZTMP) by TK1 present in patient material. The AZTMP formed was measured in a competitive immunoassay with specific anti-AZTMP antibodies and AZTMP-labeled peroxidase. Results were compared with those of a TK radioenzyme assay (REA) for 78 samples from patients suffering from hematologic diseases. RESULTS: The detection limit was 78 microIU/L, and within-run CVs <20% were seen for samples with TK1 down to 130 microIU/L. Cross-determination of the mitochondrial isoenzyme TK2 activity was <0.1%. Between-assay imprecision (CV) was 3.5-7.4%, and the within-assay imprecision was 4.1-9.1%. In studies of recovery and linearity on dilution, measured values ranged from 84% to 115% of expected at concentrations of 0.26-10.4 mIU/L. Results of the new assay (mIU/L) = 0.109 x TK REA (U/L) + 0.092. Heterophilic antibodies did not interfere in the assay. The upper 95th percentile, in 100 healthy individuals, was 0.94 mIU/L, and the median value was 0.43 mIU/L. CONCLUSION: The TK1 enzyme-labeled immunoassay uses a stable substrate, is precise, appears to be accurate, and is resistant to interferences. It may provide a practical tool in the management of hematologic malignancies.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

Activation of deoxycytidine kinase in lymphocytes is calcium dependent and involves a conformational change detectable by native immunostaining.

Deoxycytidine kinase (dCK), the principal deoxynucleoside salvage enzyme, plays a seminal role in the bioactivation of a wide array of cytotoxic nucleoside analogues. Recently, activation of dCK has been considered as a protective cellular response to a number of DNA-damaging agents in lymphocytes. Regarding the molecular mechanism of the enzyme activation, a post-translational modification by protein phosphorylation has been suggested. Here we provide evidence that both the activation process and the maintenance of the activated state require free cytosolic calcium. BAPTA-AM, a cell-permeable calcium chelator selectively inhibited the activation of dCK in a time- and concentration-dependent manner while extracellular calcium depletion had no effect. On the other hand, elevation of cytoplasmic calcium levels by thapsigargin did not potentiate the enzyme, referring to the permissive function of calcium in the activation process. Denaturing Western blots of extracts from lymphocytes incubated with 2-chlorodeoxyadenosine, aphidicolin and/or BAPTA-AM clearly demonstrated that dCK protein levels were unchanged during these treatments. However, a striking correlation was found between enzyme activity and the intensity of dCK-specific signals in native Western blots. Extracts from CdA-treated cells were much better recognized by the antibody raised against the C-terminal peptide of dCK than the BAPTA-AM-treated samples. These results indicate that the calcium-dependent activation of dCK is accompanied by a conformational change that renders the C-terminal epitope more accessible to the antibody.

Calcium↗

The synthesis and biochemical evaluation of thymidine analogues substituted with nido carborane at the N-3 position.

Several thymidine analogues substituted with closo- and nido-carborane at the N-3 position were synthesized. The nido-carboranyl thymidine analogues were designed to be effective substrates for human thymidine kinase 1 in combination with an increased water solubility sufficient for clinical application in boron neutron capture therapy. This was done because N-3 substituted closo-carboranyl thymidine analogues previously synthesized in our laboratories were good TK1 substrates but were poorly water-soluble. Newly synthesized zwitterionic amino nido- and the corresponding neutral closo-m-carboranyl thymidine analogues exhibited excellent TK1 phosphorylation rates up to 75% relative to thymidine, indicating that these compounds were good substrates for thymidine kinase 1. Thin layer chromatographic studies were indicative of increased hydrophilicity of the synthesized nido-carboranyl thymidine analogues compared with their closo-carboranyl counterparts and previously reported closo-carboranyl thymidine analogues.

Boron Neutron Capture Therapy↗

Effect of fluoropyrimidines on the growth of Ureaplasma urealyticum.

In the present study, we investigated the effect of fluoropyrimidines on the growth of Ureaplasma urealyticum. Addition of fluoropyrimidines strongly inhibited bacterial growth. Growth inhibition by these analogues could be reversed by addition of either thymidine or deoxyuridine, suggesting inhibition of thymidylate biosynthesis as the mechanism in operation.

Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic↗

Phosphorylation of isocarbostyril- and difluorophenyl-nucleoside thymidine mimics by the human deoxynucleoside kinases.

The thymidine mimics isocarbostyril nucleosides and difluorophenyl nucleosides were tested as deoxynucleoside kinase substrates using recombinant human cytosolic thymidine kinase (TK1) and deoxycytidine kinase (dCK), and mitochondrial thymidine kinase (TK2) and deoxyguanosine kinase (dGK). The isocarbostyril nucleoside compound 1-(2-deoxy-beta-D-ribofuranosyl)-isocarbostyril (EN1) was a poor substrate with all the enzymes. The phosphorylation rates of EN1 with TK1 and TK2 were <1% relative to Thd, where as the phosphorylation rates for EN1 were 1.4% and 1.1% with dCK and dGK relative to dCyd and dGuo, respectively. The analogue 1-(2-deoxy-beta-D-ribofuranosyl)-7-iodoisocarbostyril (EN2) showed poor relative-phosphorylation efficiencies (kcat/Km) with both TK1 and dGK, but not with TK2. The kcat/Km value for EN2 with TK2 was 12.6% relative to that for Thd. Of the difluorophenyl nucleosides, 5-(1'-(2'-deoxy-beta-D-ribofuranosyl))-2,4-difluorotoluene (JW1) and 1-(1'-(2'-deoxy-beta-D-ribofuranosyl))-2,4-difluoro-5-iodobenzene (JW2) were substrates for TK1 with phosphorylation efficiencies of about 5% relative to that for Thd. Both analogues were considerably more efficient substrates for TK2, with kcat/Km values of 45% relative to that for Thd. 2,5-Difluoro-4-[1-(2-deoxy-beta-L-ribofuranosyl)]-aniline (JW5), a L-nucleoside mimic, was phosphorylated up to 15% as efficiently as deoxycytidine by dCK. These data provide a possible explanation for the previously reported lack of cytotoxicity of the isocarbostyril- and difluorophenyl nucleosides, but potential mitochondrial effects of EN2, JW1 and JW2 should be further investigated.

Humans↗

Sentinel node scintigraphy in breast cancer using a dual tracer technique.

AIM: In order to depict the anatomy and improve the localization, sentinel node scintigraphy in breast cancer was combined with intravenous administration of pertechnetate. As this may reduce the detectability of weak 'hot spots', the number of lymph nodes detected at scintigraphy and at surgery in one group of patients was compared with that obtained in another group that had not received pertechnetate. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The number of 'hot spots' at frontal and lateral views in 47 female patients at scintigraphy performed 2-3 h after subcutaneous injection of radiocolloid together with 25 MBq pertechnetate i.v. was compared in retrospect with that of 41 female patients who had not received pertechnetate. The number of lymph nodes detected at surgery using a hand-held gamma probe together with blue dye in the two groups was also compared. The washout kinetics of pertechnetate was studied in 10 patients. RESULTS: There was no difference in the number of detected lymph nodes at any comparison. The kinetics study revealed a decreasing activity with time after correction for physical decay. CONCLUSION: Administration of a 25 MBq pertechnetate i.v. in order to improve the anatomical localization at sentinel node scintigraphy in breast cancer does not reduce the detectability of radioactive lymph nodes.

Adult↗

The role of thymidine kinases in the activation of pyrimidine nucleoside analogues.

Deoxynucleoside analogues need activation by deoxynucleoside kinases to serve as antiviral or anticancer agents. Here we review the properties of cellular cytoplasmic thymidine kinase 1, mitochondrial thymidine kinase 2, the multisubstrate deoxynucleoside kinase from Drosophila melanogaster and Herpes virus 1 thymidine kinase. Important substrate activity relationships will be discussed.

Animals↗

Cytosolic thymidine kinase is a specific histopathologic tumour marker for breast carcinomas.

Thymidine kinase 1 (TK1), an enzyme involved in the synthesis of precursors for DNA, and thus proliferation dependent, has been suggested as a good tumour marker. We have recently developed poly/monoclonal antibodies against TK1, which proved useful for diagnostics in both serum and immunohistochemistry of cancer patients. The anti-TK1 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) 1D11 and 1E3 were characterized by Western blot, immunoprecipitation and flow cytometry. TK1 mAbs and Ki-67 mAb were then used for immunohistochemistry staining of tumour sections from 54 patients with ductal infiltrated breast carcinoma. Results showed the relative number of patients with positively stained tumours for TK1 (mAb 1D11) and for Ki-67 (mAb MIB-1) were 47 and 41%, respectively, significantly related (p=0.007). Combination of TK1 mAbs 1D11 and 1E3 increased this number to 56%, due to detection of a significantly higher number of patients with grade 2 tumours. Patients with stage II and grade 2 tumours showed significantly higher TK1 staining when compared to stage I and grade 1. Ki-67 staining was significantly higher in stage III and grade 3. The tumours only stained for TK1 represented higher stages and grades, while tumours staining only for Ki-67 were of lower stages and grades. Combining TK1 and Ki-67 increased the number of patients with positively stained tumours to 69%. In conclusion, TK1 is a reliable marker for identification of patients with grade 2 tumours. The highest number of patients with positively stained tumours were obtained when both TK1 and Ki-67 markers were used.

Adolescent↗

Mitochondrial deoxyguanosine kinase mutations and mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome.

Mitochondrial deoxyguanosine kinase (dGK) catalyzes the initial phosphorylation of purine deoxynucleosides. Mutations in the dGK gene leading to deficiency in dGK activity is one of the causes of severe mitochondrial DNA depletion diseases. We used site-directed mutagenesis to introduce the clinically observed genetic alterations in the dGK gene and characterized the recombinant enzymes. The R142K enzyme had very low activity with deoxyguanosine and no activity with deoxyadenosine. The E227K mutant enzyme had unchanged K(m) values for all its substrates but very low V(max) values. C-terminal truncated dGK proteins were inactive. These results may help to define the role of dGK in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) precursor synthesis.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Down-regulation of deoxycytidine kinase in human leukemic cell lines resistant to cladribine and clofarabine and increased ribonucleotide reductase activity contributes to fludarabine resistance.

Mechanisms of acquired resistance to three purine analogues, 2-chloro-2'-deoxyadenosine (cladribine, CdA), 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl-2-fluoroadenine (fludarabine, Fara-A), and 2-chloro-2'-arabino-fluoro-2'-deoxyadenosine (clofarabine, CAFdA) were investigated in a human T-lymphoblastic leukemia cell line (CCRF-CEM). These analogues are pro-drugs and must be activated by deoxycytidine kinase (dCK). The CdA and CAFdA resistant cell lines exhibited increased resistance to the other nucleoside analogues activated by dCK. This was also the case for the Fara-A resistant cells, except that they were sensitive to CAFdA and guanosine analogues. The CdA and CAFdA resistant cells displayed a deficiency in dCK activity (to <5%) while the Fara-A resistant cells showed only a minor reduction of dCK activity (20% reduction). The activity of high K(m) 5'-nucleotidase (5'-NT) (cN-II) using IMP as substrate, was 2-fold elevated in the resistant cell lines. The amount of the small subunit R2 of ribonucleotide reductase (RR) was higher in the Fara-A resistant cells, which translated into a higher RR activity, while CdA and CAFdA cells had decreased activity compared to the parental cells. Expression of the recently identified RR subunit, p53R2 full-size protein, in CAFdA cells was low compared to parental cells, but a protein of lower molecular weight was detected in CdA and CAFdA cells. Co-incubation of Fara-A with the RR inhibitor 3,4-dihydroxybenzohydroxamic acid (didox) enhanced cytotoxicity in the Fara-A resistant cells by a factors of 20. Exposure of the cells to the nucleoside analogues studied here also caused structural and numerical instability of the chromosomes; the most profound changes were recorded for CAFdA cells, as demonstrated by SKY and CGH analysis. We conclude that down-regulation of dCK in cells resistant to CdA and CAFdA and increased activity of RR in cells resistant to Fara-A contribute to resistance.

Adenine Nucleotides↗