Highly Sensitive Telomerase Assay Insusceptible to Telomerase and Polymerase Chain Reaction Inhibitors for Cervical Cancer Screening Using Scraped Cells.

A sensitive telomerase assay based on asymmetric-polymerase chain reaction (A-PCR) on magnetic beads and subsequent application of cycling probe technology, STAMC, which is insusceptible to DNase and PCR inhibitors, was for the first time applied to clinical specimens in addition to a conventional telomeric repetitive amplification protocol (TRAP). The electrophoresis results showed that an increase in scraped cervical cancer cells not only reduced TRAP products but also increased smaller products, suggesting the unreliability of TRAP for clinical samples. To achieve the required sensitivity of STAMC for clinical application, the sequence and concentration conditions were explored for the forward and reverse primers for A-PCR, which resulted in a detection limit of only two HeLa cells with 1 µM TS primer (5'-AATCCGTCGAGCAGAGTT-3') and 0.04 µM ACX primer (5'-GCGCGGCTTACCCTTACCCTTACCCTAACC-3'). Under the same primer conditions, the fluorescence signal of STAMC increased as scraped cervical cancer cells increased despite showing a negligible intensity for benign tumors. Furthermore, STAMC showed no signal for a cervical cancer patient treated with irradiation therapy. These results indicate that STAMC is useful for not only cervical cancer screening but also investigating the effect of cancer treatments such as radiation therapy and drug administration.

A mRNA-Responsive G-Quadruplex-Based Drug Release System.

G-quadruplex-based drug delivery carriers (GDDCs) were designed to capture and release a telomerase inhibitor in response to a target mRNA. Hybridization between a loop on the GDDC structure and the mRNA should cause the G-quadruplex structure of the GDDC to unfold and release the bound inhibitor, anionic copper(II) phthalocyanine (CuAPC). As a proof of concept, GDDCs were designed with a 10-30-mer loop, which can hybridize with a target sequence in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mRNA. Structural analysis using circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy showed that the GDDCs form a (3 + 1) type G-quadruplex structure in 100 mM KCl and 10 mM MgCl2 in the absence of the target RNA. Visible absorbance titration experiments showed that the GDDCs bind to CuAPC with Ka values of 1.5 × 10(5) to 5.9 × 105 M(-1) (Kd values of 6.7 to 1.7 µM) at 25 °C, depending on the loop length. Fluorescence titration further showed that the G-quadruplex structure unfolds upon binding to the target RNA with Ka values above 1.0 × 10(8) M(-1) (Kd values below 0.01 µM) at 25 °C. These results suggest the carrier can sense and bind to the target RNA, which should result in release of the bound drug. Finally, visible absorbance titration experiments demonstrated that the GDDC release CuAPC in response to the target RNA.

A simple "add and measure" FRET-based telomeric tandem repeat sequence detection and telomerase assay method.

A simple and sensitive method for measuring telomeric tandem repeat DNA and telomerase activity based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) with a FAM-modified 12-mer ODN probe as a donor (fluorophore) and ethidium bromide (EB) as an acceptor (quencher) is proposed. When telomeric DNA and the FAM-modified probe form a duplex, EB intercalates between base-pairs, resulting in fluorescence quenching of FAM through FRET from FAM to EB. This method can be used to estimate the amount of telomeric DNAs in a sample solution as the molar concentration of the telomeric DNA unit [5'-(TTA GGG TTA GGG)-3']. A linear fluorescence quenching ratio was obtained in 5-1000 pM of telomeric DNA units by adjusting the amount of FAM-modified probe. A PCR-free telomerase activity assay using this FRET-based method could be applied to ≥400 HeLa cells per µL. This assay represents a novel technique for initial screenings of cancer diagnosis and is a facile method for quantifying telomeric DNA or other tandem repeat sequences.

Study on effects of molecular crowding on G-quadruplex-ligand binding and ligand-mediated telomerase inhibition.

The telomere G-quadruplex-binding and telomerase-inhibiting capacity of two cationic (TMPyP4 and PIPER) and two anionic (phthalocyanine and Hemin) G-quadruplex-ligands were examined under conditions of molecular crowding (MC). Osmotic experiments showed that binding of the anionic ligands, which bind to G-quadruplex DNA via π-π stacking interactions, caused some water molecules to be released from the G-quadruplex/ligand complex; in contrast, a substantial number of water molecules were taken up upon electrostatic binding of the cationic ligands to G-quadruplex DNA. These behaviors of water molecules maintained or reduced the binding affinity of the anionic and the cationic ligands, respectively, under MC conditions. Consequently, the anionic ligands (phthalocyanine and Hemin) robustly inhibited telomerase activity even with MC; in contrast, the inhibition of telomerase caused by cationic TMPyP4 was drastically reduced by MC. These results allow us to conclude that the binding of G-quadruplex-ligands to G-quadruplex via non-electrostatic interactions is preferable for telomerase inhibition under physiological conditions.

Multiple and cooperative binding of fluorescence light-up probe thioflavin T with human telomere DNA G-quadruplex.

Thioflavin T (ThT), a typical probe for protein fibrils, also binds human telomeric G-quadruplexes with a fluorescent light-up signal change and high specificity against DNA duplexes. Cell penetration and low cytotoxicity of fibril probes having been widely established, modifying ThT and other fibril probes is an attractive means of generating new G-quadruplex ligands. Thus, elucidating the binding mechanism is important for the design of new drugs and fluorescent probes based on ThT. Here, we investigated the binding mechanism of ThT with several variants of the human telomeric sequence in the presence of monovalent cations. Fluorescence titrations and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) analyses demonstrated that each G-quadruplex unit cooperatively binds to several ThT molecules. ThT brightly fluoresces when a single ligand is bound to the G-quadruplex and is quenched as ligand binding stoichiometry increases. Both the light-up signal and the dissociation constants are exquisitely sensitive to the base sequence and to the G-quadruplex structure. These results are crucial for the sensible design and interpretation of G-quadruplex detection assays using fluorescent ligands in general and ThT in particular.

A highly sensitive telomerase activity assay that eliminates false-negative results caused by PCR inhibitors.

An assay for telomerase activity based on asymmetric polymerase chain reaction (A-PCR) on magnetic beads (MBs) and subsequent application of cycling probe technology (CPT) is described. In this assay, the telomerase reaction products are immobilized on MBs, which are then washed to remove PCR inhibitors that are commonly found in clinical samples. The guanine-rich sequences (5'-(TTAGGG)n-3') of the telomerase reaction products are then preferentially amplified by A-PCR, and the amplified products are subsequently detected via CPT, where a probe RNA with a fluorophore at the 5' end and a quencher at the 3' end is hydrolyzed by RNase H in the presence of the target DNA. The catalyst-mediated cleavage of the probe RNA enhances fluorescence from the 5' end of the probe. The assay allowed us to successfully detect HeLa cells selectively over normal human dermal fibroblast (NHDF) cells. Importantly, this selectivity produced identical results with regard to detection of HeLa cells in the absence and presence of excess NHDF cells; therefore, this assay can be used for practical clinical applications. The lower limit of detection for HeLa cells was 50 cells, which is lower than that achieved with a conventional telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay. Our assay also eliminated false-negative results caused by PCR inhibitors. Furthermore, we show that this assay is appropriate for screening among G-quadruplex ligands to find those that inhibit telomerase activity.

Specific binding of anionic porphyrin and phthalocyanine to the G-quadruplex with a variety of in vitro and in vivo applications.

The G-quadruplex, a four-stranded DNA structure with stacked guanine tetrads (G-quartets), has recently been attracting attention because of its critical roles in vitro and in vivo. In particular, the G-quadruplex functions as ligands for metal ions and aptamers for various molecules. Interestingly, the G-quadruplex can show peroxidase-like activity with an anionic porphyrin, iron (III) protoporphyrin IX (hemin). Importantly, hemin binds to G-quadruplexes with high selectivity over single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), which is attributable to an electrostatic repulsion of phosphate groups in ssDNA and dsDNA. The G-quadruplex and hemin-G-quadruplex complex allow development of sensing techniques to detect DNA, metal ions and proteins. In addition to hemin, anionic phthalocyanines also bind to the G-quadruplex formed by human telomere DNA, specifically over ssDNA and dsDNA. Since the binding of anionic phthalocyanines to the G-quadruplex causes an inhibition of telomerase activity, which plays a role in the immortal growth of cancer cells, anionic phthalocyanines are promising as novel anticancer drug candidates. This review focuses on the specific binding of hemin and anionic phthalocyanines to G-quadruplexes and the applications in vitro and in vivo of this binding property.

In vitro assays predictive of telomerase inhibitory effect of G-quadruplex ligands in cell nuclei.

G-quadruplex-binding and telomerase-inhibiting capacities of G-quadruplex ligands were examined under a cell nuclei-mimicking condition including excess double-stranded DNA (λ DNA) and molecular crowding cosolute (PEG 200). Under the cell nuclei-mimicking condition, a cationic porphyrin (TMPyP4) did not bind to the G-quadruplex despite the high affinity (Ka = 3.6 × 10(6) M(-1)) under a diluted condition without λ DNA and PEG 200. Correspondingly, TMPyP4 inhibited telomerase activity under the diluted condition (IC50 = 1.6 µM) but not under the cell nuclei-mimicking condition. In contrast, the Ka and IC50 values of an anionic copper phthalocyanine (Cu-APC) under the diluted (2.8 × 10(4) M(-1) and 0.86 µM) and the cell nuclei-mimicking (2.8 × 10(4) M(-1) and 2.1 µM) conditions were similar. In accordance with these results, 10 µM TMPyP4 did not affect the proliferation of HeLa cells, while Cu-APC efficiently inhibited the proliferation (IC50 = 1.4 µM). These results show that the cell nuclei-mimicking condition is effective to predict capacities of G-quadruplex ligands in the cell. In addition, the antiproliferative effect of Cu-APC on normal cells was smaller than that on HeLa cells, indicating that the cell nuclei-mimicking condition is also useful to predict side effects of ligands.

Phthalocyanines: a new class of G-quadruplex-ligands with many potential applications.

A G-quadruplex is a four-stranded DNA structure featuring stacked guanine tetrads, G-quartets. Formation of a G-quadruplex in telomere DNA can inhibit telomerase activity; therefore, development of G-quadruplex-ligands, which induce and/or stabilize G-quadruplexes, has become an area of great interest. Phthalocyanine derivatives have substantial potential as high-affinity G-quadruplex-ligands because these planar chromophores are similar in size and shape to the G-quartets. Here, we focus on the latest findings on phthalocyanine derivatives as G-quadruplex-ligands, and discuss the mechanisms by which phthalocyanines bind to G-quadruplexes with high affinity and selectivity. We also discuss potential biomedical and organic electronic applications of phthalocyanines that are dependent on their photophysical properties.

Anionic phthalocyanines targeting G-quadruplexes and inhibiting telomerase activity in the presence of excessive DNA duplexes.

Anionic phthalocyanines inhibited efficiently telomerase activity even in the presence of excess double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) because of their selective binding to telomere G-quadruplex, although low selectivity of a typical cationic ligand, TMPyP4, to the G-quadruplex allowed telomerase reaction under conditions with dsDNA.

Design of allele-specific primers and detection of the human ABO genotyping to avoid the pseudopositive problem.

PCR experiments using DNA primers forming mismatch pairing with template lambda DNA at the 3' end were carried out in order to develop allele-specific primers capable of detecting SNP in genomes without generating pseudopositive amplification products, and thus avoiding the so-called pseudopositive problem. Detectable amounts of PCR products were obtained when primers forming a single or two mismatch pairings at the 3' end were used. In particular, 3' terminal A/C or T/C (primer/template) mismatches tended to allow PCR amplification to proceed, resulting in pseudopositive results in many cases. While less PCR product was observed for primers forming three terminal mismatch pairings, target DNA sequences were efficiently amplified by primers forming two mismatch pairings next to the terminal G/C base pairing. These results indicate that selecting a primer having a 3' terminal nucleotide that recognizes the SNP nucleotide and the next two nucleotides that form mismatch pairings with the template sequence can be used as an allele-specific primer that eliminates the pseudopositive problem. Trials with the human ABO genes demonstrated that this primer design is also useful for detecting a single base pair difference in gene sequences with a signal-to-noise ratio of at least 45.