Structural recognition of the MYC promoter G-quadruplex by a quinoline derivative: insights into molecular targeting of parallel G-quadruplexes.

DNA G-Quadruplexes (G4s) formed in oncogene promoters regulate transcription. The oncogene MYC promoter G4 (MycG4) is the most prevalent G4 in human cancers. However, the most studied MycG4 sequence bears a mutated 3'-residue crucial for ligand recognition. Here, we report a new drug-like small molecule PEQ without a large aromatic moiety that specifically binds MycG4. We determined the NMR solution structures of the wild-type MycG4 and its 2:1 PEQ complex, as well as the structure of the 2:1 PEQ complex of the widely used mutant MycG4. Comparison of the two complex structures demonstrates specific molecular recognition of MycG4 and shows the clear effect of the critical 3'-mutation on the drug binding interface. We performed a systematic analysis of the four available complex structures involving the same mutant MycG4, which can be considered a model system for parallel G4s, and revealed for the first time that the flexible flanking residues are recruited in a conserved and sequence-specific way, as well as unused potential for selective ligand-G4 hydrogen-bond interactions. Our results provide the true molecular basis for MycG4-targeting drugs and new critical insights into future rational design of drugs targeting MycG4 and parallel G4s that are prevalent in promoter and RNA G4s.

Structures of 1:1 and 2:1 complexes of BMVC and MYC promoter G-quadruplex reveal a mechanism of ligand conformation adjustment for G4-recognition.

BMVC is the first fluorescent probe designed to detect G-quadruplexes (G4s) in vivo. The MYC oncogene promoter forms a G4 (MycG4) which acts as a transcription silencer. Here, we report the high-affinity and specific binding of BMVC to MycG4 with unusual slow-exchange rates on the NMR timescale. We also show that BMVC represses MYC in cancer cells. We determined the solution structures of the 1:1 and 2:1 BMVC-MycG4 complexes. BMVC first binds the 5'-end of MycG4 to form a 1:1 complex with a well-defined structure. At higher ratio, BMVC also binds the 3'-end to form a second complex. In both complexes, the crescent-shaped BMVC recruits a flanking DNA residue to form a BMVC-base plane stacking over the external G-tetrad. Remarkably, BMVC adjusts its conformation to a contracted form to match the G-tetrad for an optimal stacking interaction. This is the first structural example showing the importance of ligand conformational adjustment in G4 recognition. BMVC binds the more accessible 5'-end with higher affinity, whereas sequence specificity is present at the weaker-binding 3'-site. Our structures provide insights into specific recognition of MycG4 by BMVC and useful information for design of G4-targeted anticancer drugs and fluorescent probes.

Replacement of Arg with Nle and modified D-Phe in the core sequence of MSHs, Ac-His-D-Phe-Arg-Trp-NH2, leads to hMC1R selectivity and pigmentation.

Melanoma skin cancer is the fastest growing cancer in the US [1]. A great need exists for improved formulations and mechanisms to prevent and protect human skin from cancers and other skin damage caused by sunlight exposure. Current efforts to prevent UV damage to human skin, which in many cases leads to melanoma and other skin cancers. The primordial melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) is involved in regulating skin pigmentation and hair color, which is a natural prevention from UV damage. The endogenous melanocortin agonists induce pigmentation and share a core pharmacophore sequence "His-Phe-Arg-Trp", and it was found that substitution of the Phe by D-Phe results in increasing melanocortin receptor potency. To improve the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) selectivity a series of tetra-peptides with the moiety of Ac-Xaa-Yaa-Nle-Trp-NH2, and structural modifications to reduce electrostatic ligand-receptor interactions have been designed and synthesized. It is discovered that the tetrapeptide Ac-His-D-Phe(4-CF3)-Nle-Trp-NH2 resulted in a potent and selective hMC1R agonist at the hMC1R (EC50: 10 nM). Lizard anolis carolinensis pigmentation study shows very high potency in vivo. NMR studies revealed a reversed ß turn structure which led to the potency and selectivity towards the hMC1R.

Solution structure of a 2:1 quindoline-c-MYC G-quadruplex: insights into G-quadruplex-interactive small molecule drug design.

Unimolecular parallel-stranded G-quadruplex structures are found to be prevalent in gene promoters. The nuclease hypersensitivity element III(1) (NHE III(1)) of the c-MYC promoter can form transcriptionally active and silenced forms, and the formation of DNA G-quadruplex structures has been shown to be critical for c-MYC transcriptional silencing. The solution structure of a 2:1 quindoline-G-quadruplex complex has been solved and shows unexpected features, including the drug-induced reorientation of the flanking sequences to form a new binding pocket. While both 3' and 5' complexes show overall similar features, there are identifiable differences that emphasize the importance of both stacking and electronic interactions. For the first time, we describe the importance of the shape of the ligand as well as the two flanking bases in determining drug binding specificity. These structures provide important insights for the structure-based rational design of drugs that bind to unimolecular parallel G-quadruplexes commonly found in promoter elements.

c-MYC promoter G-quadruplex formed at the 5'-end of NHE III1 element: insights into biological relevance and parallel-stranded G-quadruplex stability.

We studied the structures and stabilities of G-quadruplexes formed in Myc1234, the region containing the four consecutive 5' runs of guanines of c-MYC promoter NHE III(1,) which have recently been shown to form in a supercoiled plasmid system in aqueous solution. We determined the NMR solution structure of the 1:2:1 parallel-stranded loop isomer, one of the two major loop isomers formed in Myc1234 in K(+) solution. This major loop isomer, although sharing the same folding structure, appears to be markedly less stable than the major loop isomer formed in the single-stranded c-MYC NHE III(1) oligonucleotide, the Myc2345 G-quadruplex. Our NMR structures indicated that the different thermostabilities of the two 1:2:1 parallel c-MYC G-quadruplexes are likely caused by the different base conformations of the single nucleotide loops. The observation of the formation of the Myc1234 G-quadruplex in the supercoiled plasmid thus points to the potential role of supercoiling in the G-quadruplex formation in promoter sequences. We also performed a systematic thermodynamic analysis of modified c-MYC NHE III(1) sequences, which provided quantitative measure of the contributions of various loop sequences to the thermostabilities of parallel-stranded G-quadruplexes. This information is important for understanding the equilibrium of promoter G-quadruplex loop isomers and for their drug targeting.

I-motif structures formed in the human c-MYC promoter are highly dynamic--insights into sequence redundancy and I-motif stability.

The GC-rich nuclease hypersensitivity element III1 (NHE III1) of the c-MYC promoter largely controls the transcriptional activity of the c-MYC oncogene. The C-rich strand in this region can form I-motif DNA secondary structures. We determined the folding pattern of the major I-motif formed in the NHE III1, which can be formed at near-neutral pH. While we find that the I-motif formed in the four 3' consecutive runs of cytosines appears to be the most favored, our results demonstrate that the C-rich strand of the c-MYC NHE III1 exhibits a high degree of dynamic equilibration. Using a trisubstituted oligomer of this region, we determined the formation of two equilibrating loop isomers, one of which contains a flipped-out cytosine. Our results indicate that the intercalative cytosine+-cytosine base pairs are not always necessary for an intramolecular I-motif. The dynamic character of the c-MYC I-motif is intrinsic to the NHE III1 sequence and appears to provide stability to the c-MYC I-motif.

Structure of a two-G-tetrad intramolecular G-quadruplex formed by a variant human telomeric sequence in K+ solution: insights into the interconversion of human telomeric G-quadruplex structures.

Human telomeric DNA G-quadruplex has been considered as an attractive target for cancer therapeutic intervention. The telomeric sequence shows intrinsic structure polymorphism. Here we report a novel intramolecular G-quadruplex structure formed by a variant human telomeric sequence in K(+) solution. This sequence forms a basket-type intramolecular G-quadruplex with only two G-tetrads but multiple-layer capping structures formed by loop residues. While it is shown that this structure can only be detected in the specifically truncated telomeric sequences without any 5'-flanking residues, our results suggest that this two-G-tetrad conformation is likely to be an intermediate form of the interconversion of different telomeric G-quadruplex conformations.

A direct and nondestructive approach to determine the folding structure of the I-motif DNA secondary structure by NMR.

I-motifs are four-stranded DNA secondary structures formed in C-rich DNA sequences and consist of parallel-stranded DNA duplexes zipped together in an antiparallel orientation by intercalated, hemiprotonated cytosine(+)-cytosine base pairs. I-motif structures have been indicated to form in various regions of the human genome as well as in nanotechnological applications. While NMR is a major tool for structural studies of I-motifs, the determination of the folding topologies of unimolecular I-motifs has been a challenging and arduous task using conventional NMR spectral assignment strategies, due to the inherent sequence redundancy of the C-rich strands in the formation of unimolecular I-motif structures. We report here a direct and nondestructive method that can be utilized to unambiguously determine the hemiprotonated C(+)-C base pairs and thus the folding topology of unimolecular I-motif structures formed from native C-rich DNA sequences. The reported approach uses affordable low-enrichment site-specific labeling. More significantly, the reported method can directly and unambiguously determine the equilibrating multiple conformations coexisting in a single DNA sequence, which would be a very difficult task using conventional assignment strategies. Additionally, this method can be applied to the direct detection of the base-paired thymines that are involved in the capping structures.

Polymorphism of human telomeric quadruplex structures.

Human telomeric DNA consists of tandem repeats of the sequence d(TTAGGG). Compounds that can stabilize the intramolecular DNA G-quadruplexes formed in the human telomeric sequence have been shown to inhibit the activity of telomerase and telomere maintenance, thus the telomeric DNA G-quadruplex has been considered as an attractive target for cancer therapeutic intervention. Knowledge of intramolecular human telomeric G-quadruplex structure(s) formed under physiological conditions is important for structure-based rational drug design and thus has been the subject of intense investigation. This review will give an overview of recent progress on the intramolecular human telomeric G-quadruplex structures formed in K+ solution. It will also give insight into the structure polymorphism of human telomeric sequences and its implications for drug targeting.

Structure of the Hybrid-2 type intramolecular human telomeric G-quadruplex in K+ solution: insights into structure polymorphism of the human telomeric sequence.

Formation of the G-quadruplex in the human telomeric sequence can inhibit the activity of telomerase, thus the intramolecular telomeric G-quadruplexes have been considered as an attractive anticancer target. Information of intramolecular telomeric G-quadruplex structures formed under physiological conditions is important for structure-based drug design. Here, we report the first structure of the major intramolecular G-quadruplex formed in a native, non-modified human telomeric sequence in K(+) solution. This is a hybrid-type mixed parallel/antiparallel-G-stranded G-quadruplex, one end of which is covered by a novel T:A:T triple capping structure. This structure (Hybrid-2) and the previously reported Hybrid-1 structure differ in their loop arrangements, strand orientations and capping structures. The distinct capping structures appear to be crucial for the favored formation of the specific hybrid-type intramolecular telomeric G-quadruplexes, and may provide specific binding sites for drug targeting. Our study also shows that while the hybrid-type G-quadruplexes appear to be the major conformations in K(+) solution, human telomeric sequences are always in equilibrium between Hybrid-1 and Hybrid-2 structures, which is largely determined by the 3'-flanking sequence. Furthermore, both hybrid-type G-quadruplexes suggest a straightforward means for multimer formation with effective packing in the human telomeric sequence and provide important implications for drug targeting of G-quadruplexes in human telomeres.

Structure of the intramolecular human telomeric G-quadruplex in potassium solution: a novel adenine triple formation.

We report the NMR solution structure of the intramolecular G-quadruplex formed in human telomeric DNA in K(+). The hybrid-type telomeric G-quadruplex consists of three G-tetrads linked with mixed parallel-antiparallel G-strands, with the bottom two G-tetrads having the same G-arrangement (anti:anti:syn:anti) and the top G-tetrad having the reversed G-arrangement (syn:syn:anti:syn). The three TTA loop segments adopt different conformations, with the first TTA assuming a double-chain-reversal loop conformation, and the second and third TTA assuming lateral loop conformations. The NMR structure is very well defined, including the three TTA loops and the two flanking sequences at 5'- and 3'-ends. Our study indicates that the three loop regions interact with the core G-tetrads in a specific way that defines and stabilizes the unique human telomeric G-quadruplex structure in K(+). Significantly, a novel adenine triple platform is formed with three naturally occurring adenine residues, A21, A3 and A9, capping the top tetrad of the hybrid-type telomeric G-quadruplex. This adenine triple is likely to play an important role in the formation of a stable human telomeric G-quadruplex structure in K(+). The unique human telomeric G-quadruplex structure formed in K(+) suggests that it can be specifically targeted for anticancer drug design.

NMR solution structure of the major G-quadruplex structure formed in the human BCL2 promoter region.

BCL2 protein functions as an inhibitor of cell apoptosis and has been found to be aberrantly expressed in a wide range of human diseases. A highly GC-rich region upstream of the P1 promoter plays an important role in the transcriptional regulation of BCL2. Here we report the NMR solution structure of the major intramolecular G-quadruplex formed on the G-rich strand of this region in K+ solution. This well-defined mixed parallel/antiparallel-stranded G-quadruplex structure contains three G-tetrads of mixed G-arrangements, which are connected with two lateral loops and one side loop, and four grooves of different widths. The three loops interact with the core G-tetrads in a specific way that defines and stabilizes the overall G-quadruplex structure. The loop conformations are in accord with the experimental mutation and footprinting data. The first 3-nt loop adopts a lateral loop conformation and appears to determine the overall folding of the BCL2 G-quadruplex. The third 1-nt double-chain-reversal loop defines another example of a stable parallel-stranded structural motif using the G3NG3 sequence. Significantly, the distinct major BCL2 promoter G-quadruplex structure suggests that it can be specifically involved in gene modulation and can be an attractive target for pathway-specific drug design.

Human telomeric sequence forms a hybrid-type intramolecular G-quadruplex structure with mixed parallel/antiparallel strands in potassium solution.

Human telomeric DNA consists of tandem repeats of the sequence d(TTAGGG). The formation and stabilization of DNA G-quadruplexes in the human telomeric sequence have been shown to inhibit the activity of telomerase, thus the telomeric DNA G-quadruplex has been considered as an attractive target for cancer therapeutic intervention. However, knowledge of the intact human telomeric G-quadruplex structure(s) formed under physiological conditions is a prerequisite for structure-based rational drug design. Here we report the folding structure of the human telomeric sequence in K+ solution determined by NMR. Our results demonstrate a novel, unprecedented intramolecular G-quadruplex folding topology with hybrid-type mixed parallel/antiparallel G-strands. This telomeric G-quadruplex structure contains three G-tetrads with mixed G-arrangements, which are connected consecutively with a double-chain-reversal side loop and two lateral loops, each consisting of three nucleotides TTA. This intramolecular hybrid-type telomeric G-quadruplex structure formed in K+ solution is distinct from those reported on the 22 nt Tel22 in Na+ solution and in crystalline state in the presence of K+, and appears to be the predominant conformation for the extended 26 nt telomeric sequence Tel26 in the presence of K+, regardless of the presence or absence of Na+. Furthermore, the addition of K+ readily converts the Na+-form conformation to the K+-form hybrid-type G-quadruplex. Our results explain all the reported experimental data on the human telomeric G-quadruplexes formed in the presence of K+, and provide important insights for understanding the polymorphism and interconversion of various G-quadruplex structures formed within the human telomeric sequence, as well as the effects of sequence and cations. This hybrid-type G-quadruplex topology suggests a straightforward pathway for the secondary structure formation with effective packing within the extended human telomeric DNA. The hybrid-type telomeric G-quadruplex is most likely to be of pharmacological relevance, and the distinct folding topology of this G-quadruplex suggests that it can be specifically targeted by G-quadruplex interactive small molecule drugs.

An intramolecular G-quadruplex structure with mixed parallel/antiparallel G-strands formed in the human BCL-2 promoter region in solution.

We report the first G-quadruplex structure formed in the promoter region of the human bcl-2. Bcl-2 is a potent oncoprotein that functions as an inhibitor of cell apoptosis and has been found to be aberrantly overexpressed in a wide range of human tumors. A highly GC-rich region upstream of the P1 promoter plays an important role in the regulation of the transcriptional activity of the bcl-2 oncogene. The purine-rich strand of this region contains multiple runs of guanines and can form three distinct intramolecular G-quadruplexes in K+-containing solution. Of these, the G-quadruplex formed within the middle four consecutive guanine runs has been shown to be the most stable G-quadruplex structure, while it is also a mixture of loop isomers. The predominant G-quadruplex structure formed in this region was studied by NMR. Our results demonstrate a novel folding of a unique intramolecular G-quadruplex structure with mixed parallel/antiparallel G-strands. This G-quadruplex structure contains three G-tetrads connected with a single-nucleotide double-chain-reversal side loop and two lateral loops. The first three-nucleotide CGC loop in the bcl-2 promoter sequence forms a lateral loop, as opposed to a double-chain-reversal side loop observed in a similar sequence in the c-MYC promoter, which appears to largely determine the overall folding of the bcl-2 G-quadruplex. Furthermore, both the bcl-2 and c-MYC promoter sequences contain the G3NG3 sequence motif, which forms a stable double-chain-reversal, parallel-stranded structural motif. This predominant bcl-2 G-quadruplex represents an attractive novel target for the design of new anticancer drugs that specifically modulate bcl-2 gene expression.

Solution structure of the biologically relevant G-quadruplex element in the human c-MYC promoter. Implications for G-quadruplex stabilization.

The nuclease hypersensitivity element III(1) (NHE III(1)) of the c-MYC promoter strongly controls the transcriptional activity of the c-MYC oncogene. The purine-rich strand of the NHE III(1) element has been shown to be a silencer element for c-MYC transcription upon formation of a G-quadruplex structure. We have determined the predominant G-quadruplex structure of this silencer element in potassium solution by NMR. The G-quadruplex structure adopts an intramolecular parallel-stranded quadruplex conformation with three guanine tetrads and three side loops, including two single-nucleotide side loops and one double-nucleotide side loop, that connect the four guanine strands. The three side loops are very stable and well-defined. The 3'-flanking sequence forms a stable fold-back stacking conformation capping the top end of the G-quadruplex structure. The 5'-flanking A and G bases cap the bottom end of the G-quadruplex, with the adenine stacking very well with the bottom tetrad. This paper reports the first solution structure of a G-quadruplex found to form in the promoter region of an oncogene (c-MYC). This G-quadruplex structure is extremely stable, with a similar melting temperature (>85 degrees C) to that of the wild-type 27-mer purine-rich NHE III(1) sequence of the c-MYC promoter. This predominant quadruplex structure has been shown to be biologically relevant, and the structural information revealed in this research provides an important basis for the design of new drug candidates that specifically target the c-MYC G-quadruplex structure and modulate gene expression.

Searching for folding initiation sites of staphylococcal nuclease: a study of N-terminal short fragments.

The N-terminal short fragments of staphylococcal nuclease (SNase), SNase20, SNase28, and SNase36, corresponding to the sequence regions, Ala1-Gly20, Ala1-Lys28, and Ala1-Leu36, respectively, as well as an 8-residue peptide (Ala17-Ile18-Asp19-Gly20-Asp21-Thr22-Val23-Lys24) have been synthesized. The conformational states of these fragments were investigated using CD and NMR spectroscopy in aqueous solution and in trifluoroethanol (TFE)-H(2)O mixture. SNase20 containing a sequence corresponding to a bent peptide in native SNase shows a transient population of bend-like conformation around Ala12-Thr13-Leu14 in TFE-H(2)O mixture. The sequence region of Ala17-Thr22 of SNase28 displays a localized propensity for turn-like conformation in both aqueous solution and TFE-H(2)O mixture. The conformational ensemble of SNase36 in aqueous solution includes populated turn-like conformations localized in sequence regions Ala17-Thr22 and Tyr27-Gln30. The analysis suggests that these sequence regions, which form the regular secondary structures in native protein, may serve as the folding nucleation sites of SNase fragments of different chain lengths starting from the N-terminal end. Thus, the formation of bend- and turn-like conformations of these sequence regions may be involved in the early folding events of the SNase polypeptide chain in vitro.

Novel DNA bis-intercalation by MLN944, a potent clinical bisphenazine anticancer drug.

The new bisphenazine anticancer drug MLN944 is a novel cytotoxic agent with exceptional anti-tumor activity against a range of human and murine tumor models both in vitro and in vivo. MLN944 has recently entered Phase I clinical trials. Despite the structural similarity with its parent monophenazine carboxamide and acridine carboxamide anticancer compounds, MLN944 appears to work by a distinct mechanism of inhibiting DNA transcription rather than the expected mechanism of topoisomerase I and II inhibition. Here we present the first NMR structure of MLN944 complexed with d(ATGCAT)(2) DNA duplex, demonstrating a novel binding mode in which the two phenazine rings bis-intercalate at the 5'-TpG site, with the carboxamide amino linker lying in the major groove of DNA. The MLN944 molecule adopts a significantly unexpected conformation and side chain orientation in the DNA complex, with the N10 on the phenazine ring protonated at pH 7. The phenazine chromophore of MLN944 is very well stacked with the flanking DNA base pairs using the parallel base-stacking intercalation binding mode. The DNA sequence specificity and the groove recognition of MLN944 binding is determined by several site-specific hydrogen bond interactions with the central G:C base pair as well as the favorable stacking interactions with the 5'-flanking thymine. The specific binding site of MLN944 is known to be recognized by a number of important transcription factors. Our electrophoretic gel mobility shift assay results demonstrated that the c-Jun DNA binding to the AP-1 site is significantly inhibited by MLN944 in a dose-dependent manner. Thus, the exceptional biological activity of MLN944 may be due to its novel DNA binding mode leading to a unique mechanism of action.