Regulation of human dUTPase gene expression and p53-mediated transcriptional repression in response to oxaliplatin-induced DNA damage.

Deoxyuridine triphosphate nucleotidohydrolase (dUTPase) catalyzes the hydrolysis of dUTP to dUMP and PPi. Although dUTP is a normal intermediate in DNA synthesis, its accumulation and misincorporation into DNA is lethal. Importantly, uracil misincorporation is a mechanism of cytotoxicity induced by fluoropyrimidine chemotherapeutic agents including 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and elevated expression of dUTPase is negatively correlated with clinical response to 5-FU-therapy. In this study we performed the first functional characterization of the dUTPase promoter and demonstrate a role for E2F-1 and Sp1 in driving dUTPase expression. We establish a direct role for both mutant and wild-type forms of p53 in modulating dUTPase promoter activity. Treatment of HCT116 p53(+/+) cells with the DNA-damaging agent oxaliplatin induced a p53-dependent transcriptional downregulation of dUTPase not observed in the isogenic null cell line. Oxaliplatin treatment induced enrichment of p53 at the dUTPase promoter with a concomitant reduction in Sp1. The suppression of dUTPase by oxaliplatin promoted increased levels of dUTP that was enhanced by subsequent addition of fluoropyrimidines. The novel observation that oxaliplatin downregulates dUTPase expression may provide a mechanistic basis contributing to the synergy observed between 5-FU and oxaliplatin in the clinic. Furthermore, these studies provide the first evidence of a direct transcriptional link between the essential enzyme dUTPase and the tumor suppressor p53.

Biochemical effects of folate-based inhibitors of thymidylate synthase in MGH-U1 cells.

The TS-inhibitory effects induced by a 24-h exposure to the folate-based TS inhibitors CB3717, C2-desamino analogs of CB3717 including D1694, and BW1843U89 were quantitated using the MGH-U1 human bladder carcinoma. The effects of D1694 on the time course of TS inhibition and on intracellular deoxyuridine monophosphate (dUMP) accumulation and deoxyuridine (dUrd) production were evaluated. D1694 and BW1843U89 were the most active TS inhibitors with IC50 values of 2.4 and 0.5 nM, respectively. The C2-desamino C2-methyl dideazafolates were 27-292 times more potent than the parent CB3717 as TS inhibitors. A methyl group at the C2 position of CB3717 had the most dramatic effect, whereas a thiazole substitution for a benzyl added a small benefit and N10 substitution had a limited impact on TS-inhibitory potency and clonogenic survival. There was a significant correlation between the IC50 values for TS inhibition and those for cytotoxic potency obtained for these drugs. LV and thymidine protected cells from these folate-based TS inhibitors. Intracellular dUMP levels following 24 h D1694 (IC50) exposure increased 7-fold. Levels of dUrd effluxing into the media increased up to 4.5 microM following a 24-h exposure to D1694 (IC90). We conclude that (a) C2-desamino C2-methyl dideazafolates are potent TS inhibitors, (b) TS inhibition requires prolonged exposure with these folate TS inhibitors, (c) survival is correlated with inhibition of TS for the folate-based TS inhibitors and (d) the biochemical consequences of TS inhibition include increased dUMP and dUrd levels.

Improved assays for DNA-polymerizing enzymes by the use of enzymatically synthesized 5-[125I]iodo-2'-deoxyuridine triphosphate, illustrated by direct quantitation of anti-HIV reverse transcriptase antibody and by serum DNA polymerase analyses.

A one-step procedure which uses enzymes in a crude extract of herpes simplex virus (HSV) type 1-infected cells to synthesize 5-[125I]iodo-2'-deoxyuridine triphosphate [( 125I]dUTP) from [125I]dU is described. The design of a one-step procedure for the purification of the product is also presented. The recovery of [125I]dUTP from [125I]dU varied between 50 and 75%, the radiochemical purity of the product was greater than 90%, and both synthesis and purification were completed within 8 h. The sensitivity and specificity of [125I]dUTP as a substrate for both DNA-dependent DNA polymerase (DNAp) and RNA-dependent DNA polymerase (reverse transcriptase, RT) were evaluated and compared to those of [3H]dTTP for the following specimens: purified cloned Klenow fragment, crude extracts of HeLa-, BHK-, and HSV-2-infected BHK cells, purified avian myeloblastosis virus RT, and purified cloned human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) RT. The [125I]dUTP was accepted as a substrate equally as well [3H]dTTP by all of the specimens at all of the concentrations tested. When the same amount of radiolabel was used, [125I]dUTP gave a sensitivity 10- to 25-fold higher than that of [3H]dTTP. The gain in sensitivity was due to the higher specific activity and a higher counting efficiency of the 125I-label compound. The use of [125I]dUTP also offered technical advantages over alternative substrates available, such as product separation without acid precipitation and exclusion of the need for scintillation cocktails. The half-life of the nucleic also gives a reasonable shelf-life for use in routine assays. Activity of less than 0.3 pg of HIV RT could be detected when the new substrate was used, and this made it possible to quantitate HIV RT antibodies (abs) in diluted serum samples without purifying the immunoglobulin. Analysis of 31 HIV-infected individuals showed that all of them had anti-HIV RT ab and that the amount of serum needed for 50% inhibition of the HIV RT activity corresponded to an amount of immunoglobulin 100-fold smaller (i.e., 0.02-31.4 micrograms) than has been previously reported. With the substrate it was also possible to detect DNAp activity in serum from healthy individuals, although a long-duration assay was required. In a long-duration assay the DNAp activity found in sera from healthy individuals was linear with respect to time, whereas the DNAp activity found in many sera from tumor patients was not. [125I]dUTP is judged to be an excellent substrate for detecting and quantifying the activity of various DNA-synthesizing enzymes and their blocking abs.

Deoxycytidylate aminohydrolase activity in the Novikoff hepatoma is dependent on the localization of the tumor.

The activity of deoxycytidylate aminohydrolase, a pivotal enzyme for pyrimidine biosynthesis in mammalian tissue, is 100x greater in the Novikoff hepatoma harvested from the intraperitoneal cavity than in the same tumor excised from either subcutaneous or intramuscular sites. The increased enzyme activity in the intraperitoneal tumor is not due to an increase in protein synthesis, since there are no significant differences in enzyme activity between normal liver, and either the subcutaneous or intramuscular hepatomas. Evidence is presented which indicates that deoxycytidylate aminohydrolase activity, and the expression of alternate pathways of pyrimidine biosynthesis in the Novikoff hepatoma, is dependent on the localization of the tumor within the host.

Inactivation of the ribonucleoside triphosphate reductase from Lactobacillus leichmannii by 2'-chloro-2'-deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate: a 3'-2' hydrogen transfer during the formation of 3'-keto-2'-deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate.

The ribonucleoside triphosphate reductase of Lactobacillus leichmannii converts the substrate analogue 2'-chloro-2'-deoxyuridine 5'-triphosphate (ClUTP) into a mixture of 2'-deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP) and the unstable product 3'-keto-2'-deoxyuridine triphosphate (3'-keto-dUTP). This ketone can be trapped by reduction with NaBH4, producing a 4:1 mixture of xylo-dUTP and dUTP. When [3'-3H]ClUTP is treated with enzyme in the presence of NaBH4, the isomeric deoxyuridines isolated after alkaline phosphatase treatment retained 15% of the 3H in ClUTP. Degradation of these isomeric nucleosides has established the location of the 3H in 3'-keto-dUTP as predominantly 2'(S). The xylo-dU had 98.6% of its label at the 2'(S) position and 1.5% at 2'(R). The isolated dU had 89.6% of its label at 2'(S) and 1.4% at 2'(R), with the remaining 9% label inferred to be at the 3'-carbon, this resulting from the direct enzymic production of dUTP. These results are consistent with enzymic production of a 1:1000 mixture of dUTP and 3'-keto-dUTP, where the 3'-hydrogen of ClUTP is retained at 3' during production of dUTP and is transferred to 2'(S) during production of 3'-keto-dUTP. The implications of these results and the unique role of the cofactor adenosylcobalamin (Ashley et al., 1986) are discussed in terms of reductase being a model for the B12-dependent rearrangement reactions.

An optimized thymidylate kinase assay, based on enzymatically synthesized 5-[125I]iododeoxyuridine monophosphate and its application to an immunological study of herpes simplex virus thymidine-thymidylate kinases.

The biological synthesis and purification of 5-[125I]iododeoxyuridine monophosphate (IdUMP) are described. The specificity of IdUMP as substrate in the thymidylate monophosphate kinase (TMPK) assay is demonstrated, and a 100-fold gain in sensitivity as compared to the conventional TMPK assay is shown. TMPK measurements of isozymes derived from herpes simplex virus (HSV)-infected cells, uninfected cells, and tumor biopsies were performed. The results showed a significant difference in dependence of phosphate donor concentration present for TMPK activity from HSV-infected cells compared to the corresponding activity from uninfected cells, while only a minor difference in pH optima was observed for these enzyme activities. The increased sensitivity made it possible to detect and quantify HSV TMPK-blocking antibodies (ab) present in human sera. Sera from HSV ab-positive individuals were found to block the two HSV TMPKs to varying degrees and with different specificities. The immunological relationship between the TMPK and thymidine kinase (TK) induced by HSV-1 and HSV-2, respectively, was studied by comparing the capacities of different sera to block the two enzymatic activities. The results showed that the capacity to block HSV-1 TK and TMPK was proportional for all of the sera studied, while sera that preferentially blocked only the HSV-2 TMPK or HSV-2 TK were found. It was concluded that the HSV-2 TMPK and TK activities are less related than the corresponding activities for HSV-1 and that the HSV-2 enzyme activities are mediated by different catalytic sites.

Concurrent allopurinol and 5-fluorouracil: 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridylate formation and thymidylate synthase inhibition in rat colon carcinoma and in regenerating rat liver.

The formation of FdUMP and the inhibition of TS were studied in a subcutaneously growing transplantable rat colon carcinoma and in regenerating rat liver following bolus administration of 5-FU, with or without HPP pretreatment. In tumor, peak levels of FdUMP at 30 min following bolus 5-FU, 100 mg/kg, averaged 4931 +/- 587 pmol/g. Pretreatment with HPP, 50 mg/kg, 24 h and 1 h before 5-FU, reduced the peak FdUMP level to 2085 +/- 387 pmol/g. The inhibition of TS by 5-FU treatment was greater than 95% by 30 min, and after 48 h residual enzyme inhibition averaged 40%. No effect on TS inhibition by 5-FU treatment could be observed as a result of HPP pretreatment. The levels of TStot increased linearly after 5-FU treatment and doubled within 48 h. In regenerating rat liver, neither FdUMP levels nor TS inhibition, studied at 1 h after bolus 5-FU, were affected by HPP pretreatment.

Separation of several 5-fluorouracil metabolites in various melanoma cell lines. Evidence for the synthesis of 5-fluorouracil-nucleotide sugars.

5-Fluorouracil (5FU) metabolism was studied in intact cancer cells kept in suspension by incubation with tritiated 5FU. Metabolites were analyzed using various chromatographic procedures, including a one-directional separation on PEI-cellulose sheets, which separated 5FU from the mono-, di- and triphosphate forms and from nucleotide sugars. The monophosphate ester was present as FdUMP, as could be demonstrated with another chromatographic procedure. In the human melanoma cell lines IGR3 and M5 the main metabolite of 5FU was 5-fluorouridine, while in the murine B16 melanoma only a small amount of 5-fluorouridine was formed. In B16 cells more 5FU label was present as the triphosphate ester while in M5 cells more FdUMP was formed. With all three cell lines 5FU was incorporated into RNA; this incorporation was stimulated by 1 mM N-(phosphonacetyl)-L-aspartate (PALA). PALA did not significantly affect the conversion of 5FU into other metabolites, nor did it affect the incorporation of 5FU into DNA. A 5FU-nucleotide sugar, present as the diphosphate-glucose, was a predominant 5FU-metabolite in M5 cells but not in the other cell lines. Its identity was confirmed by thin-layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. Its possible function is discussed.

Therapeutic response of leukemic mice treated with fluorinated pyrimidines and inhibitors of deoxyuridylate synthesis.

The therapeutic efficacy of combinations of fluorinated pyrimidines and inhibitors of either ribonucleotide reductase or deoxycytidylate deaminase was evaluated for the treatment of the L1210 mouse leukemia in DBA/2 mice. Therapeutic synergisms were observed with optimal combinations of 5-fluor-2'-deoxyuridine and either hydroxyurea or guanazole. In addition, mice treated with guanazole combined with 5-fluorouracil survived longer than was observed with any dose of guanazole or with 5-fluorouracil alone. Tetrahydrodeoxyuridine, a potential prodrug of a transition-state analog of deoxycytidylate deaminase, did not have antitumor activity by itself nor did it improve the therapeutic response of leukemic mice to 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that deoxyuridylate accumulation was limited by inhibition of ribonucleotide reductase but not by administration of tetrahydrodeoxyuridine. It is suggested that combination chemotherapy with fluorinated pyrimidines and inhibitors of deoxyuridylate synthesis may improve the therapeutic response to these drugs.

Induction of the DNA repair enzyme uracil-DNA glycosylase in stimulated human lymphocytes.

The capacity of human cells to modulate the synthesis of DNA repair enzymes has been investigated by measuring the induction of the uracil-DNA glycosylase during lymphocyte stimulation. Treatment of peripheral lymphocytes with phytohemagglutinin increased glycosylase activity 10-fold. Glycosylase stimulation was coordinate with the activation of DNA synthesis and DNA polymerase activity. Two chromatographically distinct species of the glycosylase have been resolved; only one species is induced during phytohemagglutinin stimulation. The effect of actinomycin D and cycloheximide on glycosylase induction was determined. Treatment with either inhibitor at 96 hr after phytohemagglutinin addition (maximal induction) decreased glycosylase activity after an appreciable lag period. This suggested that induction of the uracil-DNA glycosylase requires transcription and translation although the enzyme may be quite stable once induced.