Chromosome 3p deletions in head and neck carcinomas: statistical ascertainment of allelic loss.

Loss of function of tumor suppressor genes is important in the origin and progression of common adult tumors. Loss of heterozygosity indicating allelic loss has been used to detect chromosomal regions that harbor these genes. Using over 20 restriction fragment length polymorphism markers spaced throughout the entire length of chromosome 3p, we have generated 3p allelotypes for 18-26 head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines. We then estimated the average heterozygosity over 19 loci for a random sample drawn from natural populations to be 7.80 and that for the tumor lines to be 1.65, indicating a gross reduction of heterozygosity, presumably due to allelic loss. Further comparison of per locus heterozygosity in normal and tumor DNAs showed which loci contributed to the general loss of heterozygosity. We showed that the commonly deleted region of 3p probably lies telomeric to D3S3 (3p14) and centromeric to RAF1 (3p25). This large region includes several putative tumor suppressor genes involved in multiple common tumor types of lung, breast, kidney, ovary, and cervix. The data demonstrate that chromosome 3p allelic loss is a common event in head and neck cancers and suggest that chromosome 3p tumor suppressor genes contribute to the pathogenesis of these tumors.

Surface plasmon resonance based methods for measuring the kinetics and binding affinities of biomolecular interactions.

Surface plasmon resonance is emerging as the method of choice to study biomolecular interactions between macromolecules because it allows the observation of real-time kinetics for these processes. The method is currently being applied to the study of antigen-antibody interactions, protein-DNA interactions, receptor SH2 domain-phosphotyrosine peptide interactions and receptor-ligand interactions.

BIAcore for macromolecular interaction.

Examination of the literature for the period of this review revealed nearly two hundred citations that employed surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectroscopy using BIAcore technology to evaluate biospecific interactions, demonstrating the increasing popularity of this powerful technique. Among these we noted the development of several new applications/modifications of standard techniques. In general, we find the qualitative aspects of the reported experiments to be excellent but the quantitative descriptions (kT, kon, koff, and keq) as well as the binding models still lagging behind.

Real-time DNA binding measurements of the ETS1 recombinant oncoproteins reveal significant kinetic differences between the p42 and p51 isoforms.

The sequence-specific DNA binding of recombinant p42 and p51 ETS1 oncoprotein was examined quantitatively to determine whether the loss of the Exon VII phosphorylation domain in p42 ETS1 or the phosphorylation of expressed Exon VII in p51 ETS1 had an effect on DNA binding activity. The kinetics of sequence-specific DNA binding was measured using real-time changes in surface plasmon resonance with BIAcore (registered trademark, Pharmacia Biosensor) technology. The real-time binding of p42 and p51 ETS1 displayed significant differences in kinetic behavior. p51 ETS1 is characterized by a fast initial binding and conversion to a stable complex, whereas p42 ETS1 exhibits a slow initial binding and conversion to a stable complex. All of the p51 ETS1 DNA binding states are characterized by rapid turnover, whereas the p42 ETS1 DNA binding states are 4-20 times more stable. A model describing these kinetic steps is presented. Stoichiometric titrations of either p42 or p51 ETS1 with specific oligonucleotides show 1:1 complex formation. The DNA sequence specificity of the p42 and p51 ETS1 as determined by mutational analysis was similar. The in vitro phosphorylation of p51 ETS1 by CAM kinase II obliterates its binding to specific DNA, suggesting that the regulation of p51 ETS1 sequence-specific DNA binding occurs through phosphorylation by a calcium-dependent second messenger. The p42 ETS1 lacks this regulatory domain (Exon VII), and binding to its specific DNA sequence is not sensitive to calcium signaling.

Mechanisms of nickel carcinogenesis. Interaction of Ni(II) with 2'-deoxynucleosides and 2'-deoxynucleotides.

Interactions of Ni(II) with the base moieties of 2'-deoxynucleosides and 2'-deoxynucleotides were studied by means of UV difference spectroscopy in order to elucidate the mechanisms of site-specific enhancement by Ni(II) of DNA base oxidation with active oxygen species, observed previously (Kasprzak et al., Cancer Res., 49 (1989) 5964; Carcinogenesis, 11 (1990) 647). The interactions were generally weak and could be quantitated only at pH 7.2-7.9. The resulting coordination binding of Ni(II) was stronger with the purine derivatives, especially these of guanine, than with pyrimidine derivatives. Also, Ni(II) interacted more strongly with the bases of 2'-deoxynucleotides than with the bases of 2'-deoxynucleosides. The apparent stability constants for the interactions calculated with the use of a non-linear regression method, equalled 102 +/- 14, 159 +/- 30 and 290 +/- 70 M-1 for Ni(II) coordinated by 5'dAMP, 5'dADP and 5'dATP, respectively, and 305 +/- 73, 191 +/- 54, and 270 +/- 28 M-1 for 5'dGMP, 5'dGDP and 5'dGTP, respectively. Stability constant for the dG Ni(II) interaction was 39 +/- 7 M-1. Interactions of Ni(II) with the bases of dA, dC, dT and the dC- and dT- mono-, di- and tri-phosphates were too weak for meaningful quantitation. The strongest relative Ni(II) interaction with dG may explain high sensitivity of the dG site at the DNA molecule to Ni(II)-mediated oxidation observed in vitro and in vivo. The present results contrast with Ni(II)-directed site specific cleavage of DNA with H2O2 that occurs preferentially at the pyrimidine bases (Kawanishi et al., Carcinogenesis, 10 (1989) 2231).

Human recombinant macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha and -beta and monocyte chemotactic and activating factor utilize common and unique receptors on human monocytes.

The human macrophage inflammatory proteins-1 alpha and -beta (MIP-1 alpha and -beta), which are also known as LD78 and ACT2, respectively, are distinct but highly related members of the chemoattractant cytokine (chemokine) family. rMIP-1 alpha and -beta labeled with 125I specifically bind to human peripheral blood monocytes, the monocytic cell line THP-1, peripheral blood T cells, and the YT cell line. Steady state binding experiments revealed approximately 3000 high affinity binding sites/cell for MIP-1 alpha on human monocytes and on THP-1 cells, with Kd values of 383 pM and 450 pM, respectively. Human MIP-1 alpha and -beta had nearly identical affinities for the binding sites and each competed equally well for binding. Human monocyte chemotactic and activating factor (MCAF), a member of the same chemokine family, consistently displaced about 25% of human MIP-1 alpha and -beta binding on monocytes but not on YT cells, which did not bind MCAF. On the other hand, human rMIP-1 alpha and -beta partially inhibited binding of radiolabeled MCAF to monocytes. Both MIP-1 alpha and -beta were chemotactic for human monocytes. Preincubation of monocytes with human rMIP-1 alpha or -beta markedly reduced cell migration towards the other cytokine, whereas preincubation with human rMCAF only partially desensitized the monocyte chemotaxis response to human rMIP-1 alpha or -beta. These data suggest the existence of three subtypes of receptors, i.e., one unique receptor shared by MIP-1 alpha and -beta, a second unique receptor for MCAF, and a third species that recognizes both MCAF and MIP-1 peptides.

Mechanistic studies of the inhibition of MutT dGTPase by the carcinogenic metal Ni(II).

Promutagenic 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG) levels are increased in DNA of animals exposed to carcinogenic metals, such as Ni(II). Besides being generated directly in genomic DNA, 8-oxo-dG may be incorporated there from 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-triphosphate (8-oxo-dGTP), a product of oxidative damage to the nucleotide pool. The Escherichia coli dGTPase MutT, and analogous dGTPases in rats and humans, have been suggested as a defense against such incorporation because they hydrolyze 8-oxo-dGTP to 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine 5'-monophosphate (8-oxo-dGMP). MutT and its mammalian counterparts are Mg(II)-dependent enzymes. Ni(II), in turn, is known to interact antagonistically with Mg(II) in biological systems. Thus, we hypothesized that Ni(II) might inhibit the activity of MutT. As an initial examination of this hypothesis, we conducted enzyme kinetic studies of MutT to determine the effect of Ni(II) on MutT activity and the mechanisms involved. As found, Ni(II) inhibited MutT in a concentration-dependent manner when either dGTP or 8-oxo-dGTP was the nucleotide substrate. Ni(II) was determined to be an uncompetitive inhibitor of MutT with respect to Mg(II) when dGTP was the substrate, with apparent Ki of 1.2 mM Ni(II), and a noncompetitive inhibitor with respect to Mg(II) when 8-oxo-dGTP was the substrate, with apparent Ki of 0.9 mM Ni(II). Hence, the two metal cations did not compete with each other for binding at the MutT active site. This makes it difficult to predict Ni(II) effects on 8-oxo-dGTPases of other species. However, based upon the amino acid sequences of human and rat MutT-like dGTPases, their capacity for Ni(II) binding should be greater than that of MutT. Whether this could lead to stronger inhibition of those enzymes by Ni(II), or not, remains to be investigated.

Sensitivity of Escherichia coli (MutT) and human (MTH1) 8-oxo-dGTPases to in vitro inhibition by the carcinogenic metals, nickel(II), copper(II), cobalt(II) and cadmium(II).

The toxicity of Ni(II), Co(II) and Cu(II) in animals, and that of Cd(II) in cultured cells, has been associated with generation of the promutagenic lesion 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (8-oxoguanine) in DNA, among other effects. One possible source of this base may be 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine-5'-triphosphate (8-oxo-dGTP), a product of oxidative damage to the nucleotide pool, from which it is incorporated into DNA. To promote such incorporation, the metals would have to inhibit specific cellular 8-oxo-dGTPases that eliminate 8-oxo-dGTP from the nucleotide pool. The present study was designed to test such inhibition in vitro on 8-oxo-dGTPases from two different species, the human MTH1 protein and Escherichia coli MutT protein. In the presence of Mg(II), the natural activator of 8-oxo-dGTPases, all four metals were found to inhibit both enzymes. For MTH1, the IC50 values (+/- SE; n = 3-4) were 17 +/- 2 microM for Cu(II), 30 +/- 8 microM for Cd(II), 376 +/- 71 microM for Co(II) and 801 +/- 97 microM for Ni(II). For MutT, they were 60 +/- 6 microM for Cd(II), 102 +/- 8 microM for Cu(II), 1461 +/- 96 microM for Ni(II) and 8788 +/- 1003 microM for Co(II). Thus, Cu(II) and Cd(II) emerged as much stronger inhibitors than Ni(II) and Co(II), and MTH1 appeared to be generally more sensitive to metal inhibition than MutT. Interestingly, in the absence of Mg(II), the activity of the enzymes could be restored by Co(II) to 73% of that with Mg(II) alone for MutT, and 34% for MTH1, the other metals being much less or non-effective. The difference in sensitivity to metal inhibition between the two enzymes may reflect the differences in the amino acid ligands, especially the cysteine ligand, outside their evolutionarily conserved Mg(II)-binding active sites, which might indicate predominantly non-competitive or uncompetitive mechanism of the inhibition. The overall results suggest that inhibition of 8-oxo-dGTPases may be involved in the mechanisms of induction of the 8-oxoguanine lesion in DNA by the metal ions studied, especially the non-redox-active Cd(II) cation.

Sequence-specific binding of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 nucleocapsid protein to short oligonucleotides.

We have analyzed the binding of recombinant human immunodeficiency virus type 1 nucleocapsid protein (NC) to very short oligonucleotides by using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technology. Our experiments, which were conducted at a moderate salt concentration (0.15 M NaCl), showed that NC binds more stably to runs of d(G) than to other DNA homopolymers. However, it exhibits far more stable binding with the alternating base sequence d(TG)n than with any homopolymeric oligodeoxyribonucleotide; thus, it shows a strong sequence preference under our experimental conditions. We found that the minimum length of an alternating d(TG) sequence required for stable binding was five nucleotides. Stable binding to the tetranucleotide d(TG)2 was observed only under conditions where two tetranucleotide molecules were held in close spatial proximity. The stable, sequence-specific binding to d(TG)n required that both zinc fingers be present, each in its proper position in the NC protein, and was quite salt resistant, indicating a large hydrophobic contribution to the binding. Limited tests with RNA oligonucleotides indicated that the preferential sequence-specific binding observed with DNA also occurs with RNA. Evidence was also obtained that NC can bind to nucleic acid molecules in at least two distinct modes. The biological significance of the specific binding we have detected is not known; it may reflect the specificity with which the parent Gag polyprotein packages genomic RNA or may relate to the functions of NC after cleavage of the polyprotein, including its role as a nucleic acid chaperone.