Association of aureolic acid antibiotic, chromomycin A3 with Cu2+ and its negative effect upon DNA binding property of the antibiotic.

Here we have examined the association of an aureolic acid antibiotic, chromomycin A3 (CHR), with Cu(2+). CHR forms a high affinity 2:1 (CHR:Cu(2+)) complex with dissociation constant of 0.08 × 10(-10) M(2) at 25°C, pH 8.0. The affinity of CHR for Cu(2+) is higher than those for Mg(2+) and Zn(2+) reported earlier from our laboratory. CHR binds preferentially to Cu(2+) in presence of equimolar amount of Zn(2+). Complex formation between CHR and Cu(2+) is an entropy driven endothermic process. Difference between calorimetric and van't Hoff enthalpies indicate the presence of multiple equilibria, supported from biphasic nature of the kinetics of association. Circular dichroism spectroscopy show that [(CHR)(2):Cu(2+)] complex assumes a structure different from either of the Mg(2+) and Zn(2+) complex reported earlier. Both [(CHR)(2):Mg(2+)] and [(CHR)(2):Zn(2+)] complexes are known to bind DNA. In contrast, [(CHR)(2):Cu(2+)] complex does not interact with double helical DNA, verified by means of Isothermal Titration Calorimetry of its association with calf thymus DNA and the double stranded decamer (5'-CCGGCGCCGG-3'). In order to interact with double helical DNA, the (antibiotic)(2) : metal (Mg(2+) and Zn(2+)) complexes require a isohelical conformation. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy shows that the Cu(2+) complex adopts a distorted octahedral structure, which cannot assume the required conformation to bind to the DNA. This report demonstrates the negative effect of a bivalent metal upon the DNA binding property of CHR, which otherwise binds to DNA in presence of metals like Mg(2+) and Zn(2+). The results also indicate that CHR has a potential for chelation therapy in Cu(2+) accumulation diseases. However cytotoxicity of the antibiotic might restrict the use.

Utilization of variably spaced promoter-like elements by the bacterial RNA polymerase holoenzyme during early elongation.

The bacterial RNA polymeras holoenzyme consists of a catalytic core enzyme in complex with a sigma factor that is required for promoter-specific transcription initiation. During initiation, members of the sigma(70) family of sigma factors contact two conserved promoter elements, the -10 and -35 elements, which are separated by approximately 17 base pairs (bp). sigma(70) family members contain four flexibly linked domains. Two of these domains, sigma(2) and sigma(4), contain determinants for interactions with the promoter -10 and -35 elements respectively. sigma(2) and sigma(4) also contain core-binding determinants. When bound to core the inter-domain distance between sigma(2) and sigma(4) matches the distance between promoter elements separated by approximately 17 bp. Prior work indicates that during early elongation the nascent RNA-assisted displacement of sigma(4) from core can enable the holoenzyme to adopt a configuration in which sigma(2) and sigma(4) are bound to 'promoter-like' DNA elements separated by a single base pair. Here we demonstrate that holoenzyme can also adopt configurations in which sigma(2) and sigma(4) are bound to 'promoter-like' DNA elements separated by 0, 2 or 3 bp. Thus, our findings suggest that displacement of sigma(4) from core enables the RNA polymerase holoenzyme to adopt a broad range of 'elongation-specific' configurations.

Inhibition of a Zn(II)-containing enzyme, alcohol dehydrogenase, by anticancer antibiotics, mithramycin and chromomycin A3.

One of the major attributes for the biological action of the aureolic acid anticancer antibiotics chromomycin A(3) (CHR) and mithramycin (MTR) is their ability to bind bivalent cations such as Mg(II) and Zn(II) ions and form high affinity 2:1 complexes in terms of the antibiotic and the metal ion, respectively. As most of the cellular Zn(II) ion is found to be associated with proteins, we have examined the effect of MTR/CHR on the structure and function of a representative structurally well characterized Zn(II) metalloenzyme, alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) from yeast. MTR and CHR inhibit enzyme activity of ADH with inhibitory constants of micromolar order. Results from size-exclusion column chromatography, dynamic light scattering, and isothermal titration calorimetry have suggested that the mechanism of inhibition of the metalloenzyme by the antibiotics is due to the antibiotic-induced disruption of the enzyme quaternary structure. The nature of the enzyme inhibition, the binding stoichiometry of two antibiotics per monomer, and comparable dissociation constants for the antibiotic and free (or substrate-bound) ADH imply that the association occurs as a consequence of the binding of the antibiotics to Zn(II) ion present at the structural center. Confocal microscopy shows the colocalization of the antibiotic and the metalloenzyme in HepG2 cells, thereby supporting the proposition of physical association between the antibiotic(s) and the enzyme inside the cell.

Multiple functions of generic drugs: future perspectives of aureolic acid group of anti-cancer antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and aureolic acid group of anti-cancer drugs belong to the class of generic drugs. Research with some members of these two groups of drugs in different laboratories has unveiled functions other than those for which they were primarily developed as drugs. Here we have reviewed the molecular mechanism behind the multiple functions of these drugs that might lead to employ them for treatment of diseases in addition to those they are presently employed.

Self-association of the anionic form of the DNA-binding anticancer drug mithramycin.

The aqueous-phase self-association of mithramycin (MTR), an aureolic acid anticancer antibiotic, has been studied using different spectroscopic techniques such as absorption, fluorescence, circular dichroism, and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Results from these studies indicate self-association of the anionic antibiotic at pH 8.0 over a concentration range from micromolar to millimolar. These results could be ascribed to the following steps of self-association: M + M left arrow over right arrow M2, M2 + M left arrow over right arrow M3, and M3 + M left arrow over right arrow M4, where M, M2, M3, and M4 represent the monomer, dimer, trimer, and tetramer of mithramycin, respectively. Dynamic light scattering and isothermal titration calorimetry studies also support aggregation. In contrast, an insignificant extent of self-association is found for the neutral drug (at pH 3.5) and the [(MTR)2Mg2+] complex (at pH 8.0). Analysis of 2D NMR spectra of 1 mM MTR suggests that the sugar moieties play a role in the self-association process. Self-association of the drug might occur either via hydrophobic interaction of the sugar residues among themselves or water-mediated hydrogen bond formation between sugar residue(s). On the other hand, absence of a significant upfield shift of the aromatic protons from 100 microM to 1 mM MTR suggests against the possibility of stacking interactions between the aromatic rings as a stabilizing force for the formation of the dimer and higher oligomers.

Chromatin as a target for the DNA-binding anticancer drugs.

Chemotherapy has been a major approach to treat cancer. Both constituents of chromatin, chromosomal DNA and the associated chromosomal histone proteins are the molecular targets of the anticancer drugs. Small DNA binding ligands, which inhibit enzymatic processes with DNA substrate, are well known in cancer chemotherapy. These drugs inhibit the polymerase and topoisomerase activity. With the advent in the knowledge of chromatin chemistry and biology, attempts have shifted from studies of the structural basis of the association of these drugs or small ligands (with the potential of drugs) with DNA to their association with chromatin and nucleosome. These drugs often inhibit the expression of specific genes leading to a series of biochemical events. An overview will be given about the latest understanding of the molecular basis of their action. We shall restrict to those drugs, synthetic or natural, whose prime cellular targets are so far known to be chromosomal DNA.

Association of antitumor antibiotics, mithramycin and chromomycin, with Zn(II).

Chromomycin A(3) (CHR) and mithramycin (MTR), members of the aureolic acid anticancer antibiotics, supposedly act by inhibiting transcription via reversible association with DNA. The complex(es) with bivalent cation such as Mg(2+) and Zn(2+) is (are) the DNA-binding ligand(s). In this paper, we report a detailed study of the association of these antibiotics with the biologically important bivalent cation, Zn(2+), because the zinc chelating ability of the antibiotics has therapeutic potential in the treatment of diseases relating to zinc dyshomeostasis. Spectroscopic methods such as absorbance, fluorescence, and circular dichroism and NMR spectroscopy have been used to characterize and understand the mechanism of complex formation. Our data show that both antibiotics form a single complex with Zn(2+) in the mole ratio of 2:1 in terms of antibiotic:Zn(2+) with an apparent binding affinity in the micro molar range. The complex has been characterized as [(D)(2)Zn(2+)] (where 'D' stands for the antibiotic). The kinetics study of the complex formation between the antibiotic(s) and Zn(2+) suggests the following mechanism: [reaction: see text] Isothermal calorimetric titration has shown that the association is entropy driven, implying the role of water molecules in complex formation. (1)H NMR spectroscopic data of the complex favor a tetrahedral arrangement around the Zn(2+) ion with the antibiotic acting as a bidentate ligand.

Effect of complex formation between Zn2+ ions and the anticancer drug mithramycin upon enzymatic activity of zinc(II)-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase.

Mithramycin (MTR), a member of the aureolic group of anticancer antibiotics, is a drug that supposedly acts via the inhibition of transcription. It binds to bivalent cations such as Mg(2+) and Zn(2+). In this paper, we report the association of MTR with Zn(2+), a biologically important bivalent cation whose coordination property leads to its important role as a cofactor in different enzymes and nucleosomal DNA-binding proteins. First, we have characterized the complex formation between MTR and Zn(2+) using spectroscopic methods. In the second part, we have examined the effect of the association of Zn(2+) with MTR on the enzymatic activity of a typical zinc(II)-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) from yeast. Our data show that MTR forms a single complex with Zn(2+) in a mole ratio of 2:1 in terms of MTR:Zn(2+). We also observe a negative effect for the preincubation of ADH with MTR upon the enzymatic activity. These results indicate that MTR induced structural changes in the enzyme as a sequel to its complex formation with Zn(2+) present in the enzyme, thereby leading to a loss of enzymatic activity.