2'-C-cyano-2'-deoxy-1-beta-D-arabino-pentofuranosylcytosine: a novel anticancer nucleoside analog that causes both DNA strand breaks and G(2) arrest.

Abstract

The mechanism of 2'-C-cyano-2'-deoxy-1-beta-D-arabino-pentofuranosylcytosine (CNDAC) action was investigated in human lymphoblastoid CEM cells and myeloblastic leukemia ML-1 cells. CNDAC was metabolized to its 5'-triphosphate and incorporated into DNA, which was associated with inhibition of DNA synthesis. After incubation of cells with [(3)H]CNDAC, metabolites were detected in 3'-->5' phosphodiester linkage and at the 3' terminus of cellular DNA. Specific enzymatic hydrolysis of DNA demonstrated that the parent nucleoside and its 2'-epimer 2'-C-cyano-2'-deoxy-2-ribo-pentofuranosylcytosine accounted for approximately 65% of the total analogs incorporated into DNA and essentially all of the drug in the 3'-->5' phosphodiester linkage. In contrast, all detectable radioactivity at 3' termini was associated with 2'-C-cyano-2',3'-didehydro-2',3'-dideoxycytidine. This de facto DNA chain-terminating nucleotide arises from an electronic characteristic and cleavage of the 3'-phosphodiester bond subsequent to the addition of a nucleotide to the incorporated CNDAC moiety by beta-elimination, a process that generates a single strand break in DNA. Investigation of the biological consequences of these actions indicated that, after incubation with cytostatic concentrations of CNDAC, cell cycle progression was delayed during S phase, but that cells arrested predominantly in the G(2) phase. This differed from the S phase-arresting actions of ara-C and gemcitabine, other deoxycytidine analogs that inhibit DNA replication but do not cause strand breaks. Thus, once incorporated into DNA, the CNDAC molecule appears to act by a dual mechanism that 1) delays the progress of further DNA replication, but 2) upon addition of a deoxynucleotide results in the conversion of the incorporated analog to a de facto DNA chain terminator at the 3' terminus of a single strand break. It is likely that DNA strand breaks trigger cell cycle arrest in G(2).

• Authors: A Azuma, P Huang, A Matsuda, W Plunkett
• Journal: Molecular pharmacology (Mol Pharmacol) Vol. 59 Issue 4 Pg. 725-31 (Apr 2001) ISSN: 0026-895X [Print] United States
• PMID: 11259616 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Antineoplastic Agents
• CCNB1 protein, human
• Cyclin B
• Cyclin B1
• DNA, Neoplasm
• Cytarabine
• Deoxycytidine
• 2'-cyano-2'-deoxyarabinofuranosylcytosine
• RNA
• CDC2 Protein Kinase
• Gemcitabine

Topics

• Antineoplastic Agents (metabolism, pharmacology)
• CDC2 Protein Kinase (metabolism)
• Chromosome Breakage (genetics)
• Cyclin B (metabolism)
• Cyclin B1
• Cytarabine (analogs & derivatives, metabolism, pharmacology)
• DNA, Neoplasm (drug effects, metabolism)
• Deoxycytidine (analogs & derivatives, metabolism, pharmacology)
• G2 Phase (drug effects)
• Humans
• Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute (genetics, metabolism)
• Lymphocytes (cytology, drug effects, metabolism)
• Phosphorylation (drug effects)
• RNA (drug effects, metabolism)
• Tumor Cells, Cultured
• Gemcitabine