HOMEPRODUCTSCOMPANYCONTACTFAQResearchDictionaryPharmaSign Up FREE or Login

Inactivation of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase and sensitization of human tumor cells to killing by chloroethylnitrosourea by O6-methylguanine as a free base.

Abstract
Human fibroblasts and tumor cells with constitutive levels of the DNA repair protein O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase were incubated with mM concentrations of the free base O6-methylguanine for up to 24 h. This treatment depleted the cells of their transferase activity, and sensitized the cells to killing by the antineoplastic drug 1-[2-chloroethyl]-1-nitrosourea. Cells constitutively lacking the methyltransferase were not sensitized to cell killing. Cell free extracts incubated with O6-methylguanine also lost methyltransferase activity. Other alkylpurines, such as O6-methylguanosine, S6-methylthioguanine, O6-ethylguanine, and 3-methyladenine, did not have this effect on extracts of human tumor cells, while O6-methylguanosine and O6-methylguanine inactivated purified methyltransferase from Escherichia coli. The data suggest that the free base O6-methylguanine is probably a substrate for the methyltransferase. Calculation of the second order rate constants for free base versus O6-methylguanine in DNA, and experiments in which the free base was mixed with DNA containing O6-methylguanine before reaction with methyltransferase, indicated that the base in DNA is about 4 X 10(7) better as a substrate than is the free base. These results demonstrate that DNA repair capacity of tumor cells can be diminished without DNA damage, and suggest a method for increasing the efficiency of chemotherapy.
AuthorsD B Yarosh, S Hurst-Calderone, M A Babich, R S Day 3rd
JournalCancer research (Cancer Res) Vol. 46 Issue 4 Pt 1 Pg. 1663-8 (Apr 1986) ISSN: 0008-5472 [Print] United States
PMID3948156 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
Chemical References
  • 1-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea
  • Guanine
  • O-(6)-methylguanine
  • Methyltransferases
  • O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase
  • Ethylnitrosourea
Topics
  • Cell Survival (drug effects)
  • DNA Repair
  • Ethylnitrosourea (analogs & derivatives, pharmacology)
  • Fibroblasts (enzymology)
  • Guanine (analogs & derivatives, metabolism, pharmacology)
  • Humans
  • Methyltransferases (antagonists & inhibitors)
  • Neoplasms (drug therapy, enzymology, pathology)
  • O(6)-Methylguanine-DNA Methyltransferase
  • Substrate Specificity

Join CureHunter, for free Research Interface BASIC access!

Take advantage of free CureHunter research engine access to explore the best drug and treatment options for any disease. Find out why thousands of doctors, pharma researchers and patient activists around the world use CureHunter every day.
Realize the full power of the drug-disease research graph!


Choose Username:
Email:
Password:
Verify Password:
Enter Code Shown: