Topoisomerase I Poisoning by Electrophiles Derived from Oxidative Stress

ABSTRACT: The cancer target enyzme topoisomerase 1 transiently cleaves one strand of chromosomal DNA to relax accumulated strain that can prevent transcription, replication or chromatin assembly. The topoisomerase 1 poison camptothecin and its synthetic analogs are widely used chemotherapeutics that act by trapping the enzyme on DNA in a ‘covalent complex’, resulting in persistent DNA damage and cell death. The prevailing model, interfacial inhibition, contends that the covalent complex is trapped by drug binding alone. In contrast, here we show that camptothecins produce extensive oxidative stress and that topoisomerase 1 is reactive with electrophilic second messengers of oxidative damage. We show that blocking oxidative stress in cells inhibits covalent complex formation by camptothecin, while electrophiles such as 4-hydroxynonenal are able to induce covalent complex formation in cells on their own. Towards mechanism of action, we show that 4-hydroxynonenal electrophilically modifies a cysteine within the DNA-binding active site of human topoisomerase 1. Taken together, our results suggest a mechanism in which oxidative stress mediates the effects of many topoisomerase 1 poisons, and suggest that this critical DNA-regulating enzyme may have a dual role as a sensor of cellular redox stress, linking oxidative stress to DNA damage response in cancer cells.

INSTRUMENT(S): Q Exactive HF

ORGANISM(S): Homo Sapiens (human)

SUBMITTER: Donald Wolfgeher  

LAB HEAD: Dr. Stephen Kron

PROVIDER: PXD018549 | Pride | 2021-03-24

REPOSITORIES: Pride