scholarly journals Species-specific mechanisms of tumor suppression are fundamental drivers of vertebrate speciation: critical implications for the ‘war on cancer’

2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. C1-C5
Author(s):  
Jonathan W Nyce

We recently reported our detection of an anthropoid primate-specific, ‘kill switch’ tumor suppression system that reached its greatest expression in humans, but that is fully functional only during the first twenty-five years of life, corresponding to the primitive human lifespan that has characterized the majority of our species' existence. This tumor suppression system is based upon the kill switch being triggered in cells in which p53 has been inactivated; such kill switch consisting of a rapid, catastrophic increase in ROS caused by the induction of irreversible uncompetitive inhibition of glucose-6- phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), which requires high concentrations of both inhibitor (DHEA) and G6P substrate. While high concentrations of intracellular DHEA are readily available in primates from the importation and subsequent de-sulfation of circulating DHEAS into p53-affected cells, both an anthropoid primate-specific sequence motif (GAAT) in the glucose-6-phosphatase (G6PC) promoter, and primate-specific inactivation of de novo synthesis of vitamin C by deletion of gulonolactone oxidase (GLO) were required to enable accumulation of G6P to levels sufficient to enable irreversible uncompetitive inhibition of G6PD. Malignant transformation acts as a counterforce opposing vertebrate speciation, particularly increases in body size and lifespan that enable optimized exploitation of particular niches. Unique mechanisms of tumor suppression that evolved to enable niche exploitation distinguish vertebrate species, and prevent one vertebrate species from serving as a valid model system for another. This here-to-fore unrecognized element of speciation undermines decades of cancer research data, using murine species, which presumed universal mechanisms of tumor suppression, independent of species. Despite this setback, the potential for pharmacological reconstitution of the kill switch tumor suppression system that distinguishes our species suggests that ‘normalization’ of human cancer risk, from its current 40% to the 4% of virtually all other large, long-lived species, represents a realistic near-term goal.

2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (11) ◽  
pp. R497-R517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan W Nyce

The activation of TP53 is well known to exert tumor suppressive effects. We have detected aprimate-specificadrenal androgen-mediated tumor suppression system in which circulating DHEAS is converted to DHEA specifically in cells in which TP53 has beeninactivated. DHEA is anuncompetitiveinhibitor of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), an enzyme indispensable for maintaining reactive oxygen species within limits survivable by the cell. Uncompetitive inhibition is otherwise unknown in natural systems because it becomesirreversiblein the presence of high concentrations of substrate and inhibitor. In addition to primate-specific circulating DHEAS, a unique, primate-specific sequence motif that disables an activating regulatory site in the glucose-6-phosphatase (G6PC) promoter was also required to enable function of this previously unrecognized tumor suppression system. In human somatic cells, loss of TP53 thus triggers activation of DHEAS transport proteins and steroid sulfatase, which converts circulating DHEAS into intracellular DHEA, and hexokinase which increases glucose-6-phosphate substrate concentration. The triggering of these enzymes in the TP53-affected cell combines with the primate-specific G6PC promoter sequence motif that enables G6P substrate accumulation, driving uncompetitive inhibition of G6PD to irreversibility and ROS-mediated cell death. By this catastrophic ‘kill switch’ mechanism, TP53 mutations are effectively prevented from initiating tumorigenesis in the somatic cells of humans, the primate with the highest peak levels of circulating DHEAS. TP53 mutations in human tumors therefore represent fossils of kill switch failure resulting from an age-related decline in circulating DHEAS, a potentially reversible artifact of hominid evolution.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 1934578X2199615
Author(s):  
Lucas Botelho Jerônimo ◽  
Jamile S. da Costa ◽  
Laine C. Pinto ◽  
Raquel C. Montenegro ◽  
William N. Setzer ◽  
...  

This work analyzed the chemical compositions and evaluated the antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of essential oils (EO) of Eugenia patrisii (Epat), Eugenia stipitata (Esti), Myrcia splendens (Mspl), Myrcia sylvatica (Msyl), Psidium guajava (Pgua), and Psidium guineense (Pgui-1 and Pgui-2) from the Brazilian Amazon. Sesquiterpenoids were found in high concentrations in the oils of E. patrisii and M. splendens, which were rich in E-caryophyllene (32.0% and 45.8%); E. stipitata and M. sylvatica, which displayed germacrene D (11.8%) and germacrene B (24.5%); and P. guajava that showed epi-β-bisabolol (16.1%) as the main compound. However, P. guineense samples (Pgui-1 and Pgui-2) were rich in monoterpenoids such as limonene (Pgui-1: 30.2%; Pgui-2 30.4%) and α-pinene (Pgui-1: 22.5%; Pgui-2: 17.7%). The samples showed a weak and moderate antioxidant activities in the DPPH assay, displaying inhibition rates from 11.5% to 38.6% (at 10 mg/mL). All samples were cytotoxic against human cancer cells by the MTT method. Epat oil showed higher activity against melanoma (SKMEL-19, IC505.8 µg/mL), gastric (AGP01, IC503.2 µg/mL), and colon (HCT116, IC506.7 µg/mL). Meanwhile, the samples Pgua and Pgui were more active against breast cancer cells (MCF7, IC5012.4 µg/mL and 11.6 µg/mL, respectively).


1994 ◽  
Vol 302 (3) ◽  
pp. 729-735 ◽  
Author(s):  
J F Bateman ◽  
D Chan ◽  
I Moeller ◽  
M Hannagan ◽  
W G Cole

A heterozygous de novo G to A point mutation in intron 8 at the +5 position of the splice donor site of the gene for the pro alpha 1(I) chain of type I procollagen, COL1A1, was defined in a patient with type IV osteogenesis imperfecta. The splice donor site mutation resulted not only in the skipping of the upstream exon 8 but also unexpectedly had the secondary effect of activating a cryptic splice site in the next upstream intron, intron 7, leading to re-definition of the 3′ limit of exon 7. These pre-mRNA splicing aberrations cause the deletion of exon 8 sequences from the mature mRNA and the inclusion of 96 bp of intron 7 sequence. Since the mis-splicing of the mutant allele product resulted in the maintenance of the correct codon reading frame, the resultant pro alpha 1(I) chain contained a short non-collagenous 32-amino-acid sequence insertion within the repetitive Gly-Xaa-Yaa collagen sequence motif. At the protein level, the mutant alpha 1(I) chain was revealed by digestion with pepsin, which cleaved the mutant procollagen within the protease-sensitive non-collagenous insertion, producing a truncated alpha 1(I). This protease sensitivity demonstrated the structural distortion to the helical structure caused by the insertion. In long-term culture with ascorbic acid, which stimulates the formation of a mature crosslinked collagen matrix, and in tissues, there was no evidence of the mutant chain, suggesting that during matrix formation the mutant chain was unable to stably incorporated into the matrix and was degraded proteolytically.


1991 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1944-1953
Author(s):  
I M Santoro ◽  
T M Yi ◽  
K Walsh

A sequence-specific DNA-binding protein from skeletal-muscle extracts that binds to probes of three muscle gene DNA elements is identified. This protein, referred to as muscle factor 3, forms the predominant nucleoprotein complex with the MCAT gene sequence motif in an electrophoretic mobility shift assay. This protein also binds to the skeletal actin muscle regulatory element, which contains the conserved CArG motif, and to a creatine kinase enhancer probe, which contains the E-box motif, a MyoD-binding site. Muscle factor 3 has a potent sequence-specific, single-stranded-DNA-binding activity. The specificity of this interaction was demonstrated by sequence-specific competition and by mutations that diminished or eliminated detectable complex formation. MyoD, a myogenic determination factor that is distinct from muscle factor 3, also bound to single-stranded-DNA probes in a sequence-specific manner, but other transcription factors did not. Multiple copies of the MCAT motif activated the expression of a heterologous promoter, and a mutation that eliminated expression was correlated with diminished factor binding. Muscle factor 3 and MyoD may be members of a class of DNA-binding proteins that modulate gene expression by their abilities to recognize DNA with unusual secondary structure in addition to specific sequence.


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (Supplement_6) ◽  
pp. vi56-vi57
Author(s):  
John Sampson ◽  
Achal Singh Achrol ◽  
Manish K Aghi ◽  
Krystof Bankiewiecz ◽  
Martin Bexon ◽  
...  

Abstract BACKGROUND MDNA55 is an IL4R-targeted toxin in development for treatment of recurrent glioblastoma (rGBM). MDNA55 binds to IL4R expressed by tumor cells and non-malignant cells of the tumor microenvironment. METHOD MDNA55-05 was an open-label, single-arm study of MDNA55 delivered by CED as a single treatment in patients with 1st or 2nd recurrence following de novo GBM, IDH wild type status and not indicated for resection at relapse. Dose volumes (up to 60mL) and concentration of MDNA55 (1.5 to 9.0 μg/mL) were studied. RESULTS MDNA55 showed an acceptable safety profile at all doses tested. Median OS (mOS) amongst all subjects was 11.9 months, OS-24 was 20%, and PFS-12 was 27%. Among subjects expressing high levels of IL4R (irrespective of MDNA55 dose) and low levels of IL4R expression administered high dose (≥ 180μg) of MDNA55 (IL4Rhi + IL4Rlo/hd), mOS further improved to 14.0 months with OS-24 of 20%. Unmethylated MGMT promoter status did not affect MDNA55 treatment outcomes. In the IL4Rhi + IL4Rlo/hd population (N=17), mOS was 14.9 months with OS-24 of 22%. Following treatment with high concentrations of MDNA55 (6.0 or 9.0 μg/mL), transient (median of 3 cycles) low dose Avastin (5mg/kg q2w or 7.5mg/kg q3w) was used for symptom control and steroid sparring. Among these subjects, mOS amongst all comers (N=9) and the IL4Rhi + IL4Rlo/hd group (N=8) increased to 21.8 and 18.6 months with OS-24 of 44% and 38%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS MDNA55 shows potential to benefit all rGBM patients treated at high dose irrespective of IL4R expression. In the 1:1 randomized Phase 3 trial, the study will enrol two-thirds of subjects in the SOC arm from a matched external control arm. Unlike conventional RCTs, the hybrid design sets a new precedent for GBM trials, allowing robust OS analysis while significantly reducing the number of subjects randomized to SOC arm.


1991 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1944-1953 ◽  
Author(s):  
I M Santoro ◽  
T M Yi ◽  
K Walsh

A sequence-specific DNA-binding protein from skeletal-muscle extracts that binds to probes of three muscle gene DNA elements is identified. This protein, referred to as muscle factor 3, forms the predominant nucleoprotein complex with the MCAT gene sequence motif in an electrophoretic mobility shift assay. This protein also binds to the skeletal actin muscle regulatory element, which contains the conserved CArG motif, and to a creatine kinase enhancer probe, which contains the E-box motif, a MyoD-binding site. Muscle factor 3 has a potent sequence-specific, single-stranded-DNA-binding activity. The specificity of this interaction was demonstrated by sequence-specific competition and by mutations that diminished or eliminated detectable complex formation. MyoD, a myogenic determination factor that is distinct from muscle factor 3, also bound to single-stranded-DNA probes in a sequence-specific manner, but other transcription factors did not. Multiple copies of the MCAT motif activated the expression of a heterologous promoter, and a mutation that eliminated expression was correlated with diminished factor binding. Muscle factor 3 and MyoD may be members of a class of DNA-binding proteins that modulate gene expression by their abilities to recognize DNA with unusual secondary structure in addition to specific sequence.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Doris Bachtrog ◽  
Chris Ellison

The repeatability or predictability of evolution is a central question in evolutionary biology, and most often addressed in experimental evolution studies. Here, we infer how genetically heterogeneous natural systems acquire the same molecular changes, to address how genomic background affects adaptation in natural populations. In particular, we take advantage of independently formed neo-sex chromosomes in Drosophila species that have evolved dosage compensation by co-opting the dosage compensation (MSL) complex, to study the mutational paths that have led to the acquisition of 100s of novel binding sites for the MSL complex in different species. This complex recognizes a conserved 21-bp GA-rich sequence motif that is enriched on the X chromosome, and newly formed X chromosomes recruit the MSL complex by de novo acquisition of this binding motif. We identify recently formed sex chromosomes in the Drosophila repleta and robusta species groups by genome sequencing, and generate genomic occupancy maps of the MSL complex to infer the location of novel binding sites. We find that diverse mutational paths were utilized in each species to evolve 100s of de novo binding motifs along the neo-X, including expansions of microsatellites and transposable element insertions. However, the propensity to utilize a particular mutational path differs between independently formed X chromosomes, and appears to be contingent on genomic properties of that species, such as simple repeat or transposable element density. This establishes the “genomic environment” as an important determinant in predicting the outcome of evolutionary adaptations.


2009 ◽  
Vol 6 (s1) ◽  
pp. S97-S102 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. G. Nerkar ◽  
A. K. Saxena ◽  
S. A. Ghone ◽  
A. K. Thaker

Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) is the important target for anticancer drugs belonging to the class of antimetabolites as the enzyme plays important role in the de novo purine synthesis. We here report thein silicoscreening to obtain best fit molecules as DHFR inhibitors, synthesis of some ʻbest fitʼ quinazolinone from 2-phenyl-3-(substituted-benzilidine-amino) quinazolinones (Quinazolinone Shiff's bases) QSB1-5and pyridine-4-carbohydrazide Shiff's bases (ISB1-5) derivatives and theirin vitroanticancer assay. Synthesis of the molecules was performed using microwave assisted synthesis. The structures of these molecules were elucidated by IR and1H-NMR. These compounds were then subjected forin vitroanticancer evaluation against five human cancer cell-lines for anticancer cyto-toxicity assay. Methotrexate (MTX) was used as standard for this evaluation to give a comparable inhibition of the cell proliferation by DHFR inhibition. Placlitaxel, adriamycin and 5-fluoro-uracil were also used as standard to give a comparable activity of these compounds with other mechanism of anticancer activity. ISB3(4-(N, N-dimethyl-amino)-phenyl) Schiff''s base derivative of pyridine carbohydrazide showed equipotent activity with the standards used inin vitroanticancer assay as per the NCI (National Cancer Institute) guidelines.


2021 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shikha Joon ◽  
Rajeev K. Singla ◽  
Bairong Shen ◽  
Mohammad Amjad Kamal

Background: 6-Fluoro-3-(4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)quinolin-4(1H)-ones are promising antitumor agents with enormous data on their profound cytotoxic effects on the human cancer cell lines. Objectives: We sought to perform a Quantitative structure cytotoxicity relationship (QSCR) analysis of a series of previously reported fluoroquinolone analogues using computer-assisted multiple regression analysis and investigate the cytotoxicity-inducing structural parameters among these congeners. Methods: The dataset was segregated into training and test sets of 6-Fluoro-3-(4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)quinolin-4(1H)-ones by using a random selection method embedded in Vlife MDS 4.6 software and subjected to QSCR analysis. Next, cross-validation of the generated QSCR models was performed along with the external test set prediction. Finally, the data was analyzed, and contour plots were developed to deduce the cytotoxicity-inducing structural parameters among these congeners using Minitab® software. Results: The validated QSCR model exhibited a statistically significant predictive value of 92.27 percent. Our QSCR model revealed a direct proportionality between hydrogen counts and cytotoxicity and exclusion of sulphur and nitrogen with lesser crowding of cyclopropyl rings in future potential 6-Fluoro-3-(4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)quinolin-4(1H)-one analogues. Based on the QSCR model predictions and contour plot analysis, the de novo REPUBLIC1986 molecule provided the best hit with predicted IC50 (µM) of 0.45 against CHO cell line and is amenable to salt formation crucial for anti-ovarian cancer activity. Conclusion: These findings suggest the relevancy of the developed QSCR model in designing novel, potent, and safer anti-cancer drugs with 6-Fluoro-3-(4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)quinolin-4(1H)-ones as seed compounds.


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