# DNA-Destabilizing Agents as an Alternative Approach for Targeting DNA: Mechanisms of Action and Cellular Consequences

Authors: Gaëlle Lenglet; Marie-Hélène David-Cordonnier
Journal: Journal of Nucleic Acids
 (2010)

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## Abstract

DNA targeting drugs represent a large proportion of the actual anticancer drug pharmacopeia, both in terms of drug brands and prescription volumes. Small DNA-interacting molecules share the ability of certain proteins to change the DNA helix's overall organization and geometrical orientation via tilt, roll, twist, slip, and flip effects. In this ocean of DNA-interacting compounds, most stabilize both DNA strands and very few display helix-destabilizing properties. These types of DNA-destabilizing effect are observed with certain mono- or bis-intercalators and DNA alkylating agents (some of which have been or are being developed as cancer drugs). The formation of locally destabilized DNA portions could interfere with protein/DNA recognition and potentially affect several crucial cellular processes, such as DNA repair, replication, and transcription. The present paper describes the molecular basis of DNA destabilization, the cellular impact on protein recognition, and DNA repair processes and the latter's relationships with antitumour efficacy.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

The integrity of DNA is an important aspect of cell survival, since the molecule carries hereditary information and instructs essential biological processes such as transcription and replication of living cells. Alteration of this information can lead to various diseases, including cancer. The various cancer drugs that have been used in chemotherapy over the last 60 years kill cells in different ways. In addition to the targeted therapies developed over the last two decades, many routinely used anticancer agents (topoisomerase I/II inhibitors, DNA alkylating agents, and antimetabolites) target the DNA helix itself. The empirical use of alkylating compounds in cancer treatment started in the 1940s [1]. Watson and Crick's discovery of the DNA double helix in 1953 [2] led to extensive research in the field of the interactions between small molecules (whether of natural or synthetic origin) with nucleic acids. In turn, this work prompted the widespread use of some of these molecules as anticancer agents [3–7].The interaction between small ligands and DNA involves either (i) nonspecific binding through electrostatic interactions with the negatively charged sugar-phosphate backbone, (ii) intercalation of the ligand's planar aromatic rings between two adjacent base pairs (see Figure1), or (iii) major- or minor-groove binding. Following DNA recognition by anticancer compounds, the subsequent interaction can either be noncovalent (DNA ligands) or covalent (alkylating agents). Whereas most DNA-interacting compounds stabilize the DNA double helix, a few display the particular ability to destabilize it—leading potentially to various cellular consequences.Schematic representation of DNA structure. (a) Base pair orientation withx, y, and z axes result in different kind of rotation (tilt, roll, twist) or slipping of the bases (slide, flip) regarding to the helix central axis. (b) Native B-DNA with nearly 11 base pairs within one helix turn. (c) Mono- or bis-intercalation between adjacent base pairs result in an unwinding of the DNA helix (orange arrow on the top) and a lengthening of the DNA helix (ΔLength) depending on the x° and y Å values that are specific for a defined DNA intercalating compound. (d)  Representation of the DNA bending, base flipping, or double strand opening induced by some DNA destabilizing alkylating agents (adduct). Adapted from Calladine and Drew’s schematic boxes representation [13].


## 2. To Be or Not to Be a Helix

The DNA double helix is conventionally illustrated as a spiral staircase, in which the two strands (the handrails) are stabilized by hydrogen bonds between the Watson-Crick base pairs (the steps). However, these “steps” are not stable because their noncovalent interactions are reversible. Depending on the DNA sequence, denaturation (melting) can be local or widespread [8, 9] and enables various crucial cellular processes (including DNA replication, transcription, and repair) to take place [10–12].Both sequence specificity and interaction (whether covalent or not) with a small compound or a protein can inducetilt, roll, andtwist effects (a rotation of the base pairs in the x, y, or z axis, respectively—Figure 1) and therefore change the helix's overall organization. Furthermore, slide or flip effects can also modify the geometrical orientation of the DNA helix (Figure 1). Hence, theflip effect and (to a lesser extent) the other above-defined movements modulate the double-strand stability within the helix or at its ends. Indeed, under physiological conditions, local DNA “breathing” has been evidenced at both ends of the DNA helix [14] and B-to-Z DNA structural transitions have been observed in internal DNA regions [15] in a sequence-dependent manner [8, 16–29]. These types of locally open DNA structures are good substrates for specific proteins (such as single-strand binding proteins, SSBPs) which can also induce the opening of a “closed” DNA helix. In addition to naturally occurring DNA breathing, the helix can also be unzipped by cellular proteins and DNA binding compounds (some of which are used in the clinic).


## 3. Protein-Mediated Unzipping

In order to achieve essential cellular processes such as DNA transcription, replication and repair, some cellular proteins are able to naturally unzip the DNA helix [30]. The most well known of these (DNA helicases) are essential players in the above-mentioned processes. The destabilization is obtained through either an active, direct separation of the two DNA strands [31–33] or a passive opening mode in which the helicase binds to the locally single-stranded DNA portion generated by base pairing fluctuation (which mostly depends on the DNA sequence and induces prebent DNA structures) [34–36]. After DNA opening, the helicase partially translocates to the generated single-stranded DNA regions and subsequently moves along the base pairs to unwind the double helix at up to 500–1000 bp·s-1. The latter process requires Mg2+ and ATP [37]. The BLM helicase (the human RecQ helicase responsible for Bloom’s syndrome, which is characterized by DNA repair deficiencies) actively destabilizes the DNA duplex and performs rapid, efficient DNA strand separation [38].Helicases are not the only proteins with intrinsic double-strand DNA opening ability; this is also a property of replication protein A (RPA), a very efficient DNA destabilizing protein involved in many DNA metabolism processes (including repair, replication, and recombination) [39–41]. RPA is a mammalian nuclear SSBP; the SSBP family members (comprising eukaryotic, bacterial and viral proteins) can efficiently destabilize DNA helix by unwinding up to one thousand base pairs. Similarly, the mouse myeloma helix-destabilizing protein, the calf thymus hnRNP-related protein UP1 and the mammalian P8 protein (related to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate-dehydrogenase) also present both DNA single-strand binding and DNA helix-destabilizing abilities, as evidenced in thermal denaturation measurements [42–44].High-mobility group (HMG) proteins are structurally and functionally important chromatin components which also display DNA destabilizing activities. Indeed, melting studies have revealed that both HMG1 and HMG2 destabilize DNA in the presence of 25 to 100 mM NaCl but stabilize DNA in the absence of salt [45, 46]. An HMG-related DNA binding domain with DNA-destabilization properties has been found within c-Abl kinase protein. Moreover, this DNA destabilization was shown to increase the extent of HMG protein binding to DNA in the vicinity of the c-Abl binding site [47, 48].More recently, it has been reported that the nucleocapsid protein of HIV-1 can destabilize DNA [49] via its DNA-bending activity [50]. More specifically, the DNA-destabilization function involves the protein's first zinc finger, bearing residues Ile24 and Asn27 [51]. Similarly, a DNA destabilization process was attributed to prion protein. The latter's pathological mechanism of action involves translocation to the nucleus, where the protein binds chromatin and converts to insoluble aggregates. Using FRET-coupled DNA-melting temperature studies, prion protein was found to induce significant DNA bending, unwinding, and thus local destabilization of the DNA helix [52].Although the above-mentioned proteins induce relatively large DNA destabilization effects, small modifications (such as base flipping) could also perturb the local stability of DNA [53]. Various DNA nucleotide excision repair (NER) proteins [54, 55], base excision repair proteins [56–61], and DNA methyltransferases [62, 63] (such as cytosine-C5-methyltransferase [64]) are known to promote base flipping. More recently, base flipping has been described in the recognition of methylated bases by the SET and RING-associated (SRA) domain protein UHRF-1 [65, 66] and DNA binding by the transcription factor NF-κB [67].


## 4. DNA Ligand-Mediated Unzipping

Small compounds that interact noncovalently with DNA can bind to the minor or major groove between the two walls of the DNA helix, via intercalation between two planar “rungs” of the base pase staircase (Figure1) or covalently as a result of DNA alkylation. Most of the DNA unwinding compounds with well-defined binding modes belong to the intercalating or alkylating groups.Mono- and bis-intercalators present their intercalative rings between adjacent base pairs in parallel or perpendicular ways. This results in (i) unwinding of the DNA helix by an angle x°, where x°< 36° (since 36° is the rotation angle between two adjacent base pairs in native DNA), and (ii) subsequent elongation of the DNA (∆Length). The value of x° depends on the nature of the interacting compound (the rotated orange arrow in Figure 1).With DNA alkylating agents, DNA destabilization can arise from DNA bending, base flipping, or much more extensive DNA opening (Figure1).


### 4.1. DNA Intercalators

DNA-intercalating agents which impair the stability of the helix can be either mono- or bis-intercalators.


#### 4.1.1. Monointercalating Compounds

Acridine orange (AO) (Figure 2) is well known for its ability to intercalate between double-stranded DNA but can also bind single-stranded DNA with high affinity. When bound to DNA, AO fluoresces at different wavelengths, depending on the nature of the nucleic acid; green fluorescence occurs after binding to double-strand DNA, whereas red luminescence results from interaction with single-strand DNA. Thermal denaturation studies suggest that the overall stability of the DNA double helix is increased by AO binding [68]. However, local distortion and denaturation of double-stranded DNA are also generated, as evidenced by formaldehyde and diethylpyrocarbonate (DEPC) probing [69]. DNA denaturation after AO binding was also confirmed by spectral and thermodynamic data [70] and in situ experiments [71, 72].Mono- and bis-intercalating compounds inducing local destabilization of the DNA helix. (a) Structure of the compounds. (b) Three-dimensional organisation ofmorpholino doxorubicin bound to d(CGTACG) (left panel) and of ellipticine (right panel) intercalated between adjacent base pairs (from crystallographic data [mmdbId:52942] and [mmdbId:52189], respectively, [73, 74]).
(a)(b)Ellipticine and adriamycin (Figure 2) also induce local unzipping of the DNA helix; the DNA melting temperature (Tm) falls by 5.1 and 4.8°C, respectively, [69, 70, 75]. As with AO, these two compounds bind efficiently to single-stranded DNA [76, 77]. This contrasts with ethidium bromide's binding to nucleic acids, which is highly specific for double-stranded DNA and does not destabilize the double helix [78]. Ellipticine, adriamycin,and AO all intercalate between two adjacent base pairs and then subsequently change their orientation to interact with the single-stranded nucleic acid sections formed locally during DNA breathing. The single-stranded portions within the DNA helix lengthen because of cooperative binding by the intercalator, which thus leads to a higher level of DNA denaturation. This progressive unzipping of the DNA helix has also been observed in situ using cytometry, with a direct relationship between the decrease in green fluorescence and increased concentrations of AO in treated cells or nuclei [72]. Furthermore, post denaturation aggregate formation was observed using electron microscopy, with DNA condensation occurring primarily in heterochromatin, ribosomal, and polysomal structures [71, 72].


#### 4.1.2. Bis-Intercalating Agents

Within thebis-intercalating group of compounds, the cyclo-bis-intercalator bisacridine A (BisA) (Figure 2) also displayed DNA unwinding properties. This macrocyclic compound is composed of two acridine cores (the DNA-intercalating motifs) linked by polyammonium bridges [79]. By using a variety of complementary biochemical and biophysical techniques (such as fluorescence, melting temperature studies, and gel electrophoresis), Slama-Schwok et al. nicely demonstrated the ability of the polyaminomacrocycle BisA to shift the equilibrium from duplex DNA towards hairpin nucleic acid structures [80] and to destabilize double-stranded DNA [81] (two properties not observed with monoacridine derivatives). Another characteristic ofBisA is its potent ability to bind single-stranded DNA. Additionally, when irradiated with light, BisA efficiently induces photocleavage through its acridine photoactive core. This activity is greater with single-stranded nucleic acids than with double-stranded nucleic acids [82]. Interestingly, NMR and molecular modelling studies ofBisA compounds bound to an abasic site-containing DNA show that one acridine ring intercalates between the C·A and T·G base pairs, the second ring lies in the free space of an A·T base pairing and the linker chains are positioned in the major and minor grooves on each side [83]. On the base-pair level, T·G mismatches and AP·T recognition result in base flipping of the thymine—suggesting that BisA sterically prevents DNA glycosylases from binding to their specific, base-damaged recognition sites [84].


### 4.2. DNA Alkylating Agents

Intercalating agents are reversible DNA ligands. However, some covalent DNA-binding anticancer drugs can also locally destabilize the DNA helix; these include the well-known alkylating agentcisplatin and its derivatives and the recent drug candidate S23906-1(abenzo-acronycine derivative). This contrasts with the DNA stabilization properties of most DNA-alkylating agents (whether used in chemotherapy or not), such as mitomycin C, some psoralen and dinuclear platinum derivatives, ecteinascidine 743 and nitrogen mustards [85–91].


#### 4.2.1. Platinated DNA Destabilizing Agents

Cisplatin (cis-diaminedichloridoplatinum(II); Figure 3) was one of the first chemotherapeutic agents to be developed and is still frequently used in the clinic. It is able to form inter- and intrastrand crosslinks and monovalent adducts, primarily though covalent bonding to the N7 atom of guanine residues. The most common lesion is the intra-strand crosslink (occurring preferentially (65%) at the GpG dinucleotide), followed by ApG intrastrand crosslinks (25%). Interstrand crosslinks occur less frequently and depending on the nature of the platinated agent, with 5 to 8% for cisplatin, 12% for transplatin (Figure 3) and up to 30% for trans-PtCl2(NH3)(quinoline) (Figure 3) and trans-PtCl2(NH3)(thiazole) derivatives. In comparison, nitrogen mustards induce 1 to 5% of inter-strand crosslinks, whereas nitrosourea and mitomycin C induce 2 to 8% and 5 to 13%, respectively, [93–95]. Cisplatin-induced intra-strand crosslinks at GpG base pairs result in (i) bending of the DNA axis toward the major groove with an angle of 55–78°, and (ii) DNA distortion, enabling local denaturation of the double helix via destabilization of the Watson-Crick base pairing [96–102]. In comparison, the bending angle for inter-strand crosslinks is 45° and is associated with DNA unwinding of 79 ± 4°. The distortion in platinated-GpG intra-strand crosslinks is different and depends on the sequence context, with up to 7 bp for 1,3-intrastrand crosslinks in a TGTGT context [101]. This destabilization was found to be enthalpic (rather than entropic) in origin [101, 103]. Similarly, cisplatin adducts occurring at the 5′-TGGT sequence induce a decrease of more than 10°C in the melting temperature—much higher than the decrease of 6°C or so measured for 5′-CGGT and 5′-AGGC sequences [104, 105]. DNA stabilization/destabilization also depends on the pH of the milieu [106]. In contrast to cisplatin, the interstrand crosslinks formed by transplatin do not destabilize the DNA helix or correlate with changes in the transition entropy or enthalpy [101, 107].Platinium derivatives. (a) Examples of platinated agents inducing local destabilization of the DNA helix. (b) The three-dimensional organization ofcisplatin bound to DNA are drawn from crystallographic data [mmdbId:47796] [92] and evidenced strong DNA bending induced by cisplatin on a duplex DNA decamer oligonucleotide that fits with the L-shape angle of HMG-box DNA-binding domain.
(a)(b)Interestingly, the third-generation platinum antitumor derivativeoxaliplatin [(1R,2R-diamminocyclohexane)-oxalatoplatinum-(II)] (Figure 3) was found to induce greater DNA unwinding, bending and helix destabilization than cisplatin. This correlates with the lower degree of cellular DNA damage seen after oxaliplatin treatment than after cisplatin treatment and the lower HMG protein affinity for oxaliplatin-versus cisplatin-induced damage [101]; these findings suggest that the two molecules induce different DNA repair processes/efficiencies, depending on the extent of local helix destabilization.It is noteworthy that some other bifunctional platinated derivatives do not destabilize the DNA duplex. This is the case for pyrazolato-bridged dinuclear platinum(II) complex [(cis-{Pt(NH3)2})2(mu-OH)(mu-pyrazolate)]2+, which crosslinks two adjacent guanines and unwinds the DNA by around 15° but does not change the directionality of the helix axis. This absence of bending may explain the lack of DNA destabilization [108].The DNA sequence is also important; monofunctional platinum adducts exhibit different DNA destabilizing effects depending on the base sequences surrounding the guanine target site [97, 109]. Indeed, when oligonucleotide containing platinum adducts were incubated in the presence of 50 or 500 mM NaCl, the highest DNA destabilization was observed when the guanine target was located within the TGC triplet sequence (with a ∆Tm value of -10.6°C and -13.2°C, resp.). For all triplets, the decrease in Tm was greater in 500 mM NaCl buffer than in 50 mM Na+ counterion containing buffer. In general, the highest DNA destabilization effect was seen when the monoadduct was positioned between pyrimidine residues. Osmium tetroxide (OsO4) and DEPC probing revealed that both thymine and the opposite adenine are crucial for the local distortion of the DNA structure by the platinum mono-adduct positioned within a 5′-TGC triplet but not within a 5′-AGT or 5′-TGA triplet. In contrast, none of these chemical probes reacted with the bifunctional adduct at the 5′-TGGT sequence [110].Hägerlöf et al. found that thecisplatin derivatives cis-[PtCl(NH3)2(OH2)]+, cis-[PtCl(NH3)(c-C6H11NH2)(OH2)]+, and trans-[PtCl(NH3)(quinoline)(OH2)]+destabilized both double-stranded DNA and double-stranded RNA (Figure 3). Indeed, after platination with these compounds, the melting temperatures for both the RNA and DNA hairpins fell. With hairpin RNA, platination induced much weaker destabilization, with a ∆Tm of -5°C. In the case of DNA, the platinum-induced destabilization was more pronounced, with ∆Tm values of around -11°C [111].


#### 4.2.2. Ruthenium-Containing Alkylators

Transition-metal antitumor agents other than platinum compounds also present DNA unwinding activity. This is the case for ruthenium derivatives such as [(η6-p-cymene)Ru(II)(en)-(Cl)]+ (Ru-CYM, Figure 4). This organometallic ruthenium(II) arene complex was rationally designed on the basis that changing the metal ion from platinum to ruthenium should provide additional coordination sites in the octahedral complexes, modify the oxidation rate, and change the ligand affinity and binding kinetics for use in chemotherapy [7, 112–114]. In particular, Brabec and co-workers performed Tm studies while varying the drug/DNA ratio in buffer containing NaClO4 concentrations ranging from 0.01 M to 0.2 M [115, 116]. ΔTm measurements at a drug/DNA ratio of 0.1 showed a decrease of up to 4°C in the CT-DNA melting temperature at all Na+ concentrations.Figure 4
Ruthenium derivatives.Ru-CYM, Ru-BIP, Ru-DHA, and Ru-THA are examples of ruthenium-containing agents inducing local destabilization of the DNA helix.This DNA helix destabilization was also observed using biphenyl (Ru-BIP), dihydroanthracene (Ru-DHA), and tetrahydroanthracene (Ru-THA) (Figure 4) as arenes but only at the highest concentration of NaClO4 [115]; at lower Na+-counterion concentrations, Ru-BIP, Ru-DHAand Ru-THA induced DNA helix stabilization, due to a positive charge effect on the ruthenium moiety and the intercalation process. When compared with the other ruthenium arene complexes, the DNA helix destabilization activity of Ru-CYM correlates with a smaller unwinding angle of 7° (versus 14° of unwinding in supercoiled plasmid DNA by Ru-BIP, Ru-DHA and Ru-THA). The Ru-CYM-induced DNA-unwinding appears to be consistent with the absence of intercalation of Ru-CYM between two adjacent base pairs and the formation of monoadducts on the N7 atom of guanine residues [116]. Ru-THA and Ru-CYM have been used as models for the repair of DNA-ruthenium complexes the compounds destabilize the DNA helix via different enthalpic effects and differ in terms of their DNA base-pair intercalation propensity. DNA destabilization was also recently evidenced for new ruthenium derivatives, such asmonodentate-Ru(II) [117].


#### 4.2.3. Psoralen Derivatives

In terms of DNA stabilization/destabilization properties, the psoralen derivative4′-(hydroxymethyl)-4,5′,8-trimethylpsoralen (HMT) (Figure 5) exerts two effects: (i) monoaddition of a psoralen residue stabilizes the double helix formed by two non-self-complementary oligonucleotides by as much as 1.3 kcal/mol (for a furan-side mono-adduct) or 0.7 kcal/mol (for a pyrone-side mono-adduct) at 25°C in 50 mM NaCl; (ii) mono-addition of a psoralen residue to each of the two thymidines in the double helix in the sequence GGGTACCC destabilizes the helix by 1.8 kcal/mol at 25°C in 1M NaCl—the two HMT molecules at the centre of each strand cause an unfavourable enthalpy change and a favourable entropy change [85].Other DNA alkylating agents inducing local destabilization of the DNA helix. (a) Structures of some DNA alkylating molecules that destabilize the DNA helix. (b) Three-dimensional organization of the psoralen derivativeHMT (a) and (+)-anti-BPDE (b) bound to DNA (crystallographic data [mmdbId:52343] [118] and [mmdbId:52106], respectively, [119]).
(a)(b)


#### 4.2.4. Benzopyrene Carcinogens

In the cell, the environmental and tobacco smoke carcinogenbenzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is metabolized into (+/-)-anti-benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide(BPDE) (Figure 5). The (+)-7R,8S,9S,10Renantiomer (+)-anti-BPDEis thought to be the metabolite that is ultimately responsible for mutations, DNA damage, and cancer. By covalently linking to the exocyclic NH2 group of guanine, BPDE forms a bulky DNA adduct in the minor groove of the helix and destabilizes base pairing [120, 121].Several enantiomers are produced by the alkylation reaction which follows the opening of the epoxide group. The(+)-anti-BPDE adducts consist mostly of the carcinogenic 10S(+)-trans-anti-BPDE (derived from the (+)-7R,8S,9S,10Rcompound) and, to a lesser extent, stereoisomeric 10R(+)-cis-B[a]P-N2-dG adducts. The (-)-BPDE enantiomer forms (-)-trans-B[a]P-N2-dG adducts but with lower efficiency. The DNA bonding of the stereoisomeric damage suggests base displaced intercalation or minor groove conformations. Covalent adduct formation prevents the amino group of guanine from hydrogen bonding with the opposite cytosine (which otherwise stabilizes GC base pairs in the native DNA helix). This results in base flipping, with the (+)-anti-B[a]P-N2-dG bulky adduct on the guanine situated in the minor groove and the opposite cytosine aligned with the major groove [122, 123].Depending on the target sequence, the bulky10S(+)-trans-anti-B[a]P-N2-dG rings point in the 5′ direction relative to the alkylated guanine position in each case, although the exact positions are different. Indeed, using 5′-CGG*C DNA, the 10S(+)-trans-anti-B[a]P-N2-dG lesion untwists the DNA significantly and causes a large bend in the DNA helix. In contrast, with a 5′-CG*GC sequence, no untwisting is seen but the DNA helix is destabilized 5′ to the lesion [124]. These structural differences result in differing electrophoretic mobility in polyacrylamide gels and different protein/DNA recognition and DNA repair efficiencies [125].Although theBaPs are environmental mutagens and not antitumor agents, their very particular mode of DNA binding with dual interference on DNA repair processes could highlight useful phenomena involved in the mechanism of action of cancer drugs (such as effects on DNA repair, as described in Section 5).


#### 4.2.5. 4-Hydroxyequilenin (4-OHEN)

As is the case forBaP, 4-OHEN alkylating agents are genotoxic but are not anticancer drugs. 4-OHEN compounds are derived from equine oestrogens (equilin, 3-hydroxy-1,3,5(10),7-estratetren-17-one, and equilenin, 3-hydroxy-1,3,5(10),6,8-estrapenten-17-one) which are present at various concentrations in the hormone substitution therapies used to reduce the side effects of the menopause but which are also thought to contribute to a greater risk of breast cancer in the treated population [126–128]. In the body, both equilin and equilenin are rapidly converted into the intermediate catechol4-hydroxyequilenin, which is further oxidized into the reactive 4-hydroxyequilenin-o-quinone (Figure 5) [129]. This ortho-quinone form of 4-OHEN is a potent cytotoxic and genotoxic agent [130] and forms a bulky lesion on dA, dC, and dG but not T residues [131–134]. This damage can be detected not only in cell culture but also in breast cancer biopsies from patients having undergone hormone substitution therapy [135]. Each of the base adducts are present as four stereoisomers, each of which induces different levels of structural distortion in duplex DNA [136–138].4-OHEN-C adducts present an unusual cyclic core with the bulky rings pointing along the major or the minor groove depending on whether the glycosidic bond adopts a syn- or anticonformation, respectively, [139]. Alkylation of an 11-bp oligonucleotide at specific dA or dC residues results in a strong decrease in the melting temperature of the double-stranded DNA, compared with the unmodified oligonucleotide. The magnitude of the decrease depends on the position of the adduct within the oligonucleotide: a 6–9°C decrease in Tm is obtained when the adduct is located 1 or 2-bp from the end of the 11-bp DNA, whereas a large (21–27°C) decrease is induced when the adduct is present more centrally (positions 4 to 8).The extent of the destabilization also depends on the adduct's stereoisomeric orientation, as defined using circular dichroism measurements [134], thermodynamic analyses and molecular modelling. Indeed, distortions, base-stacking characteristics, and groove sizes were found to vary according to the nature and the stereoisomerism of the bulky DNA lesion [139].


#### 4.2.6. Benzoacronycine Derivatives

The compoundS23906-1 [(+)-cis-1,2-diacetoxy-6-methoxy-3,3,14-trimethyl-1,2,3-14-tetrahydro-7H- benzo[b]pyrano[3,2-h]acridin-7-one] (Figure 5) is a potent DNA-alkylating agent with strong cytotoxic and antitumour properties. On the basis of very promising preclinical trials, it entered clinical trials in 2006 (Servier, France). S23906-1 alkylates DNA on guanine's exocyclic amino group (located in the minor groove of the DNA helix) and thus contrasts with commonly used chemotherapeutic alkylating agents which react at guanine's N7 position in the major groove (cisplatin, nitrosourea, nitrogen mustards,etc.). This nucleophilic point is also targeted by other clinically used antitumour agents, such as ecteinascidine-743 (ET-743/trabectedin/Yondelis) developed by the company PharmaMar (Spain) [140], mitomycin-C (a dual alkylating agent which bonds to either the N2 group of guanine in the minor groove or the N7 group of guanine in the major groove) [141] and anthramycin [142].In contrast toET-743, mitomycin-C and the anthramycins, the alkylation of double-stranded DNA by S23906-1 results in local destabilization of the DNA helix and thus the formation of a single-stranded DNA portion that can be attacked by single-strand-specific nucleases (such as nuclease S1) [91]. This destabilization was seen with various multiple derivatives ofS23906-1 (e.g., esters of the benzo[b]acronycine core, Figure 5). The dicarbamate derivativeS29385-1 had a very strong effect. The DNA destabilization potency of this series was confirmed in a variety of physical and biochemical approaches. For example, quantification of the ratio between the fluorescence of Picogreen (a dye which interacts with both double- and single-stranded DNA) and ethidium bromide (BET) (a double-stranded-specific dye) revealed additional Picogreen binding and suggested that S29385-1 generates single-strand DNA (Figure 6(a)). Accordingly, DNA melting temperature studies evidenced a negative ΔTm value, reflecting DNA destabilization (Figure 6(b)).DNA destabilization propensities of the benzo-acronycine dicarbamate derivativeS29385-1. (a) CT-DNA was incubated with increasing concentrations of S29385-1 prior to the incubation with a mixture of ethidium bromide (BET) and Picogreen (PG from Molecular Probes, Invitrogen) to quantify only double-strand DNA or both double-strand and single-stranded DNA, respectively. Results are expressed as the percentage of the peak of emission for BET versus PG. (b) Variation of the melting temperature studies of a short 24-bp double-strand oligonucleotide incubated for 24 hours alone or with increasing concentrations of S29385-1 prior to ethanol precipitation of the sample and melting temperature measurement. The results are expressed as the melting temperature for the [DNA+drug] complex minus melting temperature for DNA alone. (Details for the corresponding experimental protocols are described in [91].)
(a)(b)S23906-1's ability to destabilize DNA was also clearly demonstrated in biochemical approaches, such as electrophoretic mobility shift assays (generating single-stranded DNA form following alkylation of a fully double-stranded DNA fragment) and the use of nuclease-S1 single-strand-specific digestion to map the relative positions of locally DNA openings induced by alkylation (Figure 7 and [91]).Figure 7
Nuclease S1 mapping of locally opened DNA structure. Increasing concentrations of thebenzo-b-acronycine derivatives presented in Figure 5 were incubated with a radio-labelled 117-bp DNA fragment prior to subjection to nuclease S1 mapping of the induced locally single-stranded DNA portions generated upon DNA alkylation. DNA samples were separated on a 10% native polyacrylamide gel. Concentrations are expressed in μM. The detailed experimental protocol is described in [91].


## 4.1. DNA Intercalators

DNA-intercalating agents which impair the stability of the helix can be either mono- or bis-intercalators.


### 4.1.1. Monointercalating Compounds

Acridine orange (AO) (Figure 2) is well known for its ability to intercalate between double-stranded DNA but can also bind single-stranded DNA with high affinity. When bound to DNA, AO fluoresces at different wavelengths, depending on the nature of the nucleic acid; green fluorescence occurs after binding to double-strand DNA, whereas red luminescence results from interaction with single-strand DNA. Thermal denaturation studies suggest that the overall stability of the DNA double helix is increased by AO binding [68]. However, local distortion and denaturation of double-stranded DNA are also generated, as evidenced by formaldehyde and diethylpyrocarbonate (DEPC) probing [69]. DNA denaturation after AO binding was also confirmed by spectral and thermodynamic data [70] and in situ experiments [71, 72].Mono- and bis-intercalating compounds inducing local destabilization of the DNA helix. (a) Structure of the compounds. (b) Three-dimensional organisation ofmorpholino doxorubicin bound to d(CGTACG) (left panel) and of ellipticine (right panel) intercalated between adjacent base pairs (from crystallographic data [mmdbId:52942] and [mmdbId:52189], respectively, [73, 74]).
(a)(b)Ellipticine and adriamycin (Figure 2) also induce local unzipping of the DNA helix; the DNA melting temperature (Tm) falls by 5.1 and 4.8°C, respectively, [69, 70, 75]. As with AO, these two compounds bind efficiently to single-stranded DNA [76, 77]. This contrasts with ethidium bromide's binding to nucleic acids, which is highly specific for double-stranded DNA and does not destabilize the double helix [78]. Ellipticine, adriamycin,and AO all intercalate between two adjacent base pairs and then subsequently change their orientation to interact with the single-stranded nucleic acid sections formed locally during DNA breathing. The single-stranded portions within the DNA helix lengthen because of cooperative binding by the intercalator, which thus leads to a higher level of DNA denaturation. This progressive unzipping of the DNA helix has also been observed in situ using cytometry, with a direct relationship between the decrease in green fluorescence and increased concentrations of AO in treated cells or nuclei [72]. Furthermore, post denaturation aggregate formation was observed using electron microscopy, with DNA condensation occurring primarily in heterochromatin, ribosomal, and polysomal structures [71, 72].


### 4.1.2. Bis-Intercalating Agents

Within thebis-intercalating group of compounds, the cyclo-bis-intercalator bisacridine A (BisA) (Figure 2) also displayed DNA unwinding properties. This macrocyclic compound is composed of two acridine cores (the DNA-intercalating motifs) linked by polyammonium bridges [79]. By using a variety of complementary biochemical and biophysical techniques (such as fluorescence, melting temperature studies, and gel electrophoresis), Slama-Schwok et al. nicely demonstrated the ability of the polyaminomacrocycle BisA to shift the equilibrium from duplex DNA towards hairpin nucleic acid structures [80] and to destabilize double-stranded DNA [81] (two properties not observed with monoacridine derivatives). Another characteristic ofBisA is its potent ability to bind single-stranded DNA. Additionally, when irradiated with light, BisA efficiently induces photocleavage through its acridine photoactive core. This activity is greater with single-stranded nucleic acids than with double-stranded nucleic acids [82]. Interestingly, NMR and molecular modelling studies ofBisA compounds bound to an abasic site-containing DNA show that one acridine ring intercalates between the C·A and T·G base pairs, the second ring lies in the free space of an A·T base pairing and the linker chains are positioned in the major and minor grooves on each side [83]. On the base-pair level, T·G mismatches and AP·T recognition result in base flipping of the thymine—suggesting that BisA sterically prevents DNA glycosylases from binding to their specific, base-damaged recognition sites [84].


## 4.1.1. Monointercalating Compounds

Acridine orange (AO) (Figure 2) is well known for its ability to intercalate between double-stranded DNA but can also bind single-stranded DNA with high affinity. When bound to DNA, AO fluoresces at different wavelengths, depending on the nature of the nucleic acid; green fluorescence occurs after binding to double-strand DNA, whereas red luminescence results from interaction with single-strand DNA. Thermal denaturation studies suggest that the overall stability of the DNA double helix is increased by AO binding [68]. However, local distortion and denaturation of double-stranded DNA are also generated, as evidenced by formaldehyde and diethylpyrocarbonate (DEPC) probing [69]. DNA denaturation after AO binding was also confirmed by spectral and thermodynamic data [70] and in situ experiments [71, 72].Mono- and bis-intercalating compounds inducing local destabilization of the DNA helix. (a) Structure of the compounds. (b) Three-dimensional organisation ofmorpholino doxorubicin bound to d(CGTACG) (left panel) and of ellipticine (right panel) intercalated between adjacent base pairs (from crystallographic data [mmdbId:52942] and [mmdbId:52189], respectively, [73, 74]).
(a)(b)Ellipticine and adriamycin (Figure 2) also induce local unzipping of the DNA helix; the DNA melting temperature (Tm) falls by 5.1 and 4.8°C, respectively, [69, 70, 75]. As with AO, these two compounds bind efficiently to single-stranded DNA [76, 77]. This contrasts with ethidium bromide's binding to nucleic acids, which is highly specific for double-stranded DNA and does not destabilize the double helix [78]. Ellipticine, adriamycin,and AO all intercalate between two adjacent base pairs and then subsequently change their orientation to interact with the single-stranded nucleic acid sections formed locally during DNA breathing. The single-stranded portions within the DNA helix lengthen because of cooperative binding by the intercalator, which thus leads to a higher level of DNA denaturation. This progressive unzipping of the DNA helix has also been observed in situ using cytometry, with a direct relationship between the decrease in green fluorescence and increased concentrations of AO in treated cells or nuclei [72]. Furthermore, post denaturation aggregate formation was observed using electron microscopy, with DNA condensation occurring primarily in heterochromatin, ribosomal, and polysomal structures [71, 72].


## 4.1.2. Bis-Intercalating Agents

Within thebis-intercalating group of compounds, the cyclo-bis-intercalator bisacridine A (BisA) (Figure 2) also displayed DNA unwinding properties. This macrocyclic compound is composed of two acridine cores (the DNA-intercalating motifs) linked by polyammonium bridges [79]. By using a variety of complementary biochemical and biophysical techniques (such as fluorescence, melting temperature studies, and gel electrophoresis), Slama-Schwok et al. nicely demonstrated the ability of the polyaminomacrocycle BisA to shift the equilibrium from duplex DNA towards hairpin nucleic acid structures [80] and to destabilize double-stranded DNA [81] (two properties not observed with monoacridine derivatives). Another characteristic ofBisA is its potent ability to bind single-stranded DNA. Additionally, when irradiated with light, BisA efficiently induces photocleavage through its acridine photoactive core. This activity is greater with single-stranded nucleic acids than with double-stranded nucleic acids [82]. Interestingly, NMR and molecular modelling studies ofBisA compounds bound to an abasic site-containing DNA show that one acridine ring intercalates between the C·A and T·G base pairs, the second ring lies in the free space of an A·T base pairing and the linker chains are positioned in the major and minor grooves on each side [83]. On the base-pair level, T·G mismatches and AP·T recognition result in base flipping of the thymine—suggesting that BisA sterically prevents DNA glycosylases from binding to their specific, base-damaged recognition sites [84].


## 4.2. DNA Alkylating Agents

Intercalating agents are reversible DNA ligands. However, some covalent DNA-binding anticancer drugs can also locally destabilize the DNA helix; these include the well-known alkylating agentcisplatin and its derivatives and the recent drug candidate S23906-1(abenzo-acronycine derivative). This contrasts with the DNA stabilization properties of most DNA-alkylating agents (whether used in chemotherapy or not), such as mitomycin C, some psoralen and dinuclear platinum derivatives, ecteinascidine 743 and nitrogen mustards [85–91].


### 4.2.1. Platinated DNA Destabilizing Agents

Cisplatin (cis-diaminedichloridoplatinum(II); Figure 3) was one of the first chemotherapeutic agents to be developed and is still frequently used in the clinic. It is able to form inter- and intrastrand crosslinks and monovalent adducts, primarily though covalent bonding to the N7 atom of guanine residues. The most common lesion is the intra-strand crosslink (occurring preferentially (65%) at the GpG dinucleotide), followed by ApG intrastrand crosslinks (25%). Interstrand crosslinks occur less frequently and depending on the nature of the platinated agent, with 5 to 8% for cisplatin, 12% for transplatin (Figure 3) and up to 30% for trans-PtCl2(NH3)(quinoline) (Figure 3) and trans-PtCl2(NH3)(thiazole) derivatives. In comparison, nitrogen mustards induce 1 to 5% of inter-strand crosslinks, whereas nitrosourea and mitomycin C induce 2 to 8% and 5 to 13%, respectively, [93–95]. Cisplatin-induced intra-strand crosslinks at GpG base pairs result in (i) bending of the DNA axis toward the major groove with an angle of 55–78°, and (ii) DNA distortion, enabling local denaturation of the double helix via destabilization of the Watson-Crick base pairing [96–102]. In comparison, the bending angle for inter-strand crosslinks is 45° and is associated with DNA unwinding of 79 ± 4°. The distortion in platinated-GpG intra-strand crosslinks is different and depends on the sequence context, with up to 7 bp for 1,3-intrastrand crosslinks in a TGTGT context [101]. This destabilization was found to be enthalpic (rather than entropic) in origin [101, 103]. Similarly, cisplatin adducts occurring at the 5′-TGGT sequence induce a decrease of more than 10°C in the melting temperature—much higher than the decrease of 6°C or so measured for 5′-CGGT and 5′-AGGC sequences [104, 105]. DNA stabilization/destabilization also depends on the pH of the milieu [106]. In contrast to cisplatin, the interstrand crosslinks formed by transplatin do not destabilize the DNA helix or correlate with changes in the transition entropy or enthalpy [101, 107].Platinium derivatives. (a) Examples of platinated agents inducing local destabilization of the DNA helix. (b) The three-dimensional organization ofcisplatin bound to DNA are drawn from crystallographic data [mmdbId:47796] [92] and evidenced strong DNA bending induced by cisplatin on a duplex DNA decamer oligonucleotide that fits with the L-shape angle of HMG-box DNA-binding domain.
(a)(b)Interestingly, the third-generation platinum antitumor derivativeoxaliplatin [(1R,2R-diamminocyclohexane)-oxalatoplatinum-(II)] (Figure 3) was found to induce greater DNA unwinding, bending and helix destabilization than cisplatin. This correlates with the lower degree of cellular DNA damage seen after oxaliplatin treatment than after cisplatin treatment and the lower HMG protein affinity for oxaliplatin-versus cisplatin-induced damage [101]; these findings suggest that the two molecules induce different DNA repair processes/efficiencies, depending on the extent of local helix destabilization.It is noteworthy that some other bifunctional platinated derivatives do not destabilize the DNA duplex. This is the case for pyrazolato-bridged dinuclear platinum(II) complex [(cis-{Pt(NH3)2})2(mu-OH)(mu-pyrazolate)]2+, which crosslinks two adjacent guanines and unwinds the DNA by around 15° but does not change the directionality of the helix axis. This absence of bending may explain the lack of DNA destabilization [108].The DNA sequence is also important; monofunctional platinum adducts exhibit different DNA destabilizing effects depending on the base sequences surrounding the guanine target site [97, 109]. Indeed, when oligonucleotide containing platinum adducts were incubated in the presence of 50 or 500 mM NaCl, the highest DNA destabilization was observed when the guanine target was located within the TGC triplet sequence (with a ∆Tm value of -10.6°C and -13.2°C, resp.). For all triplets, the decrease in Tm was greater in 500 mM NaCl buffer than in 50 mM Na+ counterion containing buffer. In general, the highest DNA destabilization effect was seen when the monoadduct was positioned between pyrimidine residues. Osmium tetroxide (OsO4) and DEPC probing revealed that both thymine and the opposite adenine are crucial for the local distortion of the DNA structure by the platinum mono-adduct positioned within a 5′-TGC triplet but not within a 5′-AGT or 5′-TGA triplet. In contrast, none of these chemical probes reacted with the bifunctional adduct at the 5′-TGGT sequence [110].Hägerlöf et al. found that thecisplatin derivatives cis-[PtCl(NH3)2(OH2)]+, cis-[PtCl(NH3)(c-C6H11NH2)(OH2)]+, and trans-[PtCl(NH3)(quinoline)(OH2)]+destabilized both double-stranded DNA and double-stranded RNA (Figure 3). Indeed, after platination with these compounds, the melting temperatures for both the RNA and DNA hairpins fell. With hairpin RNA, platination induced much weaker destabilization, with a ∆Tm of -5°C. In the case of DNA, the platinum-induced destabilization was more pronounced, with ∆Tm values of around -11°C [111].


### 4.2.2. Ruthenium-Containing Alkylators

Transition-metal antitumor agents other than platinum compounds also present DNA unwinding activity. This is the case for ruthenium derivatives such as [(η6-p-cymene)Ru(II)(en)-(Cl)]+ (Ru-CYM, Figure 4). This organometallic ruthenium(II) arene complex was rationally designed on the basis that changing the metal ion from platinum to ruthenium should provide additional coordination sites in the octahedral complexes, modify the oxidation rate, and change the ligand affinity and binding kinetics for use in chemotherapy [7, 112–114]. In particular, Brabec and co-workers performed Tm studies while varying the drug/DNA ratio in buffer containing NaClO4 concentrations ranging from 0.01 M to 0.2 M [115, 116]. ΔTm measurements at a drug/DNA ratio of 0.1 showed a decrease of up to 4°C in the CT-DNA melting temperature at all Na+ concentrations.Figure 4
Ruthenium derivatives.Ru-CYM, Ru-BIP, Ru-DHA, and Ru-THA are examples of ruthenium-containing agents inducing local destabilization of the DNA helix.This DNA helix destabilization was also observed using biphenyl (Ru-BIP), dihydroanthracene (Ru-DHA), and tetrahydroanthracene (Ru-THA) (Figure 4) as arenes but only at the highest concentration of NaClO4 [115]; at lower Na+-counterion concentrations, Ru-BIP, Ru-DHAand Ru-THA induced DNA helix stabilization, due to a positive charge effect on the ruthenium moiety and the intercalation process. When compared with the other ruthenium arene complexes, the DNA helix destabilization activity of Ru-CYM correlates with a smaller unwinding angle of 7° (versus 14° of unwinding in supercoiled plasmid DNA by Ru-BIP, Ru-DHA and Ru-THA). The Ru-CYM-induced DNA-unwinding appears to be consistent with the absence of intercalation of Ru-CYM between two adjacent base pairs and the formation of monoadducts on the N7 atom of guanine residues [116]. Ru-THA and Ru-CYM have been used as models for the repair of DNA-ruthenium complexes the compounds destabilize the DNA helix via different enthalpic effects and differ in terms of their DNA base-pair intercalation propensity. DNA destabilization was also recently evidenced for new ruthenium derivatives, such asmonodentate-Ru(II) [117].


### 4.2.3. Psoralen Derivatives

In terms of DNA stabilization/destabilization properties, the psoralen derivative4′-(hydroxymethyl)-4,5′,8-trimethylpsoralen (HMT) (Figure 5) exerts two effects: (i) monoaddition of a psoralen residue stabilizes the double helix formed by two non-self-complementary oligonucleotides by as much as 1.3 kcal/mol (for a furan-side mono-adduct) or 0.7 kcal/mol (for a pyrone-side mono-adduct) at 25°C in 50 mM NaCl; (ii) mono-addition of a psoralen residue to each of the two thymidines in the double helix in the sequence GGGTACCC destabilizes the helix by 1.8 kcal/mol at 25°C in 1M NaCl—the two HMT molecules at the centre of each strand cause an unfavourable enthalpy change and a favourable entropy change [85].Other DNA alkylating agents inducing local destabilization of the DNA helix. (a) Structures of some DNA alkylating molecules that destabilize the DNA helix. (b) Three-dimensional organization of the psoralen derivativeHMT (a) and (+)-anti-BPDE (b) bound to DNA (crystallographic data [mmdbId:52343] [118] and [mmdbId:52106], respectively, [119]).
(a)(b)


### 4.2.4. Benzopyrene Carcinogens

In the cell, the environmental and tobacco smoke carcinogenbenzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is metabolized into (+/-)-anti-benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide(BPDE) (Figure 5). The (+)-7R,8S,9S,10Renantiomer (+)-anti-BPDEis thought to be the metabolite that is ultimately responsible for mutations, DNA damage, and cancer. By covalently linking to the exocyclic NH2 group of guanine, BPDE forms a bulky DNA adduct in the minor groove of the helix and destabilizes base pairing [120, 121].Several enantiomers are produced by the alkylation reaction which follows the opening of the epoxide group. The(+)-anti-BPDE adducts consist mostly of the carcinogenic 10S(+)-trans-anti-BPDE (derived from the (+)-7R,8S,9S,10Rcompound) and, to a lesser extent, stereoisomeric 10R(+)-cis-B[a]P-N2-dG adducts. The (-)-BPDE enantiomer forms (-)-trans-B[a]P-N2-dG adducts but with lower efficiency. The DNA bonding of the stereoisomeric damage suggests base displaced intercalation or minor groove conformations. Covalent adduct formation prevents the amino group of guanine from hydrogen bonding with the opposite cytosine (which otherwise stabilizes GC base pairs in the native DNA helix). This results in base flipping, with the (+)-anti-B[a]P-N2-dG bulky adduct on the guanine situated in the minor groove and the opposite cytosine aligned with the major groove [122, 123].Depending on the target sequence, the bulky10S(+)-trans-anti-B[a]P-N2-dG rings point in the 5′ direction relative to the alkylated guanine position in each case, although the exact positions are different. Indeed, using 5′-CGG*C DNA, the 10S(+)-trans-anti-B[a]P-N2-dG lesion untwists the DNA significantly and causes a large bend in the DNA helix. In contrast, with a 5′-CG*GC sequence, no untwisting is seen but the DNA helix is destabilized 5′ to the lesion [124]. These structural differences result in differing electrophoretic mobility in polyacrylamide gels and different protein/DNA recognition and DNA repair efficiencies [125].Although theBaPs are environmental mutagens and not antitumor agents, their very particular mode of DNA binding with dual interference on DNA repair processes could highlight useful phenomena involved in the mechanism of action of cancer drugs (such as effects on DNA repair, as described in Section 5).


### 4.2.5. 4-Hydroxyequilenin (4-OHEN)

As is the case forBaP, 4-OHEN alkylating agents are genotoxic but are not anticancer drugs. 4-OHEN compounds are derived from equine oestrogens (equilin, 3-hydroxy-1,3,5(10),7-estratetren-17-one, and equilenin, 3-hydroxy-1,3,5(10),6,8-estrapenten-17-one) which are present at various concentrations in the hormone substitution therapies used to reduce the side effects of the menopause but which are also thought to contribute to a greater risk of breast cancer in the treated population [126–128]. In the body, both equilin and equilenin are rapidly converted into the intermediate catechol4-hydroxyequilenin, which is further oxidized into the reactive 4-hydroxyequilenin-o-quinone (Figure 5) [129]. This ortho-quinone form of 4-OHEN is a potent cytotoxic and genotoxic agent [130] and forms a bulky lesion on dA, dC, and dG but not T residues [131–134]. This damage can be detected not only in cell culture but also in breast cancer biopsies from patients having undergone hormone substitution therapy [135]. Each of the base adducts are present as four stereoisomers, each of which induces different levels of structural distortion in duplex DNA [136–138].4-OHEN-C adducts present an unusual cyclic core with the bulky rings pointing along the major or the minor groove depending on whether the glycosidic bond adopts a syn- or anticonformation, respectively, [139]. Alkylation of an 11-bp oligonucleotide at specific dA or dC residues results in a strong decrease in the melting temperature of the double-stranded DNA, compared with the unmodified oligonucleotide. The magnitude of the decrease depends on the position of the adduct within the oligonucleotide: a 6–9°C decrease in Tm is obtained when the adduct is located 1 or 2-bp from the end of the 11-bp DNA, whereas a large (21–27°C) decrease is induced when the adduct is present more centrally (positions 4 to 8).The extent of the destabilization also depends on the adduct's stereoisomeric orientation, as defined using circular dichroism measurements [134], thermodynamic analyses and molecular modelling. Indeed, distortions, base-stacking characteristics, and groove sizes were found to vary according to the nature and the stereoisomerism of the bulky DNA lesion [139].


### 4.2.6. Benzoacronycine Derivatives

The compoundS23906-1 [(+)-cis-1,2-diacetoxy-6-methoxy-3,3,14-trimethyl-1,2,3-14-tetrahydro-7H- benzo[b]pyrano[3,2-h]acridin-7-one] (Figure 5) is a potent DNA-alkylating agent with strong cytotoxic and antitumour properties. On the basis of very promising preclinical trials, it entered clinical trials in 2006 (Servier, France). S23906-1 alkylates DNA on guanine's exocyclic amino group (located in the minor groove of the DNA helix) and thus contrasts with commonly used chemotherapeutic alkylating agents which react at guanine's N7 position in the major groove (cisplatin, nitrosourea, nitrogen mustards,etc.). This nucleophilic point is also targeted by other clinically used antitumour agents, such as ecteinascidine-743 (ET-743/trabectedin/Yondelis) developed by the company PharmaMar (Spain) [140], mitomycin-C (a dual alkylating agent which bonds to either the N2 group of guanine in the minor groove or the N7 group of guanine in the major groove) [141] and anthramycin [142].In contrast toET-743, mitomycin-C and the anthramycins, the alkylation of double-stranded DNA by S23906-1 results in local destabilization of the DNA helix and thus the formation of a single-stranded DNA portion that can be attacked by single-strand-specific nucleases (such as nuclease S1) [91]. This destabilization was seen with various multiple derivatives ofS23906-1 (e.g., esters of the benzo[b]acronycine core, Figure 5). The dicarbamate derivativeS29385-1 had a very strong effect. The DNA destabilization potency of this series was confirmed in a variety of physical and biochemical approaches. For example, quantification of the ratio between the fluorescence of Picogreen (a dye which interacts with both double- and single-stranded DNA) and ethidium bromide (BET) (a double-stranded-specific dye) revealed additional Picogreen binding and suggested that S29385-1 generates single-strand DNA (Figure 6(a)). Accordingly, DNA melting temperature studies evidenced a negative ΔTm value, reflecting DNA destabilization (Figure 6(b)).DNA destabilization propensities of the benzo-acronycine dicarbamate derivativeS29385-1. (a) CT-DNA was incubated with increasing concentrations of S29385-1 prior to the incubation with a mixture of ethidium bromide (BET) and Picogreen (PG from Molecular Probes, Invitrogen) to quantify only double-strand DNA or both double-strand and single-stranded DNA, respectively. Results are expressed as the percentage of the peak of emission for BET versus PG. (b) Variation of the melting temperature studies of a short 24-bp double-strand oligonucleotide incubated for 24 hours alone or with increasing concentrations of S29385-1 prior to ethanol precipitation of the sample and melting temperature measurement. The results are expressed as the melting temperature for the [DNA+drug] complex minus melting temperature for DNA alone. (Details for the corresponding experimental protocols are described in [91].)
(a)(b)S23906-1's ability to destabilize DNA was also clearly demonstrated in biochemical approaches, such as electrophoretic mobility shift assays (generating single-stranded DNA form following alkylation of a fully double-stranded DNA fragment) and the use of nuclease-S1 single-strand-specific digestion to map the relative positions of locally DNA openings induced by alkylation (Figure 7 and [91]).Figure 7
Nuclease S1 mapping of locally opened DNA structure. Increasing concentrations of thebenzo-b-acronycine derivatives presented in Figure 5 were incubated with a radio-labelled 117-bp DNA fragment prior to subjection to nuclease S1 mapping of the induced locally single-stranded DNA portions generated upon DNA alkylation. DNA samples were separated on a 10% native polyacrylamide gel. Concentrations are expressed in μM. The detailed experimental protocol is described in [91].


## 4.2.1. Platinated DNA Destabilizing Agents

Cisplatin (cis-diaminedichloridoplatinum(II); Figure 3) was one of the first chemotherapeutic agents to be developed and is still frequently used in the clinic. It is able to form inter- and intrastrand crosslinks and monovalent adducts, primarily though covalent bonding to the N7 atom of guanine residues. The most common lesion is the intra-strand crosslink (occurring preferentially (65%) at the GpG dinucleotide), followed by ApG intrastrand crosslinks (25%). Interstrand crosslinks occur less frequently and depending on the nature of the platinated agent, with 5 to 8% for cisplatin, 12% for transplatin (Figure 3) and up to 30% for trans-PtCl2(NH3)(quinoline) (Figure 3) and trans-PtCl2(NH3)(thiazole) derivatives. In comparison, nitrogen mustards induce 1 to 5% of inter-strand crosslinks, whereas nitrosourea and mitomycin C induce 2 to 8% and 5 to 13%, respectively, [93–95]. Cisplatin-induced intra-strand crosslinks at GpG base pairs result in (i) bending of the DNA axis toward the major groove with an angle of 55–78°, and (ii) DNA distortion, enabling local denaturation of the double helix via destabilization of the Watson-Crick base pairing [96–102]. In comparison, the bending angle for inter-strand crosslinks is 45° and is associated with DNA unwinding of 79 ± 4°. The distortion in platinated-GpG intra-strand crosslinks is different and depends on the sequence context, with up to 7 bp for 1,3-intrastrand crosslinks in a TGTGT context [101]. This destabilization was found to be enthalpic (rather than entropic) in origin [101, 103]. Similarly, cisplatin adducts occurring at the 5′-TGGT sequence induce a decrease of more than 10°C in the melting temperature—much higher than the decrease of 6°C or so measured for 5′-CGGT and 5′-AGGC sequences [104, 105]. DNA stabilization/destabilization also depends on the pH of the milieu [106]. In contrast to cisplatin, the interstrand crosslinks formed by transplatin do not destabilize the DNA helix or correlate with changes in the transition entropy or enthalpy [101, 107].Platinium derivatives. (a) Examples of platinated agents inducing local destabilization of the DNA helix. (b) The three-dimensional organization ofcisplatin bound to DNA are drawn from crystallographic data [mmdbId:47796] [92] and evidenced strong DNA bending induced by cisplatin on a duplex DNA decamer oligonucleotide that fits with the L-shape angle of HMG-box DNA-binding domain.
(a)(b)Interestingly, the third-generation platinum antitumor derivativeoxaliplatin [(1R,2R-diamminocyclohexane)-oxalatoplatinum-(II)] (Figure 3) was found to induce greater DNA unwinding, bending and helix destabilization than cisplatin. This correlates with the lower degree of cellular DNA damage seen after oxaliplatin treatment than after cisplatin treatment and the lower HMG protein affinity for oxaliplatin-versus cisplatin-induced damage [101]; these findings suggest that the two molecules induce different DNA repair processes/efficiencies, depending on the extent of local helix destabilization.It is noteworthy that some other bifunctional platinated derivatives do not destabilize the DNA duplex. This is the case for pyrazolato-bridged dinuclear platinum(II) complex [(cis-{Pt(NH3)2})2(mu-OH)(mu-pyrazolate)]2+, which crosslinks two adjacent guanines and unwinds the DNA by around 15° but does not change the directionality of the helix axis. This absence of bending may explain the lack of DNA destabilization [108].The DNA sequence is also important; monofunctional platinum adducts exhibit different DNA destabilizing effects depending on the base sequences surrounding the guanine target site [97, 109]. Indeed, when oligonucleotide containing platinum adducts were incubated in the presence of 50 or 500 mM NaCl, the highest DNA destabilization was observed when the guanine target was located within the TGC triplet sequence (with a ∆Tm value of -10.6°C and -13.2°C, resp.). For all triplets, the decrease in Tm was greater in 500 mM NaCl buffer than in 50 mM Na+ counterion containing buffer. In general, the highest DNA destabilization effect was seen when the monoadduct was positioned between pyrimidine residues. Osmium tetroxide (OsO4) and DEPC probing revealed that both thymine and the opposite adenine are crucial for the local distortion of the DNA structure by the platinum mono-adduct positioned within a 5′-TGC triplet but not within a 5′-AGT or 5′-TGA triplet. In contrast, none of these chemical probes reacted with the bifunctional adduct at the 5′-TGGT sequence [110].Hägerlöf et al. found that thecisplatin derivatives cis-[PtCl(NH3)2(OH2)]+, cis-[PtCl(NH3)(c-C6H11NH2)(OH2)]+, and trans-[PtCl(NH3)(quinoline)(OH2)]+destabilized both double-stranded DNA and double-stranded RNA (Figure 3). Indeed, after platination with these compounds, the melting temperatures for both the RNA and DNA hairpins fell. With hairpin RNA, platination induced much weaker destabilization, with a ∆Tm of -5°C. In the case of DNA, the platinum-induced destabilization was more pronounced, with ∆Tm values of around -11°C [111].


## 4.2.2. Ruthenium-Containing Alkylators

Transition-metal antitumor agents other than platinum compounds also present DNA unwinding activity. This is the case for ruthenium derivatives such as [(η6-p-cymene)Ru(II)(en)-(Cl)]+ (Ru-CYM, Figure 4). This organometallic ruthenium(II) arene complex was rationally designed on the basis that changing the metal ion from platinum to ruthenium should provide additional coordination sites in the octahedral complexes, modify the oxidation rate, and change the ligand affinity and binding kinetics for use in chemotherapy [7, 112–114]. In particular, Brabec and co-workers performed Tm studies while varying the drug/DNA ratio in buffer containing NaClO4 concentrations ranging from 0.01 M to 0.2 M [115, 116]. ΔTm measurements at a drug/DNA ratio of 0.1 showed a decrease of up to 4°C in the CT-DNA melting temperature at all Na+ concentrations.Figure 4
Ruthenium derivatives.Ru-CYM, Ru-BIP, Ru-DHA, and Ru-THA are examples of ruthenium-containing agents inducing local destabilization of the DNA helix.This DNA helix destabilization was also observed using biphenyl (Ru-BIP), dihydroanthracene (Ru-DHA), and tetrahydroanthracene (Ru-THA) (Figure 4) as arenes but only at the highest concentration of NaClO4 [115]; at lower Na+-counterion concentrations, Ru-BIP, Ru-DHAand Ru-THA induced DNA helix stabilization, due to a positive charge effect on the ruthenium moiety and the intercalation process. When compared with the other ruthenium arene complexes, the DNA helix destabilization activity of Ru-CYM correlates with a smaller unwinding angle of 7° (versus 14° of unwinding in supercoiled plasmid DNA by Ru-BIP, Ru-DHA and Ru-THA). The Ru-CYM-induced DNA-unwinding appears to be consistent with the absence of intercalation of Ru-CYM between two adjacent base pairs and the formation of monoadducts on the N7 atom of guanine residues [116]. Ru-THA and Ru-CYM have been used as models for the repair of DNA-ruthenium complexes the compounds destabilize the DNA helix via different enthalpic effects and differ in terms of their DNA base-pair intercalation propensity. DNA destabilization was also recently evidenced for new ruthenium derivatives, such asmonodentate-Ru(II) [117].


## 4.2.3. Psoralen Derivatives

In terms of DNA stabilization/destabilization properties, the psoralen derivative4′-(hydroxymethyl)-4,5′,8-trimethylpsoralen (HMT) (Figure 5) exerts two effects: (i) monoaddition of a psoralen residue stabilizes the double helix formed by two non-self-complementary oligonucleotides by as much as 1.3 kcal/mol (for a furan-side mono-adduct) or 0.7 kcal/mol (for a pyrone-side mono-adduct) at 25°C in 50 mM NaCl; (ii) mono-addition of a psoralen residue to each of the two thymidines in the double helix in the sequence GGGTACCC destabilizes the helix by 1.8 kcal/mol at 25°C in 1M NaCl—the two HMT molecules at the centre of each strand cause an unfavourable enthalpy change and a favourable entropy change [85].Other DNA alkylating agents inducing local destabilization of the DNA helix. (a) Structures of some DNA alkylating molecules that destabilize the DNA helix. (b) Three-dimensional organization of the psoralen derivativeHMT (a) and (+)-anti-BPDE (b) bound to DNA (crystallographic data [mmdbId:52343] [118] and [mmdbId:52106], respectively, [119]).
(a)(b)


## 4.2.4. Benzopyrene Carcinogens

In the cell, the environmental and tobacco smoke carcinogenbenzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is metabolized into (+/-)-anti-benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide(BPDE) (Figure 5). The (+)-7R,8S,9S,10Renantiomer (+)-anti-BPDEis thought to be the metabolite that is ultimately responsible for mutations, DNA damage, and cancer. By covalently linking to the exocyclic NH2 group of guanine, BPDE forms a bulky DNA adduct in the minor groove of the helix and destabilizes base pairing [120, 121].Several enantiomers are produced by the alkylation reaction which follows the opening of the epoxide group. The(+)-anti-BPDE adducts consist mostly of the carcinogenic 10S(+)-trans-anti-BPDE (derived from the (+)-7R,8S,9S,10Rcompound) and, to a lesser extent, stereoisomeric 10R(+)-cis-B[a]P-N2-dG adducts. The (-)-BPDE enantiomer forms (-)-trans-B[a]P-N2-dG adducts but with lower efficiency. The DNA bonding of the stereoisomeric damage suggests base displaced intercalation or minor groove conformations. Covalent adduct formation prevents the amino group of guanine from hydrogen bonding with the opposite cytosine (which otherwise stabilizes GC base pairs in the native DNA helix). This results in base flipping, with the (+)-anti-B[a]P-N2-dG bulky adduct on the guanine situated in the minor groove and the opposite cytosine aligned with the major groove [122, 123].Depending on the target sequence, the bulky10S(+)-trans-anti-B[a]P-N2-dG rings point in the 5′ direction relative to the alkylated guanine position in each case, although the exact positions are different. Indeed, using 5′-CGG*C DNA, the 10S(+)-trans-anti-B[a]P-N2-dG lesion untwists the DNA significantly and causes a large bend in the DNA helix. In contrast, with a 5′-CG*GC sequence, no untwisting is seen but the DNA helix is destabilized 5′ to the lesion [124]. These structural differences result in differing electrophoretic mobility in polyacrylamide gels and different protein/DNA recognition and DNA repair efficiencies [125].Although theBaPs are environmental mutagens and not antitumor agents, their very particular mode of DNA binding with dual interference on DNA repair processes could highlight useful phenomena involved in the mechanism of action of cancer drugs (such as effects on DNA repair, as described in Section 5).


## 4.2.5. 4-Hydroxyequilenin (4-OHEN)

As is the case forBaP, 4-OHEN alkylating agents are genotoxic but are not anticancer drugs. 4-OHEN compounds are derived from equine oestrogens (equilin, 3-hydroxy-1,3,5(10),7-estratetren-17-one, and equilenin, 3-hydroxy-1,3,5(10),6,8-estrapenten-17-one) which are present at various concentrations in the hormone substitution therapies used to reduce the side effects of the menopause but which are also thought to contribute to a greater risk of breast cancer in the treated population [126–128]. In the body, both equilin and equilenin are rapidly converted into the intermediate catechol4-hydroxyequilenin, which is further oxidized into the reactive 4-hydroxyequilenin-o-quinone (Figure 5) [129]. This ortho-quinone form of 4-OHEN is a potent cytotoxic and genotoxic agent [130] and forms a bulky lesion on dA, dC, and dG but not T residues [131–134]. This damage can be detected not only in cell culture but also in breast cancer biopsies from patients having undergone hormone substitution therapy [135]. Each of the base adducts are present as four stereoisomers, each of which induces different levels of structural distortion in duplex DNA [136–138].4-OHEN-C adducts present an unusual cyclic core with the bulky rings pointing along the major or the minor groove depending on whether the glycosidic bond adopts a syn- or anticonformation, respectively, [139]. Alkylation of an 11-bp oligonucleotide at specific dA or dC residues results in a strong decrease in the melting temperature of the double-stranded DNA, compared with the unmodified oligonucleotide. The magnitude of the decrease depends on the position of the adduct within the oligonucleotide: a 6–9°C decrease in Tm is obtained when the adduct is located 1 or 2-bp from the end of the 11-bp DNA, whereas a large (21–27°C) decrease is induced when the adduct is present more centrally (positions 4 to 8).The extent of the destabilization also depends on the adduct's stereoisomeric orientation, as defined using circular dichroism measurements [134], thermodynamic analyses and molecular modelling. Indeed, distortions, base-stacking characteristics, and groove sizes were found to vary according to the nature and the stereoisomerism of the bulky DNA lesion [139].


## 4.2.6. Benzoacronycine Derivatives

The compoundS23906-1 [(+)-cis-1,2-diacetoxy-6-methoxy-3,3,14-trimethyl-1,2,3-14-tetrahydro-7H- benzo[b]pyrano[3,2-h]acridin-7-one] (Figure 5) is a potent DNA-alkylating agent with strong cytotoxic and antitumour properties. On the basis of very promising preclinical trials, it entered clinical trials in 2006 (Servier, France). S23906-1 alkylates DNA on guanine's exocyclic amino group (located in the minor groove of the DNA helix) and thus contrasts with commonly used chemotherapeutic alkylating agents which react at guanine's N7 position in the major groove (cisplatin, nitrosourea, nitrogen mustards,etc.). This nucleophilic point is also targeted by other clinically used antitumour agents, such as ecteinascidine-743 (ET-743/trabectedin/Yondelis) developed by the company PharmaMar (Spain) [140], mitomycin-C (a dual alkylating agent which bonds to either the N2 group of guanine in the minor groove or the N7 group of guanine in the major groove) [141] and anthramycin [142].In contrast toET-743, mitomycin-C and the anthramycins, the alkylation of double-stranded DNA by S23906-1 results in local destabilization of the DNA helix and thus the formation of a single-stranded DNA portion that can be attacked by single-strand-specific nucleases (such as nuclease S1) [91]. This destabilization was seen with various multiple derivatives ofS23906-1 (e.g., esters of the benzo[b]acronycine core, Figure 5). The dicarbamate derivativeS29385-1 had a very strong effect. The DNA destabilization potency of this series was confirmed in a variety of physical and biochemical approaches. For example, quantification of the ratio between the fluorescence of Picogreen (a dye which interacts with both double- and single-stranded DNA) and ethidium bromide (BET) (a double-stranded-specific dye) revealed additional Picogreen binding and suggested that S29385-1 generates single-strand DNA (Figure 6(a)). Accordingly, DNA melting temperature studies evidenced a negative ΔTm value, reflecting DNA destabilization (Figure 6(b)).DNA destabilization propensities of the benzo-acronycine dicarbamate derivativeS29385-1. (a) CT-DNA was incubated with increasing concentrations of S29385-1 prior to the incubation with a mixture of ethidium bromide (BET) and Picogreen (PG from Molecular Probes, Invitrogen) to quantify only double-strand DNA or both double-strand and single-stranded DNA, respectively. Results are expressed as the percentage of the peak of emission for BET versus PG. (b) Variation of the melting temperature studies of a short 24-bp double-strand oligonucleotide incubated for 24 hours alone or with increasing concentrations of S29385-1 prior to ethanol precipitation of the sample and melting temperature measurement. The results are expressed as the melting temperature for the [DNA+drug] complex minus melting temperature for DNA alone. (Details for the corresponding experimental protocols are described in [91].)
(a)(b)S23906-1's ability to destabilize DNA was also clearly demonstrated in biochemical approaches, such as electrophoretic mobility shift assays (generating single-stranded DNA form following alkylation of a fully double-stranded DNA fragment) and the use of nuclease-S1 single-strand-specific digestion to map the relative positions of locally DNA openings induced by alkylation (Figure 7 and [91]).Figure 7
Nuclease S1 mapping of locally opened DNA structure. Increasing concentrations of thebenzo-b-acronycine derivatives presented in Figure 5 were incubated with a radio-labelled 117-bp DNA fragment prior to subjection to nuclease S1 mapping of the induced locally single-stranded DNA portions generated upon DNA alkylation. DNA samples were separated on a 10% native polyacrylamide gel. Concentrations are expressed in μM. The detailed experimental protocol is described in [91].


## 5. Drug-Induced DNA Destabilization: Cellular Consequences

Compounds which change the equilibrium between the stable, double-stranded DNA helix and locally destabilized strands could strongly alter protein/DNA recognition and thus have major cellular consequences. Indeed, base kinking, unstacking, and nucleotide extrusion (flipping) induce discontinuities in the double helix and thus facilitate DNA lesion/mismatch recognition [143–145]. The few literature studies to have addressed this point reveal that proteins which recognize damaged DNA are affected by the stabilization or destabilization of the DNA helix; this leads to a major impact on biological parameters such as antitumour activity, transcription factor binding potency, and DNA repair process efficiency [146–148].This type of cellular impact has been particularly well demonstrated for the platinated adducts recognized by HMG proteins [149]. HMG/platinated DNA recognition is triggered by the strong DNA bending generated by the platinated agent (Figure 2). The large induced bend fits perfectly with the L-shaped structure of HMG DNA binding domain (HMG-box) and reduces the “cost” of DNA bending for the protein [150]. As a consequence, HMG proteins bind less well to oxaliplatin adducts than to cisplatin adducts because the former agent induces relatively greater DNA bending and thus stronger DNA destabilization [151]. This finding correlates with the lower level of DNA lesions found in cells treated with oxaliplatin, relative to cisplatin. It is assumed that HMG binding shields the platinated adducts from repair by the human DNA excision machinery [152] and therefore participates in platinated-agent-induced cytotoxicity [153]. However, too strong a bend and greater DNA destabilization lead to a structure that does not fit perfectly with L-shaped HMG-box, thus resulting in a weaker HMG protein binding. The weaker HMG binding to oxaliplatin adducts corresponds to weaker protection from DNA repair and so oxaliplatin-DNA lesions are more efficiently repaired than cisplatin-induced lesions. This results in a lower number of lesions in cells for oxaliplatin than for cisplatin. Moreover, bent platinated-DNA is a good substrate for transcription factors such as SRY and LEF-1 (which belong to the HMG-box family, regarding their DNA-binding domain) and explains the observation of transcriptional changes in treated cells [92, 154–156].Regarding DNA repair, the local destabilization of the double helix, base flipping and poor base stacking all play a role in the recognition of DNA lesions by repair proteins [157–160]. This has been well demonstrated for the MSH2/MSH6 heterodimer mismatch repair complex (Mut-S alpha), which recognizes not only mismatched bases but also certain DNA lesions, such as cisplatin (but not transplatin) crosslinks [161–165].In the case of ruthenium-derivative-induced DNA lesions, the NER machinery appears to be less efficient than for platinum adducts. Interestingly,Ru-CYM adducts (which destabilize the DNA helix much more than Ru-THA adducts) are excised more efficiently than Ru-THA complex adducts. This is consistent with the lower binding by RPA to DNA containingRu-THA adducts and (to a lesser extent) Ru-CYM/DNA damage [166]. The observation that Ru-THA was much more cytotoxic than Ru-CYM in both A2780 human ovarian cancer cells and the HT29 colon carcinoma cell line suggests that DNA intercalation has a major role in the cytotoxicity of these DNA-destabilizing derivatives.In prokaryotes, the NER sensor protein UvrB efficiently recognizesBaP lesions through lesion-induced local thermodynamic distortion/destabilization and nucleotide flipping [167]. Some variations in the excision efficiency (up to a factor of 3-fold) are observed, depending on the stereoisomeric orientation of the DNA adducts (i.e., (+) or (-), cis- or trans-) [121]. In eukaryotes, the BaP lesions are usually recognized by the NER machinery's “sensor” protein XPC, which then initiates DNA repair in association with the HR23B protein [168, 169]. In particular, it has been suggested that XPC/HR23B's weaker recognition of (+)-trans-B[a]P-N2-dG adducts (relative to the other conformers) contributes to its higher mutagenic and tumorigenic activity [168]. XPC binding requires DNA bending [170] and is facilitated by local conformational flexibility [143, 144, 171] and destabilization of the base pairing, as evidenced by several model DNA lesions (such as thymine-glycol) [172]. This recognition is driven by the “aromatic sensors” Trp690 and Thp733 [41]. On the cellular level, human bronchial epithelial 16HBE cells treated with BaP (as a source of reactive BPDE) displayed greater expression of the NER proteins XPA and XPG and the heat shock protein Hsp70. Subcellular analysis with confocal microscopy evidenced nuclear colocalization of Hsp70 with XPA and XPG after BaP treatment, suggesting that Hsp70 has a role in the cellular DNA repair response [173]. Accordingly, (+/-)-anti-BPDE induces chromosome instability and centromere amplification in lung cells [174]. The cellular consequences of (+/-)-anti-BPDE treatment were also assessed using a whole-genome microarray technique in normal human amnion epithelial cells; the researchers observed downregulation of the expression of genes involved in signal transduction, cytoskeleton, DNA repair, metabolism and regulation of transcription and the cell cycle, with features similar to those observed after cell irradiation with UV-light [175, 176].It was recently reported that the structural differences observed for an identical, highly mutagenic,(+)-(7R,8S,9S,10R)-7,8-dihydroxy-9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene-DNA lesion lead to different repair processes as a function to the sequence contexts. Indeed, in cell-free human HeLa extracts, destabilized DNA at a 5′-CG*GC site was more rapidly excised than the bent DNA at a 5′-CGG*C site [125]. Since the DNA helix is already opened up by alkylation, the DNA repair protein recognition step (including induced base flipping) requires less energy and thus is potentially more rapid for DNA that has already been destabilized (at a 5′-CG*GC site) than for bent duplex DNA (the 5′-CGG*C site). This study clearly emphasized the importance of the DNA sequence context for efficient adduct repair [177].Isomer-dependant DNA repair potency is also assumed to occur with bulkycatechol 4-OHEN-adducts, which NER proteins excise with an efficiency that depends on the alkylated base, the stereoisomerism of the adducts and the sequence context. For example, 4-OHEN-dC adducts are more efficiently excised than 4-OHEN-dA adducts [178]. Interestingly, it was shown in male zebrafish that 17a-ethinylestradiol (a source of 4-OHEN) is able to decrease NER efficiency and the expression of NER genes such as XPC, XPA, XPD, and XPF (but not HR23B) [179, 180].In the search for new cancer drugs with novel mechanisms of action and on the basis of promising preclinical testing, the benzoacronycine derivativeS23906-1 has entered Phase I clinical trials as a racemate of twocis-diacetylated-enantiomers. As mentioned above, S23906-1 alkylates DNA in the minor groove and induces strong destabilization of the double helix. Given the presence of two reactive acetate groups on asymmetric carbons, two pairs of enantiomers can be formed: two cis (1R; 2R and 1S; 2S) and two trans (1R; 2S and 1S; 2R) structures. Hence, S23906-1 is a mixture of 1R; 2R and1S; 2S. We tested the ability of each of the pure cis-enantiomers not only to react with DNA but also to destabilize the DNA helix and thus affect single-stranded endonuclease activity [181]. Our results showed that DNA destabilization depends on the orientation of the adduct core in the open drug/DNA complex and correlates with differing cellular and antitumour effects: the enantiomer with the greatest DNA destabilization presents the highest antitumour activity in animal models [181].Little is known about the repair of S23906-1 DNA adducts: the involvement of the NER proteins XPC and CSB was recently found to be related to cell sensitivity to S23906-1, associated with both global genome repair and transcription coupled NER [182].Ongoing work is seeking to identify the proteins involved inS23906-1/DNA adduct recognition and evaluate their impact on the compound's cytotoxic activity. On one hand, locally destabilized DNA could favour the recognition of a DNA lesion by the DNA repair “sensor” proteins, leading to an increase in the excision efficiency or rate. Full repair after excision thus results in weaker antitumor activity, unless the DNA repair process is blocked—as has been evidenced for the antitumour activity of ET-743(Yondelis). In this latter case, the ET-743/DNA adduct traps the XPG endonuclease protein involved in the NER machinery and increases the number of single-strand breaks [183]. On the other hand, the wide, local opening of the DNA helix prompted by this particular compound may increase cleavage by single-strand-specific nuclear endonucleases; the greater number of double-strand breaks may then overwhelm the cancer cells' DNA repair capacity.


## 6. Conclusions

Drug-induced destabilization of the DNA helix appears to be part of a novel antitumour mechanism of action and is associated with particular intercalation processes or postalkylation DNA distortions. DNA-destabilizing compounds are relatively rare and represent just a few drops in an ocean of DNA-interacting molecules (which primarily stabilize the double helix). The molecular and cellular consequences of this original binding mode differ from those induced by DNA-stabilizing compounds. In particular, DNA repair and transcription processes are now known to be affected. The DNA replication machinery may also be affected because DNA opening requires less energy when the double helix is already destabilized by a drug. In view of the little available literature data, researchers are now starting to fill in this gap.Furthermore, we believe that it is important not to consider DNA destabilization as a unique process. This phenomenon must be considered in relation to (i) the potentially associated bend in the DNA helix (as evidenced by the comparison betweenoxaliplatin- and cisplatin-induced distortions of DNA [151] or the effect of the different isomers of BPDE [125, 177]), and (ii) the length of the locally destabilized DNA, which varies according to the compound's nature (i.e., the DNA opening induced by benzoacronycine derivatives appears to be extensive enough to be susceptible to single-strand-specific nucleases, whereas other modifications are not) [91]. Recent and ongoing studies of the impact of DNA destabilization on DNA repair and cytotoxicity activities illustrate the increasing need for accurate determination of a potential cancer drug's DNA binding mode and subsequent cellular effects. Moreover, DNA-destabilizing compounds may be associated with different drug-induced resistance processes. Further knowledge of three-dimensional structure activity relationships and the cellular consequences (cytotoxicity, DNA repair processes) of treatment with DNA-destabilizing agents will help to clarify the relevance of cancer drug candidates which stabilize or destabilize the DNA helix and will aid the design of potent antitumour agents.



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*Source: 290935-2010-07-25.xml*