Ubiquitin-like containing PHD and RING finger domain 1 (UHRF1) is a nuclear multi-domain protein overexpressed in numerous human cancer types. We previously disclosed the anthraquinone derivative UM63 that inhibits UHRF1-SRA domain base-flipping activity, although having DNA intercalating properties. Herein, based on the UM63 structure, new UHRF1-SRA inhibitors were identified through a multidisciplinary approach, combining molecular modelling, biophysical assays, molecular and cell biology experiments. We identified AMSA2 and MPB7, that inhibit UHRF1-SRA mediated base flipping at low micromolar concentrations, but do not intercalate into DNA, which is a key advantage over UM63. These molecules prevent UHRF1/DNMT1 interaction at replication forks and decrease the overall DNA methylation in cells. Moreover, both compounds specifically induce cell death in numerous cancer cell lines, displaying marginal effect on non-cancer cells, as they preferentially affect cells with high level of UHRF1. Overall, these two compounds are promising leads for the development of anti-cancer drugs targeting UHRF1.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.106616 | DOI Listing |
Nucleic Acids Res
January 2025
College of Plant Protection, Agricultural University of Hebei, No. 2596 Lekai South Street, Baoding City, Lianchi District, Hebei Province 071001, China.
HhH-GPD (helix-hairpin-helix-glycine/proline/aspartate) family proteins are involved in DNA damage repair. Currently, mechanism of alkylated DNA repair in Crenarchaea has not been fully clarified. The hyperthermophilic model crenarchaeon Saccharolobus islandicus REY15A possesses a novel HhH-GPD family protein (Sis-HhH-GPD), where its Ser152 corresponds to a conserved catalytic Asp in other HhH-GPD homologs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNat Commun
January 2025
Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, 111 T. W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA.
Coronaviruses evade detection by the host immune system with the help of the endoribonuclease Nsp15, which regulates levels of viral double stranded RNA by cleaving 3' of uridine (U). While prior structural data shows that to cleave double stranded RNA, Nsp15's target U must be flipped out of the helix, it is not yet understood whether Nsp15 initiates flipping or captures spontaneously flipped bases. We address this gap by designing fluorinated double stranded RNA substrates that allow us to directly relate a U's sequence context to both its tendency to spontaneously flip and its susceptibility to cleavage by Nsp15.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFbioRxiv
December 2024
Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM.
DNA breathing dynamics-transient base-pair opening and closing due to thermal fluctuations-are vital for processes like transcription, replication, and repair. Traditional models, such as the Extended Peyrard-Bishop-Dauxois (EPBD), provide insights into these dynamics but are computationally limited for long sequences. We present , a high-throughput Langevin molecular dynamics framework leveraging JAX for GPU-accelerated simulations, achieving up to 30x speedup and superior scalability compared to the original C-based EPBD implementation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNucleic Acids Res
January 2025
Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
RNA-guided endonucleases are involved in processes ranging from adaptive immunity to site-specific transposition and have revolutionized genome editing. CRISPR-Cas9, -Cas12 and related proteins use guide RNAs to recognize ∼20-nucleotide target sites within genomic DNA by mechanisms that are not yet fully understood. We used structural and biochemical methods to assess early steps in DNA recognition by Cas12a protein-guide RNA complexes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNat Commun
December 2024
Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5S 1A8, Canada.
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