Proteomic analysis of DNA-protein cross-linking by antitumor nitrogen mustards.

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Loeber RL, Michaelson-Richie ED, Codreanu SG, Liebler DC, Campbell CR, Tretyakova NY

Proteomic analysis of DNA-protein cross-linking by antitumor nitrogen mustards.

Chem Res Toxicol. 2009 Jun;22(6):1151-62. doi: 10.1021/tx900078y.

PubMed ID

19480393 [ View in PubMed

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Abstract

Nitrogen mustards are antitumor agents used clinically for the treatment of a variety of neoplastic conditions. The biological activity of these compounds is typically attributed to their ability to induce DNA-DNA cross-links. However, nitrogen mustards are able to produce a variety of other lesions, including DNA-protein cross-links (DPCs). DPCs induced by nitrogen mustards are not well-characterized because of their structural complexity and the insufficient specificity and sensitivity of previously available experimental methodologies. In the present work, affinity capture methodology in combination with mass spectrometry-based proteomics was employed to identify mammalian proteins that form covalent cross-links to DNA in the presence of a simple nitrogen mustard, mechlorethamine. Following incubation of 5'-biotinylated DNA duplexes with nuclear protein extracts, DPCs were isolated by affinity capture on streptavidin beads, and the cross-linked proteins were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry of tryptic peptides. Mechlorethamine treatment resulted in the formation of DPCs with nuclear proteins involved in chromatin regulation, DNA replication and repair, cell cycle control, transcriptional regulation, and cell architecture. Western blot analysis was employed to confirm protein identification and to quantify the extent of drug-mediated cross-linking. Mass spectrometry of amino acid-nucleobase conjugates found in total proteolytic digests revealed that mechlorethamine-induced DPCs are formed via alkylation of the N7 position of guanine in duplex DNA and cysteine thiols within the proteins to give N-[2-[S-cysteinyl]ethyl]-N-[2-(guan-7-yl)ethyl]methylamine lesions. The results described herein suggest that cellular exposure to nitrogen mustards leads to cross-linking of a large spectrum of nuclear proteins to chromosomal DNA, potentially contributing to the cytotoxic and mutagenic effects of these drugs.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Targets

Drug	Target	Kind	Organism	Pharmacological Action	Actions
Mechlorethamine	DNA	Nucleotide	Humans	Yes	Intercalation	Details