Cytoplasmic Thymidine Kinase Research Articles

The modulation study of multiple drug resistance in bladder cancer by curcumin and resveratrol.

Gemcitabine (GCB), which functions via the inhibition of DNA synthesis, is commonly used in the treatment of bladder cancer; however, its response rate is not satisfactory due to the development of drug resistance. The potential for phytochemicals to reverse drug resistance in bladder cancer tumor cells was evaluated. A human bladder cancer cell line, T24, was cultured, and GCB-resistant cells (T24-GCB) were also established. The acquired resistance of T24-GCB to GCB was measured using an MTT assay. The gene expression of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter protein family members was analyzed using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR analysis, and western blotting was performed to verify ABC family protein, cytoplasmic thymidine kinase (TK) and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) expression on whole cell lysates. Subsequently, resveratrol and curcumin were used to evaluate their modulation potential in decreasing the drug resistance of T24-GCB cells to GCB using MTT and migration assays. T24-GCB cells have increased drug resistance ability, with an 18.75-fold higher ID50 value compared with native T24 cells (105 vs. 5.6 nM). T24-GCB cells also exhibit increased cross resistance to mitomycin C and paclitaxel. The mRNA expression of ABCC2 in T24-GCB cells increased compared with that in native T24 cells. Via western blot analysis, it was determined that the expression of ABCC2 protein was also increased in T24-GCB cells. Conversely, the expression of ABCB1, ABCG2, deoxycytidine kinase (DCK), TK1 and TK2 decreased. Following curcumin and resveratrol treatment alone or combined with GCB, additive cytotoxic enhancement was observed, and the migratory abilities of T24-GCB cells were significantly decreased. Western blot analysis revealed that ABCC2 protein expression increased, and DCK, TK1 and TK2 expression decreased following co-treatment of T24-GCB cells with GCB + curcumin or resveratrol compared with GCB alone. Of note, there was a marked increase in cleaved-PARP expression in T24-GCB cells treated with a combination of GCB + curcumin or resveratrol. Both curcumin and resveratrol could reverse the drug resistance of T24-GCB cells in an additive pattern though PARP enhancement without changes in ABCC2 and DCK, TK1 and TK2 expression.

The thymidine kinase-1 as a potential tumor marker: structure, function, activity in normal and malignant tissues

In the review the role of the thymidine kinase (TK) to ensure the replication of DNA de novo and spare (salvage the) way in health and activate alternate ways in carcinogenesis is described. The structure of cytoplasmic TK (TК-1), also called fetal, and the level of regulation of its activity in the cells and their change during the cell cycle is described. Considering the data about the absence of TK-1 in resting (G0) cells, TK-1 is positioned as a marker of proliferating cells, which activity is recorded from late G1 phase, peaking in S-phase, it is stored in the G2 and mitosis, quickly decreasing to undetectable levels in the early G1 phase. Data on the expression TK-1 (as compared with Ki-67 and PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen)) in tumor tissues (colorectal, breast, cervical, lung, renal, prostate and ovarian cancer), as well as some benign and precancerous pathological processes in relation to the clinical and diagnostic features of these processes are systemized. These data suggest that the proliferative index studies on TK-1 (antibody to the domain HRA-210) should be used together with Ki-67 and PCNA, for a more complete assessment of the proliferative status of malignant tumors and pre-cancerous and benign conditions, with the aim of prognosis of the tumor process and treatment planning.

Shmt1 Heterozygosity Impairs Folate-Dependent Thymidylate Synthesis Capacity and Modifies Risk of Apcmin-Mediated Intestinal Cancer Risk

Folate-mediated one-carbon metabolism is required for the de novo synthesis of purines, thymidylate, and S-adenosylmethionine, the primary cellular methyl donor. Impairments in folate metabolism diminish cellular methylation potential and genome stability, which are risk factors for colorectal cancer (CRC). Cytoplasmic serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT1) regulates the partitioning of folate-activated one-carbons between thymidylate and S-adenosylmethionine biosynthesis. Therefore, changes in SHMT1 expression enable the determination of the specific contributions made by thymidylate and S-adenosylmethionine biosynthesis to CRC risk. Shmt1 hemizygosity was associated with a decreased capacity for thymidylate synthesis due to downregulation of enzymes in its biosynthetic pathway, namely thymidylate synthase and cytoplasmic thymidine kinase. Significant Shmt1-dependent changes to methylation capacity, gene expression, and purine synthesis were not observed. Shmt1 hemizygosity was associated with increased risk for intestinal cancer in Apc(min)(/+) mice through a gene-by-diet interaction, indicating that the capacity for thymidylate synthesis modifies susceptibility to intestinal cancer in Apc(min)(/+) mice.

Redistribution of Nucleoside Transporters to the Cell Membrane Provides a Novel Approach for Imaging Thymidylate Synthase Inhibition by Positron Emission Tomography

Thymidylate synthase (EC 2.1.1.45) is a key enzyme for the de novo synthesis of DNA and as such a target for anticancer drug development. There is a need to develop noninvasive methods for assessing thymidylate synthase inhibition in tumors. The aim of this study was to assess the potential of 3'-deoxy-3'-[(18)F]fluorothymidine ([(18)F]FLT) positron emission tomography (PET) for early measurement of thymidylate synthase inhibition and to elucidate the cellular mechanisms involved. Radiation-induced fibrosarcoma-1 tumor-bearing mice were injected with a single i.p. dose of the thymidylate synthase inhibitor 5-fluorouracil (5-FU; 165 mg/kg) and imaged by [(18)F]FLT-PET at 1 to 2 hours after treatment. Deoxyuridine, thymidine kinase 1 (cytoplasmic thymidine kinase; EC2.7.1.21), and ATP levels in excised tumors were measured. Cellular assays for membrane transport were also done. There was a 1.8-fold increase in the 60-minute [(18)F]FLT tumor/heart radioactivity ratio in drug-treated mice compared with vehicle controls (P = 0.0016). Plasma and tumor deoxyuridine levels increased significantly but thymidine kinase and ATP levels were unchanged. Whole-cell assays implicated a (low level) functional role for the type-1 equilibrative nucleoside transporter (ENT). There was an increase in type-1 ENT-binding sites per cell from 49,110 in untreated cells to 73,142 (P = 0.03) in cells treated with 10 microg/mL 5-FU for 2 hours, without a change in transporter affinity (P = 0.41). We conclude that [(18)F]FLT-PET can be used to measure thymidylate synthase inhibition as early as 1 to 2 hours after treatment with 5-FU by a mechanism involving redistribution of nucleoside transporters to the plasma membrane.

The role of thymidine kinases in the activation of pyrimidine nucleoside analogues.

Deoxynucleoside analogues need activation by deoxynucleoside kinases to serve as antiviral or anticancer agents. Here we review the properties of cellular cytoplasmic thymidine kinase 1, mitochondrial thymidine kinase 2, the multisubstrate deoxynucleoside kinase from Drosophila melanogaster and Herpes virus 1 thymidine kinase. Important substrate activity relationships will be discussed.

Basis of FLT as a cell proliferation marker: comparative uptake studies with [ 3H]thymidine and [ 3H]arabinothymidine, and cell-analysis in 22 asynchronously growing tumor cell lines

The usefulness of radiolabeled 3′-fluoro-3′-deoxythymidine (FLT), a thymidine derivative with affinity to cytoplasmic thymidine kinase 1 (TK 1), as a tumor proliferation marker was evaluated using [ 3H]FLT and 22 cultured tumor cell lines. Asynchronously growing tumor cells were used for studies to mimic in vivo status of tumors. FLT uptake in each cell line was compared with [ 3H]thymidine ([ 3H]Thd) uptake and %S-phase fraction, both known as acceptable markers of proliferation. Uptake of the mitochondrial TK 2 specific substrate [ 3H]arabinothymidine ([ 3H]AraT) was studied as a reference. Metabolic fate of FLT in tumor cells was also analyzed to elucidate the retention mechanism of FLT. [ 3H]FLT uptake was mildly correlated with the %S-phase fraction (r=0.76, p<0.0001) and correlated better with [ 3H]Thd uptake (r=0.88, p<0.0001). In contrast, the TK 2 specific substrate, [ 3H]AraT, was not significantly correlated with the %S-phase fraction (r=0.19, p=0.39), although it showed some correlation with the [ 3H]Thd uptake (r=0.47, p<0.05). Over 90% of radioactivity of [ 3H]Thd was found in the DNA fraction after 60 minutes incubation. In contrast, most of the radioactivity of [ 3H]FLT was found in the acid-soluble fraction (95%). [ 3H]FLT incorporation into the DNA fraction was negligible (0.2%). The [ 3H]AraT was mainly distributed in the acid-soluble fraction (70%) and the DNA fraction (20%). From our results, we concluded that FLT uptake in tumor cells reflects tumor cell proliferation. However, much more convincing validation is needed to clarify the difference between FLT and true substrates for DNA synthesis, like thymidine.

Mechanisms of synergism between gemcitabine (dFdC) and cisplatin (CDDP)

Three key enzymes in the anabolic phosphorylation of deoxyribonucleosides and deoxyribonucleoside analogs were purified i.e. cytoplasmic thymidine kinase (TK1), mitochondrial thymidine kinase (TK2) and cytoplasmic deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) from human, mouse and monkey liver and spleen. Their subunit structure and substrate specificities were compared. Extensive purification of TK1 and dCK from mouse spleen and TK2 from mouse and monkey livers revealed major polypeptide bands of 25,30 and 28 kD, respectively, on sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis which are very similar to the subunit molecular weights of the corresponding human enzymes. Affinity purified polyclonal antibodies against human dCK also cross-reacted with 30 kD bands in extracts from both mouse and monkey spleen. Thus, the molecular weights of the subunits of these three enzymes appeared to be very similar in all three species. TK1 and TK2 from these different sources appeared to have similar substrate specificities against several deoxyribonucleoside analogs. However, mouse dCK differed significantly from monkey and human dCK in its capacity to phosphorylate dAdo and 2',3'-dide-oxycytidine (ddCyd) with a Vmax, approximately 10-fold lower than that of the two latter enzymes. The Km and Vmax values for dCyd and arabinocytosine appeared to be very similar with the enzymes from all three species. The fact that mouse dCK shows low activity with dAdo and ddCyd explains differences reported previously in the metabolism of dAdo and ddCyd in mouse compared to that in human lymphocytes. These results argue against the use of mice as model systems for human deoxynucleoside metabolism.

Glucocorticoid regulation of a transcription factor that binds an initiator-like element in the murine thymidine kinase (Tk-1) promoter.

Glucocorticoids inhibit transcription of the murine cytoplasmic thymidine kinase gene (Tk-1). Glucocorticoid regulation of Tk-1 transcription can be demonstrated in cells that are arrested in late G1. This observation indicates that inhibition of Tk-1 expression is not dependent upon redistribution within the cell cycle but is due to glucocorticoid regulation of this gene. Transfection studies have been carried out using chimeric genes in which restriction fragments of the Tk-1 promoter were fused to chloramphenicol acetyltransferase or neomycin phosphotransferase. These chimeric reporters were assayed for stable expression and glucocorticoid regulation in P1798 lymphoma cells. A 140-bp fragment, extending from -143 to -3 bp with respect to the thymidine kinase translational start site, was capable of both basal and glucocorticoid-regulated transcription of reporter genes. The extent of inhibition by glucocorticoids was similar to that observed for the endogenous gene, and no increase in basal expression or the extent of inhibition was observed with constructs containing additional 5'-flanking DNA. The 140-bp Tk-1 core promoter fragment binds to transcription factors in extracts from P1798 cells. Control cell extracts contain factors that bind to and protect (from deoxyribonuclease I) a distal promoter element from -106 to -87 bp, relative to the translational start site. A second, proximal element was protected at -43 to -36 bp. The proximal element of the Tk-1 promoter resembles an RNA polymerase II initiator element. No other elements were protected. Glucocorticoids inhibit the amount or activity of the transcription factor that binds to this initiator-like element within the Tk-1 promoter. This element, when fused to upstream activation sequences from the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase promoter, conveys glucocorticoid sensitivity in cis.

Cytotoxicity of 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine correlates with 3′-azidothymidine-5′-monophosphate (AZTMP) levels, whereas antihuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) activity correlates with 3′-azidothymidine-5′-triphosphate (AZTTP) levels in cultured CEM T-lymphoblastoid cells

Activation of the anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) compound 3′-azido-3′-deoxythymidine (AZT) is dependent on its 5′-phosphorylation by cellular nucleoside and nucleotide kinases. Azidothymidine 5′-triphosphate (AZTTP) is considered to be the metabolite responsible for both the anti-HIV effect of AZT, via inhibition of reverse transcriptase, and cytoxicity by interference with cellular DNA polymerases. During the characterization of AZT metabolism in cultured human T-lymphoblastoid CEM cells, a spontaneously occurring variant cell line, CEM/Ag-1, was found that showed approximately 10-fold resistance to AZT growth inhibition as compared to wild type (wt) cells ( EC 50 = 2 mM as compared to 350 μM for wt cells). CEM/Ag-1 cells had a 3-fold reduced capacity to accumulate azidothymidine monophosphate (AZTMP) compared to wt cells whereas similar levels of AZTTP were found in both cell lines. The intracellular half-life of AZTMP was approximately 70 min in both wt and CEM/Ag-1 cells. A 3-fold lower specific activity of cytoplasmic thymidine kinase was observed in CEM/Ag-1 extracts as compared to wt. The reduced thymidine kinase activity was not correlated to a decreased level of thymidine kinase mRNA. Syncytium formation of CEM/Ag-1 cells infected with HIV-2 as well as HIV-1 antigen production was inhibited at the same concentrations of AZT (approx. 0.01 μM) as were HIV-1 and HIV-2 infected wt cells. Thus, minor decreases in cellular thymidine kinase levels may markedly affect the cytoxicity of AZT but have no major effect on the antiviral activity of AZT. Our results strongly suggest that AZTMP is responsible for a major part of the growth inhibitor effects, while AZTTP mainly mediates the antiviral activity of AZT.

Circadian rhythm of rat spleen cytoplasmic thymidine kinase

The activity of thymidine kinase (TK, EC 2.7.1.21), the first enzyme of the thymidine phosphorylation pathway, was measured at various times over a 24-hr period in the spleens of Sprague-Dawley rats that had been housed under standardized conditions of light and dark for at least 4 weeks before the study. Spleen cytoplasmic TK activity was assayed with [2- 14C]thymidine as substrate. Under “normal” light conditions (lights on 6:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. and lights off 6:00 p.m.–6:00 a.m.), a carcadian variation of TK activity was observed (P < 0.0001, Cosinor analysis) with peak activity (1.98nmol product/hr/mg protein) at 1:00 a.m. (19 hr after light onset, HALO) and trough activity (0.40 nmol product/hr/mg protein) at 1:00 p.m. (7 HALO). Maximum enzyme activity exceeded minimum activity by approximately 5-fold. Reversing the light-dark cycle resulted in a corresponding shift in TK activity. Under these “reverse” conditions (lights on 6:00 p.m.–6:00 a.m. and lights off 6:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.), a circadian variation in TK activity was also observed (P < 0.0001, Cosinor analysis) with peak activity (1.14nmol product/hr/mg protein) at 12:00 noon (18 HALO) and trough activity (0.32 nmol/hr/mg) protein) at 12:00 a.m. (6 HALO). Maximum enzyme activity exceeded minimum activity by approximately 4-fold. In summary, this study demonstrated for the first time that TK activity varies over a 24-hr period in association with the light-dark cycle.

Deoxynucleoside phosphorylating enzymes in monkey and human tissues show great similarities, while mouse deoxycytidine kinase has a different substrate specificity

Three key enzymes in the anabolic phosphorylation of deoxyribonucleosides and deoxyribonucleoside analogs were purified i.e. cytoplasmic thymidine kinase (TK1), mitochondrial thymidine kinase (TK2) and cytoplasmic deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) from human, mouse and monkey liver and spleen. Their subunit structure and substrate specificities were compared. Extensive purification of TK1 and dCK from mouse spleen and TK2 from mouse and monkey livers revealed major polypeptide bands of 25,30 and 28 kD, respectively, on sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis which are very similar to the subunit molecular weights of the corresponding human enzymes. Affinity purified polyclonal antibodies against human dCK also cross-reacted with 30 kD bands in extracts from both mouse and monkey spleen. Thus, the molecular weights of the subunits of these three enzymes appeared to be very similar in all three species. TK1 and TK2 from these different sources appeared to have similar substrate specificities against several deoxyribonucleoside analogs. However, mouse dCK differed significantly from monkey and human dCK in its capacity to phosphorylate dAdo and 2',3'-dide-oxycytidine (ddCyd) with a V max , approximately 10-fold lower than that of the two latter enzymes. The K m and V max values for dCyd and arabinocytosine appeared to be very similar with the enzymes from all three species. The fact that mouse dCK shows low activity with dAdo and ddCyd explains differences reported previously in the metabolism of dAdo and ddCyd in mouse compared to that in human lymphocytes. These results argue against the use of mice as model systems for human deoxynucleoside metabolism.

The primary structure of the thymidine kinase gene of fish lymphocystis disease virus

The DNA nucleotide sequence of the thymidine kinase (TK) gene of fish lymphocystis disease virus (FLDV) which has been localized between the coordinates 0.678 to 0.688 of the viral genome was determined. The analysis of the DNA nucleotide sequence located between the recognition sites of HindIII (0.669 map unit; nucleotide position 1) and AccI (nucleotide position 2032) revealed the presence of an open reading frame of 954 by on the lower strand of this region between nucleotide positions 1868 (ATG) and 915 (TAA). It encodes for a protein of 318 amino acid residues. The evolutionary relationships of the TK gene of FLDV to the other known TK genes was investigated using the method of progressive sequence alignment. These analyses revealed a high degree of diversity between the protein sequence of FLDV TK gene and the amino acid composition of other TKs tested. However, significant conservations were detected at several regions of amino acid residues of the FLDV TK protein when compared to the amino acid sequence of TKs of African swine fever virus, fowlpox virus, shope fibroma virus, and vaccinia virus and to the amino acid sequences of the cellular cytoplasmic TK of chicken, mouse, and man.

Comparison of the substrate specificities of human thymidine kinase 1 and 2 and deoxycytidine kinase toward antiviral and cytostatic nucleoside analogs

Deoxynucleoside kinases are required for the 5'-phosphorylation of deoxynucleoside analogs used in chemotherapy. Cytoplasmic thymidine kinase (TK1), deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) and mitochondrial thymidine kinase (TK2) were completely purified from human leukemic spleen and their capacities to phosphorylate 43 nucleoside analogs were compared. TK1 showed the most restricted substrate specificity but tolerated 3'-modifications of the sugar ring and some 5-substitutions of the pyrimidine ring. TK2 showed a much broader specificity and phosphorylated pyrimidine bases with bulky 5-substitutions, including cytosine analogs, while sugar analogs with substituents other than OH in the 2' and 3' positions were very poor substrates. dCK showed a very broad specificity phosphorylating several cytosine analogs with 2' and 3' modifications as well as acyclic sugar analogs. Purine deoxyribonucleosides were also efficiently phosphorylated by dCK but in this case sugar modifications led to drastically decreased activity.

Bidirectional promoter activity of the 5′ flanking region of the mouse thymidine kinase gene

The 5′ flanking region of the gene coding for cytoplasmic thymidine kinase (TK) in the mouse (a total of 490 bp upstream of the initiation codon) was tested for promoter activity using the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene as reporter. It was found that the region can be devided into two parts, one of which carries promoter activity in the direction of TK, whereas the 5′-half has promoter activity in the opossite direction. A fragment of 140 bp was sufficient for growth dependent promoter activity in the direction of TK, although about 100 bp further upstream, enhanced the activity. Expressions from the divergent promoter was independent of cell growth.

The processed pseudogene of mouse thymidine kinase is active after transfection

Aside of the gene coding for cytoplasmic thymidine kinase, the genome of mouse cells carries two pseudogenes. Both are inactive in situ. One of the pseudogenes is a processed pseudogene in which a two base pair deletion caused a shift of the reading frame and a shortening of the gene product from the 233 amino acids of thymidine kinase to 177 amino acids in the pseudogene product. We report here that introduction of this pseudogene into LTK − cells gave rise to cells with a thymidine kinase positive phenotype. The transformed cells carried multiple copies of the pseudogene the upstream region of which exhibited low but measurable promoter activity. Replacement of the upstream region of the pseudogene by a promoter of Simian virus 40 or of the mammary tumor virus resulted in high transfection efficiencies and in cell lines exhibiting high thymidine kinase activities.

Nucleotide and Predicted Amino Acid Sequences of the Marek's Disease Virus and Turkey Herpesvirus Thymidine Kinase Genes; Comparison with Thymidine Kinase Genes of Other Herpesviruses

In this paper we present the nucleotide sequences of the thymidine kinase (TK) genes of two avian herpesviruses: a highly oncogenic strain of Marek's disease virus (MDV strain RB1B) and its serologically related vaccine virus, the herpesvirus of turkeys (HVT strain Fc-126). The predicted coding regions of the two genes are 1029 and 1050 nucleotides respectively, corresponding to polypeptides of 343 and 350 amino acids in length. Putative nucleotide- and nucleoside-binding sites have been identified within the two predicted amino acid sequences. The MDV and HVT TK amino acid sequences exhibit 58.2% amino acid identity. Comparison with other available herpesvirus TK sequences reveals a greater homology to those of the alphaherpesviruses than to those of the gammaherpesviruses. No overall homology was found when compared with the chicken cytoplasmic TK sequence.

Mouse thymidine kinase: the promoter sequence and the gene and pseudogene structures in normal cells and in thymidine kinase deficient mutants.

The mouse genome carries one gene and two pseudogenes for cytoplasmic thymidine kinase. The overall structure of these genes was determined with the help of cosmids and lambda phage clones and the upstream sequence containing the promoter was determined. The data allow an allocation of bands seen in the complex patterns of genomic Southern blots obtained from the DNA of wild type cells and of thymidine kinase deficient mutants to the gene as well as to the two pseudogenes. The much used LTK cell line was found to lack the entire gene but to retain the pseudogenes. Two other TK cell lines had DNA patterns indistinguishable from the wild type. Whereas the LTK line did not produce any TKmRNA, the two other mutants had normal amounts of TKmRNA but no cytoplasmic TK activity.

Structure-activity analysis of antagonism of the feedback inhibition of thymidine kinase

The effects of a variety of 5-, 5′-, and 3′-substituted deoxyuridine derivatives on the cytoplasmic thymidine kinase (EC 2.7.1.21) purified from a human colon carcinoma cell line, HCT 116, were determined. Of particular interest was elucidation of the structural features important for antagonism of the feedback inhibition of thymidine kinase exerted by thymidine triphosphate. Substitutions at the 5-position altered the potency of the 5′-modified compounds. The replacement of the 5-hydrogen with a methyl group or an iodine greatly increased the affinity of compounds for the thymidine kinase. This was evident for enzyme substrates with 5′-hydroxyl groups [2′-deoxyuridine (dUrd), 2′-deoxythymidine (dThd) and 5-iodo-2′-deoxyuridine (IdUrd)], feedback inhibitors with 5′-triphosphate substitutions (dUTP, dTTP and IdUTP), and for 5′-amino derivatives [5′-amino-2′,5′-dideoxyuridine (5′-AdUrd), 5′-amino-2′-5′-dideoxythymidine (5′-AdThd) and 5-iodo-5′-amino-2′,5′-dideoxyuridine (5′-AIdUrd)]. Qualitatively, however, the 5-substitutions did not affect the nature of the interactions with dThd kinase. For example, in the presence of dTTP, 5′-AdUrd stimulated dThd kinase activity as much as 5′-AdThd, but approximately a 100-fold greater concentration of 5′-AdUrd was required. Similar results were obtained using intact cells in which substitutions at the 5-position affected the potency, but not the efficacy, of the 5′-amino derivatives to stimulate dThd phosphorylation. In contrast, substitutions at the 5′-position did alter the nature of the interaction with dThd kinase. Thus, the 5′-hydroxyl compounds, dUrd, dThd and IdUrd, did not reverse the enzyme inhibition produced by dTTP nor did they stimulate dThd uptake in intact cells. 5′-Deoxy-5′-ethylthio)thymidine, 5′-deoxy-5′-[(2-hydroxyethyl)thio]thymidine, and dTMP, but not dTDP, also antagonized the inhibition of dThd kinase produced by dTTP. In comparison to 5′-AdThd, the 3′-amino derivatives, 3′-AdThd and 3′-5′-diAdThd, were much less potent, but still efficacious, antagonists of feedback inhibition. These results indicate that a wide range of dUrd derivatives can disrupt the regulation of dThd kinase and provide leads for the development of new nucleotide analogues.

Transcriptional control of thymidine kinase gene expression by estrogen and antiestrogens in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells.

The mechanism by which estrogen and antiestrogens modulate cytoplasmic thymidine kinase (TK) activity has been studied in MCF-7 cells. Using a cloned cDNA probe for human TK, we have identified a single 1500-nucleotide transcript as the cytoplasmic TK-mRNA in MCF-7 cells. In normally cycling or synchronously growing cells, the level of this mRNA maximally increased 2-3-fold after 24 h of estradiol-17 beta (E2) stimulation and decreased below control level in the presence of antiestrogens. Neither E2 nor antiestrogens altered the size of TK-mRNA. Hormonal regulation of TK-mRNA paralleled changes in TK enzyme activity and [3H]thymidine incorporation. Using endogenous nuclear run-off transcription to investigate the expression of the human TK gene, we demonstrate that TK-mRNA levels were regulated by transcriptional control. Modulation of TK gene activity during the process of estrogen stimulation or antiestrogen inhibition was not accompanied by changes in the methylation pattern at internal sites of the TK gene. These results suggest a transcriptional control of human TK gene by E2 and antiestrogens in MCF-7 cells.

The nucleotide sequence of the chicken thymidine kinase gene and the relationship of its predicted polypeptide to that of the vaccinia virus thymidine kinase

The entire DNA nucleotide sequence of a 3.0 kilobase pair Hind III fragment containing the chicken cytoplasmic thymidine kinase gene was determined. Oligonucleotide linker insertion mutations distributed throughout this gene and having known effects upon gene activity ( Kwoh , T.J., Zipser , D., and Wigler , M. 1983. J. Mol. Appl. Genet. 2, 191-200), were used to access regions of the Hind III fragment for sequencing reactions. The complete nucleotide sequence, together with the positions of the linker insertion mutations within the sequence, allows us to propose a structure for the chicken thymidine kinase gene. The protein coding sequence of the gene is divided into seven small segments (each less than 160 base pairs) by six small introns (each less than 230 base pairs). The proposed 244 amino acid polypeptide encoded by this gene bears strong homology to the vaccinia virus thymidine kinase. No homology with the thymidine kinases of the herpes simplex viruses was found.