Mitochondrial Deoxyguanosine Kinase Research Articles

Mitochondrial deoxyguanosine kinase is required for female fertility in mice.

Mitochondrial homeostasis plays a pivotal role in oocyte maturation and embryonic development. Deoxyguanosine kinase (DGUOK) is a nucleoside kinase that salvages purine nucleosides in mitochondria and is critical for mitochondrial DNA replication and homeostasis in non-proliferating cells. Dguok loss-of-function mutations and deletions lead to hepatocerebral mitochondrial DNA deletion syndrome. However, its potential role in reproduction remains largely unknown. In this study, we find that Dguok knockout results in female infertility. Mechanistically, DGUOK deficiency hinders ovarian development and oocyte maturation. Moreover, DGUOK deficiency in oocytes causes a significant reduction in mitochondrial DNA copy number and abnormal mitochondrial dynamics and impairs germinal vesicle breakdown. Only few DGUOK-deficient oocytes can extrude their first polar body during in vitro maturation, and these oocytes exhibit irregular chromosome arrangements and different spindle lengths. In addition, DGUOK deficiency elevates reactive oxygen species levels and accelerates oocyte apoptosis. Our findings reveal novel physiological roles for the mitochondrial nucleoside salvage pathway in oocyte maturation and implicate DGUOK as a potential marker for the diagnosis of female infertility.

Research Progress on the Relationship Between Mitochondrial Deoxyguanosine Kinase and Apoptosis and Autophagy in Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells

<p>Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for about 85% of all lung cancers, and lung adenocarcinoma is the most common NSCLC. Most patients with lung cancer eventually lead to local and metastatic recurrence, including many patients who have completely removed the primary tumor during surgery and have no noticeable metastasis. There are two different deoxynucleotide triphosphate (dNTP) libraries in eukaryotic cells. The de novo synthesis of dNTPs in the cytoplasm is coordinated with the cell cycle and reaches a peak in the S phase, thereby providing deoxynucleotides for the replication of genomic DNA. In contrast, the mitochondrial pool of dNTPs is maintained through the mitochondrial deoxynucleoside rescue pathway throughout the cell cycle and is essential for mtDNA replication. Mitochondria are vital cell powers in assimilation and catabolism. Oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) of mitochondria is essential for the self-renewal of cancer stem-like cells in lung cancer, glioblastoma and leukemia. Thymidine kinase 2 (TK2) and deoxyguanosine kinase (DGUOK) are two mitochondrial deoxynucleoside kinases, which are responsible for the transport of pyrimidine and purine deoxynucleoside in mitochondria. Apoptosis and autophagy are important processes that regulate cell proliferation and death in normal cells and cancer cells. Inducing cancer cell apoptosis and autophagy is an effective means to treat malignant tumors. This review discusses the research progress of the relationship between mitochondrial deoxyguanosine kinase and lung adenocarcinoma cell apoptosis and autophagy.</p>

Discovery and Functional Characterization of Two Regulatory Variants Underlying Lupus Susceptibility at 2p13.1.

Genome-wide association studies have identified 2p13.1 as a prominent susceptibility locus for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)—a complex, multisystem autoimmune disease. However, the identity of underlying causal variant (s) and molecular mechanisms for increasing disease susceptibility are poorly understood. Using meta-analysis (cases = 10,252, controls = 21,604) followed by conditional analysis, bioinformatic annotation, and eQTL and 3D-chromatin interaction analyses, we computationally prioritized potential functional variants and subsequently experimentally validated their effects. Ethnicity-specific meta-analysis revealed striking allele frequency differences between Asian and European ancestries, but with similar odds ratios. We identified 20 genome-wide significant (p < 5 × 10−8) variants, and conditional analysis pinpointed two potential functional variants, rs6705628 and rs2272165, likely to explain the association. The two SNPs are near DGUOK, mitochondrial deoxyguanosine kinase, and its associated antisense RNA DGUOK-AS1. Using luciferase reporter gene assays, we found significant cell type- and allele-specific promoter activity at rs6705628 and enhancer activity at rs2272165. This is supported by ChIP-qPCR showing allele-specific binding with three histone marks (H3K27ac, H3K4me3, and H3K4me1), RNA polymerase II (Pol II), transcriptional coactivator p300, CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF), and transcription factor ARID3A. Transcriptome data across 28 immune cell types from Asians showed both SNPs are cell-type-specific but only in B-cells. Splicing QTLs showed strong regulation of DGUOK-AS1. Genotype-specific DGOUK protein levels are supported by Western blots. Promoter capture Hi-C data revealed long-range chromatin interactions between rs2272165 and several nearby promoters, including DGUOK. Taken together, we provide mechanistic insights into how two noncoding variants underlie SLE risk at the 2p13.1 locus.

The mitochondrial deoxyguanosine kinase is required for cancer cell stemness in lung adenocarcinoma.

The mitochondrial deoxynucleotide triphosphate (dNTP) is maintained by the mitochondrial deoxynucleoside salvage pathway and dedicated for the mtDNA homeostasis, and the mitochondrial deoxyguanosine kinase (DGUOK) is a rate‐limiting enzyme in this pathway. Here, we investigated the role of the DGUOK in the self‐renewal of lung cancer stem‐like cells (CSC). Our data support that DGUOK overexpression strongly correlates with cancer progression and patient survival. The depletion of DGUOK robustly inhibited lung adenocarcinoma tumor growth, metastasis, and CSC self‐renewal. Mechanistically, DGUOK is required for the biogenesis of respiratory complex I and mitochondrial OXPHOS, which in turn regulates CSC self‐renewal through AMPK‐YAP1 signaling. The restoration of mitochondrial OXPHOS in DGUOK KO lung cancer cells using NDI1 was able to prevent AMPK‐mediated phosphorylation of YAP and to rescue CSC stemness. Genetic targeting of DGUOK using doxycycline‐inducible CRISPR/Cas9 was able to markedly induce tumor regression. Our findings reveal a novel role for mitochondrial dNTP metabolism in lung cancer tumor growth and progression, and implicate that the mitochondrial deoxynucleotide salvage pathway could be potentially targeted to prevent CSC‐mediated therapy resistance and metastatic recurrence.

Abstract 973: The mitochondrial deoxyguanosine kinase regulates lung adenocarcinoma cancer stem-like cells through AMPK/YAP1 signaling

Abstract Metastasis involves the dissemination of tumor cells from primary site to distant organs, and the colonization of disseminated cancer cells to establish distant metastases. Some of the disseminated cancer stem-like cells (CSC) are able to remain in dormancy for years before establishing secondary tumor and triggering metastatic recurrence. The accepted paradigm of cancer therapy aims at eradicating rapidly proliferating cancer cells. However, how to eliminate disseminated metastatic cells in dormancy and to prevent metastatic recurrence remains a major challenge in the clinic. Here, we report that the CSC in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) rely on the mitochondrial deoxyguanosine kinase (dGK) to maintain mitochondrial homeostasis and cancer cell stemness. There is a pool of mitochondrial dNTP in the cell maintained by the mitochondrial deoxynucleoside salvage pathway and dedicated for the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) homeostasis in slow-cycling and post-mitotic cells. The role of the mitochondrial deoxynucleoside salvage pathway in tumor initiation and progression is poorly understood. Here, we investigated the role of the mitochondrial dGK, a rate-limiting enzyme in the mitochondrial deoxynucleoside salvage pathway, in the self-renewal of lung adenocarcinoma CSC. Our data support that dGK overexpression strongly correlates with cancer progression and patient survival. Depletion of dGK in lung cancer cells remarkably reduced the proportion of active aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH+) CSC, inhibited tumor sphere formation in vitro and prevent tumor-initiation ability of CSC in xenograft mouse models. Mechanistically, dGK controls the biogenesis of respiratory Complex I and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), which in turn regulates CSC self-renewal through AMPK-YAP1 signaling. The restoration of mitochondrial OXPHOS in dGK depleted lung cancer cells using NDI1, a single subunit yeast NADH : ubiquinone oxidoreductase, was able to rescue AMPK-YAP1 signaling and CSC stemness. Genetic targeting of dGK using doxycycline-inducible CRISPR/Cas9 was able to markedly induce tumor regression. Our findings reveal a novel role for mitochondrial dNTP metabolism in lung cancer tumor growth and progression, and indicate that the mitochondrial deoxynucleotide salvage pathway could be potentially targeted to prevent CSC-mediated therapy resistance and metastatic recurrence. Citation Format: Shengchen Lin, Chongbiao Huang, Jianwai Sun, Xiuchao Wang, Jiaxin Kang, Matthew Taylor, Bin Fang, Pankaj K Singh, John Koomen, Jihui Hao, Shengyu Yang. The mitochondrial deoxyguanosine kinase regulates lung adenocarcinoma cancer stem-like cells through AMPK/YAP1 signaling [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 973.

Role and mechanism of mitochondrial deoxyguanosine kinase in lung cancer tumorigenesis

Deletion or mutation of mitochondrial deoxyguanosine kinase ( dguok ) is a major cause of mitochondrial DNA deletion syndrome. However, the role and mechanism of dguok in tumorigenesis have not been documented. We found that deletion of dguok in lung cancer H1650 cells reduced the Sphere formation, an indicator of cancer stem cell growth. dguok deletion not only caused the morphological changes of mitochondria, but also dramatically decreased the oxygen consumption rate (OCR). Although dguok deletion reduced the number of mitochondrial DNA copies, it did not significantly reduce the mRNA level of mitochondrial DNA-coding genes. Further analysis showed that dguok deletion considerably lowered the protein level of NDUFB8, a component of mitochondrial complex I, but did not affect the mRNA level of ndufb8 . These findings suggested that dguok affected mitochondrial function and tumorigenesis through regulation of mitochondrial complex I level.

Nucleoside Analog Activity in Malignant Melanoma Cell Lines

Mitochondrial deoxyguanosine kinase (dGK), is an enzyme responsible for activation of nucleoside analogs (NAs) to phosphorylated compounds which exert profound cytotoxicity, especially in hematological malignancies. Screening malignant melanoma cell lines against NAs revealed high sensitivity to several of them. This was believed to be due to the high levels of dGK expression in these cells. Downregulation of dGK in the melanoma cell line RaH5 using siRNA did not cause resistance to NAs as expected, but instead cells became more sensitive. This was probably partly due to the increased activity of another mitochondrial enzyme, thymidine kinase 2, seen in transfected cells.

Reduced drug incorporation into DNA and antiapoptosis as the crucial mechanisms of resistance in a novel nelarabine-resistant cell line.

BackgroundNine-beta-D-arabinofuranosylguanine (ara-G), an active metabolite of nelarabine, enters leukemic cells through human Equilibrative Nucleoside Transporter 1, and is then phosphorylated to an intracellular active metabolite ara-G triphosphate (ara-GTP) by both cytosolic deoxycytidine kinase and mitochondrial deoxyguanosine kinase. Ara-GTP is subsequently incorporated into DNA, thereby inhibiting DNA synthesis.MethodsIn the present study, we developed a novel ara-G-resistant variant (CEM/ara-G) of human T-lymphoblastic leukemia cell line CCRF-CEM, and elucidated its mechanism of ara-G resistance. The cytotoxicity was measured by using the growth inhibition assay and the induction of apoptosis. Intracellular triphosphate concentrations were quantitated by using HPLC. DNA synthesis was evaluated by the incorporation of tritiated thymidine into DNA. Protein expression levels were determined by using Western blotting.ResultsCEM/ara-G cells were 70-fold more ara-G-resistant than were CEM cells. CEM/ara-G cells were also refractory to ara-G-mediated apoptosis. The transcript level of human Equilibrative Nucleoside Transporter 1 was lowered, and the protein levels of deoxycytidine kinase and deoxyguanosine kinase were decreased in CEM/ara-G cells. The subsequent production of intracellular ara-GTP (21.3 pmol/107 cells) was one-fourth that of CEM cells (83.9 pmol/107 cells) after incubation for 6 h with 10 μM ara-G. Upon ara-G treatment, ara-G incorporation into nuclear and mitochondrial DNA resulted in the inhibition of DNA synthesis of both fractions in CEM cells. However, DNA synthesis was not inhibited in CEM/ara-G cells due to reduced ara-G incorporation into DNA. Mitochondrial DNA-depleted CEM cells, which were generated by treating CEM cells with ethidium bromide, were as sensitive to ara-G as CEM cells. Anti-apoptotic Bcl-xL was increased and pro-apoptotic Bax and Bad were reduced in CEM/ara-G cells.ConclusionsAn ara-G-resistant CEM variant was successfully established. The mechanisms of resistance included reduced drug incorporation into nuclear DNA and antiapoptosis.

DGUOK‐Related Mitochondrial DNA Depletion Syndrome in a Child With an Early Diagnosis of Glycogen Storage Disease

<i>DGUOK</i>‐Related Mitochondrial DNA Depletion Syndrome in a Child With an Early Diagnosis of Glycogen Storage Disease

DNTP Supply Gene Expression Patterns after P53 Loss.

Loss of the transcription factor p53 implies mRNA losses of target genes such as the p53R2 subunit of human ribonucleotide reductase (RNR). We hypothesized that other genes in the dNTP supply system would compensate for such p53R2 losses and looked for this in our own data and in data of the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). We found that the de novo dNTP supply system compensates for p53R2 losses with increases in RNR subunit R1, R2, or both. We also found compensatory increases in cytosolic deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) and thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) and in mitochondrial deoxyguanosine kinase (dGK), all of the salvage dNTP supply system; in contrast, the remaining mitochondrial salvage enzyme thymidine kinase 2 (TK2) decreased with p53 loss. Thus, TK2 may be more dedicated to meeting mitochondrial dNTP demands than dGK which may be more obligated to assist cytosolic dNTP supply in meeting nuclear DNA dNTP demands.

Establishment of Novel Leukemic Cell Lines Resistant to Clofarabine by Dual Mechanisms of Decreased Active Metabolite and Increased Antiapoptotic Factor

Abstract 1356Clofarabine(2-Chloro-9-(2-deoxy-2-fluoro-β-D-arabinofuranosyl)adenine,2-chloro-2’-arabino-fluoro-2’-deoxyadenosine, CAFdA) is a relatively new purine nucleoside analog. Upon administration, CAFdA is incorporated into leukemic cells by human Equilibrative Nucleoside Transporters (hENT) 1 and 2, and human Concentrative Nucleoside Transporter (hCNT) 3. Inside the cell, the agent is phosphorylated to CAFdA monophosphate by cytosolic deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) and mitochondrial deoxyguanosine kinase (dGK), and then to an intracellular active metabolite CAFdA triphosphate (CAFdATP). CAFdATP inhibits ribonucleotide reductase and is incorporated into DNA, thereby terminating DNA synthesis as an antimetabolite. Moreover, CAFdA induces apoptosis via direct mitochondrial damage. Clinical studies suggest that CAFdA is effective against both acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). CAFdA therapy should be optimized based on the mechanistic understanding, because pharmacological determinants that correlate to the drug sensitivity may predict clinical efficacy of CAFdA as biological surrogate markers. Here, we have established two novel leukemic cell line variants that were resistant to CAFdA, and elucidated the mechanism of the drug resistance. The study focused on factors that were involved in the intracellular CAFdATP production and in the induction of apoptosis.To develop resistant variants, HL-60 cells were treated with escalating concentrations of CAFdA with the initial concentration at 1/100 of the concentration that inhibited 50% cell growth. After 7 months of the repeated passage, one cell line resistant to CAFdA (HL/CAFdA20) was cloned by the limiting dilution method. A part of this clone was further maintained with the drug for the subsequent 4 months to develop another variant (HL/CAFdA80). The 2 variants were 20- and 80-fold more CAFdA-resistant than HL-60 cells, respectively. They were cross-resistant to similar nucleoside analogs such as cladribine, gemcitabine, and cytarabine. Compared with HL-60 cell line, mRNA levels of the transporters (hENT1, hENT2, hCNT3) and protein levels of kinases (dCK, dGK), and the subsequent production of intracellular CAFdATP were all reduced in both CAFdA-resistant variants. Real time RT-PCR demonstrated that mRNA levels of hENT1, hENT2, and hCNT3 were 53.9%, 41.8%, 18.3% in HL/CAFdA20 cells, and 30.8%, 41.6%, 31.5% in HL/CAFdA80 cells, respectively, compared to the parental cells. The values of the initial uptake of CAFdA into the cell at 40 seconds after administration of tritiated CAFdA are 0.2 pmol/107cells in HL/CAFdA20 cells, and 0.1 pmol/107cells in HL/CAFdA80 cells, compared with 0.6 pmol/107 cells in parental HL60 cells. Western blotting revealed that protein levels of kinases were also reduced in these resistant variants with the greater reduction in HL/CAFdA80 cells. The subsequent production of CAFdATP after 4-h incubation with 10 μM CAFdA was 20 pmpl/107 cells in HL/CAFdA20 cells, 3 pmol/107cells in HL/CAFdA80 cells, and 63 pmol/107cells in HL-60 cells. The decreased CAFdATP production led to the attenuated incorporation of the drug into both mitochondrial and nuclear DNA. Concerning apoptosis, antiapoptotic Bcl2 protein overexpressed in the 2 resistant variants. The two variants were resistant to mitochondria-related apoptosis induced by CAFdA, in part due to the enhanced Bcl2 expression. A Bcl2 inhibitor ABT737 synergized the cytotoxic effect and the growth inhibition effect of CAFdA in both variants and HL-60, but the synergism was more profound in the resistant cell lines. The Combination Index values were 0.27 in HL/CAFdA20 cells, and 0.21 in HL/CAFdA80 cells, compared with 0.63 in HL-60 cells. This suggested the contribution of the enhanced Bcl2 protein to the mechanism of drug resistance.In conclusion, the mechanism of cellular resistance to CAFdA in the 2 variants was multifactorial, but primarily includes the reduced CAFdATP production and the increased antiapoptotic factor. It is noted that the decreased dGK level and Bcl2 overexpression were not reported previously in the context of CAFdA resistance. We suggest combination of CAFdA and ABT737 might be effective to CAFdA resistant and refractory leukemia. (This work was supported by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan. No.23501307) Disclosures:No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Next-generation sequencing reveals DGUOK mutations in adult patients with mitochondrial DNA multiple deletions

The molecular diagnosis of mitochondrial disorders still remains elusive in a large proportion of patients, but advances in next generation sequencing are significantly improving our chances to detect mutations even in sporadic patients. Syndromes associated with mitochondrial DNA multiple deletions are caused by different molecular defects resulting in a wide spectrum of predominantly adult-onset clinical presentations, ranging from progressive external ophthalmoplegia to multi-systemic disorders of variable severity. The mutations underlying these conditions remain undisclosed in half of the affected subjects. We applied next-generation sequencing of known mitochondrial targets (MitoExome) to probands presenting with adult-onset mitochondrial myopathy and harbouring mitochondrial DNA multiple deletions in skeletal muscle. We identified autosomal recessive mutations in the DGUOK gene (encoding mitochondrial deoxyguanosine kinase), which has previously been associated with an infantile hepatocerebral form of mitochondrial DNA depletion. Mutations in DGUOK occurred in five independent subjects, representing 5.6% of our cohort of patients with mitochondrial DNA multiple deletions, and impaired both muscle DGUOK activity and protein stability. Clinical presentations were variable, including mitochondrial myopathy with or without progressive external ophthalmoplegia, recurrent rhabdomyolysis in a young female who had received a liver transplant at 9 months of age and adult-onset lower motor neuron syndrome with mild cognitive impairment. These findings reinforce the concept that mutations in genes involved in deoxyribonucleotide metabolism can cause diverse clinical phenotypes and suggest that DGUOK should be screened in patients harbouring mitochondrial DNA deletions in skeletal muscle.

Metabolic Interrelations within Guanine Deoxynucleotide Pools for Mitochondrial and Nuclear DNA Maintenance

Mitochondrial deoxynucleoside triphosphates are formed and regulated by a network of anabolic and catabolic enzymes present both in mitochondria and the cytosol. Genetic deficiencies for enzymes of the network cause mitochondrial DNA depletion and disease. We investigate by isotope flow experiments the interrelation between mitochondrial and cytosolic deoxynucleotide pools as well as the contributions of the individual enzymes of the network to their maintenance. To study specifically the synthesis of dGTP used for the synthesis of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA, we labeled hamster CHO cells or human fibroblasts with [(3)H]deoxyguanosine during growth and quiescence and after inhibition with aphidicolin or hydroxyurea. At time intervals we determined the labeling of deoxyguanosine nucleotides and DNA and the turnover of dGTP from its specific radioactivity in the separated mitochondrial and cytosolic pools. In both cycling and quiescent cells, the import of deoxynucleotides formed by cytosolic ribonucleotide reductase accounted for most of the synthesis of mitochondrial dGTP, with minor contributions by cytosolic deoxycytidine kinase and mitochondrial deoxyguanosine kinase. A dynamic isotopic equilibrium arose rapidly from the shuttling of deoxynucleotides between mitochondria and cytosol, incorporation of dGTP into DNA, and degradation of dGMP. Inhibition of DNA synthesis by aphidicolin marginally affected the equilibrium. Inhibition of DNA synthesis by blockage of ribonucleotide reduction with hydroxyurea instead disturbed the equilibrium and led to accumulation of labeled dGTP in the cytosol. The turnover of dGTP decreased, suggesting a close connection between ribonucleotide reduction and pool degradation.

Depletion of mitochondrial DNA by down-regulation of deoxyguanosine kinase expression in non-proliferating HeLa cells

Purine deoxyribonucleotides required for mitochondrial DNA replication are either imported from the cytosol or derived from phosphorylation of deoxyadenosine or deoxyguanosine catalyzed by mitochondrial deoxyguanosine kinase (DGUOK). DGUOK deficiency has been linked to mitochondrial DNA depletion syndromes suggesting an important role for this enzyme in dNTP supply. We have generated HeLa cell lines with 20–30% decreased levels of DGUOK mRNA by the expression of small interfering RNAs directed towards the DGUOK mRNA. The cells with decreased expression of the enzyme showed similar levels of mtDNA as control cells when grown exponentially in culture. However, mtDNA levels rapidly decreased in the cells when cell cycle arrest was induced by serum starvation. DNA incorporation of 9-β- d-arabino-furanosylguanine (araG) was lower in the cells with decreased deoxyguanosine kinase expression, but the total rate of araG phosphorylation was increased in the cells. The increase in araG phosphorylation was shown to be due to increased expression of deoxycytidine kinase. In summary, our findings show that DGUOK is required for mitochondrial DNA replication in resting cells and that small changes in expression of this enzyme may cause mitochondrial DNA depletion. Our data also suggest that alterations in the expression level of DGUOK may induce compensatory changes in the expression of other nucleoside kinases.

Results of a Phase II Study of 506U78 (Nelarabine) in Refractory Indolent B-Cell or Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: Compound 506U78 (Nelarabine), a water soluble pro-drug of 9-β-d-arabinofuranosyl-guanine, is demethoxylated by adenosine deaminase to ara-G in lymphoblasts. Intracellular ara-G is then phosphorylated via deoxycytidine kinase and mitochondrial deoxyguanosine kinase to its active 5′-triphosphate, ara-GTP. Ara-GTP, a potent inhibitor of DNA polymerase, also incorporates into DNA resulting in cell death. Studies in children and adult T-cell leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) have shown activity, but with reversible neurotoxicity as the most prominent adverse event.METHODS: We report here the results of a phase II study with 506U78 in adults (median age 64, range 33–81) with relapsed or refractory indolent B-cell or peripheral T-cell NHL. Patients had received a median of 2 prior courses of chemotherapy. 506U78 was given at 1.5 g/m2/day IV on days 1, 3, and 5 every 28 days to a maximum of 6 cycles unless toxicity or progressive disease. If after 4 cycles a complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) was not achieved, then treatment was discontinued.RESULTS: There were 23 patients enrolled including 13 with T-cell and 10 with indolent B-cell NHL. Among 19 assessable for response, the overall response rate (ORR) in T-cell NHL was 4/9 (44%) with 2 CR and 2 PR, while in indolent B-cell NHL the PR was 3/9 (33%) with no CR. In responders, the median time to progression (TTP) was 8 months (range 2–22 months). Sixteen of 22 (73%) patients evaluable for toxicity had grade 3 or 4 adverse events. Neurotoxicity included one grade 3 and one grade 4 event.CONCLUSION: Compound 506U78 is active as a single agent in T-cell and B-cell NHL. Our response rate was higher than the ORR of 10.5% reported previously in the Czuczman et al. (2004) Blood 104(11) abstract in adults with T-cell NHL and there was less neurotoxicity in our study. This may be related to different dosing regimens (every 28 days vs. every 21 days). Compound 506U78 should be further evaluated in clinical trials.

Phosphorylation of Isocarbostyril‐ and Difluorophenyl‐Nucleoside Thymidine Mimics by the Human Deoxynucleoside Kinases

The thymidine mimics isocarbostyril nucleosides and difluorophenyl nucleosides were tested as deoxynucleoside kinase substrates using recombinant human cytosolic thymidine kinase (TK1) and deoxycytidine kinase (dCK), and mitochondrial thymidine kinase (TK2) and deoxyguanosine kinase (dGK). The isocarbostyril nucleoside compound 1‐(2‐deoxy‐β‐D‐ribofuranosyl)‐isocarbostyril (EN1) was a poor substrate with all the enzymes. The phosphorylation rates of EN1 with TK1 and TK2 were < 1% relative to Thd, where as the phosphorylation rates for EN1 were 1.4% and 1.1% with dCK and dGK relative to dCyd and dGuo, respectively. The analogue 1‐(2‐deoxy‐β‐D‐ribofuranosyl)‐7‐iodoisocarbostyril (EN2) showed poor relative‐phosphorylation efficiencies (k cat /K m ) with both TK1 and dGK, but not with TK2. The k cat /K m value for EN2 with TK2 was 12.6% relative to that for Thd. Of the difluorophenyl nucleosides, 5‐(1′‐(2′‐deoxy‐β‐D‐ribofuranosyl))‐2,4‐difluorotoluene (JW1) and 1‐(1′‐(2′‐deoxy‐β‐D‐ribofuranosyl))‐2,4‐difluoro‐5‐iodobenzene (JW2) were substrates for TK1 with phosphorylation efficiencies of about 5% relative to that for Thd. Both analogues were considerably more efficient substrates for TK2, with k cat /K m values of 45% relative to that for Thd. 2,5‐Difluoro‐4‐[1‐(2‐deoxy‐β‐L‐ribofuranosyl)]‐aniline (JW5), a L‐nucleoside mimic, was phosphorylated up to 15% as efficiently as deoxycytidine by dCK. These data provide a possible explanation for the previously reported lack of cytotoxicity of the isocarbostyril‐ and difluorophenyl nucleosides, but potential mitochondrial effects of EN2, JW1 and JW2 should be further investigated.

Mitochondrial deoxyguanosine kinase mutations and mitochondrial DNA depletion syndrome

Mitochondrial deoxyguanosine kinase (dGK) catalyzes the initial phosphorylation of purine deoxynucleosides. Mutations in the dGK gene leading to deficiency in dGK activity is one of the causes of severe mitochondrial DNA depletion diseases. We used site-directed mutagenesis to introduce the clinically observed genetic alterations in the dGK gene and characterized the recombinant enzymes. The R142K enzyme had very low activity with deoxyguanosine and no activity with deoxyadenosine. The E227K mutant enzyme had unchanged K m values for all its substrates but very low V max values. C-terminal truncated dGK proteins were inactive. These results may help to define the role of dGK in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) precursor synthesis.

Effects of 9-β- d-arabinofuranosylguanine on mitochondria in CEM T-lymphoblast leukemia cells

The nucleoside analog 9-β- d-arabinofuranosylguanine (araG) is presently evaluated in clinical trials for therapy of T-cell lymphoid malignancies. AraG is a substrate for the mitochondrial deoxyguanosine kinase and we have recently shown that araG is predominantly incorporated into mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). In this study we have investigated the effects of araG on mtDNA content and function. Although araG was incorporated into mtDNA, no decrease in mtDNA levels or effect on the expression of the mtDNA encoded cytochrome c oxidase was detected. Cells depleted of mtDNA were resistant to araG, but the mechanism of resistance was not specific for nucleoside analogs incorporated into mtDNA. Furthermore, the results suggest that the cells need to pass the S-phase in order for araG to induce caspase-dependent apoptosis. In summary, our findings suggest that the incorporation of araG into mtDNA does not cause the acute cytotoxicity of araG.

Pharmacological Basis for Cladribine Resistance

The inherent or acquired resistance of leukemic cells to cytostatic agents is a major clinical challenge. The purpose of this review was to elucidate and analyse the available data concerning mechanisms of resistance of cladribine with emphasis on recent advances in the characterization of activating and inactivating enzymes in the induction of resistance to cladribine. All available in vitro and clinical data on cladribine was undertaken. Cladribine, unlike many other drugs, is toxic to both dividing and indolent lymphoid malignancies. Cladribine is a prodrug and must be phosphorylated intracellularly to cladribine-monophosphate (MP) by the nuclear/cystosol enzyme deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) and the mitochondrial enzyme deoxyguanosine kinase. The cytotoxicity mainly depends on the accumulation of cladribine-triphosphates (TP) after phosphorylation of cladribine-MP by nucleoside monophosphate kinase and nucleoside diphosphate kinase. 5′-Nucleotidase (5′-NT) dephosphorylates cladribine-MP and the accumulation of cladribine-TP depends on the ratio of dCK and 5′-NT in the cells. The mechanisms underlying cladribine resistance are multifactorial, e.g. decreased nucleoside transport, decreased activity or deficiency of dCK, altered intracellular pools of competing nucleotides, altered regulation of ribonucleotide reductase and increased drug inactivation by 5′-NT. Finally, cladribine resistance may be a consequence of a defective induction of apoptosis. In spite of the fact that more than one mechanism can contribute to a cladribine resistance phenotype, a reduction in dCK activity is probably the major determinant of cladribine resistance. Insight into the mechanism of action and resistance to cladribine is crucial for its optimal use as well as for the development of newer analogues.

Low level of mitochondrial deoxyguanosine kinase is the dominant factor in acquired resistance to 9-β- d-arabinofuranosylguanine cytotoxicity

9-β- d-Arabinofuranosylguanine (Ara-G) is an important and relatively new guanosiue analog with activity in patients with T-cell malignancies. The biochemical and molecular events leading to resistance to Ara-G are not fully understood. Therefore we generated two Ara-G-resistant human MOLT-4 leukemic cell lines with different levels of resistance. The mitochondrial enzyme deoxyguanosine kinase (dGK) and the nuclear/cytosol enzyme deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) are key enzymes in the activation of Ara-G. Decreased levels of dGK protein and mRNA were found in both resistant cell sublines. The activity of dCK was decreased in the subline with higher resistance to Ara-G and these cells were highly cross-resistant to other nucleosides activated by dCK. Increased activity of the mitochondrial enzyme thymidine kinase 2 was observed in both resistant sublines and this could be related to the dGK deficiency. In search for other resistance mechanisms it was found that the resistant cells overexpress the mdr1 gene, while no changes were detected in the levels of multidrug resistance-associated protein 1 through 6, lung resistance-associated protein or topoisomerase IIα or IIβ. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that multiple mechanisms are involved in the acquired resistance to Ara-G. However, low expression of dGK is the most apparent alteration in both resistant cell lines. Partial deficiency of dCK was found in the subline cells with higher resistance to Ara-G. Furthermore, Ara-G may select for high expression of the multidrug resistance (mdr1) which could be a specific resistance mechanism but more likely part of an overall cellular stress response.