Interaction of several nucleoside triphosphate analogues and 10-hydroxycamptothecin with human DNA topoisomerases

DNA topoisomerase I (Topo I) can exist in several different molecular weight forms in human leukemic cells. The Mr 98,000 form of Topo I was inhibited by several nucleoside triphosphates and their analogues at a 500 microM concentration in the order: dideoxy-GTP greater than 2-bromo-dATP greater than dideoxy-ATP greater than dideoxy-CTP greater than 2-fluoro-dATP greater than 2-chloro-dATP. The same concentration of these nucleoside triphosphates also inhibited the Mr 32,000 and the Mr 35,000 Topo I forms in the order: 2-bromo-dATP greater than dideoxy-GTP greater than 2-fluoro-dATP greater than dideoxy-ATP; however, dideoxy-CTP and 2-chloro-dATP did not inhibit these forms. ATP inhibited both the large and the small molecular weight forms of Topo I at a concentration of 8 mM. DNA topoisomerase II (Topo II) isolated from human leukemic cells requires ATP for its activity. Of the nucleoside triphosphates examined, only dATP could substitute for ATP. In the presence of 500 microM ATP, equimolar concentrations of 2-bromo-dATP, dideoxy-ATP, 2-chloro-dATP, 2-fluoro-dATP, and dideoxy-GTP nucleotide analogues inhibited the unknotting activity of the Topo II enzyme. When the nucleotide analogue concentration was decreased to 250 microM, only 2-bromo-dATP still had a significant inhibitory effect on Topo II. With the exception of 2-bromo-dATP, the analogues studied appeared to inhibit the nicking step of both the Topo I and Topo II enzyme activity. These results differ from previously described mechanisms of inhibition by camptothecin of Topo I and etoposide of Topo II. These enzymatic studies suggest the inhibition of Topo I and Topo II activities could contribute to the cytotoxicity of the respective nucleoside analogues in cell culture, particularly when high concentrations of these nucleoside analogues accumulate as triphosphates inside the cells.