Real time in vitro regulation of DNA methylation using a 5-fluorouracil conjugated DNA-based stimuli-responsive platform

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2013 Apr 10;5(7):2604-9. doi: 10.1021/am3033052. Epub 2013 Mar 25.

Abstract

DNA methylation, catalyzed by methylases, plays a critical role in many biological processes, and many methylases have been regarded as promising targets for antimicrobial drugs. In this work, we report a stimulus responsive, self-regulating anticancer drug release platform, comprising a multifunctional DNA that upon methylation by methyltransferase (MTase) releases 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu) and in turn inhibits subsequent expression of MTase. The multifunctional DNA with anticancer drug are first methylated by DNA adenine methylation (DAM) methyltransferase (MTase) and then cut by the methylation-sensitive restriction endonuclease Dpn I. Removal of duplex from the functional DNA by the methylation/cleavage process will release the anticancer drug, resulting in inhibition of the activity of DAM in turn. Consequently, the enzyme activity of DAM MTase can be self-regulated. Furthermore, we found that the inhibition efficiency of 5-Fu significantly increase as it is functionalized with DNA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenine / chemistry
  • Adenine / metabolism
  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating / chemistry
  • Carbocyanines / chemistry
  • DNA / chemistry*
  • DNA / metabolism
  • DNA Methylation
  • DNA Restriction Enzymes / metabolism
  • DNA, Single-Stranded / chemistry
  • DNA, Single-Stranded / metabolism
  • Fluorouracil / chemistry*
  • Fluorouracil / metabolism
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Site-Specific DNA-Methyltransferase (Adenine-Specific) / metabolism*
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Alkylating
  • Carbocyanines
  • DNA, Single-Stranded
  • cyanine dye 3
  • DNA
  • Site-Specific DNA-Methyltransferase (Adenine-Specific)
  • DNA Restriction Enzymes
  • Adenine
  • Fluorouracil