DNA-targeting agents have a significant clinical use, although toxicity remains an issue that plays against their widespread application. Understanding the mechanism of action and DNA damage response elicited by such compounds might contribute to the improvement of their use in anticancer chemotherapy. In a previous study, our research group characterized a new DNA-targeting agent - pradimicin-IRD. Since DNA-targeting agents and DNA repair are close-related subjects, the present study used in silico-modelling and a transcriptomic approach seeking to characterize the DNA repair pathways activated in HCT 116 cells following pradimicin-IRD treatment. Molecular docking analysis showed pradimicin-IRD as a DNA intercalating agent and a potential inhibitor of DNA-binding proteins. Furthermore, the transcriptomic study highlighted DNA repair functions related to genes modulated by pradimicin-IRD, such as nucleotide excision repair, telomeres maintenance and double-strand break repair. When validating these functions, PCNA protein levels decreased after exposure to pradimicin. Furthermore, molecular docking analysis suggested DNA-pradimicin-PCNA interaction. In addition, hTERT and POLH showed reduced mRNA levels after 6 h of treatment with pradimicin-IRD. Moreover, POLH-deficient cells displayed higher resistance to pradimicin-IRD than POLH-proficient cells and the compound prevented formation of the POLH/DNA complex (molecular docking). Since the modulation of DNA repair genes by pradimicin-IRD is TP53-independent, unlike doxorubicin, dissimilarities between the mechanism of action and the DNA damage response of pradimicin-IRD and doxorubicin open new insights for further studies of pradimicin-IRD as a new antineoplastic compound.
Keywords: Cancer; DNA damage; DNA repair; DNA-targeting agent; Doxorubicin; Pradimicin-IRD.
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