Review
a b
Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration, Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
College of Arts and Sciences, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, SC 29733, Amerika Serikat
INFO ARTIKEL dan metastasis, yang menyebabkan hasil klinis yang buruk [8]. Karena
perannya dalam
Kata kunci: mengatur transkripsi global [11], downregulasi MYC adalah mantan
MYC Kanker adalah penyakit utama yang menimbulkan ancaman serius bagi
Ekspresi gen kesehatan manusia di seluruh dunia, terutama di negara berkembang [1,2].
G-quadruplex (G4)
Agen pengikat G4
Pada tingkat molekuler, kanker adalah kelainan genetik dan kejadiannya
peptida terkait erat dengan ekspresi menyimpang dari penekan tumor dan onkogen
terapi kanker [3,4]. Di antara onkogen ini, MYC diekspresikan secara berlebihan hingga
70% dari semua kanker pada manusia, dan terkait dengan sekitar 70.000
kematian per tahun di Amerika Serikat [5–7]. Produk gen MYC adalah
faktor transkripsi utama yang mengikat E-box tertentu di promotor target
saat membentuk heterodimer dengan MAX dan mengontrol ekspresi
banyak gen target, penting untuk banyak kemajuan fisiologis, seperti
proliferasi sel, diferensiasi, adhesi , apoptosis, angio genesis dan
metastasis [6,8-10]. Dengan demikian, peningkatan level MYC secara
langsung berkontribusi pada ekspresi gen yang berubah yang mendorong
1. Pendahuluan perkembangan kanker yang
ABSTRAK diharapkan dapat mengurangi proliferasi dan kelangsungan hidup semua
jenis sel. Namun, penghambatan transkripsi MYC menyebabkan hilangnya
Ekspresi berlebihan dari onkogen MYC adalah ciri molekuler dari inisiasi dan fenotipe ganas secara dramatis di sebagian besar sel tumor dengan sedikit
perkembangan kanker. Target MYC adalah strategi terapi kanker yang logis dan atau tanpa toksisitas pada sel normal [12-15]. Dengan demikian,
efektif. Struktur sekunder DNA khusus, G quadruplex (G4), terbentuk di dalam penargetan MYC menjanjikan sebagai strategi yang efisien dan aman
wilayah nuclease hipersensitivitas elemen III 1 (NHE III1), terletak di hulu promotor dalam pengobatan kanker pada manusia.
P1 gen MYC yang menggerakkan sebagian besar transkripsi. Menargetkan struktur Ekspresi MYC yang menyimpang pada kanker terutama diatur pada
G4 seperti itu telah menjadi fokus terapi antikanker dalam beberapa dekade tingkat transkripsi [16]. Unsur hipersensitivitas nuklease III 1 (NHE III1),
terakhir. Dengan demikian, tinjauan komprehensif terhadap struktur MYC G4 dan terletak di hulu promotor P1 MYC, berkontribusi pada 80-90% transkripsi
perannya sebagai target terapi potensial tepat waktu. Dalam ulasan ini, pertama- MYC [16-18]. Khususnya, elemen NHE III1 mengandung daerah kaya G
tama kami menguraikan penemuan struktur MYC G4 dan bukti pembentukannya yang dapat dilipat menjadi struktur sekunder DNA tertentu yang dikenal
secara in vitro dan dalam sel. Kemudian, kami menjelaskan peran fungsional G4 sebagai G-quadruplex (G4), yang secara negatif mengatur transkripsi
dalam mengatur ekspresi gen MYC. Kami juga merangkum tiga jenis protein yang [19,20]. Sebagai salah satu struktur DNA non-kanonik, G4 umumnya terdiri
berinteraksi dengan MYC G4 yang dapat mempromosikan, menstabilkan, dan dari tiga atau lebih G-quartet (juga dikenal sebagai G
melepaskan struktur G4. Akhirnya, kami membahas molekul pengikat G4 dan
aktivitas antikanker dari ligan penstabil G4, termasuk senyawa molekuler kecil dan
peptida, dan menilai potensinya sebagai terapi antikanker baru.
Singkatan: ADAR1, Adenosine deaminase yang bekerja pada RNA 1; AML, Acute myelocytic leukemia; BCL2, B cell leukemia / lymphoma 2 ; BLM, protein sindrom
Bloom; CD, Circular dichroism; ChIP, Chromatin immunoprecipitation; CLSM, Mikroskopi pemindaian laser confocal; CNBP, protein pengikat asam nukleat jari seng tipe
CCHC; DDX5, Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp (DEAD) -460 kotak polipeptida 5; DMS, Dimetilsulfat; EMSA, Uji pergeseran mobilitas elektroforetik; FRET, transfer energi resonansi
fluoresensi; FUSE, elemen urutan hulu jauh; G4, G-quadruplex; HIF-1α, Faktor yang diinduksi hipoksia 1-alfa; hnRNP K, Ribonukleoprotein nuklir heterogen K; hPARP-
1, poli (ADP-ribosa) polimerase-1; ITC, kalorimetri titrasi isotermal; NAD, Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide; NCL, Nucleolin; NF Y, Nuclear factor Y; NHE III 1, Nuclease
hipersensitivitas elemen III1; NMR, Resonansi magnetik nuklir; NPM1, Nukleofos min; PDGF-A, faktor pertumbuhan A yang diturunkan dari trombosit; RBD, domain
pengikat RNA; RECQ5, RecQ seperti helicase 5; RGG, Arginin-glisin-glisin; SP1, Kekhususan protein 1; SPR, Resonansi permukaan plasmon; TNBC, kanker payudara
triple-negatif; TSS, Situs inisiasi Transkripsi; WRN, protein sindrom Werner; XRCC1, perbaikan silang sinar-X melengkapi 1; ε-PLL, ε-poly-l-lysine; α, ε-PLL, α, ε-poly-l-
lysine; 2-Ap, 2-aminopurine
⁎
Sesuai penulis.
Alamat email: lidd@nefu.edu.cn (D. Li), gcsui@nefu.edu.cn (G. Sui).
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbcan.2020.188410
Diterima 29 Juni 2020; Diterima dalam bentuk revisi 21 Juli 2020; Diterima 21 Juli 2020
Tersedia online 19 Agustus 2020
0304-419X / © 2020 Elsevier BV Semua hak dilindungi undang-undang.
W. Wang, dkk. BBA - Review tentang Cancer 1874 (2020) 188410
Gbr. 1. Struktur G-quadruplexes. A.Struktur kuartet G yang dibentuk oleh susunan koplanar empat guanin yang dipegang oleh pasangan basa Hoogsteen antara N1
dan O6 mereka (disorot dengan warna merah), dan distabilkan oleh kation logam univalen pusat (M +), dengan preferensi untuk monovalen kation dengan urutan K + >
Na+ > Li+. B dan C. Varietas topologi dari G-quadruplexes intramolekul dan antarmolekul. D. Daerah loop dari struktur G4. Kepala panah menunjukkan arah untaian
DNA; guanine (G) terlihat pada gambar dengan lingkaran biru.
Gambar 4. Diagram skematis dari efek protein pengikat MYC G4. A, B dan C. Protein mempromosikan, menstabilkan dan melepaskan struktur MYC G4, masing-
masing.
Protein mempromosikan pembentukan G4 NCL RBD 3 dan 4 dan domain RGG di wilayah C-terminal [66,67] CNBP Kotak RGG di wilayah terminal N dasar [87,90]
NPM1 70-aa NPM1 C-terminal domain [99-101]
Protein mengikat dan menstabilkan struktur G4 LARK Domain RBM [121]
ADAR1 The Z-DNA mengikat domain [109] P53 mutan Wilayah C-terminal (aa 320-393) [119,120]
Protein melepaskan struktur G4 PIF1 Domain helikase yang dilestarikan (aa 206-620, PIF1-HD) [129–131] BLM Wilayah sayap-β dari domain RQC [135]
WRN Dua kunci aa (T1024 and T1086) within RQC domain [136]
DDX5 Not described [142]
NM23-H2 Not described [151,153,154]
PARP-1 The first zinc finger domain [155]
6
W. Wang, et al. BBA - Reviews on Cancer 1874 (2020) 188410
addition, P53 has high affinity for various noncanonical DNA struc tures, binding could impact gene transcription through associating with other
including G4 DNA, Holliday junctions, cruciforms, triplex DNA, T loops, transcription factors, such as nuclear factor Y (NF-Y), P63 and P73
stem-loops, DNA bulges and hemicatenated DNA [113,114]. In these [113,117,118]. Petr et al. reported that the C-terminal region (amino acids
processes, P53 interacts with multiple key regulators, including 320-393) of P53 was responsible for binding to the MYC G4 structure with
transcription factors [115,116]. P53 mutants mostly deficient in DNA high affinity [119]. P53 mutations were mostly identi fied in its DNA binding
domain, located in the middle region of the protein. Thus, most P53 7
mutants still retain their affinity for G4 structures. Quante et al. reported the 3′ ssDNA and the RQC domain to the G4 structure [78,137–139]. In
that a P53 mutant could bind and stabilize MYC G4 in vitro [120]. The data human cells, BLM, WRN and RECQ4 are of special interest due to their
indicated that mutated P53 in cancer cells may still regulate gene involvement in genetic disorders, including cancers and premature ageing
expression through modulating G4 structure stability. [140]. As the first discovered G4 helicase, BLM can unwind both
Niu et al. recently identified LARK, an RNA recognition motif (RRM, intermolecular and intramolecular G4 structures [78,141]. Lee dkk. reported
also known as RBM)-containing protein, as a protein to bind and sta bilize the interaction of BLM's RQC domain with MYC G4, and re vealed the
the MYC G4 structure in vitro [121]. However, whether LARK keeps these importance of the RQC β-wing region in binding and un winding the G4
properties in a cellular environment was not tested. Im portantly, the motif [135]. Another important member of this sub family is WRN, exhibiting
authors demonstrated that the RBM domain was indis pensable for the G4 similar functions to BLM. Ketkar et al. reported that the RQC domain of
binding activity of LARK, implicating the G4- binding potential of other WRN could impart a 2-fold binding preference to G4 compared to non-G4
proteins containing this conserved domain. DNA substrates [136]. Using the NMR approach, they also identified two
key amino acids, T1024 and T1086, within the RQC domain of WRN,
involved in G4 binding and unwinding activities [136].
4.3. Proteins unwinding the MYC G4 structure
Recently, Wu et al. reported an RNA helicase named Asp-Glu-Ala Asp
(DEAD)-box polypeptide 5 (DDX5, also called p68) that could be extremely
Most G4 structures exhibit inhibitory effects on DNA replication,
proficient at unwinding the MYC G4 structure [142]. As a prototypical
transcription and translation. Thus, proteins with G4-resolving activ ities can
member of the large ATP-dependent RNA helicases family, DDX5
promote these processes [21,22]. Helicases are molecular motors that
participates in a broad spectrum of biological processes, such as
open dsDNA during replication and transcription. Multiple helicases have
transcription, RNA processing (eg alternative splicing and RNA transport),
been reported to preferentially resolve noncanonical secondary structures,
DNA replication, and ribosome and miRNA biogenesis [143–145]. The
including G4 motifs, Holliday junctions and tri plexes [78,122–124].
DDX5 protein has a core helicase domain that is composed of two RecA-
Helicases are divided into six superfamilies, SF1 to SF6, based on protein
like domains known as domain 1 (D1) and D2. D1 can bind to ATP, and D2
sequence homology [78]. According to moving directions on DNA,
can recognize dsRNA structures [146,147]. DDX5 could also effectively
helicases can also be classified into type A (3′ to 5′) and type B (5′ to 3′)
unwind the MYC G4 and other in tramolecular G4 structures. However, its
[78]. All G4-helicases require a single-stranded tail at either the 3′ or 5′ end
unwinding activity did not need a ssDNA tail nor direct participation of ATP
to ensure their loading onto DNA substrates. Moreover, the G4 helicases
hydrolysis [142], indicating a distinct mechanism among known G4
act catalytically, and require hydrolysis of nucleotide triphosphates,
helicases so far. In MCF-7 cells, DDX5 was enriched at the MYC promoter
normally ATP, and Mg2+ ions [78,122]. and induced its transcription, which could be repressed by a G4-stabilizing
PIF1 is an ATP-dependent 5′ to 3′ DNA SF1 helicase and a member of compound, TMPyP4 [142].
a highly conserved protein family. It contributes to telomere elon gation, These data suggest that the helicases PIF1, BLM, WRN and DDX5 can
Okazaki fragment processing and genome stability maintenance [125– efficiently unwind MYC G4 structures in a catalytic fashion. In addition,
127]. Many studies demonstrated the activity of PIF1 in un winding dsDNA, multiple proteins can destabilize G4 structures in a non-cat alytic fashion,
double DNA/RNA hybrid strands and other secondary structures with unwinding processes independent of ATP hydro lysis. Unlike the
[85,127,128]. Sanders first reported that human PIF1 could bind and aforementioned helicases, these proteins resolving different types of G4
unwind the tetramolecular parallel G4 DNA structures in vitro, dependent DNA or RNA structures have not been extensively investigated so far.
on its conserved helicase domain [129]. Noticeably, PIF1 showed higher One of the proteins to disrupt G4 structures is NM23-H2, belonging to a
affinity for the G4 motif than that for ssDNA and dsDNA. In addition, prior to class of proteins involved in transcriptional activation, and ori ginally
unwinding G4 DNA structures, PIF1 needed to bind to an extended (> 10 identified as nucleotide diphosphate kinases [148,149]. In hu mans, NM23-
nucleotides) 5′ ssDNA tail but not G4 motifs [129]. Other groups reported H2 was first identified as a cancer metastasis inhibitor and has been
that PIF1 unfolds an in tramolecular parallel G4 structure, such as MYC G4 substantially studied in recent years due to its role in tran scriptionally
[130,131]. Im portantly, PIF1-catalyzed unfolding of G4 DNA is highly activating the MYC gene through binding the NHE III 1 element in vitro and
dependent on both substrate sequences and reaction conditions [131]. in a cellular environment [148–150]. However, the exact mechanism of
Another class of G4-helicases is the RecQ subfamily, comprising 3′ to NM23-H2 in promoting MYC gene transcription remains controversial. To
5′ DNA SF2 helicases conserved from prokaryotes to eukaryotes, with five date, ample evidence has demonstrated that NM23-H2 could preferentially
members, including RECQ1, RECQ4, RECQ5, Bloom syndrome protein bind the G- and C-rich single strands of NHE III 1, but not the dsDNA
(BLM), and Werner syndrome protein (WRN) [78,132,133]. Among these [151,152]. However, Thakur et al. re ported the activity of NM23-H2 in
helicases, BLM and WRN have all three conserved RecQ domains, binding to MYC G4 and then un winding to ssDNA [153], which was
including a helicase domain, a RecQ C-terminal (RQC) do main, and a confirmed by two other studies [151,154]. These data strongly suggested a
helicase-and-RNaseD C-terminal (HRDC) domain [78,134]. Among them, functional role of NM23-H2 in promoting MYC gene transcription through
the RQC domain is required for the G4-specific un winding activities of disrupting the G4 motif in NHE III 1. Thus, MYC G4 and NM23-H2
these helicases [78,135,136]. Strikingly, if the intramolecular G4 is followed interaction may be a potential intervening point to suppress MYC
by a single stranded region as short as 5- 10 nucleotides, BLM and WRN expression in cancer therapies.
helicases can unwind G4 in an ATP independent fashion, with cooperative PARP1, poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-1, also regulates MYC gene
binding of the HRDC domain to transcription through its interaction with the G4 structure [155]. PARP1
protein is abundant in the chromatin of eukaryotic cells and has a high
affinity for damaged DNA. It becomes catalytically active upon binding to
DNA breaks, and then cleaves nicotinamide adenine dinu cleotide (NAD +)
into nicotinamide and ADP-ribose, the latter of which can be conjugated to
nuclear acceptor proteins, including X-ray repair cross complementing 1
(XRCC1), histones, and PARP1 itself for auto regulation [156–159]. The
enzyme activity of PARP1 is affected by its interaction with DNA, single-
and double-stranded breaks, non-B-DNA structures and others
[156,160,161]. PARP1 exhibits high in vitro
W. Wang, et al. BBA - Reviews on Cancer 1874 (2020) 188410
binding affinity to intramolecular G4 structures in the KRAS and c-KIT drugs, since it is discretely globular in nature and structurally different from
promoters, and also increases its catalytic activity when binding to G4 dsDNA. As the MYC G4 structure functions as a silencer element of
structures [162,163]. Additionally, Feketa et al. showed that PARP1 could transcription, ligands binding and stabilizing G4 can po tentially be used as
bind to the MYC G4 structure and convert it into a tran scriptionally active therapeutics to reduce MYC expression in cancer cells. Moreover, the
B-DNA form [155]. detailed NMR spectroscopic and crystallographic studies together with
computational analyses offered a clear under standing of the MYC G4
structure [20,62]. Using these approaches, many research groups
5. Ligands targeting the MYC G4 structure as clinical anticancer discovered a great variety of molecules with activities to bind and stabilize
therapeutics the MYC G4 structure, including quin dolines [164–167], cationic
porphyrins [19,84,168–171], imidazoles [35,172], quinoxalines [36],
G4 structures are attractive molecular targets in developing antic ancer carbazoles [173–175], berberine deriva tives [176,177], isaindigotone
derivatives [154], bisaryldiketene deri vatives [178], cyclic naphthalene
diimide derivatives [179], methylene blue derivatives [180], amido
phthalocyanines [181], and others [182–187].
With the help of computational analysis and chem-biological assays,
four basic models of MYC G4 binding to its ligands were proposed,
including external stacking, intercalating, groove/loop/backbone binding,
and central channel binding (Fig. 5) [188–190]. In the external stacking
model, ligands with an extended planar aromatic system containing
delocalized π-electrons can stack on the 5′ and/or 3′ term inal G-quartet(s)
mainly through π-π interactions, since the extended planar aromatic
system is similar to a G-quartet in size and shape, and it is a rigid flat or
twisted surface (Fig. 5A). In the intercalating model, ligands can insert into
the interspace of two G-quartets (Fig. 5B). In the groove/loop/backbone
model, the side chains of ligands interact with the grooves or loops through
hydrogen bonds, which also promote water solubility of the ligands. The
positively charged amino groups of the ligands increase their binding
affinity for the grooves and nega tively charged backbone phosphates
through electrostatic interactions (Fig. 5C). In the central channel binding 8
model, small ligands with long, positively charged side chains lying at the less popular than the other three models. Most reported ligands are prone
negative electrostatic center of a G-quartet can stabilize the G4 structure, to binding to MYC G4 in an external stacking-manner. In the following
similar to the role of monovalent cations, including K +, Na+ and NH4+ (Fig. sections, we discuss the anticancer activities and mechanisms of several
5D). For any ligand, it would be difficult for it to insert between two G- typical G4-stabilizing ligands, including small molecular drugs and
quartets of a G4 structure due to its high stability and rigidity, but relatively peptides, that have been classified according to their binding patterns with
easy to bind to the G-quartets at its two ends. Thus, the intercalator binding MYC G4 (Table 2 and Fig. 6). Furthermore, we assess the potential of
is these ligands as novel anticancer therapeutics.
In the past decade, many small molecular drugs, both natural and
synthetic compounds, have been identified to bind and stabilize the MYC
G4 structure. To date, a number of natural compounds have been reported
to repress MYC expression through stabilizing its G4 structure, such as
Fonsecin B, alkaloids, piperine and flavonoid Quercetin [182,191–193].
However, their binding affinity and specificity to MYC G4 were much lower
than the reported synthetic compounds. Thus, we focus on discussing the
anticancer activities and underlying mechan isms of important synthetic
G4-stabilizing compounds in this section.
Interestingly, several synthetic drugs bind MYC G4 through either of
two additional models, specifically the groove/loop/backbone binding and
central channel binding models. However, as described above, external
stacking on terminal G-quartets is the primary model of MYC G4-ligand
complexes. Based on the stacking interactions of these li gands, we further
divide them into three groups, of which the ligands bind the 5′, 3′ and both
terminal G-quartets (Fig. 5A).
Small molecular drugs Binding both 5′ and 3′ terminal G-quartets GQC-05 Burkitt's lymphoma (CA46) Pre-clinical [194] SYUIO-05 Burkitt's lymphoma (Ramos and CA46) Pre-clinical
[164]
7a4 Burkitt's lymphoma (Raji) Pre-clinical with in vivo efficacy [165]
19d, 22d Squamous cell Carcinoma (SiHa) Pre-clinical [154]
TZ1 Colorectal Adenocarcinoma (HCT116) Pre-clinical [197]
DC-34 Myeloma (L363) Pre-clinical [34]
IZTZ-1 Melanoma (B16) Pre-clinical with in vivo efficacy [35]
Binding to 5′ terminal G-quartet T-BFQs Lymphoma (Raji) Lung cancer (A549) Pre-clinical with in vivo efficacy [167]
Binding to 3′ terminal G-quartet negative breast cancer (4T1) Pre-clinical with in vivo effic acy [36] Cz-1 Cervical cancer (HeLa)
IZCZ-3 Squamous cell Carcinoma (SiHa) Pre-clinical with in vivo efficacy [172] QN-1 Triple- Pre-clinical [174] ANTP Cervical cancer (HeLa) Pre-clinical [37]
MYC G4/NCL CX-3543 Most of cancers Phase II [203,204] MYC G4/NM23-H2 Compound 37 Squamous cell Carcinoma (SiHa) Pre-clinical with in vivo efficacy
[205] Stauprimide Renal cancer (RXF 393) Pre-clinical with in vivo efficacy [206]
Peptides Binding both 3′ and 5′ terminal G-quartets TH3 Cervical cancer (HeLa) Pre-clinical [ 38] Binding groove/loop/backbone KR12C Breast cancer (MCF-7) Pre-clinical [39] Not
described α,ε-PLL Not described Not described [211]
been explored. 11
In 2018, Hu et al. synthesized a four-leaf clover-like ligand, IZCZ-3, ability of ANTP to G4 structures increased its potential selectivity of G4
which was designed through structural modification of aryl-substituted DNA over dsDNA. Moreover, ANTP-mediated MYC G4 stabilization was
imidazole/carbazole conjugates. IZCZ-3 could preferentially bind and clearly verified by fluorescence titration, CD titration and melting, and Taq
stabilize MYC G4 structure in vitro [172]. The molecular docking study polymerase stop assays [37]. Furthermore, ANTP exhibited marked
indicated that IZCZ-3 could perfectly stack on the 5′ terminal G-quartet plane of cytotoxicity in HeLa and HEK293T cells at 5.3 μM, but not in primary
G4 via π−π interaction. Moreover, the positively charged central imidazole moiety NIH3T3 and HDFa cells at a concentration up to 100 μM, indicating its
of IZCZ-3 was located in the ion channel of MYC G4, contributing to its strong G4 excellent cancer cell selectivity [37].
binding affinity [172]. Likewise, a line of in vitro cell-based studies also Taken together, the above data from different groups suggest that
proved that IZCZ-3 could ef fectively downregulate MYC transcription synthetic small molecules can inhibit MYC transcription by directly binding
through specifically targeting its G4 structure, leading to growth inhibition of the G4 in the MYC promoter using these three binding models, and
SiHa cells, but not normal BJ fibroblasts and primary mouse mesangial consequently stabilizing its structure, leading to significant antic ancer
cells [172]. Fur thermore, IZCZ-3 exhibited a strong inhibitory activity of effects in cancer cells and/or in mouse models. However, several
repressing tumor growth in nude mice xenografted with human cervical compounds can repress MYC transcription and inhibit cancer cell growth
squamous cancer cells [172]. Thus, IZCZ-3 is a promising anticancer ligand through indirectly stabilizing the MYC G4 structure. As men tioned above,
due to its high selectivity to MYC G4 structure. NCL and NM23-H2 mediate MYC G4 folding or unfolding. Indeed, small
Compared with IZCZ-3, a quinoline derivative, QN-1, showed rela tively molecules specifically targeting the NM23-H2-G4 inter action, or inducing
high selectivity to MYC G4 with several advantages, such as a drug-like NCL redistribution from nucleoli into the nucleo plasm were reported. For
core structure, a new promising scaffold targeting MYC G4, and ease in example, a fluoroquinolone derivative, CX 3543, also known as quarfloxin,
chemical synthesis [36]. After examination by different approaches, is the first-in-class G4-interacting compound to reach the human phase II
including absorption titrations, CD analysis, NMR titrations and 2- clinical trial for neuroendo crine/carcinoid tumors [203]. CX-3543 could bind
aminopurine (2-Ap) fluorescent titrations experiments, QN-1 was identified to ribosomal DNA (rDNA) G4 and selectively disrupt its interaction with
as the most promising G4-stabilizing ligand with high se lectivity to MYC NCL, thereby inducing NCL relocation into nucleoplasm, which could inhibit
G4 through stacking onto the 5′-end G-quartet, and also binding to the DNA Polymerase I-mediated transcription and induce cancer cell apoptosis
grooves or loops with its two outstretched N-methyl piperazine side chains [203]. After being relocated in nucleoplasm, NCL may also promote MYC
[36]. Consistently, QN-1 showed a decent an ticancer activity against triple- G4 formation and thus inhibit MYC transcription [203,204]. In addition,
negative breast cancer (TNBC) in both cell-based and mouse model several compounds repress MYC transcription through dis rupting the
studies. Importantly, QN-1-caused MYC repression was significantly interaction between NM23-H2 and MYC G4, such as a novel isaindigotone
greater than that of other G4-mediated genes, such as BCL2, c-KIT, VEGF derivative named compound 37 and stauprimide (Fig. 6D) [205,206]. The
and HRAS [36]. Moreover, the TNBC 4T1 cells with overexpressed MYC anticancer activity of compound 37 was at tributed to its high specific
were more sensitive to QN-1, as compared to normal cells. Of note, by binding affinity to NM23-H2 protein, re sulting in effectively disrupting the
comparing to classical TNBC chemo therapeutics (eg doxorubicin, interaction of NM23-H2 with G4 and greatly decreasing MYC transcription
paclitaxel and cisplatin) and a pan G4-binding molecule BRACO19, 2.5 μM [205]. However, stauprimide could indirectly disrupt NM23-H2 and G4
of QN-1 could completely repress the growth of 4T1 cells, but the other interaction through blocking NM23-H2 nuclear translocation [206].
compounds at this con centration could only eliminate less than 70% of the Therefore, disruption of MYC G4 interaction with its binding protein, such
cells [36]. These data indicate that QN-1 is an alternative and promising as NCL and NM23-H2, re presents an alternative strategy to develop novel
agent in the treatment of TNBC. anticancer ther apeutics.
an anticancer agent. apoptotic signaling through the E2F1/VEGF-A/ BCL2 axis in MCF-7 cells
Also in 2018, Sengupta et al. designed a peptide, KR12C, by pruning [39]. Overall, the KR12C peptide could spe cifically target MYC G4 and
the G4-binding domain (FK13) of a naturally occurring human Cathelicidin exhibit significant anticancer activity.
(LL37) protein [39,209,210]. KR12C could interact with MYC G4 in a In addition to these two G4-stabilizing peptides, Marzano et al. re cently
groove/loop/backbone binding model, and selectively stabilize the 5′- reported a synthetic analogue of ε-poly-l-lysine (ε-PLL), named as α,ε-PLL,
propeller loop of MYC G4 via arginine-driven electro static-interactions at binding to both MYC G4 and telomeric G4 structures with high affinity [211].
the sugar-phosphate backbone [39]. The treatment of KR12C could reduce The ε-PLL peptide is a cationic biopolymer isolated from the marine
the binding of SP1 and NM23-H2 to the NHE III 1 region, suggesting its bacterium Bacillus subtilis with antibacterial and anticancer activity, and is
activity in stabilizing MYC G4. Consistently, KR12C could promote used worldwide as a food preservative [211,212]. Im portantly, both ε-PLL
and α,ε-PLL are used in the biomedical applica tions, such as helpers of 12
drug and gene delivery [213,214]. Thus, de veloping more specific peptides vast library of natural compounds. Finally, we need to evaluate the
based on amino acid sequences of α,ε PLL peptide and evaluating its anticancer activities and side-effects of G4-stabilizing ligands in com
anticancer activity in cancer cells are interesting research topics in future binatorial use with clinical chemotherapeutics to synergistically elim inate
studies. cancer cells. Collectively, the role of G4 structures in MYC reg ulation
Notably, multiple G4-unwinding proteins have been reported to bind provides fertile questions for future research.
and unfold the MYC G4 structure, leading to MYC gene activation and
malignant transformation. Hence, it is a logical strategy in dis covering Author contributions
anticancer peptides through mapping the shortest binding domain of a G4-
binding protein and synthesizing peptides based on its sequence to WW, DL and GS conceived and wrote the manuscript. DBS critically
competitively disrupt the protein-G4 complex. read the manuscript and provided constructive suggestions. WW designed
the tables and created the figures. SH, YG and YY searched and organized
6. Conclusions and future perspectives literature. Semua penulis telah membaca dan menyetujui versi naskah
yang diterbitkan.
Cancer initiation and progression are often accompanied by altered
gene expression. Significantly, the MYC gene has acquired a formidable Declaration of Competing Interest
oncogenic reputation based on its aberrant expression through elevated
and constitutive transcription, leading to unrestricted proliferation, impaired The authors declare no conflict of interest.
apoptosis, enhanced angiogenesis and metastasis, and genomic instability
in a variety of cancers. Among the regulatory ele ments in the MYC gene,
Acknowledgments
the GC-rich NHE III1 region upstream of its P1 promoter has been identified
as the most critical regulator of its ex pression. Ample biochemical, cell-
This work was supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the
based and in vivo evidence discussed in this review suggested that the GC-
Central Universities (2572017BA10) to DL, the National Natural Science
rich NHE III1 element in the MYC promoter is able to form an intramolecular Foundation of China (81802798) to DL and (81872293 and 81672795) to
parallel G4 structure. The MYC G4 functions as a transcription repressor GS, the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2018M631897) and the
motif in MYC gene ex pression. The biological role of MYC G4 depends on Heilongjiang Postdoctoral Fund (LBH-Z16005) to DL.
its interacting proteins that may promote G4 formation, stabilize their
structures, or unwind them. Stabilization of G4 structures by specific
References
ligands can affect their interaction with proteins leading to reduced MYC
tran scription. These ligands are thus potential anticancer molecules.
Especially, based on well characterized MYC G4, small molecules and [1] T. Ngoma, World Health Organization cancer priorities in developing countries, Ann.
Oncol. 17 (Suppl. 8) (2006) viii9–viii14.
peptides can be designed to target this structure and potentially used as [2] G. De Rosa, D. De Stefano, A. Galeone, Oligonucleotide delivery in cancer therapy,
promising anticancer drugs through downregulating MYC gene ex pression. Expert Opin. Obat Deliv. 7 (2010) 1263–1278.
Although important progress has been made in targeting MYC G4, we [3] D. Hanahan, RA Weinberg, Hallmarks of cancer: the next generation, Cell 144 (2011)
646–674.
propose several prospective routes for future basic and clinical in
[4] EY Lee, WJ Muller, Oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, Cold Spring Harb.
vestigations. First, the development of additional probes with high Perspect. Biol. 2 (2010) a003236.
specificity, affinity and fluorescence to detect MYC G4 elements in living [5] CY Lin, J. Loven, PB Rahl, RM Paranal, CB Burge, JE Bradner, TI Lee, RA Young,
cells will expand the experimental tools available for studying these Transcriptional amplification in tumor cells with elevated c-Myc, Cell 151 (2012) 56–67.
[6] CV Dang, MYC on the path to cancer, Cell 149 (2012) 22–35. [7] A. Kiessling, B. Sperl,
important structures. Second, future studies should seek to iden tify A. Hollis, D. Eick, T. Berg, Selective inhibition of c-Myc/Max dimerization and DNA binding
additional proteins that bind and stabilize MYC G4; we predict that these by small molecules, Chem. Biol. 13 (2006) 745–751.
insights will reveal novel therapeutic targets. Third, future work should also [8] ZE Stine, ZE Walton, BJ Altman, AL Hsieh, CV Dang, MYC, metabolism, and cancer,
Cancer Discov. 5 (2015) 1024–1039.
design novel, stabilizing ligands with high specificity and affinity for MYC G4 [9] KA O'Donnell, EA Wentzel, KI Zeller, CV Dang, JT Mendell, c-Myc-regulated microRNAs
and/or its associated proteins. We predict these molecules will possess modulate E2F1 expression, Nature 435 (2005) 839–843. [10] J. van Riggelen, A. Yetil, DW
significant anticancer activity and low side-ef fects in the clinic. Fourth, it is Felsher, MYC as a regulator of ribosome biogenesis and protein synthesis, Nat. Rev. Cancer
10 (2010) 301–309.
important to screen naturally occurring small molecules as G4-binding and [11] TR Kress, A. Sabo, B. Amati, MYC: connecting selective transcriptional control to global
oncogene silencing agents from a RNA production, Nat. Rev. Cancer 15 (2015) 593–607.
[12] BL Allen-Petersen, RC Sears, Mission possible: advances in MYC therapeutic
targeting in cancer, Biodrugs 33 (2019) 539–553.
[13] NM Sodir, LB Swigart, AN Karnezis, D. Hanahan, GI Evan, L. Soucek, Endogenous
Myc maintains the tumor microenvironment, Genes Dev. 25 (2011) 907–916.
[14] D. Annibali, JR Whitfield, E. Favuzzi, T. Jauset, E. Serrano, I. Cuartas, S. Redondo-
Campos, G. Folch, A. Gonzalez-Junca, NM Sodir, D. Masso-Valles, ME Beaulieu, LB
Swigart, MM Mc Gee, MP Somma, S. Nasi, J. Seoane, GI Evan, L. Soucek, Myc
inhibition is effective against glioma and reveals a role for Myc in proficient mitosis,
Nat. Komun. 5 (2014) 4632.
[15] Y. Li, SC Casey, DW Felsher, Inactivation of MYC reverses tumorigenesis, J. Intern.
Med. 276 (2014) 52–60.
[16] I. Wierstra, J. Alves, The c-myc promoter: still MysterY and challenge, Adv. Res kanker.
99 (2008) 113–333.
[17] TL Davis, AB Firulli, AJ Kinniburgh, Ribonucleoprotein and protein factors bind to an H-
DNA-forming c-myc DNA element: possible regulators of the c-myc gene, Proc. Natl.
Acad. Sci. USA 86 (1989) 9682–9686.
[18] EH Postel, SE Mango, SJ Flint, A nuclease-hypersensitive element of the human c-myc
promoter interacts with a transcription initiation factor, Mol. Sel. Biol. 9 (1989) 5123–
5133.
[19] A. Siddiqui-Jain, CL Grand, DJ Bearss, LH Hurley, Direct evidence for a G quadruplex in
a promoter region and its targeting with a small molecule to repress c-MYC transcription,
Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 99 (2002) 11593–11598. [20] A. Ambrus, D. Chen, J. Dai, RA
Jones, D. Yang, Solution structure of the
W. Wang, et al. BBA - Reviews on Cancer 1874 (2020) 188410
biologically relevant G-quadruplex element in the human c-MYC promoter. Implications structures mark human regulatory chromatin, Nat. Genet. 48 (2016) 1267–1272.
for G-quadruplex stabilization, Biochemistry 44 (2005) 2048–2058. [21] D. Varshney, J. [26] R. Hansel-Hertsch, J. Spiegel, G. Marsico, D. Tannahill, S. Balasubramanian, Genome-
Spiegel, K. Zyner, D. Tannahill, S. Balasubramanian, The regula tion and functions of DNA wide mapping of endogenous G-quadruplex DNA structures by chromatin
and RNA G-quadruplexes, Nat. Rev. Mol. Biol Sel. 21 (2020) 459–474. immunoprecipitation and high-throughput sequencing, Nat. Protoc. 13 (2018) 551–564.
[22] CK Kwok, CJ Merrick, G-quadruplexes: prediction, characterization, and bio logical [27] G. Biffi, D. Tannahill, J. McCafferty, S. Balasubramanian, Quantitative visualiza tion of
application, Trends Biotechnol. 35 (2017) 997–1013. DNA G-quadruplex structures in human cells, Nat. Chem. 5 (2013) 182–186.
[23] Z. Tan, YH Hao, KW Zheng, Kinetics, conformation, stability, and targeting of G [28] A. Henderson, Y. Wu, YC Huang, EA Chavez, J. Platt, FB Johnson, RM Brosh Jr., D.
quadruplexes from a physiological perspective, Biochem. Biofis. Res. Komun. (2020), Sen, PM Lansdorp, Detection of G-quadruplex DNA in mammalian cells, Nucleic Acids
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.04.047. Res. 42 (2014) 860–869.
[24] A. Virgilio, A. Russo, T. Amato, G. Russo, L. Mayol, V. Esposito, A. Galeone, [29] HY Liu, Q. Zhao, TP Zhang, Y. Wu, YX Xiong, SK Wang, YL Ge, JH He, P. Lv, TM Ou,
Monomolecular G-quadruplex structures with inversion of polarity sites: new topologies JH Tan, D. Li, LQ Gu, J. Ren, Y. Zhao, ZS Huang, Conformation selective antibody enables
and potentiality, Nucleic Acids Res. 45 (2017) 8156–8166. genome profiling and leads to discovery of parallel G quadruplex in human telomeres, Cell
[25] R. Hansel-Hertsch, D. Beraldi, SV Lensing, G. Marsico, K. Zyner, A. Parry, M. Di Antonio, Chem. Biol. 23 (2016) 1261–1270.
J. Pike, H. Kimura, M. Narita, D. Tannahill, S. Balasubramanian, G quadruplex [30] P. Chilka, N. Desai, B. Datta, Small molecule fluorescent probes for G- quadruplex
visualization as potential cancer theranostic agents, Molecules 24 (2019). [31] ML Bochman, [
K. Paeschke, VA Zakian, DNA secondary structures: stability and function of G-quadruplex
structures, Nat. Rev. Genet. 13 (2012) 770–780. [32] R. Rigo, M. Palumbo, C. Sissi, G-
quadruplexes in human promoters: a challenge for therapeutic applications, Biochim. Biofis. 4
Acta Gen. Subj. 1861 (2017) 1399–1413.
[33] BJ Chen, YL Wu, Y. Tanaka, W. Zhang, Small molecules targeting c-Myc on cogene:
promising anti-cancer therapeutics, Int. J. Biol. Sci. 10 (2014) 1084–1096. [34] DR Calabrese, 8
X. Chen, EC Leon, SM Gaikwad, Z. Phyo, WM Hewitt, S. Alden, TA Hilimire, F. He, AM
Michalowski, JK Simmons, LB Saunders, S. Zhang, D. Connors, KJ Walters, BA Mock, JS
Schneekloth Jr., Chemical and structural studies provide a mechanistic basis for recognition ]
of the MYC G-quadruplex, Nat. Komun. 9 (2018) 4229.
[35] TY Wu, Q. Huang, ZS Huang, MH Hu, JH Tan, A drug-like imidazole-ben zothiazole
conjugate inhibits malignant melanoma by stabilizing the c-MYC G quadruplex, S
Bioorg. Chem. 99 (2020) 103866.
[36] MH Hu, TY Wu, Q. Huang, G. Jin, New substituted quinoxalines inhibit triple negative
breast cancer by specifically downregulating the c-MYC transcription, Nucleic Acids .
Res. 47 (2019) 10529–10542.
[37] S. Roy, A. Ali, M. Kamra, K. Muniyappa, S. Bhattacharya, Specific stabilization of
promoter G-Quadruplex DNA by 2,6-disubstituted amidoanthracene-9,10-dione based A
dimeric distamycin analogues and their selective cancer cell cytotoxicity, Eur. J. Med.
Chem. 195 (2020) 112202.
[38] D. Dutta, M. Debnath, D. Muller, R. Paul, T. Das, I. Bessi, H. Schwalbe, J. Dash, Cell s
penetrating thiazole peptides inhibit c-MYC expression via site-specific tar geting of c-
MYC G-quadruplex, Nucleic Acids Res. 46 (2018) 5355–5365.
a
[39] P. Sengupta, N. Banerjee, T. Roychowdhury, A. Dutta, S. Chattopadhyay, S. Chatterjee,
Site-specific amino acid substitution in dodecameric peptides de termines the stability
and unfolding of c-MYC quadruplex promoting apoptosis in cancer cells, Nucleic Acids
m
Res. 46 (2018) 9932–9950.
[40] LH Hurley, DD Von Hoff, A. Siddiqui-Jain, D. Yang, Drug targeting of the c-MYC
promoter to repress gene expression via a G-quadruplex silencer element, Semin. it
Oncol. 33 (2006) 498–512.
[41] R. Hansel-Hertsch, M. Di Antonio, S. Balasubramanian, DNA G-quadruplexes in the
human genome: detection, functions and therapeutic potential, Nat. Rev. Mol. Biol Sel. s
18 (2017) 279–284.
[42] DL Ma, Z. Zhang, M. Wang, L. Lu, HJ Zhong, CH Leung, Recent developments in G-
quadruplex probes, Chem. Biol. 22 (2015) 812–828. u
[43] WF Yuan, LY Wan, H. Peng, YM Zhong, WL Cai, YQ Zhang, WB Ai, JF Wu, The
influencing factors and functions of DNA G-quadruplexes, Cell Biochem. Funct. 38
(2020) 524–532. ,
[44] J. Shklover, P. Weisman-Shomer, A. Yafe, M. Fry, Quadruplex structures of muscle gene
promoter sequences enhance in vivo MyoD-dependent gene expression, Nucleic Acids
Res. 38 (2010) 2369–2377. M
[45] MM Dailey, MC Miller, PJ Bates, AN Lane, JO Trent, Resolution and char acterization of
the structural polymorphism of a single quadruplex-forming se quence, Nucleic Acids
Res. 38 (2010) 4877–4888. .
[46] V. Rauser, E. Weinhold, Quantitative formation of monomeric G-quadruplex DNA from
multimeric structures of c-Myc promoter sequence, ChemBioChem (2020),
https://doi.org/10.1002/cbic.202000159. T
[47] DJ Patel, AT Phan, V. Kuryavyi, Human telomere, oncogenic promoter and 5'- UTR G-
quadruplexes: diverse higher order DNA and RNA targets for cancer therapeutics,
Nucleic Acids Res. 35 (2007) 7429–7455. a
i,
it
a
, 3
794–806. [141] H. Sun, JK Karow, ID Hickson, N. Maizels, The Bloom's syndrome helicase un winds G4
[136] A. Ketkar, M. Voehler, T. Mukiza, RL Eoff, Residues in the RecQ C-terminal do main of DNA, J. Biol. Chem. 273 (1998) 27587–27592.
the human werner syndrome helicase are involved in unwinding G quadruplex DNA, J. [142] G. Wu, Z. Xing, EJ Tran, D. Yang, DDX5 helicase resolves G-quadruplex and is involved
Biol. Chem. 292 (2017) 3154–3163. in MYC gene transcriptional activation, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 116 (2019) 20453–
[137] JB Budhathoki, S. Ray, V. Urban, P. Janscak, JG Yodh, H. Balci, RecQ-core of BLM 20461.
unfolds telomeric G-quadruplex in the absence of ATP, Nucleic Acids Res. 42 (2014) [143] RM Nyamao, J. Wu, L. Yu, X. Xiao, FM Zhang, Roles of DDX5 in the tumor igenesis,
11528–11545. proliferation, differentiation, metastasis and pathway regulation of human malignancies,
[138] S. Chatterjee, J. Zagelbaum, P. Savitsky, A. Sturzenegger, D. Huttner, P. Janscak, ID Biochim. Biofis. Acta Rev. Cancer 1871 (2019) 85–98.
Hickson, O. Gileadi, E. Rothenberg, Mechanistic insight into the interaction of BLM [144] W. Cai, Z. Xiong Chen, G. Rane, S. Satendra Singh, Z. Choo, C. Wang, Y. Yuan, T. Zea
helicase with intra-strand G-quadruplex structures, Nat. Komun. 5 (2014) 5556. Tan, F. Arfuso, CT Yap, LS Pongor, H. Yang, MB Lee, B. Cher Goh, G. Sethi, T. Benoukraf,
[139] P. Janscak, PL Garcia, F. Hamburger, Y. Makuta, K. Shiraishi, Y. Imai, H. Ikeda, TA V. Tergaonkar, A. Prem Kumar, Wanted DEAD/H or alive: helicases winding up in cancers, J.
Bickle, Characterization and mutational analysis of the RecQ core of the bloom Natl. Cancer Inst. 109 (2017).
syndrome protein, J. Mol. Biol. 330 (2003) 29–42. [145] A. Mazurek, W. Luo, A. Krasnitz, J. Hicks, RS Powers, B. Stillman, DDX5 regulates DNA
[140] JK Karow, L. Wu, ID Hickson, RecQ family helicases: roles in cancer and aging, Curr. replication and is required for cell proliferation in a subset of breast cancer cells,
Opin. Genet. Dev. 10 (2000) 32–38. Cancer Discov. 2 (2012) 812–825.
[146] AL Mallam, M. Del Campo, B. Gilman, DJ Sidote, AM Lambowitz, Structural basis for 15
RNA-duplex recognition and unwinding by the DEAD-box helicase Mss116p, Nature quadruplexes in a plasmid using atomic force microscopy, Biochemistry 51 (2012)
490 (2012) 121–125. 578–585.
[147] V. Hashemi, A. Masjedi, B. Hazhir-Karzar, A. Tanomand, SS Shotorbani, M. Hojjat- [162] VA Soldatenkov, AA Vetcher, T. Duka, S. Ladame, First evidence of a functional
Farsangi, G. Ghalamfarsa, G. Azizi, E. Anvari, B. Baradaran, F. Jadidi Niaragh, The interaction between DNA quadruplexes and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1, ACS
role of DEAD-box RNA helicase p68 (DDX5) in the development and treatment of Chem. Biol. 3 (2008) 214–219.
breast cancer, J. Cell. Physiol. 234 (2019) 5478–5487. [163] S. Cogoi, M. Paramasivam, A. Membrino, KK Yokoyama, LE Xodo, The KRAS promoter
[148] EH Postel, SJ Berberich, SJ Flint, CA Ferrone, Human c-myc transcription factor PuF responds to Myc-associated zinc finger and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 proteins,
identified as nm23-H2 nucleoside diphosphate kinase, a candidate suppressor of which recognize a critical quadruplex-forming GA-element, J. Biol. Chem. 285 (2010)
tumor metastasis, Science 261 (1993) 478–480. 22003–22016.
[149] EH Postel, SJ Berberich, JW Rooney, DM Kaetzel, Human NM23/nucleoside [164] TM Ou, J. Lin, YJ Lu, JQ Hou, JH Tan, SH Chen, Z. Li, YP Li, D. Li, LQ Gu, ZS Huang,
diphosphate kinase regulates gene expression through DNA binding to nuclease Inhibition of cell proliferation by quindoline derivative (SYUIQ-05) through its
hypersensitive transcriptional elements, J. Bioenerg. Biomembr. 32 (2000) 277–284. preferential interaction with c-myc promoter G-quadruplex, J. Med. Chem. 54 (2011)
[150] L. Ji, M. Arcinas, LM Boxer, The transcription factor, Nm23H2, binds to and activates the 5671–5679.
translocated c-myc allele in Burkitt's lymphoma, J. Biol. Chem. 270 (1995) 13392– [165] HY Liu, AC Chen, QK Yin, Z. Li, SM Huang, G. Du, JH He, LP Zan, SK Wang, YH Xu,
13398. JH Tan, TM Ou, D. Li, LQ Gu, ZS Huang, New dis ubstituted quindoline derivatives inhibiting
[151] TS Dexheimer, SS Carey, S. Zuohe, VM Gokhale, X. Hu, LB Murata, EM Maes, A. Burkitt's lymphoma cell proliferation by impeding c-MYC transcription, J. Med. Chem. 60
Weichsel, D. Sun, EJ Meuillet, WR Montfort, LH Hurley, NM23- H2 may play an (2017) 5438–5454.
indirect role in transcriptional activation of c-myc gene expression but does not cleave [166] J. Dai, M. Carver, LH Hurley, D. Yang, Solution structure of a 2:1 quindoline-c MYC G-
the nuclease hypersensitive element III(1), Mol. Cancer Ther. 8 (2009) 1363–1377. quadruplex: insights into G-quadruplex-interactive small molecule drug design, J. Am.
[152] M. Hildebrandt, ML Lacombe, S. Mesnildrey, M. Veron, A human NDP-kinase B Chem. Soc. 133 (2011) 17673–17680.
specifically binds single-stranded poly-pyrimidine sequences, Nucleic Acids Res. 23 [167] DY Zeng, GT Kuang, SK Wang, W. Peng, SL Lin, Q. Zhang, XX Su, MH Hu, H. Wang,
(1995) 3858–3864. JH Tan, ZS Huang, LQ Gu, TM Ou, Discovery of novel 11-triazole substituted
[153] RK Thakur, P. Kumar, K. Halder, A. Verma, A. Kar, JL Parent, R. Basundra, A. Kumar, benzofuro[3,2-b]quinolone derivatives as c-myc G-quadruplex specific stabilizers via
S. Chowdhury, Metastases suppressor NM23-H2 interaction with G quadruplex DNA click chemistry, J. Med. Chem. 60 (2017) 5407–5423.
within c-MYC promoter nuclease hypersensitive element induces c-MYC expression, [168] CL Grand, H. Han, RM Munoz, S. Weitman, DD Von Hoff, LH Hurley, DJ Bearss, The
Nucleic Acids Res. 37 (2009) 172–183. cationic porphyrin TMPyP4 down-regulates c-MYC and human telomerase reverse
[154] C. Shan, JW Yan, YQ Wang, T. Che, ZL Huang, AC Chen, PF Yao, JH Tan, D. Li, TM transcriptase expression and inhibits tumor growth in vivo, Mol. Cancer Ther. 1
Ou, LQ Gu, ZS Huang, Design, synthesis, and evaluation of isain digotone derivatives to (2002) 565–573.
downregulate c-myc transcription via disrupting the in teraction of NM23-H2 with G- [169] J. Seenisamy, EM Rezler, TJ Powell, D. Tye, V. Gokhale, CS Joshi, A. Siddiqui Jain, LH
quadruplex, J. Med. Chem. 60 (2017) 1292–1308. Hurley, The dynamic character of the G-quadruplex element in the c MYC promoter
[155] A. Fekete, E. Kenesi, E. Hunyadi-Gulyas, H. Durgo, B. Berko, ZA Dunai, PI Bauer, The and modification by TMPyP4, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 126 (2004) 8702–8709.
guanine-quadruplex structure in the human c-myc gene's promoter is converted into B- [170] J. Seenisamy, S. Bashyam, V. Gokhale, H. Vankayalapati, D. Sun, A. Siddiqui-Jain, N.
DNA form by the human poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-1, PLoS One 7 (2012) e42690. Streiner, K. Shin-Ya, E. White, WD Wilson, LH Hurley, Design and synthesis of an
[156] L. Zandarashvili, MF Langelier, UK Velagapudi, MA Hancock, JD Steffen, R. Billur, ZM expanded porphyrin that has selectivity for the c-MYC G-quadruplex struc ture, J. Am.
Hannan, AJ Wicks, DB Krastev, SJ Pettitt, CJ Lord, TT Talele, JM Pascal, BE Black, Chem. Soc. 127 (2005) 2944–2959.
Structural basis for allosteric PARP-1 retention on DNA breaks, Science 368 (2020). [171] V. Gabelica, ES Baker, MP Teulade-Fichou, E. De Pauw, MT Bowers, Stabilization and
[157] MJ Suskiewicz, F. Zobel, TEH Ogden, P. Fontana, A. Ariza, JC Yang, K. Zhu, L. structure of telomeric and c-myc region intramolecular G quadruplexes: the role of
Bracken, WJ Hawthorne, D. Ahel, D. Neuhaus, I. Ahel, HPF1 completes the PARP central cations and small planar ligands, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 129 (2007) 895–904.
active site for DNA damage-induced ADP-ribosylation, Nature 579 (2020) 598–602. [172] MH Hu, YQ Wang, ZY Yu, LN Hu, TM Ou, SB Chen, ZS Huang, JH Tan, Discovery of a
[158] WL Kraus, Transcriptional control by PARP-1: chromatin modulation, enhancer binding, new four-leaf clover-like ligand as a potent c-MYC transcription inhibitor specifically
coregulation, and insulation, Curr. Opin. Biol Sel. 20 (2008) 294–302. [159] VA Soldatenkov, targeting the promoter G-quadruplex, J. Med. Chem. 61 (2018) 2447–2459.
S. Chasovskikh, VN Potaman, I. Trofimova, ME Smulson, A. Dritschilo, Transcriptional [173] A. Gluszynska, B. Juskowiak, M. Kuta-Siejkowska, M. Hoffmann, S. Haider,
repression by binding of poly(ADP-ribose) poly merase to promoter sequences, J. Biol. Chem. Carbazole ligands as c-myc G-quadruplex binders, Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 114
277 (2002) 665–670. (2018) 479–490.
[160] I. Lonskaya, VN Potaman, LS Shlyakhtenko, EA Oussatcheva, YL Lyubchenko, VA [174] T. Das, D. Panda, P. Saha, J. Dash, Small molecule driven stabilization of promoter G-
Soldatenkov, Regulation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 by DNA structure specific quadruplexes and transcriptional regulation of c-MYC, Bioconjug. Chem. 29 (2018)
binding, J. Biol. Chem. 280 (2005) 17076–17083. 2636–2645.
[161] I. Mela, R. Kranaster, RM Henderson, S. Balasubramanian, JM Edwardson, [175] AW Schmidt, KR Reddy, HJ Knolker, Occurrence, biogenesis, and synthesis of
Demonstration of ligand decoration, and ligand-induced perturbation, of G biologically active carbazole alkaloids, Chem. Rev. 112 (2012) 3193–3328. [176] Y. Ma, TM
Ou, JQ Hou, YJ Lu, JH Tan, LQ Gu, ZS Huang, 9-N-Substituted
berberine derivatives: stabilization of G-quadruplex DNA and down-regulation of
oncogene c-myc, Bioorg. Med. Chem. 16 (2008) 7582–7591.
[177] Y. Ma, TM Ou, JH Tan, JQ Hou, SL Huang, LQ Gu, ZS Huang, Quinolino benzo-[5, 6]-
dihydroisoquindolium compounds derived from berberine: a new class of highly
selective ligands for G-quadruplex DNA in c-myc oncogene, Eur. J. Med. Chem. 46
(2011) 1906–1913.
[178] D. Peng, JH Tan, SB Chen, TM Ou, LQ Gu, ZS Huang, Bisaryldiketene de rivatives: a
new class of selective ligands for c-myc G-quadruplex DNA, Bioorg. Med. Chem. 18
(2010) 8235–8242.
[179] MM Islam, S. Fujii, S. Sato, T. Okauchi, S. Takenaka, A selective G-quadruplex DNA-
stabilizing ligand based on a cyclic naphthalene diimide derivative, Molecules 20
(2015) 10963–10979.
[180] DS Chan, H. Yang, MH Kwan, Z. Cheng, P. Lee, LP Bai, ZH Jiang, CY Wong, WF Fong,
CH Leung, DL Ma, Structure-based optimization of FDA-approved drug methylene blue
as a c-myc G-quadruplex DNA stabilizer, Biochimie 93 (2011) 1055–1064.
[181] J. Alzeer, NW Luedtke, pH-mediated fluorescence and G-quadruplex binding of amido
phthalocyanines, Biochemistry 49 (2010) 4339–4348.
[182] HM Lee, DS Chan, F. Yang, HY Lam, SC Yan, CM Che, DL Ma, CH Leung,
Identification of natural product fonsecin B as a stabilizing ligand of c-myc G
quadruplex DNA by high-throughput virtual screening, Chem. Komun. (Camb.) 46
(2010) 4680–4682.
[183] P. Wu, DL Ma, CH Leung, SC Yan, N. Zhu, R. Abagyan, CM Che, Stabilization of G-
quadruplex DNA with platinum(II) Schiff base complexes: luminescent probe and
down-regulation of c-myc oncogene expression, Chemistry (Easton) 15 (2009) 13008–
13021.
[184] ZF Chen, QP Qin, JL Qin, YC Liu, KB Huang, YL Li, T. Meng, GH Zhang, Y. Peng, XJ
Luo, H. Liang, Stabilization of G-quadruplex DNA, inhibition of tel omerase activity, and
tumor cell apoptosis by organoplatinum(II) complexes with oxoisoaporphine, J. Med.
Chem. 58 (2015) 2159–2179.
[185] C. Wei, L. Ren, N. Gao, Interactions of terpyridines and their Pt(II) complexes with G-
quadruplex DNAs and telomerase inhibition, Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 57 (2013) 1–8.
W. Wang, et al. BBA - Reviews on Cancer 1874 (2020) 188410
[186] P. Wang, CH Leung, DL Ma, SC Yan, CM Che, Structure-based design of [192] A. Tawani, A. Amanullah, A. Mishra, A. Kumar, Evidences for Piperine inhibiting cancer
platinum(II) complexes as c-myc oncogene down-regulators and luminescent by targeting human G-quadruplex DNA sequences, Sci. Rep. 6 (2016) 39239.
probes for G-quadruplex DNA, Chemistry (Easton) 16 (2010) 6900–6911. [193] A. Tawani, SK Mishra, A. Kumar, Structural insight for the recognition of G quadruplex
[187] KV Diveshkumar, S. Sakrikar, F. Rosu, S. Harikrishna, V. Gabelica, PI Pradeepkumar, structure at human c-myc promoter sequence by flavonoid Quercetin, Sci. Rep. 7
Specific stabilization of c-MYC and c-KIT G-quadruplex DNA structures by (2017) 3600.
indolylmethyleneindanone scaffolds, Biochemistry 55 (2016) 3571–3585. [194] RV Brown, FL Danford, V. Gokhale, LH Hurley, TA Brooks, Demonstration that drug-
[188] P. Murat, Y. Singh, E. Defrancq, Methods for investigating G-quadruplex DNA/ ligand targeted down-regulation of MYC in non-Hodgkins lymphoma is directly mediated
interactions, Chem. Soc. Rev. 40 (2011) 5293–5307. through the promoter G-quadruplex, J. Biol. Chem. 286 (2011) 41018–41027.
[189] YX Xiong, ZS Huang, JH Tan, Targeting G-quadruplex nucleic acids with [195] C. Weldon, JG Dacanay, V. Gokhale, PVL Boddupally, I. Behm-Ansmant, GA Burley, C.
heterocyclic alkaloids and their derivatives, Eur. J. Med. Chem. 97 (2015) 538– Branlant, LH Hurley, C. Dominguez, IC Eperon, Specific G quadruplex ligands
551. modulate the alternative splicing of Bcl-X, Nucleic Acids Res. 46 (2018) 886–896.
[190] S. Zhang, Y. Wu, W. Zhang, G-quadruplex structures and their interaction diversity with [196] JJ Montoya, MA Turnidge, DH Wai, AR Patel, DW Lee, V. Gokhale, LH Hurley, RJ
ligands, ChemMedChem 9 (2014) 899–911. Arceci, C. Wetmore, DO Azorsa, In vitro activity of a G-quad ruplex-stabilizing small
[191] X. Ji, H. Sun, H. Zhou, J. Xiang, Y. Tang, C. Zhao, The interaction of telomeric DNA and molecule that synergizes with Navitoclax to induce cyto toxicity in acute myeloid
C-myc22 G-quadruplex with 11 natural alkaloids, Nucleic Acid Ther. 22 (2012) 127– leukemia cells, BMC Cancer 19 (2019) 1251.
136. [197] D. Panda, P. Saha, T. Das, J. Dash, Target guided synthesis using DNA nano templates
for selectively assembling a G-quadruplex binding c-MYC inhibitor, Nat. Komun. 8 16
(2017) 16103. TC Jenkins, S. Neidle, LH Hurley, Inhibition of human telomerase by a G quadruplex-
[198] KM Felsenstein, LB Saunders, JK Simmons, E. Leon, DR Calabrese, S. Zhang, A. interactive compound, J. Med. Chem. 40 (1997) 2113–2116. [201] A. Randazzo, A. Galeone,
Michalowski, P. Gareiss, BA Mock, JS Schneekloth Jr., Small molecule mi croarrays V. Esposito, M. Varra, L. Mayol, Interaction of dis tamycin A and netropsin with quadruplex
enable the identification of a selective, quadruplex-binding inhibitor of MYC expression, and duplex structures: a comparative 1H-NMR study, Nucleosides Nucleotides Nucleic Acids
ACS Chem. Biol. 11 (2016) 139–148. 21 (2002) 535–545. [202] A. Ali, M. Kamra, S. Roy, K. Muniyappa, S. Bhattacharya, Novel
[199] R. Kumar, K. Chand, S. Bhowmik, RN Das, S. Bhattacharjee, M. Hedenstrom, E. oligopyrrole carboxamide based nickel(II) and palladium(II) salens, their targeting of human G
Chorell, Subtle structural alterations in G-quadruplex DNA regulate site speci ficity of quadruplex DNA, and selective cancer cell toxicity, Chem. Asian J. 11 (2016) 2542–2554.
fluorescence light-up probes, Nucleic Acids Res. 48 (2020) 1108–1119. [200] D. Sun, B. [203] D. Drygin, A. Siddiqui-Jain, S. O'Brien, M. Schwaebe, A. Lin, J. Bliesath, CB Ho, C.
Thompson, BE Cathers, M. Salazar, SM Kerwin, JO Trent, Proffitt, K. Trent, JP Whitten, JK Lim, D. Von Hoff, K. Anderes, WG Rice, Anticancer
activity of CX-3543: a direct inhibitor of rRNA biogenesis, Cancer Res. 69 (2009)
7653–7661.
[204] TA Brooks, LH Hurley, Targeting MYC expression through G-quadruplexes, Genes
Cancer 1 (2010) 641–649.
[205] YQ Wang, ZL Huang, SB Chen, CX Wang, C. Shan, QK Yin, TM Ou, D. Li, LQ Gu, JH
Tan, ZS Huang, Design, synthesis, and evaluation of new selective NM23-H2 binders as c-
MYC transcription inhibitors via disruption of the NM23- H2/G-quadruplex interaction, J. Med.
Chem. 60 (2017) 6924–6941.
[206] C. Bouvard, SM Lim, J. Ludka, N. Yazdani, AK Woods, AK Chatterjee, PG Schultz, S.
Zhu, Small molecule selectively suppresses MYC transcription in cancer cells, Proc. Natl.
Acad. Sci. USA 114 (2017) 3497–3502.
[207] D. Yang, K. Okamoto, Structural insights into G-quadruplexes: towards new an ticancer
drugs, Future Med. Chem. 2 (2010) 619–646.
[208] V. Le Joncour, P. Laakkonen, Seek & destroy, use of targeting peptides for cancer
detection and drug delivery, Bioorg. Med. Chem. 26 (2018) 2797–2806. [209] Y. De, Q. Chen,
AP Schmidt, GM Anderson, JM Wang, J. Wooters, JJ Oppenheim, O. Chertov, LL-37, the
neutrophil granule- and epithelial cell derived cathelicidin, utilizes formyl peptide receptor-like
1 (FPRL1) as a receptor to chemoattract human peripheral blood neutrophils, monocytes, and
T cells, J. Exp. Med. 192 (2000) 1069–1074.
[210] L. Sun, W. Wang, W. Xiao, H. Yang, The roles of cathelicidin LL-37 in in flammatory
bowel disease, Inflamm. Bowel Dis. 22 (2016) 1986–1991. [211] M. Marzano, AP Falanga,
D. Marasco, N. Borbone, S. D'Errico, G. Piccialli, GN Roviello, G. Oliviero, Evaluation of an
analogue of the marine epsilon-PLL peptide as a ligand of G-quadruplex DNA structures,
Mar. Drugs 18 (2020). [212] NK Lee, HD Paik, Status, antimicrobial mechanism, and
regulation of natural preservatives in livestock food systems, Korean J. Food Sci. Anim.
Resour. 36 (2016) 547–557.
[213] W. Bao, R. Liu, Y. Wang, F. Wang, G. Xia, H. Zhang, X. Li, H. Yin, B. Chen, PLGA PLL-
PEG-Tf-based targeted nanoparticles drug delivery system enhance antitumor efficacy
via intrinsic apoptosis pathway, Int. J. Nanomedicine 10 (2015) 557–566.
[214] J. Du, C. Tian, J. Ling, Y. Wang, R8-modified polysarcosine-b-polylysine poly peptide
to enhance circulation stability and gene delivery efficiency, J. Control. Release 213
(2015) e50–e51.