1.2-Chloro-2'-deoxyadenosine induces apoptosis through the Fas/Fas ligand pathway in human leukemia cell line MOLT-4.
Nomura Y1, Inanami O, Takahashi K, Matsuda A, Kuwabara M. Leukemia. 2000 Feb;14(2):299-306.
The mechanism of apoptosis induced by 2-chloro-2'-deoxyadenosine (2CdA) in human leukemia cell line MOLT-4 was investigated. 2CdA induced increases of 3'-OH ends of genomic DNA, ladder-like DNA fragmentation and phosphatidylserine translocation to the outer membrane, which are apoptotic characteristics. These apoptotic phenomena induced by 2CdA were inhibited by cycloheximide (CHX; a protein synthesis inhibitor), deoxycytidine (dC; a substrate of deoxycytidine kinase), acetyl Ile-Glu-Thr-Asp aldehyde (Ac-IETD-CHO; a caspase-8 inhibitor) and acetyl Asp-Glu-Val-Asp aldehyde (Ac-DEVD-CHO; a caspase-3 inhibitor). The protein synthesis-dependent expression of Fas and Fas ligand (Fas-L) was detected by treatment with 2CdA. The proteolytic processing of procaspases-8 and -3 to produce active fragments, caspases-8 (p18) and -3 (p17), respectively, was observed after treatment with 2CdA, and suppressed by cycloheximide. Increases in the activities of caspases-8 and -3 were observed after 2CdA treatment.
2.Structure-function studies of peptides inhibiting the ribonucleotide reductase activity of herpes simplex virus type I.
Gaudreau P1, Brazeau P, Richer M, Cormier J, Langlois D, Langelier Y. J Med Chem. 1992 Jan 24;35(2):346-50.
Ac-Tyr298-Ala299-Gly300-Thr301-Val302-I le303-Asn304-Asp305-Leu306-OH (Ac-VZV R2-(298-306)) represents the acetylated form of the C-terminus of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) ribonucleotide reductase subunit 2 (R2). This peptide possesses a high degree of homology with the C-terminus nonapeptide of the herpes simplex virus (HSV) type I and II ribonucleotide reductase R2 protein and is 15 times more potent than the latter in its in vitro inhibition of HSV-1 reductase activity. Accordingly, a new series of analogues based on this structure was studied in vitro. The replacement of Asp305 by Asn, Glu, Gln, Ser, or Cys; of Asn304 by Gln or Ser; of Ile303 and Val302 by D-Val; and of Tyr298 by Cha induced an important loss of inhibitory potency. The substitution of Asn304 by Asp; of Thr301 by Cys, Ser, or Val; of Gly300 by Ala or Val; of Ala299 by Val; or of Tyr298 by homoPhe, 4'-fluoro-Phe, 4'-chloro-Phe, 3'-iodo-Tyr, Me-Tyr, or For-Trp led to a moderate decrease of the Ac-VZV R2-(298-306) potency.
