5-methyldeoxycytidine and Leukemia--Lymphoid

5-Methylcytosine ( 5MeCyt ) is a possible regulator of eukaryotic gene transcription. We investigated whether this compound could be introduced into DNA from exogenous deoxyribonucleoside 5-methyl-2'-deoxycytidine ( 5MedCyd ). High concentrations of 5MedCyd inhibited the growth of several types of human leukemic cell lines in vitro. However, the effect could be accounted for by dThd, a deamination product of 5MedCyd . We found that radioactivity from [methyl-14C] 5MedCyd and [2-14C] 5MedCyd was incorporated into DNA as thymidylate, and none was present as 5MeCyt . There are two conceivable metabolic pathways from 5MedCyd to thymidylate. The first consists of deoxycytidine or thymidine kinase and deoxycytidylate deaminase, and the second of sequential reactions catalyzed by deoxycytidine deaminase and thymidine kinase. No indication of the first pathway was demonstrable in human leukemic cells. We conclude that the DNA exclusion of 5MeCyt from exogenous 5MedCyd takes place because of powerful deoxycytidine deaminase activity in human malignant hematopoietic cells.

Topics: Cell Division; Cell Line; Cell Survival; Deoxycytidine; Deoxyribonucleosides; Humans; Leukemia; Leukemia, Lymphoid

Modification of DNA-cytosine by a 5-methyl group is thought to be an important mechanism which regulates the expression of eukaryotic genes. This modification takes place after semiconservative replication. There is very little evidence, if any, that 5MeCyt could be naturally incorporated into mammalian DNA in semiconservative replication. We have clarified the possibility of incorporating 5MedCyd pharmacologically into human leukemic cells in vitro. To this end, we developed a novel small-scale synthesis method for 14C-labeled 5MedCyd starting from commercially available [14C]dThd derivatives. Particular attention was focused upon possible incorporation of radioactive 5MedCyd derivatives into the acid-soluble cellular fraction as well as into nucleic acids and protein in human cells. The results showed that [2(-14)C]- and [methyl-14C]5MedCyd were incorporated into human leukemic cells to a similar extent. The radioactivity originating from these compounds was incorporated mainly into the acid-soluble pool and nucleic acids. The exact nature of the intracellular radioactive molecules in RNA is not known, but the radioactive label in DNA hydrolyzate co-chromatographed exclusively with thymine. Hence, 5MedCyd is deaminated to thymidine before incorporating into DNA. This deamination had taken place already (partially) in the culture medium. Human leukemic cells do effectively protect their DNA from incorporation of exogenous 5MedCyd.

Topics: 5-Methylcytosine; Cell Line; Cytosine; Deoxycytidine; DNA; Humans; Leucine; Leukemia, Lymphoid; RNA; Thymidine; Uridine