The G-quadruplex DNA stabilizing drug pyridostatin promotes DNA damage and downregulates transcription of Brca1 in neurons

Jose F. Moruno-Manchon, Edward C. Koellhoffer, Jayakrishnan Gopakumar, Shashank Hambarde, Nayun Kim, Louise D. McCullough, Andrey S. Tsvetkov

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

39 Scopus citations

Abstract

The G-quadruplex is a non-canonical DNA secondary structure formed by four DNA strands containing multiple runs of guanines. G-quadruplexes play important roles in DNA recombination, replication, telomere maintenance, and regulation of transcription. Small molecules that stabilize the G-quadruplexes alter gene expression in cancer cells. Here, we hypothesized that the G-quadruplexes regulate transcription in neurons. We discovered that pyridostatin, a small molecule that specifically stabilizes G-quadruplex DNA complexes, induced neurotoxicity and promoted the formation of DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) in cultured neurons. We also found that pyridostatin downregulated transcription of the Brca1 gene, a gene that is critical for DSB repair. Importantly, in an in vitro gel shift assay, we discovered that an antibody specific to the G-quadruplex structure binds to a synthetic oligonucleotide, which corresponds to the first putative G-quadruplex in the Brca1 gene promoter. Our results suggest that the G-quadruplex complexes regulate transcription in neurons. Studying the G-quadruplexes could represent a new avenue for neurodegeneration and brain aging research.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1957-1970
Number of pages14
JournalAging
Volume9
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2017

Keywords

  • BRCA1
  • DNA damage
  • G-quadruplex
  • Neurodegeneration
  • Transcription

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Aging
  • Cell Biology

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