Open AccessHuman cancer cell lines growth inhibition by GT n oligodeoxyribonucleotides recognizing single‐stranded DNA‐binding proteins
Author(s) -
Scaggiante Bruna,
Morassutti Carla,
Dapas Barbara,
Tolazzi Giuseppe,
Ustulin Franca,
Quadrifoglio Franco
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
european journal of biochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1432-1033
pISSN - 0014-2956
DOI - 10.1046/j.1432-1327.1998.2520207.x
Subject(s) - oligonucleotide , jurkat cells , hela , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , cell culture , cell growth , cancer cell , growth inhibition , dna , cell , biochemistry , cancer , t cell , immunology , genetics , immune system
Oligonucleotides can specifically target not only nucleic acids but also proteins. Some proteins recognizing oligonucleotides in a sequence‐specific manner have been related to cancer transformation and progression. We have found that oligonucleotides composed by repeated and/or variable intervals of GT n with 1 n 7, are able to exert a specific and dose‐dependent growth inhibition on human CCRF‐CEM, CEM‐VLB300, U937, Jurkat, H9 and HeLa tumor cell lines. In contrast, G←C, G←A, T←C and T←A base substituted control oligonucleotides do not significantly alter cellular growth. In all cell lines, a nuclear protein (molecular mass = 45 ± 7 kDa), which specifically recognizes GT n , was identified. Our hypothesis is that the formation of the GT n ‐protein complex in human cancer cell lines may be involved in the growth inhibition effect. In fact, we found that the reduction or lack of cytotoxic effects by GT n in phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate‐treated CCRF‐CEM cells and in normal human lymphocytes is paralleled by the simultaneous reduction or lack of GT n ‐protein complex. Oligonucleotides specifically ’quenching' intracellular protein activities by forming oligonucleotide‐protein complexes may be of potential interest in the treatment of human tumors.