title: Characterization of Cardiac Glycoside Natural Products as Potent Inhibitors of DNA Double-Strand Break Repair by a Whole-Cell Double Immunofluorescence Assay.
abstract: Small-molecule inhibitors of DNA repair pathways are being intensively investigated as primary and adjuvant chemotherapies. We report the discovery that cardiac glycosides, natural products in clinical use for the treatment of heart failure and atrial arrhythmia, are potent inhibitors of DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair. Our data suggest that cardiac glycosides interact with phosphorylated mediator of DNA damage checkpoint protein 1 (phospho-MDC1) or E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase ring finger protein 8 (RNF8), two factors involved in DSB repair, and inhibit the retention of p53 binding protein 1 (53BP1) at the site of DSBs. These observations provide an explanation for the anticancer activity of this class of compounds, which has remained poorly understood for decades, and provide guidance for their clinical applications. This discovery was enabled by the development of the first high-throughput unbiased cellular assay to identify new small-molecule inhibitors of DSB repair. Our assay is based on the fully automated, time-resolved quantification of phospho-SER139-H2AX (γH2AX) and 53BP1 foci, two factors involved in the DNA damage response network, in cells treated with small molecules and ionizing radiation (IR). This primary assay is supplemented by robust secondary assays that establish lead compound potencies and provide further insights into their mechanisms of action. Although the cardiac glycosides were identified in an evaluation of 2366 small molecules, the assay is envisioned to be adaptable to larger compound libraries. The assay is shown to be compatible with small-molecule DNA cleaving agents, such as bleomycin, neocarzinostatin chromophore, and lomaiviticin A, in place of IR.
authors.affiliation: Yale Center for Molecular Discovery , West Haven, Connecticut 06516, United States.
authors.forename: Yulia V
authors.initials: YV
authors.lastname: Surovtseva
authors.affiliation: Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine , New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States.
authors.forename: Vikram
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Jairam
authors.affiliation: Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine , New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States.
authors.forename: Ahmed F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Salem
authors.affiliation: Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine , New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States.
authors.forename: Ranjini K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Sundaram
authors.affiliation: Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine , New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States.
authors.forename: Ranjit S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Bindra
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Yale University , New Haven, Connecticut 06520, United States.|Department of Pharmacology, Yale School of Medicine , New Haven, Connecticut 06511, United States.
authors.forename: Seth B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Herzon
mesh_terms: D002301:Cardiac Glycosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D053903:DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded; D059766:DNA End-Joining Repair / Q000187:drug effects*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D054852:Small Molecule Libraries / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D002301:Cardiac Glycosides; D054852:Small Molecule Libraries