Human Topoisomerase I Poisoning by Protoberberines:  Potential Roles for Both Drug−DNA and Drug−Enzyme Interactions

Protoberberines represent a structural class of organic cations that induce topoisomerase I-mediated DNA cleavage, a behavior termed topoisomerase I poisoning. We have employed a broad range of biophysical, biochemical, and computer modeling techniques to characterize and cross-correlate the DNA-binding and topoisomerase poisoning properties of four protoberberine analogues that differ with respect to the substituents on their A- and/or D-rings. Our data reveal the following significant features: (i) The binding of the four protoberberines unwinds duplex DNA by approximately 11°, an observation consistent with an intercalative mode of interaction. (ii) Enthalpically favorable interactions, such as stacking interactions between the intercalated ligand and the neighboring base pairs, provide 2,3-dimethoxy ≫ 3,4-dimethoxy. These differences in topoisomerase I poisoning activity may reflect the differing abilities of the analogues to interact with specific functionalities on the enzyme, thereby stabilizing the enzyme in its cleavable state. In the aggregate, our results are consistent with a mechanistic model in which both ligand−DNA and ligand−enzyme interactions are important for the p