Long term instability and molecular mechanism of 5-azacytidine-induced DNA hypomethylation in normal and neoplastic tissues in vivo

L. J.W. Lu, K. Randerath

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

24 Scopus citations

Abstract

We have previously shown that treatment of normal and neoplastic cells with the antileukemic drug, 5-azacytidine, led to the rapid synthesis of a low molecular weight RNA containing 5-azacytosine. This fraudulent RNA inhibited tRNA (cytosine-5)-methyltransferase early after drug administration. The absence of tRNA (cytosine-5)-methyltransferase activity resulted in the synthesis of tRNA specifically deficient in 5-methylcytosine. Here, we show that treatment of L1210 cells, grown intraperitoneally in mice, with 5-azacytidine led to a rapid and prolonged inactivation of DNA (cytosine-5)-methyltransferase activity and to the synthesis of undermethylated DNA. DNA isolated from the treated tissue was found to inactivate the DNA methylase (decreased V(max)) in in vitro DNA (cytosine-5)-methyltransferase assays. Kinetic analysis showed noncompetitive inhibition of the substrate by the inhibitor. The persistence of DNA undermethylation after treatment with 5-azadeoxycytidine or 5-azacytidine in animals has not been measured directly; therefore, we have investigated this phenomenon in the intact animal. Prolonged treatment with 5-azacytidine was required to maintain a fraction of undermethylated sites in DNA of L1210 cells in vivo for up to 4 months or longer after drug withdrawal. Such treatment led to instability of DNA methylation levels in L1210 cells in vivo. At least a partial restoration of DNA 5-methylcytosine levels was observed after acute and chronic 5-azacytidine treatment, respectively. 5-Azacytidine was also found to induce DNA hypomethylation in regenerating, but not in normal adult mouse liver cells. Our results show that: 1) it was extremely difficult to decrease the DNA methylation level to <50% of control; and 2) it was also difficult to maintain stable DNA methylation levels in vivo after exposure to the drug.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)594-603
Number of pages10
JournalMolecular pharmacology
Volume26
Issue number3
StatePublished - 1984
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Medicine
  • Pharmacology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Long term instability and molecular mechanism of 5-azacytidine-induced DNA hypomethylation in normal and neoplastic tissues in vivo'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this