Differential disruption of EWS-FLI1 binding by DNA-binding agents

PLoS One. 2013 Jul 22;8(7):e69714. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0069714. Print 2013.

Abstract

Fusion of the EWS gene to FLI1 produces a fusion oncoprotein that drives an aberrant gene expression program responsible for the development of Ewing sarcoma. We used a homogenous proximity assay to screen for compounds that disrupt the binding of EWS-FLI1 to its cognate DNA targets. A number of DNA-binding chemotherapeutic agents were found to non-specifically disrupt protein binding to DNA. In contrast, actinomycin D was found to preferentially disrupt EWS-FLI1 binding by comparison to p53 binding to their respective cognate DNA targets in vitro. In cell-based assays, low concentrations of actinomycin D preferentially blocked EWS-FLI1 binding to chromatin, and disrupted EWS-FLI1-mediated gene expression. Higher concentrations of actinomycin D globally repressed transcription. These results demonstrate that actinomycin D preferentially disrupts EWS-FLI1 binding to DNA at selected concentrations. Although the window between this preferential effect and global suppression is too narrow to exploit in a therapeutic manner, these results suggest that base-preferences may be exploited to find DNA-binding compounds that preferentially disrupt subclasses of transcription factors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Chromatin / metabolism
  • DNA / metabolism*
  • Dactinomycin / pharmacology
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • High-Throughput Screening Assays
  • Humans
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion / metabolism*
  • Protein Binding / drug effects
  • Proto-Oncogene Protein c-fli-1 / metabolism*
  • RNA-Binding Protein EWS / metabolism*
  • Sarcoma, Ewing / drug therapy
  • Sarcoma, Ewing / pathology

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Chromatin
  • EWS-FLI fusion protein
  • Oncogene Proteins, Fusion
  • Proto-Oncogene Protein c-fli-1
  • RNA-Binding Protein EWS
  • Dactinomycin
  • DNA

Grants and funding

Funding provided by St. Baldrick's Foundation (Kung). The funder had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.