Dual mode of inhibition of purified DNA ligase I from human cells by 9-β-D-arabinofuranosyl-2-fluoroadenine triphosphate

9-β-D-Arabinofuranosyl-2-fluoroadenine (F-ara-A) is an analogue of adenosine and deoxyadenosine with potent anti-tumor activity. The mechanism of action for this compound has been elucidated as the inhibition of DNA and RNA synthesis, induction of DNA fragmentation, and genetic damage. This study demonstrated that DNA ligase I, an enzyme involved in DNA replication, is a target for the drug action. F-ara-adenine triphosphate (F-ara-ATP) at 80 μM inhibited the activity of DNA ligase I by more than 90%. In contrast, eight other related nucleoside analogues showed no effect on the enzyme activity at 200 μM. F-ara-ATP inhibited DNA ligation in two distinct ways. First, F-ara-ATP directly interacted with DNA ligase I and inhibited the formation of the ligase-AMP complex. This inhibition could not be reversed when free F-ara-ATP was eliminated from the treated enzyme; however, the addition of pyrophosphate, followed by gel filtration chromatography, restored enzyme activity, indicating that F-ara-ATP bound to the enzyme and altered the AMP-binding site. Secondly, the activity of DNA ligase I was inhibited when F-ara-ATP was incorporated into the 3′ terminus of the DNA substrate. The dual mode of inhibition of DNA ligase I by F-araATP indicates that its effect on DNA ligation may be important in the inhibition of DNA synthesis and the cytotoxicity of F-ara-A.