Luminescent iminophosphorane gold, palladium and platinum complexes as potential anticancer agents
A series of coordination gold(III), palladium(II), and platinum(II) complexes with a luminescent iminophosphorane ligand derived from 8-aminoquinoline [Ph3P[double bond, length as m-dash]N–C9H6N] (1) have been synthesized and structurally characterized. The coordination palladium(II) and platinum(II) compounds can evolve further, under appropriate conditions, to give stable cyclometalated endo species [M{κ3-C,N,N-C6H4(PPh2[double bond, length as m-dash]N-8-C9H6N)}Cl] (M = Pd, Pt) by C–H activation of the phenyl group of the PPh3 fragment. Iminophosphorane 1 and the new metallic complexes are luminescent in DMSO or DMSO–H2O (1 : 1 mixture) solutions at RT. The compounds have been evaluated f…
The mechanism of aquaporin inhibition by gold compounds elucidated by biophysical and computational methods
The inhibition of water and glycerol permeation via human aquaglyceroporin-3 (AQP3) by gold(iii) complexes has been studied by stopped-flow spectroscopy and, for the first time, its mechanism has been described using molecular dynamics (MD), combined with density functional theory (DFT) and electrochemical studies. The obtained MD results showed that the most effective gold-based inhibitor, anchored to Cys40 in AQP3, is able to induce shrinkage of pores preventing glycerol and water permeation. Moreover, the good correlation between the affinity of the Au(iii) complex to Cys binding and AQP3 inhibition effects was highlighted, while no influence of the different oxidative character of the c…
New Gold(I) Organometallic Compounds with Biological Activity in Cancer Cells (Eur. J. Inorg. Chem. 27/2014)
Potential anticancer heterometallic Fe-Au and Fe-Pd agents: Initial mechanistic insights
A series of gold(III) and palladium(II) heterometallic complexes with new iminophosphorane ligands derived from ferrocenylphosphanes [{Cp-P(Ph2)═N-Ph}2Fe] (1), [{Cp-P(Ph2)═N-CH2-2-NC5H4}2Fe] (2), and [{Cp-P(Ph2)═N-CH2-2-NC5H4}Fe(Cp)] (3) have been synthesized and structurally characterized. Ligands 2 and 3 afford stable coordination complexes [AuCl2(3)]ClO4, [{AuCl2}2(2)](ClO4)2, [PdCl2(3)], and [{PdCl2}2(2)]. The complexes have been evaluated for their antiproliferative properties in human ovarian cancer cells sensitive and resistant to cisplatin (A2780S/R), in human breast cancer cells (MCF7) and in a nontumorigenic human embryonic kidney cell line (HEK-293T). The highly cytotoxic trimeta…
The inhibition of glycerol permeation through aquaglyceroporin-3 induced by mercury(II)
Mercurial compounds are known to inhibit water permeation through aquaporins (AQPs). Although in the last years some hypotheses were proposed, the exact mechanism of inhibition is still an open question and even less is known about the inhibition of the glycerol permeation through aquaglyceroporins. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of human aquaporin-3 (AQP3) have been performed up to 200 ns in the presence of Hg2+ ions. For the first time, we have observed the unbiased passage of a glycerol molecule from the extracellular to cytosolic side. Moreover, the presence of Hg2+ ions covalently bound to Cys40 leads to a collapse of the aromatic/arginine selectivity filter (ar/R SF), blocking th…
On the Mechanism of Gold/NHC Compounds Binding to DNA G-Quadruplexes: Combined Metadynamics and Biophysical Methods
The binding modes and free-energy landscape of two AuI /N-heterocyclic carbene complexes interacting with G-quadruplexes, namely a human telomeric (hTelo) and a promoter sequence (C-KIT1), are studied here for the first time by metadynamics. The theoretical results are validated by FRET DNA melting assays and provide an accurate estimate of the absolute gold complex/DNA binding free energy. This advanced in silico approach is valuable to achieve rational drug design of selective G4 binders.
Fluorescent metal-based complexes as cancer probes.
Abstract The ability to track drugs inside of cells and tumours has been highly valuable in cancer research and diagnosis. Metal complexes add attractive features to fluorescent drugs, such as targeting and specificity, solubility and uptake or photophysical properties. This review focuses on the latest fluorescent metal-based complexes, their cellular targets, photophysical properties and possible anticancer effects.
New Gold(I) Organometallic Compounds with Biological Activity in Cancer Cells
N-Heterocyclic carbene gold(I) complexes bearing a fluorescent coumarin ligand were synthesized and characterized by various techniques. The compounds were examined for their antiproliferative effects in normal and tumor cells in vitro; they demonstrated moderate activity and a certain degree of selectivity. The compounds were also shown to efficiently inhibit the selenoenzyme thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), whereas they were poorly effective towards the glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione peroxidase enzymes. Notably, {3-[(7-methoxy-2-oxo-2H-chromen-4-yl) methyl]-1-methylimidazol-2-ylidene}(tetra-O-acetyl-1-thio-beta-D-glucopyranosido) gold(I) (3) showed a pronounced inhibition of TrxR…
CCDC 930540: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination
Related Article: Nicholas Lease, Vadim Vasilevski, Monica Carreira, Andreia de Almeida, Mercedes Sanaú, Pipsa Hirva, Angela Casini, María Contel|2013|J.Med.Chem.|56|5806|doi:10.1021/jm4007615
CCDC 930539: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination
Related Article: Nicholas Lease, Vadim Vasilevski, Monica Carreira, Andreia de Almeida, Mercedes Sanaú, Pipsa Hirva, Angela Casini, María Contel|2013|J.Med.Chem.|56|5806|doi:10.1021/jm4007615
CCDC 977990: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination
Related Article: Malgorzata Frik, Josefina Jiménez, Vadim Vasilevski, Monica Carreira, Andreia de Almeida, Elena Gascón, Farrah Benoit, Mercedes Sanaú, Angela Casini, María Contel|2014|Inorg.Chem.Front.|1|231|doi:10.1039/C4QI00003J
CCDC 977991: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination
Related Article: Malgorzata Frik, Josefina Jiménez, Vadim Vasilevski, Monica Carreira, Andreia de Almeida, Elena Gascón, Farrah Benoit, Mercedes Sanaú, Angela Casini, María Contel|2014|Inorg.Chem.Front.|1|231|doi:10.1039/C4QI00003J