G-quadruplex vs. duplex-DNA binding of nickel(II) and zinc(II) Schiff base complexes
Novel nickel(II) (1) and zinc(II) (2) complexes of a Salen-like ligand, carrying a pyrimidine ring on the N,N' bridge, were synthesized and characterized. Their interaction with duplex and G-quadruplex DNA was investigated in aqueous solution through UV-visible absorption, circular dichroism and viscometry measurements. The results obtained point out that, while the zinc(II) complex does not interact with both duplex and G-quadruplex DNA, the nickel(II) complex 1 binds preferentially to G-quadruplex respect to duplex-DNA, with values of the DNA-binding constants, Kb, 2.6×10(5)M(-1) and 3.5×10(4)M(-1), respectively. Molecular dynamics simulations provided an atomic level model of the top-sta…
Targeting G-quadruplexes with Organic Dyes: Chelerythrine–DNA Binding Elucidated by Combining Molecular Modeling and Optical Spectroscopy
The DNA-binding of the natural benzophenanthridine alkaloid chelerythrine (CHE) has been assessed by combining molecular modeling and optical absorption spectroscopy. Specifically, both double-helical (B-DNA) and G-quadruplex sequences&mdash
Subcellular duplex DNA and G‐quadruplex interaction profiling of a hexagonal PtII metallacycle
[Abstract] Metal‐driven self‐assembly afforded a multitude of fascinating supramolecular coordination complexes (SCCs) with applications as catalysts, host–guest, and stimuli‐responsive systems. However, the interest in the biological applications of SCCs is only starting to emerge and thorough characterization of their behavior in biological milieus is still lacking. Herein, we report on the synthesis and detailed in‐cell tracking of a Pt2L2 metallacycle. We show that our hexagonal supramolecule accumulates in cancer cell nuclei, exerting a distinctive blue fluorescence staining of chromatin resistant to UV photobleaching selectively in nucleolar G4‐rich regions. SCC co‐localizes with epit…
Fluorescent organometallic rhodium(I) and ruthenium(II) metallodrugs with 4-ethylthio-1,8-naphthalimide ligands: Antiproliferative effects, cellular uptake and DNA-interaction
Fluorescent 4-ethylthio-1,8-naphthalimides containing rhodium(I) N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) and ruthenium (II) NHC fragments were synthesised and evaluated for their antiproliferative effects, cellular uptake and DNA-binding activity. Both types of organometallics triggered ligand dependent efficient cytotoxic effects against tumor cells with the rhodium(I) NHC derivatives causing stronger effects than the ruthenium (II) NHC analogues. Antiproliferative effects could also be observed against several pathogenic Gram-positive bacterial strains, whereas the growth of Gram-negative bacteria was not substantially affected. Cellular uptake was confirmed by atomic absorption spectroscopy as well…
C,N-chelated diaminocarbene platinum(II) complexes derived from 3,4-diaryl-1H-pyrrol-2,5-diimines and cis-dichlorobis(isonitrile)platinum(II): Synthesis, cytotoxicity, and catalytic activity in hydrosilylation reactions
The reaction of 3,4-diaryl-1H-pyrrol-2,5-diimines with cis-dichlorobis(isonitrile)platinum(II) affords the C,N-chelated diaminocarbene platinum(II) complexes, which have been fully characterized including molecular spectroscopy, single crystal X-ray diffraction and DFT calculations. The obtained platinum(II) complexes are effective catalysts for the hydrosilylation of alkynes and alkenes. Thus, the reaction of phenylacetylene with triethoxysilane leads to the formation of α- and β-(E)-vinylsilanes, generating TON's in the range of 103 to 104 and TOF's in the range of 102 to 103 h−1. Also, the cross-linked silicones, possessing the luminescence properties, were obtained by the hydrosilylatio…
Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Organometallic Complexes Bearing Bis‐1,8‐naphthalimide Ligands
Organometallic N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes with intercalating bis-naphthalimide ligands were prepared and evaluated biologically. Cytotoxic effects against tumor cells or bacteria were strongly ligand dependent with minor influence of the metal (Ag, Ru, Rh, Au) centers. Complex 8b with a rhodium(I) NHC moiety was studied in more detail for its DNA interacting properties in comparison to the metal free ligand. These studies showed a good DNA binding pattern with some preference for the telomeric quadruplex structure hTelo. Complex 8b was also shown to trigger additional coordinative binding to the DNA and therefore represents an useful tool compound with a mixed intercalative/coor…
Biological activity of PtIV prodrugs triggered by riboflavin-mediated bioorthogonal photocatalysis
AbstractWe have recently demonstrated that riboflavin (Rf) functions as unconventional bioorthogonal photocatalyst for the activation of PtIV prodrugs. In this study, we show how the combination of light and Rf with two PtIV prodrugs is a feasible strategy for light-mediated pancreatic cancer cell death induction. In Capan-1 cells, which have high tolerance against photodynamic therapy, Rf-mediated activation of the cisplatin and carboplatin prodrugs cis,cis,trans-[Pt(NH3)2(Cl)2(O2CCH2CH2CO2H)2] (1) and cis,cis,trans-[Pt(NH3)2(CBDCA)(O2CCH2CH2CO2H)2] (2, where CBDCA = cyclobutane dicarboxylate) resulted in pronounced reduction of the cell viability, including under hypoxia conditions. Such …
Targeting a Targeted Drug: An Approach Toward Hypoxia-Activatable Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Prodrugs
Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), which have revolutionized cancer therapy over the past 15 years, are limited in their clinical application due to serious side effects. Therefore, we converted two approved TKIs (sunitinib and erlotinib) into 2-nitroimidazole-based hypoxia-activatable prodrugs. Kinetics studies showed very different stabilities over 24 h; however, fast reductive activation via E. coli nitroreductase could be confirmed for both panels. The anticancer activity and signaling inhibition of the compounds against various human cancer cell lines were evaluated in cell culture. These data, together with molecular docking simulations, revealed distinct differences in the impact of …
Metal drugs and the anticancer immune response
The immune system deploys a multitude of innate and adaptive mechanisms not only to ward off pathogens but also to prevent malignant transformation ("immune surveillance"). Hence, a clinically apparent tumor already reflects selection for those malignant cell clones capable of evading immune recognition ("immune evasion"). Metal drugs, besides their well-investigated cytotoxic anticancer effects, massively interact with the cancer-immune interface and can reverse important aspects of immune evasion. This topic has recently gained intense attention based on combination approaches with anticancer immunotherapy (e.g., immune checkpoint inhibitors), a strategy recently delivering first exciting…
Ruthenium-arene complexes bearing naphthyl-substituted 1,3-dioxoindan-2-carboxamides ligands for G-quadruplex DNA recognition.
Quadruplex nucleic acids – DNA/RNA secondary structures formed in guanine rich sequences – proved to have key roles in the biology of cancers and, as such, in recent years they emerged as promising targets for small molecules. Many reports demonstrated that metal complexes can effectively stabilize quadruplex structures, promoting telomerase inhibition, downregulation of the expression of cancer-related genes and ultimately cancer cell death. Although extensively explored as anticancer agents, studies on the ability of ruthenium arene complexes to interact with quadruplex nucleic acids are surprisingly almost unknown. Herein, we report on the synthesis and characterization of four novel Ru(…
Interplay of three G‑quadruplex units in the KIT promoter
The proto-oncogene KIT encodes for a tyrosine kinase receptor, which is a clinically validated target for treating gastrointestinal stromal tumors. The KIT promoter contains a G-rich domain within a relatively long sequence potentially able to form three adjacent G-quadruplex (G4) units, namely, K2, SP, and K1. These G4 domains have been studied mainly as single quadruplex units derived from short truncated sequences and are currently considered promising targets for anticancer drugs, alternatively to the encoded protein. Nevertheless, the information reported so far does not contemplate the interplay between those neighboring G4s in the context of the whole promoter, possibly thwarting dru…
DNA-Binding and Anticancer Activity of Pyrene-Imidazolium Derivatives
DNA-binding investigations showed that two different derivatives endowed with pyrene and imidazolium moieties, 1 and 2, strongly bind both double-stranded DNA and telomeric sequences in G-quadruplex (G4) conformation. The values of the DNA-binding constants indicate that 1 and 2 show preferential affinity for G4-DNA, of about one and two orders of magnitude, respectively. Moreover, 1 and 2 inhibit short and long-term proliferation of breast cancer cell lines in a time- and dose-dependent fashion. Remarkably, senescence assays indicate that telomeric G4-DNA is a possible biotarget for the cytotoxic activity of 2. Molecular dynamics simulations suggest that the stronger binding of 2 with G4-D…
Another step toward DNA selective targeting: NiII and CuII complexes of a Schiff base ligand able to bind gene promoter G-quadruplexes
DNA G-rich sequences are able to form four-stranded structures organized in stacked guanine tetrads. These structures, called G-quadruplexes, were found to have an important role in the regulation of oncogenes expression and became, for such a reason, appealing targets for anticancer drugs. Aiming at finding selective G-quadruplex binders, we have designed, synthesized and characterized a new water soluble Salen-like Schiff base ligand and its NiII and CuII metal complexes. UV-Vis, circular dichroism and FRET measurements indicated that the nickel complex can stabilize oncogene promoter G-quadruplexes with high selectivity, presenting no interactions with duplex DNA at all. The same compoun…
Development and biological investigations of hypoxia-sensitive prodrugs of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor crizotinib
Despite the huge success of tyrosine kinase inhibitors as anticancer agents, severe side effects are a major problem. In order to overcome this drawback, the first hypoxia-activatable 2-nitroimidazole-based prodrugs of the clinically approved ALK and c-MET inhibitor crizotinib were developed. The 2-aminopyridine functionality of crizotinib (essential for target kinase binding) was considered as ideal position for prodrug derivatization. Consequently, two different prodrugs were synthesized with the nitroimidazole unit attached to crizotinib either via carbamoylation (A) or alkylation (B) of the 2-aminopyridine moiety. The successful prodrug design could be proven by docking studies and a dr…
Anticancer metal drugs and immunogenic cell death
Conventional chemotherapeutics, but also innovative precision anticancer compounds, are commonly perceived to target primarily the cancer cell compartment. However, recently it was discovered that some of these compounds can also exert immunomodulatory activities which might be exploited to synergistically enhance their anticancer effects. One specific phenomenon of the interplay between chemotherapy and the anticancer immune response is the so-called “immunogenic cell death” (ICD). ICD was discovered based on a vaccination effect exerted by cancer cells dying from pretreatment with certain chemotherapeutics, termed ICD inducers, in syngeneic transplantation mouse models. Interestingly, onl…
Self-assembled Pt2L2 boxes strongly bind G-quadruplex DNA and influence gene expression in cancer cells
Supramolecular Pt(ii) quadrangular boxes bind native and G-quadruplex DNA motifs in a size-dependent fashion. Three Pt molecular squares of distinct size show biological activity against cancer cells and heavily influence the expression of genes known to form G-quadruplexes in their promoter regions. The smallest Pt-box displays less activity but more selectivity for a quadruplex formed in the c-Kit gene.
The interaction of Schiff Base complexes of nickel(II) and zinc(II) with duplex and G-quadruplex DNA
The duplex and G-quadruplex DNA-binding of six nickel(II) and zinc(II) complexes of three salphen-like ligands (salphen = N,N?-bis-salicylidene-1,2-phenylenediaminato) was investigated by UV-visible absorption and circular dichroism spectroscopy. The results obtained, in particular the values of the DNA-binding constants, Kb, point out that the nickel(II) complexes show a higher affinity toward both duplex and G-quadruplex DNA, compared to the analogous zinc(II) complexes. Interestingly, the zinc(II) complexes possess high selectivity toward G-quadruplex DNA, being negligible their binding with duplex DNA. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations provided atomistic models for the interpretation …
Spontaneous Resolution of a Triple‐Stranded Dinickel(II) Helicate Generated via Intermolecular Transamination Reaction of S ‐Methylisothiocarbohydrazide in the Presence of Ni 2+
The reaction of S-methylisothiocarbohydrazide hydroiodide [H2NNHC(SCH3)NNH2·HI] with NiCl2·6H2O in water at room temperature yielded a triple-stranded dinickel(II) helicate [NiII(L1–L1)3NiII]I4·4H2O (14+·4I–·4H2O), where L1–L1 = H2NNHC(SCH3)NNC(SCH3)NHNH2, in 35 % yield, which spontaneously separates in enantiomers upon crystallization. The enantiomers do not racemize at room temperature, even not after 15 h of heating at 90 °C. X-ray diffraction structures of both enantiomers, chiroptical and magnetic properties of 14+·4I–·4H2O are reported. Demetallation of the complex by treatment with S2– resulted in 3,6-bis(methylthio)-1,4-dihydro-1,2,4,5-tetrazine (2). Compound 2 undergoes 2-e– oxidat…
Metal Ions and Metal Complexes in Alzheimer's Disease.
Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia that seriously affects daily life. Even if AD pathogenesis is still subject of debate, it is generally accepted that cerebral cortex plaques formed by aggregated amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides can be considered a characteristic pathological hallmark. It is well known that metal ions play an important role in the aggregation process of Aβ. Methods: This review focuses on the anti-Aβ aggregation activity of chelating ligands as well as on the use of metal complexes as diagnostic probes and as potential drugs. Conclusion: While chelating agents, such as curcumin or flavonoid derivatives, are currently used to capture metal ions …
Metal NHC Complexes with Naphthalimide Ligands as DNA-Interacting Antiproliferative Agents
Naphthalimide-based N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes of the type [(1,5-cyclooctadiene)(NHC)RhCl)] (4 a-c), [(p-cymene)(NHC)RuCl2 )] (5 a-c), and [(NHC)CuBr] (6 a-c) were synthesized and investigated as antiproliferative agents that target DNA. The cytotoxic effects were largely driven by the naphthalimide structure, which is a DNA-intercalating moiety. Regarding the metal center, the highest activities were observed with the rhodium complexes, and cytotoxic activity was significantly lower for the ruthenium derivatives. The stable coordination of the NHC ligands of selected complexes 4 b and 5 b in solution was confirmed, and their DNA binding properties were studied by UV/Vis spectro…
CCDC 1451695: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination
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CCDC 1983029: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination
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CCDC 1510249: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination
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CCDC 1870492: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination
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CCDC 1451694: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination
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CCDC 1451696: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination
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CCDC 1944348: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination
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CCDC 1870494: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination
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CCDC 1870493: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination
Related Article: Laura A. Hager, Stephan Mokesch, Claudia Kieler, Silvia Alonso-de Castro, Dina Baier, Alexander Roller, Wolfgang Kandioller, Bernhard K. Keppler, Walter Berger, Luca Salassa, Alessio Terenzi|2019|Dalton Trans.|48|12040|doi:10.1039/C9DT02078K