Search results for "Quadruplex"

Salphen metal complexes as potential anticancer agents: interaction profile and selectivity studies toward the three G-quadruplex units in the KIT pr…

2022

DNA G-rich sequences can organize in four-stranded structures called G-quadruplexes (G4s). These motifs are enriched in significant sites within the human genomes, including telomeres and promoters of cancer related genes. For instance, KIT proto-oncogene promoter, associated with diverse cancers, contains three adjacent G4 units, namely Kit2, SP, and Kitt. Aiming at finding new and selective G-quadruplex binders, we have synthesized and characterized five non-charged metal complexes of Pt(II), Pd(II), Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II) of a chlorine substituted Salphen ligand. The crystal structure of the Pt(II) and Pd(II) complexes was determined by XRPD. FRET measurements indicated that Pt(II) an…

"Dynamical Docking" of Cyclic Dinuclear Au(I) Bis-N-heterocyclic Complexes Facilitates Their Binding to G-Quadruplexes.

2022

With the aim to improve the design of metal complexes as stabilizers of noncanonical DNA secondary structures, namely, G-quadruplexes (G4s), a series of cyclic dinuclear Au(I) N-heterocyclic carbene complexes based on xanthine and benzimidazole ligands has been synthesized and characterized by various methods, including X-ray diffraction. Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) and CD DNA melting assays unraveled the compounds’ stabilization properties toward G4s of different topologies of physiological relevance. Initial structure–activity relationships have been identified and recognize the family of xanthine derivatives as those more selective toward G4s versus duplex DNA. The bind…

On the G‐Quadruplex Binding of a New Class of Nickel(II), Copper(II), and Zinc(II) Salphen‐Like Complexes

2021

Fluorescent organometallic rhodium(I) and ruthenium(II) metallodrugs with 4-ethylthio-1,8-naphthalimide ligands: Antiproliferative effects, cellular …

2018

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…

Subcellular duplex DNA and G‐quadruplex interaction profiling of a hexagonal PtII metallacycle

2019

[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…

Anticancer Activity, Reduction Mechanism and G-Quadruplex DNA Binding of a Redox-Activated Platinum(IV)–Salphen Complex

2022

Aiming at reducing the unselective cytotoxicity of Pt(II) chemotherapeutics, a great deal of effort has been concentrated into the design of metal-containing drugs with different anticancer mechanisms of action. Inert Pt(IV) prodrugs have been proposed to be a valid alternative as they are activated by reduction directly into the cell releasing active Pt(II) species. On the other hand, a promising strategy for designing metallodrugs is to explore new potential biological targets rather than canonical B-DNA. G-quadruplex nucleic acid, obtained by self-assembly of guanine-rich nucleic acid sequences, has recently been considered an attractive target for anticancer drug design. Therefore, comp…

Circular Dichroism of DNA G-Quadruplexes: Combining Modeling and Spectroscopy To Unravel Complex Structures

2016

We report on the comparison between the computational and experimental determination of electronic circular dichroism spectra of different guanine quadruplexes obtained from human telomeric sequences. In particular the difference between parallel, antiparallel, and hybrid structures is evidenced, as well as the induction of transitions between the polymorphs depending on the solution environment. Extensive molecular dynamics simulations (MD) are used to probe the conformational space of the different quadruplexes, and subsequently state-of-the-art hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) techniques coupled with excitonic semiempirical Hamiltonian are used to simulate the macromo…

Role of RNA Guanine Quadruplexes in Favoring the Dimerization of SARS Unique Domain in Coronaviruses

2020

ABSTRACTCoronaviruses may produce severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). As a matter of fact, a new SARS-type virus, SARS-CoV-2, is responsible of a global pandemic in 2020 with unprecedented sanitary and economic consequences for most countries. In the present contribution we study, by all-atom equilibrium and enhanced sampling molecular dynamics simulations, the interaction between the SARS Unique Domain and RNA guanine quadruplexes, a process involved in eluding the defensive response of the host thus favoring viral infection of human cells. Our results evidence two stable binding modes involving an interaction site spanning either the protein dimer interface or only one monomer. The …

A Model of Smart G-Quadruplex Ligand

2012

An unprecedented strategy to control the quadruplex- vs duplex-DNA selectivity of a ligand is reported. We designed a compound whose structure can rearrange when it interacts with a G-quadruplex, thereby controlling its affinity. Thus, the first "smart G-quadruplex ligand" is reported, since this ligand experiences a structural change in the presence of quadruplexes but not in the presence of duplexes, ensuring a high level of quadruplex selectivity.

Porphyrin-templated synthetic G-quartet (PorphySQ): a second prototype of G-quartet-based G-quadruplex ligand.

2012

Template-assembled synthetic G-quartet (TASQ) has been reported recently as a G-quadruplex ligand interacting with DNA according to an unprecedented, nature-inspired ‘like likes like’ approach, based on the association between two G-quartets, one being native (quadruplex) and the other one artificial (ligand). Herein, a novel TASQ-based ligand is designed, synthesized and its quadruplex-recognition properties are evaluated in vitro: PorphySQ (for porphyrin-templated synthetic G-quartet) displays enhanced quadruplex recognition properties as compared to the very first reported prototype (DOTASQ, for DOTA-templated synthetic G-quartet), since the porphyrin template insures a more stable intra…