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Song H, Kostrhunova H, Cervinka J, Macpherson J, Malina J, Rajan T, Phillips R, Postings M, Shepherd S, Zhang X, Brabec V, Rogers NJ, Scott P. Dicobalt(ii) helices kill colon cancer cells via enantiomer-specific mechanisms; DNA damage or microtubule disruption. Chem Sci 2024; 15:11029-11037. [PMID: 39027295 PMCID: PMC11253168 DOI: 10.1039/d4sc02541e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Highly diastereoselective self-assembly reactions give both enantiomers (Λ and Δ) of anti-parallel triple-stranded bimetallic Co(ii) and Co(iii) cationic helices, without the need for resolution; the first such reaction for Co. The complexes are water soluble and stable, even in the case of Co(ii). Studies in a range of cancer and healthy cell lines indicate high activity and selectivity, and substantial differences between enantiomers. The oxidation state has little effect, and correspondingly, Co(iii) compounds are reduced to Co(ii) e.g. by glutathione. In HCT116 colon cancer cells the Λ enantiomer induces dose-dependent G2-M arrest in the cell cycle and disrupts microtubule architectures. This Co(ii) Λ enantiomer is ca. five times more potent than the isostructural Fe(ii) compound. Since the measured cellular uptakes are similar this implies a higher affinity of the Co system for the intracellular target(s); while the two systems are isostructural they have substantially different charge distributions as shown by calculated hydrophobicity maps. In contrast to the Λ enantiomer, Δ-Co(ii) induces G1 arrest in HCT116 cells, efficiently inhibits the topoisomerase I-catalyzed relaxation of supercoiled plasmid DNA, and, unlike the isostructural Fe(ii) system, causes DNA damage. It thus seems very likely that redox chemistry plays a role in the latter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hualong Song
- Beijing Area Major Laboratory of Peptide and Small Molecular Drugs, Engineering Research Centre of Endogenous Prophylactic of Ministry of Education of China, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Capital Medical University Beijing 100069 China
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick Coventry CV4 7AL UK
| | - Hana Kostrhunova
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biophysics Brno Czech Republic
| | - Jakub Cervinka
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biophysics Brno Czech Republic
- Faculty of Science, Department of Biochemistry, Masaryk University Brno Czech Republic
| | - Julie Macpherson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick Coventry CV4 7AL UK
| | - Jaroslav Malina
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biophysics Brno Czech Republic
| | - Teena Rajan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick Coventry CV4 7AL UK
| | - Roger Phillips
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Huddersfield Huddersfield HD1 3DH UK
| | - Miles Postings
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick Coventry CV4 7AL UK
| | - Samantha Shepherd
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Huddersfield Huddersfield HD1 3DH UK
| | - Xuejian Zhang
- College of Chemistry, State Key Laboratory of Elemento-Organic Chemistry, Nankai University Tianjin 300071 China
| | - Viktor Brabec
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biophysics Brno Czech Republic
- Department of Biophysics, Palacky University Olomouc Czech Republic
| | - Nicola J Rogers
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University Kowloon Tong Hong Kong SAR China
| | - Peter Scott
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick Coventry CV4 7AL UK
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2
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Malina J, Crowley JD, Brabec V. Interaction of dinuclear Co(III) cylinders with higher-order DNA structures. Chem Biol Interact 2024; 395:111031. [PMID: 38703805 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2024.111031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2024] [Revised: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
Alternative DNA structures play critical roles in fundamental biological processes linked to human diseases. Thus, targeting and stabilizing these structures by specific ligands could affect the progression of cancer and other diseases. Here, we describe, using methods of molecular biophysics, the interactions of two oxidatively locked [Co2L3]6+ cylinders, rac-2 and meso-1, with diverse alternative DNA structures, such as junctions, G quadruplexes, and bulges. This study was motivated by earlier results demonstrating that both Co(III) cylinders exhibit potent and selective activity against cancer cells, accumulate in the nucleus of cancer cells, and prove to be efficient DNA binders. The results show that the bigger cylinder rac-2 stabilizes all DNA structures, while the smaller cylinder meso-1 stabilizes just the Y-shaped three-way junctions. Collectively, the results of this study suggest that the stabilization of alternative DNA structures by Co(III) cylinders investigated in this work might contribute to the mechanism of their biological activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaroslav Malina
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, CZ-61200, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - James D Crowley
- Department of Chemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, 9016, Otago, New Zealand
| | - Viktor Brabec
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, CZ-61200, Brno, Czech Republic; Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Science, Palacky University, CZ-78371, Olomouc, Czech Republic.
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3
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Schlosser J, Ihmels H. Ligands for Abasic Site-containing DNA and their Use as Fluorescent Probes. Curr Org Synth 2023; 20:96-113. [PMID: 35170411 DOI: 10.2174/1570179419666220216091422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Apurinic and apyrimidinic sites, also referred to as abasic or AP sites, are residues of duplex DNA in which one DNA base is removed from a Watson-Crick base pair. They are formed during the enzymatic repair of DNA and offer binding sites for a variety of guest molecules. Specifically, the AP site may bind an appropriate ligand as a substitute for the missing nucleic base, thus stabilizing the abasic site-containing DNA (AP-DNA). Notably, ligands that bind selectively to abasic sites may be employed for analytical and therapeutical purposes. As a result, there is a search for structural features that establish a strong and selective association of a given ligand with the abasic position in DNA. Against this background, this review provides an overview of the different classes of ligands for abasic site-containing DNA (AP-DNA). This review covers covalently binding substrates, namely amine and oxyamine derivatives, as well as ligands that bind to AP-DNA by noncovalent association, as represented by small heterocyclic aromatic compounds, metal-organic complexes, macrocyclic cyclophanes, and intercalator-nucleobase conjugates. As the systematic development of fluorescent probes for AP-DNA has been somewhat neglected so far, this review article contains a survey of the available reports on the fluorimetric response of the ligand upon binding to the AP-DNA. Based on these data, this compilation shall present a perspective for future developments of fluorescent probes for AP-DNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julika Schlosser
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, University of Siegen, Center of Micro- and Nanochemistry and (Bio)Technology (Cμ), Adolf-Reichwein-Str. 2, 57068 Siegen, Germany
| | - Heiko Ihmels
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, University of Siegen, Center of Micro- and Nanochemistry and (Bio)Technology (Cμ), Adolf-Reichwein-Str. 2, 57068 Siegen, Germany
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Dalla Pozza M, Abdullrahman A, Cardin CJ, Gasser G, Hall JP. Three's a crowd - stabilisation, structure, and applications of DNA triplexes. Chem Sci 2022; 13:10193-10215. [PMID: 36277639 PMCID: PMC9473520 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc01793h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA is a strikingly flexible molecule and can form a variety of secondary structures, including the triple helix, which is the subject of this review. The DNA triplex may be formed naturally, during homologous recombination, or can be formed by the introduction of a synthetic triplex forming oligonucleotide (TFO) to a DNA duplex. As the TFO will bind to the duplex with sequence specificity, there is significant interest in developing TFOs with potential therapeutic applications, including using TFOs as a delivery mechanism for compounds able to modify or damage DNA. However, to combine triplexes with functionalised compounds, a full understanding of triplex structure and chemical modification strategies, which may increase triplex stability or in vivo degradation, is essential - these areas will be discussed in this review. Ruthenium polypyridyl complexes, which are able to photooxidise DNA and act as luminescent DNA probes, may serve as a suitable photophysical payload for a TFO system and the developments in this area in the context of DNA triplexes will also be reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Dalla Pozza
- Chimie ParisTech, PSL University, CNRS, Institute of Chemistry for Life and Health Sciences, Laboratory for Inorganic Chemical Biology F-75005 Paris France www.gassergroup.com
| | - Ahmad Abdullrahman
- Department of Pharmacy, Chemistry and Pharmacy Building, University of Reading Whiteknights Campus Reading Berkshire RG6 6AD UK
| | - Christine J Cardin
- Department of Chemistry, University of Reading Whiteknights Reading RG6 6AD UK
| | - Gilles Gasser
- Chimie ParisTech, PSL University, CNRS, Institute of Chemistry for Life and Health Sciences, Laboratory for Inorganic Chemical Biology F-75005 Paris France www.gassergroup.com
| | - James P Hall
- Department of Pharmacy, Chemistry and Pharmacy Building, University of Reading Whiteknights Campus Reading Berkshire RG6 6AD UK
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Lisboa LS, Riisom M, Vasdev RAS, Jamieson SMF, Wright LJ, Hartinger CG, Crowley JD. Cavity-Containing [Fe 2L 3] 4+ Helicates: An Examination of Host-Guest Chemistry and Cytotoxicity. Front Chem 2021; 9:697684. [PMID: 34307299 PMCID: PMC8292671 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2021.697684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Two new di(2,2′-bipyridine) ligands, 2,6-bis([2,2′-bipyridin]-5-ylethynyl)pyridine (L1) and bis(4-([2,2′-bipyridin]-5-ylethynyl)phenyl)methane (L2) were synthesized and used to generate two metallosupramolecular [Fe2(L)3](BF4)4 cylinders. The ligands and cylinders were characterized using elemental analysis, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, UV-vis, 1H-, 13C and DOSY nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies. The molecular structures of the [Fe2(L)3](BF4)4 cylinders were confirmed using X-ray crystallography. Both the [Fe2(L1)3](BF4)4 and [Fe2(L2)3](BF4)4 complexes crystallized as racemic (rac) mixtures of the ΔΔ (P) and ΛΛ (M) helicates. However, 1H NMR spectra showed that in solution the larger [Fe2(L2)3](BF4)4 was a mixture of the rac-ΔΔ/ΛΛ and meso-ΔΛ isomers. The host-guest chemistry of the helicates, which both feature a central cavity, was examined with several small drug molecules. However, none of the potential guests were found to bind within the helicates. In vitro cytotoxicity assays demonstrated that both helicates were active against four cancer cell lines. The smaller [Fe2(L1)3](BF4)4 system displayed low μM activity against the HCT116 (IC50 = 7.1 ± 0.5 μM) and NCI-H460 (IC50 = 4.9 ± 0.4 μM) cancer cells. While the antiproliferative effects against all the cell lines examined were less than the well-known anticancer drug cisplatin, their modes of action would be expected to be very different.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynn S Lisboa
- Department of Chemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Mie Riisom
- School of Chemical Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.,Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Roan A S Vasdev
- Department of Chemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Stephen M F Jamieson
- Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - L James Wright
- School of Chemical Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | - James D Crowley
- Department of Chemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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Malina J, Kostrhunova H, Scott P, Brabec V. Fe II Metallohelices Stabilize DNA G-Quadruplexes and Downregulate the Expression of G-Quadruplex-Regulated Oncogenes. Chemistry 2021; 27:11682-11692. [PMID: 34048082 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202101388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
DNA G-quadruplexes (G4s) have been identified within the promoter regions of many proto-oncogenes. Thus, G4s represent attractive targets for cancer therapy, and the design and development of new drugs as G4 binders is a very active field of medicinal chemistry. Here, molecular biophysics and biology methods were employed to investigate the interaction of chiral metallohelices with a series of four DNA G4s (hTelo, c-myc, c-kit1, c-kit2) that are formed by the human telomeric sequence (hTelo) and in the promoter regions of c-MYC and c-KIT proto-oncogenes. We show that the investigated water-compatible, optically pure metallohelices, which are made by self-assembly of simple nonpeptidic organic components around FeII ions and exhibit bioactivity emulating the natural systems, bind with high affinity to G4 DNA and much lower affinity to duplex DNA. Notably, both enantiomers of a metallohelix containing a m-xylenyl bridge (5 b) were found to effectively inhibit primer elongation catalyzed by Taq DNA polymerase by stabilizing G4 structures formed in the template strands containing c-myc and c-kit2 G4-forming sequences. Moreover, both enantiomers of 5 b downregulated the expression of c-MYC and c-KIT oncogenes in human embryonic kidney cells at mRNA and protein levels. As metallohelices also bind alternative nucleic acid structures, they hold promise as potential multitargeted drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaroslav Malina
- Institute of Biophysics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Kralovopolska 135, 61265, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Kostrhunova
- Institute of Biophysics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Kralovopolska 135, 61265, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Peter Scott
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Viktor Brabec
- Institute of Biophysics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Kralovopolska 135, 61265, Brno, Czech Republic
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