Cytotoxicity in human cancer cells and mitochondrial dysfunction induced by a series of new copper(I) complexes containing tris(2-cyanoethyl)phosphines.

Over the last few years a lot of research has been done to develop novel metal-based anti-cancer drugs, with the aim of improving clinical effectiveness, reducing general toxicity, and broadening the spectrum of activity. The search for novel metal-based antitumour drugs other than Pt agents includes the investigation of the cytotoxic activity of copper(I/II) compounds. Among these copper agents, particular attention has been recently devoted to hydrophilic copper(I) species bearing phosphines because of their noteworthy stability in aqueous media together with their remarkable in vitro cytotoxic activity. In this study we report on the synthesis, characterization and cytotoxic assays of a series of Cu(I) complexes with tris(2-cyanoethyl)phosphine (PCN) and bis(2-cyanoethyl)phenylphosphine (PCNPh). They were prepared by reaction of [Cu(CH(3)CN)(4)](+) or CuX(2) precursors with the pertinent phosphine in acetone or acetonitrile solutions producing compounds of the following formulation: [Cu(PCN)(2)](+) 2, [Cu(CH(3)CN)(PCN)](+) 3, [Cu(X)(PCN)] (X = Cl, 4; Br, 5), and [Cu(PCNPh)(2)](+) 6. The new copper(I) complexes were tested for their cytotoxic properties against a panel of several human tumour cell lines. Cellular copper uptake rate was correlated with cell growth inhibition in 2008 human ovarian cancer cells. Moreover, copper(I)-PCN complexes were evaluated for their ability to alter the most relevant mitochondrial pathophysiological parameters such as respiration, coupling, ATP-synthetase activity and membrane potential in isolated mitochondria. These data were correlated with changes in mitochondrial membrane potential and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in drug-treated 2008 cells.

Hypericins and thioredoxin reductase: Biochemical and docking studies disclose the molecular basis for effective inhibition by naphthodianthrones.

Cytosolic (TrxR1) and mitochondrial (TrxR2) thioredoxin reductases experience pronounced concentration- and time-dependent inhibition when incubated with the two naphthodianthrones hypericin and pseudohypericin. Pseudohypericin turned out to be a quite strong inhibitor of TrxR1 (IC(50)=4.40µM) being far more effective than hypericin (IC(50)=157.08µM). In turn, the IC(50) values measured toward TrxR2 were 7.45µM for pseudohypericin and 43.12µM for hypericin. When compared to pseudohypericin, the inhibition caused by hypericin usually required significantly longer times, in particular on TrxR1. These important differences in the inhibitory potencies and profiles were analysed through a molecular modeling approach. Notably, both compounds were found to accommodate in the NADPH-binding pocket of the enzyme. The binding of the two naphthodianthrones to thioredoxin reductase seems to be particularly strong as the inhibitory effects were fully retained after gel filtration. Also, we found that TrxR inhibition by hypericin and pseudohypericin does not involve the active site selenol/thiol motif as confirmed by biochemical and modeling studies. The resulting inhibition pattern is very similar to that produced by the two naphthodianthrones on glutathione reductase. As the thioredoxin system is highly overexpressed in cancer cells, its inhibition by hypericin and pseudohypericin, natural compounds showing appreciable anticancer properties, might offer new clues on their mechanism of action and open interesting perspectives for future tumor therapies.

Anticancer therapeutics that target selenoenzymes: synthesis, characterization, in vitro cytotoxicity, and thioredoxin reductase inhibition of a series of gold(I) complexes containing hydrophilic phosphine ligands.

Gold(I) complexes bearing water-soluble phosphine ligands, including 1,3,5-triaza-7-phosphaadamantane (PTA), 3,7-diacetyl-1,3,7-triaza-5-phosphabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane (DAPTA), and sodium triphenylphosphine trisulfonate (TPPTS), in combination with thionate ligands, were screened for their antiproliferative activities against human ovarian cancer cell lines A2780 either sensitive or resistant to cisplatin. In addition, the compounds were screened for their inhibition of mammalian thioredoxin reductases (TrxR), enzymes that are overexpressed in many tumor cells and contribute to drug resistance. The gold(I)-phosphine complexes efficiently inhibited cytosolic and mitochondrial TrxRs at concentrations that did not affect the related oxidoreductase glutathione reductase (GR). Additional complementary information on the enzyme metallation process and potential gold binding sites was obtained through the application of a specific biochemical assay using a thiol-tagging reagent, BIAM (biotin-conjugated iodoacetamide).

Cancer cell death induced by phosphine gold(I) compounds targeting thioredoxin reductase.

The thioredoxin system, composed of thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), thioredoxin (Trx), and NADPH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate), plays a central role in regulating cellular redox homeostasis and signaling pathways. TrxR, overexpressed in many tumor cells and contributing to drug resistance, has emerged as a new target for anticancer drugs. Gold complexes have been validated as potent TrxR inhibitors in vitro in the nanomolar range. In order to obtain potent and selective TrxR inhibitors, we have synthesized a series of linear, 'auranofin-like' gold(I) complexes all containing the [Au(PEt(3))](+) synthon and the ligands: Cl(-), Br(-), cyanate, thiocyanate, ethylxanthate, diethyldithiocarbamate and thiourea. Phosphine gold(I) complexes efficiently inhibited cytosolic and mitochondrial TrxR at concentrations that did not affect the two related oxidoreductases glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). The inhibitory effect of the redox proteins was also observed intracellularly in cancer cells pretreated with gold(I) complexes. Gold(I) compounds were found to induce antiproliferative effects towards several human cancer cells some of which endowed with cisplatin or multidrug resistance. In addition, they were able to activate caspase-3 and induce apoptosis observed as nucleosome formation and sub-G1 cell accumulation. The complexes with thiocyanate and xanthate ligands were particularly effective in inhibiting thioredoxin reductase and inducing apoptosis. Pharmacodynamic studies in human ovarian cancer cells allowed for the correlation of intracellular drug accumulation with TrxR inhibition that leads to the induction of apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway.

Emerging protein targets for anticancer metallodrugs: inhibition of thioredoxin reductase and cathepsin B by antitumor ruthenium(II)-arene compounds.

A series of ruthenium(II)-arene (RAPTA) compounds were evaluated for their ability to inhibit thioredoxin reductase (either cytosolic or mitochondrial) and cathepsin B, two possible targets for anticancer metallodrugs. In general, inhibition of the thioredoxin reductases was lower than that of cathepsin B, although selected compounds were excellent inhibitors of both classes of enzymes in comparison to other metal-based drugs. Some initial structure-activity relationships could be established. On the basis of the obtained data, different mechanisms of binding/inhibition appear to be operative; remarkably the selectivity of the ruthenium compounds toward solid metastatic tumors also correlates to the observed trends. Notably, docking studies of the interactions of representative RAPTA compounds with cathepsin B were performed that provided realistic structures for the resulting protein-metallodrug adducts. Good agreement was generally found between the inhibiting potency of the RAPTA compounds and the computed stability of the corresponding cat B/RAPTA adducts.

Activity of rat cytosolic thioredoxin reductase is strongly decreased by trans-[bis(2-amino-5- methylthiazole)tetrachlororuthenate(III)]: first report of relevant thioredoxin reductase inhibition for a ruthenium compound.

A novel "Keppler type" ruthenium(III) compound trans-[bis(2-amino 5-methylthiazole)tetrachlororuthenate(III)] 1, of potential interest as an anticancer agent, was designed, synthesized, and characterized. Its interactions with various proteins were analyzed, including the selenoenzyme thioredoxin reductase, an emerging target for anticancer metallodrugs. The selective inhibition of the cytosolic form of this selenoenzyme was documented, this being the first report of significant thioredoxin reductase inhibition by a ruthenium compound.

The first agmatine/cadaverine aminopropyl transferase: biochemical and structural characterization of an enzyme involved in polyamine biosynthesis in the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus.

We report here the characterization of the first agmatine/cadaverine aminopropyl transferase (ACAPT), the enzyme responsible for polyamine biosynthesis from an archaeon. The gene PF0127 encoding ACAPT in the hyperthermophile Pyrococcus furiosus was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli, and the recombinant protein was purified to homogeneity. P. furiosus ACAPT is a homodimer of 65 kDa. The broad substrate specificity of the enzyme toward the amine acceptors is unique, as agmatine, 1,3-diaminopropane, putrescine, cadaverine, and sym-nor-spermidine all serve as substrates. While maximal catalytic activity was observed with cadaverine, agmatine was the preferred substrate on the basis of the k(cat)/K(m) value. P. furiosus ACAPT is thermoactive and thermostable with an apparent melting temperature of 108 degrees C that increases to 112 degrees C in the presence of cadaverine. Limited proteolysis indicated that the only proteolytic cleavage site is localized in the C-terminal region and that the C-terminal peptide is not necessary for the integrity of the active site. The crystal structure of the enzyme determined to 1.8-A resolution confirmed its dimeric nature and provided insight into the proteolytic analyses as well as into mechanisms of thermal stability. Analysis of the polyamine content of P. furiosus showed that spermidine, cadaverine, and sym-nor-spermidine are the major components, with small amounts of sym-nor-spermine and N-(3-aminopropyl)cadaverine (APC). This is the first report in Archaea of an unusual polyamine APC that is proposed to play a role in stress adaptation.