Apoptotic events induced by maleimides on human acute leukemia cell lines.

Cyclic imides are known for their antitumor activity, especially the naphthalimide derivatives, such as Mitonafide and Amonafide. Recently, we have demonstrated the cytotoxic effect of a series of naphthalimide derivatives against B16F10 melanoma cells. On the basis of this fact, we have developed a study starting from the synthesis of different cyclic imides and the evaluation of their cytotoxic properties on human acute leukemia cells (K562 and Jurkat). Initially, a screening test was conducted to select the compound with the best cytotoxic effect, using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. After this selection, structural modifications were performed in the most active compound to obtain five more derivatives. All compounds presented a good cytotoxic effect. The results of cell cycle analysis, fluorescence microscopy, and Annexin V-FITC assay confirmed that the cells observed in the sub-G0/G1 phase were undergoing apoptosis. From this set of results, cyclic imides 8, 10, and 12 were selected for the evaluation of the mechanisms involved in the apoptotic process. The results demonstrate the involvement of the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis, evidenced by the reduction in mitochondrial potential, an increase in the level of AIF protein expression, a decreased level of expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein, and an increased level of expression of pro-apoptotic protein Bax in both K562 and Jurkat cells treated with cyclic imides (8, 10, and 12). Furthermore, cyclic imides 8 and 10 caused an increase in the level of Fas expression in Jurkat cells, indicating the additional involvement of the extrinsic apoptosis pathway. The compounds (8, 10, and 12) also caused a decreased level of expression of anti-apoptotic protein survivin. The biological effects observed with these cyclic imide derivatives in this study suggest promising applications against acute leukemia.

Synthesis and antidepressant-like activity evaluation of sulphonamides and sulphonyl-hydrazones.

In this study a series of sulphonamides and sulphonyl hydrazones of maleimide, naphthalimide and phthalimide derivatives was synthesized. The antidepressant effect of these compounds was evaluated by the forced-swimming test in mice. The behavioural parameter observed in this test is a reduction in the immobility time, which is indicative of antidepressant activity. All compounds, except 8, 11 and 24, were active as antidepressants. The most active compound was the sulphonyl-hydrazone 10 which showed an activity of around 72.02% at 60 mg/kg, it thus being more active than imipramine (10mg/kg, ip), a commercial antidepressant. Other important results were obtained for the benzylnaphthalimide derivatives, the sulphonamides 21 and 22 showing activity of 64% at 10mg/kg, also being more active than imipramine. These results indicate that the sulphonamides and sulphonyl-hydrazone cyclic imide derivatives are potential compounds for use in the designing of new candidates for the treatment of depression.

N'-(4-Bromo-benzyl-idene)quinoline-8-sulfonohydrazide.

In the title compound, C(16)H(12)BrN(3)O(2)S, the dihedral angle between the planes of the almost planar (r.m.s. deviation = 0.0263 Å) quinoline group and the bromo-phenyl group is 87.4 (1)°. The torsion angle of the central S-N-N-C bridge is 144.8 (2)°. The amino group has an intra-molecular contact to the quinoline N atom. The structure is stabilized by one N-H⋯O and two C-H⋯O inter-molecular hydrogen bonds.

Metal complexes with 2-acetylpyridine-N(4)-orthochlorophenylthiosemicarbazone: cytotoxicity and effect on the enzymatic activity of thioredoxin reductase and glutathione reductase.

Metal complexes with 2-acetylpyridine-N(4)-orthochlorophenylthiosemicarbazone (H2Ac4oClPh) were assayed for their cytotoxicity against MCF-7 breast adenocarcinoma and HT-29 colon carcinoma cells. The thiosemicarbazone and most of the complexes were highly cytotoxic. H2Ac4oClPh and its gallium(III) and tin(IV) complexes did not show any inhibitory activity against thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) and glutathione reductase (GR). The palladium(II), platinum(II) and bismuth(III) complexes inhibited TrxR at micromolar concentrations but not GR. The antimony(III) and gold(III) complexes strongly inhibited TrxR at submicromolar doses with GR inhibition at higher concentrations. The selectivity of these complexes for TrxR suggests metal binding to a selenol residue in the active site of the enzyme. TrxR inhibition is likely a contributing factor to the mode of action of the gold and antimony derivatives.

Synthetic chalcones and sulfonamides as new classes of Yersinia enterocolitica YopH tyrosine phosphatase inhibitors.

YopH plays a relevant role in three pathogenic species of Yersinia. Due to its importance in the prevention of the inflammatory response of the host, this enzyme has become a valid target for the identification and development of new inhibitors. In this work, an in-house library of 283 synthetic compounds was assayed against recombinant YopH from Yersinia enterocolitica. From these, four chalcone derivatives and one sulfonamide were identified for the first time as competitive inhibitors of YopH with binding affinity in the low micromolar range. Molecular modeling investigations indicated that the new inhibitors showed similar binding modes, establishing polar and hydrophobic contacts with key residues of the YopH binding site.

Ferrocenyl bioconjugates of ampicillin and 6-aminopenicillinic acid--synthesis, electrochemistry and biological activity.

We report on the synthesis of ferrocenyl-ampicillin and ferrocenyl-6-aminopenicillinic acid bioconjugates. Title compounds were characterized by (1)H NMR, IR, MS and elemental analysis. These novel ferrocenyl-antibiotic conjugates were also investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV). Ferrocenyl-ampicillin complexes revealed reversible uncomplicated oxidation whereas ferrocenyl-6-aminopenicillinic acid derivatives were found to exhibit adsorption waves in cathodic scans. Antibacterial activities of our ferrocenyl-antibiotic conjugates against Gram-positive methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA) and Staphylococcus epidermidis bacterial strains were determined. Our experiments show significant antibacterial activity of ferrocenyl-6-aminopenicillinic acid bioconjugates against the bacterial strains tested. Contrary to that ferrocenyl-ampicillin derivatives were inactive. The inhibitory effects on the dd-carboxypeptidase 64-575 II exerted by our ferrocenyl-6-aminopenicillinic acid bioconjugates were established in the low nanomolar range. The tumor cell growth inhibition of representative ferrocenyl-ampicillin and ferrocenyl-6-aminopenicillinic acid bioconjugates against MCF-7 breast adenocarcinoma and HT-29 colon carcinoma cell lines were studied in vitro. Similar to the antibacterial activity tests the assays in tumor cells revealed significant antiproliferative effects exerted by ferrocenyl-6-aminopenicillinic acid bioconjugates.