Organoruthenated Nitroxoline Derivatives Impair Tumor Cell Invasion through Inhibition of Cathepsin B Activity.

Lysosomal cysteine peptidase cathepsin B (catB) is an important tumor-promoting factor involved in tumor progression and metastasis representing a relevant target for the development of new antitumor agents. In the present study, we synthesized 11 ruthenium compounds bearing either the clinical agent nitroxoline that was previously identified as potent selective reversible inhibitor of catB activity or its derivatives. We demonstrated that organoruthenation is a viable strategy for obtaining highly effective and specific inhibitors of catB endo- and exopeptidase activity, as shown using enzyme kinetics and microscale thermophoresis. Furthermore, we showed that the novel metallodrugs by catB inhibition significantly impair processes of tumor progression in in vitro cell based functional assays at low noncytotoxic concentrations. Generally, by using metallodrugs we observed an improvement in catB inhibition, a reduction of extracellular matrix degradation and tumor cell invasion in comparison to free ligands, and a correlation with the reactivity of the monodentate halide leaving ligand.

Synthesis and Structural Evaluation of Organo-Ruthenium Complexes with ß-Diketonates.

Four novel ruthenium organometallic complexes: [(η6-p-cymene)Ru(4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(4-bromophenyl)-1,3-butanedione)Cl] (1), [(η6-p-cymene)Ru(4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(4-bromophenyl)-1,3-butanedione)pta]PF6 (2), [(η6-p-cymene)Ru(4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(4-iodophenyl)-1,3-butanedione)Cl] (3) and [(η6-p-cymene)Ru(4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(4-iodophenyl)-1,3-butanedione)pta]PF6 (4) were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, infrared (IR), UV-Vis, NMR and mass spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystal structures and spectroscopic data were compared to the previously published complexes [(η6-p-cymene)Ru(4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(4-chloro-phenyl)-1,3-butanedione)Cl] (5) and [(η6-p-cymene)Ru(4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-1,3-butanedione)pta]PF6 (6). The pairs of complexes 1 and 3 as well as 2 and 4 are isostructural, with the former crystallizing in triclinic P-1 and the latter in monoclinic P21/c. The ruthenium(II) ion is found in a pseudo-octahedral "piano-stool" geometry in all compounds. Bond lengths and angles are consistent with other complexes of this type. Complexes 2 and 4 exhibit some moderate dynamic disorder. The lack of hydrogen bonding and major π-π interactions means that most of intramolecular interactions are fairly weak and involve halogen atoms present. This was further confirmed by ¹H-NMR spectra, where a significant difference is observed only on the ligand near the halogen atom, following an expected trend. The combined data show that the difference in any activity depends substantially on the type of the ligand's substituted halogen atom.

Organoruthenium Prodrugs as a New Class of Cholinesterase and Glutathione-S-Transferase Inhibitors.

A small library of 17 organoruthenium compounds with the general formula [RuII (fcl)(chel)(L)]n+ (in which fcl=face capping ligand, chel=chelating bidentate ligand, and L=monodentate ligand) were screened for inhibitory activity against cholinesterases and glutathione-S-transferases of human and animal origins. Compounds were selected to include different chelating ligands (i.e., N,N-, N,O-, O,O-, S,O-) and monodentate ligands that can modulate the aquation rate of the metal species. Compounds with a labile ruthenium chloride bond that provided rapid aquation were found to inhibit both sets of enzymes in reversible competitive modes and at pharmaceutically relevant concentrations. When applied at concentrations that completely abolish the activity of human acetylcholinesterase, the lead compound [(η6 -p-cymene)Ru(pyrithionato)Cl] (C1 a) showed no undesirable physiological responses on the neuromuscular system. Finally, C1 a was not cytotoxic against non-transformed cells at pharmaceutically relevant concentrations.

Structural characterization and biological evaluation of a clioquinol-ruthenium complex with copper-independent antileukaemic activity.

In this study, we present the synthesis, biological characterization, and first crystal structure of an organometallic-clioquinol complex. Combining ruthenium with the established apoptotic agent and 8-hydroxyquinoline derivative, clioquinol, resulted in a complex that induces caspase-dependent cell death in leukaemia cells. This activity is copper independent and is improved compared to the parent compound, clioquinol. The study of the mode of action reveals that this clioquinol-ruthenium complex does not intercalate between DNA base pairs. Additionally, this clioquinol-ruthenium complex shows proteasome-independent inhibition of the NFκB signalling pathway, with no effects on cell-cycle distribution. These data suggest a mechanism of action that involves a target profile that is different from that for clioquinol alone.