The interaction of rhodium(II) carboxylates with enzymes.

The effect of rhodium(II) acetate, propionate, and methoxyacetate on the activity of 17 enzymes was evaluated. The enzymes were preincubated with the rhodium(II) complexes in order to detect irreversible inhibition. All enzymes that have essential sulfhydryl groups in or near their active site were found to be irreversibly inhibited. Those enzymes without essential sulfhydryl groups were not affected. In each case, the rate of inactivation closely paralleled the observed toxicity and antitumor activity of rhodium(II) carboxylates; that is, rhodium(II) propionate greater than rhodium(II) acetate greater than rhodium(II) methoxyacetate. In addition, those enzymes that have been demonstrated to be most sensitive to established sulfhydryl inhibitors, such as glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, were also most sensitive to rhodium(II) carboxylate inactivation. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance measurements made during the titration of rhodium(II) acetate with cysteine showed that breakdown of the carboxylate cage occurred as a result of reaction with this sulfhydryl-containing amino acid.

Mechanism of action of tetra-mu-carboxylatodirhodium(II) in L1210 tumor suspension culture.

The effect of tetrakis-mu-methoxyacetato, tetra-mu-acetato, tetra-mu-propionato, and tetra-mu-butyratodirhodium(II) on the proliferation and macromolecular synthesis of leukemia L1210 cells in suspension culture was evaluated. The cytotoxicity of these dimeric rhodium(II) complexes to tumor cells in suspension culture follows the same trend as observed in vivo, i.e., butyrato greater than propionato greater than acetato greater than methoxyacetato. The cellular synthesis of DNA and protein was found to be strongly inhibited by tetra-mu-propionatodirhodium(II), whereas minimal inhibition of RNA synthesis was observed. Flow microfluorometric analysis of the drug-treated cells revealed an arrest of cellular development during the G2 phase of the cell cycle. The inhibition of DNA synthesis was attributed at least in part to the arrest in G2 which is consistent with the observed inhibition of protein synthesis.

The metabolism of rhodium(II) acetate in tumor-bearing mice.

Rhodium(II) acetate has been shown to have carcinostatic activity in Swiss mice bearing Ehrlich ascites tumors. For metabolic studies, single therapeutic doses of rhodium(II) [1-14C]acetate that had been given i.p. implantations 3 days previously of 50-fold 10(6) Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. The tissue distribution and excretion of the rhodium (measured by atomic absorption spectrometry) and the acetate (measured by 14C label) were followed at designated time intervals up to 24 hr after injection. Rhodium(II) acetate, a neutral cage complex, breaks down to rhodium and acetate ionic species within 2 hr after i.p. injection, as measured by the rapid exhalation of 14CO2. Both the rhodium and 14C label disappear rapidly from the ascites fluid, with a small but variable amount of each species being incorporated into the tumor cells. Both species were detected mainly in the blood plasma, and the primary organ of deposition was the liver. No measurable quantity of rhodium was found in the brain tissue. During the first 24 hr following drug administration, only 5% rhodium was eliminated in the urine.

Affinity labeling of a cysteine at or near the catalytic center of Escherichia coli B DNA-dependent RNA polymerase.

9-beta-D-Arabinofuranosyl-6-thiopurine was used to affinity label DNA-dependent RNA polymerase isolated from Escherichia coli B. This substrate analogue displayed competitive type inhibition which could be reversed by addition of a thiol reagent, such as dithiothreitol, while exposure to hydrogen peroxide, a mild oxidizing agent, caused an increase in both the inhibitory and enzyme binding capability of arabinofuranosyl thiopurine. Chromatographic analysis of the products obtained by pronase digestion of the 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyl-6-[35S]thiopurine-enzyme complex suggests that disulfide bond formation occurs between the inhibitor and a cysteine residue located in or near the active center of the enzyme. In addition, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated that the arabinofuranosyl thiopurine moeity was bound to the beta' subunit of the enzyme.

Subunit localizations of zinc(II) in DNA-dependent RNA polymerase from Escherichia coli B.

RNA Polymerase holoenzyme and core enzyme from Escherichia coli B have been shown to contain two zinc ions. Flameless atomic absorption spectroscopy of the isolated core subunits indicated that one zinc ion is localized on the beta subunit and the other is bound on the beta' subunit. Atomic fluorescence spectroscopy showed that prolonged dialysis of the metalloenzyme against 0.01 M o-phenanthroline resulted in the removal of both zinc(II) ions with accompanying loss of enzymatic activity. The activity of the apoenzyme was observed to be completely restored by readdition of zinc(II) and partially restored by cobalt(II).

Hydrophobicity of several rhodium(II) carboxylates correlated with their biologic activity.

Rhodium(II) carboxylates differ greatly in antitumor activity and toxicity depending on the properties of the carboxylate group (methoxyacetate, propionate, butyrate, etc.) involved. The solubility characteristics of rhodium(II) carboxylates correlate well with both the antitumor activity and toxicity that these compounds display. The amount of rhodium which is adsorbed by tumor cells in vitro also correlates with the partition coefficient of the rhodium(II) compounds studied. Survival and toxicity studies show rhodium(II) pentanoate to possess the highest therapeutic index against the Ehrlich ascites tumor strain and also show that lengthening the carboxylate R chain beyond the pentanoate reduces the drugs' therapeutic efficacy.

The synthesis and characterization of N-substituted iminodiacetato cis-, trans-R, R- and trans-S, S-1, 2-diaminocyclohexane platinum(II) complexes: steric effects on the diastereomeric ratios.

A series of platinum(II) complexes of the type [Pt(N-R-IDA)(DACH)], where DACH was either cis-1,2-diaminocyclohexane, trans-R, R-1, 2-diaminocyclohexane, or trans-S, S-1, 2-diaminocyclohexane, and N-R-IDA was either the iminodiacetate, N-methyliminodiacetate, N-n-propyliminodiacetate, or N-t-butyliminodiacetate ion, has been prepared and characterized. A detailed NMR investigation shows that the N-R-IDA ions bind to the platinum (II) ion through one of the acetate oxygens and the imino nitrogen, forming a five-membered ring. The second acetate ion does not bind to the platinum. By virtue of the prochiral N-atom of N-R-IDA and the absence of a horizontal plane of symmetry of the Pt(DACH) moiety, two diastereomers are observed corresponding to the two different orientations of the unbound acetate and the R-group with respect to the platinum coordination plane. The ratio of the two geometric isomers is controlled by steric factors depending upon both the isomeric form of 1,2-diaminocyclohexane and the nature of the R group bound to the imino nitrogen of N-R-IDA.

Electrosynthesis of Rh2(dpf)4(R) where dpf = N,N'-diphenylformamidinate anion and R = CH3, C2H5, C3H7, C4H9 or C5H11.

The electrosynthesis of Rh(2)(dpf)(4)(R) where dpf is the N,N'-diphenylformamidinate anion and R = CH(3), C(2)H(5), C(3)H(7), C(4)H(9) or C(5)H(11) was carried out in THF containing 0.2 M tetra-n-butylammonium perchlorate (TBAP) and one of several alkyl iodides represented as RI. The initial step in the reaction involved a one-electron reduction of the Rh(2)(4+) unit in Rh(2)(dpf)(4) to its Rh(2)(3+) form followed by a homogeneous reaction involving electrogenerated [Rh(2)(dpf)(4)](-) and the alkyl iodide in solution to give Rh(2)(dpf)(4)(R). The homogeneously generated Rh(2)(5+) product was then immediately reduced by a second electron at the potential where [Rh(2)(dpf)(4)(R)](-) is generated, giving [Rh(2)(dpf)(4)(R)](-) which contains a Rh(2)(4+) center as a final product of an electrochemical ECE mechanism. The electrosynthesized [Rh(2)(dpf)(4)(CH(3))](-) derivative could be reoxidized to Rh(2)(dpf)(4)(CH(3)) on the reverse potential sweep and both forms of the CH(3) bonded derivative were in situ characterized by cyclic voltammetry combined with UV-visible and/or ESR spectroscopy. The reversible Rh(2)(4+/3+) process of Rh(2)(dpf)(4) is located at E(1/2) = -1.11 V in THF, 0.2 M TBAP while the electrogenerated Rh(2)(dpf)(4)(R) products are substantially easier to reduce, with E(p) values for the Rh(2)(5+/4+) couples ranging from -0.50 to -0.54 V vs. SCE depending upon the specific R group.

Inhibition of Deamination of Arabinosylcytosine (NSC-63878) by Rhodium(II) Acetate.

The nobel metal "cage" complex, rhodium(II) acetate, was found to inhibit the deamination of the fraudulent nucleoside, arabinosylcytosine. Potent inhibition of a purified cytidine deaminase from mouse kidney was observed when either cytidine or arabinosylcytosine was used as substrate.

Determination of cellular oncogene rearrangement or amplification in ovarian adenocarcinomas.

Four cellular oncogenes, fos, myc, Ha-ras, and Ki-ras, are routinely expressed in ovarian adenocarcinomas. To determine whether the molecular lesion in ovarian carcinoma was a genetic rearrangement or amplification of expressed oncogenes, we examined the myc, Ha-ras, Ki-ras, and fos oncogenes in 14 serous adenocarcinomas of the ovary using molecular hybridization techniques. Using a series of diagnostic restriction endonucleases and gene-specific deoxyribonucleic acid probes, we found no evidence of rearrangement of these genes. In addition, we found no evidence of amplification of the cellular oncogenes analyzed in this series of ovarian tumors. Therefore genetic rearrangement or amplification of these cellular oncogenes is not the primary molecular lesion leading to their expression in ovarian carcinomas.

Synthesis, electrochemistry, and spectroscopic characterization of bis-dirhodium complexes linked by axial ligands.

The synthesis and electrochemical and spectroscopic properties of bis-dirhodium complexes containing ap or dpf bridging ligands, (ap)(4)Rh(2)(C triple bond C)(2)Rh(2)(ap)(4) (2) and (dpf)(4)Rh(2)(CNC(6)H(4)NC)Rh(2)(dpf)(4) (4), were investigated (where ap and dpf are the 2-anilinopyridinate and N,N'-diphenylformamidinate ions, respectively). The related "simple" dirhodium species, (ap)(4)Rh(2)(C triple bond C)(2)Si(CH(3))(3) (1) and (dpf)(4)Rh(2)(CNC(6)H(5)) (3), with the same set of bridging ligands were also synthesized and their properties compared to those of the analogous bis-dirhodium complexes. Compound 1 was obtained by mixing (ap)(4)Rh(2)Cl and Li(C triple bond C)(2)Si(CH(3))(3) in refluxing THF for 16 h under vacuum while compound 2 was prepared by a reaction between (ap)(4)Rh(2)(C triple bond C)(2)Li and (ap)(4)Rh(2)Cl under similar conditions. The reaction between (CF(3)COO)(4)Rh(2) and molten Hdpf under vacuum for 24 h leads to the generation of compound 3 with a yield of 65%. The red-orange compound 4 was obtained upon addition of 0.5 equiv of CNC(6)H(4)NC at room temperature to a CH(2)Cl(2) solution containing (dpf)(4)Rh(2) which was synthesized according to a method described previously in the literature. Compound 1 crystallizes in the triclinic space group P1, with a = 10.164(3) A, b = 13.881(3) A, c = 18.805(4) A, alpha = 73.55(2) degrees, beta = 77.89(2) degrees, gamma = 84.85(2) degrees, and Z = 2. Crystals of 2 were not good enough to collect adequate data for X-ray analysis, but the identity of this compound was confirmed, along with its P1; space group. Crystals of 3 and 4 belong to the monoclinic, P2(1)/c space group and the triclinic, P1; space group, respectively, with a = 13.5254(5) A, b = 13.7387(4) A, c = 27.2011(12) A, beta = 102.637(2) degrees, and Z = 4 for 3 and a = 13.866(8) A, b = 14.756(7) A, c = 15.008(6) A, alpha = 79.91(3) degrees, beta = 87.72(4) degrees, gamma = 89.19(4) degrees, and Z = 1 for 4. Compound 1 exhibits a single reversible oxidation at E(1/2) = 0.66 V and a single reversible reduction at E(1/2) = -0.44 V vs SCE in THF, 0.2 M TBAP. Both processes involve a one-electron transfer. Compound 2 undergoes a reversible oxidation at E(1/2) = 0.60 V and two separate one-electron-transfer reductions at E(1/2) = -0.52 and -0.65 V in THF, 0.2 M TBAP. The oxidation involves two overlapped one-electron-transfer processes. Compounds 3 and 4 undergo two reversible oxidations in CH(2)Cl(2), 0.1 M TBAP located at E(1/2) = 0.23 and 1.22 V (3) or 0.22 and 1.20 V (4). Each redox reaction of 3 involves a one-electron-transfer step while each redox reaction of 4 involves two overlapping one-electron transfers. Compound 2 shows interaction between the two dirhodium cores upon reduction, while 4 gives no evidence of electronic interaction between the two dirhodium units during either reduction or oxidation. An ESR signal with axial symmetry was obtained for the neutral compounds 1 and 2, and a similar spectrum was obtained for the singly oxidized products of compounds 3 and 4, thus suggesting the electronic configuration of (sigma)(2)(pi)(4)(delta)(2)(pi)(4)(delta)(1) for the neutral compounds 1 and 2 as well as for the oxidized compounds 3 and 4. The four compounds were also characterized by FTIR and UV-visible spectroscopy as well as by mass spectrometry.

Syntheses, structural determination, and electrochemistry of Ru(2)(Fap)(4)Cl and Ru(2)(Fap)(4)(NO)Cl.

Ru(2)(Fap)(4)Cl and Ru(2)(Fap)(4)(NO)Cl, where Fap is the 2-(2-fluoroanilino)pyridinate anion, were synthesized, and their structural, electrochemical, and spectroscopic properties were characterized. Ru(2)(Fap)(4)Cl, which was obtained by reaction between Ru(2)(O(2)CCH(3))(4)Cl and molten HFap, crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)/c, with a = 11.2365(4) A, b = 19.9298(8) A, c = 19.0368(7) A, beta = 90.905(1) degrees, and Z = 4. The presence of three unpaired electrons on the Ru(2)(5+) core and the 2.2862(3) A Ru-Ru bond length for Ru(2)(Fap)(4)Cl are consistent with the electronic configuration (sigma)(2)(pi)(4)(delta)(2)(pi*)(2)(delta*)(1). The reaction between Ru(2)(Fap)(4)Cl and NO gas yields Ru(2)(Fap)(4)(NO)Cl, which crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pbca, with a = 10.0468(6) A, b = 18.8091(10) A, c = 41.7615(23) A, and Z = 8. The Ru-Ru bond length of Ru(2)(Fap)(4)(NO)Cl is 2.4203(8) A, while its N-O bond length and Ru-N-O bond angle are 1.164(8) A and 155.8(6) degrees, respectively. Ru(2)(Fap)(4)(NO)Cl can be formulated as a formal Ru(2)(II,II)(NO(+)) complex with a linear Ru-N-O group, and the proposed electronic configuration for this compound is (sigma)(2)(pi)(4)(delta)(2)(pi*)(3)(delta*)(1). The binding of NO to Ru(2)(Fap)(4)Cl leads to some structural changes of the Ru(2)(Fap)(4) framework and a stabilization of the lower oxidation states of the diruthenium unit. Also, IR spectroelectrochemical studies of Ru(2)(Fap)(4)(NO)Cl show that NO remains bound to the complex upon reduction and that the first reduction involves the addition of an electron on the diruthenium core and not on the NO axial ligand.

Interaction of Rhodium(II) carboxylates with molecules of biologic importance.

Rhodium(II) acetate, propionate, and butyrate showed a considerable variation in their antitumor activity against Ehrlich ascites tumor cells in mice, with the butyrate complex being the most active. The three complexes markedly inhibited DNA synthesis of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells in vivo. Rhodium (II) butyrate was the most potent inhibitor followed by the propionate complex. One hour after administration, rhodium(II) propionate and butyrate induce more uridine-5-3H incorporation into RNA than is seen in the controls. Equilibrium dialysis studied showed that rhodium(II) acetate-1-14C binds to single stranded DNA, poly-A, ribonuclease A, and bovine serum albumin but not to highly polymerized native calf thymus DNA, poly-G, or poly-C. In these cases binding occurred at the two axial positions of rhodium(II) acetate to a nitrogen donor in the ligands. The formation constants of the rhodium(II) acetate and propionate complexes with 5'-adenosine monophosphate were determined. The rhodium(II) propionate complex was more stable. Sedimentation and viscosity measurements of poly-A and poly-A/rhodium(II) acetate complexes indicate a high degree of intramolecular crosslinking in the rhodium(II) acetate/poly-A complex. The rhodium(II) carboxylate complexes were also found to be potent inhibitors of purified DNA polymerase I and RNA polymerase from Escherichia coli.