Reactions of cisplatin and oxaliplatin with penicillin G: implications for drug inactivation and biological activity.

Determination of the toxicity of compounds toward cancer cells is a frequent procedure in drug discovery. For metal complexes, which are often reactive prodrugs, care has to be taken to consider reactions with components of the cell culture medium that might change the speciation of the metal complex before it is taken up by the cells. Here, we consider possible reactions between the clinical platinum drugs cisplatin and oxaliplatin with penicillin G, an antibiotic added routinely to cell culture media to prevent bacterial contamination. Platinum has a high affinity for ligands with sulfur donors. Penicillin G is an unstable thioether that degrades in a range of pathways. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and UV-Vis absorption spectroscopic studies show that reactions with cisplatin can occur within minutes to hours at 310 K, but more slowly with oxaliplatin. The identities of the Pt- adducts were investigated by mass spectrometry. The marked effect on cytotoxicity of co-incubation of cisplatin with penicillin G was demonstrated for the HeLa human cervical cancer cell line. These studies highlight the possibility that reactions with penicillin G might influence the cytotoxic activity of metal complexes determined in culture media.

Cyclic ADP ribose isomers: Production, chemical structures, and immune signaling.

Cyclic adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-ribose (cADPR) isomers are signaling molecules produced by bacterial and plant Toll/interleukin-1 receptor (TIR) domains via nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (oxidized form) (NAD+) hydrolysis. We show that v-cADPR (2'cADPR) and v2-cADPR (3'cADPR) isomers are cyclized by O-glycosidic bond formation between the ribose moieties in ADPR. Structures of 2'cADPR-producing TIR domains reveal conformational changes that lead to an active assembly that resembles those of Toll-like receptor adaptor TIR domains. Mutagenesis reveals a conserved tryptophan that is essential for cyclization. We show that 3'cADPR is an activator of ThsA effector proteins from the bacterial antiphage defense system termed Thoeris and a suppressor of plant immunity when produced by the effector HopAM1. Collectively, our results reveal the molecular basis of cADPR isomer production and establish 3'cADPR in bacteria as an antiviral and plant immunity-suppressing signaling molecule.

Effect of cysteine thiols on the catalytic and anticancer activity of Ru(II) sulfonyl-ethylenediamine complexes.

We have synthesized a series of novel substituted sulfonyl ethylenediamine (en) RuII arene complexes 1-8 of [(η6-arene)Ru(R1-SO2-EnBz)X], where the arene is benzene, HO(CH2)2O-phenyl or biphenyl (biph), X = Cl or I, and R1 is phenyl, 4-Me-phenyl, 4-NO2-phenyl or dansyl. The 'piano-stool' structure of complex 3, [(η6-biph)Ru(4-Me-phenyl-SO2-EnBz)I], was confirmed by X-ray crystallography. The values of their aqua adducts were determined to be high (9.1 to 9.7). Complexes 1-8 have antiproliferative activity against human A2780 ovarian, and A549 lung cancer cells with IC50 values ranging from 4.1 to >50 µM, although, remarkably, complex 7 [(η6-biph)Ru(phenyl-SO2-EnBz)Cl] was inactive towards A2780 cells, but as potent as the clinical drug cisplatin towards A549 cells. All these complexes also showed catalytic activity in transfer hydrogenation (TH) of NAD+ to NADH with sodium formate as hydride donor, with TOFs in the range of 2.5-9.7 h-1. The complexes reacted rapidly with the thiols glutathione (GSH) and N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), forming dinuclear bridged complexes [(η6-biph)2Ru2(GS)3]2- or [(η6-biph)2Ru2(NAC-H)3]2-, with the liberation of the diamine ligand which was detected by LC-MS. In addition, the switching on of fluorescence for complex 8 in aqueous solution confirmed release of the chelated DsEnBz ligand in reactions with these thiols. Reactions with GSH hampered the catalytic TH of NAD+ to NADH due to the decomposition of the complexes. Co-administration to cells of complex 2 [(η6-biph)Ru(4-Me-phenyl-SO2-EnBz)Cl] with L-buthionine sulfoximine (L-BSO), an inhibitor of GSH synthesis, partially restored the anticancer activity towards A2780 ovarian cancer cells. Complex 2 caused a concentration-dependent G1 phase cell cycle arrest, and induced a significant level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in A2780 human ovarian cancer cells. The amount of induced ROS decreased with increase in GSH concentration, perhaps due to the formation of the dinuclear Ru-SG complex.

NMR studies of group 8 metallodrugs: 187Os-enriched organo-osmium half-sandwich anticancer complex.

We report the synthesis of the organo-osmium anticancer complex [Os(η6-p-cym)(N,N-azpy-NMe2)Br]PF6 (1) containing natural abundance 187Os (1.96%), and isotopically-enriched (98%) [187Os]-1. Complex 1 and [187Os]-1 contain a π-bonded para-cymene (p-cym), a chelated 4-(2-pyridylazo)-N,N-dimethylaniline (azpy-NMe2), and a monodentate bromide as ligands. The X-ray crystal structure of 1 confirmed its half-sandwich 'piano-stool' configuration. Complex 1 is a member of a family of potent anticancer complexes, and exhibits sub-micromolar activity against A2780 human ovarian cancer cells (IC50 = 0.40 µM). Complex [187Os]-1 was analysed by high-resolution ESI-MS, 1D 1H and 13C NMR, and 2D 1H COSY, 13C-1H HMQC, and 1H-187Os HMBC NMR spectroscopy. Couplings of 1H and 13C nuclei from the azpy/p-cym ligands to 187Os were observed with J-couplings (1J to 4J) ranging between 0.6-8.0 Hz. The 187Os chemical shift of [187Os]-1 (-4671.3 ppm, determined by 2D 1H-187Os HMBC NMR) is discussed in relation to the range of values reported for related Os(II) arene and cyclopentadienyl complexes (-2000 to -5200 ppm).

Rhodium(III) Complexes Featuring Coordinated CF3 Appendages.

The synthesis and characterisation of a homologous series of rhodium 2,2'-biphenyl complexes featuring intramolecular dative bonding of the nominally inert and weakly coordinating trifluoromethyl group are described. Presence of these interactions is evidenced in the solid state using X-ray diffraction, with Rh-F contacts of 2.36-2.45 Å, and in solution using NMR spectroscopy, through hindered C-CF3 bond rotation and the presence of time-averaged 1 JRhF and 2 JPF coupling.

Supramolecular Fluorine Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Probe Polymer Based on Passerini Bifunctional Monomer.

A water-soluble fluorine magnetic resonance spectroscopy host-guest probe, P(HPA-co-AdamCF3A), was successfully constructed from the facile synthesis of a bifunctional monomer via a quantitative Passerini reaction. Supramolecular complexation with (2-hydroxypropyl)-ß-cyclodextrin promoted a change in the chemical environment, leading to modulation of both the relaxation properties as well as chemical shift of the fluorine moieties. This change was used to probe the supramolecular interaction by 19F MRI spectroscopy and give insight into fluorine probe formulation. This work provides a fundamental basis for an 19F MR imaging tracer capable of assessing host-guest inclusion and a potential model to follow the fate of a drug delivery system in vivo.

New activation mechanism for half-sandwich organometallic anticancer complexes.

The Cp x C-H protons in certain organometallic RhIII half-sandwich anticancer complexes [(η5-Cp x )Rh(N,N')Cl]+, where Cp x = Cp*, phenyl or biphenyl-Me4Cp, and N,N' = bipyridine, dimethylbipyridine, or phenanthroline, can undergo rapid sequential deuteration of all 15 Cp* methyl protons in aqueous media at ambient temperature. DFT calculations suggest a mechanism involving abstraction of a Cp* proton by the Rh-hydroxido complex, followed by sequential H/D exchange, with the Cp* rings behaving like dynamic molecular 'twisters'. The calculations reveal the crucial role of pπ orbitals of N,N'-chelated ligands in stabilizing deprotonated Cp x ligands, and also the accessibility of RhI-fulvene intermediates. They also provide insight into why biologically-inactive complexes such as [(Cp*)RhIII(en)Cl]+ and [(Cp*)IrIII(bpy)Cl]+ do not have activated Cp* rings. The thiol tripeptide glutathione (γ-l-Glu-l-Cys-Gly, GSH) and the activated dienophile N-methylmaleimide, (NMM) did not undergo addition reactions with the proposed RhI-fulvene, although they were able to control the extent of Cp* deuteration. We readily trapped and characterized RhI-fulvene intermediates by Diels-Alder [4+2] cyclo-addition reactions with the natural biological dienes isoprene and conjugated (9Z,11E)-linoleic acid in aqueous media, including cell culture medium, the first report of a Diels-Alder reaction of a metal-bound fulvene in aqueous solution. These findings will introduce new concepts into the design of organometallic Cp* anticancer complexes with novel mechanisms of action.

Structural and functional analysis of the solute-binding protein UspC from Mycobacterium tuberculosis that is specific for amino sugars.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the aetiological agent of tuberculosis, has evolved to scavenge nutrients from the confined environment of host macrophages with mycobacterial ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters playing a key role in nutrient acquisition. Mtb-UspC (Rv2318) is the solute-binding protein of the essential transporter UspABC, one of four Mtb ABC transporters implicated by homology in sugar acquisition. Herein, we report the structural and functional characterization of Mtb-UspC. The 1.5 Å resolution structure of UspC reveals a two subdomain architecture that forms a highly acidic carbohydrate-substrate binding cleft. This has allowed a distinct preference of Mtb-UspC for amino sugars as determined by thermal shift analysis and solution saturation transfer difference-NMR. Taken together our data support the functional assignment of UspABC as an amino-sugar transporter. Given the limited availability of carbohydrates within the phagosomal environmental niche during Mtb intracellular infection, our studies suggest that UspABC enables Mtb to optimize the use of scarce nutrients during intracellular infection, linking essentiality of this protein to a potential role in recycling components of cell-wall peptidoglycan.

Os2 -Os4 Switch Controls DNA Knotting and Anticancer Activity.

Dinuclear trihydroxido-bridged osmium-arene complexes are inert and biologically inactive, but we show here that linking dihydroxido-bridged Os(II) -arene fragments by a bridging di-imine to form a metallacycle framework results in strong antiproliferative activity towards cancer cells and distinctive knotting of DNA. The shortened spacer length reduces biological activity and stability in solution towards decomposition to biologically inactive dimers. Significant differences in behavior toward plasmid DNA condensation are correlated with biological activity.

Chaxapeptin, a Lasso Peptide from Extremotolerant Streptomyces leeuwenhoekii Strain C58 from the Hyperarid Atacama Desert.

Lasso peptides are ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) that possess a unique "lariat knot" structural motif. Genome mining-targeted discovery of new natural products from microbes obtained from extreme environments has led to the identification of a gene cluster directing the biosynthesis of a new lasso peptide, designated as chaxapeptin 1, in the genome of Streptomyces leeuwenhoekii strain C58 isolated from the Atacama Desert. Subsequently, 1 was isolated and characterized using high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance methods. The lasso nature of 1 was confirmed by calculating its nuclear Overhauser effect restraint-based solution structure. Chaxapeptin 1 displayed a significant inhibitory activity in a cell invasion assay with human lung cancer cell line A549.

Low-coordinate iridium NHC complexes derived from selective and reversible C-H bond activation of fluoroarenes.

Interaction of the reactive 14 VE {Ir(IBioxMe4)3}(+) fragment with fluoroarenes results exclusively in ortho-C-H bond oxidative addition and formation of 16 VE Ir(iii) derivatives [Ir(IBioxMe4)3(Ar)H](+) (Ar = 2-C6H4F, 2,3-C6H3F2, 2,4,6-C6H2F3). The C-H bond activation reactions occur under mild conditions and are reversible.

Isothermally-Responsive Polymers Triggered by Selective Binding of Fe3+ to Siderophoric Catechol End-Groups.

Thermoresponsive polymers have attracted huge interest as a way of developing smart/adaptable materials for biomedicine, particularly due to changes in their solubility above the LCST. However, temperature is not always an appropriate or desirable stimulus given the variety of other cellular microenvironments that exist, including pH, redox potentials, ionic strength, and metal ion concentration. Here, we achieve a highly specific, isothermal solubility switch for poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) by application of ferric iron (Fe3+), a species implicated in a range of neurodegenerative conditions. This is achieved by the site-specific incorporation of (Fe3+-binding) catechol units onto the polymer chain-end, inspired by the mechanism by which bacterial siderophores sequester iron from mammalian hosts. The ability to manipulate the hydrophilicity of responsive systems without the need for a temperature gradient offers an exciting approach toward preparing increasingly selective, targeted polymeric materials.

Photochemical control of molecular motion associated with pyramidal inversion.

Rates of pyramidal motion in an aziridine are controlled by reversible trans to cis photoisomerisation of an azobenzene unit attached to the ring nitrogen atom. The dynamics of the inversion process and activation parameters are derived by variable temperature NMR, and are supported by ab initio calculations.

Study of boron-nitrogen dative bonds using azetidine inversion dynamics.

A method for probing the strength of B-N dative bonds is reported. The activation parameters for nitrogen inversion in a series of azetidines tethered to boronate esters have been quantified by VT-NMR and the measured barriers correlated with data obtained by (11)B NMR, X-ray crystallography and MP2 calculations.

Thermochromic organometallic complexes: experimental and theoretical studies of 16- to 18-electron interconversions of adducts of arene Ru(II) carboranes with aromatic amine ligands.

A series of 18-electron complexes of general formula [Ru(p-cym)(1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane-1,2-dithiolato)(L)] (p-cym = para-cymene; L = 4-dimethylaminopyridine (2), nicotinamide (3), 3-ethynylpyridine (4), N-methylimidazole (5), 4-cyanopyridine (6), and pyridine (7)) were synthesised by reactions between the 16-electron precursor [Ru(p-cym)(1,2-dicarba-closo-dodecaborane-1,2-dithiolato)] (1) and corresponding heterocyclic bases. X-ray crystal structures of complexes 2 and 5 were determined. In dichloromethane and chloroform solutions at ambient temperature, the 18-electron complexes 2-7 are in equilibrium with the 16-electron precursor 1. Each equilibrium is displaced towards the formation of the blue 16-electron or yellow 18-electron complex by increasing or decreasing the temperature of the solution, respectively, which results in controlled and reversible thermochromism. Binding constants (K) and Gibbs free energies (ΔG°) of the six equilibria have been determined by a combination of experiments (Job plots, UV-visible titrations, NMR studies) and also by computation (time-dependent density functional theory, TD-DFT). A linear free energy relationship for log K versus pK(a) for the pyridine and imidazole ligands was established. The predicted strong interactions of 1 with other aromatic amine ligands, such as amphetamine derivatives, were verified experimentally. This appears to be the first report of reversible 16/18-electron interconversions with associated thermochromic properties for a well-known family of complexes.

Asparaginyl beta-hydroxylation of proteins containing ankyrin repeat domains influences their stability and function.

Recent reports have provided evidence that the beta-hydroxylation of conserved asparaginyl residues in ankyrin repeat domain (ARD) proteins is a common posttranslational modification in animal cells. Here, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and other biophysical techniques are used to study the effect of asparaginyl beta-hydroxylation on the structure and stability of 'consensus' ARD proteins. The NMR analyses support previous work suggesting that a single beta-hydroxylation of asparagine can stabilize the stereotypical ARD fold. A second asparaginyl beta-hydroxylation causes further stabilization. In combination with mutation studies, the biophysical analyses reveal that the stabilizing effect of beta-hydroxylation is, in part, mediated by a hydrogen bond between the asparaginyl beta-hydroxyl group and the side chain of a conserved aspartyl residue, two residues to the N-terminal side of the target asparagine. Removal of this hydrogen bond resulted in reduced stabilization by hydroxylation. Formation of the same hydrogen bond is also shown to be a factor in inhibiting binding of hydroxylated ARDs to factor-inhibiting hypoxia-inducible factor (FIH). The effects of hydroxylation appear to be predominantly localized to the target asparagine and proximal residues, at least in the consensus ARD protein. The results reveal that thermodynamic stability is a factor in determining whether a particular ARD protein is an FIH substrate; a consensus ARD protein with three ankyrin repeats is an FIH substrate, while more stable consensus ARD proteins, with four or five ankyrin repeats, are not. However, NMR studies reveal that the consensus protein with four ankyrin repeats is still able to bind to FIH, suggesting that FIH may interact in cells with natural ankyrin repeats without resulting hydroxylation. Overall, the work provides novel biophysical insights into the mechanism by which asparaginyl beta-hydroxylation stabilizes the ARD proteins and reduces their binding to FIH.

Structural studies of the phase, aggregation and surface behaviour of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium halide + water mixtures.

The surface, phase and aggregation behaviour of mixtures of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium halide, [C(n)mim]X, where n is the alkyl chain length, with water has been explored using a variety of methods. Critical micelle concentrations (cmc) and micelle structures have been determined for aqueous [C(n)mim]Br solutions for n=2, 4, 6, 8, and 10. Small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) measurements reveal that for the n=8 and 10 systems, at concentrations just above the cmc, small near-spherical aggregates exist, which, after initial growth, possess core radii (aggregation numbers) at intermediate concentrations of 10.5+/-0.5 Angstrom (22+/-2) and 13.2+/-0.5 Angstrom (40+/-3), respectively, for n=8 and n=10. Towards higher concentrations, the aggregates appear to grow, with the aggregates in the [C(10)mim]Br system becoming increasingly elongated (prolate) with increasing concentration. No evident aggregates are formed in the systems with n=2 and 4. In the n=6 system, it appears that oblate aggregates with radius approximately 9 Angstrom form at the cmc and that the radius increases with increasing concentration. For longer alkyl chain lengths, at high concentrations lyotropic mesophases form in some systems. The mesophase region for the [C(8)mim]Cl system has been explored across the composition range using X-ray diffraction and (2)H NMR spectroscopy. Both techniques suggest that a major hexagonal phase with lattice parameter of 29.5+/-0.5 Angstrom coexists with a minor lamellar phase (23.5+/-0.3 Angstrom) or possibly a second hexagonal phase (27.1+/-0.4 Angstrom). The area per adsorbed molecule at the surface of [C(8)mim]Br solutions has been measured as a function of concentration using neutron reflectometry. A minimum in the area per molecule behaviour is coincident with a minimum identified in the surface tension isotherm occurring close to the cmc. The data suggest depletion of [C(8)mim]Br from the surface region occurs at concentrations immediately above the cmc.

Nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) enhancement of 11B NMR spectra of borane adducts in the solid state.

A strong 11B {1H} nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) enhancement can be observed in solid-state 11B NMR spectra of borane adducts, yielding fractional enhancements, fI{S} = (I - I0)/I0, of the magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR signal of up to 155%. This is an interesting and unusual observation as 11B (spin I = 3/2) is a quadrupolar nucleus and the corresponding NOE is completely absent in solution. More generally, it shows that the NOE may have a wider role to play in solid-state NMR studies of dynamics than has been envisaged hitherto.

A heterodifunctionalised ferrocene derivative that self-assembles in solution through complementary hydrogen-bonding interactions.

A heterodifunctionalised ferrocene, containing a carboxylic acid and an amidopyridine unit, self-assembles in organic solvents through complementary hydrogen bonds.