Novel Benzo[B]Furans with Anti-Microtubule Activity Upregulate Expression of Apoptotic Genes and Arrest Leukemia Cells in G2/M Phase.
Anticancer Agents Med Chem
; 19(3): 375-388, 2019.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-30465514
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Novel derivatives of benzo[b]furan were found to be highly toxic towards human chronic myelogenous (K562), acute myelogenous (HL-60) and acute lymphoblastic (MOLT-4) leukemia cells.OBJECTIVE:
The objective was the characterization of the biological activity of novel benzofurans (influence on apoptosis, mitogen-activated protein kinases and on the cell cycle). Cellular protein(s) targeted by test benzofurans and mechanism of action were identified.METHODS:
The methods utilized in the study were chemical synthesis, fluorescence assays, flow cytometry, gene expression by DNA microarray and real-time RT-PCR, western blotting, cytotoxicity assays, pull-down assay, mass spectroscopy, in vitro polymerization of tubulin, molecular docking.RESULTS:
1,1'-[3-(bromomethyl)-5,6- dimethoxy-1-benzofuran-2,7-diyldiethanone (1) and methyl 4-bromo-6- (dibromoacetyl)-5-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-benzofuran-3-carboxylate (2) induced apoptosis in K562 and MOLT-4 cells. The profiling of gene expression revealed that 1 and 2 increased the expression of proapoptotic genes involved in both receptor (TNFRSF 10A, TNFRSF 10B, CASP8) and mitochondrial (BAX, BID, NOXA, APAF1) pathways of apoptosis. Test benzo[b]furans activated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 kinase in K562 cells. Tubulin was identified as a protein target for benzo[b]furans in pull-down experiments with biotinylated 2. Test benzo[b]furans inhibited polymerization of tubulin monomers in vitro, decreased the level of cellular microtubules and arrested cells in a G2/M phase. Molecular docking suggests that benzo[b]furans 1 and 2 bind to tubulin via colchicine binding pocket and the complex is stabilized mainly by hydrophobic interactions.CONCLUSION:
Novel benzo[b]furans with anti-microtubule activity were identified. They induce apoptosis in cancer cells and cause G2/M cell cycle arrest. Biological activity of 1 and 2 makes them potential lead compounds for development as anticancer drugs.Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Benzofurans
/
Up-Regulation
/
Apoptosis
/
Tubulin Modulators
/
Cell Cycle Checkpoints
/
Antineoplastic Agents
Limits:
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Anticancer Agents Med Chem
Journal subject:
ANTINEOPLASICOS
/
QUIMICA
Year:
2019
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Polonia