IRMPD spectroscopy and quantum-chemical simulations of the reaction products of cisplatin with the dipeptide CysGly

The inorganic antineoplastic drug cisplatin was made to react in solution with the dipeptide cysteinylglycine (CysGly), chosen as a functional model of glutathione, and the reaction products were analyzed using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). Selected complexes, i.e., the primary substitution product cis-[PtCl(NH3)2(CysGly)]+ and the chelate cis-[PtCl(NH3)(CysGly)]+, were submitted to IR multiple photon dissociation (IRMPD) spectroscopy obtaining their vibrational features. The experimental IR ion spectra were compared with the calculated IR absorptions of different plausible isomeric families, finding CysGly to bind preferentially platinum(II) via its deprotonated thiolic group in the monovalent complex, cis-[PtCl(NH3)2(CysGly)]+, and to evolve in the S,N-bound chelate structure cis-[PtCl(NH3)(CysGly)]+ through the SH and NH2 functionality of the cysteine residue. Moreover, our findings indicate that the platination reaction does not affect the CysGly peptide bond, which remains in its trans configuration. These results provide additional insights into the reactivity of Pt(II)-complexes with glutathione which is involved in cellular cisplatin resistance.

General Design Rules for Bimetallic Platinum(II) Complexes

A series of platinum(II) bimetallic complexes were studied to investigate the effects of ligands on both the geometric and electronic structure. Modulating the Pt-Pt distance through the bridging ligand architecture was found to dictate the nature of the lowest energy electronic transitions, localized in one-half of the molecule or delocalized across the entire molecule. By reducing the separation between the platinum atoms, the lowest energy electronic transitions will be dominated by the metal-metal-to-ligand charge transfer transition. Conversely, by increasing the distance between the platinum atoms, the lowest electronic transition will be largely localized metal-to-ligand charge transfer or ligand centered in nature. Additionally, the cyclometalating ligands were observed to have a noticeable stabilizing effect on the triplet excited states as the conjugation increased, arising from geometric reorientation and increased electron delocalization of the ligands. Such stabilization of the triplet state energy has been shown to alter the excited state potential energy landscape as well as the excited state trajectory.

Iodide Analogs of Arsenoplatins-Potential Drug Candidates for Triple Negative Breast Cancers

Patients with triple negative breast cancers (TNBCs)—highly aggressive tumors that do not express estrogen, progesterone, and human epidermal growth factor 2 receptors—have limited treatment options. Fewer than 30% of women with metastatic TNBC survive five years after their diagnosis, with a mortality rate within three months after a recurrence of 75%. Although TNBCs show a higher response to platinum therapy compared to other breast cancers, drug resistance remains a major obstacle; thus, platinum drugs with novel mechanisms are urgently needed. Arsenoplatins (APs) represent a novel class of anticancer agents designed to contain the pharmacophores of the two FDA approved drugs cisplatin and arsenic trioxide (As₂O₃) as one molecular entity. Here, we present the syntheses, crystal structures, DFT calculations, and antiproliferative activity of iodide analogs of AP-1 and AP-2, i.e., AP-5 and AP-4, respectively. Antiproliferative studies in TNBC cell lines reveal that all AP family members are more potent than cisplatin and As₂O₃ alone. DFT calculations demonstrate there is a low energy barrier for hydrolysis of the platinum-halide bonds in arsenoplatins, possibly contributing to their higher cytotoxicities compared to cisplatin.

Novel approach to accurately predict bond strength and ligand lability in platinum-based anticancer drugs

Prompted by the antineoplastic properties of cisplatin, a plethora of platinum(ii)-based complexes have been synthesized in the past decades. At present, their rational design is based on a number of structure-activity relationships involving the nature of the ligands initially coordinated to platinum(ii): either non-labile (acting as a carrier) or labile (undergoing substitution). The coordinate bond strength of the labile ligand plays a key role in the first step of the drug mechanism of action, i.e., the hydrolysis process, which is associated to the retention time of the medicine in the body. Therefore, an accurate determination of the metal-ligand bond strength becomes highly relevant as it will help the rational design of novel chemotherapeutic agents. Herein, we challenge the recently developed intrinsic bond strength index (IBSI) as a rapid and practical tool to assess the ligand lability in Pt(ii) complexes. In a first stage, given the importance of the trans-effect in synthetic strategies of cisplatin-based drugs, the effect of eleven trans-directing ligands T is quantified in two sets of complexes [Pt(NH3)2(H2O)T]n+ and [PtCl2(NH3)T]m+ where T = H2O, F-, NH3, Cl-, Br-, I-, SO32-, CH3-, CN-, CO, and H-. An essential outcome of this work is a novel index IBSItrans = IBSIσ + IBSIπ able to rank the directing ligands by their trans-effect according to their σ-donation and π-backbonding electronic contributions. In a second stage, we apply the IBSI score to a panel of eleven case studies, comprising mostly antineoplastic agents, such as cisplatin, carboplatin, lobaplatin etc., in order to quantify the coordinate bond strength of the ligands, providing insights about the hydrolysis process. The obtained results, in good agreement with experimental data and reported theoretical studies, demonstrate that the IBSI score is able to deliver a rapid and reliable picture of the coordinate bond strength, representing a chemically intuitive tool helpful for the development of novel anticancer agents prior to synthetic efforts.

Design, physico-chemical characterization and in vitro biological activity of organogold(III) glycoconjugates

To develop new metal-based glycoconjugates as potential anticancer agents, four organometallic gold(iii)-dithiocarbamato glycoconjugates of the type [AuIII(2-Bnpy)(SSC-Inp-GlcN)](PF6) (2-Bnpy: 2-benzylpyridine; Inp: isonipecotic moiety; GlcN: amino-glucose scaffold; Au3-Au6) and the corresponding model non-glycosylated counterparts [AuIII(2-Bnpy)(SSC-Inp-R)](PF6) (R: OEt (Au1), NH2 (Au2)) have been generated and characterized by means of several analytical techniques (elemental analysis, FT-IR, 1H-/13C-NMR, ESI-MS, UV-Vis, X-ray crystallography). Their stability under physiologically-relevant conditions (PBS solution) and n-octanol/PBS distribution coefficient (D7.4) have also been evaluated. Gold(iii) glycoconjugates showed an antiproliferative effect against ovarian carcinoma A2780 cells, with GI50 values in the low micromolar range. Remarkably, their cell growth inhibitory effect increases upon the addition of a glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) inhibitor, thus ruling out the involvement of GLUT1 in their transport inside the cell. Additional mechanistic studies have been carried out in A2780 cells, supporting the hypothesis of a facilitated diffusion mechanism (possibly mediated by glucose transporters other than GLUT1), and revealing their capability to act as topoisomerase I and II inhibitors and to disrupt mitochondrial membrane integrity, leading to the generation of ROS, thus resulting in the promotion of oxidative stress and, eventually, cell death.

Tuning the Reactivity and Bonding Properties of Metal Square-Planar Complexes by the Substitution(s) on the Trans-Coordinated Pyridine Ring

The kinetics of the hydration reaction on trans-[Pt(NH₃)₂(pyrX)Cl]⁺ (pyr = pyridine) complexes (X = OH^-, Cl^-, F^-, Br^-, NO₂ ^-, NH₂, SH^-, CH₃, C≡CH, and DMA) was studied by density functional theory calculations in the gas phase and in water solution described by the implicit polarizable continuum model method. All possible positions ortho, meta, and para of the substituent X in the pyridine ring were considered. The substitution of the pyr ligand by electron-donating X's led to the strengthening of the Pt-N1(pyrX) (Pt-N_pyrX) bond and the weakening of the trans Pt-Cl or Pt-O_w bonds. The electron-withdrawing X's have exactly the opposite effect. The strengths of these bonds can be predicted from the basicity of sigma electrons on the N_pyrX atom determined on the isolated pyrX ligand. As the pyrX ring was oriented perpendicularly with respect to the plane of the complex, the nature of the X···Cl electrostatic interaction was the decisive factor for the transition-state (TS) stabilization which resulted in the highest selectivity of ortho-substituted systems with respect to the reaction rate. Because of a smaller size of X's, the steric effects influenced less importantly the values of activation Gibbs energies ΔG ^⧧ but caused geometry changes such as the elongation of the Pt-N_pyrX bonds. Substitution in the meta position led to the highest ΔG ^⧧ values for most of the X's. The changes of ΔG ^⧧ because of electronic effects were the same in the gas phase and the water solvent. However, as the water solvent dampened electrostatic interactions, 2200 and 150 times differences in the reaction rate were observed between the most and the least reactive mono-substituted complexes in the gas phase and the water solvent, respectively. An additional NO₂ substitution of the pyrNO₂ ligand further decelerated the rate of the hydration reaction, but on the other hand, the poly-NH₂ complexes were no more reactive than the fastest o-NH₂ system. In the gas phase, the poly-X complexes showed the additivity of the substituent effects with respect to the Pt-ligand bond strengths and the ligand charges.

NMR probe effects on trans-philicity and trans-influence ladders in square planar Pt(ii) complexes

trans-Philicity ladders for trans-Pt(PMe₃)₂(X)L (X = H, CH₃, CO, NH₂, OH₂, Cl) complexes are built by σ^iso X NMR descriptors. Correlations of the σ^iso X vs popular electronic/structural parameters of L and X demonstrate the origin of trans philicity.

Trans-philicity (trans-influence/trans-effect) ladders for square planar platinum(II) complexes constructed by 35 Cl NMR probe

The unified term of trans-philicity is proposed to cover the trans-effect/trans-influence concepts. NMR trans-philicity ladders are built for a broad series of square planar trans-Pt(NH₃ )₂ (Cl)L and trans-Pt(CO)₂ (Cl)L complexes employing ³⁵ Cl NMR probe and quantified by calculation of NMR trans-philicity indicators. The trans-philicity is linearly correlated with the ligand electronic P_L constant, a measure of the net donor power of the ligand. The nature of cis-ligands does not affect trans-philicity ladders but strongly affects trans-philicity strength. Solvent has significant effect on the σ_calcd ³⁵ Cl shielding constants, with the polar Dimethylformamide (DMF) solvent inducing downfield shifts relative to σ_calcd ³⁵ Cl with nonpolar benzene solvent. Good correlations between σ_calcd ³⁵ Cl shielding constants and the estimated R(Pt-Cl) bond distances demonstrate the relation of trans-philicity with trans-influence and trans-effect phenomena and put the grounds for the establishment of the new concept of trans-philicity in the realm of square planar Pt(II) and other transition metal complexes. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Binding motifs of cisplatin interaction with simple biomolecules and aminoacid targets probed by IR ion spectroscopy

The primary intermediates resulting from the interaction of cisplatin, cis-(PtCl2(NH3)2], most widespread antitumor drug, with biomolecular targets are characterized. Electrospray ionization is used to deliver ions formed in solution into the gas phase where they are structurally interrogated by vibrational “action” spectroscopy in conjunction with quantum chemical calculations. The aquation products, cis-[PtX(NH3)2(H2O)]+ (X = Cl, OH), lying along the path responsible for biological activity, are shown to display distinctive features responding to ligation pattern and optimized geometry. The IR spectra of trans-[PtX(NH3)2(H2O)]+ are different, testifying that cis and trans complexes are stable, non interconverting species both in solution and in the gas phase. Ligand substitution by simple nucleophiles (L = pyridine, 4(5)-methylimidazole, thioanisole, trimethylphosphate, acetamide, dimethylacetamide, urea and thiourea) yields cis-[PtCl(NH3)2(L)]+ complexes displaying remarkable regioselectivity whenever L presents multiple candidate platination sites. The incipient formation of cisplatin-derived complexes with the recognized biological amino acid targets L-histidine (His) and L-methionine (Met) has been investigated revealing the primary platination event to be mainly directed at the Nπ atom of the imidazole side chain of His and to the thiomethyl sulfur of Met. The isomer and conformer population of the ensuing cis-[PtCl(NH3)2(Met/His)]+ complexes, sampled in the gas phase, can be ascertained by photofragmentation kinetics on isomer/conformer specific resonances.

Differences in binding kinetics, bond strength and adduct formation between Pt-based drugs and S- or N-donor groups: A comparative study using mass spectrometry techniques

Pt-S and Pt-N interactions resulting from the coordination of cisplatin, oxaliplatin and carboplatin to two synthetic peptides that differ from each other in one amino acid (Met or His) have been thoroughly studied in this work. The degree of Pt-binding was determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry after the separation of the Pt-complexes from the unreacted drugs by size exclusion chromatography. Cisplatin and oxaliplatin showed high affinity for the peptides from the first hours of incubation, although the peptides required longer incubation times to obtain the same platination degrees with cisplatin than with oxaliplatin. Once the reactions reached their maximum binding degrees, the complexes with oxaliplatin began to dissociate, revealing binding reversibility, while a pseudo steady-state was observed for cisplatin until the last day of incubation. Conversely, the equilibrium was not reached for carboplatin and the His-peptide after 30 days, showing a binding degree of 16%, versus 78% for the Met-peptide. The S-donor group also presented an important influence on the reactivity and the adduct formation. The reaction rate for the Met-peptide was faster than the hydrolysis of oxaliplatin and carboplatin, and all the drugs, except oxaliplatin, were able to coordinate up to 3 different donor groups, which were identified by nanospray mass spectrometry. Since structural characterization of metal-complexes often represents an analytical challenge during electrophoretic separations, the strength of Pt-Met and Pt-His bonds was also evaluated under these conditions. The nature of the electrophoretic agents and the incubation times used were the parameters that most affected the stability. Higher Pt losses were found for the Met-peptide (35-90%) than for the His-peptide (16-48%), indicating that Pt-Met bonds were kinetically preferred while Pt-His interactions were thermodynamically favored.

Square-Planar Pt(II) and Ir(I) Complexes as the Lewis Bases: Donor-Acceptor Adducts with Group 13 Trihalides and Trihydrides

The stability and properties of donor-acceptor adducts of square-planar Pt(II) and Ir(I) complexes (designated as PtX, IrX, or generally MX complexes) with trihydrides and trihalides of group 13 elements of general formula YZ₃ (Y = B, Al, Ga; Z = H, F, Cl, Br) were studied theoretically using DFT methodology in the gas phase. MX complexes were represented by wide range of the ligand environment which included model complexes [Ir(NH₃)₃X]⁰ and cis-[Pt(NH₃)₂X₂]⁰ (X = H, CH₃, F, Cl, Br) and isoelectronic complexes [Ir(NNN)(CH₃)]⁰ and [Pt(NCN)(CH₃)]⁰ with tridentate NNN and NCN pincer ligands. MX complexes acted as the Lewis bases donating electron density from the doubly occupied 5d _z² atomic orbital of the metal M atom to the empty valence p _z orbital of Y whose evidence was clearly provided by the natural atomic orbital (NAO) analysis. This charge transfer led to the formation of pentacoordinated square pyramidal MX·(YZ₃) adducts with M·Y dative bond. Binding energies were -44.7 and -75.2 kcal/mol for interaction of GaF₃ as the strongest acid with PtNCN and IrNNN pincer ligands complexes. Only M·B bonds had covalent character although MX·BZ₃ adducts were the least stable due to large values of Pauli repulsion and deformation energies. The highest degree of covalent character was found for adducts of BH₃ in all series of structures studied. Al and Ga adducts showed remarkably similar behavior with respect to geometry and binding energies.

Role of a 2,3-bis(pyridyl)pyrazinyl chelate bridging ligand in the reactivity of Ru(ii)–Pt(ii) dinuclear complexes on the substitution of chlorides by thiourea nucleophiles – a kinetic study

Effect of a bridged ligand on the chloride substitution from hetero bimetallic Ru(ii)–Pt(ii)dichlo complexes by thiourea nucleolus was studied in a methanol medium (I = 0.10 M) under pseudo-first-order conditions.

Identification of binding sites of cisplatin to human copper chaperone protein Cox17 by high-resolution FT-ICR-MS

RATIONALE

Cox17 is a key copper chaperone protein responsible for delivery of cuprous ions to mitochondria and has been demonstrated to be involved in the anticancer action of cisplatin. However, the binding sites of the drug to the protein have not yet been directly identified.

METHODS

The recombinant protein apo-Cox172s-s , the functional state of Cox17 transferring Cu(I), was reacted with an excess of cisplatin to produce platinated Cox17 adducts, of which the platination sites were identified by high-resolution Fourier transform ion cyclotron tandem mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS/MS) through electron capture dissociation (ECD).

RESULTS

Primary FT-ICR-MS showed that mono-platinated Cox17 adducts were the main products, and top-down MS/MS results indicated that cisplatin bound to the Cys26 or Cys27 residue which is the binding site of cuprous ions in apo-Cox172s-s .

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first report for identification of the main binding sites of cisplatin to Cox17 by top-down high-resolution mass spectrometry, providing direct evidence for the competitive coordination with Cox17 of cisplatin and cuprous ions. These findings will also be helpful to understand further how Cox17 facilitates cisplatin accumulation in mitochondria, and how cisplatin disturbs the transportation of cuprous ions. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Towards the first theoretical scale of the trans effect in octahedral complexes

In this paper, we show that trans effects in octahedral complexes can primarily be related to differences in the ability, for a given ligand, to cede electron density to the metal cation under the influence of the ligand at the trans position.

Self-Assembly Process of Dodecanuclear Pt(II)-Linked Cyclic Hexagon

The self-assembly process of a Pt(II)-linked hexagonal macrocycle consisting of six linear dinuclear Pt(II) units and six organic ditopic bent ligands was investigated. The process was monitored by (1)H NMR, and the intermediates in the self-assembly were analyzed by the n-k analysis. It was found that a 1:2 complex of a dinuclear Pt(II) unit and an organic ditopic ligand was exclusively observed as an intermediate with a certain lifetime and that the reaction of the 1:2 complex is the rate-determining step in the supramolecular macrocycle formation. The key 1:2 complex was unambiguously characterized by (1)H and DOSY NMR and ESI-TOF mass measurement.

A cisplatin derivative that inhibits collagen fibril-formation in vitro

Using an in vitro random screening of small-molecule compounds, we discovered cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cisplatin), an anticancer agent, as a potential inhibitor of collagen fibril-formation. The inhibitory effect was found only when cisplatin was dissolved in dimethylsulphoxide (DMSO), indicating that the active species were cisplatin derivatives formed in the DMSO solution. The cisplatin derivatives inhibited the formation of collagen fibrils in vitro without affecting the triple-helical conformation of the collagen molecules. Incubation with the cisplatin solution in DMSO also inhibited in situ deposition of collagen fibrils in a human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) culture. In addition, the derivatization of cisplatin in DMSO abolished the cytotoxicity of the original compound. The platinum complex was further revealed to interact with specific sites on the collagen triple helix, and the binding sites were suggested to contain His and/or Met residues. Mass spectrometry analysis of the cisplatin solution in DMSO and a structure-activity relationship study strongly suggested that the active compound is [Pt(NH3 )2 (Cl)(DMSO)](+) . This platinum complex will be useful for investigating molecular mechanisms of collagen self-assembly and for drug development for the treatment of fibrotic diseases.

Exploration of various electronic properties along the reaction coordinate for hydration of Pt(II) and Ru(II) complexes; the CCSD, MPx, and DFT computational study

In the study behavior of molecular electrostatic potential, averaged local ionization energy, and reaction electronic flux along the reaction coordinate of hydration process of three representative Ru(II) and Pt(II) complexes were explored using both post-HF and DFT quantum chemical approximations. Previously determined reaction mechanisms were explored by more detailed insight into changes of electronic properties using ωB97XD functional and MP2 method with 6-311++G(2df,2pd) basis set and CCSD/6-31(+)G(d,p) approach. The dependences of all examined properties on reaction coordinate give more detailed understanding of the hydration process.

Mechanism of the cis-[Pt(1R,2R-DACH)(H2O)2]2+ intrastrand binding to the double-stranded (pGpG)·(CpC) dinucleotide in aqueous solution: a computational DFT study

A mechanism of the intrastrand 1,2-cross-link formation between the double-stranded pGpG·CpC dinucleotide (ds(pGpG)) and fully aquated oxaliplatin cis-[Pt(DACH)(H2O)2](2+) (DACH = cyclohexane-1R,2R-diamine) is presented. All structures of the reaction pathways including the transition states (TSs) were fully optimized in water solvent using DFT methodology with dispersion corrections. Both 5' → 3' and 3' → 5' binding directions were considered. In the first step there is a slight kinetic preference for 5'-guanine (5'G) monoadduct formation with an activation Gibbs free energy of 18.7 kcal/mol since the N7 center of the 5'G base is fully exposed to the solvent. On the other hand, the N7 atom of 3'-guanine (3'G) is sterically shielded by 5'G. The lowest energy path for formation of the 3'G monoadduct with an activation barrier of 19.3 kcal/mol is connected with a disruption of the 'DNA-like' structure of ds(pGpG). Monoadduct formation is the rate-determining process. The second step, chelate formation, is kinetically preferred in the 3' → 5' direction. The whole process of the platination is exergonic by up to -18.8 kcal/mol. Structural changes of ds(pGpG), charge transfer effects, and the influence of platination on the G·C base pair interaction strengths are also discussed in detail.