Bis(Platinum) Complexes. Chemistry, Antitumor Activity and DNA-Binding. In: Pullman B, Jortner J, editors. Molecular Basis of Specificity in Nucleic Acid-Drug Interactions. Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands; 1990. pp. 301-21. [DOI: 10.1007/978-94-011-3728-7_21]

Toxicity in tumor cells, DNA binding mode, and resistance to decomposition by sulfur nucleophiles of new dinuclear bifunctional trans-PtII complexes containing long alkane linkers

In an effort to design dinuclear PtII compounds that maintain the target (DNA) binding profile of the trans-oriented dinuclear bifunctional PtII complexes containing aliphatic linker chains but are less susceptible to metabolic decomposition, the new, long-chain dinuclear PtII complexes—[{trans-PtCl(dien)}2-μ-(CH2)n]2+ (n = 7,10,12, dien = diethylenetriamine)—were synthesized. The toxicity of these metallodrugs was examined in ovarian tumor cell lines. The results showed that the activity of these complexes increased with growing length of the linker; the activity of complex containing the longest linker (n = 12) was comparable with that of cis-diamminedichloridoplatinum(II) (cisplatin). This observation correlated with the results of DNA binding studies performed in cell-free media. The results of these studies demonstrated that the growing length of the aliphatic bridge promoted more distorting conformational alterations induced in DNA. Attention was also paid to the reactivity of {[Pt(dien)Cl]2-alkane} compounds with glutathione (GSH). The results of these experiments support the thesis that the dinuclear structure of {[Pt(dien)Cl]2-alkane} complexes remains stable in the presence of S-containing compounds without undergoing chemical degradation as previously observed for some di/trinuclear bifunctional PtII complexes. This enhanced stability represents a favorable property which may contribute to reduce side effects and increase therapeutic efficacy of the dinuclear {[Pt(dien)Cl]2-alkane} compounds.

Photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory of puckered ring structures of Group 13 metal-ethylenediamine

The ethylenediamine (en) complexes of Al, Ga, and In atoms were prepared in laser-vaporization supersonic molecular beams and studied with pulsed field ionization zero electron kinetic energy photoelectron spectroscopy and density functional theory. Several conformers of each metal complex are obtained by B3LYP calculations, and a five-membered cyclic structure is identified by combining the experimental measurements and theoretical calculations. Adiabatic ionization potentials, vibrational frequencies, and bond dissociation energies are determined for the ring structure. The ionization potentials of the Al, Ga, and In species are measured to be 32 784 (5), 33 324 (5), and 33 637 (7) cm(-1), respectively, and metal-ligand dissociation energies of the ionic and neutral complexes are calculated to be 60.2/16.2 (Al(+)/Al), 55.5/13.0 (Ga(+)/Ga), and 50.0/11.4 (In(+)/In) kcal mol(-1). Metal-ligand stretch and bend as well as a number of ligand-based vibrations are measured. Harmonic frequencies and anharmonicities of the M(+)-N (M=Al,Ga,In) stretch are determined for all three M(+)-en ions and the C-C-N bend of Ga(+)-en and In(+)-en. In comparison to monodentate methylamine, the bidentate binding of ethylenediamine leads to a significantly lower ionization potential and higher metal-ligand bond strength of the metal complexes.

DNA interactions of cisplatin tethered to the DNA minor groove binder distamycin

Modifications of natural DNA in a cell-free medium using cisplatin tethered to the AT-specific, minor groove binder distamycin, were studied using various methods of biochemical analysis or molecular biophysics. These methods include: binding studies using differential pulse polarography and flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry, mapping DNA adducts using a transcription assay, use of ethidium bromide as a fluorescent probe for DNA adducts of platinum, measurement of DNA unwinding by gel electrophoresis, measurement of CD spectra, an interstrand cross-linking assay using gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions, measurement of melting curves with the aid of absorption spectrophotometry and the use of terbium ions as a fluorescent probe for distorted base pairs in DNA. The results indicate that attachment of distamycin to cisplatin changes several features of the DNA-binding mode of the parent platinum drug. Major differences comprise different conformational alterations in DNA and a considerably higher efficiency of the conjugated drug to form in DNA interstrand cross-links. Cisplatin tethered to distamycin, however, coordinates to DNA with similar base sequence preferences as the untargeted platinum drug. The results point to a unique profile of DNA binding for cisplatin-distamycin conjugates, suggesting that tethering cisplatin to minor groove oligopeptide binders may also lead to an altered biological activity profile.

Crystal and Molecular Structure of a Potential DNA Groove-Spanning Chelate: [MV][Pt(2)(hdta)Cl(2)].4H(2)O (MV(2+) = 1,1'-Dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridinium, hdta(4)(-) = 1,6-Hexanediamine-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetate)

Light yellow crystals of [MV][Pt(2)(hdta)Cl(2)].4H(2)O (1) (MV(2+) = 1,1'-dimethyl-4,4'-bipyridinium, hdta(4)(-) = 1,6-hexanediamine-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetate) were examined by X-ray diffraction. A 0.08 x 0.24 x 0.24 nm crystal was shown to have space group C2/c, having unit cell dimensions of a = 22.757(5) Å, b = 13.566(3) Å, and c = 12.120(2) Å and unit cell angles of alpha = gamma = 90 degrees and beta = 109.07(3) degrees with Z = 4. A total of 3195 independent reflections were refined to R = 0.0454. Each Pt(II) site has the anticipated NO(2)Cl square-planar mer coordination. The Pt-N(1) distance (N(1) is the N donor of the hdta(4)(-) ligand) is 2.001(9) Å, only slightly shorter than typical Pt-N distances (2.04-2.09 Å) for sp(3) donors. The Pt-O distances to the coordinated glycinato donors in 1 are 2.012(7) and 2.000(8) Å, values very similar to those of trans-[Pt(gly)(2)] (gly = glycinate). The Pt-Cl distance of 2.310(3) Å is in the range of 2.27-2.32 Å observed for other Pt(II)-Cl(-) bonds. The bond angles are close to the ideal 90 degrees or 180 degrees value: angleN-Pt-O = 85.4(3) degrees and 83.2(4) degrees; angleN-Pt-Cl = 176.6(2) degrees. The [Pt(2)(hdta)Cl(2)](2)(-) units are packed in an end-to-end fashion such that the [Pt(II)(iminodiacetate)Cl] headgroups are overlapping. This provides square-planar to square-planar stacking of the headgroups. (1)H and (13)C NMR data are presented which show that the [Pt(2)(hdta)Cl(2)](2)(-) coordination of the solid state is maintained in solution. The coordinated glycinato arms of [Pt(2)(hdta)Cl(2)](2)(-) are equivalent, exhibiting only one AB pattern in the (1)H NMR (H(a), 4.31 ppm; H(b), 3.89 ppm; J(ab) = 16.1 Hz) and one type of coordinated carboxylate ((13)C NMR resonance at 189.7 ppm). Time-dependent (1)H and (13)C NMR spectra show that inosine first displaces only Cl(-) in [Pt(2)(hdta)Cl(2)](2)(-) in solutions up to one inosine per Pt(II) center. A higher concentration of inosines (Ino) results in the displacement of one of the glycinato arms, detectable at 175.0 ppm by (13)C NMR. The sequential nature and binding of two Ino ligands, necessarily cis in [Pt(2)(hdta)(Ino)(4)], mimics the steps necessary to allow major groove-spanning ligation of DNA in the manner of the Farrell-type binuclear platinum(II) amine complexes.

Preparation and characterization of novel trans-[PtCl(2)(amine)(isopropylamine)] compounds: cytotoxic activity and apoptosis induction in ras-transformed cells

The synthesis and chemical characterization of three new transplatinum complexes of structural formula trans-[PtCl(2)(amine)(isopropylamine)] (amine = n,n-dimethylamine, propylamine, and butylamine), 1-3, are described. Cytotoxicity tests in tumor cell lines sensitive to cis-DDP (Jurkat, Hela, and Vero) and also in tumor cell lines overexpressing ras oncogenes and resistant to cis-DDP (HL-60 and Pam 212-ras) show that complexes 1 and 3 have higher cytotoxic activity than cisplatin. Moreover, these two trans-Pt(II) complexes kill Pam 212-ras cells through apoptosis induction. These results suggest that trans-PtCl(2) complexes with asymmetric aliphatic amines may be considered a new class of biologically active trans-platinum drugs.

DNA interactions of bifunctional dinuclear platinum(II) antitumor agents

Modifications of natural DNA in a cell-free medium by dinuclear bisplatinum complexes with equivalent coordination spheres, represented by the general formula [¿trans-PtCl(NH3)2¿2(H2N-R-NH2)]2+, where R is a propane or hexane, were studied by various methods of biochemical analysis or molecular biophysics. These methods include binding studies by means of differential-pulse polarography, measurements of melting curves with the aid of absorption spectrophotometry, measurements of CD spectra, ELISA with specific antibodies that recognize DNA modified by platinum complexes, interstrand cross-linking assay employing gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions and mapping of DNA adducts by means of transcription assays. The results indicated that the major adduct of [¿trans-PtCl(NH3)2¿2(H2N-R-NH2)]2+ in DNA was an interstrand cross-link which was formed with a relatively short half-time (approximately 1 h). At least some types of these interstrand cross-links induced local denaturational changes in the DNA. The results of analyses of interactions of [¿trans-PtCl(NH3)2¿2(H2N-R-NH2)]2+ with linear DNA at relatively higher levels of the modification could be interpreted to mean that these dinuclear platinum complexes were also capable of intrastrand-cross-link formation between adjacent base residues in DNA. However, these intrastrand adducts of [¿trans-PtCl(NH3)2¿2(H2N-R-NH2)]2+ distorted DNA conformation in a way different from the DNA intrastrand adducts of cisplatin. In addition, the DNA adducts of the dinuclear platinum complexes inhibited DNA transcription in vitro. The length of the aliphatic linker chain affected the DNA-binding mode of [¿trans-PtCl(NH3)2¿2(H2N-R-NH2)]2+ and the resulting conformational changes in DNA. The extensive analysis of DNA interactions with [¿trans-PtCl(NH3)2¿2(H2N-R-NH2)]2+ described in this communication has provided further experimental support for previous suggestions [Farrell, N. (1991) in Platinum and other metal coordination compounds in cancer chemotherapy (Howell, S. B., ed.) pp. 81-91, Plenum Press, New York] that the binding of the dinuclear platinum complexes modifies DNA in a way that is different from the modification by antitumor cisplatin. Thus, the results of this work are consistent with the hypothesis that platinum drugs that bind to DNA in a manner fundamentally different from that of cisplatin can exhibit altered biological properties, including a different spectrum and intensity of antitumor activity.

A novel DNA structure induced by the anticancer bisplatinum compound crosslinked to a GpC site in DNA

The bifunctional platinum compound, [(trans-PtCI(NH)3)2)2(H2N(CH2)4NH2)]2+, forms a stable adduct with the self-complementary DNA oligomer CATGCATG, with the two platinum atoms coordinated at the N7 positions of the two symmetrical G4 nucleotides. The NMR-derived structure shows that the DNA octamer forms a novel hairpin structure with the platinated G4 residue adopting a syn conformation and the guanine base in the minor groove. Two such hairpins stack end-over-end and are linked together by the butanediamine tether to form a dumbbell structure. Such unusual structural distortion is different from that of the anticancer drug cisplatin-DNA adduct and may provide clues to explain the distinct biological activities of the two compounds.

Nonclassical platinum antitumor agents: perspectives for design and development of new drugs complementary to cisplatin

Studies over the last few years have shown that the range of platinum complexes with useful cytotoxicity and antitumor activity is not strictly limited to structural analogs of cisplatin. In general, we can expect that cells will process structurally different species in different manners. The metabolic chemistry and DNA binding will be altered in in comparison to the cis-[PtX2 (amine)2] class. This point is of particular importance because any altered pattern of antitumor activity of structural analogs of cisplatin is likely to be due to unpredictable pharmacokinetic, rather than truly mechanistic, factors. The fact that discrete cisplatin-DNA adducts vary in their biological activity further supports the hypothesis that complexes structurally dissimilar to cisplatin may produce biological activity complementary to the parent drugs. The mechanism of action of nonclassical complexes is different from that of cisplatin and its analogs. Their pattern of antitumor activity is also altered with respect to cisplatin--thus, not all platinum-containing drugs need necessarily be similar in their clinical profile to cisplatin. Note that both the dinuclear bis(platinum) complexes and the trans complexes give their own distinct patterns of tumor specificity--different from cisplatin and each other (see Tables 1 and 3). New cytotoxic mechanisms for platinum complexes may also be placed in context with cisplatin resistance. Modes of overcoming cisplatin resistance may reside at the various levels of uptake, interaction with "detoxifying" intracellular thiols, and DNA repair. Likewise complexes with novel mechanisms of action may circumvent resistance by more than one unique route. Indeed, the three major routes to resistance are all affected to varying degrees by the complexes outlined above. From the discovery of cisplatin, the development of analogs has essentially been an empirical exercise. Because of their similar mechanism of action, much comparison has been made between platinum complexes and the classic alkylating agents. Yet the alkylating agents represent a good example where a number of structurally distinct drugs with different anticancer activities are clinically available. This desirable feature may be achieved for platinum complexes by emphasis on complexes structurally dissimilar to the presently used agents. The dinuclear bis(platinum) complexes and mononuclear complexes in the trans geometry are of special interest. Comparison of common features and differences between different classes may point to guidelines for the rational design of complexes with a different spectrum of clinical antitumor activity to cisplatin and activity against cisplatin-resistant tumors.