Comparison of the electronic properties, and thermodynamic and kinetic parameters of the aquation of selected platinum(II) derivatives with their anticancer IC50 indexes

Determination of Amino Acids' pKa: Importance of Cavity Scaling within Implicit Solvation Models and Choice of DFT Functionals

Protonation states of molecules significantly influence the thermodynamics and kinetics of chemical reactions. This is especially important in biochemical processes, where appropriate protonation states of amino acids control the exo/endoergicity of practically all biochemical cycles. This paper is focused on appraisal of the impact of DFT functionals and PCM solvation models on the accuracy of pKa evaluations for all proteinogenic amino acids. Eight functionals (B3LYP, PBE0, revPBE0, M06-2X, M11, M11-L, TPSSh, and ωB97X-D) and four basis sets are considered, together with four kinds of implicit solvation models when additional attention is paid to a cavity construction. An influence of nonelectrostatic contributions and Wertz's corrections on Gibbs free energy is investigated together with accuracy of provided proton solvation energy. The best model is based on the M06-2X/6-311++G**/D-PCM/UAKS computational level. The fitting procedure is utilized to improve the accuracy of the evaluated models. All of these results are also compared with values obtained from the COSMOtherm program and CCSD(T) calculations. Results for cysteine and histidine are discussed individually, as they can be found in different protonation states at neutral pH.

Quantum theory of atoms in molecules, electron localization function, and localized-orbital locator investigations on trans-(NHC)PtI2(para-NC5H4X) complexes

In this study, the MPW1PW91 method is applied to analyze the quantum theory of atoms in molecules, the electron localization function, and the localized-orbital locator in trans-(NHC)PtI2( para-NC5H4X) (X = H, F, COOH, CN, NO2, Me, OH, NH2) complexes. The substituent effect is assessed in the presence of electron-withdrawing groups and electron-donating groups and their influence on the Pt–C and Pt–N bonds of the molecules is analyzed using quantum theory of atoms in molecules, electron localization function, and localized-orbital locator methods. In addition, the eta index (η) is used to evaluate the Pt–C and Pt–N bonds in the studied complexes. The correlations between electron localization function, localized-orbital locator, and the η index values of Pt–C and Pt–N bonds with Hammett constants (σp) and dual parameters (σI and σR) are given.

A Dogma in Doubt: Hydrolysis of Equatorial Ligands of PtIV Complexes under Physiological Conditions

Due to their high kinetic inertness and consequently reduced side reactions with biomolecules, PtIV complexes are considered to define the future of anticancer platinum drugs. The aqueous stability of a series of biscarboxylato PtIV complexes was studied under physiologically relevant conditions. Unexpectedly and in contrast to the current chemical understanding, especially oxaliplatin and satraplatin complexes underwent fast hydrolysis in equatorial position (even in cell culture medium and serum). Notably, the resulting hydrolysis products strongly differ in their reduction kinetics, a crucial parameter for the activation of PtIV drugs, which also changes the anticancer potential of the compounds in cell culture. The discovery that intact PtIV complexes can hydrolyze at equatorial position contradicts the dogma on the general kinetic inertness of PtIV compounds and needs to be considered in the screening and design for novel platinum-based anticancer drugs.

Elevated soluble Flt1 inhibits endothelial repair in PR3-ANCA-associated vasculitis

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis exhibits endothelial damage, but the capacity for vessel repair in this disorder is not well understood. Here, we observed a marked increase in serum levels of soluble Flt1 (sFlt1), a potent inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor, in patients with active ANCA-associated vasculitis compared with patients during remission and other controls. Serum levels of sFlt1 correlated with C5a, an anaphylatoxin released after complement activation. Serum from patients with acute ANCA-associated vasculitis disrupted blood flow in the chicken chorioallantoic membrane assay, suggesting an antiangiogenic effect. Preincubation with excess human vascular endothelial growth factor prevented this effect. Anti-proteinase-3 (PR3) mAb and serum containing PR3-ANCA from patients with active vasculitis both induced a significant and sustained release of sFlt1 from monocytes, whereas anti-myeloperoxidase (MPO) mAb or polyclonal antibodies did not. However, the serum containing polyclonal PR3-ANCA did not induce release of sFlt1 from cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells. In summary, these data suggest that anti-PR3 antibodies, and to a much lesser extent anti-MPO antibodies, increase sFlt1 during acute ANCA-associated vasculitis, leading to an antiangiogenic state that hinders endothelial repair.

Non-empirical quantum chemical studies on electron transfer reactions in trans- and cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) complexes

The search was made for theoretical confirmation of hypothesis that mechanism of cisplatin cytotoxicity is based on dissociative electron transfer (ET) processes. Applying quantum chemical calculations based on supermolecular approach, the reactions mimicking presumed steps of cisplatin activation were evaluated. The electronic structure of model systems: cis- and transplatin with free electrons, hydrated electrons, and water, was studied by using density functional (DFT) within the Huzinaga basis set and GAUSSIAN-09 package. The respective energy was evaluated with the use of B3LYP density hybrid functional. The calculations were performed for gas phase and water solution; the solvent effects were studied by using the polarizable continuum model. Analysis of the energetic and structural parameters of cisplatin vs. transplatin behavior in the model systems leads to conclusion: there are two possible ways of cisplatin biotransformation, hydrolysis and hydrated electron impact, dependent on the medium redox state.