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Gong Q, Wang P, Li T, Yu Z, Yang L, Wu C, Hu J, Yang F, Zhang X, Li X. Novel NQO1 substrates bearing two nitrogen redox centers: Design, synthesis, molecular dynamics simulations, and antitumor evaluation. Bioorg Chem 2023; 134:106480. [PMID: 36958178 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.106480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
By analyzing the crystal structure of NQO1, an additional binding region for the ligand was discovered. In this study, a series of derivatives with a novel skeleton bearing two nitrogen redox centers were designed by introducing amines or hydrazines to fit with the novel binding region of NQO1. Compound 24 with a (4-fluorophenyl)hydrazine substituent was identified as the most efficient substrate for NQO1 with the reduction rate and catalytic efficiency of 1972 ± 82 μmol NADPH/min/μmol NQO1 and 6.4 ± 0.4 × 106 M-1s-1, respectively. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation revealed that the distances between the nitrogen atom of the redox centers and the key Tyr128 and Tyr126 residues were 3.5 Å (N1-Tyr128) and 3.4 Å (N2-Tyr126), respectively. Compound 24 (IC50/A549 = 0.69 ± 0.09 μM) showed potent antitumor activity against A549 cells both in vitro and in vivo through ROS generation via NQO1-mediated redox cycling, leading to a promising NQO1-targeting antitumor candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qijie Gong
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, and Department of Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Pengfei Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, and Department of Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China; Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Tian Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, and Department of Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China; Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Zhan Yu
- The Affiliated Jiangning Hospital of NJMU, Nanjing Medical University (NJMU), Nanjing 211199, China; Jiangning Clinical Medical College of Jiangsu University, Nanjing 211100, China.
| | - Le Yang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, and Department of Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Chenyang Wu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, and Department of Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Jiabao Hu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, and Department of Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Fulai Yang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, and Department of Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China.
| | - Xiaojin Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Design and Optimization, and Department of Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China.
| | - Xiang Li
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China.
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Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of quinolinedione-linked sulfonylpiperazine derivatives as NQO1-directed antitumor agents. Bioorg Chem 2023; 132:106385. [PMID: 36696730 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.106385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Revised: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
In the current study, a series of novel quinolinedione-linked sulfonylpiperazine derivatives have been reported as NQO1-directed antitumor agents. A majority of compounds in this study were found to be more effective in resisting the proliferation of cancer cells than that of the positive control 5-Fu and TSA. Among the tested compounds, the derivative 22r exhibited considerable effect (IC50, 3.29-5.19 µM) against the proliferation of three NQO1-rich cancer cells (HepG2, MCF-7, and A549), and was recognized to be an excellent NQO1 substrate as revealed by in vitro enzyme reduction assay and molecular docking study with NQO1. In studies on the mechanisms involved, 22r induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, caused DNA damage, and induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells. Remarkably, compound 22r exhibited excellent anticancer activity against HepG2 xenograft models in vivo. The study demonstrated that compound 22r provided a promising strategy for the management of malignant tumors.
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Buttari B, Arese M, Oberley-Deegan RE, Saso L, Chatterjee A. NRF2: A crucial regulator for mitochondrial metabolic shift and prostate cancer progression. Front Physiol 2022; 13:989793. [PMID: 36213236 PMCID: PMC9540504 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.989793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolic alterations are a common survival mechanism for prostate cancer progression and therapy resistance. Oxidative stress in the cellular and tumor microenvironment dictates metabolic switching in the cancer cells to adopt, prosper and escape therapeutic stress. Therefore, regulation of oxidative stress in tumor cells and in the tumor-microenvironment may enhance the action of conventional anticancer therapies. NRF2 is the master regulator for oxidative stress management. However, the overall oxidative stress varies with PCa clinical stage, metabolic state and therapy used for the cancer. In agreement, the blanket use of NRF2 inducers or inhibitors along with anticancer therapies cause adverse effects in some preclinical cancer models. In this review, we have summarized the levels of oxidative stress, metabolic preferences and NRF2 activity in the different stages of prostate cancer. We also propose condition specific ways to use NRF2 inducers or inhibitors along with conventional prostate cancer therapies. The significance of this review is not only to provide a detailed understanding of the mechanism of action of NRF2 to regulate oxidative stress-mediated metabolic switching by prostate cancer cells to escape the radiation, chemo, or hormonal therapies, and to grow aggressively, but also to provide a potential therapeutic method to control aggressive prostate cancer growth by stage specific proper use of NRF2 regulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brigitta Buttari
- Department of Cardiovascular and Endocrine-metabolic Diseases and Aging, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Marzia Arese
- Department of Biochemical Sciences “A. Rossi Fanelli”, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Rebecca E. Oberley-Deegan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Luciano Saso
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology ‘‘Vittorio Erspamer”, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Arpita Chatterjee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
- *Correspondence: Arpita Chatterjee,
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Mancini I, Vigna J, Sighel D, Defant A. Hybrid Molecules Containing Naphthoquinone and Quinolinedione Scaffolds as Antineoplastic Agents. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27154948. [PMID: 35956896 PMCID: PMC9370406 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27154948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, molecular hybridization has proven to be an efficient tool for obtaining new synthetic molecules to treat different diseases. Based on the core idea of covalently combining at least two pharmacophore fragments present in different drugs and/or bioactive molecules, the new hybrids have shown advantages when compared with the compounds of origin. Hybridization could be successfully applied to anticancer drug discovery, where efforts are underway to develop novel therapeutics which are safer and more effective than those currently in use. Molecules presenting naphthoquinone moieties are involved in redox processes and in other molecular mechanisms affecting cancer cells. Naphthoquinones have been shown to inhibit cancer cell growth and are considered privileged structures and useful templates in the design of hybrids. The present work aims at summarizing the current knowledge on antitumor hybrids built using 1,4- and 1,2-naphthoquinone (present in natural compounds as lawsone, napabucasin, plumbagin, lapachol, α-lapachone, and β -lapachone), and the related quinolone- and isoquinolinedione scaffolds reported in the literature up to 2021. In detail, the design and synthetic approaches adopted to produce the reported compounds are highlighted, the structural fragments considered in hybridization and their biological activities are described, and the structure–activity relationships and the computational analyses applied are underlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ines Mancini
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, Department of Physics, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy; (J.V.); (A.D.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Jacopo Vigna
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, Department of Physics, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy; (J.V.); (A.D.)
- Laboratory of Translational Genomics, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy;
| | - Denise Sighel
- Laboratory of Translational Genomics, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy;
| | - Andrea Defant
- Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, Department of Physics, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy; (J.V.); (A.D.)
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Yang L, Ma X, Guo K, Li J, Zhang C, Wu L. Dual-functional antitumor conjugates improving the anti-metastasis effect of combretastatin A4 by targeting tubulin polymerization and matrix metalloproteinases. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 238:114439. [PMID: 35551039 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
This study prepared different novel conjugates containing tubulin and MMP inhibitors and assessed their anticancer effects. Typically, the conjugate 15g, which contained combretastatin A4 (CA4) and 2-(4-((diethoxyphosphono)(o-tolyl)methylamino)phenyl)acetic acid (19g) connected by an ester bond, showed the maximum effect against proliferation. Particularly, the conjugate yielded a reduced IC50 value of 0.05 μM in controlling the proliferation of HepG2 cells compared to CA4 alone (0.09 μM). Systematic research indicated that 15g suppressed tubulin polymerization, induced cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase, led to reactive oxidative stress (ROS) generation of HepG2 cells, and resulted in apoptosis by the mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathway. Moreover, 15g showed a potent effect on resistant metastasis by decreasing the levels of the proteins MMP2 and MMP9 in the HepG2 cells. Therefore, this conjugate is a potentially effective approach to improve the anti-metastatic effect of CA4 with high safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Limin Yang
- School of Pharmacy, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, China
| | - Xin Ma
- School of Pharmacy, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, China
| | - Kerong Guo
- School of Pharmacy, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, China
| | - Jian Li
- School of Pharmacy, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, China
| | - Chong Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, China
| | - Liqiang Wu
- School of Pharmacy, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, China.
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