1
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Binacchi F, Giorgi E, Salvadori G, Cirri D, Stifano M, Donati A, Garzella L, Busto N, Garcia B, Pratesi A, Biver T. Exploring the interaction between a fluorescent Ag(I)-biscarbene complex and non-canonical DNA structures: a multi-technique investigation. Dalton Trans 2024; 53:9700-9714. [PMID: 38775704 DOI: 10.1039/d4dt00851k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Silver compounds are mainly studied as antimicrobial agents, but they also have anticancer properties, with the latter, in some cases, being better than their gold counterparts. Herein, we analyse the first example of a new Ag(I)-biscarbene that can bind non-canonical structures of DNA, more precisely G-quadruplexes (G4), with different binding signatures depending on the type of G4. Moreover, we show that this Ag-based carbene binds the i-motif DNA structure. Alternatively, its Au(I) counterpart, which was investigated for comparison, stabilises mitochondrial G4. Theoretical in silico studies elucidated the details of different binding modes depending on the geometry of G4. The two complexes showed increased cytotoxic activity compared to cisplatin, overcoming its resistance in ovarian cancer. The binding of these new drug candidates with other relevant biosubstrates was studied to afford a more complete picture of their possible targets. In particular, the Ag(I) complex preferentially binds DNA structures over RNA structures, with higher binding constants for the non-canonical nucleic acids with respect to natural calf thymus DNA. Regarding possible protein targets, its interaction with the albumin model protein BSA was also tested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Binacchi
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Via G. Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Ester Giorgi
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Via G. Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Giacomo Salvadori
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Via G. Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Damiano Cirri
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Via G. Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Mariassunta Stifano
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Via G. Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Aurora Donati
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Via G. Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Linda Garzella
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Via G. Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Natalia Busto
- Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Burgos, Paseo de los Comendadores s/n, 09001 Burgos, Spain
| | - Begona Garcia
- Departamento de Química, Universidad de Burgos, Plaza Misael Bañuelos s/n, 09001 Burgos, Spain
| | - Alessandro Pratesi
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Via G. Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Tarita Biver
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Via G. Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
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2
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Mattioli EJ, Cipriani B, Zerbetto F, Marforio TD, Calvaresi M. Interaction of Au(III) with amino acids: a vade mecum for medicinal chemistry and nanotechnology. J Mater Chem B 2024; 12:5162-5170. [PMID: 38687242 DOI: 10.1039/d4tb00204k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Au(III) is highly reactive. At odds with its reduced counterpart, Au(I), it is hardly present in structural databases. And yet, it is the starting reactant to form gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) and the constitutive component of a new class of drugs. Its reactivity is a world apart from that of the iso-electronic Pt(II) species. Rather than DNA, it targets proteins. Its interaction with amino acid residues is manifold. It can strongly interact with the residue backbones, amino acid side chains and protein ends, it can form appropriate complexes whose stabilization energy reaches up to more than 40 kcal mol-1, it can affect the pKa of amino acid residues, and it can promote charge transfer from the residues to the amount that it is reduced. Here, quantum chemical calculations provide quantitative information on all the processes where Au(III) can be involved. A myriad of structural arrangements are examined in order to determine the strongest interactions and quantify the amount of charge transfer between protonated and deprotonated residues and Au(III). The calculated interaction energies of the amino acid side chains with Au(III) quantitatively reproduce the experimental tendency of Au(III) to interact with selenocysteine, cysteine and histidine and negatively charged amino acids such as Glu and Asp. Also, aromatic residues such as tyrosine and tryptophan strongly interact with Au(III). In proteins, basic pH plays a role in the deprotonation of cysteine, lysine and tyrosine and strongly increases the binding affinity of Au(III) toward these amino acids. The amino acid residues in the protein can also trigger the reduction of Au(III) ions. Sulfur-containing amino acids (cysteine and methionine) and selenocysteine provide almost one electron to Au(III) upon binding. Tyrosine also shows a considerable tendency to act as a reductant. Other amino acids, commonly identified in Au-protein adducts, such as Ser, Trp, Thr, Gln, Glu, Asn, Asp, Lys, Arg and His, possess a notable reducing power toward Au(III). These results and their discussion form a vade mecum that can find application in medicinal chemistry and nanotech applications of Au(III).
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Affiliation(s)
- Edoardo Jun Mattioli
- Dipartimento di Chimica ''G. Ciamician'', Alma Mater Studiorum - Universita di Bologna, via F. Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
| | - Beatrice Cipriani
- Dipartimento di Chimica ''G. Ciamician'', Alma Mater Studiorum - Universita di Bologna, via F. Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
| | - Francesco Zerbetto
- Dipartimento di Chimica ''G. Ciamician'', Alma Mater Studiorum - Universita di Bologna, via F. Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
| | - Tainah Dorina Marforio
- Dipartimento di Chimica ''G. Ciamician'', Alma Mater Studiorum - Universita di Bologna, via F. Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
| | - Matteo Calvaresi
- Dipartimento di Chimica ''G. Ciamician'', Alma Mater Studiorum - Universita di Bologna, via F. Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
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3
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Geri A, Zineddu S, Massai L, Ronga L, Lobinski R, Gailer J, Messori L. Mercury binding to proteins disclosed by ESI MS experiments: The case of three organomercurials. J Inorg Biochem 2024; 252:112479. [PMID: 38218139 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2024.112479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
Solution interactions of three organomercury compounds, i.e., methylmercury chloride, thimerosal and phenylmercury acetate, with a group of biochemically relevant proteins, namely cytochrome c (Cyt c), ribonuclease A (RNase A), carbonic anhydrase I (hCA I), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and serum albumin (HSA), were investigated using an established ESI MS approach. Temporal analysis of sample aliquots provided insight into the binding kinetics, while comparative analysis of the obtained mass spectra disclosed adduct formation of each mercurial with the tested proteins and the relative abundance of the species. The three organomercurials bind, exclusively and tightly, to free cysteine residues as no binding was observed in the case of proteins lacking such groups. hCA I, SOD and HSA formed distinct mercury adducts, preserving the Hg bound alkyl/aryl ligands; yet, the three organomercurials displayed significant differences in reactivity in relation to their chemical structure. The investigation was then extended to analyze the reactions with the C-terminal dodecapeptide of the enzyme human thioredoxin reductase, which contains a characteristic selenol-thiol moiety: tight Hg binding was observed. Notably, this peptide was able to remove effectively and completely the alkyl/aryl ligands of the three tested organomercurials; this behavior may be relevant to the detoxification mechanism of organomercurials in mammals. Finally, a competition experiment was carried out to establish whether protein bound mercury centers may be displaced by other competing metals. Interestingly, and quite unexpectedly, we observed that a protein bound mercury fragment may be partially displaced from its coordination site in hCA I by the medicinal gold compound auranofin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Geri
- Laboratory of Metals in Medicine, Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, via della Lastruccia 3, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - Stefano Zineddu
- Laboratory of Metals in Medicine, Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, via della Lastruccia 3, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - Lara Massai
- Laboratory of Metals in Medicine, Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, via della Lastruccia 3, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.
| | - Luisa Ronga
- Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, IPREM, Pau, France
| | - Ryszard Lobinski
- Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, IPREM, Pau, France; Chair of Analytical Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, ul.Noakowskiego 3, 00-664 Warszawa, Poland
| | - Jürgen Gailer
- Department of Chemistry, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Luigi Messori
- Laboratory of Metals in Medicine, Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, via della Lastruccia 3, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.
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4
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Giorgi E, Mannelli M, Gamberi T, Durante M, Gabbiani C, Cirri D, Pratesi A. Cytotoxic auranofin analogues bearing phosphine, arsine and stibine ligands: A study on the possible role of the ligand on the biological activity. J Inorg Biochem 2024; 251:112452. [PMID: 38070433 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2023.112452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023]
Abstract
Three gold(I) linear compounds, sharing the general formula [AuI(LPh3)], have been synthesized and characterized. The nature of the ligand has been modified by moving down among some of the elements of group 15, i.e. phosphorus, arsenic and antimony. The structures of derived compounds have been solved through XRD and the reactivity behaviour towards selected biomolecules has been investigated through a multi-technique approach involving NMR, high-resolution mass spectrometry and IR. Moreover, the biological activity of the investigated compounds has been comparatively analyzed through classical methodologies and the disclosed differences are discussed in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ester Giorgi
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Via G. Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Michele Mannelli
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Viale G.B. Morgagni 50, 50134 Firenze, Italy
| | - Tania Gamberi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Viale G.B. Morgagni 50, 50134 Firenze, Italy
| | - Maria Durante
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Via G. Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Chiara Gabbiani
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Via G. Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Damiano Cirri
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Via G. Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Alessandro Pratesi
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Via G. Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
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5
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Mironov IV, Kharlamova VY, Makotchenko EV. Some remarks on the biological application of gold(III) complexes. Biometals 2024; 37:233-246. [PMID: 37855996 DOI: 10.1007/s10534-023-00545-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Gold(III) complexes are widely studied as antitumor agents and show good results. The interaction with biologically active thiols (thiomalate, cysteine, glutathione (GSH) and human serum albumin) of a number of gold(III) complexes with N-containing polydentate ligands in aqueous solution with pH 7.4 and 0.2 M NaCl was studied. Complexes with 1,10-phenanthroline and 2,2'-bipyridyl, Au(phen)(OH)2+ and Au(bipy)(OH)2+, react fast with an excess of any of these thiols and in less than a few seconds transform into gold(I) bis-thiolate complexes. For complexes with deprotonated ethylenediamine and diethylenetriamine, Au(en)(en-H)2+ and Au(dien-H)(Cl,OH)+, at a significant excess of GSH, a relatively long-lived gold(III) complex AuIII(GSH)iLj is formed. At t = 37 °C, it transforms into the gold(I) bis-thiolate complex Au(GSH)2 by 90% in 4 h. However, for other thiols, the rate of decomposition of similar complexes is about 10 times higher. Some other complexes were also considered. In all cases, a fairly fast reduction of gold(III) to gold(I) occurs with the formation of the gold(I) bis-thiolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Igor V Mironov
- Nikolaev Institute of Inorganic Chemistry SB RAS, 3 Lavrentiev Avenue, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia.
| | - Viktoria Yu Kharlamova
- Nikolaev Institute of Inorganic Chemistry SB RAS, 3 Lavrentiev Avenue, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
| | - Eugenia V Makotchenko
- Nikolaev Institute of Inorganic Chemistry SB RAS, 3 Lavrentiev Avenue, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia
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6
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Burgener S, Dačević B, Zhang X, Ward TR. Binding Interactions and Inhibition Mechanisms of Gold Complexes in Thiamine Diphosphate-Dependent Enzymes. Biochemistry 2023; 62:3303-3311. [PMID: 37931174 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.3c00376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Thiamine diphosphate (ThDP)-dependent enzymes possess the unique ability to generate a carbene within their active site. In this study, we sought to harness this carbene to produce a Au(I) N-heterocyclic complex directly in the active site of ThDP enzymes, thereby establishing a novel platform for artificial metalloenzymes. Because direct metalation of ThDP proved challenging, we synthesized a ThDP mimic that acts as a competitive inhibitor with a high affinity (Ki = 1.5 μM). Upon metalation with Au(I), we observed that the complex became a more potent inhibitor (Ki = 0.7 μM). However, detailed analysis of the inhibition mode, native mass spectrometry, and size exclusion experiments revealed that the complex does not bind specifically to the active site of ThDP enzymes. Instead, it exhibits unspecific binding and exceeds the 1:1 stoichiometry. Similar binding patterns were observed for other Au(I) species. These findings prompt an important question regarding the inherent propensity of ThDP enzymes to bind strongly to Au. If this phenomenon holds true, it could pave the way for the development of Au-based drugs targeting these enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Burgener
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 24a, BPR 1096 4058, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Bratislav Dačević
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 24a, BPR 1096 4058, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Xiang Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 24a, BPR 1096 4058, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Thomas R Ward
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 24a, BPR 1096 4058, Basel, Switzerland
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7
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de Andrade Querino AL, de Sousa AM, Thomas SR, de Lima GM, Dittz D, Casini A, do Monte-Neto RL, Silva H. Organogold(III)-dithiocarbamate compounds and their coordination analogues as anti-tumor and anti-leishmanial metallodrugs. J Inorg Biochem 2023; 247:112346. [PMID: 37536162 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2023.112346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
The limited chemical stability of gold(III)-based compounds in physiological environment has been a challenge in drug discovery, and organometallic chemistry might provide the solution to overcome this issue. In this work, four novel cationic organogold(III)-dithiocarbamate complexes of general structure [(C^N)AuIIIDTC]PF6 (C1a - C4a, DTC = dithiocarbamate, L1 - L4, C^N = 2-anilinopyridine) are presented, and compared to their coordination gold(III)-dithiocarbamate analogues [AuIIIDTCCl2] (C1b - C4b), as potential anti-cancer and anti-leishmanial drugs. Most of the complexes effectively inhibited cancer cell growth, notably C3a presented anti-proliferative effect in the nanomolar range against breast cancer (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells with moderate selectivity. Pro-apoptotic studies on treated MCF-7 cells showed a high population of cells in early apoptosis. Reactivity studies of C3a towards model thiols (N-acetyl-L-cysteine) refer to a possible mode of action involving bonding between the organogold(III)-core and the thiolate. In the scope of neglected diseases, gold complexes are emerging as promising therapeutic alternatives against leishmaniasis. In this regard, all gold(III)-dithiocarbamate complexes presented anti-leishmanial activity against at least one Leishmania species. Complexes C1a, C4a, C1b, C4b were active against all tested parasites with IC50 values varying between 0.12 and 42 μM, and, overall, organometallic compounds presented more intriguing inhibition profiles. For C4a selectivity over 500-fold for L. braziliensis; even higher than the reference anti-leishmanial drug amphotericin B. Overall, our findings revealed that the organogold(III) moiety significantly amplified the anti-cancer and anti-leishmanial effects with respect to the coordination analogues; thus, showing the great potential of organometallic chemistry in metallodrug-based chemotherapy for cancer and leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Luiza de Andrade Querino
- Laboratório de Síntese e Interações Bioinorgânicas (SibLab), Department of Chemistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil; Chair of Medicinal and Bioinorganic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Garching b. Munich, Germany.
| | - Alessandra Mara de Sousa
- RdM Lab - Biotechnology Applied to Pathogens Research Group, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Sophie R Thomas
- Chair of Medicinal and Bioinorganic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Garching b. Munich, Germany
| | - Geraldo Magela de Lima
- Laboratório de Síntese e Interações Bioinorgânicas (SibLab), Department of Chemistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Dalton Dittz
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Universidade Federal do Piaui, Teresina, Brazil
| | - Angela Casini
- Chair of Medicinal and Bioinorganic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Garching b. Munich, Germany
| | - Rubens Lima do Monte-Neto
- RdM Lab - Biotechnology Applied to Pathogens Research Group, Instituto René Rachou, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | - Heveline Silva
- Laboratório de Síntese e Interações Bioinorgânicas (SibLab), Department of Chemistry, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
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8
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Merlino A. Metallodrug binding to serum albumin: Lessons from biophysical and structural studies. Coord Chem Rev 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2023.215026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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9
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Tolbatov I, Marrone A, Shepard W, Chiaverini L, Upadhyay Kahaly M, La Mendola D, Marzo T, Ciccone L. Inorganic Drugs as a Tool for Protein Structure Solving and Studies on Conformational Changes. Chemistry 2023; 29:e202202937. [PMID: 36477932 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202202937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Inorganic drugs are capable of tight interactions with proteins through coordination towards aminoacidic residues, and this feature is recognized as a key aspect for their pharmacological action. However, the "protein metalation process" is exploitable for solving the phase problem and structural resolution. In fact, the use of inorganic drugs bearing specific metal centers and ligands capable to drive the binding towards the desired portions of the protein target could represent a very intriguing and fruitful strategy. In this context, a theoretical approach may further contribute to solve protein structures and their refinement. Here, we delineate the main features of a reliable experimental-theoretical integrated approach, based on the use of metallodrugs, for protein structure solving.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iogann Tolbatov
- Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Avgda. Països Catalans, 16, 43007, Tarragona, Spain
| | - Alessandro Marrone
- Department of Pharmacy, University "G. D'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini, 31, 66100, Chieti, Italy
| | - William Shepard
- Department PROXIMA2 A, Synchrotron SOLEIL, L'Orme des Merisiers, Saint-Aubin, BP 48, 91192, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Lorenzo Chiaverini
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | | | - Diego La Mendola
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Tiziano Marzo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126, Pisa, Italy
| | - Lidia Ciccone
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Via Bonanno 6, 56126, Pisa, Italy
- Department PROXIMA2 A, Synchrotron SOLEIL, L'Orme des Merisiers, Saint-Aubin, BP 48, 91192, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
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10
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Binacchi F, Elia C, Cirri D, Van de Griend C, Zhou XQ, Messori L, Bonnet S, Pratesi A, Biver T. A biophysical study of the interactions of palladium(II), platinum(II) and gold(III) complexes of aminopyridyl-2,2'-bipyridine ligands with RNAs and other nucleic acid structures. Dalton Trans 2023; 52:598-608. [PMID: 36562298 DOI: 10.1039/d2dt03483b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Metal compounds form an attractive class of ligands for a variety of nucleic acids. Five metal complexes bearing aminopyridyl-2,2'-bipyridine tetradentate ligands and possessing a quasi-planar geometry were challenged toward different types of nucleic acid molecules including RNA polynucleotides in the duplex or triplex form, an RNA Holliday four-way junction, natural double helix DNA and a DNA G-quadruplex. The binding process was monitored comparatively using different spectroscopic and melting methods. The binding preferences that emerge from our analysis are discussed in relation to the structural features of the metal complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Binacchi
- University of Pisa, Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, Via G. Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Cassandra Elia
- University of Pisa, Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, Via G. Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Damiano Cirri
- University of Pisa, Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, Via G. Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Corjan Van de Griend
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, 2333CC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Xue-Quan Zhou
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, 2333CC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Luigi Messori
- Laboratory of Metals in Medicine (MetMed), Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3-13, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Sylvestre Bonnet
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, 2333CC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Alessandro Pratesi
- University of Pisa, Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, Via G. Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
| | - Tarita Biver
- University of Pisa, Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, Via G. Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
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11
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Canil G, Gurruchaga-Pereda J, Braccini S, Marchetti L, Funaioli T, Marchetti F, Pratesi A, Salassa L, Gabbiani C. Synthesis, Characterization and Photoactivation Studies on the Novel Pt(IV)-Based [Pt(OCOCH 3) 3(phterpy)] Complex. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021106. [PMID: 36674620 PMCID: PMC9864011 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Photoactivatable Pt(IV) prodrugs represent nowadays an intriguing class of potential metal-based drugs, endowed with more chemical inertness in their oxidized form and better selectivity for the target with respect to the clinically established Pt(II) compounds. In fact, they have the possibility to be reduced by light irradiation directly at the site of interest. For this reason, we synthesized a new Pt(IV) complex, [Pt(OCOCH3)3(4'-phenyl-2,2':6',2''-terpyridine)][CF3SO3] (1), that is well soluble in aqueous medium and totally unreactive towards selected model biomolecules until its reduction. The highlight of this work is the rapid and efficient photoreduction of 1 with visible light (460 nm), which leads to its reactive Pt(II) analogue. This behavior was made possible by taking advantage of an efficient catalytic system based on flavin and NADH, which is naturally present in the cellular environment. As a comparison, the reduction of 1 was also studied with simple UV irradiation, but both UV-Vis spectrophotometry and 1H-NMR spectrometry showed that the flavin-catalyzed reduction with visible light was faster. Lastly, the reactivity against two representative biological targets, i.e., human serum albumin and one monofilament oligonucleotide fragment, was evaluated by high-resolution mass spectrometry. The results clearly pointed out that the prodrug 1 did not interact with these targets until its photoreduction to the Pt(II) analogue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Canil
- Centro di Riferimento Oncologico di Aviano, IRCCS, Via Franco Gallini, 2, 33081 Aviano, Italy
| | - Juan Gurruchaga-Pereda
- Donostia International Physics Center, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 4, 20018 Donostia, Spain
- CIC biomaGUNE, Paseo de Miramón 182, 20014 Donostia, Spain
| | - Simona Braccini
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry (DCCI), University of Pisa, Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Lorella Marchetti
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry (DCCI), University of Pisa, Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Tiziana Funaioli
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry (DCCI), University of Pisa, Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Fabio Marchetti
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry (DCCI), University of Pisa, Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessandro Pratesi
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry (DCCI), University of Pisa, Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy
- Correspondence: (A.P.); (C.G.)
| | - Luca Salassa
- Donostia International Physics Center, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 4, 20018 Donostia, Spain
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, 48011 Bilbao, Spain
- Polimero eta Material Aurreratuak: Fisika, Kimika eta Teknologia, Kimika Fakultatea, Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea UPV/EHU, Paseo Manuel de Lardizabal 3, 20018 Donostia, Spain
| | - Chiara Gabbiani
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry (DCCI), University of Pisa, Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy
- Correspondence: (A.P.); (C.G.)
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12
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Ratia C, Cepas V, Soengas R, Navarro Y, Velasco-de Andrés M, Iglesias MJ, Lozano F, López-Ortiz F, Soto SM. A C ∧S-Cyclometallated Gold(III) Complex as a Novel Antibacterial Candidate Against Drug-Resistant Bacteria. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:815622. [PMID: 35308343 PMCID: PMC8928146 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.815622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The worldwide emergence and spread of infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria endangers the efficacy of current antibiotics in the clinical setting. The lack of new antibiotics in the pipeline points to the need of developing new strategies. Recently, gold-based drugs are being repurposed for antibacterial applications. Among them, gold(III) complexes have received increasing attention as metal-based anticancer agents. However, reports on their antibacterial activity are scarce due to stability issues. The present work demonstrates the antibacterial activity of the gold(III) complex 2 stabilized as C∧S-cycloaurated containing a diphenylphosphinothioic amide moiety, showing minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values that ranged from 4 to 8 and from 16 to 32 mg/L among Gram-positive and Gram-negative multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens, respectively. Complex 2 has a biofilm inhibitory activity of only two to four times than its MIC. We also describe for the first time a potent antibacterial synergistic effect of a gold(III) complex combined with colistin, showing a bactericidal effect in less than 2 h; confirming the role of the outer membrane as a permeability barrier. Complex 2 shows a low rate of internalization in Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter baumannii; it does not interact with replication enzymes or efflux pumps, causes ultrastructural damages in both membrane and cytoplasmic levels, and permeabilizes the bacterial membrane. Unlike control antibiotics, complex 2 did not generate resistant mutants in 30-day sequential cultures. We detected lower cytotoxicity in a non-tumoral THLE-2 cell line (IC50 = 25.5 μM) and no acute toxicity signs in vivo after an i.v. 1-mg/kg dose. The characterization presented here reassures the potential of complex 2 as a new chemical class of antimicrobial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Ratia
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Virginio Cepas
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raquel Soengas
- Área de Química Orgánica, Centro de Investigación CIAIMBITAL, Universidad de Almería, Almería, Spain
| | - Yolanda Navarro
- Área de Química Orgánica, Centro de Investigación CIAIMBITAL, Universidad de Almería, Almería, Spain
| | - María Velasco-de Andrés
- Immunoreceptors del Sistema Innat i Adaptatiu, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Barcelona, Spain
| | - María José Iglesias
- Área de Química Orgánica, Centro de Investigación CIAIMBITAL, Universidad de Almería, Almería, Spain
| | - Francisco Lozano
- Immunoreceptors del Sistema Innat i Adaptatiu, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, Barcelona, Spain
- Servei d’Immunologia, Centre de Diagnòstic Biomèdic, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Biomedicina, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Fernando López-Ortiz
- Área de Química Orgánica, Centro de Investigación CIAIMBITAL, Universidad de Almería, Almería, Spain
| | - Sara M. Soto
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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13
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Schijven LMI, Saggiomo V, Velders AH, Bitter JH, Nikiforidis CV. Au 3+-Induced gel network formation of proteins. SOFT MATTER 2021; 17:9682-9688. [PMID: 34633019 DOI: 10.1039/d1sm01031j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The formation of protein gel networks in aqueous systems is a result of protein intermolecular interactions after an energy input, like heating. In this research, we report that a redox reaction between Au3+ ions and proteins can also lead to the formation of a protein gel network. Amino acids, like cysteine and tyrosine, get oxidized and form covalent bonds with neighboring protein molecules, while Au3+ ions get reduced to Au+ and Au0, nucleate and form gold nanoparticles. The protein gel network formation occurs within 2 h at room temperature and can be tuned by varying Au3+/protein ratio and accelerated by increasing the incubation temperature. The proposed Au3+-induced gel network formation was applied to different proteins, like egg yolk high-density lipoprotein, bovine serum albumin and whey protein. This research opens new insights for the investigation of the metal-protein interactions and may aid in the design of novel hybrid-soft nanocomposite materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M I Schijven
- Biobased Chemistry and Technology, Wageningen University and Research, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6708 WG Wageningen, The Netherlands.
- BioNanoTechnology, Wageningen University and Research, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6708 WG Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Vittorio Saggiomo
- BioNanoTechnology, Wageningen University and Research, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6708 WG Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Aldrik H Velders
- BioNanoTechnology, Wageningen University and Research, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6708 WG Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Johannes H Bitter
- Biobased Chemistry and Technology, Wageningen University and Research, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6708 WG Wageningen, The Netherlands.
| | - Constantinos V Nikiforidis
- Biobased Chemistry and Technology, Wageningen University and Research, Bornse Weilanden 9, 6708 WG Wageningen, The Netherlands.
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14
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van der Westhuizen D, Bezuidenhout DI, Munro OQ. Cancer molecular biology and strategies for the design of cytotoxic gold(I) and gold(III) complexes: a tutorial review. Dalton Trans 2021; 50:17413-17437. [PMID: 34693422 DOI: 10.1039/d1dt02783b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
This tutorial review highlights key principles underpinning the design of selected metallodrugs to target specific biological macromolecules (DNA and proteins). The review commences with a descriptive overview of the eukaryotic cell cycle and the molecular biology of cancer, particularly apoptosis, which is provided as a necessary foundation for the discovery, design, and targeting of metal-based anticancer agents. Drugs which target DNA have been highlighted and clinically approved metallodrugs discussed. A brief history of the development of mainly gold-based metallodrugs is presented prior to addressing ligand systems for stabilizing and adding functionality to bio-active gold(I) and gold(III) complexes, particularly in the burgeoning field of anticancer metallodrugs. Concepts such as multi-modal and selective cytotoxic agents are covered where necessary for selected compounds. The emerging role of carbenes as the ligand system of choice to achieve these goals for gold-based metallodrug candidates is highlighted prior to closing the review with comments on some future directions that this research field might follow. The latter section ultimately emphasizes the importance of understanding the fate of metal complexes in cells to garner key mechanistic insights.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle van der Westhuizen
- Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa.
| | - Daniela I Bezuidenhout
- Laboratory of Inorganic Chemistry, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, University of Oulu, P. O. Box 3000, 90014 Oulu, Finland.
| | - Orde Q Munro
- Molecular Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg 2050, South Africa.
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15
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Xie L, Bai H, Song L, Liu C, Gong W, Wang W, Zhao X, Takemoto C, Wang H. Structural and Photodynamic Studies on Nitrosylruthenium-Complexed Serum Albumin as a Delivery System for Controlled Nitric Oxide Release. Inorg Chem 2021; 60:8826-8837. [PMID: 34060309 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.1c00762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
How to deliver nitric oxide (NO) to a physiological target and control its release quantitatively is a key issue for biomedical applications. Here, a water-soluble nitrosylruthenium complex, [(CH3)4N][RuCl3(5cqn)(NO)] (H5cqn = 5-chloro-8-quinoline), was synthesized, and its structure was confirmed with 1H NMR and X-ray crystal diffraction. Photoinduced NO release was investigated with time-resolved Fourier transform infrared and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopies. The binding constant of the [RuCl3(5cqn)(NO)]- complex with human serum albumin (HSA) was determined by fluorescence spectroscopy, and the binding mode was identified by X-ray crystallography of the HSA and Ru-NO complex adduct. The crystal structure reveals that two molecules of the Ru-NO complex are located in the subdomain IB, which is one of the major drug binding regions of HSA. The chemical structures of the Ru complexes were [RuCl3(5cqn)(NO)]- and [RuCl3(Glycerin)NO]-, in which the electron densities for all ligands to Ru are unambiguously identified. EPR spin-trapping data showed that photoirradiation triggered NO radical generation from the HSA complex adduct. Moreover, the near-infrared image of exogenous NO from the nitrosylruthenium complex in living cells was observed using a NO-selective fluorescent probe. This study provides a strategy to design an appropriate delivery system to transport NO and metallodrugs in vivo for potential applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leilei Xie
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of the Education Ministry, Institute of Molecular Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Hehe Bai
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of the Education Ministry, Institute of Molecular Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Luna Song
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of the Education Ministry, Institute of Molecular Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Chenyang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of the Education Ministry, Institute of Molecular Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Wenjun Gong
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of the Education Ministry, Institute of Molecular Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Wenming Wang
- Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology of Shanxi Provence, Shanxi, Taiyuan 030006, China
| | - Xuan Zhao
- Department of Chemistry, University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee 38152, United States
| | - Chie Takemoto
- RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | - Hongfei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of the Education Ministry, Institute of Molecular Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, China
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16
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Zoppi C, Massai L, Cirri D, Gabbiani C, Pratesi A, Messori L. Protein metalation by two structurally related gold(I) carbene complexes: An ESI MS study. Inorganica Chim Acta 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ica.2021.120297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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17
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Zhou XQ, Carbo-Bague I, Siegler MA, Hilgendorf J, Basu U, Ott I, Liu R, Zhang L, Ramu V, IJzerman AP, Bonnet S. Rollover Cyclometalation vs Nitrogen Coordination in Tetrapyridyl Anticancer Gold(III) Complexes: Effect on Protein Interaction and Toxicity. JACS AU 2021; 1:380-395. [PMID: 34056633 PMCID: PMC8154207 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.0c00104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
In this work, a pair of gold(III) complexes derived from the analogous tetrapyridyl ligands H2biqbpy1 and H2biqbpy2 was prepared: the rollover, bis-cyclometalated [Au(biqbpy1)Cl ([1]Cl) and its isomer [Au(biqbpy2)Cl ([2]Cl). In [1]+, two pyridyl rings coordinate to the metal via a Au-C bond (C∧N∧N∧C coordination) and the two noncoordinated amine bridges of the ligand remain protonated, while in [2]+ all four pyridyl rings of the ligand coordinate to the metal via a Au-N bond (N∧N∧N∧N coordination), but both amine bridges are deprotonated. As a result, both complexes are monocationic, which allowed comparison of the sole effect of cyclometalation on the chemistry, protein interaction, and anticancer properties of the gold(III) compounds. Due to their identical monocationic charge and similar molecular shape, both complexes [1]Cl and [2]Cl displaced reference radioligand [3H]dofetilide equally well from cell membranes expressing the Kv11.1 (hERG) potassium channel, and more so than the tetrapyridyl ligands H2biqbpy1 and H2biqbpy2. By contrast, cyclometalation rendered [1]Cl coordinatively stable in the presence of biological thiols, while [2]Cl was reduced by a millimolar concentration of glutathione into metastable Au(I) species releasing the free ligand H2biqbpy2 and TrxR-inhibiting Au+ ions. The redox stability of [1]Cl dramatically decreased its thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) inhibition properties, compared to [2]Cl. On the other hand, unlike [2]Cl, [1]Cl aggregated into nanoparticles in FCS-containing medium, which resulted in much more efficient gold cellular uptake. [1]Cl had much more selective anticancer properties than [2]Cl and cisplatin, as it was almost 10 times more cytotoxic to human cancer cells (A549, A431, A375, and MCF7) than to noncancerous cells (MRC5). Mechanistic studies highlight the strikingly different mode of action of the two compounds: while for [1]Cl high gold cellular uptake, nuclear DNA damage, and interaction with hERG may contribute to cell killing, for [2]Cl extracellular reduction released TrxR-inhibiting Au+ ions that were taken up in minute amounts in the cytosol, and a toxic tetrapyridyl ligand also capable of binding to hERG. These results demonstrate that bis-cyclometalation is an appealing method to improve the redox stability of Au(III) compounds and to develop gold-based cytotoxic compounds that do not rely on TrxR inhibition to kill cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Quan Zhou
- Leiden
Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Imma Carbo-Bague
- Leiden
Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department
of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Maxime A. Siegler
- Department
of Chemistry, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Jonathan Hilgendorf
- Leiden
Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Uttara Basu
- Institute
of Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Beethovenstrasse 55, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Ingo Ott
- Institute
of Medicinal and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Beethovenstrasse 55, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Rongfang Liu
- Division
of Drug Discovery & Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Liyan Zhang
- Leiden
Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Vadde Ramu
- Leiden
Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Adriaan P. IJzerman
- Division
of Drug Discovery & Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Sylvestre Bonnet
- Leiden
Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333 CC Leiden, The Netherlands
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18
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Silva MJSA, Faustino H, Coelho JAS, Pinto MV, Fernandes A, Compañón I, Corzana F, Gasser G, Gois PMP. Efficient Amino‐Sulfhydryl Stapling on Peptides and Proteins Using Bifunctional NHS‐Activated Acrylamides. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021; 60:10850-10857. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.202016936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Maria J. S. A. Silva
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa) Faculty of Pharmacy Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon Portugal
- Chimie ParisTech PSL University CNRS Institute of Chemistry for Life and Health Sciences Laboratory for Inorganic Chemical Biology 75005 Paris France
| | - Hélio Faustino
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa) Faculty of Pharmacy Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon Portugal
| | - Jaime A. S. Coelho
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa) Faculty of Pharmacy Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon Portugal
| | - Maria V. Pinto
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa) Faculty of Pharmacy Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon Portugal
| | - Adelaide Fernandes
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa) Faculty of Pharmacy Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon Portugal
| | - Ismael Compañón
- Departamento de Química Centro de Investigación en Síntesis Química Universidad de La Rioja 26006 Logroño La Rioja Spain
| | - Francisco Corzana
- Departamento de Química Centro de Investigación en Síntesis Química Universidad de La Rioja 26006 Logroño La Rioja Spain
| | - Gilles Gasser
- Chimie ParisTech PSL University CNRS Institute of Chemistry for Life and Health Sciences Laboratory for Inorganic Chemical Biology 75005 Paris France
| | - Pedro M. P. Gois
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa) Faculty of Pharmacy Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon Portugal
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19
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Silva MJSA, Faustino H, Coelho JAS, Pinto MV, Fernandes A, Compañón I, Corzana F, Gasser G, Gois PMP. Efficient Amino‐Sulfhydryl Stapling on Peptides and Proteins Using Bifunctional NHS‐Activated Acrylamides. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202016936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Maria J. S. A. Silva
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa) Faculty of Pharmacy Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon Portugal
- Chimie ParisTech PSL University CNRS Institute of Chemistry for Life and Health Sciences Laboratory for Inorganic Chemical Biology 75005 Paris France
| | - Hélio Faustino
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa) Faculty of Pharmacy Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon Portugal
| | - Jaime A. S. Coelho
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa) Faculty of Pharmacy Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon Portugal
| | - Maria V. Pinto
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa) Faculty of Pharmacy Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon Portugal
| | - Adelaide Fernandes
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa) Faculty of Pharmacy Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon Portugal
| | - Ismael Compañón
- Departamento de Química Centro de Investigación en Síntesis Química Universidad de La Rioja 26006 Logroño La Rioja Spain
| | - Francisco Corzana
- Departamento de Química Centro de Investigación en Síntesis Química Universidad de La Rioja 26006 Logroño La Rioja Spain
| | - Gilles Gasser
- Chimie ParisTech PSL University CNRS Institute of Chemistry for Life and Health Sciences Laboratory for Inorganic Chemical Biology 75005 Paris France
| | - Pedro M. P. Gois
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa) Faculty of Pharmacy Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon Portugal
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20
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Abstract
Recent advances in structural studies unveiling the basis of the metal compounds/protein recognition process are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonello Merlino
- Department of Chemical Sciences
- University of Naples Federico II
- Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant’Angelo
- Napoli
- Italy
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21
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Sciortino G, Maréchal JD, Garribba E. Integrated experimental/computational approaches to characterize the systems formed by vanadium with proteins and enzymes. Inorg Chem Front 2021. [DOI: 10.1039/d0qi01507e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
An integrated instrumental/computational approach to characterize metallodrug–protein adducts at the molecular level is reviewed. A series of applications are described, focusing on potential vanadium drugs with a generalization to other metals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Sciortino
- Departament de Química
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
- Cerdanyola del Vallès
- Barcelona 08193
- Spain
| | - Jean-Didier Maréchal
- Departament de Química
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
- Cerdanyola del Vallès
- Barcelona 08193
- Spain
| | - Eugenio Garribba
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Farmacia
- Università di Sassari
- 07100 Sassari
- Italy
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22
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Ferraro G, Cirri D, Marzo T, Pratesi A, Messori L, Merlino A. The first step of arsenoplatin-1 aggregation in solution unveiled by solving the crystal structure of its protein adduct. Dalton Trans 2020; 50:68-71. [PMID: 33320144 DOI: 10.1039/d0dt04068a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Arsenoplatin-1 (AP-1) is an innovative dual-action anticancer agent that contains a platinum(ii) center coordinated to an arsenous acid moiety. We found that AP-1 spontaneously aggregates in aqueous solutions generating oligomeric species of increasing length. Afterward, we succeeded in solving the crystal structure of the adduct formed between the model protein lysozyme and an early AP-1 oligomer that turned out to be a trimer. Remarkably, this crystal structure traps an early stage of AP-1 aggregation offering detailed insight into the molecular process of the oligomer's growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giarita Ferraro
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, FI, Italy.
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23
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On the Different Mode of Action of Au(I)/Ag(I)-NHC Bis-Anthracenyl Complexes Towards Selected Target Biomolecules. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25225446. [PMID: 33233711 PMCID: PMC7699860 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25225446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2020] [Revised: 11/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Gold and silver N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) are emerging for therapeutic applications. Multiple techniques are here used to unveil the mechanistic details of the binding to different biosubstrates of bis(1-(anthracen-9-ylmethyl)-3-ethylimidazol-2-ylidene) silver chloride [Ag(EIA)2]Cl and bis(1-(anthracen-9-ylmethyl)-3-ethylimidazol-2-ylidene) gold chloride [Au(EIA)2]Cl. As the biosubstrates, we tested natural double-stranded DNA, synthetic RNA polynucleotides (single-poly(A), double-poly(A)poly(U) and triple-stranded poly(A)2poly(U)), DNA G-quadruplex structures (G4s), and bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein. Absorbance and fluorescence titrations, mass spectrometry together with melting and viscometry tests show significant differences in the binding features between silver and gold compounds. [Au(EIA)2]Cl covalently binds BSA. It is here evidenced that the selectivity is high: low affinity and external binding for all polynucleotides and G4s are found. Conversely, in the case of [Ag(EIA)2]Cl, the binding to BSA is weak and relies on electrostatic interactions. [Ag(EIA)2]Cl strongly/selectively interacts only with double strands by a mechanism where intercalation plays the major role, but groove binding is also operative. The absence of an interaction with triplexes indicates the major role played by the geometrical constraints to drive the binding mode.
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24
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Massai L, Zoppi C, Cirri D, Pratesi A, Messori L. Reactions of Medicinal Gold(III) Compounds With Proteins and Peptides Explored by Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry and Complementary Biophysical Methods. Front Chem 2020; 8:581648. [PMID: 33195070 PMCID: PMC7609534 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2020.581648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI MS) is a powerful investigative tool to analyze the reactions of metallodrugs with proteins and peptides and characterize the resulting adducts. Here, we have applied this type of approach to four experimental anticancer gold(III) compounds for which extensive biological and mechanistic data had previously been gathered, namely, Auoxo6, Au2phen, AuL12, and Aubipyc. These gold(III) compounds were reacted with two representative proteins, i.e., human serum albumin (HSA) and human carbonic anhydrase I (hCA I), and with the C-terminal dodecapeptide of thioredoxin reductase. ESI MS analysis allowed us to elucidate the nature of the resulting metal-protein adducts from which the main features of the occurring metallodrug-protein reactions can be inferred. In selected cases, MS data were integrated and supported by independent 1HNMR and UV-Vis absorption measurements to gain an overall description of the occurring processes. From data analysis, it emerges that most of the investigated gold(III) complexes, endowed with an appreciable oxidizing character, undergo quite facile reduction to gold(I); the resulting gold(I) species tightly associate with the above proteins/peptides with a remarkable selectivity for free cysteine residues. In contrast, in the case of the less-oxidizing Aubipyc complex, the gold(III) oxidation state is conserved, and a gold(III) fragment still containing the original ligand is found to be associated with the target proteins. It is notable that the C-terminal dodecapeptide of thioredoxin reductase containing the characteristic -Gly-Cys-Sec-Gly metal-binding motif is able in all cases to trigger gold(III)-to-gold(I) reduction. Our investigation allowed us to identify in detail the nature of the gold fragments that ultimately bind the protein targets and determine the exact binding stoichiometry; some insight on the reaction kinetics was also gained. Notably, a few clear correlations could be established between the structure of the metal complexes and the nature of the resulting protein adducts. The mechanistic implications of these findings are analyzed and thoroughly discussed. Overall, the present results set the stage to better understand the real target biomolecules of these gold compounds and elucidate at the atomic level their interaction modes with proteins and peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Massai
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Carlotta Zoppi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Damiano Cirri
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessandro Pratesi
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Luigi Messori
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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Ferraro G, Pratesi A, Messori L, Merlino A. Protein interactions of dirhodium tetraacetate: a structural study. Dalton Trans 2020; 49:2412-2416. [PMID: 32022076 DOI: 10.1039/c9dt04819g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The interactions between the cytotoxic paddlewheel dirhodium complex [Rh2(μ-O2CCH3)4] and the model protein bovine pancreatic ribonuclease (RNase A) were investigated by high-resolution mass spectrometry and X-ray crystallography. The results indicate that [Rh2(μ-O2CCH3)4] extensively reacts with RNase A. The metal compound binds the protein via coordination of the imidazole ring of a His side chain to one of its axial sites, while the dirhodium center and the acetato ligands remain unmodified. Data provide valuable information for the design of artificial dirhodium-containing metalloenzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giarita Ferraro
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, via della Lastruccia, 3-13, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.
| | - Alessandro Pratesi
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 13, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - Luigi Messori
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, via della Lastruccia, 3-13, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.
| | - Antonello Merlino
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Complesso Universitario di Monte Sant'Angelo, via Cinthia, 21, 80126, Naples, Italy.
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Tolbatov I, Cirri D, Marchetti L, Marrone A, Coletti C, Re N, La Mendola D, Messori L, Marzo T, Gabbiani C, Pratesi A. Mechanistic Insights Into the Anticancer Properties of the Auranofin Analog Au(PEt 3)I: A Theoretical and Experimental Study. Front Chem 2020; 8:812. [PMID: 33195032 PMCID: PMC7531625 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2020.00812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Au(PEt3)I (AF-I hereafter), the iodide analog of the FDA-approved drug auranofin (AF hereafter), is a promising anticancer agent that produces its pharmacological effects through interaction with non-genomic targets such as the thioredoxin reductase system. AF-I is endowed with a very favorable biochemical profile showing potent in vitro cytotoxic activity against several cancer types including ovarian and colorectal cancer. Remarkably, in a recent publication, some of us reported that AF-I induces an almost complete and rapid remission in an orthotopic in vivo mouse model of ovarian cancer. The cytotoxic potency does not bring about highly severe side effects, making AF-I very well-tolerated even for higher doses, even more so than the pharmacologically active ones. All these promising features led us to expand our studies on the mechanistic aspects underlying the antitumor activity of AF-I. We report here on an integrated experimental and theoretical study on the reactivity of AF-I, in comparison with auranofin, toward relevant aminoacidic residues or their molecular models. Results point out that the replacement of the thiosugar moiety with iodide significantly affects the overall reactivity toward the amino acid residues histidine, cysteine, methionine, and selenocysteine. Altogether, the obtained results contribute to shed light into the enhanced antitumoral activity of AF-I compared with AF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iogann Tolbatov
- Department of Pharmacy, University "G. D'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Damiano Cirri
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry (DCCI), University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Lorella Marchetti
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry (DCCI), University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessandro Marrone
- Department of Pharmacy, University "G. D'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Cecilia Coletti
- Department of Pharmacy, University "G. D'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | - Nazzareno Re
- Department of Pharmacy, University "G. D'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy
| | | | - Luigi Messori
- Laboratory of Metals in Medicine (MetMed), Department of Chemistry "U. Schiff", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Tiziano Marzo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,CISUP-Centro per l'Integrazione della Strumentazione Scientifica dell'Università di Pisa, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Chiara Gabbiani
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry (DCCI), University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Alessandro Pratesi
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry (DCCI), University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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Busemann A, Araman C, Flaspohler I, Pratesi A, Zhou XQ, van Rixel VHS, Siegler MA, Messori L, van Kasteren SI, Bonnet S. Alkyne Functionalization of a Photoactivated Ruthenium Polypyridyl Complex for Click-Enabled Serum Albumin Interaction Studies. Inorg Chem 2020; 59:7710-7720. [PMID: 32396371 PMCID: PMC7268191 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.0c00742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Studying metal-protein
interactions is key for understanding the
fate of metallodrugs in biological systems. When a metal complex is
not emissive and too weakly bound for mass spectrometry analysis,
however, it may become challenging to study such interactions. In
this work a synthetic procedure was developed for the alkyne functionalization
of a photolabile ruthenium polypyridyl complex, [Ru(tpy)(bpy)(Hmte)](PF6)2, where tpy = 2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine,
bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine, and Hmte = 2-(methylthio)ethanol. In
the functionalized complex [Ru(HCC-tpy)(bpy)(Hmte)](PF6)2, where HCC-tpy = 4′-ethynyl-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine,
the alkyne group can be used for bioorthogonal ligation to an azide-labeled
fluorophore using copper-catalyzed “click” chemistry.
We developed a gel-based click chemistry method to study the interaction
between this ruthenium complex and bovine serum albumin (BSA). Our
results demonstrate that visualization of the interaction between
the metal complex and the protein is possible, even when this interaction
is too weak to be studied by conventional means such as UV–vis
spectroscopy or ESI mass spectrometry. In addition, the weak metal
complex-protein interaction is controlled by visible light irradiation, i.e., the complex and the protein do not interact in the
dark, but they do interact via weak van der Waals
interactions after light activation of the complex, which triggers
photosubstitution of the Hmte ligand. A “clickable”
and photosubstitutionally active
ruthenium complex has been prepared that bears a terminal alkyne group.
In the dark, the saturated coordination sphere of the complex prevents
it from interacting with serum albumin. Upon photosubstitution of
one ligand, the complex interacts with the protein via weak interactions that were visualized using copper-catalyzed “click”
chemistry postfunctionalization with an azide fluorophore on polyacrylamide
gel electrophoresis. These studies demonstrate that the metal-protein
interaction is triggered by light irradiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Busemann
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333CC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Can Araman
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333CC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ingrid Flaspohler
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333CC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Alessandro Pratesi
- Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, University of Pisa, Via Giuseppe Moruzzi 13, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Xue-Quan Zhou
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333CC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Vincent H S van Rixel
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333CC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Maxime A Siegler
- Small Molecule X-ray Facility, Department of Chemistry, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Luigi Messori
- Laboratory of Metals in Medicine (MetMed), Department of Chemistry 'Ugo Schiff', University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - Sander I van Kasteren
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333CC Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Sylvestre Bonnet
- Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333CC Leiden, The Netherlands
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Zoppi C, Messori L, Pratesi A. ESI MS studies highlight the selective interaction of Auranofin with protein free thiols. Dalton Trans 2020; 49:5906-5913. [PMID: 32314767 DOI: 10.1039/d0dt00283f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The clinically established gold drug Auranofin was reacted individually with a group of representative proteins, namely ubiquitin, ribonuclease A, carbonic anhydrase, haemoglobin and superoxide dismutase, and adduct formation was monitored in the various cases by ESI-MS analysis. We found that the reaction is highly selective for solvent exposed free cysteines that are modified through coordination of the AuPEt3+ fragment. Indeed, ESI-Q-TOF MS spectra carried out on protein samples incubated with a three fold molar excess of Auranofin allowed direct detection of the native proteins bearing bound AuPEt3+ fragments in the cases of carbonic anhydrase and haemoglobin. At variance, the two proteins that do not possess any free cysteine residue, i.e. ubiquitin and ribonuclease A, were unable to bind the gold fragment. In the case of superoxide dismutase, adduct formation is hindered by the scarce solvent accessibility of the free cysteine residue. These findings were further confirmed by a series of competition binding experiments with ebselen, a potent and selective cysteine-modifying reagent; we observed that pre-treatment with ebselen prevents the binding of the AuPEt3+ fragment to both carbonic anhydrase and haemoglobin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlotta Zoppi
- Laboratory of Metals in Medicine (MetMed), Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3-13, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.
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