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Zhi D, An Z, Li L, Zheng C, Yuan X, Lan Y, Zhang J, Xu Y, Ma H, Li N, Wang J. 3-Amide-β-carbolines block the cell cycle by targeting CDK2 and DNA in tumor cells potentially as anti-mitotic agents. Bioorg Chem 2024; 145:107216. [PMID: 38387396 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107216] [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: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
β-Carboline alkaloids are natural and synthetic products with outstanding antitumor activity. C3 substituted and dimerized β-carbolines exert excellent antitumor activity. In the present research, 37 β-carboline derivatives were synthesized and characterized. Their cytotoxicity, cell cycle, apoptosis, and CDK2- and DNA-binding affinity were evaluated. β-Carboline monomer M3 and dimer D4 showed selective activity and higher cytotoxicity in tumor cells than in normal cells. Structure-activity relationships (SAR) indicated that the amide group at C3 enhanced the antitumor activity. M3 blocked the A549 (IC50 = 1.44 ± 1.10 μM) cell cycle in the S phase and inhibited A549 cell migration, while D4 blocked the HepG2 (IC50 = 2.84 ± 0.73 μM) cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase, both of which ultimately induced apoptosis. Furthermore, associations of M3 and D4 with CDK2 and DNA were proven by network pharmacology analysis, molecular docking, and western blotting. The expression level of CDK2 was downregulated in M3-treated A549 cells and D4-treated HepG2 cells. Moreover, M3 and D4 interact with DNA and CDK2 at sub-micromolar concentrations in endothermic interactions caused by entropy-driven adsorption processes, which means that the favorable entropy change (ΔS > 0) overcomes the unfavorable enthalpy change (ΔH > 0) and drives the spontaneous reaction (ΔG < 0). Overall, these results clarified the antitumor mechanisms of M3 and D4 through disrupting the cell cycle by binding DNA and CDK2, which demonstrated the potential of M3 and D4 as novel antiproliferative drugs targeting mitosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongming Zhi
- College of Chemistry & Pharmacy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Zhiyuan An
- College of Chemistry & Pharmacy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Lishan Li
- College of Chemistry & Pharmacy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Chaojia Zheng
- College of Chemistry & Pharmacy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Xiaorong Yuan
- College of Chemistry & Pharmacy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Yu Lan
- College of Chemistry & Pharmacy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Jinghan Zhang
- College of Chemistry & Pharmacy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Yujie Xu
- College of Chemistry & Pharmacy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Huiya Ma
- College of Chemistry & Pharmacy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Na Li
- College of Chemistry and Life Science, Chifeng University, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China.
| | - Junru Wang
- College of Chemistry & Pharmacy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China.
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Guo YL, Yu JW, Cao Y, Cheng KX, Dong-Zhi SNM, Zhang YF, Ren QJ, Yin Y, Li CL. Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of harmine derivatives as topoisomerase I inhibitors for cancer treatment. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 265:116061. [PMID: 38154256 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.116061] [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: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
A series of β-carboline derivatives were designed and synthesized by introducing the chalcone moiety into the harmine. The synthesized derivatives were evaluated their anti-proliferative activities against six human cancer cell lines (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, HepG2, HT29, A549, and PC-3) and one normal cell line (L02). Among them, compound G11 exhibited the potent anti-proliferative activity against MCF-7 cell line, with an IC50 value of 0.34 μM. Further biological studies revealed that compound G11 inhibited colony formation of MCF-7 cells, suppressed MCF-7 cell migration by downregulating migration-associated protein MMP-2. In addition, it could induce apoptosis of MCF-7 cells by downregulating Bcl-2 and upregulating Cleaved-PARP, Bax, and phosphorylated Bim proteins. Furthermore, compound G11 can act as a Topo I inhibitor, affecting DNA synthesis and transcription, thereby inhibiting cancer cell proliferation. Moreover, compound G11 inhibited tumor growth in 4T1 syngeneic transplant mice with an inhibition rate of 43.19 % at a dose of 10 mg/kg, and 63.87 % at 20 mg/kg, without causing significant toxicity to the mice or their organs, achieving the goal of reduced toxicity and increased efficacy. All these results indicate of G11 has enormous potential as an anti-tumor agent and merits further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Li Guo
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, PR China
| | - Jing-Wen Yu
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, PR China
| | - Yan Cao
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, PR China
| | - Ke-Xin Cheng
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, PR China
| | - Suo-Nan-Mu Dong-Zhi
- Tibetan Medicine Research Institute, Tibetan Traditional Medical College, Tibet, 850000, PR China
| | - Yan-Fei Zhang
- Tibetan Medicine Research Institute, Tibetan Traditional Medical College, Tibet, 850000, PR China
| | - Qing-Jia Ren
- Tibetan Medicine Research Institute, Tibetan Traditional Medical College, Tibet, 850000, PR China
| | - Yong Yin
- Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, PR China.
| | - Cao-Long Li
- Department of Chemistry, School of Science, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, PR China.
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