Chimeric platinum-polyamines and DNA binding. Kinetics of DNA interstrand cross-link formation by dinuclear platinum complexes with polyamine linkers

Probing Disaccharide Binding to Triplatin as Models for Tumor Cell Heparan Sulfate (GAG) Interactions

In this study, we have used [1H, 15N] NMR spectroscopy to investigate the interactions of the trinuclear platinum anticancer drug triplatin (1) (1,0,1/t,t,t or BBR3464) with site-specific sulfated and carboxylated disaccharides. Specifically, the disaccharides GlcNS(6S)-GlcA (I) and GlcNS(6S)-IdoA(2S) (II) are useful models of longer-chain glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) such as heparan sulfate (HS). For both the reactions of 15N-1 with I and II, equilibrium conditions were achieved more slowly (65 h) compared to the reaction with the monosaccharide GlcNS(6S) (9 h). The data suggest both carboxylate and sulfate binding of disaccharide I to the Pt with the sulfato species accounting for <1% of the total species at equilibrium. The rate constant for sulfate displacement of the aqua ligand (kL2) is 4 times higher than the analogous rate constant for carboxylate displacement (kL1). There are marked differences in the equilibrium concentrations of the chlorido, aqua, and carboxy-bound species for reactions with the two disaccharides, notably a significantly higher concentration of carboxylate-bound species for II, where sulfate-bound species were barely detectable. The trend mirrors that reported for the corresponding dinuclear platinum complex 1,1/t,t, where the rate constant for sulfate displacement of the aqua ligand was 3 times higher than that for acetate. Also similar to what we observed for the reactions of 1,1/t,t with the simple anions, aquation of the sulfato group is rapid, and the rate constant k-L2 is 3 orders of magnitude higher than that for displacement of the carboxylate (k-L1). Molecular dynamics calculations suggest that extra hydrogen-bonding interactions with the more sulfated disaccharide II may prevent or diminish sulfate binding of the triplatin moiety. The overall results suggest that Pt-O donor interactions should be considered in any full description of platinum complex cellular chemistry.

DNA-Interactive and Damage Study with meso-Tetra(2-thienyl)porphyrins Coordinated with Polypyridyl Pd(II) and Pt(II) Complexes

We report the DNA-binding properties of three porphyrins with peripheral thienyl substituents (TThPor, PdTThPor and PtTThPor). The binding capacity of each porphyrin with DNA was determined by UV-Vis and steady-state fluorescence emission spectroscopy combined with molecular docking calculations. The results suggest that the interaction of these compounds probably occurs via secondary interactions via external grooves (minor grooves) around the DNA macromolecule. Moreover, porphyrins containing peripheral Pd(II) or Pt(II) complexes (PdTThPor and PtTThPor) were able to promote photo-damage in the DNA.

Synthetic Strategy Towards Heterodimetallic Half-Sandwich Complexes Based on a Symmetric Ditopic Ligand

Multimetallic complexes have been shown in several examples to possess greater anticancer activity than their monometallic counterparts. The increased activity has been attributed to altered modes of action. We herein report the synthesis of a series of heterodimetallic compounds based on a ditopic ligand featuring 2-pyridylimine chelating motifs and organometallic half-sandwich moieties. The complexes were characterized by a combination of ¹H NMR spectroscopy, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, elemental analysis and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Investigations into the stability of representative complexes in DMSO-d₆ and 10% DMSO-d₆/D₂O revealed the occurrence of solvent-chlorido ligand exchange. Proliferation assays in four human cancer cell lines showed that the Os-Rh complex possessed minimal activity, while all other complexes were inactive.

The effect of alkyl chain tethers on the kinetics and mechanistic behaviour of bifunctional dinuclear platinum(ii) complexes bearing N,N′-dipyridylamine ligands

This study reports on non-classical dinuclear platinum(ii) complexes, with the ability to bind to DNA strands in a different manner from cisplatin and its analogues. This is an effort to design dinuclear Pt(ii) complexes that target DNA and are bifunctional.

An experimental and theoretical study on the interaction of DNA and BSA with novel Ni2+, Cu2+ and VO2+ complexes derived from vanillin bidentate Schiff base ligand

In this investigation, the structure of bidentate N,N-Schiff base ligand of vanillin, (E)-4-(((2-amino-5-nitrophenyl)imino)methyl)-2-methoxyphenol (HL) was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. The interaction of new [CuL₂], [NiL₂] and [VOL₂] complexes with DNA and BSA was explored through UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. The electronic spectra changes displayed an isosbestic point for the complexes upon titration with DNA. The K_b values for the complexes [CuL₂], [NiL₂] and [VOL₂] were 2.4×10⁵, 1.9×10⁵ and 4.2×10⁴, respectively. [CuL₂] complex was bound more toughly than [NiL₂] and [VOL₂] complexes. These complexes had a significant interaction with Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) and the results demonstrated that the quenching mechanism was a static procedure. Also, the complexes interacted with BSA by more than one binding site (n>1). Finally, the theoretical studies were performed using the docking method to calculate the binding constants and recognize the binding site of the DNA and BSA with the complexes. The ligand and complexes including Ni²⁺, Cu²⁺ and VO²⁺ ions were colonized by fungal growth.

Aminophosphine ligands as a privileged platform for development of antitumoral ruthenium(ii) arene complexes

The potential utility of aminophosphine ligands in both high-throughput testing and rational design of new anticancer metallodrugs.

Speciation of precious metal anti-cancer complexes by NMR spectroscopy

Understanding the mechanism of action of anti-cancer agents is of paramount importance for drug development. NMR spectroscopy can provide insights into the kinetics and thermodynamics of the binding of metallodrugs to biomolecules. NMR is most sensitive for highly abundant I=1/2 nuclei with large magnetic moments. Polarization transfer can enhance NMR signals of insensitive nuclei at physiologically-relevant concentrations. This paper reviews NMR methods for speciation of precious metal anti-cancer complexes, including platinum-group and gold-based anti-cancer agents. Examples of NMR studies involving interactions with DNA and proteins in particular are highlighted.

Competitive formation of DNA linkage isomers by a trinuclear platinum complex and the influence of pre-association

2D [(1)H, (15)N] HSQC NMR spectroscopy has been used to monitor the reaction of fully (15)N-labelled [{trans-PtCl(NH3)2}2(μ-trans-Pt(NH3)2{NH2(CH2)6NH2}2)](4+) (BBR3464 ((15)N-1)) with the 14-mer duplex (5'-{d(ATACATG(7)G(8)TACATA)}-3'·5'-{d(TATG(18)TACCATG(25)TAT)}-3' or I) at pH 5.4 and 298 K, to examine the possible formation of 1,4 and 1,5-GG adducts in both 5'-5' and 3'-3' directions. In a previous study, the binding of the dinuclear 1,1/t,t to I showed specific formation of the 5'-5' 1,4 G(8)G(18) cross-link, whereas in this case a mixture of adducts were formed. Initial (1)H NMR spectra suggested the presence of two pre-associated states aligned in both directions along the DNA. The pre-association was studied in the absence of covalent binding, by use of the "non-covalent" analog [{trans-Pt(NH3)3}2(μ-trans-Pt(NH3)2{NH2(CH2)6NH2}2)](6+) (AH44, 0). Chemical shift changes of DNA protons combined with NOE connectivities between CH2 and NH3 protons of 0 and the adenine H2 protons on I show that two different molecules of 0 are bound in the minor groove. Molecular dynamic simulations were performed to study the interaction of 0 at the two pre-association sites using charges derived from density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Structures where the central platinum is located in the minor groove and the aliphatic linkers extend into the major groove, in opposite directions, often represent the lowest energy structures of the snapshots selected. In the reaction of (15)N-1 and I, following the pre-association step, aquation occurs to give the mono aqua monochloro species 2, with a rate constant of 3.43 ± 0.03 × 10(-5) s(-1). There was evidence for two monofunctional adducts (3, 4) bound to the 3' (G8) and 5' (G7) residues and the asymmetry of the (1)H,(15)N peak for 3 suggested two conformers of the 3' adduct, aligned in different directions along the DNA. The rate constant for combined monofunctional adduct formation (0.6 ± 0.1 M(-1)) is ca. 2-fold lower for 1 compared to 1,1/t,t, whereas the rate constant for conversion of the combined monofunctional species to combined bifunctional adducts (5) (8.0 ± 0.2 × 10(-5) s(-1)) is two-fold higher.

The phosphate clamp: sequence selective nucleic acid binding profiles and conformational induction of endonuclease inhibition by cationic Triplatin complexes

The substitution-inert polynuclear platinum(II) complex (PPC) series, [{trans-Pt(NH3)2(NH2(CH2)nNH3)}2-μ-(trans-Pt(NH3)2(NH2(CH2)nNH2)2}](NO3)8, where n = 5 (AH78P), 6 (AH78 TriplatinNC) and 7 (AH78H), are potent non-covalent DNA binding agents where nucleic acid recognition is achieved through use of the 'phosphate clamp' where the square-planar tetra-am(m)ine Pt(II) coordination units all form bidentate N-O-N complexes through hydrogen bonding with phosphate oxygens. The modular nature of PPC-DNA interactions results in high affinity for calf thymus DNA (Kapp ∼5 × 10(7) M(-1)). The phosphate clamp-DNA interactions result in condensation of superhelical and B-DNA, displacement of intercalated ethidium bromide and facilitate cooperative binding of Hoechst 33258 at the minor groove. The effect of linker chain length on DNA conformational changes was examined and the pentane-bridged complex, AH78P, was optimal for condensing DNA with results in the nanomolar region. Analysis of binding affinity and conformational changes for sequence-specific oligonucleotides by ITC, dialysis, ICP-MS, CD and 2D-(1)H NMR experiments indicate that two limiting modes of phosphate clamp binding can be distinguished through their conformational changes and strongly suggest that DNA condensation is driven by minor-groove spanning. Triplatin-DNA binding prevents endonuclease activity by type II restriction enzymes BamHI, EcoRI and SalI, and inhibition was confirmed through the development of an on-chip microfluidic protocol.

Competitive formation of both long-range 5'-5' and short-range antiparallel 3'-3' DNA interstrand cross-links by a trinuclear platinum complex on binding to a 10-mer duplex

2D [(1)H, (15)N] HSQC NMR spectroscopy has been used to monitor the reaction of fully (15)N-labelled [{trans-PtCl(NH(3))(2)}(2)(μ-trans-Pt(NH(3))(2){NH(2)(CH(2))(6)NH(2)}(2))](4+) (Triplatin, BBR3464 or 1,0,1/t,t,t ((15)N-1)) with the self-complementary 10-mer DNA duplex 5'-{d(ACGTATACGT)(2)} (duplex I) at pH 5.4 and 298 K. Initial electrostatic interactions were observed in the minor groove of the duplex, followed directly by aquation to form the monoaqua monochloro species. There was evidence for two discrete monofunctional adducts, through covalent binding at the guanine N7 sites, and one had distinctly different (1)H/(15)N chemical shifts to those observed previously in analogous reactions. Bifunctional adduct formation followed by binding at a second guanine N7 site with evidence for both the 3'-3' 1,2-GG and 5'-5' 1,6-GG interstrand cross-links in a ratio of 2 : 1. The results show that cross-link preference is kinetically controlled and will depend critically on the reaction conditions, explaining why in a previous reaction of 1 with duplex I the major adduct isolated by HPLC had two simultaneous 3'-3' 1,2-interstrand cross-links.

Platinum and Palladium Polyamine Complexes as Anticancer Agents: The Structural Factor

Since the introduction of cisplatin to oncology in 1978, Pt(II) and Pd(II) compounds have been intensively studied with a view to develop the improved anticancer agents. Polynuclear polyamine complexes, in particular, have attracted special attention, since they were found to yield DNA adducts not available to conventional drugs (through long-distance intra- and interstrand cross-links) and to often circumvent acquired cisplatin resistance. Moreover, the cytotoxic potency of these polyamine-bridged chelates is strictly regulated by their structural characteristics, which renders this series of compounds worth investigating and their synthesis being carefully tailored in order to develop third-generation drugs coupling an increased spectrum of activity to a lower toxicity. The present paper addresses the latest developments in the design of novel antitumor agents based on platinum and palladium, particularly polynuclear chelates with variable length aliphatic polyamines as bridging ligands, highlighting the close relationship between their structural preferences and cytotoxic ability. In particular, studies by vibrational spectroscopy techniques are emphasised, allowing to elucidate the structure-activity relationships (SARs) ruling anticancer activity.