1-Thiomethoxsalen and 1-thiopsoralen: synthesis, photobiological properties, and site specific reaction of thiopsoralens with DNA

Thio and Seleno-Psoralens as Efficient Triplet Harvesting Photosensitizers for Photodynamic Therapy

The Psoralen (Pso) molecule finds extensive applications in photo-chemotherapy, courtesy of its triplet state forming ability. Sulfur and selenium replacement of exocyclic carbonyl oxygen of organic chromophores foster efficient triplet harvesting with near unity triplet quantum yield. These triplet-forming photosensitizers are useful in Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) applications for selective apoptosis of cancer cells. In this work, we have critically assessed the effect of the sulfur and selenium substitution at the exocyclic carbonyl (TPso and SePso, respectively) and endocyclic oxygen positions of Psoralen. It resulted in a significant redshifted absorption spectrum to access the PDT therapeutic window with increased oscillator strength. The reduction in singlet-triplet energy gap and enhancement in the spin-orbit coupling values increase the number of intersystem crossing (ISC) pathways to the triplet manifold, which shortens the ISC lifetime from 10-5 s for Pso to 10-8 s for TPso and 10-9 s for SePso. The intramolecular photo-induced electron transfer process, a competitive pathway to ISC, is also considerably curbed by exocyclic functionalizations. In addition, a maximum of 115 GM of two-photon absorption (2PA) with IR absorption (660-1050 nm) confirms that the Psoralen skeleton can be effectively tweaked via single chalcogen atom replacement to design a suitable PDT photosensitizer.

Pyrazolo[3,4-h]quinolines promising photosensitizing agents in the treatment of cancer

A new series of pyrazolo[3,4-h]quinolines, heteroanalogues of angelicin was conveniently prepared with a broad substitution pattern. A large number of derivatives was obtained and the cellular photocytotoxicity was evaluated in vitro against 5 different human tumor cell lines with GI50 values reaching the nanomolar level (14.52-0.04 μM). Selected compounds were able to photoinduce a massive cell death with the involvement of mitochondria. Their photodamage cellular targets were proteins and lipids and they did not cause any kind of DNA photodamage. This latter event is of considerable importance in the modulation of long term side effects, generally associated with the use of classical furocoumarins.

Synthesis, DNA interactions and antibacterial PDT of Cu(II) complexes of phenanthroline based photosensitizers via singlet oxygen generation

Cu(II) complexes [Cu(mqt)(B)H2O]ClO4(1-3) of 2-thiol 4-methylquinoline and phenanthroline bases (B), viz 1,10-phenanthroline (phen in 1), Dipyrido[3,2-d:2',3'-f]quinoxaline (dpq in 2) and Dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine (dppz in 3) have been prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, IR, UV-Vis, magnetic moment values, EPR spectra and conductivity measurements. The spectral data reveal that all the complexes exhibit square-pyramidal geometry. The DNA-binding behaviors of the three complexes were investigated by absorption spectra, viscosity measurements and thermal denaturation studies. The DNA binding constants for complexes (1), (2) and (3) were determined to 2.2×10(3), 1.3×10(4) and 8.6×10(4)M(-1) respectively. The experimental results suggest that these complexes interact with DNA through groove-binding mode. The photo induced cleavage studies shows that the complexes possess photonuclease property against pUC19 DNA under UV-Visible irradiation via a mechanistic pathway involving formation of singlet oxygen as the reactive species. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy was studied using photodynamic antimicrobial chemotherapy (PACT) assay against Escherichiacoli and all complexes exhibited significant reduction in bacterial growth on photoirradiation.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of copper(ii) pyrenethiosemicarbazone

A fluorescent Cu(ii) pyrenethiosemicarbazone complex exhibits enhanced DNA-cleavage and cytotoxicity on photoexcitation.

Thiopyrano[2,3-e]indol-2-ones: angelicin heteroanalogues with potent photoantiproliferative activity

A new class of compounds, the thiopyrano[2,3-e]indol-2-ones, bioisosters of the angular furocoumarin angelicin, was synthesized with the aim of obtaining new photochemotherapeutic agents. In particular 7,8-dimethyl-thiopyranoindolone 6c s showed a remarkable phototoxicity and a great dose UVA dependence reaching IC(50) values at submicromolar level. This latter photoinduced a massive apoptosis and a remarkable photodamage to lipids and proteins. Although it did not intercalate DNA, it was able to cause photooxidation of DNA bases.

Pyrrolo[2,3-h]quinolinones: a new ring system with potent photoantiproliferative activity

A new class of compounds, the pyrrolo[2,3-h]quinolin-2-ones, nitrogen isosters of the angular furocoumarin Angelicin, was synthesized with the aim of obtaining new photochemotherapeutic agents with increased antiproliferative activity and lower undesired toxic effects than the lead compound. Two synthetic pathways were approached to allow the isolation both of the dihydroderivatives 10-17 and of the aromatic ring system 23. Compounds 10-17 showed a remarkable phototoxicity and a great UVA dose dependence reaching IC(50) values at submicromolar level. Intracellular localization of these compounds has been evaluated by means of fluorescence microscopy using tetramethylrhodamine methyl ester and acridine orange, which are specific fluorescent probes for mitochondria and lysosomes, respectively. A weak co-staining was observed with mitochondrial stain, whereas a specific localization in lysosomes was observed. Studies directed to elucidate the mode of action of this series of compounds revealed that they do not intercalate with DNA and do not induce photodamage to the macromolecule. On the contrary, they induce significative photodamage to lipids and proteins.

Thione-thiol rearrangement: miyazaki-newman-kwart rearrangement and others

Thione-to-thiol rearrangements represent a general route for the synthesis of sulfur compoundsfrom hydroxyl functionalities. In particular, the Miyazaki-Newman-Kwart rearrangementhas been widely used for the synthesis of aromatic thiols from the corresponding phenols.

Synthesis and photochemotherapeutic activity of thiopyrano[2,3-e]indol-2-ones

A series of derivatives of the new ring system thiopyrano[2,3-e]indol-2-one was prepared with the aim of obtaining new photochemotherapeutic drugs. Biological screenings were performed on this new class of photoactivable drugs and a strong antiproliferative effect was observed upon irradiation with UVA light. The compound bearing a methyl substituent at the pyrrole nitrogen resulted as the most interesting showing IC50 in the nanomolar range.

Photoaddition of thienocoumarin derivatives to DNA: stoichiometry and kinetics of binding

Photoreaction of the 6,9-dimethyl-4-methoxymethyl-2H-thieno[3,2-g]-1-benzopyran-2-one (compound I) and 4-acetoxymethyl-6,9-dimethyl-2H-thieno[3,2-g]-1-benzopyran-2-one (compound II) to DNA was studied. The quantitative evaluation of the photobound molecules was performed by means of inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES), exploiting the presence of the sulphur atom inside the tricyclic chromophore. The concurrent estimation of the phosphorus atom, present exclusively in the macromolecule, allowed possible intercalation sites to be identified and their involvement in the photoaddition reaction to be determined. The development of a kinetic model made it possible to discriminate and evaluate the single kinetic events that constitute the overall photoaddition process of I and II to DNA.

Metal-assisted red light-induced DNA cleavage by ternary l-methionine copper(ii) complexes of planar heterocyclic bases

Ternary copper(II) complexes [Cu(l-met)B(Solv)](ClO4) (1-4), where B is a N,N-donor heterocyclic base like 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy, 1), 1,10-phenanthroline (phen, 2), dipyrido[3,2-d:2',3'-f]quinoxaline (dpq, 3) and dipyrido[3,2-a:2'],3'-c]phenazene (dppz, 4), are prepared and their DNA binding and photo-induced DNA cleavage activity studied (L-Hmet =L-methionine). Complex 2, structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography, shows a square pyramidal (4 + 1) coordination geometry in which the N,O-donor L-methionine and N,N-donor heterocyclic base bind at the basal plane and a solvent molecule is coordinated at the axial site. The complexes display a d-d band at approximately 600 nm in DMF and exhibit a cyclic voltammetric response due to the Cu(II)/Cu(I) couple near -0.1 V in DMF-Tris-HCl buffer. The complexes display significant binding propensity to the calf thymus DNA in the order: 4(dppz) > 3(dpq) > 2(phen>> 1(bpy). Control cleavage experiments using pUC19 supercoiled DNA and distamycin suggest major groove binding for the dppz and minor groove binding for the other complexes. Complexes 2-4 show efficient DNA cleavage activity on UV (365 nm) or red light (632.8 nm) irradiation via a mechanistic pathway involving formation of singlet oxygen as the reactive species. The DNA cleavage activity of the dpq complex is found to be significantly more than its dppz and phen analogues.

1-Thioangelicin: crystal structure, computer-aided studies and photobiological activity

1-Thioangelicin is a furocoumarin analog synthesized to investigate the role of the substitution of sulfur for oxygen in the parent compound angelicin. The compound was examined by X-ray diffraction, and its interaction with DNA, both in the dark and by UVA irradiation, studied by means of linear flow dichroism, chromatography and (1)H NMR. Further insight into the steric and electronic features of 1-thioangelicin has been reached through theoretical calculations, including molecular mechanics optimization, docking studies and frontier molecular orbital investigations. The experimental data indicate that thioangelicin is able to intercalate in the DNA helix and subsequent irradiation yields a cis-syn adduct, in agreement with theoretical calculations within the lower/higher singly occupied molecular orbital formalism. Antiproliferative activity has been assessed on Balb/c 3T3 cultured cells.

Ternary Copper Complexes for Photocleavage of DNA by Red Light: Direct Evidence for Sulfur-to-Copper Charge Transfer and d−d Band Involvement

A new class of ternary copper(II) complexes of formulation [Cu(L(n)B](ClO(4)) (1-4), where HL(n) is a NSO-donor Schiff base (HL(1), HL(2)) and B is a NN-donor heterocyclic base viz. 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) and 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (dmp), are prepared, structurally characterized, and their DNA binding and photocleavage activities studied in the presence of red light. Ternary complex [Cu(L(3))(phen)](ClO(4)) (5) containing an ONO-donor Schiff base and a binary complex [Cu(L(2))(2)] (6) are also prepared and structurally characterized for mechanistic investigations of the DNA cleavage reactions. While 1-4 have a square pyramidal (4 + 1) CuN(3)OS coordination geometry with the Schiff base bonded at the equatorial sites, 5 has a square pyramidal (4 + 1) geometry with CuN(3)O(2) coordination with the alcoholic oxygen at the axial site, and 6 has a square planar trans-CuN(2)O(2) geometry. Binding of the complexes 1-4 to calf thymus DNA shows the relative order: phen >> dmp. Mechanistic investigations using distamycin reveal minor groove binding for the complexes. The phen complexes containing the Schiff base with a thiomethyl or thiophenyl moiety show red light induced photocleavage. The dmp complexes are essentially photonuclease inactive. Complexes 5 and 6 are cleavage inactive under similar photolytic conditions. A 10 microM solution of 1 displays a 72% cleavage of SC DNA (0.5 microg) on an exposure of 30 min using a 603 nm Nd:YAG pulsed laser (60 mJ/P) in Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.2). Significant cleavage of 1 is also observed at 694 nm using a Ruby laser. Complex 1 is cleavage inactive under argon or nitrogen atmosphere. It shows a more enhanced cleavage in pure oxygen than in air. Enhancement of cleavage in D(2)O and inhibition with sodium azide addition indicate the possibility of the formation of singlet oxygen as a reactive intermediate leading to DNA cleavage. The d-d band excitation with red light shows significant enhancement of cleavage yield. The results indicate that the phen ligand is necessary for DNA binding of the complex. Both the sulfur-to-copper charge transfer band and copper d-d band excitations helped the DNA cleavage. While the absorption of a red photon induces a metal d-d transition, excitation at shorter visible wavelengths leads to the sulfur-to-copper charge transfer band excitation at the initial step of photocleavage. The excitation energy is subsequently transferred to ground state oxygen molecules to produce singlet oxygen that cleaves the DNA.

Reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography (RP‐HPLC) determination of lipophilicity of furocoumarins: Relationship with DNA interaction

The partition coefficient (P) of 82 furocoumarins and analogs (psoralens, angelicins, allopsoralens, 8-azapsoralens, angular furoquinolin-2-ones, sulfur and selenium isosters of psoralen and angelicin) has been determined by reversed-phase HPLC. The chromatographic behavior correlates well with the in vitro affinity of the compounds toward DNA.

Photoaddition of 4,6-dimethyltetrahydrobenzoangelicin to thymine in DNA: X-ray studies and experiments with model oligonucleotides

The crystal structures of 4,6-dimethyltetrahydrobenzoangelicin (THBA), a furocoumarin analog, and of its furan-side cis-syn cycloadduct with thymine formed in the photoreaction with DNA, have been determined. The crystal structure of the latter compound contained only one enantiomeric form corresponding to the addition to a 5'-XpT site. Contrary to most psoralen derivatives studied, THBA showed higher photoreactivity toward synthetic oligonucleotides containing that sequence than toward those with the 5'-TpX sequence.

Thienocoumarin derivatives: interaction with nucleic acids and synthetic polydeoxyribonucleotides

This paper reports the photobiological properties of two new thienocoumarins, 4,6,9-trimethyl-2H-thieno[3,2-g]-1-benzopyran-2-one (compound I) and the 6,9-dimethyl-4-methoxymethyl-2H-thieno[3,2-g]-1-benzopyran-2-one (compound II). Cell growth inhibition studies have revealed significant antiproliferative potency on human tumor cell lines. The photoaddition process of these tritium-labeled derivatives was investigated using various nucleic acid structures (calf thymus DNA, bacterial DNA, and synthetic polydeoxyribonucleotides). The results obtained show that both compounds photobind to DNA to a higher extent than 8-MOP, taken as the reference drug. The capacity to form interstrand crosslinks into DNA helix was also evaluated. Interestingly, notwithstanding the lack of cutaneous phototoxicity, II revealed a good ability to induce diadduct formation.

Synthesis and biological activity of linear and angular 4-methoxymethylthienocoumarins and 4-acetoxymethylthienocoumarins

This paper reports the synthesis of 4-methoxymethyl and 4-acetoxymethyl-6,9-dimethyl-2H-thieno[3,2-g]-1-benzopyran-2-one as well as 4-methoxymethyl- and 4-acetoxymethyl-6,9-dimethyl-2H-thieno[2,3-h]-1- benzopyran-2-one. The synthesized derivatives were tested on human cells in UVA irradiation conditions. Skin phototoxicity and cross-link formation in DNA were also studied. Results indicate that the new thienocoumarins have good antiproliferative activity, greater than that of the well-known photochemotherapeutic drug 8-methoxypsoralen, but they are practically devoid of skin photosensitization effects.

Analysis of the mutations induced in the E. coli lac Z gene by a psoralen analog

A psoralen in which intracyclic oxygen atoms were replaced by sulfur (7H-thieno [3,2-g]-[1]-[benzothiopyran-7-one) [PSO(S-S)]) was recently synthesized and its photobiological properties were investigated. M13mp19 DNA photosensitization mediated by PSO (S-S) followed by transfection into competent E. coli gave rise to a very low phage progeny showing the high aptitude of this compound to modify DNA. In order to characterize the role of oxidative damages in the photosensitized reaction mediated by PSO(S-S), plasmid bearing the gene encoding the formamidopyrimidine DNA glycosylase (Fpg) under the control of the inducible lac Z promoter was transfected in E. coli. Overexpression of Fpg was induced by addition of isopropyl-beta-D-thio-galactopyranoside (IPTG) to the cells and monitored by western blot analysis. Fpg overexpression did not influence the rate of M13mp19 DNA photoinactivation by PSO(S-S) neither the mutation frequency measured by the expression of beta-galactosidase encoded by the lac Z gene beared by M13mp19. Analysis of the mutation patterns recorded with or without Fpg overexpression showed that several G to T transversions due to oxidative damages were repaired by Fpg. These data show that oxidative DNA damages generated during PSO(S-S) photosensitization have only limited biological implications measured in terms of DNA photoinactivation.