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Huang Z, Wilson JJ. Structure-Activity Relationships of Metal-Based Inhibitors of the Mitochondrial Calcium Uniporter. ChemMedChem 2023; 18:e202300106. [PMID: 37015871 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202300106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2023]
Abstract
The mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) is a transmembrane protein that is responsible for mediating mitochondrial calcium (mCa2+ ) uptake. Given this critical function, the MCU has been implicated as an important target for addressing various human diseases. As such, there has a been growing interest in developing small molecules that can inhibit this protein. To date, metal coordination complexes, particularly multinuclear ruthenium complexes, are the most widely investigated MCU inhibitors due to both their potent inhibitory activities as well as their longstanding use for this application. Recent efforts have expanded the metal-based toolkit for MCU inhibition. This concept paper summarizes the development of new metal-based inhibitors of the MCU and their structure-activity relationships in the context of improving their potential for therapeutic use in managing human diseases related to mCa2+ dysregulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhouyang Huang
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Justin J Wilson
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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Woods JJ, Novorolsky RJ, Bigham NP, Robertson GS, Wilson JJ. Dinuclear nitrido-bridged osmium complexes inhibit the mitochondrial calcium uniporter and protect cortical neurons against lethal oxygen-glucose deprivation. RSC Chem Biol 2023; 4:84-93. [PMID: 36685255 PMCID: PMC9811523 DOI: 10.1039/d2cb00189f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of mitochondrial calcium uptake mediated by the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) is implicated in several pathophysiological conditions. Dinuclear ruthenium complexes are effective inhibitors of the MCU and have been leveraged as both tools to study mitochondrial calcium dynamics and potential therapeutic agents. In this study, we report the synthesis and characterization of Os245 ([Os2(μ-N)(NH3)8Cl2]3+) which is the osmium-containing analogue of our previously reported ruthenium-based inhibitor Ru265. This complex and its aqua-capped analogue Os245' ([Os2(μ-N)(NH3)8(OH2)2]5+) are both effective inhibitors of the MCU in permeabilized and intact cells. In comparison to the ruthenium-based inhibitor Ru265 (k obs = 4.92 × 10-3 s-1), the axial ligand exchange kinetics of Os245 are two orders of magnitude slower (k obs = 1.63 × 10-5 s-1) at 37 °C. The MCU-inhibitory properties of Os245 and Os245' are different (Os245 IC50 for MCU inhibition = 103 nM; Os245' IC50 for MCU inhibition = 2.3 nM), indicating that the axial ligands play an important role in their interactions with this channel. We further show that inhibition of the MCU by these complexes protects primary cortical neurons against lethal oxygen-glucose deprivation. When administered in vivo to mice (10 mg kg-1), Os245 and Os245' induce seizure-like behaviors in a manner similar to the ruthenium-based inhibitors. However, the onset of these seizures is delayed, a possible consequence of the slower ligand substitution kinetics for these osmium complexes. These findings support previous studies that demonstrate inhibition of the MCU is a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of ischemic stroke, but also highlight the need for improved drug delivery strategies to mitigate the pro-convulsant effects of this class of complexes before they can be implemented as therapeutic agents. Furthermore, the slower ligand substitution kinetics of the osmium analogues may afford new strategies for the development and modification of this class of MCU inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua J. Woods
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell UniversityIthacaNY14853USA,Robert F. Smith School for Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell UniversityIthacaNY14853USA
| | - Robyn J. Novorolsky
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Life Sciences Research InstituteHalifaxNS B3H 0A8Canada,Brain Repair Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Life Sciences Research InstituteHalifaxNS B3H 0A8Canada
| | - Nicholas P. Bigham
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell UniversityIthacaNY14853USA
| | - George S. Robertson
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Life Sciences Research InstituteHalifaxNS B3H 0A8Canada,Brain Repair Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Life Sciences Research InstituteHalifaxNS B3H 0A8Canada,Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Life Sciences Research InstituteHalifaxNS B3H0A8Canada
| | - Justin J. Wilson
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell UniversityIthacaNY14853USA
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Bigham NP, Huang Z, Spivey J, Woods JJ, MacMillan SN, Wilson JJ. Carboxylate-Capped Analogues of Ru265 Are MCU Inhibitor Prodrugs. Inorg Chem 2022; 61:17299-17312. [PMID: 36260092 DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.2c02930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) is a transmembrane protein that resides on the inner membrane of the mitochondria and mediates calcium uptake into this organelle. Given the critical role of mitochondrial calcium trafficking in cellular function, inhibitors of this channel have arisen as tools for studying the biological relevance of this process and as potential therapeutic agents. In this study, four new analogues of the previously reported Ru-based MCU inhibitor [ClRu(NH3)4(μ-N)Ru(NH3)4Cl]Cl3 (Ru265) are reported. These compounds, which bear axial carboxylate ligands, are of the general formula [(RCO2)Ru(NH3)4(μ-N)Ru(NH3)4(O2CR)]X3, where X = NO3- or CF3SO3- and R = H (1), CH3 (2), CH2CH3 (3), and (CH2)2CH3 (4). These complexes were fully characterized by IR spectroscopy, NMR spectroscopy, and elemental analysis. X-ray crystal structures of 1 and 3 were obtained, revealing the expected presence of both the linear Ru(μ-N)Ru core and axial formate and propionate ligands. The axial carboxylate ligands of complexes 1-4 are displaced by water in buffered aqueous solution to give the aquated compound Ru265'. The kinetics of these processes were measured by 1H NMR spectroscopy, revealing half-lives that span 5.9-9.9 h at 37 °C. Complex 1 with axial formate ligands underwent aquation approximately twice as fast as the other compounds. In vitro cytotoxicity and mitochondrial membrane potential measurements carried out in HeLa and HEK293T cells demonstrated that none of these four complexes negatively affects cell viability or mitochondrial function. The abilities of 1-4 to inhibit mitochondrial calcium uptake in permeabilized HEK293T cells were assessed and compared to that of Ru265. Fresh solutions of 1-4 are approximately 2-fold less potent than Ru265 with IC50 values in the range of 14.7-19.1 nM. Preincubating 1-4 in aqueous buffers for longer time periods to allow for the aquation reactions to proceed increases their potency of mitochondrial uptake inhibition to match that of Ru265. This result indicates that 1-4 are aquation-activated prodrugs of Ru265'. Finally, 1-4 were shown to inhibit mitochondrial calcium uptake in intact, nonpermeabilized cells, revealing their value as tools and potential therapeutic agents for mitochondrial calcium-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas P Bigham
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Zhouyang Huang
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Jesse Spivey
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Joshua J Woods
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
- Robert F. Smith School of Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Samantha N MacMillan
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
| | - Justin J Wilson
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
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Woods JJ, Lovett J, Lai B, Harris HH, Wilson JJ. Redox Stability Controls the Cellular Uptake and Activity of Ruthenium‐Based Inhibitors of the Mitochondrial Calcium Uniporter (MCU). Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202000247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua J. Woods
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology Cornell University Ithaca NY 14853 USA
- Robert F. Smith School for Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Cornell University Ithaca NY 14853 USA
| | - James Lovett
- Department of Chemistry The University of Adelaide Adelaide SA 5005 Australia
| | - Barry Lai
- Advanced Photon Source X-ray Science Division Argonne National Laboratory Argonne IL 60439 USA
| | - Hugh H. Harris
- Department of Chemistry The University of Adelaide Adelaide SA 5005 Australia
| | - Justin J. Wilson
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology Cornell University Ithaca NY 14853 USA
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Woods JJ, Lovett J, Lai B, Harris HH, Wilson JJ. Redox Stability Controls the Cellular Uptake and Activity of Ruthenium‐Based Inhibitors of the Mitochondrial Calcium Uniporter (MCU). Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020; 59:6482-6491. [DOI: 10.1002/anie.202000247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua J. Woods
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology Cornell University Ithaca NY 14853 USA
- Robert F. Smith School for Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Cornell University Ithaca NY 14853 USA
| | - James Lovett
- Department of Chemistry The University of Adelaide Adelaide SA 5005 Australia
| | - Barry Lai
- Advanced Photon Source X-ray Science Division Argonne National Laboratory Argonne IL 60439 USA
| | - Hugh H. Harris
- Department of Chemistry The University of Adelaide Adelaide SA 5005 Australia
| | - Justin J. Wilson
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology Cornell University Ithaca NY 14853 USA
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Woods J, Nemani N, Shanmughapriya S, Kumar A, Zhang M, Nathan SR, Thomas M, Carvalho E, Ramachandran K, Srikantan S, Stathopulos PB, Wilson JJ, Madesh M. A Selective and Cell-Permeable Mitochondrial Calcium Uniporter (MCU) Inhibitor Preserves Mitochondrial Bioenergetics after Hypoxia/Reoxygenation Injury. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2019; 5:153-166. [PMID: 30693334 PMCID: PMC6346394 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.8b00773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Mitochondrial Ca2+ (mCa2+) uptake mediated by the mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) plays a critical role in signal transduction, bioenergetics, and cell death, and its dysregulation is linked to several human diseases. In this study, we report a new ruthenium complex Ru265 that is cell-permeable, minimally toxic, and highly potent with respect to MCU inhibition. Cells treated with Ru265 show inhibited MCU activity without any effect on cytosolic Ca2+ dynamics and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm). Dose-dependent studies reveal that Ru265 is more potent than the currently employed MCU inhibitor Ru360. Site-directed mutagenesis of Cys97 in the N-terminal domain of human MCU ablates the inhibitory activity of Ru265, suggesting that this matrix-residing domain is its target site. Additionally, Ru265 prevented hypoxia/reoxygenation injury and subsequent mitochondrial dysfunction, demonstrating that this new inhibitor is a valuable tool for studying the functional role of the MCU in intact biological models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua
J. Woods
- Robert
F. Smith School for Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United States
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell
University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United
States
| | - Neeharika Nemani
- Department
of Medical Genetics and Molecular Biochemistry, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140, United States
- Center
for Translational Medicine, Lewis Katz School
of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140, United States
| | - Santhanam Shanmughapriya
- Department
of Medical Genetics and Molecular Biochemistry, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140, United States
- Center
for Translational Medicine, Lewis Katz School
of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140, United States
| | - Akshay Kumar
- Department
of Medical Genetics and Molecular Biochemistry, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140, United States
- Center
for Translational Medicine, Lewis Katz School
of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140, United States
| | - MengQi Zhang
- Department
of Physiology and Pharmacology, Western
University, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Sarah R. Nathan
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell
University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United
States
| | - Manfred Thomas
- Department
of Medical Genetics and Molecular Biochemistry, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140, United States
- Center
for Translational Medicine, Lewis Katz School
of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140, United States
| | - Edmund Carvalho
- Department
of Medical Genetics and Molecular Biochemistry, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140, United States
- Center
for Translational Medicine, Lewis Katz School
of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140, United States
| | - Karthik Ramachandran
- Department
of Medicine/Nephrology, Institute for Precision Medicine and Health, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229, United States
| | - Subramanya Srikantan
- Department
of Medicine/Nephrology, Institute for Precision Medicine and Health, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229, United States
| | - Peter B. Stathopulos
- Department
of Physiology and Pharmacology, Western
University, London, Ontario N6A 5C1, Canada
| | - Justin J. Wilson
- Department
of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell
University, Ithaca, New York 14853, United
States
| | - Muniswamy Madesh
- Department
of Medical Genetics and Molecular Biochemistry, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140, United States
- Center
for Translational Medicine, Lewis Katz School
of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140, United States
- Department
of Medicine/Nephrology, Institute for Precision Medicine and Health, University of Texas Health San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78229, United States
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