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Coverdale JPC, Bedford RA, Carter OWL, Cao S, Wills M, Sadler PJ. In-cell Catalysis by Tethered Organo-Osmium Complexes Generates Selectivity for Breast Cancer Cells. Chembiochem 2024; 25:e202400374. [PMID: 38785030 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202400374] [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: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Anticancer agents that exhibit catalytic mechanisms of action offer a unique multi-targeting strategy to overcome drug resistance. Nonetheless, many in-cell catalysts in development are hindered by deactivation by endogenous nucleophiles. We have synthesised a highly potent, stable Os-based 16-electron half-sandwich ('piano stool') catalyst by introducing a permanent covalent tether between the arene and chelated diamine ligand. This catalyst exhibits antiproliferative activity comparable to the clinical drug cisplatin towards triple-negative breast cancer cells and can overcome tamoxifen resistance. Speciation experiments revealed Os to be almost exclusively albumin-bound in the extracellular medium, while cellular accumulation studies identified an energy-dependent, protein-mediated Os accumulation pathway, consistent with albumin-mediated uptake. Importantly, the tethered Os complex was active for in-cell transfer hydrogenation catalysis, initiated by co-administration of a non-toxic dose of sodium formate as a source of hydride, indicating that the Os catalyst is delivered to the cytosol of cancer cells intact. The mechanism of action involves the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), thus exploiting the inherent redox vulnerability of cancer cells, accompanied by selectivity for cancerous cells over non-tumorigenic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- J P C Coverdale
- School of Pharmacy, Institute of Clinical Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, B15 2TT, UK
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - R A Bedford
- School of Pharmacy, Institute of Clinical Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, B15 2TT, UK
| | - O W L Carter
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - S Cao
- School of Pharmacy, Institute of Clinical Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, B15 2TT, UK
| | - M Wills
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - P J Sadler
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
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Coverdale JPC, Kostrhunova H, Markova L, Song H, Postings M, Bridgewater HE, Brabec V, Rogers NJ, Scott P. Triplex metallohelices have enantiomer-dependent mechanisms of action in colon cancer cells. Dalton Trans 2023; 52:6656-6667. [PMID: 37114730 DOI: 10.1039/d3dt00948c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Self-assembled enantiomers of an asymmetric di-iron metallohelix differ in their antiproliferative activities against HCT116 colon cancer cells such that the compound with Λ-helicity at the metals becomes more potent than the Δ compound with increasing exposure time. From concentration- and temperature-dependent 57Fe isotopic labelling studies of cellular accumulation we postulate that while the more potent Λ enantiomer undergoes carrier-mediated efflux, for Δ the process is principally equilibrative. Cell fractionation studies demonstrate that both enantiomers localise in a similar fashion; compound is observed mostly within the cytoskeleton and/or genomic DNA, with significant amounts also found in the nucleus and membrane, but with negligible concentration in the cytosol. Cell cycle analyses using flow cytometry reveal that the Δ enantiomer induces mild arrest in the G1 phase, while Λ causes a very large dose-dependent increase in the G2/M population at a concentration significantly below the relevant IC50. Correspondingly, G2-M checkpoint failure as a result of Λ-metallohelix binding to DNA is shown to be feasible by linear dichroism studies, which indicate, in contrast to the Δ compound, a quite specific mode of binding, probably in the major groove. Further, spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC) failure, which could also be responsible for the observed G2/M arrest, is established as a feasible mechanism for the Λ helix via drug combination (synergy) studies and the discovery of tubulin and actin inhibition. Here, while the Λ compound stabilizes F-actin and induces a distinct change in tubulin architecture of HCT116 cells, Δ promotes depolymerization and more subtle changes in microtubule and actin networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- J P C Coverdale
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
- School of Pharmacy, Institute of Clinical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, B15 2TT, UK
| | - H Kostrhunova
- The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Kralovopolska 135, CZ-61265 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - L Markova
- The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Kralovopolska 135, CZ-61265 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - H Song
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
- Beijing Area Major Laboratory of Peptide and Small Molecular Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - M Postings
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - H E Bridgewater
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
- Centre of Exercise, Sport and Life Science, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Coventry University, Coventry, CV1 5FB, UK
| | - V Brabec
- The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Kralovopolska 135, CZ-61265 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - N J Rogers
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - P Scott
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
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Coverdale JPC, Guy CS, Bridgewater HE, Needham RJ, Fullam E, Sadler PJ. Osmium-arene complexes with high potency towards Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Metallomics 2021; 13:mfab007. [PMID: 33693931 PMCID: PMC8026400 DOI: 10.1093/mtomcs/mfab007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The treatment of tuberculosis (TB) poses a major challenge as frontline therapeutic agents become increasingly ineffective with the emergence and spread of drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb). To combat this global health problem, new antitubercular agents with novel modes of action are needed. We have screened a close family of 17 organometallic half-sandwich Os(II) complexes [(arene)Os(phenyl-azo/imino-pyridine)(Cl/I)]+Y- containing various arenes (p-cymene, biphenyl, or terphenyl), and NMe2, F, Cl, or Br phenyl or pyridyl substituents, for activity towards Mtb in comparison with normal human lung cells (MRC5). In general, complexes with a monodentate iodido ligand were more potent than chlorido complexes, and the five most potent iodido complexes (MIC 1.25-2.5 µM) have an electron-donating Me2N or OH substituent on the phenyl ring. As expected, the counter anion Y (PF6-, Cl-, I-) had little effect on the activity. The pattern of potency of the complexes towards Mtb is similar to that towards human cells, perhaps because in both cases intracellular thiols are likely to be involved in their activation and their redox mechanism of action. The most active complex against Mtb is the p-cymene Os(II) NMe2-phenyl-azopyridine iodido complex (2), a relatively inert complex that also exhibits potent activity towards cancer cells. The uptake of Os from complex 2 by Mtb is rapid and peaks after 6 h, with temperature-dependence studies suggesting a major role for active transport. Significance to Metallomics Antimicrobial resistance is a global health problem. New advances are urgently needed in the discovery of new antibiotics with novel mechanisms of action. Half-sandwich organometallic complexes offer a versatile platform for drug design. We show that with an appropriate choice of the arene, an N,N-chelated ligand, and monodentate ligand, half-sandwich organo-osmium(II) complexes can exhibit potent activity towards Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent. The patterns of activity of the 17 azo- and imino-pyridine complexes studied here towards Mtb and normal lung cells suggest a common redox mechanism of action involving intracellular thiols.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Collette S Guy
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | | | - Russell J Needham
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Elizabeth Fullam
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Peter J Sadler
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
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Bolitho EM, Bridgewater HE, Needham RJ, Coverdale JPC, Quinn PD, Sanchez-Cano C, Sadler PJ. Elemental mapping of half-sandwich azopyridine osmium arene complexes in cancer cells. Inorg Chem Front 2021. [DOI: 10.1039/d1qi00512j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Nanofocused synchrotron X-ray fluorescence and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry provide insights into time-dependent ligand exchange reactions of organo-osmium anticancer complexes in cancer cells. Created with Biorender.com.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Carlos Sanchez-Cano
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biomaterials (CIC biomaGUNE)
- Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA)
- San Sebastián
- Spain
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Konkankit CC, Vaughn BA, Huang Z, Boros E, Wilson JJ. Systematically altering the lipophilicity of rhenium(I) tricarbonyl anticancer agents to tune the rate at which they induce cell death. Dalton Trans 2020; 49:16062-16066. [PMID: 32319485 PMCID: PMC8108609 DOI: 10.1039/d0dt01097a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Rhenium-based anticancer agents have arisen as promising alternatives to conventional platinum-based drugs. Based on previous studies demonstrating how increasing lipophilicity improves drug uptake within the cell, we sought to investigate the effects of lipophilicity on the anticancer activity of a series of six rhenium(i) tricarbonyl complexes. These six rhenium(i) tricarbonyl structures, called Re-Chains, bear pyridyl imine ligands with different alkyl chains ranging in length from two to twelve carbons. The cytotoxicities of these compounds were measured in HeLa cells. At long timepoints (48 h), all compounds are equally cytotoxic. At shorter time points, however, the compounds with longer alkyl chains are significantly more active than those with smaller chains. Cellular uptake studies of these compounds show that they are taken up via both passive and active pathways. Collectively, these studies show how lipophilicity affects the rate at which these Re compounds induce their biological activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chilaluck C Konkankit
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
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Anthony EJ, Bolitho EM, Bridgewater HE, Carter OWL, Donnelly JM, Imberti C, Lant EC, Lermyte F, Needham RJ, Palau M, Sadler PJ, Shi H, Wang FX, Zhang WY, Zhang Z. Metallodrugs are unique: opportunities and challenges of discovery and development. Chem Sci 2020; 11:12888-12917. [PMID: 34123239 PMCID: PMC8163330 DOI: 10.1039/d0sc04082g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 319] [Impact Index Per Article: 79.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Metals play vital roles in nutrients and medicines and provide chemical functionalities that are not accessible to purely organic compounds. At least 10 metals are essential for human life and about 46 other non-essential metals (including radionuclides) are also used in drug therapies and diagnostic agents. These include platinum drugs (in 50% of cancer chemotherapies), lithium (bipolar disorders), silver (antimicrobials), and bismuth (broad-spectrum antibiotics). While the quest for novel and better drugs is now as urgent as ever, drug discovery and development pipelines established for organic drugs and based on target identification and high-throughput screening of compound libraries are less effective when applied to metallodrugs. Metallodrugs are often prodrugs which undergo activation by ligand substitution or redox reactions, and are multi-targeting, all of which need to be considered when establishing structure-activity relationships. We focus on early-stage in vitro drug discovery, highlighting the challenges of evaluating anticancer, antimicrobial and antiviral metallo-pharmacophores in cultured cells, and identifying their targets. We highlight advances in the application of metal-specific techniques that can assist the preclinical development, including synchrotron X-ray spectro(micro)scopy, luminescence, and mass spectrometry-based methods, combined with proteomic and genomic (metallomic) approaches. A deeper understanding of the behavior of metals and metallodrugs in biological systems is not only key to the design of novel agents with unique mechanisms of action, but also to new understanding of clinically-established drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth J Anthony
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick Gibbet Hill Road Coventry CV4 7AL UK
| | - Elizabeth M Bolitho
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick Gibbet Hill Road Coventry CV4 7AL UK
| | - Hannah E Bridgewater
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick Gibbet Hill Road Coventry CV4 7AL UK
| | - Oliver W L Carter
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick Gibbet Hill Road Coventry CV4 7AL UK
| | - Jane M Donnelly
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick Gibbet Hill Road Coventry CV4 7AL UK
| | - Cinzia Imberti
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick Gibbet Hill Road Coventry CV4 7AL UK
| | - Edward C Lant
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick Gibbet Hill Road Coventry CV4 7AL UK
| | - Frederik Lermyte
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick Gibbet Hill Road Coventry CV4 7AL UK
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Darmstadt Alarich-Weiss-Strasse 4 64287 Darmstadt Germany
| | - Russell J Needham
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick Gibbet Hill Road Coventry CV4 7AL UK
| | - Marta Palau
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick Gibbet Hill Road Coventry CV4 7AL UK
| | - Peter J Sadler
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick Gibbet Hill Road Coventry CV4 7AL UK
| | - Huayun Shi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick Gibbet Hill Road Coventry CV4 7AL UK
| | - Fang-Xin Wang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick Gibbet Hill Road Coventry CV4 7AL UK
| | - Wen-Ying Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick Gibbet Hill Road Coventry CV4 7AL UK
| | - Zijin Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick Gibbet Hill Road Coventry CV4 7AL UK
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