1
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Malina J, Kostrhunova H, Scott P, Brabec V. Metallohelices stabilize DNA three-way junctions and induce DNA damage in cancer cells. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:7174-7183. [PMID: 37351627 PMCID: PMC10415117 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA three-way junctions (3WJ) represent one of the simplest supramolecular DNA structures arising as intermediates in homologous recombination in the absence of replication. They are also formed transiently during DNA replication. Here we examine the ability of Fe(II)-based metallohelices to act as DNA 3WJ binders and induce DNA damage in cells. We investigated the interaction of eight pairs of enantiomerically pure Fe(II) metallohelices with four different DNA junctions using biophysical and molecular biology methods. The results show that the metallohelices stabilize all types of tested DNA junctions, with the highest selectivity for the Y-shaped 3WJ and minimal selectivity for the 4WJ. The potential of the best stabilizer of DNA junctions and, at the same time, the most selective 3WJ binder investigated in this work to induce DNA damage was determined in human colon cancer HCT116 cells. These metallohelices proved to be efficient in killing cancer cells and triggering DNA damage that could yield therapeutic benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaroslav Malina
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Brno, CZ-61200, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Kostrhunova
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Brno, CZ-61200, Czech Republic
| | - Peter Scott
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Viktor Brabec
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Brno, CZ-61200, Czech Republic
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2
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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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3
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Garcia Maset R, Hapeshi A, Hall S, Dalgliesh RM, Harrison F, Perrier S. Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Activity in Host-Mimicking Media and In Vivo Toxicity of Antimicrobial Polymers as Functional Mimics of AMPs. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:32855-32868. [PMID: 35819416 PMCID: PMC9335526 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c05979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Activity tests for synthetic antimicrobial compounds are often limited to the minimal inhibitory concentration assay using standard media and bacterial strains. In this study, a family of acrylamide copolymers that act as synthetic mimics of antimicrobial peptides were synthesized and shown to have a disruptive effect on bacterial membranes and structural integrity through microscopy techniques and membrane polarization experiments. The polymers were tested for their antimicrobial properties using media that mimic clinically relevant conditions. Additionally, their activity was compared in two different strains of the Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus and the Gram-negative bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We showed that the medium composition can have an important influence on the polymer activity as there was a considerable reduction in minimal inhibitory concentrations against S. aureus grown in synthetic wound fluid (SWF), and against P. aeruginosa grown in synthetic cystic fibrosis sputum media (SCFM), compared to the concentrations in standard testing media. In contrast, we observed a complete loss of activity against P. aeruginosa in the serum-containing SWF. Finally, we made use of an emerging invertebrate in vivo model, using Galleria mellonella larvae, to assess toxicity of the polymeric antimicrobials, showing a good correlation with cell line toxicity measurements and demonstrating its potential in the evaluation of novel antimicrobial materials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alexia Hapeshi
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K.
| | - Stephen Hall
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K.
- ISIS
Neutron and Muon Source, Rutherford Appleton
Laboratory, Didcot OX11 0DE, U.K.
| | - Robert M. Dalgliesh
- ISIS
Neutron and Muon Source, Rutherford Appleton
Laboratory, Didcot OX11 0DE, U.K.
| | - Freya Harrison
- School
of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K.
| | - Sébastien Perrier
- Warwick
Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K.
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K.
- Faculty
of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
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4
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Malina J, Kostrhunova H, Novohradsky V, Scott P, Brabec V. Metallohelix vectors for efficient gene delivery via cationic DNA nanoparticles. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:674-683. [PMID: 35018455 PMCID: PMC8789045 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab1277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The design of efficient and safe gene delivery vehicles remains a major challenge for the application of gene therapy. Of the many reported gene delivery systems, metal complexes with high affinity for nucleic acids are emerging as an attractive option. We have discovered that certain metallohelices-optically pure, self-assembling triple-stranded arrays of fully encapsulated Fe-act as nonviral DNA delivery vectors capable of mediating efficient gene transfection. They induce formation of globular DNA particles which protect the DNA from degradation by various restriction endonucleases, are of suitable size and electrostatic potential for efficient membrane transport and are successfully processed by cells. The activity is highly structure-dependent-compact and shorter metallohelix enantiomers are far less efficient than less compact and longer enantiomers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaroslav Malina
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Brno, CZ-61265, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Kostrhunova
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Brno, CZ-61265, Czech Republic
| | - Vojtech Novohradsky
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Brno, CZ-61265, Czech Republic
| | - Peter Scott
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Viktor Brabec
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Brno, CZ-61265, Czech Republic
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5
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Basu Baul TS, Chaurasiya A, Vasquez-Ríos MG, Höpfl H. Zinc(II) complexes constructed from an adamantane-functionalized pyridine Schiff base - Influence of the counterion on the supramolecular organization by means of C-H⋅⋅⋅O, C-H⋅⋅⋅N, C-H⋅⋅⋅π and π⋅⋅⋅π interactions. J Mol Struct 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molstruc.2021.131241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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6
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Lisboa LS, Riisom M, Vasdev RAS, Jamieson SMF, Wright LJ, Hartinger CG, Crowley JD. Cavity-Containing [Fe 2L 3] 4+ Helicates: An Examination of Host-Guest Chemistry and Cytotoxicity. Front Chem 2021; 9:697684. [PMID: 34307299 PMCID: PMC8292671 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2021.697684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Two new di(2,2′-bipyridine) ligands, 2,6-bis([2,2′-bipyridin]-5-ylethynyl)pyridine (L1) and bis(4-([2,2′-bipyridin]-5-ylethynyl)phenyl)methane (L2) were synthesized and used to generate two metallosupramolecular [Fe2(L)3](BF4)4 cylinders. The ligands and cylinders were characterized using elemental analysis, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, UV-vis, 1H-, 13C and DOSY nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies. The molecular structures of the [Fe2(L)3](BF4)4 cylinders were confirmed using X-ray crystallography. Both the [Fe2(L1)3](BF4)4 and [Fe2(L2)3](BF4)4 complexes crystallized as racemic (rac) mixtures of the ΔΔ (P) and ΛΛ (M) helicates. However, 1H NMR spectra showed that in solution the larger [Fe2(L2)3](BF4)4 was a mixture of the rac-ΔΔ/ΛΛ and meso-ΔΛ isomers. The host-guest chemistry of the helicates, which both feature a central cavity, was examined with several small drug molecules. However, none of the potential guests were found to bind within the helicates. In vitro cytotoxicity assays demonstrated that both helicates were active against four cancer cell lines. The smaller [Fe2(L1)3](BF4)4 system displayed low μM activity against the HCT116 (IC50 = 7.1 ± 0.5 μM) and NCI-H460 (IC50 = 4.9 ± 0.4 μM) cancer cells. While the antiproliferative effects against all the cell lines examined were less than the well-known anticancer drug cisplatin, their modes of action would be expected to be very different.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynn S Lisboa
- Department of Chemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Mie Riisom
- School of Chemical Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.,Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Roan A S Vasdev
- Department of Chemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Stephen M F Jamieson
- Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - L James Wright
- School of Chemical Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | | | - James D Crowley
- Department of Chemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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7
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Malina J, Kostrhunova H, Scott P, Brabec V. Fe II Metallohelices Stabilize DNA G-Quadruplexes and Downregulate the Expression of G-Quadruplex-Regulated Oncogenes. Chemistry 2021; 27:11682-11692. [PMID: 34048082 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202101388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
DNA G-quadruplexes (G4s) have been identified within the promoter regions of many proto-oncogenes. Thus, G4s represent attractive targets for cancer therapy, and the design and development of new drugs as G4 binders is a very active field of medicinal chemistry. Here, molecular biophysics and biology methods were employed to investigate the interaction of chiral metallohelices with a series of four DNA G4s (hTelo, c-myc, c-kit1, c-kit2) that are formed by the human telomeric sequence (hTelo) and in the promoter regions of c-MYC and c-KIT proto-oncogenes. We show that the investigated water-compatible, optically pure metallohelices, which are made by self-assembly of simple nonpeptidic organic components around FeII ions and exhibit bioactivity emulating the natural systems, bind with high affinity to G4 DNA and much lower affinity to duplex DNA. Notably, both enantiomers of a metallohelix containing a m-xylenyl bridge (5 b) were found to effectively inhibit primer elongation catalyzed by Taq DNA polymerase by stabilizing G4 structures formed in the template strands containing c-myc and c-kit2 G4-forming sequences. Moreover, both enantiomers of 5 b downregulated the expression of c-MYC and c-KIT oncogenes in human embryonic kidney cells at mRNA and protein levels. As metallohelices also bind alternative nucleic acid structures, they hold promise as potential multitargeted drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaroslav Malina
- Institute of Biophysics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Kralovopolska 135, 61265, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Kostrhunova
- Institute of Biophysics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Kralovopolska 135, 61265, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Peter Scott
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Viktor Brabec
- Institute of Biophysics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Kralovopolska 135, 61265, Brno, Czech Republic
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8
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Boone K, Wisdom C, Camarda K, Spencer P, Tamerler C. Combining genetic algorithm with machine learning strategies for designing potent antimicrobial peptides. BMC Bioinformatics 2021; 22:239. [PMID: 33975547 PMCID: PMC8111958 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-021-04156-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [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: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Current methods in machine learning provide approaches for solving challenging, multiple constraint design problems. While deep learning and related neural networking methods have state-of-the-art performance, their vulnerability in decision making processes leading to irrational outcomes is a major concern for their implementation. With the rising antibiotic resistance, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have increasingly gained attention as novel therapeutic agents. This challenging design problem requires peptides which meet the multiple constraints of limiting drug-resistance in bacteria, preventing secondary infections from imbalanced microbial flora, and avoiding immune system suppression. AMPs offer a promising, bioinspired design space to targeting antimicrobial activity, but their versatility also requires the curated selection from a combinatorial sequence space. This space is too large for brute-force methods or currently known rational design approaches outside of machine learning. While there has been progress in using the design space to more effectively target AMP activity, a widely applicable approach has been elusive. The lack of transparency in machine learning has limited the advancement of scientific knowledge of how AMPs are related among each other, and the lack of general applicability for fully rational approaches has limited a broader understanding of the design space. METHODS Here we combined an evolutionary method with rough set theory, a transparent machine learning approach, for designing antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Our method achieves the customization of AMPs using supervised learning boundaries. Our system employs in vitro bacterial assays to measure fitness, codon-representation of peptides to gain flexibility of sequence selection in DNA-space with a genetic algorithm and machine learning to further accelerate the process. RESULTS We use supervised machine learning and a genetic algorithm to find a peptide active against S. epidermidis, a common bacterial strain for implant infections, with an improved aggregation propensity average for an improved ease of synthesis. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate that AMP design can be customized to maintain activity and simplify production. To our knowledge, this is the first time when codon-based genetic algorithms combined with rough set theory methods is used for computational search on peptide sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle Boone
- Bioengineering Program, University of Kansas, Institute of Bioengineering Research, University of Kansas, 1530 W 15th Street, Learned Hall, Room 5109, Lawrence, KS 66045 USA
| | - Cate Wisdom
- Bioengineering Program, University of Kansas, Institute of Bioengineering Research, University of Kansas, 1530 W 15th Street, Learned Hall, Room 5109, Lawrence, KS 66045 USA
| | - Kyle Camarda
- Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Department, University of Kansas, 1530 West 15th Street, Learned Hall, Room 4154, Lawrence, KS 66045 USA
| | - Paulette Spencer
- Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Kansas, 1530 West 15th Street, Learned Hall, Room 3111, Lawrence, KS 66045 USA
- Institute of Bioengineering Research, University of Kansas, 1530 West 15th Street, Learned Hall, Room 3111, Lawrence, KS 66045 USA
| | - Candan Tamerler
- Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Kansas, 1530 W 15th St, Learned Hall, Room 3135A, Lawrence, KS 66045 USA
- Institute of Bioengineering Research, University of Kansas, 1530 W 15th St, Learned Hall, Room 3135A, Lawrence, KS 66045 USA
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9
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O'Reilly C, Blasco S, Parekh B, Collins H, Cooke G, Gunnlaugsson T, Byrne JP. Ruthenium-centred btp glycoclusters as inhibitors for Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation. RSC Adv 2021; 11:16318-16325. [PMID: 35479152 PMCID: PMC9030604 DOI: 10.1039/d0ra05107a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Carbohydrate-decorated clusters (glycoclusters) centred on a Ru(ii) ion were synthesised and tested for their activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation. These clusters were designed by conjugating a range of carbohydrate motifs (galactose, glucose, mannose and lactose, as well as galactose with a triethylene glycol spacer) to a btp (2,6-bis(1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)pyridine) scaffold. This scaffold, which possesses a C2 symmetry, is an excellent ligand for d-metal ions, and thus the formation of the Ru(ii)-centred glycoclusters 7 and 8Gal was achieved from 5 and 6Gal; each possessing four deprotected carbohydrates. Glycocluster 8Gal, which has a flexible spacer between the btp and galactose moieties, showed significant inhibition of P. aeruginosa bacterial biofilm formation. By contrast, glycocluster 7, which lacked the flexible linker, didn't show significant antimicrobial effects and neither does the ligand 6Gal alone. These results are proposed to arise from carbohydrate–lectin interactions with LecA, which are possible for the flexible metal-centred multivalent glycocluster. Metal-centred glycoclusters present a structurally versatile class of antimicrobial agent for P. aeruginosa, of which this is, to the best of our knowledge, the first example. Ruthenium-centred glycoclusters based on carbohydrate-functionalised bis(triazolyl)pyridine ligands show Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm inhibition, with activity that is dependent on ligand structure.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Ciaran O'Reilly
- School of Chemistry, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin Ireland.,School of Medicine, University College Dublin Belfield Dublin 4 Ireland
| | - Salvador Blasco
- School of Chemistry, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin Ireland
| | - Bina Parekh
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin Belfield Dublin 4 Ireland
| | - Helen Collins
- Department of Applied Science, Tallaght Campus, Technological University Dublin Ireland
| | - Gordon Cooke
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin Belfield Dublin 4 Ireland.,Department of Applied Science, Tallaght Campus, Technological University Dublin Ireland
| | | | - Joseph P Byrne
- School of Chemistry, National University of Ireland Galway University Road Galway Ireland
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10
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Song H, Rogers NJ, Brabec V, Clarkson GJ, Coverdale JPC, Kostrhunova H, Phillips RM, Postings M, Shepherd SL, Scott P. Triazole-based, optically-pure metallosupramolecules; highly potent and selective anticancer compounds. Chem Commun (Camb) 2021; 56:6392-6395. [PMID: 32390012 DOI: 10.1039/d0cc02429e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Functionalised triazole aldehydes are used in the highly selective self-assembly of water-compatible, optically pure, low symmetry Fe(ii)- and Zn(ii)-based metallohelices. Sub-micromolar antiproliferative activity is observed against various cancerous cell lines, accompanied by excellent selectivity versus non-cancerous cells and potential for synergistic combinatorial therapy with cisplatin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hualong Song
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK.
| | - Nicola J Rogers
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK.
| | - Viktor Brabec
- The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Kralovopolska 135, CZ-61265 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Guy J Clarkson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK.
| | | | - Hana Kostrhunova
- The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Kralovopolska 135, CZ-61265 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Roger M Phillips
- School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, HD1 3DH, UK
| | - Miles Postings
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK.
| | - Samantha L Shepherd
- School of Applied Sciences, University of Huddersfield, Huddersfield, HD1 3DH, UK
| | - Peter Scott
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK.
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11
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Song H, Postings M, Scott P, Rogers NJ. Metallohelices emulate the properties of short cationic α-helical peptides. Chem Sci 2021; 12:1620-1631. [PMID: 34163922 PMCID: PMC8179244 DOI: 10.1039/d0sc06412b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Naturally occurring peptides in many living systems perform antimicrobial and anticancer host defence roles, but their potential for clinical application is limited by low metabolic stability and relatively high costs of goods. Self-assembled helical metal complexes provide an attractive synthetic platform for non-peptidic architectures that can emulate some of the properties of short cationic α-helical peptides, with tuneable charge, shape, size and amphipathicity. Correspondingly there is a growing body of evidence demonstrating that these supramolecular architectures exhibit bioactivity that emulates that of the natural systems. We review that evidence in the context of synthetic advances in the area, driven by the potential for biomedical applications. We note some design considerations for new biologically-relevant metallohelices, and give our outlook on the future of these compounds as therapeutic peptidomimetics.
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12
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Hrabina O, Malina J, Scott P, Brabec V. Cationic Fe
II
Triplex‐Forming Metallohelices as DNA Bulge Binders. Chemistry 2020; 26:16554-16562. [DOI: 10.1002/chem.202004060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ondrej Hrabina
- Institute of Biophysics Czech Academy of Sciences Kralovopolska 135 61265 Brno Czech Republic
| | - Jaroslav Malina
- Institute of Biophysics Czech Academy of Sciences Kralovopolska 135 61265 Brno Czech Republic
| | - Peter Scott
- Department of Chemistry University of Warwick Gibbet Hill Road Coventry CV4 7AL UK
| | - Viktor Brabec
- Institute of Biophysics Czech Academy of Sciences Kralovopolska 135 61265 Brno Czech Republic
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13
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Malina J, Scott P, Brabec V. Stabilization of human telomeric RNA G-quadruplex by the water-compatible optically pure and biologically-active metallohelices. Sci Rep 2020; 10:14543. [PMID: 32884069 PMCID: PMC7471899 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-71429-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA G-quadruplexes have been suggested to play key roles in fundamental biological processes and are linked to human diseases. Thus, they also represent good potential therapeutic targets. Here, we describe, using the methods of molecular biophysics, interactions of a series of biologically-active supramolecular cationic metallohelices with human telomeric RNA G-quadruplex. We demonstrate that the investigated metallohelices bind with a high affinity to human telomeric RNA G-quadruplex and that their binding selectivity considerably differs depending on the dimensions and overall shape of the metallohelices. Additionally, the investigated metallohelices inhibit DNA synthesis on the RNA template containing four repeats of the human telomeric sequence by stabilizing the RNA G-quadruplex structure. Collectively, the results of this study suggest that stabilization of RNA sequences capable of G-quadruplex formation by metallohelices investigated in this work might contribute to the mechanism of their biological activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaroslav Malina
- Institute of Biophysics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Kralovopolska 135, 61265, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Peter Scott
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Viktor Brabec
- Institute of Biophysics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Kralovopolska 135, 61265, Brno, Czech Republic.
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14
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Song H, Allison SJ, Brabec V, Bridgewater HE, Kasparkova J, Kostrhunova H, Novohradsky V, Phillips RM, Pracharova J, Rogers NJ, Shepherd SL, Scott P. Glycoconjugated Metallohelices have Improved Nuclear Delivery and Suppress Tumour Growth In Vivo. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202006814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hualong Song
- Department of Chemistry University of Warwick Coventry CV4 7AL UK
| | - Simon J. Allison
- School of Applied Sciences University of Huddersfield Huddersfield HD1 3DH UK
| | - Viktor Brabec
- The Czech Academy of Sciences Institute of Biophysics Kralovopolska 135 61265 Brno Czech Republic
| | | | - Jana Kasparkova
- The Czech Academy of Sciences Institute of Biophysics Kralovopolska 135 61265 Brno Czech Republic
| | - Hana Kostrhunova
- The Czech Academy of Sciences Institute of Biophysics Kralovopolska 135 61265 Brno Czech Republic
| | - Vojtech Novohradsky
- The Czech Academy of Sciences Institute of Biophysics Kralovopolska 135 61265 Brno Czech Republic
| | - Roger M. Phillips
- School of Applied Sciences University of Huddersfield Huddersfield HD1 3DH UK
| | - Jitka Pracharova
- The Czech Academy of Sciences Institute of Biophysics Kralovopolska 135 61265 Brno Czech Republic
- Department of Biophysics Centre of the Region Hana for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research Faculty of Science Palacký University Šlechtitelů 27 78371 Olomouc Czech Republic
| | - Nicola J. Rogers
- Department of Chemistry University of Warwick Coventry CV4 7AL UK
| | | | - Peter Scott
- Department of Chemistry University of Warwick Coventry CV4 7AL UK
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15
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Song H, Allison SJ, Brabec V, Bridgewater HE, Kasparkova J, Kostrhunova H, Novohradsky V, Phillips RM, Pracharova J, Rogers NJ, Shepherd SL, Scott P. Glycoconjugated Metallohelices have Improved Nuclear Delivery and Suppress Tumour Growth In Vivo. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020; 59:14677-14685. [PMID: 32489012 PMCID: PMC7497174 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202006814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Monosaccharides are added to the hydrophilic face of a self-assembled asymmetric FeII metallohelix, using CuAAC chemistry. The sixteen resulting architectures are water-stable and optically pure, and exhibit improved antiproliferative selectivity against colon cancer cells (HCT116 p53+/+ ) with respect to the non-cancerous ARPE-19 cell line. While the most selective compound is a glucose-appended enantiomer, its cellular entry is not mainly glucose transporter-mediated. Glucose conjugation nevertheless increases nuclear delivery ca 2.5-fold, and a non-destructive interaction with DNA is indicated. Addition of the glucose units affects the binding orientation of the metallohelix to naked DNA, but does not substantially alter the overall affinity. In a mouse model, the glucose conjugated compound was far better tolerated, and tumour growth delays for the parent compound (2.6 d) were improved to 4.3 d; performance as good as cisplatin but with the advantage of no weight loss in the subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hualong Song
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of WarwickCoventryCV4 7ALUK
| | - Simon J. Allison
- School of Applied SciencesUniversity of HuddersfieldHuddersfieldHD1 3DHUK
| | - Viktor Brabec
- The Czech Academy of SciencesInstitute of BiophysicsKralovopolska 13561265BrnoCzech Republic
| | | | - Jana Kasparkova
- The Czech Academy of SciencesInstitute of BiophysicsKralovopolska 13561265BrnoCzech Republic
| | - Hana Kostrhunova
- The Czech Academy of SciencesInstitute of BiophysicsKralovopolska 13561265BrnoCzech Republic
| | - Vojtech Novohradsky
- The Czech Academy of SciencesInstitute of BiophysicsKralovopolska 13561265BrnoCzech Republic
| | - Roger M. Phillips
- School of Applied SciencesUniversity of HuddersfieldHuddersfieldHD1 3DHUK
| | - Jitka Pracharova
- The Czech Academy of SciencesInstitute of BiophysicsKralovopolska 13561265BrnoCzech Republic
- Department of BiophysicsCentre of the Region Hana for Biotechnological and Agricultural ResearchFaculty of SciencePalacký UniversityŠlechtitelů 2778371OlomoucCzech Republic
| | | | | | - Peter Scott
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of WarwickCoventryCV4 7ALUK
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16
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Li X, Shi Z, Wu J, Wu J, He C, Hao X, Duan C. Lighting up metallohelices: from DNA binders to chemotherapy and photodynamic therapy. Chem Commun (Camb) 2020; 56:7537-7548. [PMID: 32573609 DOI: 10.1039/d0cc02194f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The design of novel agents that specifically target DNA and interrupt its normal biological processes is an attractive goal in drug design. Among the promising metallodrugs, metal-directed self-assembled metallohelices with defined three-dimensional stereochemical structures display unique structure-inherent and unprecedented noncovalent targeting abilities towards DNA, resulting in excellent anticancer or antibiotic activities. A newly burgeoning hotspot is focusing on lighting them up by embedding luminescent metal ions as the vertices. The photoactive metallohelices that combine strong interactions toward DNA targets and efficient 1O2 quantum yield may provide new motivation in diagnostic and photodynamic therapy (PDT) areas. This perspective focuses on research progress on metallohelices as DNA binders and chemotherapeutic agents, and highlights recent advances in fabricating luminescent examples for PDT. The relative assembly strategies are also discussed and compared. Finally, perspectives on the future development of the lit-up metallohelices are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuezhao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Fine Chemicals, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China.
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17
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Malina J, Scott P, Brabec V. Shape‐Selective Targeting on RNA Bulges by Peptidomimetic Metallohelices. Chemistry 2020; 26:8435-8442. [DOI: 10.1002/chem.202001107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jaroslav Malina
- Institute of BiophysicsCzech Academy of Sciences Kralovopolska 135 61265 Brno Czech Republic
| | - Peter Scott
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of Warwick Gibbet Hill Road Coventry CV4 7AL UK
| | - Viktor Brabec
- Institute of BiophysicsCzech Academy of Sciences Kralovopolska 135 61265 Brno Czech Republic
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18
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Crlikova H, Malina J, Novohradsky V, Kostrhunova H, Vasdev RAS, Crowley JD, Kasparkova J, Brabec V. Antiproliferative Activity and Associated DNA Interactions of [Co2L3]6+ Cylinders Derived from Bis(bidentate) 2-Pyridyl-1,2,3-triazole Ligands. Organometallics 2020. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.organomet.0c00146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hana Crlikova
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Science, Palacky University, Slechtitelu 27, CZ-783-71 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Jaroslav Malina
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Kralovopolska 135, CZ-61265 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Vojtech Novohradsky
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Kralovopolska 135, CZ-61265 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Kostrhunova
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Kralovopolska 135, CZ-61265 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Roan A. S. Vasdev
- Department of Chemistry, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9016, Otago, New Zealand
| | - James D. Crowley
- Department of Chemistry, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9016, Otago, New Zealand
| | - Jana Kasparkova
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Science, Palacky University, Slechtitelu 27, CZ-783-71 Olomouc, Czech Republic
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Kralovopolska 135, CZ-61265 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Viktor Brabec
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Kralovopolska 135, CZ-61265 Brno, Czech Republic
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19
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Hrabina O, Malina J, Kostrhunova H, Novohradsky V, Pracharova J, Rogers N, Simpson DH, Scott P, Brabec V. Optically Pure Metallohelices That Accumulate in Cell Nuclei, Condense/Aggregate DNA, and Inhibit Activities of DNA Processing Enzymes. Inorg Chem 2020; 59:3304-3311. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.0c00092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ondrej Hrabina
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Kralovopolska 135, CZ-61265 Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Biophysics, Centre of the Region Hana for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Palacky University, Slechtitelu 27, 783 71 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Jaroslav Malina
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Kralovopolska 135, CZ-61265 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Kostrhunova
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Kralovopolska 135, CZ-61265 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Vojtech Novohradsky
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Kralovopolska 135, CZ-61265 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Jitka Pracharova
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Kralovopolska 135, CZ-61265 Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Biophysics, Centre of the Region Hana for Biotechnological and Agricultural Research, Palacky University, Slechtitelu 27, 783 71 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Nicola Rogers
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry, CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel H. Simpson
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry, CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Scott
- Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Gibbet Hill Road, Coventry, CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Viktor Brabec
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Biophysics, Kralovopolska 135, CZ-61265 Brno, Czech Republic
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20
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Kench T, Vilar R. Metal complexes as G-quadruplex binders. ANNUAL REPORTS IN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.armc.2020.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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