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Geri A, Zineddu S, Massai L, Ronga L, Lobinski R, Gailer J, Messori L. Mercury binding to proteins disclosed by ESI MS experiments: The case of three organomercurials. J Inorg Biochem 2024; 252:112479. [PMID: 38218139 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2024.112479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
Solution interactions of three organomercury compounds, i.e., methylmercury chloride, thimerosal and phenylmercury acetate, with a group of biochemically relevant proteins, namely cytochrome c (Cyt c), ribonuclease A (RNase A), carbonic anhydrase I (hCA I), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and serum albumin (HSA), were investigated using an established ESI MS approach. Temporal analysis of sample aliquots provided insight into the binding kinetics, while comparative analysis of the obtained mass spectra disclosed adduct formation of each mercurial with the tested proteins and the relative abundance of the species. The three organomercurials bind, exclusively and tightly, to free cysteine residues as no binding was observed in the case of proteins lacking such groups. hCA I, SOD and HSA formed distinct mercury adducts, preserving the Hg bound alkyl/aryl ligands; yet, the three organomercurials displayed significant differences in reactivity in relation to their chemical structure. The investigation was then extended to analyze the reactions with the C-terminal dodecapeptide of the enzyme human thioredoxin reductase, which contains a characteristic selenol-thiol moiety: tight Hg binding was observed. Notably, this peptide was able to remove effectively and completely the alkyl/aryl ligands of the three tested organomercurials; this behavior may be relevant to the detoxification mechanism of organomercurials in mammals. Finally, a competition experiment was carried out to establish whether protein bound mercury centers may be displaced by other competing metals. Interestingly, and quite unexpectedly, we observed that a protein bound mercury fragment may be partially displaced from its coordination site in hCA I by the medicinal gold compound auranofin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Geri
- Laboratory of Metals in Medicine, Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, via della Lastruccia 3, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - Stefano Zineddu
- Laboratory of Metals in Medicine, Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, via della Lastruccia 3, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - Lara Massai
- Laboratory of Metals in Medicine, Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, via della Lastruccia 3, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.
| | - Luisa Ronga
- Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, IPREM, Pau, France
| | - Ryszard Lobinski
- Université de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, IPREM, Pau, France; Chair of Analytical Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, ul.Noakowskiego 3, 00-664 Warszawa, Poland
| | - Jürgen Gailer
- Department of Chemistry, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, Canada
| | - Luigi Messori
- Laboratory of Metals in Medicine, Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, via della Lastruccia 3, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.
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Caligiuri R, Massai L, Geri A, Ricciardi L, Godbert N, Facchetti G, Lupo MG, Rossi I, Coffetti G, Moraschi M, Sicilia E, Vigna V, Messori L, Ferri N, Mazzone G, Aiello I, Rimoldi I. Cytotoxic Pt(II) complexes containing alizarin: a selective carrier for DNA metalation. Dalton Trans 2024; 53:2602-2618. [PMID: 38223973 DOI: 10.1039/d3dt03889k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Many efforts have been made in the last few decades to selectively transport antitumor agents to their potential target sites with the aim to improve efficacy and selectivity. Indeed, this aspect could greatly improve the beneficial effects of a specific anticancer agent especially in the case of orphan tumors like the triple negative breast cancer. A possible strategy relies on utilizing a protective leaving group like alizarin as the Pt(II) ligand to reduce the deactivation processes of the pharmacophore enacted by Pt resistant cancer cells. In this study a new series of neutral mixed-ligand Pt(II) complexes bearing alizarin and a variety of diamine ligands were synthesized and spectroscopically characterized by FT-IR, NMR and UV-Vis analyses. Three Pt(II) compounds, i.e., 2b, 6b and 7b, emerging as different both in terms of structural properties and cytotoxic effects (not effective, 10.49 ± 1.21 μM and 24.5 ± 1.5 μM, respectively), were chosen for a deeper investigation of the ability of alizarin to work as a selective carrier. The study comprises the in vitro cytotoxicity evaluation against triple negative breast cancer cell lines and ESI-MS interaction studies relative to the reaction of the selected Pt(II) complexes with model proteins and DNA fragments, mimicking potential biological targets. The results allow us to suggest the use of complex 6b as a prospective anticancer agent worthy of further investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rossella Caligiuri
- MAT-INLAB, LASCAMM CR-INSTM, Unità INSTM della Calabria, Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università della Calabria, Ponte Pietro Bucci Cubo 14C, Arcavacata di Rende (CS), 87036, Italy.
| | - Lara Massai
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3-13, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Andrea Geri
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3-13, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Loredana Ricciardi
- CNR-Nanotec, UoS di Cosenza, Dipartimento di Fisica, Università della Calabria, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy
| | - Nicolas Godbert
- MAT-INLAB, LASCAMM CR-INSTM, Unità INSTM della Calabria, Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università della Calabria, Ponte Pietro Bucci Cubo 14C, Arcavacata di Rende (CS), 87036, Italy.
- LPM-Laboratorio Preparazione Materiali, STAR-Lab, Università della Calabria, Via Tito Flavio, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy
| | - Giorgio Facchetti
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Venezian 21, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| | | | - Ilaria Rossi
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, University of Padova, Italy
| | - Giulia Coffetti
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Venezian 21, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| | - Martina Moraschi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Venezian 21, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| | - Emilia Sicilia
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università della Calabria, Ponte Pietro Bucci Cubo 14C, Arcavacata di Rende (CS), 87036, Italy.
| | - Vincenzo Vigna
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università della Calabria, Ponte Pietro Bucci Cubo 14C, Arcavacata di Rende (CS), 87036, Italy.
| | - Luigi Messori
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3-13, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Nicola Ferri
- Department of Medicine, University of Padova, Italy
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padua, Italy
| | - Gloria Mazzone
- Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università della Calabria, Ponte Pietro Bucci Cubo 14C, Arcavacata di Rende (CS), 87036, Italy.
| | - Iolinda Aiello
- MAT-INLAB, LASCAMM CR-INSTM, Unità INSTM della Calabria, Dipartimento di Chimica e Tecnologie Chimiche, Università della Calabria, Ponte Pietro Bucci Cubo 14C, Arcavacata di Rende (CS), 87036, Italy.
- LPM-Laboratorio Preparazione Materiali, STAR-Lab, Università della Calabria, Via Tito Flavio, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy
- CNR-Nanotec, UoS di Cosenza, Dipartimento di Fisica, Università della Calabria, 87036 Rende (CS), Italy
| | - Isabella Rimoldi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Via Venezian 21, 20133 Milano, Italy.
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Janisse SE, Fernandez RL, Heffern MC. Characterizing metal-biomolecule interactions by mass spectrometry. Trends Biochem Sci 2023; 48:815-825. [PMID: 37433704 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2023.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
Metal micronutrients are essential for life and exist in a delicate balance to maintain an organism's health. The labile nature of metal-biomolecule interactions clouds the understanding of metal binders and metal-mediated conformational changes that are influential to health and disease. Mass spectrometry (MS)-based methods and technologies have been developed to better understand metal micronutrient dynamics in the intra- and extracellular environment. In this review, we describe the challenges associated with studying labile metals in human biology and highlight MS-based methods for the discovery and study of metal-biomolecule interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel E Janisse
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, One Shields Drive, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Rebeca L Fernandez
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, One Shields Drive, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Marie C Heffern
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, One Shields Drive, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
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Cosottini L, Zineddu S, Massai L, Ghini V, Turano P. 19F: A small probe for a giant protein. J Inorg Biochem 2023; 244:112236. [PMID: 37146532 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2023.112236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Herein we describe a method for the efficient production (∼90% fluorination) of 5-F-Trp human H ferritin via the selective incorporation of 19F into the side chain of W93 using 5-fluoroindole as the fluorinated precursor of the amino acid. Human H ferritin is a nanocage composed of 24 identical subunits, each containing a single Trp belonging to a loop exposed on the external surface of the protein nanocage. This makes 5-F-Trp a potential probe for the study of intermolecular interactions in solution by exploiting its intrinsic fluorescence. More interestingly, albeit the large size of the cage (12 nm external diameter, ∼500 kDa molecular mass) we observe a broad but well defined NMR 19F resonance that can be used for the dual purpose of detecting solution intermolecular interactions via chemical shift perturbation mapping and monitoring the uptake of ferritin by cells treated with ferritin-based drug carriers, the latter being an application area of increasing importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucrezia Cosottini
- Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM), University of Florence, via Luigi Sacconi 6, Sesto Fiorentino 50019, Italy; Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, via della Lastruccia 3, Sesto Fiorentino 50019, Italy
| | - Stefano Zineddu
- Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM), University of Florence, via Luigi Sacconi 6, Sesto Fiorentino 50019, Italy; Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, via della Lastruccia 3, Sesto Fiorentino 50019, Italy
| | - Lara Massai
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, via della Lastruccia 3, Sesto Fiorentino 50019, Italy
| | - Veronica Ghini
- Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM), University of Florence, via Luigi Sacconi 6, Sesto Fiorentino 50019, Italy; Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, via della Lastruccia 3, Sesto Fiorentino 50019, Italy
| | - Paola Turano
- Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM), University of Florence, via Luigi Sacconi 6, Sesto Fiorentino 50019, Italy; Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, via della Lastruccia 3, Sesto Fiorentino 50019, Italy; Consorzio Interuniversitario Risonanze Magnetiche di Metallo Proteine (CIRMMP), via Luigi Sacconi 6, Sesto Fiorentino 50019, Italy.
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