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Mallappa M, Savanur MA, Gowda BG, Reddy MBM, Mulla SI. Unravelling the Molecular Interaction of Pentoxifylline with Calf Thymus DNA: A Multitechnique Approach. ChemistrySelect 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/slct.202103781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. Mallappa
- Department of Chemistry Maharani's Science College for Women Bangalore 560 001 India
- School of Chemical Science Reva University Bangalore 560 063 India
| | - Mohammed Azharuddin Savanur
- PG Department of Biochemistry Karnatak University Dharwad 580 003 India
- Department of Biochemistry Indian Institute of Science Bangalore 560 012 India
| | - Babu G. Gowda
- Department of Chemistry Maharani's Science College for Women Bangalore 560 001 India
| | | | - Sikandar I Mulla
- Department of Biochemistry School of Applied Sciences REVA University Bangalore 560 064 India
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2
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Lupi M, Onori M, Menichetti S, Abbate S, Longhi G, Viglianisi C. Resolution of a Configurationally Stable Hetero[4]helicene. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27041160. [PMID: 35208947 PMCID: PMC8874595 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27041160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
We have developed an efficient chemical resolution of racemic hydroxy substituted dithia-aza[4]helicenes (DTA[4]H) 1(OH) using enantiopure acids as resolving agents. The better diastereomeric separation was achieved on esters prepared with (1S)-(−)-camphanic acid. Subsequent simple manipulations produced highly optically pure (≥ 99% enantiomeric excess) (P) and (M)-1(OH) in good yields. The role of the position where the chiral auxiliary is inserted (cape- vs. bay-zone) and the structure of the enantiopure acid used on successful resolution are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Lupi
- Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff” (DICUS), University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 13, Sesto Fiorentino (FI), 50019 Florence, Italy; (M.L.); (M.O.); (S.M.)
| | - Martina Onori
- Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff” (DICUS), University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 13, Sesto Fiorentino (FI), 50019 Florence, Italy; (M.L.); (M.O.); (S.M.)
| | - Stefano Menichetti
- Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff” (DICUS), University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 13, Sesto Fiorentino (FI), 50019 Florence, Italy; (M.L.); (M.O.); (S.M.)
| | - Sergio Abbate
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine (DMMT), University of Brescia, V.le Europa 11 Brescia (BS), 25121 Brescia, Italy; (S.A.); (G.L.)
| | - Giovanna Longhi
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine (DMMT), University of Brescia, V.le Europa 11 Brescia (BS), 25121 Brescia, Italy; (S.A.); (G.L.)
| | - Caterina Viglianisi
- Department of Chemistry “Ugo Schiff” (DICUS), University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 13, Sesto Fiorentino (FI), 50019 Florence, Italy; (M.L.); (M.O.); (S.M.)
- Correspondence:
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3
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Godzieba M, Ciesielski S. Natural DNA Intercalators as Promising Therapeutics for Cancer and Infectious Diseases. Curr Cancer Drug Targets 2021; 20:19-32. [PMID: 31589125 DOI: 10.2174/1568009619666191007112516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2019] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/24/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Cancer and infectious diseases are one of the greatest challenges of modern medicine. An unhealthy lifestyle, the improper use of drugs, or their abuse are conducive to the increase of morbidity and mortality caused by these diseases. The imperfections of drugs currently used in therapy for these diseases and the increasing problem of drug resistance have forced a search for new substances with therapeutic potential. Throughout history, plants, animals, fungi and microorganisms have been rich sources of biologically active compounds. Even today, despite the development of chemistry and the introduction of many synthetic chemotherapeutics, a substantial part of the new compounds being tested for treatment are still of natural origin. Natural compounds exhibit a great diversity of chemical structures, and thus possess diverse mechanisms of action and molecular targets. Nucleic acids seem to be a good molecular target for substances with anticancer potential in particular, but they may also be a target for antimicrobial compounds. There are many types of interactions of small-molecule ligands with DNA. This publication focuses on the intercalation process. Intercalators are compounds that usually have planar aromatic moieties and can insert themselves between adjacent base pairs in the DNA helix. These types of interactions change the structure of DNA, leading to various types of disorders in the functioning of cells and the cell cycle. This article presents the most promising intercalators of natural origin, which have aroused interest in recent years due to their therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martyna Godzieba
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, ul. Sloneczna 45 G, 10-917 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Slawomir Ciesielski
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, ul. Sloneczna 45 G, 10-917 Olsztyn, Poland
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4
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Nichol RJO, Khalaf AI, Sooda K, Hussain O, Griffiths HBS, Phillips R, Javid FA, Suckling CJ, Allison SJ, Scott FJ. Selective in vitro anti-cancer activity of non-alkylating minor groove binders. MEDCHEMCOMM 2019; 10:1620-1634. [PMID: 32952999 DOI: 10.1039/c9md00268e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Traditional cytotoxic agents which act through a DNA-alkylating mechanism are relatively non-specific, resulting in a small therapeutic window and thus limiting their effectiveness. In this study, we evaluate a panel of 24 non-alkylating Strathclyde Minor Groove Binders (S-MGBs), including 14 novel compounds, for in vitro anti-cancer activity against a human colon carcinoma cell line, a cisplatin-sensitive ovarian cancer cell line and a cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cell line. A human non-cancerous retinal epithelial cell line was used to measure selectivity of any response. We have identified several S-MGBs with activities comparable to cis-platin and carboplatin, but with better in vitro selectivity indices, particularly S-MGB-4, S-MGB-74 and S-MGB-317. Moreover, a comparison of the cis-platin resistant and cis-platin sensitive ovarian cancer cell lines reveals that our S-MGBs do not show cross resistance with cisplatin or carboplatin and that they likely have a different mechanism of action. Finally, we present an initial investigation into the mechanism of action of one compound from this class, S-MGB-4, demonstrating that neither DNA double strand breaks nor the DNA damage stress sensor protein p53 are induced. This indicates that our S-MGBs are unlikely to act through an alkylating or DNA damage response mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan J O Nichol
- Department of Biological and Geographical Sciences , School of Applied Sciences , University of Huddersfield , Huddersfield , UK
| | - Abedawn I Khalaf
- Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry , WestCHEM , University of Strathclyde , Glasgow , UK .
| | - Kartheek Sooda
- Department of Pharmacy , School of Applied Sciences , University of Huddersfield , Huddersfield , UK
| | - Omar Hussain
- Department of Pharmacy , School of Applied Sciences , University of Huddersfield , Huddersfield , UK
| | - Hollie B S Griffiths
- Department of Biological and Geographical Sciences , School of Applied Sciences , University of Huddersfield , Huddersfield , UK
| | - Roger Phillips
- Department of Pharmacy , School of Applied Sciences , University of Huddersfield , Huddersfield , UK
| | - Farideh A Javid
- Department of Pharmacy , School of Applied Sciences , University of Huddersfield , Huddersfield , UK
| | - Colin J Suckling
- Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry , WestCHEM , University of Strathclyde , Glasgow , UK .
| | - Simon J Allison
- Department of Biological and Geographical Sciences , School of Applied Sciences , University of Huddersfield , Huddersfield , UK
| | - Fraser J Scott
- Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry , WestCHEM , University of Strathclyde , Glasgow , UK .
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5
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Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of hybrids of β-carboline and salicylic acid as potential anticancer and apoptosis inducing agents. Sci Rep 2016; 6:36238. [PMID: 27824091 PMCID: PMC5099944 DOI: 10.1038/srep36238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2016] [Accepted: 10/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
A novel series of hybrids (7a-l, 8a-l) from β-carboline and salicylic acid (SA) were designed and synthesized, and their in vitro biological activities were evaluated. Most of the hybrids displayed potent antiproliferative activity against five cancer cell lines in vitro, showing potencies superior to 5-FU and harmine. In particular, compound 8h selectively inhibited proliferation of liver cancer SMMC-7721 cells but not normal liver LO2 cells, and displayed greater inhibitory selectivity than intermediate 5h and SA. 8h also induced cancer cell apoptosis in an Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide flow cytometry assay, and triggered the mitochondrial/caspase apoptosis by decreasing mitochondrial membrane potential which was associated with up-regulation of Bax, down-regulation of Bcl-2 and activation levels of the caspase cascade in a concentration-dependent manner. Our findings suggest that the β-carboline/SA hybrids may hold greater promise as therapeutic agents for the intervention of human cancers.
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6
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Molecular dynamics simulation of the sliding of distamycin anticancer drug along DNA: interactions and sequence selectivity. JOURNAL OF THE IRANIAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s13738-016-1001-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Cerofolini L, Amato J, Borsi V, Pagano B, Randazzo A, Fragai M. Probing the interaction of distamycin A with S100β: the "unexpected" ability of S100β to bind to DNA-binding ligands. J Mol Recognit 2015; 28:376-84. [PMID: 25694263 DOI: 10.1002/jmr.2452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2014] [Revised: 11/20/2014] [Accepted: 11/24/2014] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
DNA-minor-groove-binding ligands are potent antineoplastic molecules. The antibiotic distamycin A is the prototype of one class of these DNA-interfering molecules that have been largely used in vitro. The affinity of distamycin A for DNA is well known, and the structural details of the complexes with some B-DNA and G-quadruplex-forming DNA sequences have been already elucidated. Here, we show that distamycin A binds S100β, a protein involved in the regulation of several cellular processes. The reported affinity of distamycin A for the calcium(II)-loaded S100β reinforces the idea that some biological activities of the DNA-minor-groove-binding ligands arise from the binding to cellular proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Cerofolini
- Giotto Biotech, Via Madonna del Piano 6, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, 50019, Italy
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8
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Puyo S, Montaudon D, Pourquier P. From old alkylating agents to new minor groove binders. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2014; 89:43-61. [DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2013.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2013] [Revised: 06/06/2013] [Accepted: 07/18/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
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9
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Perturbation of discrete sites on a single protein domain with RNA aptamers: targeting of different sides of the TATA-binding protein (TBP). Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2013; 77:1739-46. [PMID: 23924740 DOI: 10.1271/bbb.130296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Control of interactions among proteins is critical in the treatment of diseases, but the specificity required is not easily incorporated into small molecules. Macromolecules could be more suitable as antagonists in this situation, and RNA aptamers have become particularly promising. Here we describe a novel selection procedure for RNA aptamers against a protein that constitutes a single structural domain, the Drosophila TATA-binding protein (TBP). In addition to the conventional filter partitioning method with free TBP as target, we performed another experiment, in which the TATA-bound form of TBP was targeted. Aptamers generated by both selections were able to bind specifically to TBP, but the two groups showed characteristics which were clearly different in terms of their capability to compete with TATA-DNA, their effects on the TATA-bound form of TBP, and their effects on in vitro transcription. The method used to generate these two groups of aptamers can be used with other targets to direct aptamer specificity to discrete sites on the surface of a protein.
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Wang G, Yan C, Lu Y. Exploring DNA binding properties and biological activities of dihydropyrimidinones derivatives. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2013; 106:28-36. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2013.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2012] [Accepted: 01/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Abstract
Alkylating agents are the most widely used anticancer drugs whose main target is the DNA, although how exactly the DNA lesions cause cell death is still not clear. The emergence of resistance to this class of drugs as well as to other antitumor agents is one of the major causes of failure of cancer treatment. This paper reviews some of the best characterized mechanisms of resistance to alkylating agents. Pre- and post-target mechanisms are recognized, the former able to limit the formation of lethal DNA adducts, and the latter enabling the cell to repair or tolerate the damage. The role in the pre-target mechanisms of reduced drug accumulation and the increased detoxification or activation systems (such as DT-diaphorase, metallothionein, GST/GSH system, etc...) are discussed. In the post-target mechanisms the different DNA repair pathways, tolerance to alkylation damage and the 'downstream' effects (cell cycle arrest and/or apoptosis) are examined.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Damia
- Department of Oncology, Instituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche 'Mario Negri', Via Eritrea 62, 20157, Milan, Italy.,
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12
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Pezzola S, Antonini G, Geroni C, Beria I, Colombo M, Broggini M, Mongelli N, Leboffe L, MacArthur R, Mozzi AF, Federici G, Caccuri AM. Role of Glutathione Transferases in the Mechanism of Brostallicin Activation. Biochemistry 2009; 49:226-35. [DOI: 10.1021/bi901689s] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Pezzola
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies, University of “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Italo Beria
- Nerviano Medical Sciences Srl, Oncology, Nerviano, Italy
| | | | - Massimo Broggini
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche ‘Mario Negri’, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Loris Leboffe
- Department of Biology, University of “RomaTre”, Rome, Italy
| | - Robert MacArthur
- Systems Medicine LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cell Therapeutics Inc., Seattle, Washington
| | | | - Giorgio Federici
- Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico ‘‘Bambin Gesù’’, Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Maria Caccuri
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Technologies, University of “Tor Vergata”, Rome, Italy
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13
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Lorusso D, Mainenti S, Pietragalla A, Ferrandina G, Foco G, Masciullo V, Scambia G. Brostallicin (PNU-166196), a new minor groove DNA binder: preclinical and clinical activity. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2009; 18:1939-46. [DOI: 10.1517/13543780903401284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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14
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Phase I dose-escalation study of brostallicin, a minor groove binder, in combination with cisplatin in patients with advanced solid tumors. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2009; 66:389-94. [DOI: 10.1007/s00280-009-1175-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2009] [Accepted: 11/04/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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15
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Guirouilh-Barbat J, Zhang YW, Pommier Y. Induction of glutathione-dependent DNA double-strand breaks by the novel anticancer drug brostallicin. Mol Cancer Ther 2009; 8:1985-94. [PMID: 19584235 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-09-0320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Brostallicin is a DNA minor groove binder in phase II clinical trials. Here, we show that brostallicin induces gamma-H2AX nuclear foci that colocalize with 53BP1 and are dependent on glutathione, as shown by inhibition of those gamma-H2AX foci by l-buthionine sulfoximine. To differentiate brostallicin from the clinically approved minor groove binder trabectedin (ecteinascidin 743), we tested whether the brostallicin-induced gamma-H2AX and antiproliferative responses were dependent on nucleotide excision repair and found that, unlike trabectedin, they are not. Additionally, brostallicin retained activity in the trabectedin-resistant HCT116-ER5 cell line. Induction of gamma-H2AX foci by brostallicin was partially dependent on the repair nuclease Mre11. Pretreatment with aphidicolin partially reduced brostallicin-induced gamma-H2AX foci, suggesting that brostallicin induces both replication-associated and replication-independent DNA damage. Replication-associated DNA damage was further shown by the colocalization of gamma-H2AX foci with replication foci and by the rapid inhibition of DNA synthesis and accumulation of cells in S phase in response to brostallicin. In addition, brostallicin was able to induce lower intensity gamma-H2AX foci in human circulating lymphocytes. Together, our results indicate that brostallicin induces DNA double-strand breaks and suggest gamma-H2AX as a pharmacodynamic biomarker for brostallicin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josée Guirouilh-Barbat
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892-4255, USA
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16
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Synthesis of a C-2 Stapled Bis-Lexitropsin. MONATSHEFTE FUR CHEMIE 2007. [DOI: 10.1007/s00706-007-0644-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Spiegel K, Magistrato A. Modeling anticancer drug–DNA interactions via mixed QM/MM molecular dynamics simulations. Org Biomol Chem 2006; 4:2507-17. [PMID: 16791311 DOI: 10.1039/b604263p] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The development of anticancer drugs started over four decades ago, with the serendipitous discovery of the antitumor activity of cisplatin and its successful use in the treatment of various cancer types. Despite the efforts made in unraveling the mechanism of the action of cisplatin, as well as in the rational design of new anticancer compounds, in many cases detailed structural and mechanistic information is still lacking. Many of these drugs exert their anticancer activity by covalently binding to DNA inducing a distortion or simply impeding replication, thus triggering a cellular response, which eventually leads to cell death. A detailed understanding of the structural and electronic properties of drug-DNA complexes and their mechanism of binding is the key step in elucidating the principles of their anticancer activity. At the theoretical level, the description of covalent drug-DNA complexes requires the use of state-of-the-art computer simulation techniques such as hybrid quantum/classical molecular dynamics simulations. In this review we provide a general overview on: drugs which covalently bind to DNA duplexes, the basic concepts of quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM), molecular dynamics methods and a list of selected applications of these simulations to the study of drug-DNA adducts. Finally, the potential and the limitations of this approach to the study of such systems are critically evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Spiegel
- University of Pennsylvania, Department of Chemistry, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Beria I, Baraldi PG, Cozzi P, Caldarelli M, Geroni C, Marchini S, Mongelli N, Romagnoli R. Cytotoxic α-Halogenoacrylic Derivatives of Distamycin A and Congeners. J Med Chem 2004; 47:2611-23. [PMID: 15115402 DOI: 10.1021/jm031051k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
The mechanism of action of many antitumor agents involves DNA damage, either by direct binding of the drug to DNA or to DNA-binding proteins. However, most of the DNA-interacting agents have only a limited degree of sequence specificity, which implies that they may hit all the cellular genes. DNA minor groove binders, among which the derivatives of distamycin A play an important role, could provide significant improvement in cancer management, increasing gene specificity, due to high selectivity of interaction with thymine-adenine (TA) rich sequences. We now report and discuss the synthesis, the in vitro and in vivo activities, and some mechanistic features of alpha-halogenoacrylamido derivatives of distamycin A. The final result of this work was the selection of brostallicin 17 (PNU-166196). Brostallicin, presently in phase II clinical trials, shows a broad spectrum of antitumor activity and an apoptotic effect higher than distamycin derivative tallimustine. An important in vitro toxicological feature of brostallicin is the very good ratio between myelotoxicity on human haematopoietic progenitor cells and cytotoxicity on tumor cells, in comparison with clinically tested DNA minor groove binders. A peculiarity of brostallicin is its in vitro reactivity in the DNA alkylation assays only in the presence of glutathione. Moreover brostallicin's antitumor activity, both in in vitro and in vivo tumor models, is higher in the presence of increased levels of glutathione/glutathione-S-tranferases. These findings contribute to the definition of brostallicin as a novel anticancer agent that differs from other minor groove binders and alkylating agents for both the profile of activity and the mechanism of action and to classify the alpha-bromoacrylamido derivatives of distamycin as a new class of cytotoxics. Moreover, due to its interaction with glutathione, brostallicin may have a role for the tailored treatment of tumors characterized by constitutive or therapy-induced overexpression of glutathione/glutathione-S-tranferase levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Italo Beria
- Pharmacia Italia S.p.A., Discovery Research Oncology, Viale Pasteur 10, 20014 Nerviano, Milan, Italy.
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Broggini M, Marchini S, Fontana E, Moneta D, Fowst C, Geroni C. Brostallicin: a new concept in minor groove DNA binder development. Anticancer Drugs 2004; 15:1-6. [PMID: 15090736 DOI: 10.1097/00001813-200401000-00001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Brostallicin is a bromoacryloyl derivative of distamycin A, which has shown very promising preclinical activity against a variety of human tumors both in vitro and in vivo. The drug has a limited toxicity towards bone marrow precursor cells in vitro resulting in a therapeutic index much higher than those achieved with other distamycin A derivatives. It retains activity against cancer cells resistant to alkylating agents, topoisomerase I inhibitors and cells with mismatch repair deficiency. Brostallicin has a peculiar mechanism of action involving activation upon binding to glutathione (GSH) catalyzed by glutathione-S-transferase (GST). As a consequence, cells expressing relatively high GST/GSH levels are more susceptible to treatment with brostallicin. Considering that increased levels of GST/GSH are often found in human tumors, this could represent an advantage for the drug in the clinic. Initial clinical studies indicate the tolerability of the drug and allow the determination of the optimal dose for subsequent studies. Some partial response were obtained in these initial phase I studies. Altogether, the results suggest brostallicin to be a new promising anticancer agent with a new mechanism of action. It also raises the possibility to use it in combination with other anticancer drugs currently used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Broggini
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy.
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21
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Seaton A, Higgins C, Mann J, Baron A, Bailly C, Neidle S, van den Berg H. Mechanistic and anti-proliferative studies of two novel, biologically active bis-benzimidazoles. Eur J Cancer 2003; 39:2548-55. [PMID: 14602141 DOI: 10.1016/s0959-8049(03)00621-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
We have previously synthesised a number of novel head-to-head bis-benzimidazole derivatives that are structurally related to the fluorochrome, Hoechst 33258, and which possess strong affinity for A:T sites in the minor groove of duplex DNA. Initial studies revealed these compounds to exhibit potent antiproliferative activity against a range of ovarian cell lines and to inhibit transcription in an in vitro setting. In this study, we have examined their cellular behaviour in detail and have shown that two of these compounds (ABA13 and ABA833) potently inhibit the proliferation of a range of human tumour cell lines, and show some specificity towards breast carcinoma cell lines. In most of the cell lines investigated, ABA833 was the more potent of the two compounds. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that ABA13 and ABA833 (50-500 nM) induced an S phase block and increased the pre-G1 population in MCF-7 and MDA 468 human breast cancer cells. An increase in the pre-G1 population of RKO colon carcinoma cells was seen only at 500 nM with ABA833, reflecting the reduced sensitivity of this cell line to the bis-benzimidazoles in comparison to the breast cancer cell lines. Mechanistic studies revealed that neither ABA13 or ABA833 act as topoisomerase I (topo I) or topoisomerase II (topo II) poisons in plasmid or kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) relaxation assays, but both compounds do inhibit the catalytic activity of these enzymes. Drug uptake studies showed that reduced sensitivity of MCF-7adr and RKO cells compared with MCF-7 to both ABA13 and ABA833 correlated with a markedly reduced intracellular drug accumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Seaton
- The Cancer Centre, The Queen's University of Belfast, U Floor, Belfast City Hospital, Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7AB, UK
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22
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Cozzi P. The discovery of a new potential anticancer drug: a case history. FARMACO (SOCIETA CHIMICA ITALIANA : 1989) 2003; 58:213-20. [PMID: 12620417 DOI: 10.1016/s0014-827x(03)00014-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
DNA minor groove binders (MGB) represent a class of anticancer agents whose DNA sequence specificity was hypothesized to lead to high selectivity of action. Tallimustine (TAM), a benzoyl nitrogen mustard derivative of distamycin A (DST), showed excellent antitumor activity in preclinical tests, but also a severe myelotoxicity. Novel nitrogen mustard, nitrogen half-mustard and sulfur mustard derivatives of DST showing excellent activity were recently identified and SAR reported. In particular nitrogen half-mustard and sulfur mustard derivatives, as one-arm alkylating agents, represent interesting structural novelties. A further new class of cytotoxic anticancer agents is that of alpha-halogenoacrylamido derivatives of DST-like oligopeptides, which show an activity profile substantially improved in comparison to TAM. In particular brostallicin (PNU-166196), alpha-bromo-acrylamido tetra-pyrrole derivative ending with a guanidino moiety, showed high cytotoxic potency and myelotoxicity dramatically reduced in comparison to TAM and other MGB. Brostallicin binds to the minor groove but appears unreactive in classical in vitro DNA alkylation assays. About the apparent lack of DNA alkylation we speculated that an intracellular nucleophile, e.g. glutathione (GSH), could activate the reactivity of the compound leading to alkylation of DNA in vivo. Evidence of both covalent interaction of brostallicin with plasmidic DNA in the presence of GSH and of enhanced cytotoxicity in cancer cells characterized by high levels of GSH were obtained. Brostallicin was selected for clinical development and is now undergoing Phase II studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Cozzi
- Department of Chemistry, Pharmacia, Global Chemistry, Discovery Research Oncology, Viale Pasteur 10, 20014 Nerviano, Milan, Italy.
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Wang Y, Wright SC, Larrick JW. Synthesis and preliminary cytotoxicity of nitrogen mustard derivatives of distamycin A. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2003; 13:459-61. [PMID: 12565950 DOI: 10.1016/s0960-894x(02)00986-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Distamycin and nitrogen mustard conjugates, in which the nitrogen mustard unit was coupled to the C-terminus of the pyrrole, were synthesized. The switching of the nitrogen mustard unit from the N-terminus to the C-terminus did not compromise the compound's cytotoxicity. Compound 3, bearing three pyrrole units, was highly toxic to human K562 leukemia cells in vitro with an IC(50) value of 0.03 microM. Addition of a trans double bond to the molecule had little effects on cytotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqiang Wang
- Panorama Research, Inc., 2462 Wyandotte Street, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA.
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Marchini S, Broggini M, Sessa C, D'Incalci M. Development of distamycin-related DNA binding anticancer drugs. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2001; 10:1703-14. [PMID: 11772279 DOI: 10.1517/13543784.10.9.1703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The relatively low therapeutic index of the clinically used alkylating agents is probably related to the fact that these compounds cause DNA damage in a relatively unspecific manner, mainly involving guanine-cytosine rich stretches of DNA present in virtually all genes, therefore inducing unselective growth inhibition and death, both in neoplastic and in highly proliferative normal tissues. These considerations explain why in the last twenty years there has been an increasing interest in the identification of compounds which can target DNA with a much higher degree of sequence specificity than that of conventional alkylators. Minor groove binders (MGBs) are one of the most widely studied class of alkylating agents characterised by a high level of sequence specificity. The prototype of this class of drugs is distamycin A which is an antiviral compound able to interact, non-covalently, in theminor groove of DNA in A-T rich regions. It is not cytotoxic against tumour cells and thus has been used as a carrier for targeting cytotoxic alkylating moieties in theminor groove of DNA. The benzoyl mustard derivative of distamycin A, tallimustine, was found to be able to alkylate the N(3) of adenine in theminor groove of DNA only in the target hexamer 5'-TTTTGA or 5'-TTTTAA. Tallimustine was investigated in the clinic and was not successful because it causes severe bone marrow toxicity. The screening of other distamycin derivatives, which maintain antitumour activity and exhibit much lower toxicity against human bone marrow cells than tallimustine led to the identification of brostallicin (PNU-166196) which is currently under early clinical investigation. Although MGBs which bind DNA in A-T rich regions have not fulfilled the expectations, it is too early to draw definitive conclusions on this class of compounds. The peculiar bone-marrow toxicity observed in the clinic both with tallimustine or with CC-1065 derivatives is not necessarily a feature of all MGBs, as indicated by recent evidence obtained with brostallicin and other structurally unrelated MGBs (e.g., ET-743).
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Affiliation(s)
- S Marchini
- Department of Oncology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Via Eritrea, 62- 20157 Milan, Italy
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Cozzi P. Recent outcome in the field of distamycin-derived minor groove binders. FARMACO (SOCIETA CHIMICA ITALIANA : 1989) 2000; 55:168-73. [PMID: 10919073 DOI: 10.1016/s0014-827x(00)00013-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
DNA minor groove binders represent a class of cytotoxic antitumor agents whose DNA sequence specificity may lead to a high selectivity of action. Tallimustine, benzoyl nitrogen mustard derivative of distamycin A, showed excellent antitumor activity in the preclinical tests, but as other minor groove binders, showed severe myelotoxicity. Novel nitrogen mustard derivatives of distamycin showing improved activity profile, have been identified recently. Moreover, a series of alpha-halogenoacrylamido derivatives of distamycin-like frames, in which the typical amidino moiety has been replaced with other moieties, was found to show cytotoxic and antitumor activity and cytotoxicity/myelotoxicity ratio improved significantly in comparison to tallimustine. The structural features of the alkylating moieties and binding frames, of distamycin and distamycin-like derivatives disclosed recently are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Cozzi
- Department of Chemistry, Pharmacia & Upjohn, Nerviano, Milan, Italy.
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Atwell GJ, Milbank JJ, Wilson WR, Hogg A, Denny WA. 5-Amino-1-(chloromethyl)-1,2-dihydro-3H-benz[e]indoles: relationships between structure and cytotoxicity for analogues bearing different DNA minor groove binding subunits. J Med Chem 1999; 42:3400-11. [PMID: 10464026 DOI: 10.1021/jm990136b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
A series of 5-amino-seco-CBI compounds, designed for use as effectors for prodrugs, were prepared to study structure-activity relationships for the cytotoxicity of side chain analogues. Compounds were prepared by coupling 1-(chloromethyl)-5-nitro-1, 2-dihydro-3H-benz[e]indole to appropriate carboxylic acids, followed by nitro group reduction, or by coupling suitable 5-amino-protected indolines to alpha,beta-unsaturated acids, followed by deblocking. These AT-specific DNA alkylating agents were evaluated for cytotoxicity in a series of tumor cell lines (AA8, UV4, EMT6, SKOV3). For those analogues bearing an indolecarbonyl side chain, the 5'-methoxy derivative was the most cytotoxic (IC(50) 1.3 nM in AA8 cells, 4 h exposure), comparable to that of the parent CBI-TMI (5', 6',7'-trimethoxyindole) derivative (IC(50) 0.46 nM in the above assay). A subset of solubilized derivatives bearing O(CH(2))(2)NMe(2) substituents were about 10-fold less potent. For compounds containing an acryloyl linker in the side chain, the 4'-methoxycinnamoyl derivative proved the most cytotoxic (IC(50) 0. 09 nM in the above assay). A number of these 5-amino-seco-CBI-TMI analogues (including the solubilized compounds) are of interest both as cytotoxins and as components of amine-based prodrugs designed for tumor-specific activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- G J Atwell
- Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand
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Marchini S, Cirò M, Gallinari F, Geroni C, Cozzi P, D'Incalci M, Broggini M. Alpha-bromoacryloyl derivative of distamycin A (PNU 151807): a new non-covalent minor groove DNA binder with antineoplastic activity. Br J Cancer 1999; 80:991-7. [PMID: 10362106 PMCID: PMC2363030 DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6690453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
PNU 151807 is a new synthetic alpha-bromoacryloyl derivative of distamycin A. In the present study we investigated the DNA interaction and the mechanism of action of this compound in parallel with the distamycin alkylating derivative, tallimustine. PNU 151807 possesses a good cytotoxic activity in in vitro growing cancer cells, even superior to that found for tallimustine. By footprinting experiments we found that PNU 151807 and tallimustine interact non-covalently with the same AT-rich DNA regions. However, differently from tallimustine, PNU 151807 failed to produce any DNA alkylation as assessed by Taq stop assay and N3 or N7-adenine alkylation assay in different DNA sequences. PNU 151807, like tallimustine, is able to induce an activation of p53, and consequently of p21 and BAX in a human ovarian cancer cell line (A2780) expressing wild-type p53. However, disruption of p53 function by HPV16-E6 does not significantly modify the cytotoxic activity of the compound. Flow cytometric analysis of cells treated with equitoxic concentrations of PNU 151807 and tallimustine showed a similar induction of accumulation of cells in the G2 phase of the cell cycle but with a different time course. When tested against recombinant proteins, only the compound PNU 151807 (and not tallimustine or distamycin A) is able to abolish the in vitro kinase activity of CDK2-cyclin A, CDK2-cyclin E and cdc2-cyclin B complexes. The results obtained showed that PNU 151807 seems to have a mechanism of action completely different from that of its parent compound tallimustine, possibly involving the inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinases activity, and clearly indicate PNU 151807 as a new non-covalent minor groove binder with cytotoxic activity against cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Marchini
- Department of Oncology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche, Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
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Colella G, Marchini S, D'Incalci M, Brown R, Broggini M. Mismatch repair deficiency is associated with resistance to DNA minor groove alkylating agents. Br J Cancer 1999; 80:338-43. [PMID: 10408835 PMCID: PMC2362350 DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6690360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Mismatch DNA repair deficiency is associated with resistance to certain major groove alkylating agents including methylating agents and cisplatin. We have now studied the relevance of mismatch repair alterations to the cytotoxicity induced by drugs which alkylate N3 adenines in the minor groove of DNA. We have used the mismatch repair defective human colocarcinoma cell line HCT-116 which has a mutation in the hMLH1 gene, and a subline where hMLH1 expression is restored by chromosome 3 transfer (HCT-116+ch3). We have tested three alkylating minor groove binders (tallimustine, carzelesin and CC1065) and one non-covalent minor groove binder (PNU 151807). The HCT-116+ch3 subline was more sensitive than the parental line to the treatment with the three alkylating minor groove binders, while the non-alkylating compound had a similar activity in both cell lines. Further support for mismatch repair being involved in sensitivity of the minor groove alkylators is that two cisplatin-resistant sublines of the human ovarian adenocarcinoma cell line A2780 (A2780/CP70 and A2780/MCP-1) are defective in hMLH1 expression and are more resistant to these agents than the parental mismatch repair proficient cells. Furthermore, the restoration of hMLH1 activity in the A2780/CP70 cell line, by introduction of chromosome 3, was associated with an increased sensitivity to the three alkylating minor groove binders. Again, the non-covalent minor groove binder was equally effective in mismatch repair deficient and proficient clones. The data indicate that mismatch repair deficiency mediated by loss of hMLH1 expression is associated not only with drug-resistance to major groove binders, but also to minor groove binders. However, loss of mismatch repair does not mediate resistance to the non-covalent minor groove binder PNU 151807.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Colella
- Molecular Pharmacology Unit, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
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Milbank JB, Tercel M, Atwell GJ, Wilson WR, Hogg A, Denny WA. Synthesis of 1-substituted 3-(chloromethyl)-6-aminoindoline (6-amino-seco-CI) DNA minor groove alkylating agents and structure-activity relationships for their cytotoxicity. J Med Chem 1999; 42:649-58. [PMID: 10052972 DOI: 10.1021/jm980545s] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
A series of racemic 6-amino-seco-cyclopropylindole (seco-CI) compounds was prepared by coupling 1-(tert-butyloxycarbonyl)-3-(chloromethyl)-6-nitroindoline with appropriate acids, followed by nitro group reduction, and evaluated for cytotoxicity in AA8, UV4, EMT6, and SKOV3 cell lines. These compounds are of interest due to their close structural relationship to known AT-specific alkylating agents and cytotoxins and also for the possible construction of stable amine-based prodrugs designed for tumor-specific release. Variations included indole or furan side chains with different substituents, sulfonamide or carboxamide linkers, extension of the minor groove binding side chain to two subunits, and the use of a pyrroylacryloyl unit previously reported to give extremely potent analogues. The parent compound, with a trimethoxyindole side chain, was a moderately potent cytotoxin (IC50 = 0.34 microM in AA8 cells, 4 h exposure). A single 5-methoxy group on the indole minor groove binding unit was sufficient to maintain potency, and a series of dimethylaminoethoxy-substituted analogues retained the cytotoxicity of the parent compound, while providing increased aqueous solubility.
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Affiliation(s)
- J B Milbank
- Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Science, The University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand
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