Synthesis and Selective Anticancer Activity Evaluation of 2-phenylacrylonitrile Derivatives as Tubulin Inhibitors

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed at synthesizing 13 series of novel derivatives with 2-phenylacrylonitrile, evaluating antitumor activity both in vivo and in vitro, and obtaining novel tubulin inhibitors.

METHOD

The 13 series of 2-phenylacrylonitrile derivatives were synthesized by Knoevenagel condensation and the anti-proliferative activities were determined by MTT assay. The cell cycle and apoptosis were analyzed by flow cytometer. Quantitative cell migration was performed using 24-well Boyden chambers. The proteins were detected by western blotting. in vitro kinetics of microtubule assembly was measured using ELISA kit for Human β-tubulin (TUBB). Molecular docking was done by Discovery Studio (DS) 2017 Client online tool.

RESULTS

Among the derivatives, compound 1g2a possessed strong inhibitory activity against HCT116 (IC50 = 5.9 nM) and BEL-7402 (IC50 = 7.8 nM) cells. Compound 1g2a exhibited better selective antiproliferative activities and specificities than all the positive control drugs, including taxol. Compound 1g2a inhibited proliferation of HCT116 and BEL-7402 cells by arresting them in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle, inhibited the migration of HCT116 and BEL-7402 cells and the formation of cell colonies. Compound 1g2a showed excellent tubulin polymerization inhibitory activity on HCT116 and BEL-7402 cells. The results of molecular docking analyses showed that 1g2a may inhibit tubulin to exert anticancer effects.

CONCLUSION

Compound 1g2a shows outstanding antitumor activity both in vivo and in vitro and has the potential to be further developed into a highly effective antitumor agent with little toxicity to normal tissues.

One-Pot Synthesis of Triazolo-Heterolignans: Biological Evaluation and Molecular Docking Studies as Tubulin Inhibitors

BACKGROUND

The anti-mitotic activity of podophyllotoxin derivative targeting tubulin enzyme proved them as strong polymerization inhibitors. The introduction of heteroatom along with different heteroaryl systems in naturally obtained lignans created a latitude for design of bioactive components. A novel one-pot sequential propargylation/cycloaddition reaction strategy has been followed to synthesize triazolo-heterolignans.

OBJECTIVE

To screen anti-proliferative activity of novel heterolignans and to determine their mode of action.

METHOD

SRB assay, Cytotoxicity evaluation, PI uptake for analysis of cell cycle, caspase-3 activity, Western blot analysis and Immunofluorescence and molecular docking studies.

RESULTS

SRB assay of synthesised compounds were provided compound 3a and 5f to be highly active among the synthesized compounds. The Compound 3a showed cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase and 5f arrest the cells at G1 phase. Compound 5f displayed caspase 3 mediated apoptotic effect at lower levels. Compound 3a and 5f displayed microtubule disassembly inhibition same as paclitaxel and found to be occupying colchicine binding site of tubulin, both ligands were depicted π-cation interaction with Lys352 residue and triazole ring accommodated at the lactone binding site.

CONCLUSION

A novel one-pot sequential propargylation/cycloaddition reaction has been developed for the synthesis of triazolo-heterolignans. Compound 3a and 5f were displayed good cytotoxic activities and found to inhibit microtubule disassembly. The importance of triazole ring of heterolignans has been studied by molecular docking experiments and results were compared.