Cytotoxic gold compounds: Synthesis, biological characterization and investigation of their inhibition properties of the zinc finger protein PARP-1

Maria Serratrice, Fabio Edafe, Filipa Mendes, Rosario Scopelliti, Shaik Mohammed Zakeeruddin, Michael Grätzel, Isabel Santos, Maria Agostina Cinellu, Angela Casini

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

61 Scopus citations

Abstract

The new gold(iii) complexes: [Au{2-(2′-pyridyl)imidazolate}Cl 2] and [Au{2,6-bis(2′-benzimidazolate)pyridine}(OCOCH 3)] and the mono- and binuclear gold(i) complexes: [Au{2-(2′-pyridyl)imidazole}(PPh 3)](PF 6), [Au(2-phenylimidazolate)(DAPTA)] (DAPTA = 3,7-diacetyl-1,3,7-triaza-5- phosphabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane), [(PPh 3Au) 2(2-R-imidazolate)] (PF 6) (R = 2-C 5H 4N, Ph) have been synthesized and characterized. The structure of the [(PPh 3Au) 2{2- (2′-pyridyl)imidazolate)](PF 6) complex was also characterized by X-ray crystallography. The antiproliferative properties of the complexes were assayed against human ovarian carcinoma cell lines, either sensitive (A2780) or resistant to cisplatin (A2780cisR), human mammary carcinoma cells (MCF7) and non-tumorigenic human kidney (HEK293) cells. Most of the studied compounds showed important cytotoxic effects. Interestingly, the compounds containing the 2-(2′-pyridyl)imidazolate ligand showed selectivity towards cancer cells with respect to the non-tumorigenic ones, with the dinuclear compound [(PPh 3Au) 2{2-(2′-pyridyl)imidazolate)](PF 6) being the most active. Some compounds were also screened for their inhibitory effect of the zinc-finger protein PARP-1, essential for DNA repair and relevant to the mechanisms of cancer cell resistance to cisplatin. Interaction studies of the compounds with the model protein ubiquitin were undertaken by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI MS). The results are discussed in relation to the putative mechanisms of action of the cytotoxic gold compounds.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3287-3293
Number of pages7
JournalDalton Transactions
Volume41
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - 21 Mar 2012
Externally publishedYes

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