Glycosylated copper(II) ionophores as prodrugs for β-glucosidase activation in targeted cancer therapy

Dalton Trans. 2013 Feb 14;42(6):2023-34. doi: 10.1039/c2dt32429f.

Abstract

8-Hydroxyquinoline derivatives are metal-binding compounds that have recently attracted interest as therapeutic agents for cancer therapy. In this scenario, we designed and synthesized three new glucoconjugates, 5,7-dichloro-8-quinolinyl-β-D-glucopyranoside, 5-chloro-8-quinolinyl-β-D-glucopyranoside and 2-methyl-8-quinolinyl-β-D-glucopyranoside and investigated their biological properties in comparison to the parent 8-hydroxyquinoline derivatives in the presence of Cu(2+). In vitro data show that 2 out of 3 glycosylated compounds possess a pharmacologically-relevant antiproliferative activity against tumor cells, similar to that of their parent compounds; this activity is associated with a relevant triggering of apoptosis. The pharmacological profile of the glucoconjugates depends on the cellular enzymatic β-glucosidase activity, as demonstrated by the inhibition of antiproliferative activity in the presence of the 2,5-dideoxy-2,5-imino-D-mannitol.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Agents / toxicity
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Binding Sites
  • Caco-2 Cells
  • Catalytic Domain
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Coordination Complexes / chemistry
  • Coordination Complexes / therapeutic use
  • Coordination Complexes / toxicity
  • Copper / chemistry*
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Glycosylation
  • Humans
  • Hydroxyquinolines / chemistry
  • Ionophores / chemistry*
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Prodrugs / chemistry*
  • Prodrugs / therapeutic use
  • Prodrugs / toxicity
  • Protein Stability
  • beta-Glucosidase / chemistry
  • beta-Glucosidase / metabolism*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Coordination Complexes
  • Hydroxyquinolines
  • Ionophores
  • Prodrugs
  • Copper
  • beta-Glucosidase