Cytotoxic Ag(I) and Au(I) NHC-carbenes bind DNA and show TrxR inhibition

A silver(I) and a gold(I) complex of the fluorescent N-heterocyclic carbenic (NHC) ligand 1-(9-anthracenylmethyl)-3-(3-trimethylsilyl-2-propynil)-benzimidazol-2-ylidene have been synthesized and characterized. These compounds show cytotoxicity in the micromolar range and higher antiproliferative pro...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Guarra, Federica, Busto Vázquez, Natalia, Guerri, Annalisa, Marchetti, Lorella, Marzo, Tiziano, García Ruiz, Begoña, Biver, Tarita, Gabbiani, Chiara
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2020
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Burgos (UBU)
Repositorio:Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Burgos (RIUBU)
OAI Identifier:oai:riubu.ubu.es:10259/5340
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10259/5340
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Dual anticancer drug
Metal carbene complexes
Thioredoxin reductase
Anthracenyl dyes
DNA interactions
Bioquímica
Biochemistry
Descripción
Sumario:A silver(I) and a gold(I) complex of the fluorescent N-heterocyclic carbenic (NHC) ligand 1-(9-anthracenylmethyl)-3-(3-trimethylsilyl-2-propynil)-benzimidazol-2-ylidene have been synthesized and characterized. These compounds show cytotoxicity in the micromolar range and higher antiproliferative properties than cisplatin (CDDP) against several tumour cell lines such as SW480 (colon), A549 (lung) and HepG2 (liver). Both metal complexes are successfully internalized by SW480 cells being the silver compound the most accumulated. Subsequently, they were evaluated as inhibitors of the selenoenzyme Thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) and as DNA binders. Fluorescence microscopy confirmed that both protein and DNA binding could be involved in the biological activity of the compounds. The silver carbene was the most effective enzyme inhibitor with an IC50 in the nanomolar range. Also, interaction studies with natural double stranded DNA highlight a strong stabilisation of the double helix after binding to the Ag(I) carbene, indicating its potential suitability as dual-targeting anticancer active molecule.