Preparation, cytotoxicity and interactions with nucleophiles of three isomeric transplatinum complexes containing methylpiperidine ligands

Three isomeric complexes, trans-[PtCl2(NH3)(2-methylpiperidine)], trans-[PtCl2(NH3)(3-methylpiperidine)] and trans-[PtCl2(NH3)(4-methylpiperidine)], were prepared and their cytotoxicities against six ovarian cancer cell lines, three sensitive and three resistant to cisplatin, were measured. There were no significant differences in the cytotoxicities of the three isomers against these cell lines. The interactions of the three complexes with reduced glutathione (GSH) and with ubiquitin (Ub), as a model protein, were studied. The trans-[PtCl2(NH3)(2-methylpiperidine)] reacted approximately twice as slowly with GSH as did the other two isomers. In the 1:1 interactions of the three complexes with ubiquitin (Mr = 8565 amu), trans-[PtCl2(NH3)(3-methylpiperidine)] and trans-[PtCl2(NH3)(4-methylpiperidine)] attained 100% modification while trans-[PtCl2(NH3)(2-methylpiperidine)] reached only less than 50% modification. Trans-[PtCl2(NH3)(2-methylpiperidine)] reacts significantly less efficiently with GSH and proteins than the other two isomers yet this is not reflected in the cytotoxicity values. These results indicate that for these complexes, in these cell lines, cytosolic detoxification probably does not play a dominant role in determining the cytotoxicity of the complexes.     

The mechanism of action of platinum(IV) complexes in ovarian cancer cell lines

The reduction potentials, lipophilicities, cellular uptake and cytotoxicity have been examined for two series of platinum(IV) complexes that yield common platinum(II) complexes on reduction: cis-[PtCl(4)(NH(3))(2)], cis,trans,cis-[PtCl(2)(OAc)(2)(NH(3))(2)], cis,trans,cis-[PtCl(2)(OH)(2)(NH(3))(2)], [PtCl(4)(en)], cis,trans-[PtCl(2)(OAc)(2)(en)] and cis,trans-[PtCl(2)(OH)(2)(en)] (en=ethane-1,2-diamine, OAc=acetate). As previously reported, the reduction occurs most readily when the axial ligand is chloride and least readily when it is hydroxide. The en series of complexes are marginally more lipophilic than their ammine analogues. The presence of axial chloride or acetate ligands results in a slighter higher lipophilicity compared with the platinum(II) analogue whereas hydroxide ligands lead to a substantially lower lipophilicity. The cellular uptake is similar for the platinum(II) species and their analogous tetrachloro complexes, but is substantially lower for the acetato and hydroxo complexes, resulting in a correlation with the reduction potential. The activities are also correlated with the reduction potentials with the tetrachloro complexes being the most active of the platinum(IV) series and the hydroxo being the least active. These results are interpreted in terms of reduction, followed by aquation reducing the amount of efflux from the cells resulting in an increase in net uptake.     

DNA-protein cross-linking by trans-[PtCl(2)(E-iminoether)(2)]. A concept for activation of the trans geometry in platinum antitumor complexes

The structure-pharmacological activity relationships generally accepted for antitumor platinum compounds stressed the necessity for the cis-[PtX(2)(amine)(2)] structure while the trans-[PtX(2)(amine)(2)] structure was considered inactive. However, more recently, several trans-platinum complexes have been identified which are potently toxic, antitumor-active and demonstrate activity distinct from that of conventional cisplatin (cis-[PtCl(2)(NH(3))(2)]). We have shown in the previous report that the replacement of ammine ligands by iminoether in transplatin (trans-[PtCl(2)(NH(3))(2)]) results in a marked enhancement of its cytotoxicity so that it is more cytotoxic than its cis congener and exhibits significant antitumor activity, including activity in cisplatin-resistant tumor cells. In addition, we have also shown previously that this new trans compound (trans-[PtCl(2)(E-iminoether)(2)]) forms mainly monofunctional adducts at guanine residues on DNA, which is generally accepted to be the cellular target of platinum drugs. In order to shed light on the mechanism underlying the antitumor activity of trans-[PtCl(2)(E-iminoether)(2)] we examined oligodeoxyribonucleotide duplexes containing a single, site-specific, monofunctional adduct of this transplatin analog by the methods of molecular biophysics. The results indicate that major monofunctional adducts of trans-[PtCl(2)(E-iminoether)(2)] locally distort DNA, bend the DNA axis by 21 degrees toward the minor groove, are not recognized by HMGB1 proteins and are readily removed from DNA by nucleotide excision repair (NER). In addition, the monofunctional adducts of trans-[PtCl(2)(E-iminoether)(2)] readily cross-link proteins, which markedly enhances the efficiency of this adduct to terminate DNA polymerization by DNA polymerases in vitro and to inhibit removal of this adduct from DNA by NER. It is suggested that DNA-protein ternary cross-links produced by trans-[PtCl(2)(E-iminoether)(2)] could persist considerably longer than the non-cross-linked monofunctional adducts, which would potentiate toxicity of this antitumor platinum compound toward tumor cells sensitive to this drug. Thus, trans-[PtCl(2)(E-iminoether)(2)] represents a quite new class of platinum antitumor drugs in which activation of trans geometry is associated with an increased efficiency to form DNA-protein ternary cross-links thereby acting by a different mechanism from 'classical' cisplatin and its analogs.     

Study by HPLC-MS of the interaction of platinum antitumor complexes with potato carboxypeptidase inhibitor (PCI)

The interaction of the well-known antitumor drug cisplatin cis-[PtCl(2)(NH(3))(2)] and the compound trans-[PtCl(2)NH(3)(4-hydroxymethylpyridine)] with the small protein potato carboxypeptidase inhibitor (PCI) and a PCI mutant in which glycine-39 was substituted by methionine has been followed by HPLC/mass spectrometry. Our results showed that both Pt drugs were able to bind PCI through Met-39 and histidines in mutated PCI, whereas only the trans complex interacted significantly with wild PCI. In the cytotoxic studies, the monofunctional adduct PCI-Met-cisplatin was neither more active nor more selective than cisplatin itself when tested against three tumor cell lines with different number of EGF receptors. Those results suggested that the poor activity of the adduct could be just due to the small fraction of cisplatin which was decoordinated from the adduct and able to penetrate the tumor cells, as well as to the changes in the structure of the platinum drug after the loss of NH(3) groups upon binding PCI-Met.     

Preparation of platinum(IV) complexes with dipeptide and diimine. X-ray crystal structure and 195Pt NMR spectra

We prepared platinum(IV) complexes containing dipeptide and diimine or diamine, the [PtCl(dipeptide-N,N,O)(diimine or diamine)]Cl complex, where -N,N,O means dipeptide coordinated as a tridentate chelate, dipeptide=glycylglycine (NH(2)CH(2)CON(-)CH(2)COO(-), digly, where two protons of dipeptide are detached when the dipeptide coordinates to metal ion as a tridentate chelate), glycyl-L-alanine (NH(2)CH(2)CON(-)CHCH(3)COO(-), gly-L-ala), L-alanylglycine (NH(2)CH CH(3)CON(-)CH(2)COO(-), L-alagly), or L-alanyl-L-alanine (NH(2)CHCH(3)CON(-)CHCH(3)COO(-), dil-ala), and diimine or diamine=bipyridine (bpy), ethylenediamine (en), N-methylethylenediamine (N-Me-en), or N,N'-dimethylethylenediamine (N,N'-diMe-en). In the complexes containing gly-L-ala or dil-ala, two separate peaks of the (195)Pt NMR spectra of the [PtCl(dipeptide-N,N,O)(diimine or diamine)]Cl complexes appeared in, but in the complexes containing digly or L-alagly, one peak which contained two overlapped signals appeared. One of the two complexes containing gly-L-ala and bpy, [PtCl(gly-L-ala-N,N,O)(bpy)]NO(3), crystallized and was analyzed. This complex has the monoclinic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with unit cell dimensions of a=9.7906(3)A, b=11.1847(2)A, c=16.6796(2)A, Z=4. The crystal data revealed that this [PtCl(gly-L-ala-N,N,O)(bpy)]NO(3) complex has the near- (Cl, CH(3)) configuration of two possible isomers. Based on elemental analysis, the other complex must have the near- (Cl, CH(3))-[PtCl(gly-L-ala-N,N,O)(bpy)]NO(3) configuration. The (195)Pt NMR chemical shifts of the near- (Cl, CH(3))-[PtCl(gly-L-ala-N,N,O)(bpy)]NO(3) complex and the far- (Cl, CH(3))-[PtCl(gly-L-ala-N,N,O)(bpy)]NO(3) complex are 0 ppm and -19 ppm, respectively (0 ppm for the Na(2)[PtCl(6)] signal). The additive property of the (195)Pt NMR chemical shift is discussed. The (195)Pt NMR chemical shifts of [PtCl(dipeptide-N,N,O)(bpy)]Cl appeared at a higher field when the H attached to the dipeptide carbon atom was replaced with a methyl group. On the other hand, the (195)Pt NMR chemicals shifts of [PtCl(dipeptide-N,N,O)(diamine)] appeared at a lower field when the H attached to the diamine nitrogen atom was replaced with a methyl group, in the order of [PtCl(digly-N,N,O)(en)]Cl, [PtCl(digly-N,N,O)(N-Me-en)]Cl, and [PtCl(digly-N,N,O)(N,N'-diMe-en)]Cl.     

DNA binding by antitumor trans-[PtCl2(NH3)(thiazole)]. Protein recognition and nucleotide excision repair of monofunctional adducts

Antitumor effects of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cisplatin) and the clinical inactivity of its trans isomer (transplatin) have been considered a paradigm for the classical structure-activity relationships of platinum drugs. However, several new analogues of transplatin which exhibit a different spectrum of cytostatic activity including activity in tumor cells resistant to cisplatin have been recently identified. Analogues containing the planar amine ligand of the general structure trans-[PtCl(2)(NH(3))(L)], where L = planar amine, represent an example of such compounds. DNA is believed to be the major pharmacological target of platinum compounds. To contribute to the understanding of mechanisms underlying the activation of trans geometry in transplatin analogues containing planar amine ligands, various biochemical and biophysical methods were employed in previous studies to analyze the global modifications of natural DNA by trans-[PtCl(2)(NH(3))(L)]. These initial studies have revealed some unique features of the DNA binding mode of this class of platinum drugs. As the monofunctional lesions represent a significant fraction of stable adducts formed in DNA by bifunctional antitumor trans-platinum compounds with planar ligands, we analyzed in the present work short DNA duplexes containing the single, site-specific monofunctional adduct of a representative of this class of platinum drugs, antitumor trans-[PtCl(2)(NH(3))(thiazole)]. It has been shown that, in contrast to the adducts of monodentate chlorodiethylenetriamineplatinum(II) chloride or [PtCl(NH(3))(3)]Cl, the monofunctional adduct of trans-[PtCl(2)(NH(3))(thiazole)] inhibits DNA synthesis and creates a local conformational distortion similar to that produced in DNA by the major 1,2-GG intrastrand CL of cisplatin, which is considered the lesion most responsible for its anticancer activity. In addition, the monofunctional adducts of trans-[PtCl(2)(NH(3))(thiazole)] are recognized by HMGB1 domain proteins and removed by the nucleotide excision repair system similarly as the 1,2-GG intrastrand CL of cisplatin. The results of the present work further support the view that the simple chemical modification of the structure of an inactive platinum compound alters its DNA binding mode into that of an active drug and that processing of the monofunctional DNA adducts of the trans-platinum analogues in tumor cells may be similar to that of the major bifunctional adducts of "classical" cisplatin.     

Reactions of cisplatin hydrolytes with methionine, cysteine, and plasma ultrafiltrate studied by a combination of HPLC and NMR techniques

The reactions of cis-[PtCl(NH3)2(H2O)]+ with L-methionine have been studied by 1D 195Pt and 15N NMR, and by 2D[1H, 15N] NMR. When the platinum complex is in excess, the initial product, cis-[PtCl(NH3)2(Hmet-S)]+ undergoes slow ring closure to [Pt(NH3)2(Hmet-N,S)]2+. Slow ammine loss then occurs to give the isomer of [PtCl(NH3)(Hmet-N,S)]+ with chloride trans to sulfur. When methionine is in excess, a reaction sequence is proposed in which trans-[PtCl(NH3)(Hmet-S)2]+ isomerises to the cis-isomer, with subsequent ring closure reactions leading to cis-[Pt(Hmet-N,S)2]2+. Near pH 7, methionine is unreactive toward cis-[PtCl(OH)(NH3)2]. By contrast, L-cysteine reacts readily with cis-[PtCl(OH)(NH3)2] at pH 7, but there were many reaction products, including bridged species. Cis-[PtCl(OH)(NH3)2] reacts with reduced thiols in ultrafiltered plasma but these are oxidized if the plasma is not fresh or appropriately stored. With very low concentrations of the platinum complexes (35.5 microM), HPLC experiments (UV detection at 305 nm) indicate that the thiolate (probably cysteine) reactions become simpler as bridging becomes less important.     

The fate of platinum(II) and platinum(IV) anti-cancer agents in cancer cells and tumours

SRIXE mapping has been used to gain insight into the fate of platinum(II) and platinum(IV) complexes in cells and tumours treated with anticancer active complexes to facilitate the development of improved drugs. SRIXE maps were collected of thin sections of human ovarian (A2780) cancer cells treated with bromine containing platinum complexes, cis-[PtCl(2)(3-Brpyr)(NH(3))] (3-Brpyr=3-bromopyridine) and cis,trans,cis-[PtCl(2)(OAcBr)(2)(NH(3))(2)] (OAcBr=bromoacetate), or a platinum complex with an intercalator attached cis-[PtCl(2)(2-[(3-aminopropyl)amino]-9,10-anthracenedione)(NH(3))]. After 24h the complexes appear to be localised in the cell nucleus with a lower concentration in the surrounding cytoplasm. In cells treated with cis-[PtCl(2)(3-Brpyr)(NH(3))] the concentration of bromine was substantially higher than in control cells and the bromine was co-localised with the platinum consistent with the 3-bromopyridine ligand remaining bound to the platinum. The cells treated with cis,trans,cis-[PtCl(2)(OAcBr)(2)(NH(3))(2)] also showed an increased level of bromine, but to a much lesser extent than for those treated with cis-[PtCl(2)(3-Brpyr)(NH(3))] suggestive of substantial reduction of the platinum(IV) complex. Maps were also collected from thin sections of a 4T1.2 neo 1 mammary tumour xenograft removed from a mouse 3h after treatment with cis,trans,cis-[PtCl(2)(OH)(2)(NH(3))(2)] and revealed selective uptake of platinum by one cell.     

Studies of the binding of a series of platinum(IV) complexes to plasma proteins

The platinum(IV) complexes: [PtCl(4)(en)], cis,trans-[PtCl(2)(OAc)(2)(en)], cis,trans-[PtCl(2)(OH)(2)(en)] and trans-[Pt(OH)(2)(ethmal)(en)], encompassing a range of reduction potentials and their platinum(II) analogue [PtCl(2)(en)], have been assayed for their protein binding ability in the presence of albumin, albumin and L-cysteine and RPMI 1640 tissue culture medium supplemented with foetal calf serum (RPMI/FCS). cis,trans-[PtCl(4)(en)] exhibited significant protein binding in all three experiments, in a similar fashion to the platinum(II) complex, presumably as a consequence of its rapid reduction. The remaining three platinum(IV) complexes displayed little if any protein binding, with the greatest amount of binding observed in the RPMI/FCS experiment. The extent of binding in the RPMI/FCS correlated with the reduction potentials of the complexes, with the most readily reduced species binding to the greatest extent.     

Preparation of platinum(II) complexes with L-serine using KI. X-ray crystal structure, HPLC and 195Pt NMR spectra

The preparation of platinum(II) complexes containing L-serine using K(2)[PtCl(4)] and KI as raw materials was undertaken. The cis-trans isomer ratio of the complexes in the reaction mixture differed significantly depending on whether KI was present or absent in the reaction mixture. One of the two [Pt(L-ser-N,O)(2)] complexes (L-ser=L-serinate anion) prepared using KI crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with unit cell dimensions a=8.710(2) A, b=9.773(3) A, c=11.355(3) A, Z=4. The crystal data revealed that this complex has a cis configuration. The other [Pt(L-ser-N,O)(2)] complex also crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2(1)2(1)2(1) with unit cell dimensions a=7.0190(9) A, b=7.7445(6) A, c=20.946(2) A, Z=4. The crystal data revealed that this complex has a trans configuration. The 195Pt NMR chemical shifts of trans-[Pt(L-ser-N,O)(2)] and cis-[Pt(L-ser-N,O)(2)] complexes are -1632 and -1832 ppm, respectively. 195Pt NMR and HPLC measurements were conducted to monitor the reactions of the two [Pt(L-ser-N,O)(2)] complexes with HCl. Both 195Pt NMR and HPLC showed that the reactivities of cis- and trans-[Pt(L-ser-N,O)(2)] toward HCl are different: coordinated carboxyl oxygen atoms of trans-[Pt(L-ser-N,O)(2)] were detached faster than those for cis-[Pt(L-ser-N,O)(2)].     

Platinum complexes with one radiosensitizing ligand [PtCl2(NH3) (sensitizer)]: radiosensitization and toxicity studies in vitro

Complexes of general formula [PtCl2(NH3)L] with one radiosensitizing ligand per platinum are compared with ligand L alone, complexes with two radiosensitizers per platinum [PtCl2L2], and their analogs with NH3 ligands, with respect to radiosensitizing properties and toxicity in CHO cells. Radiosensitizing ligands, L, were misonidazole, metronidazole, 4(5)-nitroimidazole, and 2-amino-5-nitrothiazole, and the ammine analogs were cis- and trans-DDP [diamminedichloroplatinum(II)] and the monoammine, K[PtCl3(NH3)]. Results are related to a previous study on plasmid DNA binding by these series. The toxicity of the mono series [PtCl2(NH3)L], attributable to DNA binding, is much higher than the corresponding bis complexes, [PtCl2L2]. For L = misonidazole, toxicity is similar to the monoammine, but higher in hypoxic than in aerobic cells. trans-[PtCl2(NH3)-(misonidazole)] is more toxic than the cis isomer. Except for L = 4(5)-nitroimidazole, the complexes [PtCl2(NH3)L] are more toxic than L in air and hypoxia. Hypoxic radiosensitization by the mono complexes is comparable to the monoammine and is not better than free sensitizers, again except for L = 4(5)-nitroimidazole. Significantly lower sensitization is observed in oxic cells. The bis complexes [PtCl2L2], which do not bind to DNA as well as the mono complexes, are less effective radiosensitizers and less toxic than the [PtCl2(NH3)L] series.     

Reaction of cis- and trans-[PtCl2(NH3)2] with reduced glutathione inside human red blood cells, studied by 1H and 15N-[1H] DEPT NMR

Reactions of cis- and trans-[PtCl2(NH3)2] with glutathione (GSH) inside intact red blood cells have been studied by 1H spin-echo nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Upon addition of trans-[PtCl2(NH3)2] to a suspension of red cells, there was a gradual decrease in the intensity of the resonances for free GSH, and new peaks were observed that were assignable to coordinated GSH protons in trans-[Pt(SG)Cl(NH3)2], trans-[Pt(SG)2(NH3)2], and possibly the S-bridged complex trans-[[NH3)2PtCl)2SG]+. Formation of trans-[Pt(SG)2(NH3)2] inside the cell was confirmed from the 1H NMR spectrum of hemolyzed cells, which were ultrafiltered to remove large protein molecules; the ABM multiplet of the coordinated GSH cys-beta CH2 protons was resolved using selective-decoupling experiments. Seventy percent of the total intracellular GSH was retained by the ultrafiltration membrane, suggesting that the mixed complex trans-[Pt(SG)(S-hemoglobin)(NH3)2] also is a major metabolite of trans-[PtCl2(NH3)2] inside red cells. The reaction of cis-[PtCl2(NH3)2] with intracellular GSH was slower; only 35% of the GSH had been complexed after a 4-hr incubation compared to 70% for the trans isomer. There was a gradual decrease in the intensity of the GSH 1H spin-echo NMR resonances, but no new peaks were resolved. This was interpreted as formation of high-molecular weight Pt:GSH and mixed GS-Pt-S(hemoglobin) polymers. By using a 15N-[1H] DEPT pulse sequence, we were able to study the reaction of cis-[PtCl2(15NH3)2] with red cells at concentrations as low as 1 mM. 15NH3 ligands were released, and no resonances assignable to Pt-15NH3 species were observed after a 12-hr incubation.     

Modulation of the chemical and biological properties of trans platinum complexes: monofunctional platinum complexes containing one nucleobase as potential antiviral chemotypes

Replacement of one of the chloride leaving groups in trans-[PtCl2(NH3)(L)] by the nucleobase 9-ethylguanine gives the nucleobase cations [SP-4-2]-[PtCl(9-ethylguanine)(NH3)(L)]+ (L = NH3, 1; L = quinoline, 3), which are models for the monofunctional adduct on DNA. Displacement of Cl- in 1 and 3 by either 5'-guanosine monophosphate (5'-GMP) or N-acetyl-L-methionine (N-AcMet) showed clear kinetic preference for the sulfur (estimated half-lives of 1.5 and 4 h with N-AcMet against 7 and 17 h for 5'-GMP for 1 and 3, respectively). To further examine the kinetic preference, 1-methylcytosine (1-MeCyt) analogs were prepared, [SP-4-2]-[PtCl(1-Me-Cyt)(NH3)(L)]+ (L=NH3, 2; L=quinoline, 4). The -MeCyt compounds, 2 and 4, resulted in slower rates of substitution by both 5'-GMP and N-AcMet in comparison to 1 and 3 (estimated half-lives for N-AcMet of 5 and 13.5 h and for 5'-GMP of 6 and 14 h for 2 and 4, respectively). Interestingly in this case, however, no selectivity for the sulfur site was observed, a possible explanation being that molecular recognition across the square plane enhances the rate of reaction with 5'-GMP. The affinity of 3 towards S-donor ligands was exploited to remove zinc from the zinc-finger site of the C-terminal finger of the HIV-nucleocapsid protein, NCp7. The ability to eject zinc further suggested the biological antiviral application of [SP-4-2]-[PtCl(nucleobase)(NH3)(L)]+. A preliminary survey against HIV and herpes viruses indeed showed encouraging results with some antiviral specificity, dependent on the exact nature of the compound. The initial results suggest consideration of [SP-4-2]-[PtCl(nucleobase)(NH3)(L)]+ as a novel antiviral chemotype.     

Recognition of DNA modified by trans-[PtClNH(4-hydroxymethylpyridine)] by tumor suppressor protein p53 and character of DNA adducts of this cytotoxic complex

trans-[PtCl(2)NH(3)(4-Hydroxymethylpyridine)] (trans-PtHMP) is an analogue of clinically ineffective transplatin, which is cytotoxic in the human leukemia cancer cell line. As DNA is a major pharmacological target of antitumor platinum compounds, modifications of DNA by trans-PtHMP and recognition of these modifications by active tumor suppressor protein p53 were studied in cell-free media using the methods of molecular biology and biophysics. Our results demonstrate that the replacement of the NH(3) group in transplatin by the 4-hydroxymethylpyridine ligand affects the character of DNA adducts of parent transplatin. The binding of trans-PtHMP is slower, although equally sequence-specific. This platinum complex also forms on double-stranded DNA stable intrastrand and interstrand cross-links, which distort DNA conformation in a unique way. The most pronounced conformational alterations are associated with a local DNA unwinding, which was considerably higher than those produced by other bifunctional platinum compounds. DNA adducts of trans-PtHMP also reduce the affinity of the p53 protein to its consensus DNA sequence. Thus, downstream effects modulated by recognition and binding of p53 protein to DNA distorted by trans-PtHMP and transplatin are not likely to be the same. It has been suggested that these different effects may contribute to different antitumor effects of these two transplatinum compounds.     

Conformation, protein recognition and repair of DNA interstrand and intrastrand cross-links of antitumor trans-[PtCl2(NH3)(thiazole)

Replacement of one ammine in clinically ineffective trans-[PtCl2(NH3)2] (transplatin) by a planar N-heterocycle, thiazole, results in significantly enhanced cytotoxicity. Unlike 'classical' cisplatin {cis-[PtCl2(NH3)2]} or transplatin, modification of DNA by this prototypical cytotoxic transplatinum complex trans-[PtCl2(NH3)(thiazole)] (trans-PtTz) leads to monofunctional and bifunctional intra or interstrand adducts in roughly equal proportions. DNA fragments containing site-specific bifunctional DNA adducts of trans-PtTz were prepared. The structural distortions induced in DNA by these adducts and their consequences for high-mobility group protein recognition, DNA polymerization and nucleotide excision repair were assessed in cell-free media by biochemical methods. Whereas monofunctional adducts of trans-PtTz behave similar to the major intrastrand adduct of cisplatin [J. Kasparkova, O. Novakova, N. Farrell and V. Brabec (2003) Biochemistry, 42, 792-800], bifunctional cross-links behave distinctly differently. The results suggest that the multiple DNA lesions available to trans-planaramine complexes may all contribute substantially to their cytotoxicity so that the overall drug cytotoxicity could be the sum of the contributions of each of these adducts. However, acquisition of drug resistance could be a relatively rare event, since it would have to entail resistance to or tolerance of multiple, structurally dissimilar DNA lesions.     

Comparison of the electronic properties,and thermodynamic and kinetic parameters of the aquation of selected platinum(II) derivatives with their anticancer IC<Subscript>50</Subscript> indexes

Three potential anticancer agents {trans-[PtCl(2)(NH(3))(thiazole)], cis-[PtCl(2)(NH(3))(piperidine)], and PtCl(2)(NH(3))(cyclohexylamine) (JM118)} were explored and compared with cisplatin and the inactive [PtCl(dien)](+) complex. Basic electronic properties, bonding and stabilization energies were determined, and thermodynamic and kinetic parameters for the aquation reaction were estimated at the B3LYP/6-311++G(2df,2pd) level of theory. Since the aquation process represents activation of these agents, the obtained rate constants were compared with the experimental IC(50) values for several tumor cells. Despite the fact that the processes in which these drugs are involved and the way in which they affect cells are very complex, some correlations can be deduced.     

The effects of ruthenium tetraammine compounds on vascular smooth muscle.

The time course of the relaxation effect induced by a single dose (3 x 10(-6) mol/L) of trans-[Ru(NH3)4L(NO)]3+ (L=nic, 4-pic, py, imN, P(OEt)3, SO(3)(2-), NH3, and pz) species and sodium nitroprusside (4 x 10(-9) mol/L) was studied in aortic rings without endothelium and pre-contracted with noradrenaline (1 x 10(-6) mol/L). All the compounds induced a relaxing effect in the aortic rings, but the intensity and time of relaxation were different. Only the species where L=py, 4-pic, and P(OEt)3 were able to induce 100% (99-100%) of the relaxing effect during the assay. trans-[Ru(NH3)4(L)(NO)]3+ (L=SO(3)(2-) and NH3) showed the lowest relaxing effect (36 and 37%, respectively) when compared with the other compounds. Relationship was observed between the time corresponding to half of the maximum relaxation intensity observed and, respectively, k-NO, E0'[Ru(NO)]3+/[Ru(NO)]2+ in trans-[Ru(NH3)4(L)(NO)]3+ species and E0'Ru(III)/Ru(II) in trans-[Ru(NH3)4(L)(H2O)]3+ ions. These relationships strongly suggested that the NO liberation from the reduced nitrosyl complexes was responsible for the observed relaxation.     

Apoptosis induction and inhibition of H-ras overexpression by novel trans-[PtCl2(isopropylamine)(amine')] complexes

Hitherto, it has been generally accepted as a paradigm of the biochemical pharmacology of platinum antitumor drugs that a cis configuration of the leaving groups is necessary for antitumor activity of platinum compounds. However, it has been recently observed that certain trans-platinum complexes have both in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity. We previously reported the synthesis, characterization and cytotoxic activity against ras-transformed cells of several trans-[PtCl2LL'] complexes where L and L' are asymmetric aliphatic amines (L = dimethylamine and butylamine, L' = isopropylamine). The results reported in this paper show that the compounds trans-[PtCl2(isopropylamine)(dimethylamine)] and trans-[PtCl2(isopropylamine)(butylamine)] kill Pam 212-ras cisplatin resistant cells through apoptosis induction. Moreover, Western blot data show that both compounds inhibit overexpression of H-ras oncogene in Pam 212-ras cells. Altogether, these data indicate that, in contrast with cis-DDP, the apoptotic activity of these novel trans-Pt(II) compounds in ras-transformed cells is associated with their ability to abolish ras-overexpression.     

Chiral differentiation of DNA adducts formed by enantiomeric analogues of antitumor cisplatin is sequence-dependent

1,2-GG intrastrand cross-links formed in DNA by the enantiomeric complexes [PtCl(2)(R,R-2,3-diaminobutane (DAB))] and [PtCl(2)(S,S-DAB)] were studied by biophysical methods. Molecular modeling revealed that structure of the cross-links formed at the TGGT sequence was affected by repulsion between the 5'-directed methyl group of the DAB ligand and the methyl group of the 5'-thymine of the TGGT fragment. Molecular dynamics simulations of the solvated platinated duplexes and our recent structural data indicated that the adduct of [PtCl(2)(R,R-DAB)] alleviated this repulsion by unwinding the TpG step, whereas the adduct of [PtCl(2)(S,S-DAB)] avoided the unfavorable methyl-methyl interaction by decreasing the kink angle. Electrophoretic retardation measurements on DNA duplexes containing 1,2-GG intrastrand cross-links of Pt(R,R-DAB)(2+) or Pt(S,S-DAB)(2+) at a CGGA site showed that in this sequence both enantiomers distorted the double helix to the identical extent similar to that found previously for the same sequence containing the cross-links of the parent antitumor cis-Pt(NH(3))(2)(2+) (cisplatin). In addition, the adducts showed similar affinities toward the high-mobility-group box 1 proteins. Hence, whereas the structural perturbation induced in DNA by 1,2-GG intrastrand cross-links of cisplatin does not depend largely on the bases flanking the cross-links, the perturbation related to GG cross-linking by bulkier platinum diamine derivatives does.     

Multinuclear NMR spectroscopy and antitumor activity of novel platinum(II) complexes with 5,7-disubstituted-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines

Novel platinum(II) complexes with 5,7-disubstituted-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines have been synthesized and characterized by infrared and multinuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic techniques (1H, 13C, 15N, 195Pt). The complexes are of two types: [PtCl2(L)2] and [PtCl2(NH3)(L)], where L=5,7-diphenyl-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine (dptp) and 5,7-ditertbutyl-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine (dbtp). Significant 15N NMR upfield shifts (92-95 ppm) were observed for N(3) atom indicating this nitrogen atom as a coordination site. The molecular structure suggest that Pt(II) ion has the square planar geometry with N(3) bonded 5,7-disubstituted-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines, N-bonded second ligand (NH3 for cis-[PtCl2(NH3)(L)] or, respectively, 5,7-disubstituted-1,2,4-triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines for cis-[PtCl2L2]) and two cis chloride anions. The antiproliferative activity in vitro of complexes (1-4) have been tested against the cells of four human cell lines: SW707 rectal adenocarcinoma, A549 non-small cell lung carcinoma, T47D breast cancer and HCV29T bladder cancer. The results indicate a moderate antiproliferative activity of (4) against the cells of rectal, breast and bladder cancer and a marked and selective cytotoxic effect of (1-3) against the cells of all studied human cancer lines.