DNA-Binding and Anticancer Activity of Pyrene-Imidazolium Derivatives

Author(s)
Riccardo Bonsignore, Antonietta Notaro, Anna Maria Pia Salvo, Angelo Spinello, Giuseppe Fiasconaro, Alessio Terenzi, Francesco Giacalone, Bernhard Keppler, Michela Giuliano, Michelangelo Gruttadauria, Giampaolo Barone
Abstract

DNA-binding investigations showed that two different derivatives endowed with pyrene and imidazolium moieties, 1 and 2, strongly bind both double-stranded DNA and telomeric sequences in G-quadruplex (G4) conformation. The values of the DNA-binding constants indicate that 1 and 2 show preferential affinity for G4-DNA, of about one and two orders of magnitude, respectively. Moreover, 1 and 2 inhibit short and long-term proliferation of breast cancer cell lines in a time- and dose-dependent fashion. Remarkably, senescence assays indicate that telomeric G4-DNA is a possible biotarget for the cytotoxic activity of 2. Molecular dynamics simulations suggest that the stronger binding of 2 with G4-DNA and the related senescence induction, are a consequence of additional edge-to-face interactions with a base in the TTA loop.

Organisation(s)
Department of Inorganic Chemistry
External organisation(s)
Università degli Studi di Palermo
Journal
Chemistry SELECT
Volume
1
Pages
6755–6761
No. of pages
7
ISSN
2365-6549
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/slct.201601502
Publication date
12-2016
Peer reviewed
Yes
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
104003 Inorganic chemistry, 301904 Cancer research, 106002 Biochemistry
Keywords
ASJC Scopus subject areas
General Chemistry
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
Portal url
https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/114f6c97-c683-4e4c-8dde-f04b9f48a234