Copper(II) Complexes with Isomeric Morpholine-Substituted 2-Formylpyridine Thiosemicarbazone Hybrids as Potential Anticancer Drugs Inhibiting Both Ribonucleotide Reductase and Tubulin Polymerization: The Morpholine Position Matters
- Author(s)
- Miljan N.M. Milunovic, Katerina Ohui, Iuliana Besleaga, Tatsiana V. Petrasheuskaya, Orsolya Dömötör, Éva A. Enyedy, Denisa Darvasiova, Peter Rapta, Zuzana Barbieriková, Daniel Vegh, Szilárd Tóth, Judit Tóth, Nóra Kucsma, Gergely Szakács, Ana Popović-Bijelić, Ayesha Zafar, Jóhannes Reynisson, Anatoly D. Shutalev, Ruoli Bai, Ernest Hamel, Vladimir B. Arion
- Abstract
The development of copper(II) thiosemicarbazone complexes as potential anticancer agents, possessing dual functionality as inhibitors of R2 ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) and tubulin polymerization by binding at the colchicine site, presents a promising avenue for enhancing therapeutic effectiveness. Herein, we describe the syntheses and physicochemical characterization of four isomeric proligands H2L3-H2L6, with the methylmorpholine substituent at pertinent positions of the pyridine ring, along with their corresponding Cu(II) complexes 3-6. Evidently, the position of the morpholine moiety and the copper(II) complex formation have marked effects on the in vitro antiproliferative activity in human uterine sarcoma MES-SA cells and the multidrug-resistant derivative MES-SA/Dx5 cells. Activity correlated strongly with quenching of the tyrosyl radical (Y•) of mouse R2 RNR protein, inhibition of RNR activity in the cancer cells, and inhibition of tubulin polymerization. Insights into the mechanism of antiproliferative activity, supported by experimental results and molecular modeling calculations, are presented.
- Organisation(s)
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry
- External organisation(s)
- University of Szeged, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, Hungarian Research Network, Medizinische Universität Wien, University of Belgrade, University of Auckland, Keele University, Russian Academy of Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Petru Poni Institute of Macromolecular chemistry
- Journal
- Journal of Medicinal Chemistry
- Volume
- 67
- Pages
- 9069-9090
- No. of pages
- 22
- ISSN
- 0022-2623
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00259
- Publication date
- 2024
- Peer reviewed
- Yes
- Austrian Fields of Science 2012
- 104003 Inorganic chemistry, 301305 Medical chemistry, 301306 Medical molecular biology
- ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Molecular Medicine, Drug Discovery
- Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
- Portal url
- https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/en/publications/1c66771b-90b6-4286-9e31-202a918d03ce