Abstract
Despite presenting bioavailability problems, tea catechins have emerged as promising chemopreventive agents because of their observed efficacy in various animal models. To improve the stability and cellular absorption of tea polyphenols, we developed a new catechin-derived compound, 3- O-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoyl)-(-)-epicatechin (TMECG), which has shown significant antiproliferative activity against several cancer cell lines, especially melanoma. The presence of methoxy groups in its ester-bound gallyl moiety drastically decreased its antioxidant and prooxidant properties without affecting its cell-antiproliferative effects, and the data indicated that the 3-gallyl moiety was essential for its biological activity. As regards its action mechanism, we demonstrated that TMECG binds efficiently to human dihydrofolate reductase and down-regulates folate cycle gene expression in melanoma cells. Disruption of the folate cycle by TMECG is a plausible explanation for its observed biological effects and suggests that, like other antifolate compounds, TMECG could be of clinical value in cancer therapy.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Antioxidants / chemical synthesis*
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Antioxidants / chemistry
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Antioxidants / pharmacology*
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Catechin / analogs & derivatives*
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Catechin / chemical synthesis
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Catechin / chemistry
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Catechin / pharmacology
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Cell Line, Tumor
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Cell Proliferation / drug effects
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Cell Survival / drug effects
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Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
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Folic Acid / drug effects
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Folic Acid / metabolism
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Folic Acid Antagonists / chemical synthesis*
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Folic Acid Antagonists / chemistry
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Folic Acid Antagonists / pharmacology*
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Gene Expression Profiling
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Humans
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Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / drug effects
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Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / genetics
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Models, Molecular
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Molecular Structure
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NADP / chemistry
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NADP / drug effects
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RNA, Messenger / drug effects
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RNA, Messenger / genetics
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Stereoisomerism
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Structure-Activity Relationship
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Tea / chemistry
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Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase / drug effects
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Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase / genetics
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Thymidylate Synthase / drug effects
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Thymidylate Synthase / genetics
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Time Factors
Substances
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3-O-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoyl)epicatechin
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Antioxidants
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Folic Acid Antagonists
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RNA, Messenger
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Tea
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NADP
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Catechin
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Folic Acid
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epigallocatechin gallate
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Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)
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Tetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase
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Thymidylate Synthase