Synthesis, computational study and biological evaluation of 9-acridinyl and 1-coumarinyl-1,2,3-triazole-4-yl derivatives as topoisomerase II inhibitors

J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem. 2022 Dec;37(1):502-513. doi: 10.1080/14756366.2021.2021898.

Abstract

Topoisomerase (IIB) inhibitors have been involved in the therapies of tumour progression and have become a major focus for the development of anticancer agents. New three-component hybridised ligands, 1,4-disubstituted-1,2,3-triazoles (8-17), were synthesised via a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction of 9-azidoacridine/3-azidocoumarin with N/O-propargyl small molecules under click reaction conditions. Cancer cell growth inhibition of the synthesised triazoles was tested against human cell-lines in the NCI-60-cell-panel, and the most active compounds tested against topoisomerase (IIB)-enzymes. The acridinyl ligands (8-10) revealed 60-97% cell growth inhibition in six cancer cell-panels. Cell-cycle analysis of MCF7 and DU-145 cells treated with the active acridinyl ligands exhibited cell-cycle arrest at G2/M phase and proapoptotic activity. In addition, compound 8 displayed greater inhibitory activity against topoisomerase (IIB) (IC50 0.52 µM) compared with doxorubicin (IC50 0.83 µM). Molecular dynamics simulation studies showed the acridine-triazole-pyrimidine hybrid pharmacophore was optimal with respect to protein-ligand interaction and fit within the binding site, with optimal orientation to allow for intercalation with the DNA bases (DG13, DC14, and DT9).

MeSH terms

  • Acridines / chemistry
  • Acridines / pharmacology*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Coumarins / chemistry
  • Coumarins / pharmacology*
  • DNA Topoisomerases, Type II / metabolism*
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Doxorubicin / chemistry
  • Doxorubicin / pharmacology
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Topoisomerase II Inhibitors / chemical synthesis
  • Topoisomerase II Inhibitors / chemistry
  • Topoisomerase II Inhibitors / pharmacology*
  • Triazoles / chemistry
  • Triazoles / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Acridines
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Coumarins
  • Topoisomerase II Inhibitors
  • Triazoles
  • Doxorubicin
  • coumarin
  • DNA Topoisomerases, Type II

Grants and funding

The authors acknowledge support of the latter, which is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) via the Welsh Government.