Enzyme-Regulated Supramolecular Assemblies of Cholesterol Conjugates against Drug-Resistant Ovarian Cancer Cells

J Am Chem Soc. 2016 Aug 31;138(34):10758-61. doi: 10.1021/jacs.6b06075. Epub 2016 Aug 18.

Abstract

We report that phosphotyrosine-cholesterol conjugates effectively and selectively kill cancer cells, including platinum-resistant ovarian cancer cells. The conjugate increases the degree of noncovalent oligomerization upon enzymatic dephosphorylation in aqueous buffer. This enzymatic conversion also results in the assembly of the cholesterol conjugates inside and outside cells and leads to cell death. Preliminary mechanistic studies suggest that the formed assemblies of the conjugates not only interact with actin filaments and microtubules but also affect lipid rafts. As the first report of multifaceted supramolecular assemblies of cholesterol conjugates against cancer cells, this work illustrates the integration of enzyme catalysis and self-assembly of essential biological small molecules on and inside cancer cells as a promising strategy for developing multifunctional therapeutics to treat drug-resistant cancers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cholesterol / chemistry*
  • Cholesterol / pharmacology*
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / drug effects*
  • Enzymes / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Phosphotyrosine / chemistry

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Enzymes
  • Phosphotyrosine
  • Cholesterol