Inhibition of Microtubule Dynamics in Cancer Cells by Indole-Modified Latonduine Derivatives and Their Metal Complexes

Inorg Chem. 2022 Jan 24;61(3):1456-1470. doi: 10.1021/acs.inorgchem.1c03154. Epub 2022 Jan 7.

Abstract

Indolo[2,3-d]benzazepines (indololatonduines) are rarely discussed in the literature. In this project, we prepared a series of novel indololatonduine derivatives and their RuII and OsII complexes and investigated their microtubule-targeting properties in comparison with paclitaxel and colchicine. Compounds were fully characterized by spectroscopic techniques (1H NMR and UV-vis), ESI mass-spectrometry, and X-ray crystallography, and their purity was confirmed by elemental analysis. The stabilities of the compounds in DMSO and water were confirmed by 1H and 13C NMR and UV-vis spectroscopy. Novel indololatonduines demonstrated anticancer activity in vitro in a low micromolar concentration range, while their coordination to metal centers resulted in a decrease of cytotoxicity. The preliminary in vivo activity of the RuII complex was investigated. Fluorescence staining and in vitro tubulin polymerization assays revealed the prepared compounds to have excellent microtubule-destabilizing activities, even more potent than the well-known microtubule-destabilizing agent colchicine.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Coordination Complexes / chemical synthesis
  • Coordination Complexes / chemistry
  • Coordination Complexes / pharmacology*
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring / chemistry
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Indoles / chemistry
  • Indoles / pharmacology*
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / drug therapy
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / metabolism
  • Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / pathology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Microtubules / drug effects*
  • Microtubules / metabolism
  • Models, Molecular
  • Molecular Structure
  • Polymerization / drug effects
  • Tubulin / metabolism
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Coordination Complexes
  • Heterocyclic Compounds, 3-Ring
  • Indoles
  • Tubulin
  • latonduine A
  • latonduine B
  • indole