Claudia Pellerito

Molecular basis of the interaction of novel tributyltin(IV) 2/4-[(E)-2-(aryl)-1-diazenyl]benzoates endowed with an improved cytotoxic profile: Synthesis, structure, biological efficacy and QSAR studies

A series of tributyltin(IV) complexes based on 2/4-[(E)-2-(aryl)-1-diazenyl]benzoate ligands was synthesized, wherein the position of the carboxylate and aryl substituents (methyl, tert-butyl and hydroxyl) varies. The complexes, Bu(3)SnL(1-4)H (1-4), have been structurally characterized by elemental analysis and IR, NMR ((1)H, (13)C, and (119)Sn) and (119)Sn Mössbauer spectroscopy. All have a tetrahedral geometry in solution and a trigonal bipyramidal geometry in the solid-state, except for Bu(3)SnL(4)H (4) that was ascertained to have tetrahedral coordination by X-ray crystallography. Cytotoxicity studies were carried out on human tumor cell lines A498 (renal cancer), EVSA-T (mammary cancer), H226 (non-small-cell lung cancer), IGROV (ovarian cancer), M19 MEL (melanoma), MCF-7 (mammary cancer) and WIDR (colon cancer). Compared to cisplatin, test compounds 1-4 had remarkably good activity, despite the presence of substantial steric bulk due to Sn-Bu ligands. The quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) studies for the cytotoxicity of organotin(IV) benzoates, along with some reference drug molecules, is also discussed against a panel of human tumor cell lines. Molecular structures of the tributyltin(IV) complexes (1-4) were fully optimized using the PM6 semi-empirical method and docking studies performed with key enzymes associated with the propagation of cancer, namely ribonucleotide reductase, thymidylate synthase, thymidylate phosphorylase and topoisomerase II. The theoretical results are discussed in relation to the mechanistic role of the cytotoxic active test compounds (1-4).

Organometallic complexes with biological molecules. XI. Solid state and in vivo investigations of some diorganotin(IV)-chloramphenicol and cycloserine derivatives

Abstract Diorganotin(IV) derivatives of chloramphenicol, {=D-(-)threo-2,2-dichloro-N-[ β -hydroxy- α -(hydroxymethyl)- β -(4-nitrophenyl)ethyl]acetamide (=Hchloramph)}, and D-cycloserine, {=(R)-4-amino-3-isoxazolidone [=Hcyclos]} have been prepared. The stoichiometries of the obtained compounds were R 2 SnClantib and R 2 Snantib 2 (antib −1 =chloramph −1 , R=methyl and phenyl; antib −1 =cyclos −1 , R=methyl). The solid state configuration of the complexes was investigated by I.R. and Mossbauer spectroscopy, from which structural hypotheses were inferred. In particular, the experimental data suggested monomer structures both for R 2 Sn(IV)Clchloramph and R 2 Sn(IV)chloramph 2 , in which chloramphenicolate anion behaved as monoanionic monodentate ligand through the oxygen atom of the deprotonated secondary alcoholic group, with formation of tetrahedral R 2 SnOCl and R 2 SnO 2 environments. In R 2 Sn(IV)Clcyclos and R 2 Sn(IV)cyclos 2 derivatives, Mossbauer spectroscopy, and in particular the narrowness of the full width at half height of the resonant peaks, Γ 1 and Γ 2 , suggested the occurrence of two different absorbing tin sites with different environments around the tin(IV) atoms. According to calculations performed by applying the point charge model formalism, one site was constituted by a tin(IV) tetrahedrically coordinated by monoanionic monodentate cycloserinate groups, through the oxygen atom of the resonance stabilised hydroxamate anion, originating R 2 SnClO and R 2 SnO 2 polyhedrons both in R 2 Sn(IV)Clcyclos and R 2 Sn(IV)cyclos 2 , respectively. The second site would correspond to a tin(IV) in a polymeric octahedral configuration with Me 2 SnCl 2 ON and Me 2 SnO 2 N 2 environments, in Me 2 Sn(IV)Clcyclos and Me 2 Sn(IV)cyclos 2 derivatives, respectively, in which the second donor atoms was the amino nitrogen atom. 1 H and 13 C NMR spectra, of both chloramphenicol and its diorganotin(IV) derivatives were carried in DMSO-d 6 solution, in which R 2 Sn(IV)Clchloramph and R 2 Sn(IV)chloramph 2 underwent total, (R=Me), or partial, (R=Ph), dissociation. As far as the organotin(IV)-D-cycloserine derivatives were concerned, 1 H and 13 C NMR spectra, also carried out for the free D-cycloserine, showed that, owing to the coordinating properties of the solvent, octahedral and trigonal bipyramidal isomers were present in DMSO solution of Me 2 Sn(IV)Clcyclos and Me 2 Sn(IV)cyclos 2 . Finally, the cytotoxic activity of the free chloramphenicol, D-cycloserine and of their dimethyltin(IV) derivatives has been investigated towards Ciona intestinalis and Ascidia malaca fertilised eggs, at different developing stages.

Supramolecular Assemblies Based on Complexes of Nonionic Amphiphilic Cyclodextrins and a meso-Tetra(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphine Tributyltin(IV) Derivative: Potential Nanotherapeutics against Melanoma

Amphiphilic cyclodextrin (ACyD) provides water-soluble and adaptable nanovectors by modulating the balance between the hydrophobic and hydrophilic chains at both CyD sides. This work aimed to design nanoassemblies based on nonionic and hydrophilic ACyD (SC6OH) for the delivery of a poor-water-soluble organotin(IV)-porphyrin derivative [(Bu3Sn)4TPPS] to melanoma cancer cells. To characterize the porphyrin derivatives under simulated physiological conditions, a speciation was performed using complementary techniques. In aqueous solution (≤ 20 μM), (Bu3Sn)4TPPS primarily exists as a monomer (2 in Figure 1), as suggested by the low static anisotropy (ρ ≈ 0.02) with a negligible formation of porphyrin supramolecular aggregates. MALDI-TOF spectra indicate the presence of moieties (i.e., [(Bu3Sn)3TPPS](-)) that are derivatives of the monomeric species. Spectrofluorimetry coupled with potentiometric measurements primarily assesses the presence of the hydrolytic [(Bu3Sn)4TPPS (OH)4](4-) species under physiological conditions. Nanoassemblies of (Bu3Sn)4TPPS/SC6OH were prepared by dispersion of organic films in PBS at pH 7.4 and were investigated using a combination of spectroscopic and morphological techniques. The UV-vis and emission fluorescence spectra of the (Bu3Sn)4TPPS/SC6OH reveal shifts in the peculiar bands of the organotin(IV)-porphyrin derivative due to its interaction with the ACyD supramolecular assemblies in aqueous solution. The mean size was within the range of 100-120 nm. The ξ-potential was negative (-16 mV) for the (Bu3Sn)4TPPS/SC6OH nanoassemblies, with an entrapment efficiency of approximately 67%. The intracellular delivery, cytotoxicity, nuclear morphology and cell growth kinetics were evaluated via fluorescence microscopy on A375 human melanoma cells. The delivery of (Bu3Sn)4TPPS by ACyD with respect to free (Bu3Sn)4TPPS increases the internalization efficiency and cytotoxicity to induce apoptotic cell death and, at lower concentrations, changes the cellular morphology and prevents cell proliferation.

Organometallic Complexes with Biological Molecules. XIV. Biological Activity of Dialkyl and Trialkyltin(IV) (Meso-tetra(4-carboxy- phenyl)porphinate) Derivatives

Molecules. XIV. Biological Activity of Dialkyl and Trialkyltin(IV) [Meso-tetra(4-carboxyphenyl)porphinate] Derivatives C. Mansueto, E. Puccia, F. Maggio, R. Di Stefano, T. Fiore, C. Pellerito, F. Triolo and L. Pellerito* Dipartimento di Biologia Animale, Universita di Palermo, Via Archirafi 18, 90123 Palermo, Italy Dipartimento di Chimica Inorganica, Universita di Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Parco d’Orleans, 90128 Palermo, Italy

Diorganotin(IV) N-acetyl-L-cysteinate complexes: Synthesis, solid state, solution phase, DFT and biological investigations

Diorganotin(IV) complexes of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (H(2)NAC; (R)-2-acetamido-3-sulfanylpropanoic acid) have been synthesized and their solid and solution-phase structural configurations investigated by FTIR, Mössbauer, (1)H, (13)C and (119)Sn NMR spectroscopy. FTIR results suggested that in R(2)Sn(IV)NAC (R = Me, Bu, Ph) complexes NAC(2-) behaves as dianionic tridentate ligand coordinating the tin(IV) atom, through ester-type carboxylate, acetate carbonyl oxygen atom and the deprotonated thiolate group. From (119)Sn Mössbauer spectroscopy it could be inferred that the tin atom is pentacoordinated, with equatorial R(2)Sn(IV) trigonal bipyramidal configuration. In DMSO-d(6) solution, NMR spectroscopic data showed the coordination of one solvent molecule to tin atom, while the coordination mode of the ligand through the ester-type carboxylate and the deprotonated thiolate group was retained in solution. DFT (Density Functional Theory) study confirmed the proposed structures in solution phase as well as the determination of the most probable stable ring conformation. Biological investigations showed that Bu(2)SnCl(2) and NAC2 induce loss of viability in HCC cells and only moderate effects in non-tumor Chang liver cells. NAC2 showed lower cytotoxic activity than Bu(2)SnCl(2), suggesting that the binding with NAC(2-) modulates the marked cytotoxic activity exerted by Bu(2)SnCl(2). Therefore, these novel butyl derivatives could represent a new class of anticancer drugs.

Organometallic complexes with biological molecules: XII. Solid‐state and solution studies on dialkyltin(IV)– and trialkyltin(IV)–thiaminepyrophosphate derivatives

Dialkyltin(IV) and trialkyltin(IV) derivatives of the coenzyme thiaminepyrophosphate (H2TPP) have been synthesized with general formula R2Sn(HTPP)2·nH2O (Alk = Me, n = 2; Alk = Bu, n = 4) and R3SnHTPP·nH2O (R=Me, n = 2; R = Bu, n = 1), respectively. The solid-state structure of the complexes has been investigated through infrared and Mossbauer spectroscopy. The infrared data suggest the involvement of only phosphate oxygen atoms in the coordination of both dialkyl- and trialkyl-tin(IV) moieties, with phosphate anions behaving as monoanionic bidentate bridging or chelating groups, with the tin(IV) involved in six- and five-fold coordination geometries, respectively, in R2Sn(HTPP)2·nH2O (R = Me, n = 2; R = Bu, n = 4) and R3SnHTPP·nH2O (R = Me, n = 2; R = Bu, n = 1). The 119Sn Mossbauer data, and in particular rationalization of the experimental nuclear quadrupole splittings, Δ, through the point-charge model formalism, suggests the occurrence of an octahedral trans-R2 structure in R2Sn(HTPP)2·nH2O (R = Me, n = 2; R = Bu, n = 4) and a trigonal-bipyramidal structure in R3SnHTPP·nH2O (R = Me, n = 2; R = Bu, n = 1). 1H and 13C NMR spectra, in D2O, suggested that the soluble derivatives, at room temperature, in solution, maintained the solid-state structure. The interactions of dibutyltin(IV)–thiaminepyrophosphate (DBTPP) and tributyltin(IV)–thiaminepyrophosphate (TBTPP) complexes with Bluescript KS(+) plasmid and immortalized 3T3 fibroblasts were studied. Both compounds have a clear inhibitory effect on the growth of immortalized mouse embryonal fibroblasts (NIH-3T3), TBTPP being the much more active. No evidence was found, however, for DNA cleavage by the compounds at molar ratios as high as 1:10 (DBTPP, TBTPP/DNA base pairs). According to our observations, the cytotoxicity of TBTPP does not seem to be based on direct interaction with DNA, but in the presence of TBTPP (1:10, TBTPP/DNA bp), plasmid DNA seems to be more susceptible to cleavage by UV. Copyright

Synthesis, chemical characterization and biological activity of new histone acetylation/deacetylation specific inhibitors: A novel and potential approach to cancer therapy

Three new triorganotin(IV) complexes of valproic acid (vp1, Me3Sn-valproate; vp2, Bu3Sn-valproate; vp3, Ph3Sn-valproate) have been synthesized and investigated by spectroscopic and biological methods. An anionic, monodentate valproate ligand was observed, ester-like coordinating the tin atom on a tetra-coordinated, monomeric environment. The structures, though, can distort towards a penta-coordination, as a consequence of a long range O···Sn interaction. Crystallographic and NMR findings confirm this situation both in solid state and solution. Biological finding evidenced a clear cytotoxic action of the complexes in hepatocellular carcinoma cell cultures: one of the complexes induced an 80% cell viability reduction after 24h treatment in HepG2 cells. This effect was accompanied by the appearance of biochemical signs of apoptosis. In Chang liver cells, the same compound induced only modest effects, suggesting a potential use as anti-cancer drug. Preliminary evaluations on hyperacetylation state of histone H3 in tributyltin-valproate treated HepG2 cells showed an increase in Ac-H3 (histone H3 acetylated at lys-9 and lys-14), suggesting that the compound maintains the deacetylation inhibition activity of its ligand valproate.

Apoptosis and cell growth arrest in A375 human melanoma cells by diorganotin(IV) and triorganotin(IV) complexes of [meso-Tetra(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphine] manganese(III)chloride

In previous studies we have demonstrated that two derivatives of meso-Tetra(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphine (TPPS), (Bu2Sn)2TPPS and (Bu3Sn)4TPPS, cause apoptotic death of A375 melanoma cells and, at lower concentrations, arrest of cell proliferation. In the present study, we examined if the manganese metal inside the porphyrin cavity could improve the efficacy of this class of compounds. Thus, [meso-Tetra(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphine]Mn(III)Cl (=MnTPPS) derivatives, namely (Me2Sn)2MnTPPS, (Bu2Sn)2MnTPPS, (Me3Sn)4MnTPPS and (Bu3Sn)4MnTPPS, were tested on the A375 human melanoma cell line. A cytotoxicity assay showed that (Bu2Sn)2MnTPPS and (Bu3Sn)4MnTPPS were highly cytotoxic by inducing apoptosis in melanoma cells, as shown by DNA fragmentation analysis and by apoptotic nuclei fluorescence, and when used at lower concentrations, they affected only cellular proliferation. An arrest of cell proliferation was also observed with (Me3Sn)4MnTPPS, but at the highest concentrations used. Moreover, the lower concentration of (Bu3Sn)4MnTPPS induced a change in cell morphology, from a polygonal to an elongated and spindle-shaped phenotype, likewise to its cognate (Bu3Sn)4TPPS, previously tested. Western blotting analysis showed indeed that both tributyltin compounds, i.e. (Bu3Sn)4MnTPPS and (Bu3Sn)4TPPS, lowered levels of the major proteins involved in tumorigenesis: ß-catenin, c-myc and snail. We also demonstrated that all compounds entered the cells and localized in the nuclei. In conclusion, our results show that, in spite of the Mn(III) metal introduction, the butyl derivatives always have a higher efficacy than methyl derivatives, and the tributyltin compounds in particular have an interesting effect in vitro on A375 cell proliferation.

Studies on DNA interaction of organotin(IV) complexes of meso-tetra(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphine that show cellular activity.

The interaction of the diorgano- and triorganotin(IV) derivatives of meso-tetra-(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphine (Me2Sn)2TPPS, (Bu2Sn)2TPPS, (Me3Sn)4TPPS and (Bu3Sn)4TPPS to natural DNA was analysed (together with free meso-tetra-(4-sulfonatophenyl)porphine (TPPS4-) for comparison purposes). Particular attention was paid to (Bu3Sn)4TPPS, a species that shows significant cellular action. Preliminary tests were done on the solution properties of the organotin(IV) compounds (pKA and possible self-aggregation). Spectrophotometric and spectrofluorometric experiments showed that all the investigated organotin(IV) derivatives strongly interact with DNA, the binding energy depending on the dye steric hindrance. In all cases experimental data concur in indicating that external binding mode prevails. Interestingly, fluorescence quenching and viscosity experiments show that the Bu-containing species, and in particular (Bu3Sn)4TPPS, are able to noticeably alter the DNA conformation.

Synthesis, chemical characterization, computational studies and biological activity of new DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) specific inhibitor. Epigenetic regulation as a new and potential approach to cancer therapy

This work deals with the synthesis, the chemical characterization of dibutyltin(IV) complex of caffeic acid (Bu2Sn(IV)HCAF, caf1) and its cytotoxic action on tumor cells. The coordination environment at the tin center was investigated by FTIR, (119)Sn{(1)H} cross polarization magic angle spinning, electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy in the solid state and UV-vis, fluorescence and (1)H, (13)C and (119)Sn NMR spectroscopy in solution phases. Density functional theory study confirmed the proposed structures in solution phase and indicated the most probably stable conformation. The effects on viability of breast cancer MDA-MB231, colorectal cancer HCT116, hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 and Chang liver cells, an immortalized non-tumor hepatic cell line, have been investigated. The effect of a variation in structure of caf1 was found to lead to a change in the respective antiproliferative properties: caf1 induces loss of viability in HCT116, MDA-MB-231, and HepG2; the complex shows only moderate effects in non-tumor Chang liver cells. caf1 exerts lower cytotoxic activity than Bu2SnCl2, suggesting that the binding with H3CAF modulates the marked cytotoxic activity exerted by Bu2SnCl2; caf1 displays a considerably more pronounced antitumoural effect towards cell lines than caffeic acid. It is known that caffeic acid can modulate DNA (cytosine-5)-methyltransferases 1 (DNMT1) mediated DNA methylation. In this paper we demonstrate that caf1 treatment was able to induce a time-dependent reduction of global DNA methylated status. This effect was also confirmed by a concomitant reduction DNMT1 expression level. The effect induced by caf1 was more evident not only with respect to untreated cells but also compared to H3CAF treated cells.