Xiao-Ling Jin

Hydroxycinnamic Acids as DNA‐Cleaving Agents in the Presence of CuII Ions: Mechanism, Structure–Activity Relationship, and Biological Implications

The effectiveness of hydroxycinnamic acids (HCAs), that is, caffeic acid (CaA), chlorogenic acid (ChA), sinapic acid (SA), ferulic acid (FA), 3-hydroxycinnamic acid (3-HCA), and 4-hydroxycinnamic acid (4-HCA), as pBR322 plasmid DNA-cleaving agents in the presence of Cu(II) ions was investigated. Compounds bearing o-hydroxy or 3,5-dimethoxy groups on phenolic rings (CaA, SA, and ChA) were remarkably more effective at causing DNA damage than the compounds bearing no such groups; furthermore, CaA was the most active among the HCAs examined. The involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Cu(I) ions in the DNA damage was affirmed by the inhibition of the DNA breakage by using specific scavengers of ROS and a Cu(I) chelator. The interaction between CaA and Cu(II) ions and the influence of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), the solvent, and pH value on the interaction were also studied to help elucidate the detailed prooxidant mechanism by using UV/Vis spectroscopic analysis. On the basis of these observations, it is proposed that it is the CaA phenolate anion, instead of the parent molecule, that chelates with the Cu(II) ion as a bidentate ligand, hence facilitating the intramolecular electron transfer to form the corresponding CaA semiquinone radical intermediate. The latter undergoes a second electron transfer with oxygen to form the corresponding o-quinone and a superoxide, which play a pivotal role in the DNA damage. The intermediacy of the semiquinone radical was supported by isolation of its dimer from the Cu(II)-mediated oxidation products. Intriguingly, CaA was also the most cytotoxic compound among the HCAs toward human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cell proliferation. Addition of exogenous Cu(II) ions resulted in an effect dichotomy on cell viability depending on the concentration of CaA; that is, low concentrations of CaA enhanced the cell viability and, conversely, high concentrations of CaA almost completely inhibited the cell proliferation. On the other hand, when superoxide dismutase was added before, the two stimulation effects of exogenous Cu(II) ions were significantly ameliorated, thus clearly indicating that the oxidative-stress level regulates cell proliferation and death. These findings provide direct evidence for the antioxidant/prooxidant mechanism of cancer chemoprevention.

Characterization of hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives binding to bovine serum albumin

Hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives (HCAs) are a group of naturally occurring polyphenolic compounds which possess various pharmacological activities. In this work, the interactions of bovine serum albumin (BSA) with six HCA derivatives, including chlorogenic acid (CHA), caffeic acid (CFA), m-coumaric acid (m-CA), p-coumaric acid (p-CA), ferulic acid (FA) and sinapic acid (SA) have been investigated by NMR spectroscopic techniques in combination with fluorescence and molecular modeling methods. Competitive STD NMR experiments using warfarin sodium and L-tryptophan as site-selective probes indicated that HCAs bind to site I in the subdomain IIA of BSA. From the analysis of the STD NMR-derived binding epitopes and molecular docking models, it was deduced that CHA, CFA, m-CA and p-CA show similar binding modes and orientation, in which the phenyl ring is in close contact with protein surface, whereas carboxyl group points out of the protein. However, FA and SA showed slightly different binding modes, due to the steric hindrance of methoxy-substituents on the phenyl ring. Relaxation experiments provided detailed information about the relationship between the affinity and structure of HCAs. The binding affinity was the strongest for CHA and ranked in the order CHA > CFA > m-CA ≥ p-CA > FA > SA, which agreed well with the results from fluorescence experiments. Based on our experimental results, we also conclude that HCAs bind to BSA mainly by hydrophobic interaction and hydrogen bonding. This study therefore provides valuable information for elucidating the mechanisms of BSA-HCAs interaction.

Influence of Glucuronidation and Reduction Modifications of Resveratrol on its Biological Activities

Resveratrol (3,5,4′‐trihydroxystilbene, RES), a star among dietary polyphenols, shows a wide range of biological activities, but it is rapidly and extensively metabolized into its glucuronide and sulfate conjugates as well as to the corresponding reduced products. This begs the question of whether the metabolites of RES contribute to its in vivo biological activity. To explore this possibility, we synthesized its glucuronidation (3‐GR and 4′‐GR) and reduction (DHR) metabolites, and evaluated the effect of these structure modifications on biological activities, including binding ability with human serum albumin (HSA), antioxidant activity in homogeneous solutions and heterogeneous media, anti‐inflammatory activity, and cytotoxicity against various cancer cell lines. We found that 1) 4′‐GR, DHR and RES show nearly equal binding to HSA, mainly through hydrogen bonding, whereas 3‐GR adopts a quite different orientation mode upon binding, thereby resulting in reduced ability; 2) 3‐GR shows comparable (even equal) ability to RES in FRAP‐ and AAPH‐induced DNA strand breakage assays; DHR, 3‐GR, and 4′‐GR exhibit anti‐hemolysis activity comparable to that of RES; additionally, 3‐GR and DHR retain some degree activity of the parent molecule in DPPH.‐scavenging and cupric ion‐initiated oxidation of LDL assays, respectively; 3) compared to RES, 4′‐GR displays equipotent ability in the inhibition of COX‐2, and DHR presents comparable activity in inhibiting NO production and growth of SMMC‐7721 cells. Relative to RES, its glucuronidation and reduction metabolites showed equal, comparable, or some degree of activity in the above assays, depending on the specific compound and test model, which probably supports their roles in contributing to the in vivo biological activities of the parent molecule.

Designing piperlongumine-directed anticancer agents by an electrophilicity-based prooxidant strategy: A mechanistic investigation

Piperlongumine (PL), a natural electrophilic alkaloid bearing two α, β-unsaturated imides, is a promising anticancer molecule by targeting the stress response to reactive oxygen species (ROS). Considering that ROS generation depends on electrophilicity of PL, PL-CL was designed as its analog by introducing the α-substituent chlorine on the lactam ring to increase moderately its electrophilicity. In comparison with the parent molecule, this molecule was identified as a stronger ROS (O2(∙-) and H2O2) inducer and cytotoxic agent, and manifested more than 15-fold selectivity toward A549 cells over normal WI-38 cells. Mechanistic study uncovers for the first time that the selenoprotein thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) is one of the targets by which PL-CL promotes the ROS generation. Stronger intracellular TrxR inhibition and higher accumulation of ROS (O2(∙-) and H2O2) are responsible for more effective S-phase arrest and mitochondria-mediated apoptotic induction of A549 cells by PL-CL than PLvia p53-p21-cyclinA/CDK2 and ASK1-JNK/p38 signaling cascade pathways, respectively. This work provides an example of successfully designing PL-directed anticancer agent by an electrophilicity-based prooxidant (ROS-generating agent) strategy and gives added confidence for extending this strategy to other natural products.

Visible‐Light‐Driven Intermolecular [2+2] Cycloadditions between Coumarin‐3‐Carboxylates and Acrylamide Analogs

This paper reports a room temperature visible-light-driven protocol for the intermolecular [2+2] cycloadditions between coumarin-3-carboxylates and acrylamides analogs by an energy-transfer process. Using an iridium complex FIrPic as a photosensitizer and a 3 W blue LED as a light source, an array of cyclobutabenzocypyranones were prepared in moderate to excellent yields.

Extraordinary Radical Scavengers: 4-Mercaptostilbenes

In the past decade, there was a great deal of interest and excitement in developing more active antioxidants and cancer chemoprevention agents than resveratrol, a naturally occurring stilbene. In this work, eight resveratrol-directed 4-mercaptostilbenes were constructed based on the inspiration that thiophenol should be a stronger radical scavenger than phenol, and their reaction rates with galvinoxyl (GO(.)) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH(.)) radicals in methanol and ethyl acetate were measured by using stopped-flow UV/Vis spectroscopy at 25 °C. Kinetic analysis demonstrates that 4-mercaptostilbenes are extraordinary radical scavengers, and the substitution of the 4-SH group for the 4-OH group in the stilbene scaffold is an important strategy to improve the radical-scavenging activity of resveratrol. Surprisingly, in methanol, some of the 4-mercaptostilbenes are 10(4)-times more active than resveratrol, dozens of times to hundreds of times more effective than known antioxidants (α-tocopherol, ascorbic acid, quercetin, and trolox). The detailed radical-scavenging mechanisms were discussed based on acidified-kinetic analysis. Addition of acetic acid remarkably reduced the GO(.) and DPPH(.) radical-scavenging rates of the 4-mercaptostilbenes in methanol, a solvent that supports ionization, suggesting that the reactions proceed mainly through a sequential proton loss electron transfer mechanism. In contrast, an interesting acid-promoted kinetics was observed for the reactions of the 4-mercaptostilbenes with DPPH(.) in ethyl acetate, a solvent that weakly supports ionization. The increased ratio in rates is closely correlated with the electron-rich environment in the molecules, suggesting that the acceleration could benefit from the contribution of the electron transfer from the 4-mercaptostilbenes and DPPH(.). However, the addition of acetic acid had no influence on the GO(.)-scavenging rates of the 4-mercaptostilbenes in ethyl acetate, due to the occurrence of the direct hydrogen atom transfer. Our results show that the radical-scavenging activity and mechanisms of 4-mercaptostilbenes depends significantly on the molecular structure and acidity, the nature of the attacking radical, and the ionizing capacity of the solvent.

Influence of side chain structure changes on antioxidant potency of the [6]-gingerol related compounds

[6]-Gingerol and [6]-shogaol are the major pungent components in ginger with a variety of biological activities including antioxidant activity. To explore their structure determinants for antioxidant activity, we synthesized eight compounds differentiated by their side chains which are characteristic of the C1-C2 double bond, the C4-C5 double bond or the 5-OH, and the six- or twelve-carbon unbranched alkyl chain. Our results show that their antioxidant activity depends significantly on the side chain structure, the reaction mediums and substrates. Noticeably, existence of the 5-OH decreases their formal hydrogen-transfer and electron-donating abilities, but increases their DNA damage- and lipid peroxidation-protecting abilities. Additionally, despite significantly reducing their DNA strand breakage-inhibiting activity, extension of the chain length from six to twelve carbons enhances their anti-haemolysis activity.

Keto-enol-based modification on piperlongumine to generate a potent Cu(II) ionophore that triggers redox imbalance and death of HepG2 cells

ABSTRACT Altered redox status including higher levels of copper in cancer cells than in normal cells inspired many researchers to develop copper ionophores targeting this status. We have recently found that flavon‐3‐ol (3‐HF) works as a potent Cu(II) ionophore by virtue of its keto‐enol moiety. To further emphasize the significance of this moiety for developing Cu(II) ionophores, we herein designed a &bgr;‐diketo analog of piperlongumine, PL‐I, characterized by the presence of high proportion of the keto‐enol form in dimethylsulfoxide and chloroform, and identified its keto‐enol structure by NMR and theoretical calculations. Benefiting from deprotonation of its enolic hydroxyl group, this molecule is capable of facilitating the transport of Cu(II) through cellular membranes to disrupt redox homeostasis of human hepatoma HepG2 cells and trigger their death. HIGHLIGHTSShowing the significance of a keto‐enol moiety for developing Cu(II) ionophores.Keto‐enol‐based modification on piperlongumine to generate the designed PL‐I.Its keto‐enol structure was well‐identified by NMR and theoretical calculations.This molecule in the enol form deprotonated can effectively complex Cu(II).This molecule triggers redox imbalance and death of HepG2 cells.

A 1,8-naphthalimide-based turn-on fluorescent probe for imaging mitochondrial hydrogen peroxide in living cells

Abstract Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) produced from mitochondria has attracted much attention on account of its physiological and pathological functions. Therefore, monitoring mitochondrial H2O2 levels in living cells is of great significance for understanding its functions. We report here a mitochondria-targeted H2O2 probe, Mito-HP, which was designed based on the 1,8-naphthalimide fluorogen by incorporation of a triphenylphosphonium targeting group and a boronate-based molecule switch. The probe demonstrates desired properties such as high selectivity, “turn-on” fluorescence response, excellent water solubility and physiological pH-response along with low cytotoxicity. Fluorescence colocalization studies indicate that the probe is capable of targeting the mitochondria of HeLa cells and is sensitive to the exogenous and endogenous production of H2O2 with a turn-on fluorescence increase.