Aquation Is a Crucial Activation Step for Anticancer Action of Ruthenium(II) Polypyridyl Complexes to Trigger Cancer Cell Apoptosis.
Aquation has been proposed as crucial chemical action step for ruthenium (Ru) complexes, but its effects on the action mechanisms remain elusive. Herein, we have demonstrated the aquation process of a potent Ru polypyridyl complex (RuBmp=[Ru(II) (bmbp)(phen)Cl]ClO4 , bmbp=2,6-bis(6-methylbenzimidazol-2-yl) pyridine, phen=phenanthroline) with a chloride ligand, and revealed that aquation of RuBmp effectively enhanced its hydrophilicity and cellular uptake, thus significantly increasing its anticancer efficacy. The aquation products (H-RuBmp=[Ru(II) (bmbp)(phen)Cl]ClO4 , [Ru(II) (bmbp)(phen)(H2 O)]ClO4 , bmbp) exhibited a much higher apoptosis-inducing ability than the intact complex, with involvement of caspase activation, mitochondria dysfunction, and interaction with cell membrane death receptors. H-RuBmp demonstrated a higher interaction potency with the cell membrane and induced higher levels of ROS overproduction in cancer cells to regulate the AKT, MAPK, and p53 signaling pathways. Taken together, this study could provide useful information for fine-tuning the rational design of next-generation metal medicines.
Department of Chemistry, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510631, P. R China.
Meng
M
Li
Department of Chemistry, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510631, P. R China.
Lanhai
L
Lai
Department of Chemistry, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510631, P. R China.
Zhennan
Z
Zhao
Department of Chemistry, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510631, P. R China. tchentf@jun.edu.cn.
Tianfeng
T
Chen
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001692:Biological Transport; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D061986:MCF-7 Cells; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017975:Ruthenium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D017975:Ruthenium Compounds; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases
apoptosis; aquation; drug design; ligand leaving; ruthenium complexes