- Synthesis and biological evaluation of disulfides as anticancer agents with thioredoxin inhibition
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Altered redox homeostasis as a hallmark of cancer cells is exploited by cancer cells for growth and survival. The thioredoxin (Trx), an important regulator in maintaining the intracellular redox homeostasis, is cumulatively recognized as a promising target for the development of anticancer drugs. Herein, we synthesized 72 disulfides and evaluated their inhibition for Trx and antitumor activity. First, we established an efficient and fast method to screen Trx inhibitors by using the probe NBL-SS that was developed by our group to detect Trx function in living cells. After an initial screening of the Trx inhibitory activity of these compounds, 8 compounds showed significant inhibition activity against Trx. We then evaluated the cytotoxicity of these 8 disulfides, compounds 68 and 69 displayed high cytotoxicity to HeLa cells, but less sensitive to normal cell lines. Next, we performed kinetic studies of both two disulfides, 68 had faster inhibition of Trx than 69. Further studies revealed that 68 led to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and eventually induced apoptosis of Hela cells via inhibiting Trx. The establishment of a method for screening Trx inhibitors and the discovery of 68 with remarkable Trx inhibition provide support for the development of anticancer candidates with Trx inhibition.
- Wei, Xiangxu,Zhong, Miao,Wang, Song,Li, Lexun,Song, Zi-Long,Zhang, Junmin,Xu, Jianqiang,Fang, Jianguo
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- Synthesis and in vitro biological evaluation of thiosulfinate derivatives for the treatment of human multidrug-resistant breast cancer
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Organosulfur compounds derived from Allium vegetables have long been recognized for various therapeutic effects, including anticancer activity. Allicin, one of the main biologically active components of garlic, shows promise as an anticancer agent; however, instability makes it unsuitable for clinical application. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of stabilized allicin derivatives on human breast cancer cells in vitro. In this study, a total of 22 stabilized thiosulfinate derivatives were synthesized and screened for their in vitro antiproliferative activities against drug-sensitive (MCF-7) and multidrug-resistant (MCF-7/Dx) human adenocarcinoma breast cancer cells. Assays for cell death, apoptosis, cell cycle progression and mitochondrial bioenergetic function were performed. Seven compounds (4b, 7b, 8b, 13b, 14b, 15b and 18b) showed greater antiproliferative activity against MCF-7/Dx cells than allicin. These compounds were also selective towards multidrug-resistant (MDR) cells, a consequence attributed to collateral sensitivity. Among them, 13b exhibited the greatest anticancer activity in both MCF-7/Dx and MCF-7 cells, with IC50 values of 18.54±0.24 and 46.50±1.98 μmol/L, respectively. 13b altered cellular morphology and arrested the cell cycle at the G2/M phase. Additionally, 13b dose-dependently induced apoptosis, and inhibited cellular mitochondrial respiration in cells at rest and under stress. MDR presents a significant obstacle to the successful treatment of cancer clinically. These results demonstrate that thiosulfinate derivatives have potential as novel anticancer agents and may offer new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of chemoresistant cancers.
- Roseblade, Ariane,Ung, Alison,Bebawy, Mary
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p. 1353 - 1368
(2017/10/10)
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- The cytotoxicity of garlic-related disulphides and thiosulfonates in WHCO1 oesophageal cancer cells is dependent on S-thiolation and not production of ROS
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Background Garlic has been used for centuries in folk medicine for its health promoting and cancer preventative properties. The bioactive principles in crushed garlic are allyl sulphur compounds which are proposed to chemically react through (i) protein S-thiolation and (ii) production of ROS. Methods A collection of R-propyl disulphide and R-thiosulfonate compounds were synthesised to probe the importance of thiolysis and ROS generation in the cytotoxicity of garlic-related compounds in WHCO1 oesophageal cancer cells. Results A significant correlation (R2 = 0.78, Fcrit (7,1) α = 0.005) was found between the cytotoxicity IC50 and the leaving group pKa of the R-propyl disulphides and thiosulfonates, supporting a mechanism that relies on the thermodynamics of a mixed disulphide exchange reaction. Disulphide (1) and thiosulfonate (11) were further evaluated mechanistically and found to induce G2/M cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis, inhibit cell proliferation, and generate ROS. When the ROS produced by 1 and 11 were quenched with Trolox, ascorbic acid or N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), only NAC was found to counter the cytotoxicity of both compounds. However, NAC was found to chemically react with 11 through mixed disulphide formation, providing an explanation for this apparent inhibitory result. Conclusion Cellular S-thiolation by garlic related disulphides appears to be the cause of cytotoxicity in WHCO1 cells. Generation of ROS appears to only play a secondary role. General significance Our findings do not support ROS production causing the cytotoxicity of garlic-related disulphides in WHCO1 cells. Importantly, it was found that the popular ROS inhibitor NAC interferes with the assay.
- Smith, Muneerah,Hunter, Roger,Stellenboom, Nashia,Kusza, Daniel A.,Parker, M. Iqbal,Hammouda, Ahmed N.H.,Jackson, Graham,Kaschula, Catherine H.
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p. 1439 - 1449
(2016/05/09)
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- A traceless, one-pot preparation of unsymmetric disulfides from symmetric disulfides through a repeated process involving sulfenic acid and thiosulfinate intermediates
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A variable group of unsymmetric disulfides was prepared under mild reaction conditions and in high yields through the reaction of symmetric disulfides with sulfuryl chloride followed by treatment with thiols in the presence of water.
- Han, Minsoo,Lee, Jong Tak,Hahn, Hoh-Gyu
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experimental part
p. 236 - 239
(2011/02/28)
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- 4'-NITROARENESULPHENANILIDES: THEIR USE IN THE SYNTHESIS OF UNSYMMETRICAL DISULPHIDES
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The reaction of 4'-nitroarenesulphenanilides with thiols in the presence of boron trifluoride etherate can provide an effective route to unsymmetrical disulphides.
- Benati, L.,Montevecchi, P. C.,Spagnolo, P.
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p. 1739 - 1742
(2007/10/02)
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