A gold(I) phosphine complex containing a naphthalimide ligand functions as a TrxR inhibiting antiproliferative agent and angiogenesis inhibitor

Ingo Ott, Xuhong Qian, Yufang Xu, Danielle H.W. Vlecken, Ines J. Marques, Dominic Kubutat, Joanna Will, William S. Sheldrick, Patrick Jesse, Aram Prokop, Christoph P. Bagowski

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

182 Scopus citations

Abstract

The novel luminescent gold(I) complex [N-(N'N'-dimethylaminoethyl)-1,8- naphthalimide-4-sulflde](trieth- ylphosphine)gold(I) was prepared and investigated for its primary biological properties. Cell culture experiments revealed strong antiproliferative effects and induction of apoptosis via mitochondrial pathways. Biodistribution studies by fluorescence microscopy and atomic absorption spectroscopy showed the uptake into cell organelles, an accumulation in the nuclei of tumor cells, and a homogeneous distribution in zebrafish embryos. In vivo monitoring of vascularisation in developing zebrafish embryos revealed a significant anti- angiogenic potency of the complex. Mechanistic experiments indicated that the inhibition of thioredoxin reductase(based on the covalent binding of a gold triethylphosphine fragment) might be involved in the pharmacodynamic behavior of this novel gold species.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)763-770
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Medicinal Chemistry
Volume52
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 12 Feb 2009
Externally publishedYes

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'A gold(I) phosphine complex containing a naphthalimide ligand functions as a TrxR inhibiting antiproliferative agent and angiogenesis inhibitor'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this