Identification of Effective Anticancer G-Quadruplex-Targeting Chemotypes through the Exploration of a High Diversity Library of Natural Compounds

In the quest for selective G-quadruplex (G4)-targeting chemotypes, natural compounds have been thus far poorly explored, though representing appealing candidates due to the high structural diversity of their scaffolds. In this regard, a unique high diversity in-house library composed of ca. one thou...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pharmaceutics 2021-10, Vol.13 (10), p.1611
Main Authors: Platella, Chiara, Ghirga, Francesca, Zizza, Pasquale, Pompili, Luca, Marzano, Simona, Pagano, Bruno, Quaglio, Deborah, Vergine, Valeria, Cammarone, Silvia, Botta, Bruno, Biroccio, Annamaria, Mori, Mattia, Montesarchio, Daniela
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Binding sites
Biodiversity
Cancer
chelidonine
Chemistry
Chromatography
Flavonoids
G-quadruplex
high diversity library
Investigations
Ligands
natural compounds
Natural products
Polyphenols
rotenone
Steroids
telomere
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Summary:In the quest for selective G-quadruplex (G4)-targeting chemotypes, natural compounds have been thus far poorly explored, though representing appealing candidates due to the high structural diversity of their scaffolds. In this regard, a unique high diversity in-house library composed of ca. one thousand individual natural products was investigated. The combination of molecular docking-based virtual screening and the G4-CPG experimental screening assay proved to be useful to quickly and effectively identify—out of many natural compounds—five hit binders of telomeric and oncogenic G4s, i.e., Bulbocapnine, Chelidonine, Ibogaine, Rotenone and Vomicine. Biophysical studies unambiguously demonstrated the selective interaction of these compounds with G4s compared to duplex DNA. The rationale behind the G4 selective recognition was suggested by molecular dynamics simulations. Indeed, the selected ligands proved to specifically interact with G4 structures due to peculiar interaction patterns, while they were unable to firmly bind to a DNA duplex. From biological assays, Chelidonine and Rotenone emerged as the most active compounds of the series against cancer cells, also showing good selectivity over normal cells. Notably, the anticancer activity correlated well with the ability of the two compounds to target telomeric G4s.
ISSN:1999-4923
1999-4923
DOI:10.3390/pharmaceutics13101611