A water-soluble manganese(II) octanediaoate/phenanthroline complex acts as an antioxidant and attenuates alpha-synuclein toxicity

• Published in: Biochimica et biophysica acta. Molecular basis of disease 2022-10, Vol.1868 (10), p.166475-166475, Article 166475
• Main Authors: Queiroz, Daniela D., Ribeiro, Thales de P., Gonçalves, Julliana M., Mattos, Larissa M.M., Gerhardt, Ellen, Freitas, Júlia, Palhano, Fernando L., Frases, Susana, Pinheiro, Anderson S., McCann, Malachy, Knox, Andrew, Devereux, Michael, Outeiro, Tiago F., Pereira, Marcos D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alpha-synuclein; Antioxidant; Manganese-based complex; Oligomerization and aggregation; Oxidative stress
• ISSN: 0925-4439; 1879-260X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2022.166475

The overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induces oxidative stress, a well-known process associated with aging and several human pathologies, such as cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. A large number of synthetic compounds have been described as antioxidant enzyme mimics, capable of eliminating ROS and/or reducing oxidative damage. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant activity of a water-soluble 1,10-phenantroline-octanediaoate Mn2+-complex on cells under oxidative stress, and assessed its capacity to attenuate alpha-synuclein (aSyn) toxicity and aggregation, a process associated with increased oxidative stress. This Mn2+-complex exhibited a significant antioxidant potential, reducing intracelular oxidation and increasing oxidative stress resistance in S. cerevisiae cells and in vivo, in G. mellonella, increasing the activity of the intracellular antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase and catalase. Strikingly, the Mn2+-complex reduced both aSyn oligomerization and aggregation in human cell cultures and, using NMR and DFT/molecular docking we confirmed its interaction with the C-terminal region of aSyn. In conclusion, the Mn2+-complex appears as an excellent lead for the design of new phenanthroline derivatives as alternative compounds for preventing oxidative damages and oxidative stress - related diseases. [Display omitted] •Mn2+-complex acts an antioxidant in yeast, human cell culture and in Galleria mellonella.•Mn2+-complex protects yeast cells from α-syuclein toxicity.•Mn2+-complex attenuates α-syuclein oligomerization and aggregation.•Mn2+-complex directly interacts with α-syuclein C-terminal region.•This Mn2+-complex appears as an alternative compounds for preventing oxidative damages and oxidative stress - related diseases.