Thiosemicarbazones : coordination properties in relation to biological activity

Thiosemicarbazones are considered to be potential therapeutics, because they possess a broad range of biological properties including antitumor, antimalarial and antimicrobial activity. Generally, the tiosemicarbazones coordinate to the metal centre by means of an (N,S) bidentate mode, and when an additional coordinating group is present, more diversified binding modes can occur such as a tridentate (X,N,S) coordination fashion. The stability of the metal complexes formed with the tiosemicarbazoness strongly depends on the character of the metal ion, the X-donor atom of the additional functional group and the position and type of the substituents at the tiosemicarbazones. The most prominent representative of this family is the α(N)-heterocyclic Triapine (3-aminopyridine- 2-carbaldehyde thiosemicarbazone; 3-AP), which is currently undergoing different phase-I and -II clinical trials as an antitumor agent, and demonstrates promising activity. Triapine is a very strong inhibitor of ribonucleotide reductase, the rate determining enzyme in the supply of deoxyribonucleotides for DNA synthesis required for cell proliferation. The mechanism of action involves most probably the formation of an iron(II)–Triapine complex, which reacts with molecular oxygen to result in the generation of reactive oxygen species. Subsequently, these reactive oxygen species are responsible for the quenching of the active-site tyrosyl radical of ribonucleotide reductase required for the enzymatic activity. As a result, the coordination chemistry of iron complexes of tiosemicarbazones has been receiving considerable attention. This review describes the coordination chemistry of tiosemicarbazones, in particular analogs of Triapine. The coordination compounds of d-block elements are discussed with respect to their bonding and structures. Several of complexes are mononuclear, with distorted tetrahedral, square planar, square pyramid or octahedral as their common geometries. The metal-binding ability of STSC at physiological pH was compared and shown. Further, various biological applications with emphasis an anticancer activity of the ligands/complexes are discussed in brief so as to indicate the importance of ligands under consideration

Beyond copper: examining the significance of His-mutations in mycobacterial GroEL1 HRCT for Ni(ii) complex stability and formation

Recently, we have studied the coordination chemistry of the Cu(ii)-histidine-rich C-terminal tail (HRCT) complex of the mycobacterial GroEL1 protein. The structure of this domain differs significantly compared to the well-known methionine-glycine-rich GroEL chaperonin - it was predicted that mycobacterial GroEL1 could play a significant role in the metal homeostasis of Mycobacteria, especially copper. However, we found that this particular domain's pattern also repeats in a number of Ni(ii)-binding proteins. Here, we present the studies concerning the properties of GroEL1 HRCT as a ligand for Ni(ii) ions. For this purpose, we chose eight model peptides: L1 - Ac-DHDHHHGHAH, L2 - Ac-DKPAKAEDHDHHHGHAH, and 6 mutants of the latter in the pH range of 2-11. We examined the stoichiometry, stability, and spectroscopic features of copper complexes. We noticed that similar to the Cu(ii)-complex, the presence of a Lys5 residue significantly increases the stability of the system. The impact of His mutations was also examined and carefully studied using NMR spectroscopy. His9 and His13 are the crucial residues for Ni(ii) binding, whereas His12 has minimal relevance in complex formation

Towards a new attenuating compound: a potentiometric, spectrophotometric and NMR equilibrium study on Fe(III), Al(III) and a new tetradentate mixed bisphosphonate-hydroxypiridinonate ligand

Coordination properties toward Fe(III) and Al(III) of a mixed bisphosphonate-hydroxypyridinonate ligand are presented. Potentiometric, spectrophotometric and NMR results allowed to conclude that Fe(III) and AI(III) coordination takes place on the pyridinone moiety. The high steric hindrance prevents the possibility of simultaneous coordination of both groups to the same metal ion. Quantum mechanical calculations confirm this finding allowing to determine the minimal length of the linker necessary for a stable conformation of complexes in which Fe(III) is coordinated both by pyridinone and bisphosphonate groups. (c) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Bisphosphonate chelating agents: complexation of Fe(III) and Al(III) by 1-phenyl-1-hydroxymethylene bisphosphonate and its analogues

Bisphosphonate ligands were found to be very efficient chelating agents for both Al(III) and Fe(III) ions. Potentiometric and spectroscopic data allow evaluation of the coordination equilibria in the solutions containing 1-phenyl-1-hydroxymethylene bisphosphonate and its three analogues with Al(III) and Fe(III) ions. At pH below 4 the bis-complexes are formed, while above pH 4 the major species are equimolar, monomeric for Al(III) or dimeric for Fe(III) complexes. The large steric hindrance and high electric charge are the major factors influencing the complex stoichiometry. The formation of the dimeric Fe(III) with mu-oxo or mu-hydroxo bridges were supported by measurements of the magnetic moments using Evans' method. The stabilities of the complexes formed are higher than those found for deferiprone, L1, used in clinics as a chelating agent