Novel indole-based tambjamine-analogues induce apoptotic lung cancer cell death through p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation

Lung cancer has become the leading killer cancer worldwide, due to late diagnosis and lack of efficient anticancer drugs. We have recently described novel natural-derived tambjamine analogues that are potent anion transporters capable of disrupting cellular ion balance, inducing acidification of the cytosol and hyperpolarization of cellular plasma membranes. Although these tambjamine analogues were able to compromise cell survival, their molecular mechanism of action remains largely unknown. Herein we characterize the molecular cell responses induced by highly active indole-based tambjamine analogues treatment in lung cancer cells. Expression changes produced after compounds treatment comprised genes related to apoptosis, cell cycle, growth factors and its receptors, protein kinases and topoisomerases, among others. Dysregulation of BCL2 and BIRC5/survivin genes suggested the apoptotic pathway as the induced molecular cell death mechanism. In fact, activation of several proapoptotic markers (caspase-9, caspase-3, and PARP) and reversion of the cytotoxic effect upon treatment with an apoptosis inhibitor (Z-VAD-FMK) were observed. Moreover, members of the Bcl-2 protein family suffered changes after tambjamine analogues treatment, with a concomitant protein decrease towards the prosurvival members. Besides this, it was observed cellular accumulation of ROS upon compound treatment and an activation of the stress-kinase p38 MAPK route that, when inhibited, reverted the cytotoxic effect of the tambjamine analogues. Finally, a significant therapeutic effect of these compounds was observed in subcutaneous and orthotopic lung cancer mice models. Taken together, these results shed light on the mechanism of action of novel cytotoxic anionophores and demonstrate the therapeutic effects against lung cancer.Spanish Government and EU funds through the Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias (FIS, project PI13/ 00089) and from La Marat o de TV3 Foundation (project 20132730) to R. P erez-Tom as. R. Ramos was supported by the Sociedad Espa~nola de Neumología y Cirugía Tor acica (SEPAR, Project 017/2013), R. Quesada by the Consejería de Educación de la Junta de Castilla y León (project BU340U13) and by the La Marat o de TV3 Foundation (project 20132732) and A. Villanueva by the FIS (project PI13/01339)

Full elucidation of the transmembrane anion transport mechanism of squaramides using in silico investigations

A comprehensive experimental and theoretical investigation of the transmembrane chloride transport promoted by four series of squaramide derivatives, with different degrees of fluorination, number of convergent N-H binding units and conformational shapes, is reported. The experimental chloride binding and transport abilities of these small synthetic molecules in liposomes were rationalised with quantum descriptors and molecular dynamics simulations in POPC bilayers. The tripodal tren-based compounds, with three squaramide binding motifs, have high chloride affinity, isolating the anion from water molecules within the membrane model and preventing its release to the aqueous phase, in agreement with the absence of experimental transport activity. In contrast, the symmetrical monosquaramides, with moderate chloride binding affinity, are able to bind and release chloride either in the aqueous phase or at the membrane interface level, in line with experimentally observed high transport activity. The PMF profiles associated with the diffusion of these free transporters and their chloride complexes across phospholipid bilayers show that the assisted chloride translocation is thermodynamically favoured

Facilitated Anion Transport Induces Hyperpolarization of the Cell Membrane That Triggers Differentiation and Cell Death in Cancer Stem Cells

Facilitated anion transport potentially represents a powerful tool to modulate various cellular functions. However, research into the biological effects of small molecule anionophores is still at an early stage. Here we have used two potent anionophore molecules inspired in the structure of marine metabolites tambjamines to gain insight into the effect induced by these compounds at the cellular level. We show how active anionophores, capable of facilitating the transmembrane transport of chloride and bicarbonate in model phospholipid liposomes, induce acidification of the cytosol and hyperpolarization of plasma cell membranes. We demonstrate how this combined effect can be used against cancer stem cells (CSCs). Hyperpolarization of cell membrane induces cell differentiation and loss of stemness of CSCs leading to effective elimination of this cancer cell subpopulation.panishgovernment and the EU (FIS PI13/00089, FIS PI12/02838,FIS PI12/00956 and RD12/0036/0025), a grant from LaMaratóde TV3 Foundation (20132730), a grant from SEPAR(17/2014), Consejería de Educación de la Junta de Castilla yLeón (Project BU340U13), Ministerio de Economíaycompetitividad/Instituto de Salud Carlos III (SAF2014-55700-P), and ICREA Academia-201

Full elucidation of the transmembrane anion transport mechanism of squaramides using in silico investigations

A comprehensive experimental and theoretical investigation of the transmembrane chloride transport promoted by four series of squaramide derivatives, with different degrees of fluorination, number of convergent N-H binding units and conformational shapes, is reported. The experimental chloride binding and transport abilities of these small synthetic molecules in liposomes were rationalised with quantum descriptors and molecular dynamics simulations in POPC bilayers. The tripodal tren-based compounds, with three squaramide binding motifs, have high chloride affinity, isolating the anion from water molecules within the membrane model and preventing its release to the aqueous phase, in agreement with the absence of experimental transport activity. In contrast, the symmetrical monosquaramides, with moderate chloride binding affinity, are able to bind and release chloride either in the aqueous phase or at the membrane interface level, in line with experimentally observed high transport activity. The PMF profiles associated with the diffusion of these free transporters and their chloride complexes across phospholipid bilayers show that the assisted chloride translocation is thermodynamically favoured

Synthetic tambjamine analogues induce mitochondrial swelling and lysosomal dysfunction leading to autophagy blockade and necrotic cell death in lung cancer

Current pharmacological treatments for lung cancer show very poor clinical outcomes, therefore, the development of novel anticancer agents with innovative mechanisms of action is urgently needed. Cancer cells have a reversed pH gradient compared to normal cells, which favours cancer progression by promoting proliferation, metabolic adaptation and evasion of apoptosis. In this regard, the use of ionophores to modulate intracellular pH appears as a promising new therapeutic strategy. Indeed, there is a growing body of evidence supporting ionophores as novel antitumour drugs. Despite this, little is known about the implications of pH deregulation and homeostasis imbalance triggered by ionophores at the cellular level. In this work, we deeply analyse for the first time the anticancer effects of tambjamine analogues, a group of highly effective anion selective ionophores, at the cellular and molecular levels. First, their effects on cell viability were determined in several lung cancer cell lines and patient-derived cancer stem cells, demonstrating their potent cytotoxic effects. Then, we have characterized the induced lysosomal deacidification, as well as, the massive cytoplasmic vacuolization observed after treatment with these compounds, which is consistent with mitochondrial swelling. Finally, the activation of several proteins involved in stress response, autophagy and apoptosis was also detected, although they were not significantly responsible for the cell death induced. Altogether, these evidences suggest that tambjamine analogues provoke an imbalance in cellular ion homeostasis that triggers mitochondrial dysfunction and lysosomal deacidification leading to a potent cytotoxic effect through necrosis in lung cancer cell lines and cancer stem cells.Spanish government and the EU (FIS PI13/00089), Consejería de Educación de la Junta de Castilla y León (BU340U13 and BU092U16)