[Fe(CN)5(isoniazid)]3−: an iron isoniazid complex with redox behavior implicated in tuberculosis therapy

Tuberculosis has re-emerged as a worldwide threat, which has motivated the development of new drugs. The antituberculosis complex Na3[Fe(CN)5(isoniazid)] (IQG607) in particular is of interest on account of its ability to overcome resistance. IQG607 has the potential for redox-mediated-activation, in which an acylpyridine (isonicotinoyl) radical could be generated without assistance from the mycobacterial KatG enzyme. Here, we have investigated the reactivity of IQG607 toward hydrogen peroxide and superoxide, well-known intracellular oxidizing agents that could play a key role in the redox-mediated-activation of this compound. HPLC, NMR and electronic spectroscopy studies showed a very fast oxidation rate for bound isoniazid, over 460-fold faster than free isoniazid oxidation. A series of EPR spin traps were used for detection of isonicotinoyl and derived radicals bound to iron. This is the first report for an isonicotinoyl radical bound to a metal complex, supported by 14N and 1H hyperfine splittings for the POBN and PBN trapped radicals. POBN and PBN exhibited average hyperfine coupling constants of aN = 15.6, aH = 2.8 and aN = 15.4, aH = 4.7, respectively, which are in close agreement to the isonicotinoyl radical. Radical generation is thought to play a major role in the mechanism of action of isoniazid and this work provides strong evidence for its production within IQG607, which, along with biological and chemical oxidation data, support a redox-mediated activation mechanism. More generally the concept of redox activation of metallo prodrugs could be applied more widely for the design of therapeutic agents with novel mechanisms of action