The chiral monometallic Cu^II (1) and Zn^II (2) and heterobimetallic Cu^II–Sn^IV and Zn^II–Sn^IV complexes with tridentate chiral Schiff base –ONO-ligand in the presence of nitrogen donor heterocyclic ligand imidazole; were prepared and characterized by various physico-chemical and spectroscopic methods. Preliminary complex–DNA interaction studies employing optical methods revealed that 3 displayed a higher propensity towards the drug target DNA double helix and recommended predominantly an electrostatic mode of interaction as well as a groove binding affinity of the complex with CT-DNA. This was quantified by K_b and K_SV values of complexes 1–4, which demonstrated a multifold increase in complex 3 binding to CT DNA and clearly demonstrates its potency to act as a chemotherapeutic agent. Furthermore, the gel electrophoretic patterns of supercoiled pBR322 DNA with varying concentrations of complex 3 exhibits the ability to cleave DNA and follow a freely diffusible radical mechanism. The antiproliferative effects of complex 3 on human hepatoma cancer cells (Huh7) was investigated. Human Topo I inhibition assay by complex 3 was performed and results confirmed significantly good activity at lower concentrations than some of the classical Topo I inhibitors. Additionally, complex 3 was investigated for the expression of MMP-2 and TGF-β by real time PCR. The cellular uptake of complex 3 by HeLa cells was studied by confocal microscopy.

We have reported the synthesis of a novel salen ligand and its mononuclear Pd–salen complexes derived from 2-{[2-hydroxy-3-{[(E)-(2-hydroxyphenyl)methylidene]amino}propyl)imino]methyl}phenol. The newly synthesized and isolated Pd(II) complexes have been identified and fully characterized by various physico-chemical studies viz., elemental analyses, IR, UV-Vis, ¹H, ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, electron spray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and TGA/DTA studies. The molecular structure of the salen ligand has been ascertained by single-crystal XRD and it is coordinated to Pd(II) ion through two nitrogen and two oxygen atoms. The UV-Vis data clearly suggest a square-planar environment around both the Pd(II) ions. The DNA binding studies of the synthesized compounds has been investigated by electron spectroscopy and fluorescence measurements. The results suggest that Pd(II) complexes bind to DNA strongly as compared to the free ligand. The free salen ligand and its Pd(II) complexes have also been tested against human hepatoma cancer cell line (Huh7) and results manifested exceptional anti-proliferative effects of the Pd(II) complexes. The anti-proliferative activity of Pd(II) complexes has been modulated by specific regulatory genes.

Zahid Hussain and Hyojin Park*. J Neurogastroenterol Motil 2022;28:517-30. https://doi.org/10.5056/jnm22100

Osteosarcoma (OS) is an aggressive and highly metastatic form of primary bone cancer affecting young children and adults. Previous studies have shown that hypomethylation of critical genes is driving metastasis. Here, we examine whether hypermethylation treatment can block OS growth and pulmonary metastasis. Human OS cells LM‐7 and MG‐63 were treated with the ubiquitous methyl donor S‐adenosylmethionine (SAM) or its inactive analog S‐adenosylhomocystine (SAH) as control. Treatment with SAM resulted in a dose‐dependent inhibition of tumor cell proliferation, invasion, cell migration, and cell cycle characteristics. Inoculation of cells treated with 150 μmol/L SAM for 6 days into tibia or via intravenous route into Fox Chase severe combined immune deficient (SCID) mice resulted in the development of significantly smaller skeletal lesions and a marked reduction in pulmonary metastasis as compared to control groups. Epigenome wide association studies (EWAS) showed differential methylation of several genes involved in OS progression and prominent signaling pathways implicated in bone formation, wound healing, and tumor progression in SAM‐treated LM‐7 cells. Real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis confirmed that SAM treatment blocked the expression of several prometastatic genes and additional genes identified by EWAS analysis. Immunohistochemical analysis of normal human bone and tissue array from OS patients showed significantly high levels of expression of one of the identified gene platelet‐derived growth factor alpha (PDGFA). These studies provide a possible mechanism for the role of DNA demethylation in the development and metastasis of OS to provide a rationale for the use of hypermethylation therapy for OS patients and identify new targets for monitoring OS development and progression.

Dimethyltin(IV) complexes with ethanolamine (1) and biologically significant N-glycosides (2 and 3) were designed and synthesized. The structural elucidation of complexes 1–3 was done using elemental and spectroscopic methods; in addition, complex 1 was studied by single crystal X-ray diffraction studies. The in vitro DNA binding profile of complexes 2 and 3 was carried out by employing different biophysical methods to ascertain the feasibility of glycosylated complexes. Further, the cleaving ability of 2 and 3 was investigated by the agarose gel electrophoretic mobility assay with supercoiled pBR322 DNA, and demonstrated significantly good nuclease activity. Furthermore, both the complexes exhibited significant inhibitory effects on the catalytic activity of human Topo I at lower concentration than standard drugs. Computer-aided molecular docking techniques were used to ascertain the mode and mechanism of action towards the molecular target DNA and Topo I. The cytotoxicity of 2 and 3 against human hepatoma cancer cells (Huh7) was evaluated, which revealed significant regression in cancerous cells as compared with the standard drug. The antiproliferative activities of 2 and 3 were tested against human hepatoma cancer cells (Huh7), and results showed significantly good activity. Additionally, to validate the remarkable antiproliferative activity of complexes 2 and 3, specific regulatory gene expression (MMP-2 and TGF-β) was obtained by real time PCR.