Title:Metal-Organic Compounds as Anticancer Agents: Versatile Building
Blocks for Selective Action on G-quadruplexes
Volume: 30
Issue: 5
Author(s): Patricia M. Toro, Marianela Saldias*Gabriela Valenzuela-Barra
Affiliation:
- Instituto de Investigación y Postgrado, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad
Central de Chile, Santiago, Chile
Keywords:
Cancer therapy, G-quadruplex, telomerase, oncogene promoters, G4-ligands, metallo-compounds.
Abstract:
Background: Since the 1980s, cancer research has focused primarily on developing
new therapeutic agents targeting DNA alterations rather than understanding cancer
as an integrated system composed of several modules. In this sense, G-quadruplex (G4)
nucleic acids are a promising target for drug development for cancer therapy since they
exist in the chromosomal telomeric sequences and the promoter regions of numerous
genes. The G4 structures within telomeric DNA can inhibit telomerase activity and prevent
the proliferation and immortalization of cancer cells. Furthermore, such G4 systems
within the promoter regions of oncogenes can inhibit the transcription and expression of
the oncogene.
Objective: The rational design of small molecules such as organic ligands and their metal-
organic derivative compounds can stabilize G4 structures through different binding
modes on several G4 DNA topologies. Metal-based compounds have demonstrated their
competitiveness compared to organic molecules to distinguish G4 over the DNA duplex
owing to their convenient coordination features, positive charge, and electron density promoted
by organic ligand.
Results: This article is a comprehensive review of metal compounds G4-binders and
their structural features that confer them the ability to recognize G-quartets and stabilize
several DNA G4s.
Conclusion: This stabilization can be achieved through extended square aromatic surfaces,
increased hydrophobicity, different auxiliary ligands, axially coordinated ligands,
and the nature of the metal center.