Design and synthesis of pironetin analogue/colchicine hybrids and study of their cytotoxic activity and mechanisms of interaction with tubulin

J Med Chem. 2014 Dec 26;57(24):10391-403. doi: 10.1021/jm501112q. Epub 2014 Dec 12.

Abstract

We here report the synthesis of a series of 12 hybrid molecules composed of a colchicine moiety and a pironetin analogue fragment. The two fragments are connected through an ester-amide spacer of variable length. The cytotoxic activities of these compounds and their interactions with tubulin have been investigated. Relations between the structure and activity are discussed. Since the spacer is not long enough to permit a simultaneous binding of the hybrid molecules to the colchicine and pironetin sites on tubulin, a further feature investigated was whether these molecules would interact with the latter through the pironetin end (irreversible covalent binding) or through the colchicine end (reversible noncovalent binding). It has been found that binding to tubulin may take place preferentially at either of these ends depending on the length of the connecting spacer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Binding Sites
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects*
  • Colchicine / chemistry*
  • Drug Design*
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Humans
  • Microtubules / drug effects
  • Molecular Structure
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Pyrones / chemistry*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Tubulin / metabolism*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Pyrones
  • Tubulin
  • pironetin
  • Colchicine