Issue 10, 2018

Sequence-dependent attack on peptides by photoactivated platinum anticancer complexes

Abstract

Octahedral platinum(IV) complexes such as trans,trans,trans-[Pt(N3)2(OH)2(pyridine)2] (1) are stable in the dark, but potently cytotoxic to a range of cancer cells when activated by UVA or visible light, and active in vivo. Photoactivation causes the reduction of the complex and leads to the formation of unusual Pt(II) lesions on DNA. However, radicals are also generated in the excited state resulting from photoactivation (J. S. Butler, J. A. Woods, N. J. Farrer, M. E. Newton and P. J. Sadler, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2012, 134, 16508–16511). Here we show that once photoactivated, 1 also can interact with peptides, and therefore proteins are potential targets of this candidate drug. High resolution FT-ICR MS studies show that reactions of 1 activated by visible light with two neuropeptides Substance P, RPKPQQFFGLM-NH2 (SubP) and [Lys]3-Bombesin, pEQKLGNQWAVGHLM-NH2 (K3-Bom) give rise to unexpected products, in the form of both oxidised and platinated peptides. Further MS/MS analysis using electron-capture dissociation (ECD) dissociation pathways (enabling retention of the Pt complex during fragmentation), and EPR experiments using the spin-trap DEPMPO, show that the products generated during the photoactivation of 1 depend on the amino acid composition of the peptide. This work reveals the multi-targeting nature of excited state platinum anticancer complexes. Not only can they target DNA, but also peptides (and proteins) by sequence dependent platination and radical mechanisms.

Graphical abstract: Sequence-dependent attack on peptides by photoactivated platinum anticancer complexes

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
03 Dec 2017
Accepted
01 Feb 2018
First published
12 Feb 2018
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY license

Chem. Sci., 2018,9, 2733-2739

Sequence-dependent attack on peptides by photoactivated platinum anticancer complexes

C. A. Wootton, C. Sanchez-Cano, A. F. Lopez-Clavijo, E. Shaili, M. P. Barrow, P. J. Sadler and P. B. O'Connor, Chem. Sci., 2018, 9, 2733 DOI: 10.1039/C7SC05135B

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

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