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ID: ALA4130472

Journal: Eur J Med Chem

Title: Synthesis of naphthazarin derivatives and identification of novel thioredoxin reductase inhibitor as potential anticancer agent.

Authors: Zhang J, Liu Y, Shi D, Hu G, Zhang B, Li X, Liu R, Han X, Yao X, Fang J.

Abstract: Mammalian thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) enzymes play a crucial role in regulating multiple redox-based signaling pathways and have attracted increasing attention as promising anticancer drug targets. We report here the synthesis of a panel of naphthazarin derivatives and discovery of 2-methyl-5,8-dihydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (3, 2-methylnaphthazarin) as a potent cytotoxic agent with a submicromolar half maximal inhibitory concentration to the human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells. Mechanism studies reveal that the compound selectively inhibits TrxR to induce oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis of HL-60 cells. Knockdown of TrxR sensitizes the cells to 3 insults, while overexpression of the functional enzyme confers resistance to the compound treatment, underpinning the physiological significance of targeting TrxR by 3. Clarification of the interaction of compound 3 with TrxR unveils a mechanism underlying the cellular action of the compound, and sheds light in considering development of the compound as a potential cancer chemotherapeutic agent.

CiteXplore: 28987605

DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2017.09.027