Preparation of 4-([2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridin]-4′-yl)-N,N-diethylaniline NiII and PtII complexes and exploration of their in vitro cytotoxic activities

• [NiLCl]Cl (1) and [PtLCl]Cl (2) with terpyridine derivative (L) were synthesized.
• L, 1 and 2 exhibited selective cytotoxicity toward T-24 tumor cells.
• Their antitumor activity were achieved via inhibiting telomerase activity.
• Their mechanism were interaction c-myc quadruplex and disruption of mitochondrial function.

Two metal complexes of NiLCl2 (1) and [PtLCl]Cl (2) with 4-([2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridin]-4′-yl)-N,N-diethylaniline (L) were synthesized and characterized. 1 and 2 exhibited selective cytotoxicity to T-24 cells more than L, compared with the normal liver cell line (HL-7702). Various experiments showed that L, 1 and 2 caused T-24 cell cycle arrest at S phase, as shown by the down-regulation of cdc25 A, cyclin A, cyclin B and CDK2 and the up-regulation of p21, p27 and p53. Furthermore, complexes 1 and 2, especially complex 2, acted as telomerase inhibitors targeting c-myc G-quadruplex DNA and triggered cell apoptosis. In addition, 1 and 2 also caused mitochondrial dysfunction. Taken together, we found that 1 and 2 exerted their cytotoxic activity mainly via inhibiting telomerase by interaction with c-myc quadruplex and disruption of mitochondrial function.

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