Gallium(III) complexes of α-N-heterocyclic piperidylthiosemicarbazones: Synthesis, structure-activity relationship, cellular uptake and activation of caspases-3/7/9

Ga(III) complexes of thiosemicarbazones significantly depleted cellular iron, resulting in upregulation of transferrin receptor-1 and downregulation of ferritin. They also effectively activate the caspase family proteins (caspase-3/7/9), promote the release of cytochromes from the mitochondria, and ultimately lead to apoptosis.151