A rationally designed azobenzene photoswitch for DNA G-quadruplex regulation in live cellsVisa övriga samt affilieringar
2025 (Engelska)Ingår i: Angewandte Chemie International Edition, ISSN 1433-7851, E-ISSN 1521-3773, Vol. 64, nr 1, artikel-id e202413000Artikel i tidskrift (Refereegranskat) Published
Abstract [en]
G-quadruplex (G4) DNA structures are increasingly acknowledged as promising targets in cancer research, and the development of G4-specific stabilizing compounds may lay a fundamental foundation in precision medicine for cancer treatment. Here, we propose a light-responsive G4-binder for precise modulation of drug activation, providing dynamic and spatiotemporal control over G4-associated biological processes contributing to cancer cell death. We developed a specialized fluorinated azobenzene (AB) switch equipped with a quinoline unit and a positively charged carboxamide side chain, Q-Azo4F-C, designed for targeted binding to G4 structures within cells. Biophysical studies, combined with molecular dynamics simulations, provide insights into the unique coordination modes of the photoswitchable ligand in its trans and cis configurations when interacting with G4s. The observed variations in complexation processes between the two isomeric states in different cancer cell lines manifest in more than 25-fold reversible cytotoxic activity. Immunostaining conducted with the structure-specific G4 antibody (BG4), establishes a direct correlation between cytotoxicity and the varying extent of G4 induction regulated by the two isoforms. Finally, we demonstrate the photo-driven reversible regulation of G4 structures in lung cancer cells by Q-Azo4F-C. Our findings highlight the potential of light-responsive G4-binders in advancing precision cancer therapy through dynamic control of G4-mediated pathways.
Ort, förlag, år, upplaga, sidor
Wiley-VCH Verlagsgesellschaft, 2025. Vol. 64, nr 1, artikel-id e202413000
Nyckelord [en]
Azobenzene, Cancer cells, DNA, G-quadruplex, Photochromism
Nationell ämneskategori
Medicinsk bioteknologi (med inriktning mot cellbiologi (inklusive stamcellsbiologi), molekylärbiologi, mikrobiologi, biokemi eller biofarmaci) Cancer och onkologi
Identifikatorer
URN: urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-234015DOI: 10.1002/anie.202413000ISI: 001357605100001PubMedID: 39268751Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85208176352OAI: oai:DiVA.org:umu-234015DiVA, id: diva2:1927311
Forskningsfinansiär
EU, Horisont 2020, 945339Cancerfonden, 21 0302 PT 01 HCancerfonden, 22 2380 Pj 01 HVetenskapsrådet, 2021-02468Knut och Alice Wallenbergs Stiftelse, KAW 2021.01732025-01-142025-01-142025-01-14Bibliografiskt granskad