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New cyclometalated gold (III) complex targeting thioredoxin reductase: exploring as cytotoxic agents and mechanistic insights

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Abstract

A new cyclometalated Au(III) complex highlighting a naphthoquinone-C^N scaffold with formula (NQ-N^C)AuIII(SAd)Cl, 1, in which NQ-N^C: 2-(5-amino-benzo[h]quinolone)-3-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-1,4-naphthoquinone, HSAd: 1-adamantanethiol, was synthesized and characterized. The interaction of complex 1 with cysteine (CysH) was experimentally and theoretically studied. Complex 1 was more active against MCF-7 and A549 cancer cell lines and less active in a healthy cell (non-tumorigenic cells, MRC-5) than cisplatin. The DNA binding and inhibition of thioredoxin reductase of complex 1 were studied and compared with the molecular docking results. The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptosis of this new complex were also investigated.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful for financial support from the Ardakan University and general support from the School of Chemistry, National University of Ireland (NUI), Galway.

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Correspondence to Leila Tabrizi.

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Abyar, F., Tabrizi, L. New cyclometalated gold (III) complex targeting thioredoxin reductase: exploring as cytotoxic agents and mechanistic insights. Biometals 33, 107–122 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10534-020-00235-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10534-020-00235-3

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