Pyridine Derivative of the Natural Alkaloid Berberine as Human Telomeric G4-DNA Binder: A Solution and Solid-State Study.
Papi, F., Bazzicalupi, C., Ferraroni, M., Ciolli, G., Lombardi, P., Khan, A.Y., Kumar, G.S., Gratteri, P.(2020) ACS Med Chem Lett 11: 645-650
- PubMed: 32435365 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmedchemlett.9b00516
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
6S15 - PubMed Abstract: 
Telomerase is an enzyme deputed to the maintenance of eukaryotic chromosomes; however, its overexpression is a recognized hallmark of many cancer forms. A viable route for the inhibition of telomerase in malignant cells is the stabilization of G-quadruplex structures (G 4 ) at the 3' overhang of telomeres. Berberine has shown in this regard valuable G 4 binding properties together with a significant anticancer activity and telomerase inhibition effects. Here, we focused on a berberine derivative featuring a pyridine containing side group at the 13th position. Such modification actually improves the binding toward telomeric G-quadruplexes and establishes a degree of selectivity in the interaction with different sequences. Moreover, the X-ray crystal structure obtained for the complex formed by the ligand and a bimolecular human telomeric quadruplex affords a better understanding of the 13-berberine derivatives behavior with telomeric G 4 and allows to draw useful insights for the future design of derivatives with remarkable anticancer properties.
Organizational Affiliation: 
Department of Chemistry 'Ugo Schiff', University of Florence, Via della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy.