Cardiff University | Prifysgol Caerdydd ORCA
Online Research @ Cardiff 
WelshClear Cookie - decide language by browser settings

Thioredoxin reductase: a target for gold compounds acting as potential anticancer drugs

Bindoli, Alberto, Rigobello, Maria Pia, Scutari, Guido, Gabbiani, Chiara, Casini, Angela ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1599-9542 and Messori, Luigi 2009. Thioredoxin reductase: a target for gold compounds acting as potential anticancer drugs. Coordination Chemistry Reviews 253 (11-12) , pp. 1692-1707. 10.1016/j.ccr.2009.02.026

Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract

The thioredoxin system plays a key role in regulating the overall intracellular redox balance. It basically comprises the small redox protein thioredoxin (Trx), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, in its reduced form (NADPH), and thioredoxin reductase (TrxR), a large homodimeric selenzoenzyme controlling the redox state of thioredoxin. Details of the thioredoxin system are provided herein, particular emphasis being given to the protein chemistry of thioredoxin reductases. Several lines of evidence point out today that the thioredoxin system represents an effective “druggable” target for the development of new anticancer agents. Accordingly, a number of established anticancer agents were retrospectively found to be potent inhibitors of thioredoxin reductases and to induce severe oxidative stress. During the last decade a variety of gold compounds, either gold(I) or gold(III), were reported to manifest outstanding antitumor properties, forming a promising class of experimental anticancer agents. In turn, recent studies have revealed that several cytotoxic gold compounds, either gold(I) or gold(III), are potent TrxR inhibitors. Details of their mechanism of selenoenzyme inhibition are currently under investigation, in our laboratory, and some new results will be anticipated here; notably, preferential gold targeting of active site selenolate could be experimentally supported. Based on the numerous experimental evidences now available, both at the molecular and cellular level, we propose that the relevant cytotoxic actions produced by gold compounds are mainly the result of potent inhibition of thioredoxin reductase; the alterations of mitochondrial functions, elicited by profound TrxR inhibition, would eventually lead to cell apoptosis. A general and unitary framework is thus offered to interpret the mode of action of cytotoxic gold compounds, according to which they should be primarily considered as antimitochondrial drugs. The peculiar properties of gold compounds highlighted in this review might be further exploited for the obtainment of newer and selective anticancer agents.

Item Type: Article
Date Type: Publication
Status: Published
Schools: Chemistry
Subjects: Q Science > QD Chemistry
R Medicine > RC Internal medicine > RC0254 Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology (including Cancer)
Publisher: Elsevier
Date of Acceptance: 25 February 2009
Last Modified: 31 Oct 2022 08:58
URI: https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/79352

Citation Data

Cited 450 times in Scopus. View in Scopus. Powered By Scopus® Data

Actions (repository staff only)

Edit Item Edit Item