Title:Methylenedioxy- and Ethylenedioxy-Fused Indolocarbazoles: Potent Human Topoisomerase I Inhibitors and Antitumor Agents
Volume: 12
Issue: 9
Author(s): David E. Zembower, Yongping Xie, Ali Koohang, Mary J. Kuffel, Matthew M. Ames, Yasheen Zhou, Rama Mishra, Aye Aye Mar, Michael T. Flavin and Ze-Qi Xu
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Antitumor, COMPARE analysis, GI50, LC50, Methylenedioxy- and ethylenedioxy-fused indolocarbazole, NCI 60 tumor cell lines, Synthesis, TGI, Topoisomerase I inhibitor, Ethylenedioxyindole
Abstract: The indolo[2,3-a]carbazole alkaloids constitute an important class of natural products with interesting and diverse biological
activities. A series of novel ring-fused indolocarbazoles were synthesized and evaluated for inhibition of topoisomerase I-mediated
relaxation of supercoiled DNA and in vitro antitumor activity. The derivatives bearing a methylenedioxy or an ethylenedioxy ring fused
onto the nonglycosylated indole (1a, 1b) demonstrated more potent anti-topoisomerase I activity. The isopropylenedioxy analogue 1c
was approximately half as active as 1a, while the O-dimethoxy analogue 1d and the regioisomers 2a and 2b were essentially devoid of
measurable activity, implying that the stacking with the intact DNA strand has been impeded by these compounds due to steric hindrance.
The newly synthesized indolocarbazoles were screened against the NCI’s 60 tumor cell lines. The order of activity, based on the mean
GI50 values, is as follows: 1a > 2a ~ 1d > 1b > MCR-47 > 2b. Though in general the analogues that showed potent activity against
topoisomerase I (1a, 1b) also showed potent in vitro inhibition of tumor cell growth, the antitumor activity of the anti-topoisomerase I
inactive 1d and 2a were intriguing. COMPARE analyses confirmed that the topoisomerase I is the primary target for 1a and 1b; however,
other target(s) or pathway(s) may also be involved, with PLD1 and MERTK suggested. Further investigation of these molecular targets
against these indolocarbazoles is warranted.
