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Iron is a trace element required for normal performance of cellular processes. Because both the deficiency and excess of this metal are dangerous, its absorption, distribution and accumulation must be tightly regulated. Disturbances of iron homeostasis and an increase in its level may lead to overload and neurodegenerative diseases. Phlebotomy was for a long time the only way of removing excess iron. But since there are many possible disadvantages of this method, chelation therapy seems to be a logical approach to remove toxic levels of iron. In clinical use, there are three drugs: desferrioxamine, deferiprone and deferasirox. FBS0701, a novel oral iron chelator, is under clinical trials with very promising results. Developing novel iron-binding chelators is an urgent matter, not only for systemic iron overload, but also for neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's disease. Deferiprone is also used in clinical trials in Parkinson's disease. In neurodegenerative disorders the main goal is not only to remove iron from brain tissues, but also its redistribution in system. Few chelators are tested for their potential use in neurodegeneration, such as nonhalogeneted derivatives of clioquinol. Such compounds gave promising results in animal models of neurodegenerative diseases. Drugs of possible use in neurodegeneration must meet certain criteria. Their development includes the improvement in blood brain barrier permeability, low toxicity and the ability to prevent lipid peroxidation. One of the compounds satisfying these requirements is VK28. In rat models it was able to protect neurons in very low doses without significantly changing the iron level in liver or serum. Also iron chelators able to regulate activity of monoamine oxidase were tested. Polyphenols and flavonoids are able to prevent lipid peroxidation and demonstrate neuroprotective activity. While cancer does not involve true iron overload, neoplastic cells have a higher iron requirement and are especially prone to its depletion. It was shown, that desferrioxamine and deferasirox are antiproliferative agents active in several types of cancer. Very potent compounds with possible use as anticancer drugs are thiosemicarbazones. They are able to inhibit ribonucleotide reductase, an enzyme involved in DNA synthesis. Because the relationship between the development of overload / neurodegenerative disorders, or cancer, and iron are very complex, comprehension of the mechanisms involved in the regulation of iron homeostasis is a crucial factor in the development of new pharmacological strategies based on iron chelation. In view of various factors closely involved in pathogenesis of such diseases, designing multifunctional metal-chelators seems to be the most promising approach, but it requires a lot of effort. In this perspective, the review summarizes systemic iron homeostasis, and in brain and cancer cells, iron dysregulation in neurodegenerative disease and possible chelation strategies in the treatment of metal systemic overload, neurodegeneration and c...

A new class of TSCs containing piperazine (piperazinylogs) of Triapine, was designed to fulfill the di-substitution pattern at the TSCs N4 position, which is a crucial prerequisite for the high activity of the previously obtained TSC compounds–DpC and Dp44mT. We tested the important physicochemical characteristics of the novel compounds L1-L12. The studied ligands are neutral at physiological pH, which allows them to permeate cell membranes and bind cellular Fe pools more readily than less lipid-soluble ligands, e.g. DFO. The selectivity and anti-cancer activity of the novel TSCs were examined in a variety of cancer cell types. In general, the novel compounds demonstrated the greatest promise as anti-cancer agents with both a potent and selective anti-proliferative activity. We investigated the mechanism of action more deeply, and revealed that studied compounds inhibit the cell cycle (G1/S phase). Additionally we detected apoptosis, which is dependent on cell line’s specific genetic profile. Accordingly, structure-activity relationship studies suggest that the combination of the piperazine ring with Triapine allows potent and selective anticancer chelators that warrant further in vivo examination to be identified. Significantly, this study proved the importance of the di-substitution pattern of the amine N4 function.

To mimic the active sites of the hydrolytic enzyme zinc phosphotriesterase, a new dinucleating unsymmetric ligand,amino}acetic acid), has been synthesized and characterized. The hydrolytic efficacy of the complex solution (PICIMP/ZnCl 2 = 1:2) has been investigated using bis-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)phosphate (BDNPP), a DNA analogue substrate. Speciation studies were undertaken by potentiometric titrations at varying pH for both the ligand and the corresponding dizinc complex to elucidate the formation of the active hydrolysis catalyst; these studies reveal that the dinuclear [a]

Abstract. The dinuclear complex [Zn 2 (papy) 2 ]·2CH 3 OH [H 2 papy = N-(2-hydroxybenzyl)-N-(2-picolyl)glycine] was synthesized and characterized. The crystal structure of the complex reveals that both Zn II ions are pentacoordinate with distorted pentagonal bipyramidal coordination arrangements. The phenoxyl groups of each ligand bridge the two metal atoms, whereas each carboxylate of the ligand is terminally bound to one Zn II ion. Potentiometric studies of the Zn II :H 2 papy system in a methanol/water mixture show the existence of a mononuclear

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The Front Cover shows, against the calm sea of an Australian shore, a dizinc complex capable of catalyzing phosphoester hydrolysis and the computed catalytic transition state with the depicted substrate. Other potential substrates include nucleic acids and lethal nerve gases. More information can be found in the https://doi.org/10.1002/ejic.201701416 For more on the story behind the cover research, see the https://doi.org/10.1002/ejic.201801072.

Invited for the cover of this issue is Ebbe Nordlander from Lund University, Sweden. The cover image shows a dizinc complex that catalyzes phosphoester hydrolysis and the computed catalytic transition state with the depicted substrate.