Gold Organometallics with Biological Properties

Structural evidences for a secondary gold binding site in the hydrophobic box of lysozyme

“…Thus, the precise knowledge of the interactions occurring between medicinal gold compounds and proteins seems crucial to understand in depth their mode of action; indeed this class of molecules are believed to be activated upon protein interaction (de Almeida et al 2013;Cinellu et al 2015) and then to exert their biological actions by hitting and damaging selectively a few protein targets. Although several papers have already described the interactions of gold compounds with proteins (Bhabak et al 2011;Messori et al 2011;Gabbiani et al 2012), only few structural studies have appeared so far and very few Au binding sites have been characterized in proteins (Urig et al 2006;Zhou et al 2000;Bhabak et al 2011;.…”

Osmocenyl-tamoxifen derivatives target the thioredoxin system leading to a redox imbalance in Jurkat cells

“…To that can be added the variety of available metals [2] and, for the transition elements, the potential availability of several degrees of oxidation. 3 With organometallic complexes of gold [8,9], those from the group 8 triad, particularly of Fe and Ru, are amongst the most widely studied [10][11][12][13] with the notable exception to date of Os [14][15][16][17]. This heavy element offers a capacity for good stabilization of certain high degrees of oxidation (+VI) and for an excellent metal-to-ligand back-donation at low oxidation states (+II, +III) leading to more stable complexes than those of Fe or Ru in biological media.…”

Synthesis, Characterization, and Biological Properties of Osmium‐Based Tamoxifen Derivatives – Comparison with Their Homologues in the Iron and Ruthenium Series

“…The chemical reactivity of certain complexes has also been exploited. One example is that of gold N‐heterocyclic carbene (NHC) complexes, the cytotoxicity of which is linked to their reactivity with selenols and causes inhibition of thioredoxin reductases 10. Another approach is to attach an organometallic entity to an active molecule to modify its activity and toxicity.…”