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Recoding the Cancer Epigenome by Intervening in Metabolism and Iron Homeostasis with Mitochondria‐Targeted Rhenium(I) Complexes
Author(s) -
Pan ZhengYin,
Tan CaiPing,
Rao LuSi,
Zhang Hang,
Zheng Yue,
Hao Liang,
Ji LiangNian,
Mao ZongWan
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.202008624
Subject(s) - epigenome , epigenetics , cancer research , apoptosis , mitochondrion , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , biology , cancer cell , rhenium , dna methylation , cancer , biochemistry , genetics , gene expression , gene , inorganic chemistry
The development and malignancy of cancer cells are closely related to the changes of the epigenome. In this work, a mitochondria‐targeted rhenium(I) complex ( DFX‐Re3 ), integrating the clinical iron chelating agent deferasirox ( DFX ), has been designed. By relocating iron to the mitochondria and changing the key metabolic species related to epigenetic modifications, DFX‐Re3 can elevate the methylation levels of histone, DNA, and RNA. As a consequence, DFX‐Re3 affects the events related to apoptosis, RNA polymerases, and T‐cell receptor signaling pathways. Finally, it is shown that DFX‐Re3 induces immunogenic apoptotic cell death and exhibits potent antitumor activity in vivo. This study provides a new approach for the design of novel epigenetic drugs that can recode the cancer epigenome by intervening in mitochondrial metabolism and iron homeostasis.