Transfer hydrogenation catalysis in cells as a new approach to anticancer drug design

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 6; no. 1; p. 6582
• Main Authors: Soldevila-Barreda, Joan J., Romero-Canelón, Isolda, Habtemariam, Abraha, Sadler, Peter J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 20.03.2015; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Pub. Group
• Subjects: 140/131; 631/154/309/2144; 631/45/603; 631/67; Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; Apoptosis - drug effects; Carcinoma - metabolism; Catalysis; Cell death; Cell Line; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Drug Design; Drug dosages; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Female; Fibroblasts - drug effects; Formates - pharmacology; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Hydrogenation; Iridium; multidisciplinary; NAD - drug effects; NAD - metabolism; Necrosis; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Organic chemicals; Organometallic Compounds - pharmacology; Ovarian cancer; Ovarian Neoplasms - metabolism; Oxidative stress; Ruthenium; Ruthenium Compounds - pharmacology; Science; Science (multidisciplinary)

Organometallic complexes are effective hydrogenation catalysts for organic reactions. For example, Noyori-type ruthenium complexes catalyse reduction of ketones by transfer of hydride from formate. Here we show that such catalytic reactions can be achieved in cancer cells, offering a new strategy fo...