Genistein derivatives regioisomerically substituted at 7-O- and 4′-O- have different effect on the cell cycle

Abstract

Our previous studies on antiproliferative properties of genistein derivatives substituted at C7 hydroxyl group of the ring A revealed some compounds with antimitotic properties. The aim of this work was to synthesize their analogues substituted at the 4′-position of the ring B in genistein and to define their antiproliferative mechanism of action in selected cancer cell lines in vitro. C4′-substituted glycoconjugates were obtained in a three-step procedure: (1) alkylation with an ω-bromoester; (2) deacylation; (3) Ferrier-type rearrangement glycosylation with acylated glycals. Biological effects including antiproliferative effects of the compounds, cell cycle, DNA lesions (ATM activation, H2A.X phosphorylation, and micronuclei formation), and autophagy were studied in human cancer cell lines. Some of the tested derivatives potently inhibited cell proliferation. The presence of a substituent at the 4′-position of the ring B in genistein correlated to a p53-independent G1 cell-cycle arrest. The derivatives substituted at C4′ did not induce DNA lesions and appeared to be nongenotoxic. The tested compounds induced autophagy and caused remarkable decrease of cell volume. © 2013 A. Byczek et al.