Enediynes are organic compounds containing two triple bonds and one double bond.
Enediynes are most notable for their limited use as antitumor antibiotics (known as enediyne anticancer antibiotics). [1] They are efficient at inducing apoptosis in cells, but cannot differentiate cancerous cells from healthy cells. Consequently, research is being conducted to increase the specificity of enediyne toxicity.
A nine- or ten-membered ring containing a double bond between two triple bonds is termed the warhead of the enediyne. In this state, the warhead is inactive. Enediynes are triggered into a chemically active state via Bergman or Myers-Saito cyclization. The triggering mechanism can be attributed to an intramolecular nucleophilic attack initiated by one of the variable regions of the molecule. Triggering can also occur via attack by an external nucleophile.[ citation needed ]
Bergman cyclization restructures the enediyne ring into two smaller rings. One electron from each of the enediyne triple bonds is pushed to the adjacent single bonds, generating two new double bonds. Meanwhile, another pair of electrons (one from each alkyne) is used form a new covalent bond. The resulting formation is a 1,4-benzenoid diradical fused to a ring composed of the leftover atoms from the original enediyne.
Some enediynes have an epoxide group attached to their ring, making Bergman cyclization unfavorable due to steric hindrance. For Bergman cyclization to occur, the epoxide must be removed.
Myers-Saito cyclization is another triggering mechanism by which an enediyne warhead becomes a diradical. This mechanism requires the alkene of the enediyne to be part of a diene with a double bond in a variable group. A nucleophile will attack the double bond in the variable region, causing a chain reaction of electron pushing. Ultimately, one of the triple bonds of the enediyne is converted to a cumulene. [2] The cumulene and the remaining alkyne donate one electron each to form a new covalent bond.
The diradicals generated by Bergman and Myers-Saito cyclization are highly reactive.[ citation needed ]
The cyclization of the enediyne functional group creates a transient reactive 1,4-benzenoid diradical that acts as a nucleophile and attacks electrophiles in order to achieve a more stable form. In biological systems, once the diradical is positioned in the minor groove of double-stranded DNA, it abstracts two hydrogen atoms from the sugars opposite strands at either the C1, C4, or C5 positions. [3] The DNA radicals that form can then cause interstrand crosslinks or react with O2, leading to double- or single-stranded DNA cleavage. [4]
Members of the enediyne family all share a unique enediyne core that is the cause of their potent cytotoxicity. [5] The enediyne cores are derived from linear, probably polyketide, precursors that consist of seven or eight head-to-tail coupled acetate units. Enediyne assembly involves a highly conserved, iterative type I polyketide synthase (PKS) pathway [6] Sequencing of enediyne gene clusters has confirmed the polyketide origin of the enediyne core, and elucidated the biosynthetic pathways and mechanisms of enediynes. [7]
In 2024, Shen and coworkers have further elucidated the biosynthesis and reported evidence for a diiodinated trienetetrayne ((13Z)-2,13-diiodopentadeca-1,7,13-triene-3,5,9,11-tetrayne) derived from pentadeca-1,3,5,7,9,11,13-heptaene as a common biosynthetic intermediate for the three known families of enediyne. [8]
Differences in the biosynthetic pathways of enediynes are due to the different origins of the -yne carbons as well as differences in isotope incorporation patterns. More differentiation comes from the attachment of various functional groups at different positions to the enediyne warheads during their maturation stage. These moieties can be either aromatic or sugars and define sequence specificity of DNA binding as well as the physical properties of the enediyne chromophores. [5]
Due to the cytotoxicity of the enediyne chromophores, their biosynthesis is tightly regulated, although the regulatory mechanisms are still largely unclear. Organisms that produce enediynes have been shown to protect themselves with a self-resistance mechanism that uses a self-sacrificing protein. Notably, some microbes use CalC to sequester calicheamicin so that the reactive diradical abstracts hydrogens from a glycine inside of the protein instead of from DNA. [5]
There are fourteen naturally occurring enediynes. [6] The other existing classes of enediynes have been synthesized in the lab.
Enediynes have been split into two sub-families: those with nine members in the core enediyne ring and those with ten-membered rings.[ citation needed ]
The nine-membered enediynes are also referred to as chromoproteins because they have an attached protein as a variable group. This protein is necessary for transport and stabilization of the enediyne group. [9]
Neocarzinostatin is a natural product of Streptomyces carzinostaticus. It forms an apoprotein with a 113-amino acid polypeptide which can cleave histone protein H1. [10] Neocarzinostatin is an example of an enediyne that undergoes triggering via Myers-Saito cyclization. An analog of neocarzinostatin, SMANCS, has been approved for use in Japan as an antitumor drug for liver cancer. [11]
Also known as lidamycin, C-1027 is one of the most potent antitumor enediynes. C-1027 was first isolated from Streptomyces globisporus in a soil sample taken from the Qian-Jiang District of China. Unlike most enediynes, C-1027 does not undergo a triggering process to become an activated 1,4-benzenoid diradical. [12] C-1027 has demonstrated potential efficacy against hypoxic tumors. [4]
The calicheamicins are a sub-family of enediynes that were isolated from Micromonospora echinospora calichensis. [13] All calicheamicin family members demonstrate potent antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms. [13] Calicheamicin γ1 exhibited significant antitumor activity against leukemia and melanoma cells in vivo. [13] The calicheamicins are notably similar in structure to the esperamicins.
The esperamicins are a sub-family of enediynes that are considered among the most potent antitumor antibiotics discovered. [14] First isolated in Actinomadura verrucosospora, members of the esperamicin family include esperamicin A1, A1b, A2, A3, A4, B1, B2, and X. Esperamicin X is an inactive esperamicin naturally produced by A. verrucosospora. [14] Compounds with thiol groups induce triggering among the esperamicins. [15]
The dynemicins are a sub-family of enediynes whose members are organic compounds generated in Micromonospora chersina. [9] Dynemicin A was the first member of this sub-family to be discovered. It was isolated from M. chersina in a soil sample taken from the state of Gujarat in India. [16] Dynemicins are violet in color because they contain anthraquinone as a variable group attached to the enediyne core. [9] Dynemycins have demonstrated strong antitumor activity against leukemia and melanoma cells. [17]
Golfomycin A is a synthetic enediyne molecule designed in an attempt to create a more easily manufactured antitumor antibiotic. [18] DNA strand-scission induced by golfomycin A is pH dependent. [18] Preliminary in vitro studies have demonstrated that golfomycin A can reduce carcinomas in bladder cells. [18]
Novobiocin, also known as albamycin, is an aminocoumarin antibiotic that is produced by the actinomycete Streptomyces niveus, which has recently been identified as a subjective synonym for S. spheroides a member of the class Actinomycetia. Other aminocoumarin antibiotics include clorobiocin and coumermycin A1. Novobiocin was first reported in the mid-1950s.
Geldanamycin is a 1,4-benzoquinone ansamycin antitumor antibiotic that inhibits the function of Hsp90 by binding to the unusual ADP/ATP-binding pocket of the protein. HSP90 client proteins play important roles in the regulation of the cell cycle, cell growth, cell survival, apoptosis, angiogenesis and oncogenesis.
The Masamune-Bergman cyclization or Masamune-Bergman reaction or Masamune-Bergman cycloaromatization is an organic reaction and more specifically a rearrangement reaction taking place when an enediyne is heated in presence of a suitable hydrogen donor. It is the most famous and well-studied member of the general class of cycloaromatization reactions. It is named for Japanese-American chemist Satoru Masamune and American chemist Robert G. Bergman. The reaction product is a derivative of benzene.
Platensimycin, a metabolite of Streptomyces platensis, is an antibiotic, which acts by blocking the enzymes β-ketoacyl-(acyl-carrier-protein ) synthase I/II (FabF/B).
Neocarzinostatin (NCS) is a macromolecular chromoprotein enediyne antitumor antibiotic secreted by Streptomyces macromomyceticus.
The calicheamicins are a class of enediyne antitumor antibiotics derived from the bacterium Micromonospora echinospora, with calicheamicin γ1 being the most notable. It was isolated originally in the mid-1980s from the chalky soil, or "caliche pits", located in Kerrville, Texas. The sample was collected by a scientist working for Lederle Labs. It is extremely toxic to all cells and, in 2000, a CD33 antigen-targeted immunoconjugate N-acetyl dimethyl hydrazide calicheamicin was developed and marketed as targeted therapy against the non-solid tumor cancer acute myeloid leukemia (AML). A second calicheamicin-linked monoclonal antibody, inotuzumab ozogamicin, an anti-CD22-directed antibody-drug conjugate, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on August 17, 2017, for use in the treatment of adults with relapsed or refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Calicheamicin γ1 and the related enediyne esperamicin are the two of the most potent antitumor agents known.
Astromicin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic. It is produced by Micromonospora olivasterospora.
Indolocarbazoles (ICZs) are a class of compounds that are under current study due to their potential as anti-cancer as well as antimicrobial drugs and the prospective number of derivatives and uses found from the basic backbone alone. First isolated in 1977, a wide range of structures and derivatives have been found or developed throughout the world. Due to the extensive number of structures available, this review will focus on the more important groups here while covering their occurrence, biological activity, biosynthesis, and laboratory synthesis.
The esperamicins are chromoprotein enediyne antitumor antibiotics of bacterial origin. Esperamicin A1 is the most well studied compound in this class. Esperamcin A1 and the related enediyne calicheamicin are the two most potent antitumor agents known. The esperamicins are extremely toxic DNA splicing compounds.
Micromonospora echinospora is a species of bacteria that is known for producing the enediyne antibiotic calicheamicins.
Sporolides A and B are polycyclic macrolides extracted from the obligate marine bacterium Salinispora tropica, which is found in ocean sediment. They are composed of a chlorinated cyclopenta[a]indene ring and a cyclohexenone moiety. They were the second group of compounds isolated from Salinispora, and were said to indicate the potential of marine actinomycetes as a source of novel secondary metabolites. The structures and absolute stereochemistries of both metabolites were elucidated using a combination of NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography.
Dynemicin A is an anti-cancer enediyne drug. It displays properties which illustrate promise for cancer treatments, but still requires further research.
2-Amino-4-deoxychorismate dehydrogenase is an enzyme with systematic name (2S)-2-amino-4-deoxychorismate:FMN oxidoreductase. This enzyme catalyses the following chemical reaction
2-amino-4-deoxychorismate synthase is an enzyme with systematic name (2S)-2-amino-4-deoxychorismate:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase. This enzyme catalyses the following chemical reaction
Free radical damage to DNA can occur as a result of exposure to ionizing radiation or to radiomimetic compounds. Damage to DNA as a result of free radical attack is called indirect DNA damage because the radicals formed can diffuse throughout the body and affect other organs. Malignant melanoma can be caused by indirect DNA damage because it is found in parts of the body not exposed to sunlight. DNA is vulnerable to radical attack because of the very labile hydrogens that can be abstracted and the prevalence of double bonds in the DNA bases that free radicals can easily add to.
Kedarcidin is a chromoprotein antitumor antibiotic first isolated from an Actinomycete in 1992, comprising an ansa-bridged enediyne chromophore (shown) as well as an apoprotein that serves to stabilize the toxin in the Actinomycete. Like other members of the enediyne class of drugs—so named for the nine-or-ten-membered core structure bearing an alkene directly attached to two alkynyl appendages—kedarcidin was likely evolved to kill bacteria that compete with the producing organism. Because it achieves this by causing DNA damage, however, kedarcidin is capable of harming tumor cells, as well. Kedarcidin is thus the subject of scientific research, both for its structural complexity as well as its anticancer properties.
Maduropeptin consists of a 1:1 complex of a carrier protein (MdpA) and a chromophore isolated from Actinomadura madurae. The chromophore has an enediyne structure and is an antibiotic with anticancer activity.
C-1027 or lidamycin is an antitumor antibiotic consisting of a complex of an enediyne chromophore and an apoprotein. It shows antibiotic activity against most Gram-positive bacteria. It is one of the most potent cytotoxic molecules known, due to its induction of a higher ratio of DNA double-strand breaks than single-strand breaks.
Shishijimicin A is an enediyne antitumor antibiotic isolated from Didemnum proliferum. Isolated in 2003 it is part of the family of 10 member ringed enediyne antitumor antibiotic agents, which includes: namenamicin, esperamicin and, calicheamicin. Due to its high potency from cytotoxicity, Shishjimicin A is currently undergoing testing as a possible Antibody-antibiotic Conjugate (ADCs) cancer treatment. Laboratory tests indicate it to be “more than 1,000 times as toxic to cancer cells as the anticancer drug taxol”, also known as Paclitaxel, a prevalent chemotherapy medication. As such, theoretically, only an administration of a minuscule dose of the molecule would be necessary per each treatment. As shishjimicin A supply is scarce and the full extent of its side effects is not yet established, there is still a need for further biological and clinical studies.
Metalloenediynes are a family of compounds composed of an enediyne-containing ligand complexed to a transition metal that have potential use as anti-tumor therapeutics. Enediynes naturally undergo the Bergman cyclization to produce a 1,4-didehydrobenzene intermediate, whose thermal activation energy is stabilized by chelation of the ligand to a metal center, allowing for temperature regulation of this diradical formation.