Inhibition of telomerase activity and SK-OV-3/DDP cell apoptosis by rhodium(III) and iron(III) complexes with 4′-(3-thiophenecarboxaldehyde)-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine.

Abstract Two rhodium(III) and iron(III) complexes of 4′-(3-thiophenecarboxaldehyde)-2,2′:6′,2″-terpyridine (tpatpy): [Rh(tpatpy)Cl 3 ]·CH 3 OH (tpatpy-Rh) and [Fe(tpatpy)Cl 3 ] (tpatpy-Fe) have been prepared and characterized. Tpatpy-Rh (5.03 ± 1.15 μM) and tpatpy-Fe (18.02 ± 0.45 μM) exhibited greater cytotoxicity than the tpatpy ligand (70.11 ± 0.28 μM) and cisplatin (61.21 ± 1.39 μM) against SK-OV-3/DDP cells. In addition, tpatpy-Rh inhibited telomerase by down-regulation of c-myc and hTERT, as well as induced SK-OV-3/DDP cell arrest in the S phase. Graphical abstract tpatpy-Rh inhibited telomerase by down-regulation of c-myc and hTERT, as well as induced SK-OV-3/DDP cell arrest in the S phase. Unlabelled Image Highlights • Two rhodium(III) and iron(III) complexes have been prepared and characterized. • tpatpy-Rh exhibited selective cytotoxicity toward SK-OV-3/DDP cells versus HL-7702. • tpatpy-Rh inhibited telomerase by down-regulation of c-myc and hTERT. • tpatpy-Rh induced SK-OV-3/DDP cell arrest in the S phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]