N-Acyloxymethyl-phthalimides deliver genotoxic formaldehyde to human cells

<p>Formaldehyde is a pollutant and human metabolite that is toxic at high concentrations. Biological studies on formaldehyde are hindered by its high reactivity and volatility, which make it challenging to deliver quantitatively to cells. Here, we describe the development and validation of a s...

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Main Authors: Emms, VL, Lewis, LA, Beja, L, Bulman, NFA, Pires, E, Muskett, FW, Mccullagh, JSO, Swift, LP, McHugh, PJ, Hopkinson, RJ
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: Royal Society of Chemistry 2023
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author Emms, VL
Lewis, LA
Beja, L
Bulman, NFA
Pires, E
Muskett, FW
Mccullagh, JSO
Swift, LP
McHugh, PJ
Hopkinson, RJ
author_facet Emms, VL
Lewis, LA
Beja, L
Bulman, NFA
Pires, E
Muskett, FW
Mccullagh, JSO
Swift, LP
McHugh, PJ
Hopkinson, RJ
author_sort Emms, VL
collection OXFORD
description <p>Formaldehyde is a pollutant and human metabolite that is toxic at high concentrations. Biological studies on formaldehyde are hindered by its high reactivity and volatility, which make it challenging to deliver quantitatively to cells. Here, we describe the development and validation of a set of&nbsp;<em>N</em>-acyloxymethyl-phthalimides as cell-relevant formaldehyde delivery agents. These esterase-sensitive compounds were similarly or less inhibitory to human cancer cell growth than free formaldehyde but the lead compound increased intracellular formaldehyde concentrations, increased cellular levels of thymidine derivatives (implying increased formaldehyde-mediated carbon metabolism), induced formation of cellular DNA-protein cross-links and induced cell death in pancreatic cancer cells. Overall, our&nbsp;<em>N</em>-acyloxymethyl-phthalimides and control compounds provide an accessible and broadly applicable chemical toolkit for formaldehyde biological research and have potential as cancer therapeutics.</p>
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spelling oxford-uuid:3d9d7cf5-b746-4141-b07b-f8fa5e45a31f2023-12-22T07:35:46ZN-Acyloxymethyl-phthalimides deliver genotoxic formaldehyde to human cellsJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:3d9d7cf5-b746-4141-b07b-f8fa5e45a31fEnglishSymplectic ElementsRoyal Society of Chemistry2023Emms, VLLewis, LABeja, LBulman, NFAPires, EMuskett, FWMccullagh, JSOSwift, LPMcHugh, PJHopkinson, RJ<p>Formaldehyde is a pollutant and human metabolite that is toxic at high concentrations. Biological studies on formaldehyde are hindered by its high reactivity and volatility, which make it challenging to deliver quantitatively to cells. Here, we describe the development and validation of a set of&nbsp;<em>N</em>-acyloxymethyl-phthalimides as cell-relevant formaldehyde delivery agents. These esterase-sensitive compounds were similarly or less inhibitory to human cancer cell growth than free formaldehyde but the lead compound increased intracellular formaldehyde concentrations, increased cellular levels of thymidine derivatives (implying increased formaldehyde-mediated carbon metabolism), induced formation of cellular DNA-protein cross-links and induced cell death in pancreatic cancer cells. Overall, our&nbsp;<em>N</em>-acyloxymethyl-phthalimides and control compounds provide an accessible and broadly applicable chemical toolkit for formaldehyde biological research and have potential as cancer therapeutics.</p>
spellingShingle Emms, VL
Lewis, LA
Beja, L
Bulman, NFA
Pires, E
Muskett, FW
Mccullagh, JSO
Swift, LP
McHugh, PJ
Hopkinson, RJ
N-Acyloxymethyl-phthalimides deliver genotoxic formaldehyde to human cells
title N-Acyloxymethyl-phthalimides deliver genotoxic formaldehyde to human cells
title_full N-Acyloxymethyl-phthalimides deliver genotoxic formaldehyde to human cells
title_fullStr N-Acyloxymethyl-phthalimides deliver genotoxic formaldehyde to human cells
title_full_unstemmed N-Acyloxymethyl-phthalimides deliver genotoxic formaldehyde to human cells
title_short N-Acyloxymethyl-phthalimides deliver genotoxic formaldehyde to human cells
title_sort n acyloxymethyl phthalimides deliver genotoxic formaldehyde to human cells
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