Abstract Imaging extracellular Cu2+ in vivo is of paramount interest due to its biological importance in both physiological and pathological states. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a powerful technique to do so. However, the development of efficient MRI contrast agents selective for Cu2+,…
Abstract Several copper-ligands, including 1,10-phenanthroline (Phen), have been investigated for anticancer purposes based on their capacity to bind excess copper (Cu) in cancer tissues and form redox active complexes able to catalyse the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), ultimately…
Abstract CPPs, or Cell-Penetrating Peptides, offer invaluable utility in disease treatment due to their ability to transport various therapeutic molecules across cellular membranes. Their unique characteristics, such as biocompatibility and low immunogenicity, make them ideal candidates for…
Abstract Metal ion-catalysed overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are believed to contribute significantly to oxidative stress and be involved in several biological processes, from immune defence to development of diseases. Among the essential metal ions, copper is one of the most…
Abstract Cu-thiosemicarbazones have been intensively investigated for their application in cancer therapy or as antimicrobials. Copper(II)-di-2-pyridylketone-4,4-dimethyl-thiosemicarbazone (CuII-Dp44mT) showed anticancer activity in the submicromolar concentration range in cell culture. The…
Abstract The chelator diacetyl-bis(N4-methylthiosemicarbazone) (ATSM) and its complexes with CuII and ZnII are becoming increasingly investigated for medical applications such as PET imaging for anti-tumour therapy and the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. However, the solubility in water…
Abstract Cu chelation in biological systems is of interest as a tool to study the metabolism of this essential metal or for applications in the case of diseases with a systemic or local Cu overload, such as Wilson's or Alzheimer's disease. The choice of the chelating agent must meet several…
Abstract Copper (Cu) is essential for most organisms, but it can be poisonous in excess, through mechanisms such as protein aggregation, trans-metallation and oxidative stress. Latter could implicate the formation of potentially harmful Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS: O2•–, H2O2 and HO•) via the…
Abstract α-Pyridyl thiosemicarbazones (TSC) such as Triapine (3AP) and Dp44mT are a promising class of anticancer agents. Contrary to Triapine, Dp44mT showed a pronounced synergism with CuII, which may be due to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by Dp44mT-bound CuII ions. However, in…
Abstract The redox activity of Cu ions bound to the amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide is implicated as a source of oxidative stress in the context of Alzheimer's disease. In order to explain the efficient redox cycling between Cu(II)-Aβ (distorted square pyramidal) and Cu(I)-Aβ (digonal) resting states, the…
Abstract The progressive, neurodegenerative Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most widespread dementia. Due to the ageing of the population and the current lack of molecules able to prevent or stop the disease, AD will be even more impactful for society in the future. AD is a multifactorial disease,…
Abstract Copper (Cu) in its ionic forms is an essential element for mammals and its homeostasis is tightly controlled. Accordingly, Cu-dyshomeostasis can be lethal as is the case in the well-established genetic Wilson's and Menkes diseases. In Alzheimer's disease (AD), Cu-accumulation occurs in…
Abstract Glutathione (GSH) is the most abundant thiol in mammalian cells and plays a crucial role in maintaining redox cellular homeostasis. The thiols of two GSH molecules can be oxidized to the disulfide GSSG. The cytosolic GSH/GSSG ratio is very high (>100), and its reduction can lead to…
Abstract The measurement of labile CuII in biological samples is fundamental for understanding Cu metabolism and has been emerging as a promising diagnostic marker for Cu-related pathologies such as Wilson's and Alzheimer's diseases. The use of fluorescent chelators may be useful to circumvent…
Abstract Depending on the coordination, copper ions can have a very high activity in catalyzing the production of reactive oxygen species. Thus interest arose in increasing the activity of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) by equipping them with a Cu-binding unit. Several examples, native and…
Abstract Copper (Cu) is an essential micronutrient for most organisms and serves mainly as a redox-active catalytic centre in enzymes cycling between Cu+ and Cu2+. Membrane transporters and shuttles are involved to bring and insert Cu into these enzymes and to control tightly the copper…
Abstract Employing peptide-based models of copper transporter 1 (CTR1), we show that the trimeric arrangement of its N-terminus tunes its reactivity with Cu, promoting Cu(II) reduction and stabilizing Cu(I). Hence, the employed multimeric models of CTR1 provide an important contribution to studies…
Abstract The measurement of exchangeable Cu2+ levels in biological samples is gaining interest in the context of copper-related pathologies. Here, we report a Tb3+ luminescent turn-off sensor for Cu2+ based on the specific and suitable-affinity Xxx-Zzz-His (ATCUN) peptide motif, enabling Cu2+…
Abstract Copper-complexes are of medicinal and biological interest, including as anticancer drugs designed to cleave intracellular biomolecules via O2 activation. To exhibit such activity, the copper complex must be redox-active and resistant to dissociation. Metallothioneins (MTs) and glutathione…
Abstract Mounting evidence supports the role of amyloidogenesis, oxidative stress, and metal dyshomeostasis in the development of neurodegenerative disorders. Parkinson's Disease is characterized by α-Synuclein (αSyn) accumulation and aggregation in brain regions, also promoted by Cu2+. αSyn is…
