Design, synthesis and biological activities of new brassinosteroid analogues with a phenyl group in the side chain

Org Biomol Chem. 2016 Sep 21;14(37):8691-8701. doi: 10.1039/c6ob01479h.

Abstract

We have prepared and studied a series of new brassinosteroid derivatives with a p-substituted phenyl group in the side chain. To obtain the best comparison between molecular docking and biological activities both types of brassinosteroids were synthesized; 6-ketones, 10 examples, and B-lactones, 8 examples. The phenyl group was introduced into the steroid skeleton by Horner-Wadsworth-Emmons. The docking studies were carried out using AutoDock Vina 1.05. Plant biological activities were established using different brassinosteroid bioassays in comparison with natural brassinosteroids. Differences in the production of the plant hormone ethylene were also observed in etiolated pea seedlings after treatment with new brassinosteroids. The most active compounds were lactone 8f and 6-oxo derivatives 8c and 9c, their biological activities were comparable or even better than naturally occurring brassinolide. Finally the cytotoxicity of the new derivatives was studied using human normal and cancer cell lines.

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry*
  • Antineoplastic Agents / metabolism
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Arabidopsis / metabolism
  • Arabidopsis Proteins / metabolism
  • Brassinosteroids / chemistry*
  • Brassinosteroids / metabolism
  • Brassinosteroids / pharmacology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Humans
  • Molecular Docking Simulation
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Plant Growth Regulators / metabolism
  • Protein Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Arabidopsis Proteins
  • Brassinosteroids
  • Plant Growth Regulators
  • Protein Kinases
  • BRI1 protein, Arabidopsis