N-methyl-β-carboline alkaloids: structure-dependent photosensitizing properties and localization in subcellular domains

Abstract

N-methyl-Beta-carboline (bC) alkaloids, including normelinonine F and melinonine F, have been found in a vast range of living species playing different biological, biomedical and/or pharmacological roles. Despite this, molecular bases of the mechanisms through which these alkaloids would exert their effect still remain unknown. Fundamental aspects including the photosensitizing properties and intracellular internalization of a selected group of N-methyl-bC alkaloids were investigated herein. Data reveal that methylation of the bC main ring enhances its photosensitizing properties either by increasing its binding affinity with DNA as biomolecular target and/or by increasing its oxidation potential, in a structure dependent manner. As a general rule, N(9)-substituted bCs showed the highest photosensitizing efficiency. With the exception of 2-methyl-harminium, all the N-methyl-bCs investigated herein induce a similar DNA photodamage profile, dominated largely by oxidized purines. This fact represents a distinctive behavior when comparing with N-unsubstituted-bCs. On the other hand, although all the investigated compounds might accumulate mainly into the mitochondria of HeLa cells, methylation provides a distinctive dynamic pattern for mitochondrial uptake. While rapid (passive) diffusion is most probably reponsible for the prompt uptake/release of neutral bCs, an active transport appears to mediate the (reatively slow) uptake of the quaternary cationic bCs. This might be a consequence of a distinctive subcellular localization (mitochondrial membrane and/or matrix) or interaction with intracellular components. Biomedical and biotechnological implications are also discussed herein.