Cytotoxic properties of the nitrosyl iron complex with phenylthiyl

Nitrosyl compounds based on the iron-sulfur clusters are a promising class of inorganic nitric oxide donors. We studied cytotoxic properties of one of such NO donors, viz., the nitrosyl [2Fe-2S] complex with phenyl ligands (Ph-complex). The Ph-complex induces the HeLa and H1299 tumor cell death. The Ph-complex and cisplatin used in combination exhibit synergistic cytotoxicity. During studies of the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase degradation, it was found that the HeLa cell death induced by the Ph-complex proceeds presumably by the mechanism of apoptosis. In the MCF7 cells, the Ph-complex causes induction of p53 protein expression and changes in its apparent molecular weight.