@article{159,
  author = {Celesztina Domonkos and Ferenc Zsila and Ilona Fitos and Júlia Visy and Rudolf Kassai and Balazs Balint and Andras Kotschy},
  title = {Synthesis and serum protein binding of novel ring-substituted harmine derivatives},
  abstract = {<p>A series of new derivatives of the natural [small beta]-carboline alkaloid harmine, introducing hydrophobic substituents into positions 7 and 9 were synthesized as potential anticancer agents. Their binding affinities for human serum albumin (HSA) and [small alpha]1-acid glycoprotein (AAG) were investigated by affinity chromatography combined with fluorescence, circular dichroism (CD) and UV absorption spectroscopy. The weak binding of harmine to both proteins (Ka [similar] 3 [times] 104 M-1) was highly increased by aromatic substitutions (Ka [similar] 105-106 M-1). Derivatives having a substituted benzyl group in the N9-position of the [small beta]-carboline nucleus showed about tenfold and hundredfold affinity enhancement for HSA and AAG, respectively. Such a strong plasma protein interaction would be of pharmacokinetic relevance for these potential drug candidates. Induced CD spectra indicated the variant selective, dimeric binding of the 7-pyridylethoxy derivative to AAG. Absorbance and fluorescence spectra refer to the binding preference of the neutral form of the studied [small beta]-carbolines for both proteins.</p>},
  year = {2015},
  journal = {RSC Adv.},
  volume = {5},
  pages = {53809-53818},
  url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C5RA06426K},
  doi = {10.1039/C5RA06426K},
}