Structure, nitric oxide (NO) generation and antitumor activity of binuclear tetranitrosyl iron complex with 4-aminothiophenolyl as nitrosyl ferredoxins mimic

Single-crystal XRD structure of binuclear tetranitrosyliron complex [Fe2(SR)2(NO)4] (1), R = 4-aminothiophenyl, has been described. The properties of 1 were studied by IR, Mössbauer, mass spectroscopy, and amperometry. Complex 1 was shown to form long-living nitrosyl intermediates in solution, which underlies its prolonged NO donor activity. In HeLa cells, 1 caused accumulation of NF-κB p50 but decreased the levels of NF-κB p65 in the nucleus, which led to inhibition of NF-κB dependent genes. The complex also induced increase of p53 protein levels and p21 gene activity, which led to the apoptotic cell death after G2/M cell cycle phase. © 2021 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.