Biological aspects of anticancer therapy with platinum drugs: interactions with cytochrome c

Abstract

Platinum-based drugs are widely used in the clinical treatment of various cancers, however their toxic side effects, like concentration-dependent nephrotoxicity and resistance limit their usage. Cytochrome c is a small electron-carrier heme protein, located in the mitochondria, that plays a crucial role in apoptotic pathways. Platination of specific side chains, which can affect the function of biologically crucial proteins and enzymes through the formation of strong coordinative bonds, might play a relevant role in the overall mechanism and toxicity of platinum drugs. To understand the nature of those interactions, we have analysed the reactions of anticancer platinum drugs with cytochrome c — signalling apoptotic protein.