Synchrotron-based FTIR evaluation of biochemical changes in cancer and noncancer cells induced by brominated marine coelenteramine

The mode of action toward gastric cancer cells of brominated Coelenteramine, an analogue of a metabolic product of a marine bioluminescent reaction, was investigated by synchrotron radiation-based Fourier Transform Infrared spectrocopy (FTIR). This method revealed that the anticancer activity of brominated Coelenteramine is closely connected with cellular lipids, by affecting their organization and composition. More specifically, there is an increasing extent of oxidative stress, which results in changes in membrane polarity, lipid chain packing and lipid composition. However, this effect was not observed in a noncancer cell line, helping to explain its selectivity profile. Thus, synchrotron radiation-based FTIR helped to identify the potential of this Coelenteramine analogue in targeting membrane lipids, while proving to be a powerful technique to probe the mechanism of anticancer drugs.

Automated summary

The mode of action of brominated Coelenteramine towards gastric cancer cells was investigated using synchrotron radiation-based FTIR spectroscopy. This method revealed that the anticancer activity of the compound is closely related to cellular lipids, impacting their organization and composition. Increased oxidative stress led to changes in membrane polarity, lipid chain packing, and lipid composition, which were not observed in noncancer cells, explaining its selectivity profile. Therefore, synchrotron radiation-based FTIR proved to be a powerful technique for studying the mechanism of anticancer drugs.