Vanadium(III) complexes with L-cysteine--stability, speciation and the effect on actin in hepatoma Morris 5123 cells

The complexation processes of vanadium(III) with L-cysteinate and s-methyl-L-cysteinate ligands have been studied in aqueous solutions in the pH range 2-7 by the pH-potentiometric, UV-Vis absorption and CD spectroscopy methods. The equilibria model of complex formation, evaluated by SUPERQUAD program, so as careful inspection of spectroscopic data have allowed to determine the speciation and the coordination mode of vanadium(III) ion in the major species present in aqueous solutions. Relatively stable ML2 species of vanadium(III)-L-cysteinate system exists in aqueous solutions above pH 5. It was deduced from spectral data that the coordination sphere of vanadium(III) ion in V(Cys)2 is completed by oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur atoms of two L-cysteinate ligands. Solution of vanadium(III) with L-cysteine (pH approximately 7, L/M=20) was administrated to the culture medium of hepatoma Morris 5123 growing cells. Cytotoxic effect of this solution towards tumor cells was observed. The viability of these cells depended on the complex concentration. It was reduced by 70% at 100 microM of the vanadium species concentration in the culture medium. The death of cancer cells seems to be induced on apoptotic route. The statistically significant increase of total actin level and filamentous to monomeric actin ratios (F/G) were found in the cytoplasm of cells exposed to the vanadium(III)-L-cysteine complex. It was accompanied by the rearrangement of actin cytoskeleton architecture. These factors are important for migration and metastasis formation of the cancer cells.