Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 30, 2026

Functionalized Spirocyclic Heterocycle Synthesis and Cytotoxicity Assay
Published on: February 9, 2021
Synthesis, structure-activity relationship and biological evaluation of anticancer activity for novel N-substituted
Xin Li1, Wu-Li Zhao, Jian-Dong Jiang
1Institute of Medicinal Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China.
Abstract:
Sophoridine (1), a natural anticancer drug, has been used in China for decades. A series of novel N-substituted sophoridinic acid derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their cytotoxicity with 1 as the lead. The structure-activity relationship indicated that introduction of an aliphatic acyl on the nitrogen atom might significantly enhance the anticancer activity. Among the compounds, 6b bearing bromoacetyl side-chain afforded a potential effect against four human tumor cell lines (liver, colon, breast, and lung). The mechanism of action of 6b is to inhibit the activity of DNA topoisomerase I, followed by the S-phase arrest and then cause apoptotic cell death, similar to that of its parent 1. We consider 6b promising for further anticancer investigation.
Related Concept Videos
Structure-Activity Relationships and Drug Design
SAR studies the intricate relationship between a drug's chemical structure and biological activity. It focuses on understanding how modifications to a drug's structure can influence its...
Adrenergic Agonists: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship
Aromatic ring substitutions: Substituting the aromatic ring with –OH groups at positions 3 and 4 yields catecholamines (e.g., epinephrine), which have a high affinity for adrenoceptors. Hydrogen bonding between –OH groups and receptors enhances adrenergic activity.
Separation of the aromatic...
Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship
The direct-acting...
Indirect-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship
Reversible inhibitors display short to medium durations of action. Short-acting agents include simple alcohols with...
Cholinergic Antagonists: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship
Local Anesthetics: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship