seleninic-acid and Hemolysis

Selenium compounds play a major role in Biology, where they are often associated with pronounced antioxidant activity or toxicity. Whilst most selenium compounds are not necessarily hazardous, their often selective cytotoxicity is interesting from a biochemical and pharmaceutical perspective. We have synthesized a series of amphiphilic molecules which combine a hydrophilic seleninic acid head group - which at the same time serves as thiol-specific warhead - with a hydrophobic tail. These molecules possess a surface activity similar to the one of SDS, yet their biological activity seems to exceed by far the one of a simple surfactant (e.g. SDS) or seleninic acid (e.g. phenyl seleninic acid). Such compounds effectively haemolyse Red Blood Cells and exhibit pronounced activity against Saccharomyces cerevisiae. From a chemical perspective, the seleninic warheads are likely to attack crucial cysteine proteins of the cellular thiolstat.

Topics: Antifungal Agents; Carboxylic Acids; Cell Membrane; Cysteine; Erythrocytes; Fungi; Hemolysis; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Indicators and Reagents; Micelles; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Organoselenium Compounds; Oxidation-Reduction; Saccharomyces cerevisiae; Selenium Compounds; Sulfhydryl Compounds