Exploring the Potential of Metal‐Based Candidate Drugs as Modulators of the Cytoskeleton

Abstract

AbstractDuring recent years, accumulating evidence suggested that metal‐based candidate drugs are promising modulators of cytoskeletal and cytoskeleton‐associated proteins. This was substantiated by the identification and validation of actin, vimentin and plectin as targets of distinct ruthenium(II)‐ and platinum(II)‐based modulators. Despite this, structural information about molecular interaction is scarcely available. Here, we compile the scattered reports about metal‐based candidate molecules that influence the cytoskeleton, its associated proteins and explore their potential to interfere in cancer‐related processes, including proliferation, invasion and the epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition. Advances in this field depend crucially on determining binding sites and on gaining comprehensive insight into molecular drug‐target interactions. These are key steps towards establishing yet elusive structure‐activity relationships.