N10-SEM PBD

N10-SEM PBD is a protected analogue of the pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) class of antitumor agents, featuring a [2-(trimethylsilyl)ethoxy]methyl (SEM) group at the N10 position. Developed by researchers at the University of London and Spirogen Ltd, it was designed as a non-reducible control molecule for studies involving nitroreductase-mediated Gene-Directed Enzyme Prodrug Therapy (GDEPT). The SEM group sterically blocks the electrophilic N10-C11 position of the PBD scaffold, which is essential for forming covalent aminal bonds with guanine residues in the DNA minor groove. Because the SEM group is stable and does not undergo bioreductive cleavage, N10-SEM PBD remains biologically inactive and significantly less cytotoxic than the parent PBD, serving to validate the mechanism of action of self-immolative PBD prodrugs.

Other names

N10-SEM-protected pyrrolobenzodiazepineN-10-SEM-protected pyrrolobenzodiazepineN 10-SEM-protected pyrrolobenzodiazepineN10-[2-(trimethylsilyl)ethoxy]methyl-pyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine