Carbohydrate-based inducers of cellular stress for targeting cancer cells

[Display omitted] Small molecules that block the altered metabolism in cancer or increase the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are emerging as potential anti-cancer agents. Considering that various carbohydrates can be used for cellular energetics or protein N-glycosylation of which interruption can lead to cellular stress, we have synthesized and evaluated a library of N-aryl glycosides for induction of ROS and cytotoxicity in H1299 cancer cell line. Two N-aryl glycosides (K8 and H8) were identified that induce about 2-fold induction of ROS and cytotoxicity in H1299 cells. We further showed that the acetylated form of K8 (K8A) activates AMPK, and stabilizes p53 in HEK293 cells, and induce a higher cytotoxicity than 2-deoxy-d-glucose in H1299 cell line.