Inhibition of rat glioma cell migration and proliferation by a calix[8]arene scaffold exposing multiple GlcNAc and ureido functionalities

b1,4-Galactosyltransferases (b1,4-GalTase) exposed on the cell surface are involved in cell migration. Specifically, b1,4- GalTase V is highly expressed in glioma and promotes invasion, growth, and survival of glioma cells. A glycocalix[8]arene exposing N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) residues (compound 1) inhibited rat C6 glioma cell migration as assessed in a scratch wound model. This effect was related to inhibition of focal adhesion kinase phosphorylation, measured by western blot analysis, and specifically observed in the area bordering the scratch wound. Compound 1 inhibited also C6 cell proliferation, an effect unrelated to its ability to interact with Gal- Tase as it was mimicked by different calix[8]arene derivatives, all characterized by multivalency and ureido groups. Compound 1 did not induce apoptotic death, but caused a different distribution of C6 cells within the cell cycle. The results here reported identify compound 1 as a molecule able to exert inhibitory effects on C6 cell migration and proliferation, independently, because of distinct components in its structure.