UV–vis absorption spectrum of a novel Ru(II) complex intercalated in DNA: [Ru(2,2′-bipy)(dppz)(2,2′-ArPy)]+

Intercalation Ability of Novel Monofunctional Platinum Anticancer Drugs: A Key Step in Their Biological Action

Phenanthriplatin (PtPPH) is a monovalent platinum(II)-based complex with a large cytotoxicity against cancer cells. Although the aqua-activated drug has been assumed to be the precursor for DNA damage, it is still under debate whether the way in which that metallodrug attacks to DNA is dominated by a direct binding to a guanine base or rather by an intercalated intermediate product. Aiming to capture the mechanism of action of PtPPH, the present contribution used theoretical tools to systematically assess the sequence of all possible mechanisms on drug activation and reactivity, for example, hydrolysis, intercalation, and covalent damage to DNA. Ab initio quantum mechanical (QM) methods, hybrid QM/QM′ schemes, and independent gradient model approaches are implemented in an unbiased protocol. The performed simulations show that the cascade of reactions is articulated in three well-defined stages: (i) an early and fast intercalation of the complex between the DNA bases, (ii) a subsequent hydrolysis reaction that leads to the aqua-activated form, and (iii) a final formation of the covalent bond between PtPPH and DNA at a guanine site. The permanent damage to DNA is consequently driven by that latter bond to DNA but with a simultaneous π–π intercalation of the phenanthridine into nucleobases. The impact of the DNA sequence and the lateral backbone was also discussed to provide a more complete picture of the forces that anchor the drug into the double helix.

Charge-Transfer versus Charge-Separated Triplet Excited States of [ReI (dmp)(CO)3 (His124)(Trp122)]+ in Water and in Modified Pseudomonas aeruginosa Azurin Protein

A computational investigation of the triplet excited states of a rhenium complex electronically coupled with a tryptophan side chain and bound to an azurin protein is presented. In particular, by using high-level molecular modeling, evidence is provided for how the electronic properties of the excited-state manifolds strongly depend on coupling with the environment. Indeed, only upon explicitly taking into account the protein environment can two stable triplet states of metal-to-ligand charge transfer or charge-separated nature be recovered. In addition, it is also demonstrated how the rhenium complex plus tryptophan system in an aqueous environment experiences too much flexibility, which prevents the two chromophores from being electronically coupled. This occurrence disables the formation of a charge-separated state. The successful strategy requires a multiscale approach of combining molecular dynamics and quantum chemistry. In this context, the strategy used to parameterize the force fields for the electronic triplet states of the metal complex is also presented.

Steady-State Linear and Non-linear Optical Spectroscopy of Organic Chromophores and Bio-macromolecules

Bio-macromolecules as DNA, lipid membranes and (poly)peptides are essential compounds at the core of biological systems. The development of techniques and methodologies for their characterization is therefore necessary and of utmost interest, even though difficulties can be experienced due to their intrinsic complex nature. Among these methods, spectroscopies, relying on optical properties are especially important to determine their macromolecular structures and behaviors, as well as the possible interactions and reactivity with external dyes—often drugs or pollutants—that can (photo)sensitize the bio-macromolecule leading to eventual chemical modifications, thus damages. In this review, we will focus on the theoretical simulation of electronic spectroscopies of bio-macromolecules, considering their secondary structure and including their interaction with different kind of (photo)sensitizers. Namely, absorption, emission and electronic circular dichroism (CD) spectra are calculated and compared with the available experimental data. Non-linear properties will be also taken into account by two-photon absorption, a highly promising technique (i) to enhance absorption in the red and infra-red windows and (ii) to enhance spatial resolution. Methodologically, the implications of using implicit and explicit solvent, coupled to quantum and thermal samplings of the phase space, will be addressed. Especially, hybrid quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) methods are explored for a comparison with solely QM methods, in order to address the necessity to consider an accurate description of environmental effects on spectroscopic properties of biological systems.

Direct Determination of Metal Complexes' Interaction with DNA by Atomic Telemetry and Multiscale Molecular Dynamics

The lack of molecular mechanistic understanding of the interaction between metal complexes and biomolecules hampers their potential medical use. Herein we present a robust procedure combining resonant X-ray emission spectroscopy and multiscale molecular dynamics simulations, which allows for straightforward elucidation of the precise interaction mechanism at the atomic level. The report unveils an unforeseen hydrolysis process and DNA binding of [Pt{N(p-HC₆F₄)CH₂}₂py₂] (Pt103), which showed potential cytotoxic activity in the past. Pt103 preferentially coordinates to adjacent adenine sites, instead of guanine sites as in cisplatin, because of its hydrogen bond ability. Comparison with previous research on cisplatin suggests that selective binding to guanine or adenine may be achieved by controlling the acidity of the compound.

Impact of cyclometalated ruthenium(II) complexes on lactate dehydrogenase activity and cytotoxicity in gastric and colon cancer cells

Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is a redox enzyme often overexpressed in cancer cells allowing their survival in stressful metabolic tumor environment. Ruthenium(II) complexes have been shown to impact on the activity of purified horseradish peroxidase and glucose oxidase but the physiological relevance remains unclear. In this study we investigated how ruthenium complexes impact on the activity of LDH in vitro and in cancer cells and performed a comparative study using polypyridine ruthenium(II) complex [Ru(bpy)₃]²⁺ (1) and its structurally related cyclometalated 2-phenylpyridinato counterpart [Ru(phpy)(bpy)₂]⁺ (2) (bpy=2,2'-bipyridine, phpyH=2-phenylpyridine). We show that the cytotoxicity in gastric and colon cancer cells induced by 2 is significantly higher compared to 1. The kinetic inhibition mechanisms on purified LDH and the corresponding inhibition constants K_i or i_0.5 values were calculated. Though complexes 1 and 2 are structurally very similar (one Ru-C bond in 2 replaces one Ru-N bond in 1), their inhibition modes are different. Cyclometalated complex 2 behaves exclusively as a non-competitive inhibitor of LDH from rabbit muscle (LDH_rm), strongly suggesting that 2 does not interact with LDH in the vicinities of either lactate/pyruvate or NAD⁺/NADH binding sites. Sites of interaction of 1 and 2 with LDH_rm were revealed theoretically through computational molecular docking. Inhibition of LDH activity by 2 was confirmed in cancer cells. Altogether, these results revealed an inhibition of LDH activity by ruthenium complex through a direct interaction structurally tuned by a Ru-C bond.

Interaction of Iron II Complexes with B-DNA. Insights from Molecular Modeling, Spectroscopy, and Cellular Biology

We report the characterization of the interaction between B-DNA and three terpyridin iron II complexes. Relatively long time-scale molecular dynamics (MD) is used in order to characterize the stable interaction modes. By means of molecular modeling and UV-vis spectroscopy, we prove that they may lead to stable interactions with the DNA duplex. Furthermore, the presence of larger π-conjugated moieties also leads to the appearance of intercalation binding mode. Non-covalent stabilizing interactions between the iron complexes and the DNA are also characterized and evidenced by the analysis of the gradient of the electronic density. Finally, the structural deformations induced on the DNA in the different binding modes are also evidenced. The synthesis and chemical characterization of the three complexes is reported, as well as their absorption spectra in presence of DNA duplexes to prove the interaction with DNA. Finally, their effects on human cell cultures have also been evidenced to further enlighten their biological effects.

Photophysical properties of ruthenium(II) polypyridyl DNA intercalators: effects of the molecular surroundings investigated by theory

The environmental effects on the structural and photophysical properties of [Ru(L)2 (dppz)](2+) complexes (L=bpy=2,2'-bipyridine, phen=1,10-phenanthroline, tap=1,4,5,8-tetraazaphenanthrene; dppz=dipyrido[3,3-a:2',3'-c]phenazine), used as DNA intercalators, have been studied by means of DFT, time-dependent DFT, and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics calculations. The electronic characteristics of the low-lying triplet excited states in water, acetonitrile, and DNA have been investigated to decipher the influence of the environment on the luminescent behavior of this class of molecules. The lowest triplet intra-ligand (IL) excited state calculated at λ≈800 nm for the three complexes and localized on the dppz ligand is not very sensitive to the environment and is available for electron transfer from a guanine nucleobase. Whereas the lowest triplet metal-to-ligand charge-transfer ((3)MLCT) states remain localized on the ancillary ligand (tap) in [Ru(tap)2 (dppz)](2+), regardless of the environment, their character is drastically modified in the other complexes [Ru(phen)2 (dppz)](2+) and [Ru(bpy)2 (dppz)](2+) upon going from acetonitrile (MLCTdppz/phen or MLCTdppz/bpy) to water (MLCTdppz) and DNA (MLCTphen and MLCTbpy). The change in the character of the low-lying (3) MLCT states accompanying nuclear relaxation in the excited state controls the emissive properties of the complexes in water, acetonitrile, and DNA. The light-switching effect has been rationalized on the basis of environment-induced control of the electronic density distributed in the lowest triplet excited states.