Nucleic acid cleavage by a Cu(II) polyaza macrocyclic complex

Dinuclear copper(II) complexes with derivative triazine ligands as biomimetic models for catechol oxidases and nucleases

The research reported herein focuses on the synthesis of two new Cu(II) complexes {[Cu₂(2-X-4,6-bis(di-2-picolylamino)-1,3,5-triazine], with X = butane-1,4-diamine (2) or N-methylpyrenylbutane-1,4-diamine (3)}, the latter with a pyrene group as a possible DNA intercalating agent. The structure of complex (3) was determined by X-ray crystallography and shows the dinuclear {Cu^II(μ-OCH₃)₂Cu^II} unit in which the Cu^II···Cu^II distance of 3.040 Å is similar to that of 2.97 Å previously found for 1, which contains a {Cu^II(μ-OH)₂Cu^II} structural unit. Complexes (2) and (3) were also characterized in spectroscopic and electrochemical studies, and catecholase-like activity were performed for both complexes. The kinetic parameters obtained for the oxidation of the model substrate 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol revealed that the insertion of the spacer butane-1,4-diamine and the pyrene group strongly contributes to increasing the catalytic efficiency of these systems. In fact, K_ass becomes significantly higher, indicating that these groups influence the interaction between the complex and the substrate. These complexes also show DNA cleavage under mild conditions with moderate reaction times. The rate of cleavage (k_cat) indicated that the presence of butane-1,4-diamine and pyrene increased the activity of both complexes. The reaction mechanism seems to have oxidative and hydrolytic features and the effect of DNA groove binding compounds and circular dichroism indicate that all complexes interact with plasmid DNA through the minor groove. High-resolution DNA cleavage assays provide information on the interaction mechanism and for complex (2) a specificity for the unpaired hairpin region containing thymine bases was observed, in contrast to (3).

DNA/lysozyme binding propensity and nuclease properties of benzimidazole/2,2'-bipyridine based binuclear ternary transition metal complexes

In the present contribution, new binuclear ternary complexes; [M2(bpy)4L](ClO4)4 (M = Co(ii) (1) and Ni(ii) (2); bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine; L = 1,1'-(hexane-1,6-diyl)bis[2-(pyridin-2-yl)1H-benzimidazole] and [Cu2(bpy)2(OH2)2L](BF4)4 (3) were synthesized, characterized and screened for their antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity against human liver carcinoma cells (HepG-2) as well as non-malignant human embryonic kidney cells (HEK-293). The structural studies were complemented by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. DNA binding of 1-3 was spectrophotometrically studied. The DNA cleavage ability of 1-3 towards the supercoiled plasmid DNA (pBR322 DNA) was examined through gel electrophoresis. Compound 3 has the highest cytotoxic activity (IC50 = 3.5 μg mL-1) against HepG-2 among the investigated complexes and is non cytotoxic to noncancerous HEK-293. Complexes (1 and 2) exhibited toxicity to HEK-293 with IC50 values of 30.3 and 23.5 μg mL-1 in that order. While compound 1 showed antifungal activity against Cryptococcus neoformans, complex 2 exhibited its toxicity against Candida albicans.

Copper(II) complexes of N3O tripodal ligands appended with pyrene and polyamine groups: Anti-proliferative and nuclease activities

A series of tripodal ligands based on the 2-tert-butyl-4-R-6-phenol was synthesized, where R=aldehyde (HL¹), R=putrescine-pyrene (HL²) and R=putrescine (HL³). A dinucleating ligand wherein a putrescine group connects two tripodal moieties was also prepared (H₂L⁴). The corresponding copper complexes (1, 2, 3, and 4, respectively) were prepared and characterized. We determined the phenol's pKas in the range 2.47-3.93. The DNA binding constants were determined at 6×10⁶, 5.5×10⁵ and 2.7×10⁶ for 2, 3 and 4, respectively. The complexes display a metal-centered reduction wave at E_p^c,red=-0.45 to -0.5V vs. saturated calomel electrode, as well as a ligand-centered oxidation wave above 0.57V at pH7. In the presence of ascorbate they promote an efficient cleavage of DNA, with for example a concentration required to cleave 50% of supercoiled DNA of 1.7μM for 2. The nuclease activity is affected by the nature of the R group: putrescine-pyrene≈bis-ligating>putrescine>aldehyde. The species responsible for strand scission is the hydroxyl radical. The cytotoxicity of the complexes was evaluated on bladder cancer cell lines sensitive or resistant to cis-platin. The IC₅₀ of complexes 2 and 4 span over a short range (1.3-2μM) for the two cell lines. They are lower than those of the other complexes (3.1-9.7μM) and cis-platin. The most active compounds block the cell cycle at the G0/1 phase and promote apoptosis.

Antibacterial, DNA interaction and cytotoxic activities of pendant-armed polyamine macrocyclic dinuclear nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes

A series of dinuclear nickel(II) and copper(II) complexes (1-6) of hexaaza macrocycles of 2,6-diformyl-4-methylphenol with three different benzoyl pendant-arms, 2,2'-benzoyliminodi(ethylamine) trihydrochloride (L), 2,2'-4-nitrobenzoyliminodi(ethylamine) trihydrochloride (L') and 2,2'-3,5-dinitrobenzoyliminodi(ethylamine) trihydrochloride (L″) have been synthesized and characterized by spectral methods. The electrochemical studies of these complexes depict two irreversible one electron reduction processes around E(1)pc=-0.62 to -0.76 V and E(2)pc=-1.21 to -1.31, and nickel(II) complexes (1-3) exhibit two irreversible one electron oxidation processes around E(1)pa=1.08 to 1.14 V and E(2)pa=1.71 to 1.74 V. The room temperature magnetic moment values (μeff, 1.52-1.54 BM) indicate the presence of an antiferromagnetic interaction in the binuclear copper(II) complexes (4-6) which is also observed from the broad ESR spectra with a g value of 2.14-2.15. The synthesized complexes (1-6) were screened for their antibacterial activity. The results of DNA interaction studies indicate that the dinuclear complexes can bind to calf thymus DNA by intercalative mode and display efficient cleavage of plasmid DNA. Further, the cytotoxic activity of complexes 2, 5 and 6 on human liver adenocarcinoma (HepG2) cell line has been examined. Nuclear-chromatin cleavage has also been observed with PI staining and comet assays.

K, Ca complexes with a sulfonic ligand: structure and DNA-binding properties

A novel 4-(2,4-dihydroxybenzylideneamino)benzenesulfonic acid (HL), and its kalium(I), calcium(II) complexes [M(L)n]·2nH(2)O·Cl(n) (M=K(1) n=1, M=Ca(2) n=2), have been prepared and characterized. The crystal and molecular structures of 1 and 2 were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The interaction of 1, 2 and ligand (L) with calf thymus DNA was investigated by UV-visible (UV-vis), fluorescence and viscosity measurements. Experimental results indicate that 1, 2 and L could bind to DNA via the intercalation mode, and the binding affinity of 1 is stronger than that of 2 and L. The intrinsic binding constants of 1, 2 and L were 5.60×10(5), 6.53×10(5) and 1.44×10(5)M(-1), respectively. The cleavage reaction on plasmid DNA has been monitored by agarose gel electrophoresis. The results indicated that 1 and 2 could cleave pBR322 DNA.

New Cu (II) and Co(II) octaazamacrocyclic complexes with 2-amino-3-phenyl-propanoic acid

New cationic Cu(II) and Co(II) complexes with N,N',N'',N'''-tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane (tpmc) and the anion of 2-amino-3-phenyl-propanoic acid (S-phenylalanine) were prepared. The complexes were analyzed and characterized by elemental analysis, conductometric, polarimetric, magnetic and cyclic voltammetric measurements, as well as by spectroscopic data (UV/Vis, IR). Both complexes are binuclear with the general formula [M2(S-Phe)tpmc](ClO4)3?nH2O; S-PheH = S-phenylalanine, M(II) = Cu, n = 7; Co, n = 0. Based on previously reported data for some familiar complexes and the present results, pentacoordinated geometry was proposed. Both of the central metal ions are coordinated with two pyridyl and two cyclam nitrogens and bridged with -N-(CH2)3-N- portions of the cyclam ring and oxygen atoms of the S-phenylalaninate ion. Antimicrobial screening of the complexes, solvent, starting salts and ligands alone was performed against fungi, mould and some bacteria. In certain cases, enhanced activity of Co(II) complex towards bacteria compared with the relevant free ligands and starting salts was detected.

Synthesis and biophysical studies of bis-macrocyclic cobalt/copper(II) complexes having a pyridine spacer with CT DNA and 5'-GMP

New bis-macrocyclic complexes of Co(III), 1, Ni(II), 2, and Cu(II), 3, containing pyridyl bridges between 13-membered macrocyclic subunits, have been synthesized via an in situ one-pot template condensation reaction (IOPTCR). The proposed structures of these new dinuclear complexes are consistent with the data obtained from elemental analysis, molar conductance, IR, EPR, UV/VIS, (1)H- and 13C-NMR, and ESI-MS. The complexes 2 and 3 possess square-planar geometry with four secondary N-atoms coordinated to the metal ion, while complex 1 reveals octahedral geometry in solution due to coordinated H(2)O molecules. DNA-Binding properties of the complexes 1 and 3 were investigated by absorption and emission titrations, cyclic voltammetry, and viscosity measurements. Complexes 1 and 3 are strong DNA binders with binding constants, K(b), of 1.64 x 10(5) and 2.05 x 10(5) M(-1), respectively. Hyperchromism, decrease in emission intensity of DNA-bound ethidium bromide (EB), and changes observed in the viscosity and cyclic voltammograms in the presence of added metal complexes reveals that the complexes bind to DNA predominantly by electrostatic attraction, substantiated by absorption titration with 5'-GMP.

Mononuclear Cu(II)-phenolate bioinspired complex is catalytically promiscuous: phosphodiester and peptide amide bond cleavage

In this work, the cleavage activity of the metal complex [Cu(C(21)H(21)N(3)O(2))(OH(2))(2)](2+) is demonstrated to occur toward double-stranded DNA, in addition to its previously described amide bond cleavage activity, thus suggesting catalytic promiscuity for this complex.

The first dinuclear copper(ii) and zinc(ii) complexes containing novel Bis-TACN: syntheses, structures, and DNA cleavage activities

Two novel binuclear complexes [Cu(2)(L)].(ClO(4))(2) (1) and [Zn(2)(L)].(ClO(4))(2) (2) were synthesized and crystallographically characterized {L = 1(4),5(4)-dimethyl-1(2),5(2)-dihydroxy-1(1,3),5(1,3)-dibenzene-3(1,4),7(1,4)-di-1,4,7-triazacyclononane}. The cation [Cu(2)(L)](2+) structure of 1 is similar to that of [Zn(2)(L)](2+) of 2. The central ion is bridged by the di-phenoxo of L and lies in a close to perfect square pyramidal geometry. 1 and 2 crystallize in the triclinic space group P1. The two complexes effectively promote the cleavage of plasmid DNA in the presence of activating agents at physiological pH and temperature. The pseudo-Michaelis-Menten kinetic parameters k(cat) = 1.61 h(-1), K(m) = 1.35 x 10(-5) M for complex 1 in the presence of mercaptoethanol; k(cat) = 2.48 h(-1), K(m) = 5.5 x 10(-5)M for complex 2 in the presence of hydrogen peroxide were obtained. The mechanism of plasmid DNA cleavage was studied by adding standard radical scavengers. DNA cleavage reaction by the binuclear Zn(II)/H(2)O(2) system is a hydrolytic mechanism.

Synthesis, crystal structure and DNA binding studies of a binuclear copper(II) complex with phenanthroline

A new binuclear copper(II) complex, [Cu2Phen2Cl4] (Phen=1,10-phenanthroline), has been synthesized and characterized. Single crystal X-ray diffraction results suggest that this complex structure belongs to monoclinic crystal system, Cc (no. 9) with the cell dimensions: a=9.849(2)A, b=17.833(4)A, c=13.374(3)A, beta=106.61(3) degrees , V=2251.0(8)A(3), Dc=1.8569 Mgm(-3), F(000)=1256.0, Z=4. One Cu(II) central atom situated in a distorted square planar geometry is four-coordinated. The other situated in a distorted square pyramidal geometry is five-coordinated. Only one bridging Cl atom exists in the complex. Spectroscopic studies, including electronic absorption and fluorescence spectra, conductivity measurements and parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) of fluorescence excitation-emission three-way data array, were carried out on the DNA binding behavior of the complex. All the results suggested that the breakage of DNA secondary structure took place at low molar ratio of complex to DNA (0.3 at most) and intercalation into the base pair of DNA took place at high molar ratio. Additionally, the equilibrium concentration of EB-DNA and EB (EB: ethidium bromide) could be directly obtained by PARAFAC algorithm, proved to be a convincing method for studying the interaction of complexes with DNA.