An Electrochemical Approach to Follow and Evaluate the Kinetic Catalysis of Ricin on hsDNA

International authorities classify the ricin toxin, present in castor seeds, as a potential agent for use in bioterrorism. Therefore, the detection, identification, and characterization of ricin are considered the first actions for its risk assessment during a suspected exposure, parallel to the development of therapeutic and medical countermeasures. In this study, we report the kinetic analysis of electro-oxidation of adenine released from hsDNA by the catalytic action of ricin by square wave voltammetry. The results suggest that ricin-mediated adenine release exhibited an unusual kinetic profile, with a progress curve controlled by the accumulation of the product and the values of the kinetic constants of 46.6 µM for Km and 2000 min⁻¹ for kcat, leading to a catalytic efficiency of 7.1 × 10⁵ s⁻¹ M⁻¹.

Evaluation of parent and nano-encapsulated terbium(III) complex toward its photoluminescence properties, FS-DNA, BSA binding affinity, and biological applications

BACKGROUND

There is a crucial need for finding and developing new compounds as the anticancer and antimicrobial agents with better activity, specific target, and less toxic side effects.

OBJECTIVES

Base on the potential anticancer properties of lanthanide complexes, in the paper, the biological applications of terbium (Tb) complex, containing 2,9-dimethyl- 1,10-phenanthroline (Me2Phen) such as anticancer, antimicrobial, DNA cleavage ability, the interaction with FS-DNA (Fish-Salmon DNA) and BSA (Bovine Serum Albumin) was examined.

METHODS

The interaction of Tb-complex with BSA and DNA was studied by emission spectroscopy, absorption titration, viscosity measurement, CD spectroscopy, competitive experiments, and docking calculation. Also, the ability of this complex to cleave DNA was reported by gel electrophoresis. Tb-complex was concurrently screened for its antibacterial activities by different methods. Besides, the nanocarriers of Tb-complex (lipid nanoencapsulation (LNEP) and the starch nanoencapsulation (SNEP)), as active anticancer candidates, were prepared. MTT technique was applied to measure the antitumor properties of these compounds on human cancer cell lines.

RESULTS

The experimental and docking results suggest significant binding between DNA as well as BSA with terbium-complex. Besides, groove binding plays the main role in the binding of this compound with DNA and BSA. The competitive experiment with hemin demonstrated that the terbium complex was bound at site III of BSA, which was confirmed by the docking study. Also, Tb-complex was concurrently screened for its DNA cleavage, antimicrobial, and anticancer activities. The anticancer properties of LNEP and SNEP are more than the terbium compound.

CONCLUSIONS

Tb-complex can bond to DNA/BSA with high binding affinity. Base on biological applications of Tb-complex, it can be concluded that this complex and its nanocarriers can suggest as novel anticancer, antimicrobial candidates.

Evaluation of the effect of Tb(IV)-NR complex on herring sperm DNA genetic information by mean of spectroscopic

The interaction between Tb(IV)-NR complex and herring sperm DNA in buffer solution of Tris-HCl was investigated with the use of acridine orange(AO) as a spectral probe. The binding modes and other information were provided by the UV-spectrophotometry and fluorescence spectroscopy. The thermodynamic functions expressed that the binding constants of Tb(IV)-NR complex with DNA was K^θ_298.15K = 4.03 × 10⁵ L·mol^-1, K^θ_310.15K =1.30 × 10⁷ L·mol^-1, and the Δ_rGθ m _298.15 K＝-3.20 × 10⁴ J·mol^-1. The scatchard equation suggested that the interaction mode between Tb(IV)-NR complex and herring sperm DNA is electrostatic and weak intercalation bindings. FTIR spectroscopy results also indicate that there is a specific interaction between the Tb(IV)-NR complex and the A and G bases of DNA.