Ternary copper(II) complexes of levofloxacin and phenanthroline derivatives: In-vitro antibacterial,DNA interactions,and SOD-like activity

A series of ternary copper(II) complexes have been derived using levofloxacin and five phenanthroline derivatives. Complexes were characterized using infrared spectroscopy, Thermogravimetric (TG)-analysis, fast atom bombardment mass spectroscopy and reflectance spectra. Synthesized complexes exhibit the only d-d band at ～ 666?nm points toward a distorted square pyramidal geometry at metal centre with one unpaired electron responsible for paramagnetic behaviour of whole moiety. Binding behaviour of the complexes toward Herring Sperm DNA were determined using ultraviolet-Vis (UV-Vis) absorption titration and viscometric titration experiment, where as the cleavage efficacy of the complexes toward pUC19 DNA was determined by electrophoresis in presence of ethidium bromide. Complexes exhibit superoxide dismutase–like activity with their IC₅₀ values ranging from 0.7917 to 1.7432 µM.     

Fluorescence and absorption studies of DNA–Pd(II) complex interaction: Synthesis,spectroanalytical investigations and biological activities

Novel palladium(II) complexes ( 7a–7e ) of substituted quinoline derivatives were synthesized. The complexes were characterized using various techniques such as thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), elemental analysis, conductance measurement, mass, absorption, infra‐red (IR), ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy (EDX). Complexes for herring sperm DNA (HS DNA) binding were explored and absorption titration and the binding constant (K_b) as well as Gibb's free energy were evaluated. Complex 7d exhibited the highest binding constant, therefore the thermodynamic parameters of 7d at different temperatures were evaluated. To support the results of the absorption titration, fluorescence titration, viscosity measurement and molecular docking studies were performed. The fluorescence quenching data as evaluated from Stern–Volmer equation were used to calculate K_SV, K_f and the number of binding sites. The results of all these studies were in good agreement with the absorption study. DNA electrophoretic mobility was performed to explore the possible application of metal complexes as artificial metallonucleases. The antibacterial activity of the complexes was accessed against different pathogenic bacteria and cytotoxicity was measured using brine shrimp and S. pombe.     

Non-intercalative,Deoxyribose Binding of Boric Acid to Calf Thymus DNA

The present study characterizes the effects of the boric acid binding on calf thymus DNA (ct-DNA) by spectroscopic and calorimetric methods. UV–Vis absorbance spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy were employed to characterize binding properties. Changes in the secondary structure of ct-DNA were determined by CD spectroscopy. Sizes and morphologies of boric acid–DNA complexes were determined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The kinetics of boric acid binding to calf thymus DNA (ct-DNA) was investigated by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). ITC results revealed that boric acid exhibits a moderate affinity to ct-DNA with a binding constant (K _a) of 9.54?×?10⁴ M^?1. FT-IR results revealed that boric acid binds to the deoxyribose sugar of DNA without disrupting the B-conformation at tested concentrations.     

DNA cleavage, binding and intercalation studies of drug-based oxovanadium(IV) complexes

The complexes of oxovanadium(IV) with ciprofloxacin and various uni-negative bidentate ligands have been prepared and their structure investigated using spectral, physicochemical and elemental analyses. The viscosity measurement suggest that the complexes bind to DNA by intercalation. The DNA binding efficacy was determined using absorption titration to obtain the binding constant (K(b)). The DNA cleavage efficacy was determined using gel electrophoresis. The DNA binding and cleavage efficacy were increased in the complexes relative to the parental ligands and metal salts. Antibacterial activity has been assayed against two Gram((- ve)) i.e. Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and three Gram((+ ve)) Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Serratia marcescens microorganisms using the doubling dilution technique. The results show a significant increase in antibacterial activity in the complexes compared with parental ligands and metal salts.     

Ternary zinc(II)-dipeptide complexes for the hydrolytic cleavage of DNA at physiological pH

A series of Zn(II) complexes with cysteinylglycine (CysGly) and histidylserine (HisSer), and of CysGly and histidylphenylalanine (HisPhe) were investigated. Complex stabilities were determined potentiometrically, and binding geometries were probed by means of 1H-NMR spectroscopy, using Co(II) instead of Zn(II) as a spectroscopic marker. The ternary 1:1:1 complexes [Zn(II)(CysGly)(HisSer)] and [Zn(II)(CysGly)(HisPhe)] were shown by UV experiments, fluorescence titration, and gel electrophoresis to intercalate with DNA, and to hydrolytically cleave supercoiled DNA (form-I), partly also circular (form-II) DNA, under physiological conditions (37 degrees, H2O, pH 7.5).     

Solution interactions between the uranyl cation [UO2(2+)] and histidine, N-acetyl-histidine, tyrosine, and N-acetyl-tyrosine

Complexes of the uranyl cation [UO(2)(2+)] with histidine (His), N-acetyl-histidine (NAH), tyrosine (Tyr), and N-acetyl-tyrosine (NAT) were studied by UV-visible and NMR spectroscopy, and by potentiometric titration. Protonation constants for each ligand are reported, as are cumulative formation constants for uranyl-amino acid complexes. Coupling constant data (J(CH)) for uranyl-histidine complexes indicate that inner-sphere solution interactions between histidine and uranyl cation are solely at the carboxylate site. At 25 degrees C the major uranyl-histidine complex has a cumulative formation constant of logbeta(110)=8.53, and a proposed formula of [UO(2)HisH(2)(OH)(2)](+); the stepwise formation constant, logK(UL), is estimated to be 5.6 ( approximately 8.53-(-6.1)-(-6.1)-15.15). Outer-sphere interactions, H-bonding or electrostatic interactions, are proposed as contributing a significant portion of the stability to the ternary uranyl-hydroxo-amino acid complexes. The temperature dependent protonation constants of histidine and formation constants between uranyl cation and histidine are reported from 10 to 35 degrees C; at 25 degrees C, DeltaG=-43.3 kJ/mol.     

Carbohydrate-conjugate heterobimetallic complexes: synthesis, DNA binding studies, artificial nuclease activity and in vitro cytotoxicity

New carbohydrate-conjugated heterobimetallic complexes [C(32)H(62)N(10)O(8)NiSn(2)Cl(4)]Cl(2)(1) and [C(32)H(62)N(10)O(8)CuSn(2)Cl(4)]Cl(2) (2) were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic (IR, (1)H, (13)C, and (119)Sn NMR, EPR, UV-vis, ESI-MS) and analytical methods. The interaction studies of 2 with CT DNA were studied by using various biophysical techniques, which showed high binding affinity of 2 toward CT DNA. The extent of interaction was further confirmed by the interaction of 2 with the nucleotides viz.; 5'-AMP, 5'-CMP, 5'-GMP, and 5'-TMP, by absorption titration. (1)H, (31)P, (119)Sn NMR spectroscopy further validated the interaction mode of 2 with 5'-GMP. The electrophoresis pattern observed for 2 with supercoiled pBR322 DNA, exhibited significantly good nuclease activity following oxidative pathway. The preferential selectivity of 2 toward the major groove was observed on interaction of 2 with pBR322 DNA, in the presence of standard groove binders viz.; DAPI and methyl green. Additionally, in vitro antitumor activity of 2 was evaluated on a panel of human cancer cell lines, exhibiting remarkable cytotoxicity activity against Colo205 (colon) and MCF7 (breast) cell lines with GI(50) values <10 μg/mL.     

Interaction of DNA with poly(L-Lys-L-Ala-Gly) and poly(L-Lys-L-Ala-L-Pro). Circular dichroism and thermal denaturation studies

Complexes of DNA with polypeptides composed of Lys, Ala, and Gly in both a sequential order, poly(L-lysine-L-alanine-glycine), and a statistical distribution, poly(L-lysine36-L-alanine28-glycine), were prepared using gradient dialysis. These polypeptide-DNA complexes were studied using ultraviolet absorption (UV) and circular dichroism (CD) to probe the conformation, binding, and melting behavior of DNA in the complex. Complexes with the sequential polypeptide showed no structural change in the DNA; however, the complexes with the random polypeptide yield CD spectra similar to phi DNA [Maniatis, T., Venable, Jr., J.S., and Lerman, L.S. (1974), J. Mol. Biol. 84, 37]. A second sequential polypeptide, poly(L-Lys-L-Ala-L-Pro)n, -DNA complex was also studied. It was found to exhibit pronounced structural changes as a function of ionic strength and poly-peptide-DNA ratio, more similar to the random sequence that the ordered sequence of the Lys, Ala, Gly polymer. Thus the importance of the composition and amino acid sequence in polypeptides which bind to DNA, even in such simple systems, is demonstrated. Evidence from thermal denaturation, employing simultaneous monitoring of CD and UV changes, supports a model in which specific polypeptides cause condensation of the DNA in the complex into an asymmetric tertiary structure. The relevance of these model systems to chromatin is discussed.     

DNA cleavage,binding and intercalation studies of drug-based oxovanadium(IV) complexes

The complexes of oxovanadium(IV) with ciprofloxacin and various uni-negative bidentate ligands have been prepared and their structure investigated using spectral, physicochemical and elemental analyses. The viscosity measurement suggest that the complexes bind to DNA by intercalation. The DNA binding efficacy was determined using absorption titration to obtain the binding constant (K_b). The DNA cleavage efficacy was determined using gel electrophoresis. The DNA binding and cleavage efficacy were increased in the complexes relative to the parental ligands and metal salts. Antibacterial activity has been assayed against two Gram^{( ? ve)} i.e. Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and three Gram^{( + ve)} Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Serratia marcescens microorganisms using the doubling dilution technique. The results show a significant increase in antibacterial activity in the complexes compared with parental ligands and metal salts.     

Synthesis,Characterization, In Vitro Cytotoxicity,and Apoptosis-Inducing Properties of Ruthenium(II) Complexes

Two new Ru(II) complexes, [Ru(bpy)₂(FAMP)](ClO₄)₂ 1 and 2, are synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, electrospray mass spectrometry, and ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance. The in vitro cytotoxicities and apoptosis-inducing properties of these complexes are extensively studied. Complexes 1 and 2 exhibit potent antiproliferative activities against a panel of human cancer cell lines. The cell cycle analysis shows that complexes 1 and 2 exhibit effective cell growth inhibition by triggering G0/G1 phase arrest and inducing apoptosis by mitochondrial dysfunction. The in vitro DNA binding properties of the two complexes are investigated by different spectrophotometric methods and viscosity measurements.     

Synthesis, characterization, antioxidative and antitumor activities of solid quercetin rare earth(III) complexes

Eight rare earth metal(II) complexes with quercetin ML3 x 6H2O [L=quercetin (3-OH group deprotonated); M = La, Nd, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Tm and Y] have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, complexometric titration, thermal analysis, conductivity, IR, UV, 1HNMR and fluorescence spectra techniques as well as cyclic voltammetry. The quercetin:metal stoichiometry and the equilibrium stability constant for metal binding to quercetin have been determined. The antioxidative and antitumor activities of quercetin x 2H2O and the complexes were tested by both the MTT and SRB methods. The results show that the suppression ratio of the complexes against the tested tumour cells are superior to quercetin x 2H2O. The property of LaL3 x 6H2O reacting with calf thymus DNA was studied by fluorescence methods. The La-complex binding to DNA has been determined by fluorescence titration in 0.05 M Tris-HCl, 0.5 M NaCl buffer (pH 7.0). The results indicate that the interaction of the complex with DNA is very evident.     

DNA binding and nuclease activity of copper(II) complexes of tridentate ligands

Two copper(II) complexes, 1 and 2 with L₁ and L₂ [L₁ = 2-hydroxybenzyl(2-(pyridin-2-yl)ethylamine); L₂ = 2-hydroxybenzyl(2-(pyridin-2-yl)methylamine)] ligands, respectively, have been synthesized and characterized. The interaction of both the complexes with DNA has been studied to explore their potential biological activity. The DNA binding properties of the complexes with calf thymus (CT) DNA were studied by spectroscopic titration. The complexes show binding affinity to CT DNA with binding constant (K_b) values in the order of 10⁵ M⁻¹. Thermal denaturation and circular dichroism studies suggest groove binding of the complexes to CT DNA. Complexes also exhibit strong DNA cleavage activity in presence of reducing agents like 3-mercaptopropionic acid and β-mercaptoethanol. Mechanistic studies reveal the involvement of reactive hydroxyl radicals for their DNA cleavage activity.     

Isothermal titration calorimetric analysis of the interaction between cationic lipids and plasmid DNA

The effects of buffer and ionic strength upon the enthalpy of binding between plasmid DNA and a variety of cationic lipids used to enhance cellular transfection were studied using isothermal titration calorimetry at 25.0 degrees C and pH 7.4. The cationic lipids DOTAP (1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethyl ammonium propane), DDAB (dimethyl dioctadecyl ammonium bromide), DOTAP:cholesterol (1:1), and DDAB:cholesterol (1:1) bound endothermally to plasmid DNA with a negligible proton exchange with buffer. In contrast, DOTAP: DOPE (L-alpha-dioleoyl phosphatidyl ethanolamine) (1:1) and DDAB:DOPE (1:1) liposomes displayed a negative enthalpy and a significant uptake of protons upon binding to plasmid DNA at neutral pH. These findings are most easily explained by a change in the apparent pKa of the amino group of DOPE upon binding. Complexes formed by reverse addition methods (DNA into lipid) produced different thermograms, sizes, zeta potentials, and aggregation behavior, suggesting that structurally different complexes were formed in each titration direction. Titrations performed in both directions in the presence of increasing ionic strength revealed a progressive decrease in the heat of binding and an increase in the lipid to DNA charge ratio at which aggregation occurred. The unfavorable binding enthalpy for the cationic lipids alone and with cholesterol implies an entropy-driven interaction, while the negative enthalpies observed with DOPE-containing lipid mixtures suggest an additional contribution from changes in protonation of DOPE.     

Interaction of DNA with benzocrown derivatives of actinocin

Complexes of DNA with actinocin derivatives containing benzocrown groups at the 1 and/or 9 positions of the chromophore were studied by spectrophotometric titration and circular dichroism. The actinocin chromophore and the crown fragments are the binding sites of the ligands with DNA. The mode of ligand-DNA binding is shown to depend on the size of the crown group, its distance to the actinocin chromophore, and the ionic strength of the medium. Selective toward Na+ ion benzocrown fragments combine with DNA phosphate groups. The simultaneous interaction of the actinocin chromophore with the DNA bases is possible only at optimal distance between both the binding sites of ligand molecule.     

Synthesis, crystal structure, DNA binding and photo-induced DNA cleavage activity of (S-methyl-L-cysteine)copper(II) complexes of heterocyclic bases

Ternary S-methyl-L-cysteine (SMe-l-cys) copper(II) complexes [Cu(SMe-L-cys)(B)(H(2)O)](X) (1-4), where the heterocyclic base B is 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy, 1), 1,10-phenanthroline (phen, 2), dipyridoquinoxaline (dpq, 3) and dipyridophenazine (dppz, 4), and X is ClO(4)(-) (1-3) or NO(3)(-) (4), are prepared and their DNA binding and cleavage properties studied. Complexes 2 and 4 are structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. Both the crystal structures show distorted square-pyramidal (4+1) CuN(3)O(2) coordination geometry of the complexes in which the N,O-donor S-methyl-L-cysteine and N,N-donor heterocyclic base bind at the basal plane with a water molecule as the axial ligand. In addition, the dppz structure shows the presence of a 1D-chain formed due to covalent linkage of the carboxylate oxygen atom belonging to another molecule at the elongated axial site. The crystal structures show chemically significant non-covalent interactions like hydrogen bonding involving the axial aqua ligand and pi-pi interactions between dppz ligands. The complexes display a d-d band in the range of 605-654 nm in aqueous dimethylformamide (DMF) solution (9:1 v/v). The redox active complexes show quasireversible cyclic voltammetric response near 0.1 V in DMF assignable to the Cu(II)/Cu(I) couple. The complexes show good binding affinity to calf thymus (CT) DNA giving the order: 4 (dppz)>3 (dpq)>2 (phen)>1 (bpy). The intrinsic binding constants, obtained from UV-visible spectroscopic studies, are 1.3x10(4) and 2.15 x 10(4) M(-1) for 3 and 4, respectively. Control DNA cleavage experiments using pUC19 supercoiled (SC) DNA and minor groove binder distamycin suggest major groove binding propensity for the dppz complex, while the phen and dpq complexes bind at the minor groove of DNA. Complexes 2-4 show DNA cleavage activity in dark in the presence of a reducing agent 3-mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) via a mechanistic pathway involving formation of hydroxyl radical as the reactive species. The complexes also show efficient photo-induced DNA cleavage activity on irradiation with a monochromatic UV light of 365 nm in absence of any external reagent. The cleavage efficiency follows the order: 3>4>2. The complexes exhibit significant DNA cleavage activity on irradiation with visible light of 633 nm. Control experiments show inhibition of cleavage in presence of singlet oxygen quenchers like sodium azide, histidine and enhancement of cleavage in D(2)O, suggesting formation of singlet oxygen as a reactive species in a type-II process. The photosensitizing effect of the thiomethyl group of the amino acid is evidenced from the observation of significant DNA photocleavage activity of the phen complex 2 as the phen ligand itself is not a photosensitizer.     

Synthesis, characterization and DNA binding studies of two mixed ligand complexes of ruthenium(II)

Two mixed ligand complexes [Ru(bpy)(2)(DMHBT)]Cl(2)(1) and [Ru(phen)(2)(DMHBT)]Cl(2) (2) (where DMHBT is 11,13-dimethyl-13H-4,5,9,11,14-hexaaza-benzo[b]triphenylene-10,12-dione) have been synthesized and characterized by electrospray ionization (ESI) mass, (1)H-(1)H correlation spectroscopy (COSY), electronic spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Spectroscopic titration and viscosity changes of calf thymus (CT)-DNA in the presence of incremental amount of complexes 1 and 2 clearly demonstrate that both these complexes bind intercalatively to DNA, with binding constant 2.87+/-0.20 x 10(4)M(-1) and 1.01+/-0.20 x 10(5)M(-1) for complexes 1 and 2, respectively. All the experimental evidences suggest that the ancillary ligand 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy) and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) influences the intercalative binding of these complexes to DNA.     

Resolution of electronic absorption bands and nucleotide binding processes in actinomycin D

Complexes of actinomycin D with model dexoxynucleoides have been studied by means of absorption spectroscopy and CD spectroscopy and CD spectroscopy. The CD spectra of the complexes of actinomycin D with 5′-dGMP, pdG-dT, pdT-dG, pdG-dA, and pdA-dG, respectively, all resemble one another. It is presumed that in solution the interactions between the guanine residues and actinomycin D in these complexes are the same as found in the crystalling 1:2 actinomycin D:dG complex [Jain, S. C. & Sobell, H. M. (1972) J. Mol. Biol. 68 , 1–20]. The CD spectrum of the Complexes with pdG-dC differs from of the complexes just mentioned, and resembles those of the complexes formed by actinomycin D with calf-thymus DNA and with poly(dG-dC)-poly(dG-dC). These resulls are consisent with, the nontion that pdG-dC froms a double-staranded intercalated complex with actinomycin D, and that the dG-dC sequence is an important binding site for actinomycin D in polydeoxynucleotides. Titrations of actinomycin D with monodeoxynucleotides were monitored at 380, 425, 440,465, and 480, nm in both absorption and CD modes. Comparisons fo saturation profiles at these wavelengths reveal that the curves obtained at various wavelenths do not superimpose with each other, so that they must reflect different titation processes. In complex formation wiht any given nucleotide, the apparent binding affinity monitored at these wavelengths decreases in the order given above. Based on these resulted and on features noted in the CD spectra of certain complexes, it is concluded that a minimum of theree electronic transitions underlie the visible absorption band of actinomycin D, extending earlier findigs. Comparing the titration proffiles obtained with dAMP and dIMP with the result for these systems in mmr titratins [Krugh, T. R. & Chen, Y. C. (1975) Biochemistry 14 , 4912–4922], it is concluded that one transition, centered at 370 nm, monitors preponderantly effects occurring at the 6 (benzenoid) nucleotide binding site and a second transition, located at 490 nm, is sensitive preferentially to processes occurring at the 4 ( quinoid) binding site. The latter is probably closely asscoiated with 2-amino and /or 3-carbonyl substituents. The third transition, identified with the absorption maxium at 420–440 nm, appears to reflect contributions arising in the entire phenoxazone chromophore. Using these band assignments, it is concluded that the benzenoid site binds nucleotides 1.5–3 times more avidly than does the quinoid site. CD titrations resolve these processes more effectively than do abscrption titrations. Aspects of the structures of these complexes formed in solution are discussed.     

Poly-l-glutamic acid derivatives as multifunctional vectors for gene delivery. Part A. Synthesis and physicochemical evaluation

This paper describes the synthesis and evaluation of a series of multifunctional poly-l-glutamic acid derivatives that can be used as vectors for gene delivery. They readily form polyelectrolyte complexes with DNA, resulting in a reduced surface charge and size of the DNA. The formation of a polymer-DNA complex and the stability toward serum albumin was analyzed by ethidium bromide fluorescence measurements and agarose gel retardation studies. Most polymers, except those with more than 80% imidazoles, are able to condense calf thymus DNA, thus forming complexes with sizes varying between 105 and 172 nm. The surface charge of the complexes was determined at different charge ratios by zeta potential measurements. The buffering properties of the polymers were determined via titration studies. The results show that the polymers are able to buffer the endosomal environment, although to a smaller extent than polyethyleneimine. The first part of this study is devoted to the synthesis and the physicochemical evaluation of the multifunctional polymers and their use as carriers for genetic information. The second part, to be published subsequently, discusses the biological evaluation of the polymers and their complexes with DNA.     

Biophysical aspects and biological implications of the interaction of benzophenanthridine alkaloids with DNA

Benzophenanthridine alkaloids represent a very interesting and significant group of natural products that exhibit a broad range of biological and pharmacological properties. Among this group of alkaloids, sanguinarine, nitidine, fagaronine, and chelerythrine have the potential to form molecular complexes with DNA structures and have attracted recent attention for their possible clinical and pharmacological utility. This review focuses on the interaction of these alkaloids with polymorphic DNA structures (B-form, Z-form, H^L-form, and triple helical form) reported by several research groups employing various physical techniques such as spectrophotometry, spectrofluorimetry, circular dichroism, NMR spectroscopy, thermal melting, viscometry as well as thermodynamic analysis by isothermal titration calorimetry and differential scanning calorimetry to elucidate the mode and mechanism of action at the molecular level to determine the structure-activity relationship. DNA binding properties of these alkaloids are interpreted in relation to their biological activity.