Coordination chemistry in biological media: reactions of antitumor Pt(II) and Au(III) complexes with cell culture media

Reactions of cis-PtCl2(NH3)2 (1), Pt(1,2-diaminoethane)Cl2 (2), PtCl4(2-) (3), and AuCl4- (4) with intact cell culture media have been studied by spin-echo 500 MHz proton NMR spectroscopy. This has allowed us to observe reactions of components of the media at submillimolar concentrations. Upon the addition of 400 microM 1, 2, or 3 to the media, the S-methyl peak of methionine decreases in intensity and in each case a new peak appears which we have tentatively assigned to the S-CH3 of Pt(N,S-L-Met)2. In the spectra of the media with 2, an additional peak appears, assignable to the S-CH3 of Pt(1,2-diaminoethane)(N,S-L-Met). Upon the addition of Au(III) to the media, the S-CH3 peak of methionine also decreases in intensity and new peaks appear in the 2.6 to 2.8 ppm region, including a peak identified as the S(O)-CH3 peak of methionine sulfoxide. The other peaks are assignable to Au(I)-S(Met) species. Practical methods of following the reactions of metal complexes in cell culture media are becoming of wider significance with the increasing use of cell cultures for drug screening instead of animal tests.