Anomalous behavior of pentacoordinate copper complexes of dimethylphenanthroline and derivatives of terpyridine ligands: Studies on DNA binding, cleavage and apoptotic activity

Eur J Med Chem. 2011 Feb;46(2):608-17. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2010.11.041. Epub 2010 Dec 10.

Abstract

Copper(II) complexes with substituted terpyridine ligands, namely [Cu(itpy)(dmp)](NO3)2 (1) and [Cu(ptpy)(dmp)](NO3)2 (2) have been synthesized and characterized. The interaction of the complexes with CT-DNA has been explored using spectroscopic techniques and viscosity. Complexes 1 and 2 bind in the grooves of DNA, interestingly 1 in the minor and 2 in the major groove. Both the complexes have been found to promote DNA cleavage; complex 1 through hydrolytic and 2 oxidative. Complexes 1 and 2 have been found to be cytotoxic and bring about apoptosis of human lung cancer cell line A549.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Antineoplastic Agents / chemistry
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Binding Sites / drug effects
  • Cattle
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Copper / chemistry*
  • Crystallography, X-Ray
  • DNA / chemistry
  • DNA / drug effects*
  • DNA Cleavage / drug effects
  • Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Models, Molecular
  • Organometallic Compounds / chemical synthesis
  • Organometallic Compounds / chemistry
  • Organometallic Compounds / pharmacology*
  • Phenanthrolines / chemistry*
  • Pyridines / chemistry*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Ligands
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • Phenanthrolines
  • Pyridines
  • Copper
  • DNA
  • calf thymus DNA