DNA cleavage by new oxovanadium(IV) complexes of N-salicylidene alpha-amino acids and phenanthroline bases in the photodynamic therapy window

Oxovanadium(IV) complexes [VO(salmet)(B)] (1-3) and [VO(saltrp)(B)] (4-6), where salmet and saltrp are N-salicylidene-l-methionate and N-salicylidene-l-tryptophanate, respectively, and B is a N,N-donor heterocyclic base (viz. 1,10-phenanthroline (phen, 1, 4), dipyrido[3,2-d:2',3'-f]quinoxaline (dpq, 2, 5), and dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine (dppz, 3, 6)) are prepared and characterized and their DNA binding and photoinduced DNA cleavage activity studied. Complexes 1, 2, and 4 are structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The molecular structure shows the presence of a vanadyl group in the VO3N3 coordination geometry. The dianionic alpha-amino acid Schiff base acts as a tridentate O,N,O-donor ligand in a meridional binding mode. The N,N-donor heterocyclic base displays a chelating mode of bonding with a N-donor site trans to the oxo group. The complexes show a d-d band in the range of 680-710 nm in DMF with a shoulder near 840 nm. They exhibit an irreversible oxidative cyclic voltammetric response near 0.8 V assignable to the V(V)/V(IV) couple and a quasi-reversible V(IV)/V(III) redox couple near -1.1 V vs SCE in DMF-0.1 M TBAP. The complexes show good binding propensity to calf thymus DNA giving binding constant values in the range from 5.2 x 10(4) to 7.2 x 10(5) M(-1). The binding site size, thermal melting, and viscosity data suggest DNA surface and/or groove binding nature of the complexes. The complexes show poor "chemical nuclease" activity in the dark in the presence of 3-mercaptopropionic acid or hydrogen peroxide. The dpq and dppz complexes show efficient DNA cleavage activity on irradiation with UV-A light of 365 nm via a mechanistic pathway involving formation of singlet oxygen as the reactive species. They also show significant DNA cleavage activity on photoexcitation in red light (>750 nm) by (1)O2 species. Observation of red-light-induced cleavage of DNA is unprecedented in the vanadium chemistry. The DNA cleavage activity is metal promoted as the ligands or vanadyl sulfate alone are cleavage inactive on photoirradiation at these wavelengths.     

Synthesis,DNA binding,and antimicrobial studies of novel metal complexes containing a pyrazolone derivative Schiff base

A novel series of Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), and VO(IV) complexes has been synthesized from the Schiff base derived from 4-[(3,4-dimethoxybenzylidene)amino]-1,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-1,2-dihydropyrazol-3-one and 1,2-diaminobenzene. Structural features were determined by analytical and spectral techniques. Binding of synthesized complexes with calf thymus DNA (CT DNA) was studied by spectroscopic methods and viscosity measurements. Experimental results indicate that the complexes are able to form adducts with DNA and to distort the double helix by changing the base stacking. Lower DNA affinity of the VO(IV) complex is caused by the change of coordination geometry by the vanadyl ion resulting in a somewhat unfavorable configuration for the DNA binding. Oxidative DNA cleavage activities of the complexes were studied with supercoiled (SC) pUC19 DNA using gel electrophoresis; the mechanism studies revealed that the hydroxyl radical is likely to be the reactive species responsible for the cleavage of pUC19 DNA by the synthesized complexes. The in vitro antimicrobial screening effects of the investigated compounds were monitored by the disc diffusion method. The synthesized Schiff base complexes exhibit higher antimicrobial activity than the respective free Schiff base.     

Synthesis,characterization, DNA binding,oxidative damage of DNA strand scission,and antimicrobial activities of β-diketone condensed Schiff-base transition metal complexes

Co(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), and VO(IV) complexes containing a versatile β-diketone Schiff-base ligand (obtained by the condensation of 3-furan-2-ylmethylene-2,4-dione and 2-aminophenol) have been synthesized and characterized. Microanalytical, magnetic, and spectroscopic data reveal that the central metal is coordinated to two oxygens of phenolate and two nitrogens of imine of the ligand. Binding of synthesized complexes with calf thymus DNA has been investigated by spectroscopic and electrochemical methods and viscosity measurements. The complexes are able to form adducts with DNA and to distort the double helix by changing the base stacking. Electrostatic binding of vanadyl complex is observed from the weak hypochromism in electronic absorption spectra and no change in the viscosity with DNA. Oxidative DNA cleavage activities of the complexes are studied with supercoiled pUC19 DNA using gel electrophoresis. The hydroxyl radical (OH^?) is likely to be the species responsible for the cleavage of pUC19 DNA by the synthesized complexes. Under our experimental conditions, the vanadyl complex has no significant cleavage of DNA. The compounds have been screened for activity against several bacterial and fungal strains and the results are compared with the activity of standard drugs.     

Designing,Structural Elucidation and Comparison of the Cleavage Ability of Metal Complexes Containing Tetradentate Schiff Bases 1

New N₂O₂ donor type Schiff bases have been designed and synthesized by condensing acetylaceto-4-aminoantipyrine/acetoacetanilido-4-aminoantipyrine with 2-amino benzoic acid in ethanol. Solid metal complexes of the Schiff bases with Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II), Mn(II), Zn(II), VO(IV), Hg(II) and Cd(II) metal ions were synthesized and characterized by elemental analyses, magnetic susceptibility, molar conduction, FAB Mass, IR, UV-Vis., ¹H NMR, and ESR spectral studies. The data show that the complexes have a composition of the ML type. The UV-Vis., magnetic susceptibility, and ESR spectral data of the complexes suggest a square planar geometry around the central metal ion, except for VO(IV) complexes, which have square-pyramidal geometry. The redox behavior of copper and vanadyl complexes has been studied by cyclic voltammetry. The nuclease activity of the above metal complexes shows that the complexes cleave DNA through redox chemistry. In the presence of H₂O₂, all the complexes are capable of cleaving calf thymus DNA plasmids, in order to compare the cleavage efficiency of all metal complexes in the two different ligand environments. In this assay, Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II), and Zn(II) exhibit more cleavage efficiency than other metal ions. This article was submitted by the authors in English.     

Synthesis,characterization, DNA binding,photo-induced DNA cleavage,and antimicrobial activity of metal complexes of a Schiff base derived from bis(3-aminophenyl)malonamide

The peptide linkage Schiff base (H₂L) and its complexes have been synthesized and fully characterized by elemental analysis, UV–Vis, FTIR, ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, EPR, and FAB-mass spectra. The stoichiometry of the complexes is [ML] (where M = Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), and VO(IV)). All the complexes exhibit square-planar geometry except the vanadyl complex which has square-pyramidal geometry. Interactions of the complexes and free ligand with double-stranded calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) are studied by UV-spectrophotometric, electrochemical, and viscosity measurements. The data suggest that all the complexes form adducts with DNA and distort the double helix by changing the base stacking. Vanadyl complex forms a weaker adduct to CT-DNA than other complexes, probably due to the square-pyramidal geometry. CT-DNA induces extensive distortion in the planarity of vanadyl complex as EPR spectral calculations reveal. The intrinsic binding constants (K _b) of [ZnL], [CuL], [CoL], and [NiL] are 1.1 × 10⁵, 1.4 × 10⁵, 0.8 × 10⁵, and 0.6 × 10⁵ M^?1, respectively. Photo-induced DNA cleavage indicates that all complexes cleave DNA effectively. Control DNA cleavage experiments using pUC19 supercoiled (SC) DNA and minor groove binder distamycin suggest major groove binding for the synthesized complexes. The antimicrobial results indicate that the complexes inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi more than the free ligand.     

Molecular designing,structural elucidation,and comparison of the cleavage ability of oxovanadium(IV) Schiff base complexes

Three novel oxovanadium(IV) Schiff base complexes [VO(Phen)(L)]SO₄, where L = 4[(benzylidene)amino]antipyrine (Ia), 4[(cinnamalidene)amino]antipyrine (Ib) and 4[(2-chlorobenzylidene)amino]antipyrine (Ic) are designed using benzaldehyde/cinnamaldehyde/2-chlorobenzaldehyde with 4-aminoantipyrine, 1,10-phenonthroline, and vanadyl sulfate in the 1: 1: 1 molar ratio. They are synthesized by the template method. The geometry of the complexes is elucidated by elemental analyses, IR, UV-Vis, ESR, CV, FAB mass, magnetic susceptibility, and conductance data. FAB mass spectrum shows the degradation of the complexes. The electronic spectra of the complexes reveal their square pyramidal geometry in which the ligands act as tetradentate. Their electrochemical parameters, the anodic and cathodic potentials, and the number of electrons transferred are calculated. One quasi-reversible peak and one electron-transfer redox processes corresponding to the formation of a VO(II)/VO(III) couple are observed. The antimicrobial activity of synthesized complexes are tested. The results are compared with the standard penicillin. DNA cleavage experiments showed that Ia exhibits higher cleavage efficiency, whereas Ib and Ic have the lower cleavage efficiency. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Synthesis,spectral, bioactivity,and NLO properties of chalcone metal complexes

A series of metal(II) complexes ML and ML₂ [where M?=?Cu(II), Co(II), Ni(II), Zn(II), Mn(II), Cd(II), and VO(II); L?=?2-hydroxyphenyl-3-(1H-indol-3-yl)-prop-2-en-1-one (HPIP)] have been prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, magnetic susceptibility, molar conductance, IR, UV-Vis, NMR, Mass, and ESR spectral studies. Conductivity measurements reveal that the complexes are non-electrolytes, except VO(II) complex. Spectroscopy and other data show square pyramidal geometry for oxovanadium and octahedral geometry for the other complexes. Redox behavior of the copper(II) and vanadyl complexes has been studied with cyclic voltammetry. Antimicrobial activities against several microorganisms indicate that a few complexes exhibit considerable activity. The nuclease activity shows that the complexes cleave DNA. All synthesized compounds can serve as potential photoactive materials as indicated from their characteristic fluorescence properties. The second harmonic generation efficiency of the ligand is higher than that of urea and KDP.     

Synthesis, spectral characterization of Schiff base transition metal complexes: DNA cleavage and antimicrobial activity studies

A new series of transition metal complexes of Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II), Mn(II), Zn(II), VO(IV), Hg(II) and Cd(II) have been synthesized from the Schiff base (L) derived from 4-aminoantipyrine, 3-hydroxy-4-nitrobenzaldehyde and o-phenylenediamine. Structural features were obtained from their elemental analyses, magnetic susceptibility, molar conductance, mass, IR, UV-Vis, ¹H NMR and ESR spectral studies. The data show that these complexes have composition of ML type. The UV-Vis, magnetic susceptibility and ESR spectral data of the complexes suggest a square-planar geometry around the central metal ion except VO(IV) complex which has square-pyramidal geometry. The redox behaviour of copper and vanadyl complexes was studied by cyclic voltammetry. Antimicrobial screening tests gave good results in the presence of metal ion in the ligand system. The nuclease activity of the above metal complexes shows that Cu, Ni and Co complexes cleave DNA through redox chemistry whereas other complexes are not effective.     

Studies on DNA cleavage and antimicrobial screening of transition metal complexes of 4-aminoantipyrine derivatives of N2O2 type

A new series of transition metal complexes of Cu(II), Ni(II), Zn(II) and VO(IV), were synthesized from the Schiff base (L) derived from 4-aminoantipyrine, 3-hydroxy-4-nitrobenzaldehyde and acetylacetone. The structural features were arrived from their elemental analyses, magnetic susceptibility, molar conductance, Mass, IR, UV-Vis., ¹H NMR and ESR spectral studies. The data show that the complexes have composition of [ML]X type. The UV-Vis., magnetic susceptibility and ESR spectral data of the complexes suggest a square-planar geometry around the central metal ion except for VO(IV) complex which has square-pyramidal geometry. The redox behavior of copper and vanadyl complexes were studied by cyclic voltammetry. The antimicrobial screening tests were also recorded and gave good results in the presence of metal ion in the ligand system. The nuclease activity of the above metal complexes shows that the copper and nickel complexes cleave DNA through redox chemistry, whereas other complexes are not effective.     

Tetradentate N2S2 vanadyl(IV) coordination complexes: synthesis, characterization, and reactivity studies

The versatile N(2)S(2) tetradentate ligands (bme-daco)(2-), (bme-dach)(2-), and (ema)(4-) are known to accommodate many divalent transition-metal ions (M = Ni(II), Pd(II), Pt(II), Pb(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), Cu(II), and Fe(II)) while maintaining reactivity at the S-thiolate sites of the respective N(2)S(2)M complexes. The vanadyl ion, of interest for its pharmacological possibilities and its spin-label reporter properties for bioinorganic studies, also shows an affinity for such mixed nitrogen/sulfur-donor environments. Thus, (V≡O)(2+) analogues of a well-characterized series of N(2)S(2)Ni complexes have been prepared as mimics of possible N(2)S(2)(V≡O) formed from in vivo binding sites of the tripeptide motif, Cys-X-Cys. The nucleophilicity of the S-thiolate in these systems is explored with alkylating agents. IR [ν(VO)], electronic spectral, and electron paramagnetic resonance measurements are presented. X-ray diffraction studies of (bme-daco)(V≡O), (bme-dach)(V≡O), and [Et(4)N](2)[(ema)(V≡O)] further characterize the vanadyl complexes. A comparison of the spectral properties with the product of vanadyl interaction with the CGC tripeptide, the biological analogue of the tetraanionic N(2)S(2) ligand, is given.     

Design, synthesis, spectroscopic characterization, biological screening, and DNA nuclease activity of transition metal complexes derived from a tridentate Schiff base

A new series of transition metal complexes of Cu(II), Ni(II), Co(II), Mn(II), Zn(II), Cd(II), Hg(II), and VO(IV) have been designed and synthesized from the Schiff base derived from cinnamidene-4-aminoantipyrine and 2-aminophenol by involving the carbonyl group of 4-aminoantipyrine. The structural features have been arrived from their elemental analyses, magnetic susceptibility, molar conduction, FAB mass, IR, UV-Vis, ¹H NMR and ESR spectral studies. The data show that the complexes have composition of the ML₂ type. The UV-Vis, magnetic susceptibility, and ESR spectral data of the complexes suggest an octahedral geometry around the central metal ion except the VO(IV) complex, which has a square-pyramidal geometry. The redox behavior of the copper and vanadyl complexes has been studied by cyclic voltammetry. The antimicrobial activity of the ligand and its complexes has been extensively studied on microorganisms such as Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Aspergillus niger, and Rhizoctonia bataicola. It has been found that most of the complexes have higher activities than that of the free ligand. The nuclease activity of the above metal complexes shows that the complexes cleave DNA through redox chemistry. In the presence of H₂O₂, the complexes are capable of cleaving calf thymus DNA. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Insulin-mimetic vanadyl(IV) complexes as evaluated by both glucose-uptake and inhibition of free fatty acids (FFA)-release in isolated rat adipocytes

We have recently proposed the existence of some potent vanadyl complexes with blood glucose-lowering activity in experimental diabetic animals based on the results of an in vitro FFA (free fatty acids)-release assay in isolated rat adipocytes treated with epinephrine and evidence of an in vivo blood glucose lowering effect in experimental diabetic animals. However, the FFA assay depends indirectly on the glucose-uptake of vanadyl complexes in adipocytes. It is therefore necessary to develop a more reliable in vitro glucose-uptake assay, in place of the glucose uptake method using radioactive compounds such as (14)C-glucose, to identify insulin-mimetic vanadyl complexes. In the present study, we proposed a combined in vitro assay by using the conventional glucose oxidase method for glucose-uptake and FFA assay in isolated rat adipocytes. Insulin, vanadyl sulfate (VOSO(4)), bis(picolinato)vanadyl (VO(pa)(2)), and bis(6-methylpicolinato)vanadyl (VO(6mpa)(2)) complexes exhibited concentration-dependent uptake of (+)-D-glucose and inhibition of FFA release in the adipocytes treated with epinephrine. Vanadyl complexes were found to accelerate glucose-uptake at lower concentrations than VOSO(4). In vitro high insulin-mimetic activity of VO(pa)(2) and VO(6mpa)(2) were thus indicated by both glucose-uptake and FFA-release, with the insulin-mimetic activity of VO(6mpa)(2) being higher than that of VO(pa)(2), as suggested by the partition coefficient (0.330 for VO(pa)(2) and 0.595 for VO(6mpa)(2)). The proposed assay provides a more reliable method than each single method for the evaluation of in vitro insulin-mimetic activity of compounds.     

Synthesis and characterisation of Cu(II), Ni(II), Mn(II), Zn(II) and VO(II) Schiff base complexes derived from o -phenylenediamine and acetoacetanilide

Neutral tetradentate N₂O₂ type complexes of Cu(II), Ni(II), Mn(II), Zn(II) and VO(II) have been synthesised using a Schiff base formed by the condensation of o-phenylenediamine with acetoacetanilide in alcohol medium. All the complexes were characterised on the basis of their microanalytical data, molar conductance, magnetic susceptibility, IR, UV-Vis¹H NMR and ESR spectra. IR and UV-Vis spectral data suggest that all the complexes are square-planar except the Mn(II) and VO(II) chelates, which are of octahedral and square pyramidal geometry respectively. The monomeric and neutral nature of the complexes was confirmed by their magnetic susceptibility data and low conductance values. The ESR spectra of copper and vanadyl complexes in DMSO solution at 300 K and 77 K were recorded and their salient features are reported.     

Efficient and specific strand scission of DNA by a dinuclear copper complex: comparative reactivity of complexes with linked tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine moieties

The compound [Cu(II)(2)(D(1))(H(2)O)(2)](ClO(4))(4) (D(1) = dinucleating ligand with two tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine units covalently linked in their 5-pyridyl positions by a -CH(2)CH(2)- bridge) selectively promotes cleavage of DNA on oligonucleotide strands that extend from the 3' side of frayed duplex structures at a site two residues displaced from the junction. The minimal requirements for reaction include a guanine in the n (i.e. first unpaired) position of the 3' overhang adjacent to the cleavage site and an adenine in the n position on the 5' overhang. Recognition and strand scission are independent of the nucleobase at the cleavage site. The necessary presence of both a reductant and dioxygen indicates that the intermediate responsible for cleavage is produced by the activation of dioxygen by a copper(I) form of the dinuclear complex. The lack of sensitivity to radical quenching agents and the high level of site selectivity in scission suggest a mechanism that does not involve a diffusible radical species. The multiple metal center exhibits a synergy to promote efficient cleavage as compared to the action of a mononuclear analogue [Cu(II)(TMPA)(H(2)O)](ClO(4))(2) (TMPA = tris(2-pyridylmethyl)amine) and [Cu(OP)(2)](2+) (OP = 1,10-phenanthroline) at equivalent copper ion concentrations. The dinuclear complex, [Cu(II)(2)(D(1))(H(2)O)(2)](ClO(4))(4), is even capable of mediating efficient specific strand scission at concentrations where [Cu(OP)(2)](2+) does not detectably modify DNA. The unique coordination and reactivity properties of [Cu(II)(2)(D(1))(H(2)O)(2)](ClO(4))(4) are critical for its efficiency and site selectivity since an analogue, [Cu(II)(2)(DO)(Cl(2))](ClO(4))(2), where DO is a dinucleating ligand very similar to D(1), but with a -CH(2)OCH(2)- bridge, exhibits only nonselective cleavage of DNA. The differences in the reactivity of these two complexes with DNA and their previously established interaction with dioxygen suggest that specific strand scission is a function of the orientation of a reactive intermediate.     

Characterization of vanadium and titanium oxide supported SBA-15

Supported vanadium and titanium oxide catalysts were prepared by adsorption and subsequent calcination of the vanadyl and titanyl acetylacetonate complexes, respectively, on mesoporous SBA-15 by the molecular designed dispersion (MDD) method. Liquid and gas phase depositions at different temperatures were carried out with vanadyl acetylacetonate, and the different results together with those of titanyl acetylacetonate in the liquid phase deposition were discussed. The bonding mechanism, the influence of the metal interaction with the support material, and differences due to the way of deposition and the temperature were investigated by TGA, chemical analysis, FTIR, and Raman spectroscopy. Elevated dissolving temperatures in the liquid phase led to higher final loadings on the SBA-15 without the formation of clusters, even at high loadings. The decomposition of the anchored vanadium and titanium complexes, their thermal stability, and the conversion to the covalently bound VO(x) and TiO(x) species on SBA-15 were studied and investigated by in situ transmission IR spectroscopy. In general, the titanium complex is more reactive than the vanadium complex toward the surface of SBA-15 and has a higher thermal stability. The MDD method of the VO(acac)2 and TiO(acac)2 enables to create a dispersed surface of supported VO(x) and TiO(x), respectively. The structure configurations of VO(x) and TiO(x) oxide catalysts obtained at different metal loadings were studied by Raman spectroscopy. Pore size distributions, XRD, and N2 sorption confirmed the structural stability of these materials after grafting. VO(x)/SBA-15 and TiO(x)/SBA-15 samples, with different metal loadings, were also catalytically tested for the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO with ammonia.     

Synthesis, X-ray crystal structures, and phosphate ester cleavage properties of bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine copper(II) complexes with guanidinium pendant groups

Three new derivatives of bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine (DPA) featuring ethylguanidinium (L (1)), propylguanidinium (L (2)), or butylguanidinium (L (3)) pendant groups have been prepared by the reaction of N, N- bis(2-pyridylmethyl)alkane-alpha,omega-diamines with 1 H-pyrazole-1-carboxamidine hydrochloride. The corresponding mononuclear copper(II) complexes were prepared by reacting the ligands with copper(II) nitrate and were isolated as [Cu(LH (+))(OH 2)](ClO 4) 3. xNaClO 4. yH 2O ( C1: L = L (1), x = 2, y = 3; C2: L = L (2), x = 2, y = 4; C3: L = L (3), x = 1, y = 0) following cation exchange purification. Recrystallization yielded crystals of composition [Cu(LH (+))(X)](ClO 4) 3.X ( C1': L = L (1), X = MeOH; C2': L = L (2), X = H 2O; C3': L = L (3), X = H 2O), which were suitable for X-ray crystallography. The crystal structures of C1', C2', and C3' indicate that the DPA moieties of the ligands coordinate to the copper(II) centers in a meridional fashion, with a water or methanol molecule occupying the fourth basal position. Weakly bound perchlorate anions located in the axial positions complete the distorted octahedral coordination spheres. The noncoordinating, monoprotonated guanidinium groups project away from the Cu(II)-DPA units and are involved in extensive charge-assisted hydrogen-bonding interactions with cocrystallized water/methanol molecules and perchlorate anions within the crystal lattices. The copper(II) complexes were tested for their ability to promote the cleavage of two model phosphodiesters, bis( p-nitrophenyl)phosphate (BNPP) and uridine-3'- p-nitrophenylphosphate (UpNP), as well as supercoiled plasmid DNA (pBR 322). While the presence of the guanidine pendants was found to be detrimental to BNPP cleavage efficiency, the functionalized complexes were found to cleave plasmid DNA and, in some cases, the model ribose phosphate diester, UpNP, at a faster rate than the parent copper(II) complex of DPA.     

Characterization of bleomycin cleavage sites in strongly bound hairpin DNAs

The first complete, systematic study of DNA degradation by bleomycin under conditions analogous to those likely in a therapeutic setting has been carried out. Hairpin DNAs selected for their ability to bind strongly to BLM A(5) were used to determine the relationship between high-affinity DNA binding sites and the cleavage efficiency and selectivity of BLM A(5) and deglycoBLM A(5) on these DNAs. Of the 10 hairpin DNAs examined, 8 contained at least one 5'-GC-3' or 5'-GT-3' cleavage site, which have traditionally been associated with strong cleavage by Fe·BLM. In the hairpin DNAs, these included the strongest cleavage sites for BLM A(5) and were generally among those for deglycoBLM A(5). However, numerous additional cleavages were noted, many at sequences not usually associated with (deglyco)BLM-mediated cleavage. The remaining DNAs lacked the preferred (5'-GC-3' or 5'-GT-3') BLM cleavage sequences; however, strong cleavage was nonetheless observed at a number of unusual cleavage sites. The most prominent cleavage sequences were 5'-AT-3', 5'-AA-3', 5'-GA-3', and 5'-TT-3'; treatment with Fe(II)·BLM A(5) or Fe(II)·deglycoBLM A(5) resulted in strong cleavage at these sequences. Additionally, in contrast with BLM A(5), which produced cleavage within the randomized and flanking invariant regions, deglycoBLM A(5) showed a preference for cleavage in the randomized region of the DNAs. Previous reports have established that deglycoBLM exhibits decreased DNA cleavage efficiency relative to BLM. This was also generally observed when comparing cleavage efficiencies for the strongly bound hairpin DNAs. However, some cleavage bands produced by Fe·deglycoBLM A(5) were stronger in intensity than those produced by BLM A(5) at concentrations optimal for both compounds. To investigate the chemistry of DNA degradation, selected hairpin DNAs were treated with n-butylamine following cleavage with Fe(II)·BLM A(5) or Fe(II)·deglycoBLM A(5) to explore the alkali labile pathway of DNA degradation by BLM. While all 10 DNAs showed evidence of alkali labile products, five DNA hairpins afforded some products formed solely via the alkali labile pathway.     

EPR and optical absorption studies on VO2+ ions in L-asparagine monohydrate single crystals

X-Band electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) studies of VO(2+) ions in l-asparagine monohydrate single crystals have been done at room temperature. Detailed EPR analysis indicates the presence of two magnetically inequivalent VO(2+) sites. Both the vanadyl complexes are found to take up interstitial position. The angular variation of the EPR spectra in three planes ab, bc and ca are used to determine principal g and A tensors. For the two sites the spin Hamiltonian parameters are, site I: g(x)=1.9633, g(y)=2.0274, g(z)=1.9797, A(x)=88, A(y)=61, A(z)=161x10(-4)cm(-1); site II: g(x)=1.9627, g(y)=1.9880, g(z)=1.9425, A(x)=90, A(y)=66, A(z)=167x10(-4)cm(-1). The optical absorption study is also carried out at room temperature and absorption bands are assigned to various transitions. The theoretical band positions are obtained using energy expressions and a good agreement is found with the experimental values. By correlating EPR and optical data different molecular orbital coefficients are evaluated and the nature of bonding in the crystal is discussed.     

Spectroscopic studies of metal complexes with redox-active hydrogenated Schiff bases

Synthesis and spectroscopic (IR, UV-visible, ESR) characterization of metal(II) complexes M(Lx')2, (where M = Co(II), NI(II), VO(II), Pd(II), Lx' = L1', L2', L3' are monoanion of unsubstituted, 5-Cl and 5-Br substituted-2-hydroxybenzylamine) with redox-active N-(3,5-ditert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-hydroxybenzylamine ligands as well as radical species generated from these compounds by the oxidation with PbO2 are reported. ESR studies indicate that the VO(Lx')2 and Ni(Lx')2 complexes, in opposite to their salicylaldimine precursors, are more readily oxidized with lead dioxide and results in the formation of the indophenoxyl type stable radical. The formed radical species are very similar to each other and quite different from those of the salicylaldimine analogous according to their g-factors and hyperfine coupling constants. The nine line radical spectra observed in the oxidation of Co(Lx')2, on standing under vacuum, gradually converted to the signals characteristic of the low-spin Co(II) (g(x,y) = 2.276, g(z) = 1.998, A(xy)Co = 122.7 G, A(z)Co = 150 G) and radical containing Co(III) intermediate with g(x,y) = 2.015, A(xy)Co = 4.66 G, g(z) = 1.989, A(z)Co = 10 G were also observed.     

Alteration of the selectivity of DNA cleavage by a deglycobleomycin analogue containing a trithiazole moiety

The bleomycin (BLM) group of antitumor antibiotics effects DNA cleavage in a sequence-selective manner. Previous studies have indicated that the metal-binding and bithiazole moieties of BLM are both involved in the binding of BLM to DNA. The metal-binding domain is normally the predominant structural element in determining the sequence selectivity of DNA binding, but it has been shown that replacement of the bithiazole moiety with a strong DNA binder can alter the sequence selectivity of DNA binding and cleavage. To further explore the mechanism by which BLM and DNA interact, a trithiazole-containing deglycoBLM analogue was synthesized and tested for its ability to relax supercoiled DNA and cleave linear duplex DNA in a sequence-selective fashion. Also studied was cleavage of a novel RNA substrate. Solid-phase synthesis of the trithiazole deglycoBLM A(5) analogue was achieved using a TentaGel resin containing a Dde linker and elaborated from five key intermediates. The ability of the resulting BLM analogue to relax supercoiled DNA was largely unaffected by introduction of the additional thiazole moiety. Remarkably, while no new sites of DNA cleavage were observed for this analogue, there was a strong preference for cleavage at two 5'-GT-3' sites when a 5'-(32)P end-labeled DNA duplex was used as a substrate. The alteration of sequence selectivity of cleavage was accompanied by some decrease in the potency of DNA cleavage, albeit without a dramatic diminution. In common with BLM, the trithiazole analogue of deglycoBLM A(5) effected both hydrolytic cleavage of RNA in the absence of added metal ion and oxidative cleavage in the presence of Fe(2+) and O(2). In comparison with BLM A(5), the relative efficiencies of hydrolytic cleavage at individual sites were altered.