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.     

Metallobleomycin-mediated cleavage of DNA not involving a threading-intercalation mechanism.

The DNA cleavage properties of metallobleomycins conjugated to three solid supports were investigated using plasmid DNA, relaxed covalently closed circular DNA, and linear duplex DNA as substrates. Cleavage of pBR322 and pSP64 plasmid DNAs by Fe(II).BLM A(5)-CPG-C(2) was observed with efficiencies not dissimilar to that obtained using free Fe(II).BLM A(5). Similar results were observed following Fe(II).BLM A(5)-CPG-C(2)-mediated cleavage of a relaxed plasmid, a substrate that lacks ends or negative supercoiling capable of facilitating strand separation. BLMs covalently tethered to solid supports, including Fe(II).BLM A(5)-Sepharose 4B, Fe(II).BLM A(5)-CPG-C(6), and Fe(II).BLM A(5)-CPG-C(2), cleaved a 5'-(32)P end labeled linear DNA duplex with a sequence selectivity identical to that of free Fe(II).BLM A(5); cleavage predominated at 5'-G(82)T(83)-3' and 5'-G(84)T(85)-3'. To verify that these results could also be obtained using other metallobleomycins, supercoiled plasmid DNA and a linear DNA duplex were employed as substrates for Co(III).BLM A(5)-CPG-C(2). Free green Co(III).BLM A(5) was only about 2-fold more efficient than green Co(III).BLM A(5)-CPG-C(2) in effecting DNA cleavage. A similar result was obtained using Cu(II).BLM A(5)-CPG-C(2) + dithiothreitol. In addition, the conjugated Co.BLM A(5) and Cu.BLM A(5) cleaved the linear duplex DNA with a sequence selectivity identical to that of the respective free metalloBLMs. Interestingly, when supercoiled plasmid DNA was used as a substrate, conjugated Fe.BLM A(5) and Co.BLM A(5) were both found to produce Form III DNA in addition to Form II DNA. The formation of Form III DNA by conjugated Fe.BLM A(5) was assessed quantitatively. When corrected for differences in the intrinsic efficiencies of DNA cleavage by conjugated vs free BLMs, conjugated Fe.BLM A(5) was found to produce Form III DNA to about the same extent as the respective free Fe.BLM A(5), arguing that this conjugated BLM can also effect double-strand cleavage of DNA. Although previous evidence supporting DNA intercalation by some metallobleomycins is convincing, the present evidence indicates that threading intercalation is not a requirement for DNA cleavage by Fe(II).BLM A(5), Co(III).BLM A(5), or Cu(I).BLM A(5).     

Photoinduced DNA Cleavage Reactions by Designed Analogues of Co(III)-Bleomycin: The Metalated Core Is the Primary Determinant of Sequence Specificity

A 2,4'-bithiazole group has been covalently attached to the Co(III) complex of a designed ligand PMAH that mimics the metal-binding locus of the antitumor drug bleomycin (BLM). The deprotonated PMA(-) ligand binds Co(III) via five nitrogens located in primary and secondary amines, a pyrimidine and an imidazole ring, and a peptide moiety. The 2,4'-bithiazole group is tethered to the [Co(PMA)](2+) unit via an imidazole that is connected to the bithiazole moiety with a (CH(2))(3) spacer. The structure of this hybrid analogue, namely, [Co(PMA)(Bit)]Cl(2) (7, Bit = 2'-methyl-2,4'-bithiazole-4-carboxamido-N'-(3-propyl)imidazole) has been established by spectroscopic techniques. 7 promotes photocleavage of DNA at micromolar concentrations. Unlike simpler analogues like [Co(PMA)(H(2)O)](2+) and [Co(PMA)Cl)](+) which induce random DNA cleavage upon UV illumination, 7 exhibits sequence specificity in the DNA photocleavage reaction. Intriguing is to note that 7 exhibits the same 5'GG-N3' sequence preference as another hybrid analogue [Co(PMA)(Int-A)]Cl(2) (6, Int-A = acridine-9-carboxamido-N'-(3-propyl)imidazole) that contains an acridine moiety as the DNA-binding group. The observed sequence specificity of 6 and 7 therefore does not reflect the sequence preferences of the DNA-binding groups (acridine and bithiazole). The results indicate that the metalated core of the hybrid analogues, i.e., the [Co(PMA)](2+) unit is the key factor in determining their sequence specificity.     

Conformationally constrained analogues of bleomycin A5

The bleomycin (BLM) group antitumor antibiotics are glycopeptide-derived natural products shown to cause sequence selective lesions in DNA. Prior studies have indicated that the linker region, composed of the methylvalerate and threonine residues, may be responsible for a conformational bend in the agent required for efficient DNA cleavage. We have synthesized a number of conformationally constrained methylvalerate analogues and incorporated them into deglycobleomycin A(5) congeners using our recently reported procedure for the solid phase construction of (deglyco)bleomycin and its analogues. These analogues were designed to probe the effects of conformational constraint of the native valerate moiety. Initial experiments indicated that the constrained molecules, none of which mimic the conformation proposed for the natural valerate linker, possessed DNA cleavage activity, albeit with potencies less than that of (deglyco)BLM and lacking sequence selectivity. Further experiments demonstrated that these analogues failed to produce alkali-labile lesions in DNA or sequence selective oxidative damage in RNA. However, two of the conformationally constrained deglycoBLM analogues were shown to mediate RNA cleavage in the absence of added Fe(2+). The ability of the analogues to mediate the oxygenation of small molecules was also assayed, and it was shown that they were as competent in the transfer of oxygen to low molecular weight substrates as the parent compound.     

Photosensitization of DNA damage by a new cationic pyropheophorbide derivative: sequence-specific formation of a frank scission

Pyropheophorbides are red-absorbing porphyrin-like photosensitizers that may interact with DNA either by intercalation or by external binding with self-stacking according to the value of the nucleotide to chromophore molar ratio (N/C). This article reports on the nature and sequence selectivity of the DNA damage photoinduced by a water-soluble chlorhydrate of aminopyropheophorbide. First, this pyropheophorbide is shown to induce on irradiation the cleavage of phiX174 DNA by both Type-I and -II mechanisms, suggested by scavengers and D2O effects. These conclusions are then improved by sequencing experiments performed on a 20-mer oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) irradiated at wavelengths >345 nm in the presence of the dye, N/C varying from 2.5 to 0.5. Oxidation of all guanine residues to the same extent is observed after piperidine treatment on both single- and double-stranded ODN. Moreover, unexpectedly, a remarkable sequence-selective cleavage occurring at a 5'-CG-3' site is detected before alkali treatment. This frank break is clearly predominant for a low nucleotide to chromophore molar ratio, corresponding to a self-stacking of the dye along the DNA helix. The electrophoretic properties of the band suggest that this lesion results from a sugar oxidation, which leads via a base release to a ribonolactone residue. The proposal is supported by high-performance liquid chromatography-matrix-assisted laser desorption-ionization mass spectrometry experiments that also reveal other sequence-selective frank scissions of lower intensity at 5'-GC-3' or other 5'-CG-3' sites. This sequence selectivity is discussed with regard to the binding selectivity of cationic porphyrins.     

Sequence-specific recognition and cleavage of DNA by anti-tumour antibiotics

Abstract

DNA cleavage by a bleomycin—iron complex occurs preferentially at guanine-pyrimidine (5′ → 3′) sequences, in particular at G-C sites. Metallobleomycin binds in the minor groove of B-DNA and the bithiazole moiety probably plays an important role as an anchor on DNA duplex. The 2-amino group of guanine adjacent to the 5′-side of the cleaved pyrimidine base is one key element of the specific 5′-GC recognition by the bleomycin-metal complex. Endiyne anti-tumour antibiotics such as esperamicin A₁ and dynemicin A also interact with the minor groove of DNA, and their strong DNA splitting activity is due to phenylene diradical formation from the enediyne core. A possible binding mode between these antibiotics and B-DNA has been proposed by computer-constructed model building.     

Identification of strong DNA binding motifs for bleomycin

The bleomycins (BLMs) are clinically used antitumor antibiotics. Their mechanism of action is believed to involve oxidative cleavage of DNA and possibly also RNA degradation. DNA degradation has been studied extensively and shown to involve binding of an activated metallobleomycin to DNA, followed by abstraction of C4'-H from deoxyribose in the rate-limiting step for DNA degradation. It is interesting that while DNA and RNA degradation by activated Fe.BLM has been studied extensively, much less is known about the actual binding selectivity of BLM, that is, the obligatory step that precedes cleavage. Thus it is unclear whether cleavage specificity is defined by the binding event or whether cleavage occurs at a subset of preferred binding sites. With only a few exceptions, NMR binding studies have employed metalloBLMs such as Co.BLM and Zn.BLM whose therapeutic relevance is uncertain. A single biochemical study that compared DNA binding and cleavage directly also employed Co.BLM. It is logical to anticipate that preferred sites of DNA cleavage will occur at sites that are (a subset of) preferred DNA binding sites, but there are currently no data available relevant to this issue. Herein, we describe the development and implementation of a novel strategy to identify DNA motifs that bind BLM strongly.     

Solid-phase synthesis of bleomycin group antibiotics. Construction of a 108-member deglycobleomycin library

The bleomycins (BLMs) are structurally related glycopeptide antibiotics isolated from Streptomyces verticillus that mediate the sequence-selective oxidative damage of DNA and RNA. Deglycobleomycin, which lacks the carbohydrate moiety, cleaves DNA analogously to bleomycin itself, albeit less potently, and has been used successfully for analyzing the functional domains of bleomycin. Although structural modifications to bleomycin and deglycobleomycin have been reported, no bleomycin or deglycobleomycin analogue having enhanced DNA cleavage activity has yet been described. The successful synthesis of a deglycobleomycin on a solid support has permitted the facile solid-phase synthesis of 108 unique deglycobleomycin analogues through parallel solid-phase synthesis. Each of the deglycobleomycin analogues was synthesized efficiently; the purity of each crude product was greater than 60%, as determined by HPLC integration. The solid-phase synthesis of the deglycobleomycin library provided near-milligram to milligram quantities of each deglycobleomycin, thereby permitting characterization by (1)H NMR and high-resolution mass spectrometry. Each analogue demonstrated supercoiled plasmid DNA relaxation above background cleavage; the library included two analogues that mediated plasmid relaxation to a greater extent than the parent deglycobleomycin molecule.     

De novo design, synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of chiral benzimidazole-derived amino acid Zn(II) complexes: Development of tryptophan-derived specific hydrolytic DNA artificial nuclease agent

Novel ternary dizinc(II) complexes 1-3, derived from 1,2-bis(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)ethane-1,2-diol and l-form of amino acids (viz., tryptophan, leucine and valine) were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic (IR, (1)H NMR, UV-vis, ESI-MS) and other analytical methods. To evaluate the biological preference of chiral drugs for inherently chiral target DNA, interaction of 1-3 with calf thymus DNA in Tris-HCl buffer was studied by various biophysical techniques which reveal that all these complexes bind to CT DNA non-covalently via electrostatic interaction. The higher K(b) value of L-tryptophan complex 1 suggested greater DNA binding propensity. Further, to evaluate the mode of action at the molecular level, interaction studies of complexes 1 and 2 with nucleotides (5'-GMP and 5'-TMP) were carried out by UV-vis titrations, (1)H and (31)P NMR which implicates the preferential selectivity of these complexes to N3 of thymine rather than N7 of guanine. Furthermore, complex 1 exhibits efficient DNA cleavage with supercoiled pBR322. The complex 1 cleaves DNA efficiently involving hydrolytic cleavage pathway. Such chiral synthetic hydrolytic nucleases with asymmetric centers are gaining considerable attention owing to their importance in biotechnology and drug design, in particular to cleave DNA with sequence selectivity different from that of the natural enzymes.     

DNA-bleomycin interaction: Nucleotide sequence-specific binding and cleavage of DNA by bleomycin

Biosynthetic intermediates and synthetic analogues of bleomycin (BLM) have been investigated for their metal binding, dioxygen activation, and DNA cleavage. Molecular O₂ was activated by the Fe(II) complex of a synthetic model ligand. Nucleotide sequence specificities in DNA cleavage by the BLM-Fe(II) and deglyco-BLM-Fe(II) complexes were almost identical. It has been shown that (1) the β-aminoalanine-pyrimidine-β-hydroxyhistidine portion of BLM is essential for the metal binding and dioxygen activation and (2) the bithiazole moiety contributes to the specific binding to guanine base of DNA.     

DNA cleavage promoted by Cu2+ complex of cyclen containing pyridine subunit

The tetraazamacrocycle crown ether (cyclen) containing two pyridine subunits was prepared by a modified procedure and the interaction of its metal complexes with DNA was studied by agarose gel electrophoresis analysis. The results indicate that the Cu²⁺ complex as nuclease model can promote the hydrolysis of phosphodiester bond of supercoiled DNA. The rate of degradation of the supercoiled DNA (form I) to nicked DNA (form II) obtained at physiological condition in the presence of 2.14 mM Cu²⁺ complex is 2.31 × 10^–3 min⁻¹. The dependence of the rate of supercoiled DNA cleavage from the complex concentration shows an unusual profile and a hydrolytic cleaving mechanism of two monometallic complexes through cooperation from two-point binding to DNA is proposed.

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Graphical abstract DNA cleavage promoted by metal complex of cyclen containing pyridine subunit Ying Li, Xiao-Min Lu, Xin Sheng, Guo-Yuan Lu*, Ying Shao and Qiang Xu* The copper complex of tetraazamacrocycle crown ether (cyclen) containing two pyridine subunits can promote the hydrolysis of phosphodiester bond of supercoiled DNA and a hydrolytic mechanism of two monometallic complexes through cooperation from two-point binding to DNA is proposed.

     

Spectroscopic studies of the interaction of ferrous bleomycin with DNA

Bleomycin is an antibiotic used in cancer chemotherapy for its ability to achieve both single- and double-strand cleavage of DNA through abstraction of the deoxyribose C4'-H. Magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) and X-ray absorption (XAS) spectroscopies have been used to study the interaction of the biologically relevant FeIIBLM complex with DNA. Calf thymus DNA was used as the substrate as well as short oligonucleotides, including one with a preferred 5'-G-pyrimidine-3' cleavage site [d(GGAAGCTTCC)2] and one without [d(GGAAATTTCC)2]. DNA binding to FeIIBLM significantly perturbs the FeII active site, resulting in a change in intensity ratio of the d d transitions and a decrease in excited-state orbital splitting (5Eg). Although this effect is somewhat dependent on length and composition of the oligonucleotide, it is not correlated to the presence of a 5'-G-pyrimidine-3' cleavage site. No effect is observed on the charge-transfer transitions, indicating that the H-bonding recognition between the pyrimidine and guanine base does not perturb Fe-pyrimidine backbonding. Azide binding studies indicate that FeIIBLM bound to either oligomer has the same affinity for N3-. Parallel studies of BLM structural derivatives indicate that FeIIiso-PEPLM, in which the carbamoyl group is shifted on the mannose sugar, forms the same DNA-bound species as FeIIBLM. In contrast, FeIIDP-PEPLM, in which the -aminoalanine group is absent, forms a new species upon DNA binding. These data are consistent with a model in which the primary amine from the -aminoalanine is an FeII ligand and the mannose carbamoyl provides either a ligand to the FeII or significant second-sphere effects on the FeII site; intercalation of the bithiazole tail into the double helix likely brings the metal-bound complex close enough to the DNA to create steric interactions that remove the sugar groups from interaction with the FeII. The fact that the FeII active site is perturbed regardless of DNA sequence is consistent with the fact that cleavage is observed for both 5'-GC-3' and nonspecific oligomers and indicates that different reaction coordinates may be active, depending on orientation of the deoxyribose C4'-H.     

The role of the Zn(II) binding domain in the mechanism of E. coli DNA topoisomerase I

Background  

Escherichia coli DNA topoisomerase I binds three Zn(II) with three tetracysteine motifs which, together with the 14 kDa C-terminal region, form a 30 kDa DNA binding domain (ZD domain). The 67 kDa N-terminal domain (Top67) has the active site tyrosine for DNA cleavage but cannot relax negatively supercoiled DNA. We analyzed the role of the ZD domain in the enzyme mechanism.     

Sequence-selective DNA cleavage by a chimeric metallopeptide

A chimeric metallopeptide derived from the sequences of two structurally superimposable motifs was designed as an artificial nuclease. Both DNA recognition and nuclease activity have been incorporated into a small peptide sequence. P3W, a 33-mer peptide comprising helices alpha2 and alpha3 from the engrailed homeodomain and the consensus EF-hand Ca-binding loop binds one equivalent of lanthanides or calcium and folds upon metal binding. The conditional formation constants (in the presence of 50 mM Tris) of P3W for Eu(III) (K(a) = (2.1 +/- 0.1) x 10(5) M(-1)) and Ce(IV) (K(a) = (2.6 +/- 0.1) x 10(5) M(-1)) are typical of isolated EF-hand peptides. Circular dichroism studies show that 1:1 CeP3W is 26% alpha-helical and EuP3W is up to 40% alpha-helical in the presence of excess metal. The predicted helicity of the folded peptide based on helix length and end effects is about 50%, showing the metallopeptides are significantly folded. EuP3W has considerably more secondary structure than our previously reported chimeras (Welch, J. T.; Sirish, M.; Lindstrom, K. M.; Franklin, S. J. Inorg. Chem. 2001, 40, 1982-1984). Eu(III)P3W and Ce(IV)P3W nick supercoiled DNA at pH 6.9, although EuP3W is more active at pH 8. CeP3W cleaves linearized, duplex DNA as well as supercoiled plasmid. The cleavage of a 5'-(32)P-labeled 121-mer DNA fragment was followed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The cleavage products are 3'-OPO(3) termini exclusively, suggesting a regioselective or multistep mechanism. In contrast, uncomplexed Ce(IV) and Eu(III) ions produce both 3'-OPO(3) and 3'-OH, and no evidence of 4'-oxidative cleavage termini with either metal. The complementary 3'-(32)P-labeled oligonucleotide experiment also showed both 5'-OPO(3) and 5'-OH termini were produced by the free ions, whereas CeP3W produces only 5'-OPO(3) termini. In addition to apparent regioselectivity, the metallopeptides cut DNA with modest sequence discrimination, which suggests that the HTH motif binds DNA as a folded domain and thus cleaves selected sequences. The de novo artificial nuclease LnP3W represents the first small, underivatized peptide that is both active as a nuclease and sequence selective.     

Double-strand DNA cleavage by copper complexes of 2,2'-dipyridyl with guanidinium/ammonium pendants

Two ligands with guanidinium/ammonium groups were synthesized and their copper complexes, [Cu(L1)Cl2](ClO4)2.H2O (1) and [Cu(L2)Cl2](ClO4)2 (2) (L1 = 5,5'-di[1-(guanidyl)methyl]-2,2'-bipyridyl cation and L2 = 5,5'-di[1-(amino)methyl]-2,2'-bipyridyl cation), were prepared to serve as nuclease mimics. X-Ray analysis revealed that Cu(II) ion in 1 has a planar square CuN2Cl2-configuration. The shortest distance between the nitrogen of guanidinium and copper atoms is 6.5408(5) A, which is coincident with that of adjacent phosphodiesters in DNA (ca. 6 A). In the absence of reducing agent, supercoiled plasmid DNA cleavage by the complexes were performed and their hydrolytic mechanisms were demonstrated with radical scavengers and T4 ligase. The pseudo-Michaelis-Menten kinetic parameters (kcat, KM) were calculated to be 4.42 h(-1), 7.46 x 10(-5) M for 1, and 4.21 h(-1), 1.07 x 10(-4) M for 2, respectively. The result shows that their cleavage efficiency is about 10-fold higher than the simple analogue [Cu(bipy)Cl2] (3) (0.50 h(-1), 3.5 x 10(-4) M). The pH dependence of DNA cleavage by 1 and its hydroxide species in solution indicates that mononuclear [Cu(L1)(OH)(H2O)]3+ ion is the active species. Highly effective DNA cleavage ability of is attributed to the effective cooperation of the metal moiety and two guanidinium pendants with the phosphodiester backbone of nucleic acid.     

Hydrolytic cleavage of DNA by quercetin manganese(II) complexes

Quercetin manganese(II) complexes were investigated focusing on its DNA hydrolytic activity. The complexes successfully promote the cleavage of plasmid DNA, producing single and double DNA strand breaks. The amount of conversion of supercoiled form (SC) of plasmid DNA to the nicked circular form (NC) depends on the concentration of the complex as well as the duration of incubation of the complexes with DNA. The maximum rate of conversion of the supercoiled form to the nicked circular form at pH 7.2 in the presence of 100 μM of the complexes is found to be 1.32 × 10⁻⁴ s⁻¹. The hydrolytic cleavage of DNA by the complexes was supported by the evidence from free radical quenching, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) assay and T4 ligase ligation.     

A designer bleomycin with significantly improved DNA cleavage activity

The bleomycins (BLMs) are used clinically in combination with a number of other agents for the treatment of several types of tumors, and the BLM, etoposide, and cisplatin treatment regimen cures 90-95% of metastatic testicular cancer patients. BLM-induced pneumonitis is the most feared, dose-limiting side effect of BLM in chemotherapy, which can progress into lung fibrosis and affect up to 46% of the total patient population. There have been continued efforts to develop new BLM analogues in the search for anticancer drugs with better clinical efficacy and lower lung toxicity. We have previously cloned and characterized the biosynthetic gene clusters for BLMs from Streptomyces verticillus ATCC15003, tallysomycins from Streptoalloteichus hindustanus E465-94 ATCC31158, and zorbamycin (ZBM) from Streptomyces flavoviridis SB9001. Comparative analysis of the three biosynthetic machineries provided the molecular basis for the formulation of hypotheses to engineer novel analogues. We now report engineered production of three new analogues, 6'-hydroxy-ZBM, BLM Z, and 6'-deoxy-BLM Z and the evaluation of their DNA cleavage activities as a measurement for their potential anticancer activity. Our findings unveiled: (i) the disaccharide moiety plays an important role in the DNA cleavage activity of BLMs and ZBMs, (ii) the ZBM disaccharide significantly enhances the potency of BLM, and (iii) 6'-deoxy-BLM Z represents the most potent BLM analogue known to date. The fact that 6'-deoxy-BLM Z can be produced in reasonable quantities by microbial fermentation should greatly facilitate follow-up mechanistic and preclinical studies to potentially advance this analogue into a clinical drug.     

Bis(dipyridophenazine)copper(II) complex as major groove directing synthetic hydrolase

The copper(II) complex [Cu(dppz)(2)Cl]Cl () has been prepared, structurally characterized and its DNA binding and cleavage properties studied (dppz, dipyridophenazine). Crystal structure of 1xdppzxH(2)O shows the presence of the monocationic copper(II) complex containing two dppz ligands and one chloride in the five coordinate structure. While one bidentate chelating dppz ligand occupies the basal plane, the other dppz ligand shows an axial/equatorial mode of bonding. The chloride ligand binds at the basal plane. The complex crystallizes with dppz and water as lattice molecules. The dppz moieties in the metal-bound and free forms are involved in pi-pi stacking interactions. The one-electron paramagnetic complex shows a visible spectral d-d band at 707 nm in DMF and displays quasireversible cyclic voltammetric response for the Cu(II)/Cu(I) couple near 0.1 V vs. SCE in DMF-0.1 M TBAP. The complex which is an avid binder to calf thymus DNA giving a binding constant (K(b)) value of 2.0 x 10(4) M(-1) in DMF-Tris buffer, cleaves supercoiled pUC19 DNA in an oxidative manner in the presence of mercaptopropionic acid (MPA) as a reducing agent or on photo irradiation at 312 nm. Control experiments show major groove binding and DNA cleavage via the formation of hydroxyl radical in the presence of MPA and by singlet oxygen in the photocleavage reaction. The complex exhibits significant hydrolytic cleavage of DNA in the dark in the absence of any additives at a rate of approximately 3.0 h(-1). The hydrolytic nature of the DNA cleavage is evidenced from the T4 ligase experiments converting the nicked circular form to its original supercoiled form quantitatively. Complex presents a rare example of copper-based major groove directing efficient synthetic hydrolase.