Synthesis of O,O Ethane Bridged Bis-copper(II) Macrocycles. Selective Enzyme Model for Catecholase Activity

New mononuclear and dinuclear complexes [3-hydroxyethyl-1,3,5,8,11pentaazacyclotridecane]copper(II) (1)/nickel(II) (2) perchlorate and O,O ethane bridged bis-copper(II) (3)/nickel(II) (4) macrocycles have been synthesized and characterized by various spectroscopic techniques, viz. i.r., n.m.r., e.p.r., u.v.–vis. and conductance measurements. Spectral data and conductance measurements reveal that all the complexes are consistent with square-planar geometry and are ionic in nature. The catalytic activity of the dinuclear Cu(II) complex (3) in the presence of pyrocatechol was determined spectrometrically by monitoring the increase of the o-benzoquinone characteristic absorption band at 25,000 cm⁻¹ with respect to time in DMF saturated with molecular oxygen. The kinetic parameters V_max (2.8×10⁻³ M s⁻¹) and K_M (1.4×10⁻³ mm) have been determined by Michaelis–Menten method. Electrochemistry of the dinuclear Cu(II) complex has been studied in the presence of molecular oxygen with pyrocatechol and without pyrocatechol at a scan rate of 0.1 V s⁻¹ by cyclic voltammetry. On addition of pyrocatechol, complex shows a shift in E_pc, E_pa and E_1/2 values indicating the oxidation of substrate (pyrocatechol).     

New asymmetric N2S2 macrocycles,their metal chelates and the photokinetics of DNA-complex interaction

New asymmetric ligands have been synthesized by condensing o-phenylene diamine with CS₂ and PhCHO/MeCHO, and their complexes with Mn^II, Co^II, Ni^II, Cu^II and Zn^II were prepared and characterized by elemental analyses, conductivity measurements, i.r., u.v.–vis., e.p.r. and n.m.r. spectra. The transition metals in the complexes show square planar geometry and are ionic. Photokinetic studies of the DNA-metal complexes [C₁₀H₁₀S₄N₂Cu](NO₃)₂ and [C₁₀H₁₀S₄N₂Ni](NO₃)₂ were carried out and the rate constants k_{(DNA-complex)} were calculated. The results indicate that DNA reacts with the metal complex in two steps. DNA first undergoes structural degradation and is then completely hydrolysed as indicated by spectral changes consistent with earlier results. The asymmetric N₂S₂ macrocyclic metal complexes show a strong propensity for DNA inhibition and can be used as an intercalating binding model.     

Interaction of a new cobalt(II) complex of five-coordinated chiral porphyrin with calf thymus DNA

A new template-directed chiral porphyrin [(TPP)Co(Trp)], where TPP = tetraphenylporphyrin and Trp = 1-tryptophan, was prepared and characterized by various physico-chemical methods. Interaction of [(TPP)Co(Trp)] with calf thymus DNA was studied by u.v.–vis. spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. The complex [(TPP)Co(Trp)], after interaction with calf thymus DNA, shows a shift in the absorption spectrum and a large hypochromicity, indicating an intercalating binding mode. This observation was further confirmed by the electrochemical behavior of [(TPP)Co(Trp)] before and after interaction with calf thymus DNA. The complex experiences a negative shift in E _1/2 and a decrease in E _p. The ratio of cathodic to anodic peak currents i _pc/i _pa was 1 for [(TPP)Co(Trp)] while for DNA bound complex i _pc/i _pa 1, suggesting that the calf thymus DNA moiety is bound strongly to the complex [(TPP)Co(Trp)]. Kinetic studies of the DNA-porphyrin complex reveal a psuedo-first order rate law as the plot of k _obs versus calf thymus DNA is linear passing through the origin.     

In Vitro Inhibitory Analysis of Rationally Designed siRNAs against MERS-CoV Replication in Huh7 Cells

MERS-CoV was identified for the first time in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in 2012 in a hospitalized patient. This virus subsequently spread to 27 countries with a total of 939 deaths and 2586 confirmed cases and now has become a serious concern globally. Camels are well known for the transmission of the virus to the human population. In this report, we have discussed the prediction, designing, and evaluation of potential siRNA targeting the ORF1ab gene for the inhibition of MERS-CoV replication. The online software, siDirect 2.0 was used to predict and design the siRNAs, their secondary structure and their target accessibility. ORF1ab gene folding was performed by RNAxs and RNAfold software. A total of twenty-one siRNAs were selected from 462 siRNAs according to their scoring and specificity. siRNAs were evaluated in vitro for their cytotoxicity and antiviral efficacy in Huh7 cell line. No significant cytotoxicity was observed for all siRNAs in Huh7 cells. The in vitro study showed the inhibition of viral replication by three siRNAs. The data generated in this study provide preliminary and encouraging information to evaluate the siRNAs separately as well as in combination against MERS-CoV replication in other cell lines. The prediction of siRNAs using online software resulted in the filtration and selection of potential siRNAs with high accuracy and strength. This computational approach resulted in three effective siRNAs that can be taken further to in vivo animal studies and can be used to develop safe and effective antiviral therapies for other prevalent disease-causing viruses.     

Fixed points of multivalued quasi-nonexpansive mappings using a faster iterative process

In this article, we prove some strong and weak convergence theorems for quasi-nonexpansive multivalued mappings in Banach spaces. The iterative process used is independent of Ishikawa iterative process and converges faster. Some examples are provided to validate our results. Our results extend and unify some results in the contemporary literature.     

Molecular drug design, synthesis and structure elucidation of a new specific target peptide based metallo drug for cancer chemotherapy as topoisomerase I inhibitor

To evaluate the biological preference of metallopeptide drugs in cancer cells, a new dinuclear copper(II) complex [Cu(2)(glygly)(2)(ppz)(H(2)O)(4)]·2H(2)O (1) (glygly = glycyl glycine anion and ppz = piperazine), was designed and synthesized as topoisomerase I inhibitor. The structural elucidation of the complex was done by elemental analysis, spectroscopic methods and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The in vitro DNA binding studies of complex 1 with CT DNA were carried out by employing different optical methods viz. UV-vis, fluorescence and circular dichroism. The molecular docking technique was also utilized to ascertain the mechanism and mode of action towards the molecular target DNA and enzymes. Complex 1 cleaves pBR322 DNA via an oxidative mechanism and strongly binds to the DNA minor groove. Furthermore, complex 1 exhibits significant inhibitory effects on the catalytic activity of topoisomerase I at a very low concentration, ~12.5 μM, in addition to its excellent SOD mimics (IC(50)~0.086 μM).     

An MCl inf4 p2− moiety (M = copper,zinc, cadmium and mercury) stabilized by bis(ethylenediamine)copper(II) cation

Summary New ionic bimetallic complexes of the type [Cu(en)₂]-[MCl₄], where M = Cu^II, Zn^II, Cd^II and Hg^II, were prepared by reacting bis(ethylenediamine)copper(II) dichloride (1 mol) with copper, zinc, cadmium and mercury dichlorides (1 mol) in absolute alcohol. Elemental analyses, conductivity and magnetic susceptibility measurements, and spectroscopic data (such as i.r., u.v.-vis. and e.p.r.) confirm that the compounds are 22 electrolytes in MeOH and that the copper(II) ion is paramagnetic, maintaining its square-planar geometry, while metal ions in the anionic moiety of the complexes achieve their usual tetrahedral environment. An augmented magnetic moment has been observed in the [Cu(en)₂] [CuCl₄] complex, which is attributed to the ferromagnetic effect and TIP.Author to whom all correspondence should be directed.     

Synthesis and characterization of glycoconjugate tin(IV) complexes: In vitro DNA binding studies, cytotoxicity, and cell death

New glycosyl derived ligand and its complexes, with SnCl₄·5H₂O (1) and (CH₃)₂SnCl₂(2) were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic (IR, ¹H, ¹³C, and ¹¹⁹Sn NMR, UV-vis, ESI-MS) and analytical methods. Interaction studies of 1 and 2 with CT DNA were studied by using various biophysical techniques, which showed high binding affinity of 2 with CT DNA. In vitro cytotoxicity of complexes 1 and 2 were evaluated against different human cancer cell lines of different histological origins by employing SRB Assay. The organotin(IV) complex 2 exhibited remarkable activity against DWD (oral cancer) cell lines with GI₅₀ values <10 μg/ml. Complex 2 induced apoptosis of DWD cell line at a very low concentration of 1-4 μg/mL.     

Synthesis of new dinuclear dicopper(II) and dinickel(II) complexes. The kinetics of catechol oxidase and electrochemistry of a dicopper(II) complex

A new dinuclear ligand L, ethylene[OO-bis-salicylidene--diketone] bearing two symmetrical coordination sites was synthesized by the condensation of salicylaldehyde and acetylacetone, L, with 1,2-dibromoethane under reflux. The ligand L in a 1:1 ratio was treated with CuCl₂ and NiCl₂ to yield the complexes, tetrachloro bis[OO-bis- salicylidene--diketone copper(II)] and bis[OO-bis-salicylidene--diketone nickel(II)] chloride. The complexes were subsequently characterized by spectroscopic techniques, elemental analysis, i.r., ¹H-n.m.r., ¹³C-n.m.r., u.v.–vis., e.p.r. spectroscopy, and conductance measurements. The conductance measurements in DMF reveal that the Cu^II complex is covalent while the Ni^II complex is ionic and the spectral data support the Cu^II complex to be distorted octahedral whereas the Ni^II complex has square-planar geometry. The dioxygen binding was studied spectrophotometrically by the oxidation of tetrachloro bis[OO-bis-salicylidene--diketone copper(II)] with pyrocatechol in the presence of oxygen. The kinetic experiments were performed with the copper complex in DMF by monitoring the increase in absorbance over time at pH 8.0 in the presence of pyrocatechol at 25 °C. The kinetic parameters V_max and K_M were determined on the Michaelis–Menten Approach. Redox behavior of the dinuclear copper(II) complex was investigated by cyclic voltammetry in the presence of O₂ with the pyrocatechol (substrate) and also without the substrate. The large difference in potentials E⁰ is indicative of reversible oxygen binding of the complex and distinct catalytic activity.     

Synthesis of new 14- and 16-membered macrocycles and their transition metal complexes

Summary Benzoylacetic acid (1 mol) interacts with ethylenediamine or with propanediamine (2 mol) to yield new N₄ macrocycles 1,5,8,12-tetraazacyclotetradeca-2,4,9,11-tetraphenyl-3, 10-dicarboxylic-4,11-diacetic acid- 1,8-diene (L¹) and 1,5,9,13-tetraazacyclohexadeca-2,4,10,12-tetraphenyl-3, 11-dicarboxylic-4,12-diacetic acid-1,9-diene (L²), respectively. These macrocycles have been successfully complexed with Cr^III, Fe^III, Mn^II, Co^II, Ni^II, Cu^II and Zn^II. The complexes of the divalent metal ions are non-electrolytes, while those of Fe^III and Cr^III are 1:1 electrolytes in DMSO. On the basis of ligand field spectra and magnetic moments an octahedral geometry has been proposed for all the complexes.