Molecular modeling on the recognition of DNA sequence and conformational repair of sheared DNA by novel chiral metal complex D,L-[Co(phen)2hpip]3+

A study on the recognition of DNA sequence and conformational repair of sheared DNA by Novel Chiral Metal complex D,L-Co(phen)₂hpip]³⁺ (phen=1,10 phenanthroline, hpip=2-2-hydroxyphenyl] imidazole 4,5-f]1,10] phenanthroline) is carried out with molecular simulations. The results reveal that two isomers of the complex could both recognize the normal DNA in the minor groove orientation, while recognize the sheared DNA in the major groove orientation and both isomers could convert the conformation of mismatched bases from sheared form to parallel form. Further analysis shows that the steric details of complex’s intercalation to base stack determine the results of recognition, which is induced by the steric collision among ancillary ligand phen, bases and DNA backbone, and by the steric crowding occurring in the process of structural expansion of bases and DNA backbone. Detailed analysis reveals that the conformational repair of mismatched bases relates not only to the steric interactions, but also the π-π stack among normal bases, mismatched bases and hpip ligand.