DNA-binding properties of ruthenium(II) complexes with the bidentate ligand 5-chloro-2-(phenylazo)pyridine

A bidentate ligand, 5-chloro-2-(phenylazo)pyridine (Clazpy), and its two polypyridyl ruthenium(II) complexes, Ru(Clazpy)₂bpy]Cl₂·7H₂O (1) and Ru(Clazpy)₂phen]Cl₂·8H₂O (2), were synthesized and characterized. The DNA-binding properties of these complexes with DNA, the breast cancer susceptibility gene 1 (BRCA1), and the pBIND plasmid DNA were probed by photocleavage, electronic absorption titration, ethidium bromide quenching, and thermal denaturation. Both complexes were found to bind to the BRCA1 fragment through the intercalative mode into the base pairs of DNA, and the DNA-binding constants (K_b) for 1 and 2 were 7.0 × 10⁴ M⁻¹ and 5.1 × 10⁵ M⁻¹, respectively. In addition, both complexes enhanced the single-stranded cleavage of the plasmid DNA. Under comparable experimental conditions, 2 cleaved DNA more effectively than 1, in a dose–response manner. The data indicated that the binding affinity of these two complexes to DNA was dependent on the aromatic planarity and hydrophobicity of the intercalative polypyridyl ligand.