A phosphate-targeted dinuclear Cu(II) complex combining major groove binding and oxidative DNA cleavage
Molphy, Zara Montagner, Diego Bhat, Satish S . Slator, Creina Long, Conor Erxleben, Andrea Kellett, Andrew
Molphy, Zara
Montagner, Diego
Bhat, Satish S .
Slator, Creina
Long, Conor
Erxleben, Andrea
Kellett, Andrew
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Publication Date
2018-09-17
Type
Article
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Citation
Molphy, Zara, Montagner, Diego, Bhat, Satish S., Slator, Creina, Long, Conor, Erxleben, Andrea, & Kellett, Andrew. (2018). A phosphate-targeted dinuclear Cu(II) complex combining major groove binding and oxidative DNA cleavage. Nucleic Acids Research, 46(19), 9918-9931. doi: 10.1093/nar/gky806
Abstract
Free radical generation is an inevitable consequence of aerobic existence and is implicated in a wide variety of pathological conditions including cancer, cardiovascular disease, ageing and neurodegenerative disorder. Free radicals can, however, be used to our advantage since their production is catalysed by synthetic inorganic molecules—termed artificial metallonucleases—that cut DNA strands by oxidative cleavage reactions. Here, we report the rational design and DNA binding interactions of a novel di-Cu2+ artificial metallonuclease [Cu2(tetra-(2-pyridyl)-NMe-naphthalene)Cl4] (Cu2TPNap). Cu2TPNap is a high-affinity binder of duplex DNA with an apparent binding constant (Kapp) of 107 M(bp)−1. The agent binds non-intercalatively in the major groove causing condensation and G-C specific destabilization. Artificial metallonuclease activity occurs in the absence of exogenous reductant, is dependent on superoxide and hydrogen peroxide, and gives rise to single strand DNA breaks. Pre-associative molecular docking studies with the 8-mer d(GGGGCCCC)2, a model for poly[d(G-C)2], identified selective major groove incorporation of the complex with ancillary Cu2+-phosphate backbone binding. Molecular mechanics methods then showed the d(GGGGCCCC)2 adduct to relax about the complex and this interaction is supported by UV melting experiments where poly[d(G-C)2] is selectively destabilized.
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Publisher DOI
10.1093/nar/gky806
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Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Ireland