[Ru(bpy)2dppz-idzo]2+: a colorimetric molecular “l(fā)ight switch” and powerful stabilizer for G-quadruplex DNA?

Dalton Transactions Pub Date: 2013-01-23 DOI: 10.1039/C3DT32640C

Abstract

A new ruthenium complex, [Ru(bpy)2dppz-idzo]2+ (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine, dppz-idzo = dipyrido-[3,2-a:2′,3′-c] phenazine-imidazolone), was synthesized and characterized. The luminescent titrations showed that the Ru-complex exhibited an outstanding “l(fā)ight switch” effect with an emission enhancement factor of about 300 in the presence of G-quadruplex DNA in a K+ solution. This remarkable “l(fā)ight switch” behavior can even be observed by the naked eye under irradiation with UV light. To get an insight into the “l(fā)ight switch” mechanism, quantum-chemical calculations were performed based on the DFT/TDDFT/PCM method at the B3LYP/6-31G* level. Furthermore, the CD titrations and thermal melting experiments indicated that [Ru(bpy)2dppz-idzo]2+ could not only induce the formation of an antiparallel G-quadruplex structure in the absence of monocations, but also has the ability to stabilize the G-quadruplex architecture, implying potential applications in anticancer therapeutics. Both the “l(fā)ight switch” effect and the structure stabilization ability of [Ru(bpy)2dppz-idzo]2+ were found to be superior to the well-known DNA molecular “l(fā)ight switch” [Ru(bpy)2dppz]2+. Finally, a “sandwich-like” binding model was proposed on the basis of molecular docking simulations.

Graphical abstract: [Ru(bpy)2dppz-idzo]2+: a colorimetric molecular “l(fā)ight switch” and powerful stabilizer for G-quadruplex DNA
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