Interfering with DNA High-Order Structures using Chiral Ruthenium(II) Complexes

Shanshan Zou; Guanying Li; Thomas W Rees; Chengzhi Jin; Juanjuan Huang; Yu Chen; Liangnian Ji; Hui Chao

doi:10.1002/chem.201704403

Interfering with DNA High-Order Structures using Chiral Ruthenium(II) Complexes

Chemistry. 2018 Jan 12;24(3):690-698. doi: 10.1002/chem.201704403. Epub 2017 Dec 6.

Authors

Shanshan Zou¹, Guanying Li¹, Thomas W Rees¹, Chengzhi Jin¹, Juanjuan Huang¹, Yu Chen¹, Liangnian Ji¹, Hui Chao¹

Affiliation

¹ MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinorganic and Synthetic Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, P.R. China.

PMID: 29112314
DOI: 10.1002/chem.201704403

Abstract

In this work, it was found that DNA can undergo B-Z transformational changes and compaction in the presence of DNA intercalators such as ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes. The link between B-Z transition and condensation is weak but can be strengthened under certain circumstances with slight alterations to the structures of the ruthenium(II) complexes. Here, following on from previous research, this work reports a series of ruthenium(II) complexes with imidazophenanthroline ligands, which vary in size and planarity. The complexes exhibit distinct effects on DNA structures, ranging from little impact to the transformation of DNA secondary structures to the formation of higher-order DNA structures. Further studies on DNA morphological changes induced by chiral ruthenium(II) complexes are observed by atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy.

Keywords: DNA; chirality; high-order structures; planarity; ruthenium.