DNA binding, cytotoxicity and apoptosis induction activity of a mixed-ligand copper(II) complex with taurine Schiff base and imidazole

Mei Li; Lin Lin Kong; Yi Gou; Feng Yang; Hong Liang

doi:10.1016/j.saa.2014.02.197

DNA binding, cytotoxicity and apoptosis induction activity of a mixed-ligand copper(II) complex with taurine Schiff base and imidazole

Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc. 2014 Jul 15:128:686-93. doi: 10.1016/j.saa.2014.02.197. Epub 2014 Mar 14.

Authors

Mei Li¹, Lin Lin Kong², Yi Gou², Feng Yang², Hong Liang³

Affiliations

¹ College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base for the Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Medicinal Resources, Ministry of Science and Technology of China, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, Guangxi, China.
² State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base for the Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Medicinal Resources, Ministry of Science and Technology of China, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, Guangxi, China.
³ College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China; State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base for the Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Medicinal Resources, Ministry of Science and Technology of China, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin, Guangxi, China. Electronic address: hliang@mailbox.gxnu.edu.cn.

PMID: 24699287
DOI: 10.1016/j.saa.2014.02.197

Abstract

A novel binuclear copper(II) complex (complex 1) with taurine Schiff base and imidazole has been synthesized and structurally characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, ESI-MS spectrometry, UV-vis and IR spectroscopy. Single-crystal analysis revealed that 1 displays the sulfonate-bridged dinuclear copper(II) centers. Both copper atoms are five-coordinated and exhibit slightly distorted square pyramidal geometries. Each of copper atom is surrounded by three oxygen atoms and one nitrogen atom from different taurine Schiff base ligands, and one nitrogen atom from one imidazole ligand. The interaction between 1 and calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) was investigated by UV-vis, fluorescence, circular dichroism (CD) spectra and agarose gel electrophoresis. The experimental results indicated that 1 could bind to CT-DNA via an intercalative mode and show efficient cleavage activity. In addition, 1 showed an antitumor effect on cell cycle and apoptosis. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that MGC-803 cells were arrested in the S phase after treatment with 1. Fluorescence microscopic observation indicated that 1 could induce apoptosis of MGC-803 cells.

Keywords: Apoptosis; CT-DNA; Copper(II) complex; Cytotoxicity; Imidazole; Taurine Schiff base.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Apoptosis / drug effects*
Cell Line, Tumor
Copper / chemistry*
Cytotoxins* / chemical synthesis
Cytotoxins* / chemistry
Cytotoxins* / pharmacology
DNA / chemistry*
Humans
Imidazoles / chemistry*
Ligands
Schiff Bases / chemical synthesis
Schiff Bases / chemistry
Taurine / chemistry*
X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

Cytotoxins
Imidazoles
Ligands
Schiff Bases
Taurine
Copper
imidazole
DNA
calf thymus DNA