Benzimidazole is a neutral ligand which is often used to synthesize bioactive compounds. Two transition metal benzimidazole-based complexes, namely, vanadium (IV) dioxido complex (complex 1) and vanadium (V) oxido-peroxido complex (complex 2) with tridentate benzimidazole ligand, 2,6-di (1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl) pyridine (Byim) have been designed with the intention of developing potential DNA nuclease. Different studies involving biochemical and biophysical techniques along with molecular docking suggest that both the complexes interact with DNA, while the mode of binding is intercalation. The complexes were further used for DNA cleavage activity. Both of them were found to have substantial DNA nuclease activity, but complex 2 was more potent than complex 1 in exhibiting such activity.
Keywords: DNA cleavage; DNA gel electrophoresis; artificial DNA nuclease; metal-based DNA nuclease; oxido-peroxido vanadium complex.