Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 10, 2026

An In Vitro Enzymatic Assay to Measure Transcription Inhibition by Gallium(III) and H3 5,10,15-tris(pentafluorophenyl)corroles
Published on: March 18, 2015
Synthesis, structure, DNA-binding properties, and cytotoxicity of ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes
Yun-Jun Liu1, Cheng-Hui Zeng, Jun-Hua Yao
1School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 51006, P. R. China. lyjche@163.com
Abstract:
Many ruthenium(II) complexes show high antitumor activities, and the in vitro antitumor activities are usually related to DNA binding. We designed and synthesized two Ru(II) polypyridyl complexes, [Ru(dmp)2(fpp)]2+ (dmp=2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline; fpp=2-[3,4-(difluoromethylenedioxy)phenyl]imidazo[4,5-f] [1,10]phenanthroline and [Ru(phen)(2)(fpp)]2+ (phen=1,10-phenanthroline). The DNA-binding properties of these complexes have been investigated by spectroscopic titration, DNA melting experiments, viscosity measurements, and photoactivated cleavage. The mechanism studies of photocleavage revealed that singlet oxygen (1O2) and superoxide anion radical (O2(.-)) may play an important role in the photocleavage. The cytotoxicity of complexes 1 and 2 have been evaluated by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide) method; complex 2 shows slightly higher anticancer potency than 1 does against all the cell lines screened.
Related Concept Videos
Inhibitors of Bacterial DNA Synthesis
EDTA: Chemistry and Properties
Nucleic Acid Structure
DNA Structure
DNA has a double-helix structure. The...
Metal-Ligand Bonds
In these complexes, transition metals form coordinate covalent bonds, a kind of Lewis acid-base interaction in which both of the electrons in the bond are contributed by a donor (Lewis base) to an electron acceptor (Lewis acid). The Lewis acid in...
Structural Isomerism
Isomers are different chemical species that have the same chemical formula. Structural isomerism of coordination compounds can be divided into two subcategories, the linkage isomers and coordination-sphere isomers.
Linkage isomers occur when the coordination compound contains a ligand that can bind to the transition metal center through two different atoms. For example, the CN− ligand can bind through the carbon atom or through the nitrogen atom. Similarly, SCN− can be...
Complexation Equilibria: The Chelate Effect

