Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Complexation Equilibria: The Chelate Effect01:19

Complexation Equilibria: The Chelate Effect

In complexation reactions, metal atoms or cations interact with ligands to form donor-acceptor adducts called metal complexes. Ligands that bind through one donor site are monodentate, ligands with two donor sites are bidentate, and those with more than two donor sites are polydentate ligands. For example, ethylene diamine is a bidentate ligand that binds through two nitrogen donor atoms, forming a five-membered ring. EDTA is a polydentate ligand that binds through four oxygen and two nitrogen...
EDTA: Chemistry and Properties01:22

EDTA: Chemistry and Properties

Polydentate ligands are most widely used in complexometric titrations because they form more stable complexes with the metal ions than mono- or bidentate ligands due to the chelate effect. Examples of polydentate ligands are ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), crown ethers, and cryptands. The most important feature of optimal polydentate ligands is the ability to form 1:1 complexes in a single-step process. Amino carboxylic acid derivatives are frequently used as complexing agents. EDTA is...
Complexometric Titration: Ligands00:43

Complexometric Titration: Ligands

Different monodentate and polydentate ligands are used as complexing agents in complexometric titration reactions. The formation of complexes by mono- and bidentate ligands involves two or more intermediate steps, limiting their use as complexing agents. In comparison, polydentate ligands can form complexes with metal ions in a single-step process, facilitating sharper end points. This means polydentate ligands, such as amino carboxylic acid derivatives, are most commonly employed in...
EDTA: Auxiliary Complexing Reagents01:26

EDTA: Auxiliary Complexing Reagents

EDTA titrations are usually carried out in highly basic conditions, where the fully deprotonated form of EDTA, Y4−, actively complexes with the free metal ions in the solution. Several metal ions precipitate as hydrous oxide (hydroxides, oxides, or oxyhydroxides) under these conditions, lowering the concentration of free metal ions in the solution. For this reason, auxiliary complexing agents or ligands such as ammonia, tartrate, citrate, or triethanolamine are used in EDTA titrations to...
Metal-Ligand Bonds02:51

Metal-Ligand Bonds

The hemoglobin in the blood, the chlorophyll in green plants, vitamin B-12, and the catalyst used in the manufacture of polyethylene all contain coordination compounds. Ions of the metals, especially the transition metals, are likely to form complexes.
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...
Inhibitors of Bacterial DNA Synthesis01:28

Inhibitors of Bacterial DNA Synthesis

Bacterial pathogens depend on precise and efficient DNA replication to sustain infection. Two type II topoisomerases—DNA gyrase and topoisomerase IV—are critical to this process, as they resolve DNA supercoiling and unlink chromosomes during replication. Fluoroquinolones, synthetic derivatives of quinolones, exploit this mechanism by stabilizing the transient DNA–enzyme cleavage complex, preventing strand religation, and causing lethal double-strand breaks. These antibiotics are selectively...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Genomic mapping reveals cisplatin disruption of protein phosphorylation signalling genome-wide.

Metallomics : integrated biometal science·2026
Same author

In Vivo Imaging of a Photoactivatable Platinum Prodrug by Metal-Centered Radiolabeling.

Journal of the American Chemical Society·2026
Same author

A Correlative X‑ray Bioimaging Triad for Metals in Biomedical Research.

Chemical & biomedical imaging·2026
Same author

In Situ Lipid Interactions of an Anticancer Metal Complex.

Inorganic chemistry·2026
Same author

Tumor-Directed Disulfidptosis via Spatiotemporally Controlled Copper Bioorthogonal Activation.

ACS nano·2026
Same author

Cyclometalated iridium complex as a PD-L1 inhibitor: Suppressing expression via COX-2 blockade.

Journal of inorganic biochemistry·2025
Same journal

Design Principles for Negative Thermal Expansion in Two-Dimensional Materials.

Accounts of chemical research·2026
Same journal

Main Group Redox Catalysis: New Frontiers with Germanium and Tin.

Accounts of chemical research·2026
Same journal

Taming Irreversibility in sp<sup>2</sup>-Carbon-Conjugated COFs from Polycrystalline Powders to Single Crystals and Thin Films.

Accounts of chemical research·2026
Same journal

Electroactive Imidazolium Ionic Liquids in Organic Synthesis.

Accounts of chemical research·2026
Same journal

Calix[4]resorcinarene-Based Porous Organic Cages: Synthesis and Applications.

Accounts of chemical research·2026
Same journal

Light-Driven Dual Rotary Molecular Motors and Beyond.

Accounts of chemical research·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Tools to Study the Role of Architectural Protein HMGB1 in the Processing of Helix Distorting, Site-specific DNA Interstrand Crosslinks
12:19

Tools to Study the Role of Architectural Protein HMGB1 in the Processing of Helix Distorting, Site-specific DNA Interstrand Crosslinks

Published on: November 10, 2016

Metal complexes as DNA intercalators.

Hong-Ke Liu1, Peter J Sadler

  • 1Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biofunctional Materials, College of Chemistry and Materials Science, Nanjing Normal University, China. liuhongke@njnu.edu.cn

Accounts of Chemical Research
|March 31, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

New dual-function organometallic ruthenium and osmium complexes show potent anticancer activity by intercalating into DNA. These novel agents overcome cisplatin resistance, offering a promising new class of chemotherapy drugs.

More Related Videos

DNA Nanotubes as a Versatile Tool to Study Semiflexible Polymers
08:00

DNA Nanotubes as a Versatile Tool to Study Semiflexible Polymers

Published on: October 25, 2017

Quantitative Detection of DNA-Protein Crosslinks and Their Post-Translational Modifications
10:12

Quantitative Detection of DNA-Protein Crosslinks and Their Post-Translational Modifications

Published on: April 21, 2023

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Tools to Study the Role of Architectural Protein HMGB1 in the Processing of Helix Distorting, Site-specific DNA Interstrand Crosslinks
12:19

Tools to Study the Role of Architectural Protein HMGB1 in the Processing of Helix Distorting, Site-specific DNA Interstrand Crosslinks

Published on: November 10, 2016

DNA Nanotubes as a Versatile Tool to Study Semiflexible Polymers
08:00

DNA Nanotubes as a Versatile Tool to Study Semiflexible Polymers

Published on: October 25, 2017

Quantitative Detection of DNA-Protein Crosslinks and Their Post-Translational Modifications
10:12

Quantitative Detection of DNA-Protein Crosslinks and Their Post-Translational Modifications

Published on: April 21, 2023

Area of Science:

  • Organometallic chemistry
  • Medicinal chemistry
  • Molecular biology

Background:

  • DNA intercalation is a key mechanism for anticancer drugs.
  • Metallointercalators, combining metal complexes with intercalators, offer novel DNA interactions.
  • Existing platinum(II) complexes show enhanced activity with intercalators.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore dual-function organometallic ruthenium(II) and osmium(II) arene anticancer complexes.
  • To investigate the DNA binding modes and anticancer mechanisms of these complexes.
  • To establish structure-activity relationships for novel anticancer agents.

Main Methods:

  • Synthesis of [(η(6)-arene)Ru/Os(XY)Cl](+) complexes, where XY is ethylenediamine and arene varies (e.g., tetrahydroanthracene, biphenyl).
  • Detection of arene-DNA intercalation using biophysical and biochemical methods.
  • Evaluation of cytotoxic activity against cancer cells and assessment of cross-resistance with cisplatin.

Main Results:

  • Ru-arene complexes with dual intercalation and metal coordination functions exhibit potent cytotoxicity.
  • These complexes are non-cross-resistant with cisplatin, indicating a distinct mechanism of action.
  • Specific arene ligands influence DNA binding kinetics, thermodynamics, and conformational changes.

Conclusions:

  • Dual-function Ru(II)- and Os(II)-arene complexes represent a new class of anticancer agents.
  • Their unique DNA interaction mechanisms offer potential to overcome drug resistance.
  • These findings provide a foundation for designing next-generation chemotherapeutic agents.