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Updated: Jan 26, 2026

Iterative Optimization of DNA Duplexes for Crystallization of SeqA-DNA Complexes
Published on: November 1, 2012
G-quadruplex and duplex DNA binding studies of novel Ruthenium(II) complexes containing ascididemin ligands
Maierhaba Wumaier1, Jing-Jing Shi2, Tian-Ming Yao1
1Shanghai Key Laboratory of Chemical Assessment and Sustainability, School of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China.
Abstract:
In this paper, three new Ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes containing ascididemin (ASC) as main ligand have been synthesized and characterized. Their interactions with different G-quadruplex (Htelo, c-myc and c-kit) (Htelo: human telomeric DNA, c-myc: cellular-myelocytomatosis viral oncogene, c-kit: oncogene c-kit promoter sequences) and duplex (ds26) DNA sequences were comparatively studied with the free ligand ASC by a series of spectroscopic techniques including UV-vis (ultraviolet-visible) spectroscopy, FID (fluorescent intercalator displacement) assay, and FRET (fluorescence resonance energy transfer) melting assay. Molecular docking studies were also performed to support the binding mode of the compounds with G-quadruplex DNA. Results indicated that [Ru(bpy)2ASC]·(PF6)2 (1), [Ru(phen)2ASC]·(PF6)2 (2), [Ru(tatp)2ASC]·(PF6)2 (3) (bpy = 2,2'‑bipyridine, phen = 1,10‑phenanthroline, tatp = 1,4,8,9‑tetra‑aza‑triphenylene) and ASC can effectively bind G-quadruplex and duplex DNA and stabilization ability lies in the order 3 > 2 > 1 > ASC. Complex 3 was determined to be the most promising candidate for further in vitro studies and potential anticancer drug.
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