Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 22, 2026

Analyzing Protein Architectures and Protein-Ligand Complexes by Integrative Structural Mass Spectrometry
Published on: October 15, 2018
Cyclometalated Gold(III) Complexes Bearing DACH Ligands
Sailajah Gukathasan1, Sean Parkin1, Samuel G Awuah1
1Department of Chemistry , University of Kentucky , Lexington , Kentucky 40506 , United States.
Novel gold(III) complexes with cyclometalated and DACH ligands show promising anticancer activity and selective uptake in cancer cells. These stable compounds offer new insights for designing gold-based anticancer drugs.
Area of Science:
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Medicinal Chemistry
- Chemical Biology
Background:
- Gold(III) complexes are investigated for anticancer properties.
- Cyclometalated ligands and 1,2-diaminocyclohexane (DACH) can stabilize gold(III) complexes.
- Novel scaffolds are needed to explore gold(III) biological activities.
Purpose of the Study:
- Synthesize and characterize novel cyclometalated gold(III) complexes.
- Evaluate the antiproliferative activity and cellular uptake of these complexes.
- Investigate the stability and mechanism of action of the gold(III) compounds.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis and structural characterization of six gold(III) complexes.
- Antiproliferative assays against various cancer cell lines and normal cells.
- DNA interaction studies, cellular uptake measurements, and stability tests.
- Cell cycle analysis to determine the mechanism of action.
Main Results:
- Novel gold(III) complexes of types [Au(C^NH)(DACH)2]+ and [Au(C^N)(DACH)]2+ were synthesized.
- Promising antiproliferative activity with IC50 in the micromolar range and selectivity over normal cells.
- Significant and differential cellular uptake observed in OVCAR8 cancer cells.
- Complexes demonstrated stability under physiological conditions and induced G1 cell cycle arrest.
Conclusions:
- Enhanced Au(III) stabilization by combined cyclometalated and DACH ligands is achievable.
- These novel gold(III) complexes represent a promising scaffold for anticancer drug development.
- Ligand tuning insights can be gained for designing novel gold-based anticancer agents.
Related Concept Videos
Crystal Field Theory - Octahedral Complexes
To explain the observed behavior of transition metal complexes (such as colors), a model involving electrostatic interactions between the electrons from the ligands and the electrons in the unhybridized d orbitals of the central metal atom has been developed. This electrostatic model is crystal field theory (CFT). It helps to understand, interpret, and predict the colors, magnetic behavior, and some structures of coordination compounds of transition metals.
CFT focuses on...
Formation of Complex Ions
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...
Electron Transport Chain: Complex III and IV
Ligand Binding Sites
Protein-ligand interactions are quite specific; even though numerous potential ligands surround a cellular protein at any given time, only a particular ligand can bind to that protein. Moreover, a ligand binds only to a dedicated area on the surface of the protein, known as the...
Ligand Binding and Linkage

