Issue 15, 2021

Exploring the binding and cleavage activities of nickelII complexes towards DNA and proteins

Abstract

The present study documents the first investigation into the relationship between the binding and cleavage activity of nickel complexes towards DNA and proteins. Here, three different NiII complexes of the general type [Ni(nal)2diimine] (1a and 1b) and [Ni(8-Hq)2(bpy)] 1c (nal = nalidixic acid, diimine = 2,2′-bipyridine (bpy) or 1,10-phenanthroline (phen), and 8-Hq = 8-hydroxyquinolone) have been isolated. The structural X-ray analysis clearly showed that all complexes possess cis octahedral geometry around the Ni atoms. The interaction of the complexes with proteins (BSA/HSA) and calf thymus (CT)-DNA was followed via a series of spectroscopic measurements. The observed results for the proteins revealed that the complexes quench the intrinsic fluorescence in static quenching mode with an excellent binding affinity towards both BSA and HSA. The DNA binding studies showed that the complexes readily bind with DNA via intercalative and minor groove modes with excellent binding affinities (1b > 1c > 1a). To understand the binding process of the complexes towards proteins and DNA, the thermodynamic Gibbs free energy (ΔG°), enthalpy (ΔH°) and entropy (ΔS°) parameters were also calculated and the obtained results indicated that the process is spontaneous and electrostatic. Moreover, the variation in the abilities of the complexes to cleave proteins and DNA have been explored via electrophoretic mobility spectrometry studies and the results revealed that all of the complexes exhibit excellent cleavage properties. Docking analysis with the crystal structures of BSA (4F5S), HSA (1AO6) and CT DNA (1BNA) was employed to study the ability of the complexes 1a–1c to bind to these target macromolecules. Finally, the in vitro anticancer activity of all three complexes was evaluated using the MTT assay against human lung (A-549) and breast (MCF-7) tumor cells for 24 h incubation times.

Graphical abstract: Exploring the binding and cleavage activities of nickelII complexes towards DNA and proteins

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
22 Dec 2020
Accepted
06 Mar 2021
First published
26 Mar 2021

New J. Chem., 2021,45, 6693-6708

Exploring the binding and cleavage activities of nickelII complexes towards DNA and proteins

M. Kumar, N. Lal, P. M. Luthra and D. T. Masram, New J. Chem., 2021, 45, 6693 DOI: 10.1039/D0NJ06210C

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements