Synthesis and Characterisation of RuII Polypyridyl Complexes: DNA-Binding, Photocleavage, and Topoisomerase I and II Inhibitory Activity

Two mixed-ligand ruthenium(ii) complexes [Ru(phen)2(cptcp)]2+ (Ru1; phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, cptcp = 2-(4-carbazol-9-yl-phenyl)-1H-1,3,7,8-tetraaza-cyclopenta-[l]-phenanthrene) and [Ru(phen)2(btcpc)]2+ (Ru2; btcpc = 9-butyl-6-(1H-1,3,7,8-tetraaza-cyclo-cyclopenta-[l]-phenanthren-2-yl)-9H-carbazole-3-carbaldehyde) have been synthesised and characterised. The DNA-binding behaviours of the two complexes have been investigated by using spectroscopic and viscosity measurements. Results suggest that the two complexes bind to DNA by intercalation. The photocleavage of plasmid pBR322 DNA indicates that Ru1 exhibits more effective DNA cleavage activity in comparison to that exhibited by Ru2 under the same conditions, and different cleavage mechanisms are determined. Topoisomerase inhibition and DNA strand passage assay confirm that Ru1 may act as an efficient dual inhibitor of topoisomerases I and II, whereas Ru2 may only act as a single inhibitor of topoisomerases II.