title: The design of new molecular "light switches" for DNA.
abstract: Two novel ruthenium(II) complexes, [Ru(pztp)2(phen)](ClO4)2 and [Ru(pztp)2(bpy)] (ClO4)2, have been synthesized and characterized by UV/Vis and 1H NMR spectroscopies and mass spectrometry. The MeCN solutions of both complexes display fluorescence that was found to be highly sensitive to the presence and concentration of water. The complexes behave like a "light switch" for DNA in that they do not luminesce in water but were "turned on" in the presence of DNA and show emission enhancement with the increase of DNA concentration. Their DNA binding behavior was also studied by absorption spectroscopy and viscosity measurements, which suggest that the DNA-complex interaction involves intercalation of the metal-bound pztp ligand into the base pairs of duplex DNA.
authors: Department of Chemistry, Zhongshan University, Guangzhou, PR China.
authors: X H
authors: XH
authors: Zou
authors: B H
authors: BH
authors: Ye
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Li
authors: Q L
authors: QL
authors: Zhang
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Chao
authors: J G
authors: JG
authors: Liu
authors: L N
authors: LN
authors: Ji
authors: X Y
authors: XY
authors: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D006576:Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings; D007364:Intercalating Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012428:Ruthenium / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013057:Spectrum Analysis
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006576:Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings; D007364:Intercalating Agents; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D012428:Ruthenium; D004247:DNA; C427203:calf thymus DNA