title: Mono- and dicarboxylic polypyridyl-Ru complexes as potential cell DNA dyes and transfection agents.
abstract: A ruthenium coordination complex, incorporating two highly extended pi-systems DIP and two carboxylic groups: [Ru(DIP)2(L-L)]2+ where DIP=4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline and L-L=4,4'-dicarboxy-2,2'-bipyridine, is found to be of biological interest. It constitutes an effective nuclear DNA dye for living cells: fluorescent, permeant, biocompatible, high Stokes shift. These features are commented in terms of hydrophobicity and DNA binding. In addition, this complex is shown to internalize a plasmid carrying the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) gene. Positive results are obtained for gene expression, which is related to condensation of the DNA by this ruthenium agent. This opens up an innovative transfection route based on metal complexes.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cellular and Viral Oncogenes Regulation, Cancer Research Center Moscow, Russian Academy of Medical Science, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: Eléna
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Musatkina
authors.forename: Hani
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Amouri
authors.forename: Michèle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lamoureux
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chepurnykh
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cordier
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D017975:Ruthenium Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D014162:Transfection / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D017975:Ruthenium Compounds; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D004247:DNA