title: Antibacterial activity of ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complex manipulated by membrane permeability and cell morphology.
abstract: This study investigates the antibacterial effects of the ruthenium(II) complex RuBP and the mechanism of RuBP action on bacteria. Results show that RuBP can inhibit the growth of Gram-positive bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Micrococcus tetragenus. Cellular uptake and laser confocal microscopic studies reveal the efficient uptake of RuBP by M. tetragenus cells. Scanning electron microscopic observations of the morphologies of M. tetragenus and S. aureus treated with RuBP further confirm that direct contact of both bacteria with RuBP can damage the cell membrane and membrane integrity, which may eventually induce growth inhibition and bacterial death. After RuBP treatment, the electrical conductivity of the bacterial suspensions increases. Spectroscopic studies and agarose gel electrophoresis indicate that intact DNA and RNA decrease or disappear in RuBP-treated bacterial cells, thus demonstrating that RuBP performs its antibacterial function by increasing the permeability of cell membranes. This study provides new insights for understanding the antibacterial actions of RuBP and designing metal complex antibiotics for other biomedical applications.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China. Electronic address: sunddwj@ahau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Dongdong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.
authors.forename: Weiwei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.
authors.forename: Mengting
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.
authors.forename: Endong
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: School of Life Sciences, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China. Electronic address: weiyunw@126.com.
authors.forename: Weiyun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000187:drug effects*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008837:Micrococcus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011725:Pyridines / Q000737:chemistry*; D017975:Ruthenium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D011725:Pyridines; D017975:Ruthenium Compounds
keywords: Antibacterial activity; Bacteriostatic agent; Cell morphology; Ru(II) complex