title: Copper complexes based on chiral Schiff-base ligands: DNA/BSA binding ability, DNA cleavage activity, cytotoxicity and mechanism of apoptosis.
abstract: Four copper(II) complexes with chiral Schiff-base ligands, [Cu(R-L(1))2]·EtOAc (1) and [Cu(S-L(1))2]·EtOAc (2), [Cu(R-L(2))2]·EtOAc (3) and [Cu(S-L(2))2]·EtOAc (4), (R/S-HL(1) = (R/S)-(1-naththyl)-salicylaldimine, R/S-HL(2) = (R/S)-(1-naththyl)-3-methoxysalicylaldimine, EtOAc = ethyl acetate) were synthesized to serve as artificial nucleases and anticancer drugs. All complexes and R/S-HL(1) ligands were structurally characterized by X-ray crystallography. The interaction of these complexes with CT-DNA was researched via several spectroscopy methods, which indicates that complexes bind to CT-DNA by moderate intercalation binding mode. Moreover, DNA cleavage experiments revealed that the complexes exhibited remarkable DNA cleavage activities in the presence of H2O2via the generation of hydroxyl radical. Particularly, complex 4 also could nick DNA with the production of (1)O2. And all complexes exhibited excellent cytotoxicity to MDA-MB-231, A549 and Hela human cancer cells in micromole magnitude. Furthermore, complex 4 exhibited comparable cytotoxic effect to cisplatin against the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 and A549 cancer cells, as well as showed better anticancer ability to the three cancer cells than the other complexes. The results of cell cycle analysis indicated that complexes 3-4 could induce G2/M phase cell cycle arrest. Furthermore, MDA-MB-231 cells treated with 3 and 4 were subjected to apoptosis and death by generation of ROS and the activation of caspase-3. Interestingly, the chiral complexes 3 and 4 may induce cell apoptosis through extrinsic and mitochondrial intrinsic pathway, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China; Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (MOE), Nankai University, PR China.
authors.forename: Xue-Quan
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Medical School of Nankai University, PR China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China; Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (MOE), Nankai University, PR China.
authors.forename: Dong-Yan
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Medical School of Nankai University, PR China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nie
authors.affiliation: Medical School of Nankai University, PR China.
authors.forename: Zong-Jin
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China; Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (MOE), Nankai University, PR China.
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China; Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (MOE), Nankai University, PR China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China; Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (MOE), Nankai University, PR China. Electronic address: tiant@nankai.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jin-Lei
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, PR China; Key Laboratory of Advanced Energy Materials Chemistry (MOE), Nankai University, PR China.
authors.forename: Shi-Ping
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Yan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001665:Binding Sites / Q000187:drug effects; D002417:Cattle; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018360:Crystallography, X-Ray; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D053837:DNA Cleavage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004354:Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D008958:Models, Molecular; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012545:Schiff Bases / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000737:chemistry*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D008024:Ligands; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D012545:Schiff Bases; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D003300:Copper; D004247:DNA; C427203:calf thymus DNA
keywords: Anticancer ability; Apoptosis mechanism; Chirality; Copper complexes; Crystal structure