Bis-[dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine)2(1,10-phenanthroline)2Ru2] 2+ complexes (bis-Ru(II) complexes) tethered by linkers of various lengths were synthesized and their binding properties to DNA investigated by normal absorption and linear dichroism spectra, and fluorescence techniques in this study. Upon binding to DNA, the bis-Ru(II) complex with the longest linker (1,3-bis-(4-pyridyl)-propane), exhibited a negative LD r signal whose intensity was as large as that in the DNA absorption region, followed by a complicate LD r signal in the metal-to-ligand charge transfer region. The luminescence intensity of this bis-Ru(II) complex was enhanced. The observed LD r and luminescence results resembled that of the [Ru(1,10-phenanthroline)2dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine] 2+ complex, whose dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine (dppz) ligand has been known to intercalate between DNA bases. Hence, it is conclusive that both dppz ligands of the bis-Ru(II) complex intercalate. The binding stoichiometry, however, was a single intercalated dppz per ~ 2.3 bases, which violates the "nearest binding site exclusion" model for intercalation. The length between the two Ru(II) complexes may be barely long enough to accommodate one DNA base between the two dppz ligands, but not for two DNA bases. When the linker was shorter (4,4'-bipyridine or 1,2-bis-(4-pyridyl)-ethane), the magnitude of the LD in the dppz absorption region, as well as the luminescence intensity of both bis-Ru(II) complexes, was half that of the bis-Ru(II) complex bearing a long linker. This observation can be elucidated by a model whereby one of the dppz ligands intercalates while the other is exposed to the aqueous environment.
The complex formation of S- and R-ofloxacin with the self-complementary oligonucleotides, namely d[ATAGCGCTAT](2), d[GCGATATCGC](2) and d[ATAICICTAT](2), were investigated by the molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. Four starting positions, including two intercalation positions with different insertion directions and two minor groove binding positions, were considered. The total energy of both S- and R-ofloxacin-d[ATAGCGCTAT](2) complex, in which ofloxacin binds in the minor groove of the oligonucleotide, were lower than any intercalation binding mode. For both enantiomers, formation of the complex with GC oligonucleotide is more favorable than AT and IC oligonucleotides. When S- and R-ofloxacin are compared, the S-enantiomer exhibits more favorable total energy and torsion angles in the complex formation. This result is in agreement with the experimental observation [Hwangbo et al., Eur J Pharm Sci 18, 197 (2003)]. In the complex, both enantiomers form two hydrogen bonds: one between the carbonyl group of ofloxacin and the amine group of G16 and the other between the fluorine group and the G6 amine for S-ofloxacin. However, only one hydrogen bond is formed between endocyclic hydrogen atom at the C2 position of adenine and inosine base and carbonyl group of ofloxacin, which may be the reason for the GC preferentiality of ofloxacin.
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