Structures, spectra, and DNA-binding properties of mixed ligand copper(II) complexes of iminodiacetic acid: The novel role of diimine co-ligands on DNA conformation and hydrolytic and oxidative double strand DNA cleavage

The coordination geometry around copper(II) in [Cu(imda)(phen)(H2O)] (1) (H2imda = iminodiacetic acid, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) is described as distorted octahedral while those in [Cu(imda)(5,6-dmp)] (2) (5,6-dmp = 5,6-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline) and [Cu(imda)(dpq)] (3) (dpq = dipyrido-[3,2-d:2′,3′-f]-quinoxaline) as trigonal bipyramidal distorted square-based pyramidal with the imda anion facially coordinated to copper(II). Absorption spectral (Kb: 1, 0.60 ± 0.04 × 103; 2, 3.9 ± 0.3 × 103; 3, 1.7 ± 0.5 × 104 M−1) and thermal denaturation studies (ΔTm: 1, 5.70 ± 0.05; 2, 5.5 ± 10; 3, 10.6 ± 10 °C) and viscosity measurements indicate that 3 interacts with calf thymus DNA more strongly than 1 and 2. The relative viscosities of DNA bound to 1 and 3 increase while that of DNA bound to 2 decreases indicating formation of kinks or bends and/or conversion of B to A conformation as revealed by the decrease in intensity of the helicity band in the circular dichroism spectrum of DNA. While 1 and 3 are bound to DNA through partial intercalation, respectively, of phen ring and the extended planar ring of dpq with DNA base stack, the complex 2 is involved in groove binding. All the complexes show cleavage of pBR322 supercoiled DNA in the presence of ascorbic acid with the cleavage efficiency varying in the order 3 > 1 > 2. The highest oxidative DNA cleavage of dpq complex is ascribed to its highest Cu(II)/Cu(I) redox potential. Oxidative cleavage studies using distamycin reveal minor groove binding for the dpq complex but a major groove binding for the phen and 5,6-dmp complexes. Also, all the complexes show hydrolytic DNA cleavage activity in the absence of light or a reducing agent with cleavage efficiency varying in the order 1 > 3 > 2.