Synthesis, Characterization, Photoluminescence, Molecular Docking and Bioactivity of Zinc (II) Compounds Based on Different Substituents

Six new zinc(II) complexes were prepared by the reaction of ZnBr2 or ZnI2 with 4′-(substituted-phenyl)-2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine compounds, bearing p-methylsulfonyl (L1), p-methoxy (L2) and p-methyl (L3), which were characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, NMR and single crystal X-ray diffraction. The antiproliferative properties against Eca-109, A549 and Bel-7402 cell lines and the cytotoxicity test on RAW-264.7 of these compounds were monitored using a CCK-8 assay, and the studies indicate that the complexes show higher antiproliferative activities than cisplatin. The interactions of these complexes with CT-DNA and proteins (BSA) were studied by UV-Vis, circular dichroism (CD) and fluorescent spectroscopy, respectively. The results indicate that the interaction of these zinc(II) complexes with CT-DNA is achieved through intercalative binding, and their strong binding affinity to BSA is fulfilled through a static quenching mechanism. The simulation of the complexes with the CT-DNA fragment and BSA was studied by using molecular docking software. It further validates that the complexes interact with DNA through intercalative binding mode and that they have a strong interaction with BSA.

Cooperativity effect of the π⋯π interaction between drug and DNA on intercalative binding induced by H-bonds: a QM/QTAIM investigation of the curcumin⋯adenine⋯H2O model system

Anti-cooperative effect of π⋯π interactions is the main driving force for the intercalative binding of drug to DNA bases.

Visualization of mitochondrial DNA in living cells with super-resolution microscopy using thiophene-based terpyridine Zn(ii) complexes

The thiophene-based terpyridine Zn(ii) complex LC targeted mitochondria by intercalative binding with mtDNA. STED super-resolution micrographs visualized mitochondrial cristae/inner matrix mtDNA.

Mutagenicity of N-acyloxy-N-alkoxyamides as an indicator of DNA intercalation part 1: evidence for naphthalene as a DNA intercalator

Naphthalene substituents enhance mutagenicity of N-acyloxy-N-alkoxyamides towards S. typhimurium TA100 to the extent of 4 log P, most likely through intercalative binding to DNA.

Partial intercalative binding of the food colorant erythrosine to herring sperm DNA

Erythrosine partially inserts into the G–C rich region of hsDNA and induces moderate conformational perturbation of the DNA.