Mononuclear copper(II) complexes with polypyridyl ligands: synthesis, characterization, DNA interactions/cleavages and in vitro cytotoxicity towards human cancer cells.

DNA being the necessary element in cell regeneration, controlled cellular apoptosis via DNA binding/cleaving is considered an approach to combat cancer cells. The widely prescribed metallodrug cisplatin has shown interactions with the guanine-N7 center, and a plethora of complexes are continually developed to enhance crosslinking properties as well as covalent and non-covalent interactions. Two pentadentate ligands, L1 (1-(6-(1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)pyridin-2-yl)-N,N-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)methanamine) and L2 (1-(6-(1-methyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)pyridin-2-yl)-N,N-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)methanamine), were synthesized together with their respective copper(II) complexes [1](ClO4)2 and [2](ClO4)2, which crystallized in a trigonal bipyramidal fashion. Different analytical and spectroscopic methods confirmed their formation, and their redox behaviour was also examined. The interactions of salmon sperm DNA (ss-DNA) with these two complexes were explored using absorbance spectroscopy, and they both exhibited a binding affinity (Kb) of ∼104 M-1. Fluorescence quenching experiments with ethidium bromide (EB)-bound DNA (EB-DNA) were also performed, and Stern-Volmer constant (KSV) values of 6.93 × 103 and 2.34 × 104 M-1 for [1](ClO4)2 and [2](ClO4)2, respectively, were obtained. Furthermore, DNA conformational changes due to the interactions of both complexes were validated via circular dichroism. We also assessed the DNA cleavage property of these complexes, which resulted in the linearization of circular plasmid DNA. This finding was supported by studying the growth of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells upon treatment with both Cu(II) complexes; IC50 values of 5.34 ± 1.02 µM and 0.83 ± 0.18 µM were obtained for [1](ClO4)2 and [2](ClO4)2, respectively. This validates their affinity towards DNA, and these insights can be further utilized for non-platinum based economical metallodrug development based on first row transition metals.

AR-V7 expression facilitates accelerated G2/M phase transition in castration-resistant prostate cancer.

The emergence of AR-V7, a truncated isoform of AR upon androgen deprivation therapy treatment, leads to the development of castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Understanding mechanisms that regulate AR-V7 expression is critical for developing newer therapeutic strategies. In this study, we have investigated the regulation of AR-V7 during cell cycle and identified a distinct pattern of periodic fluctuation, peaking during G2/M phase. This fluctuation correlates with the expression of Cdc-2 like kinase 1 (CLK1) and phosphorylated serine/arginine-rich splicing factor 1 (p-SRSF1) during these phases, pointing towards their role in AR-V7 generation. Functional assays reveal that CLK1 knockdown prolongs the S phase, leading to altered cell cycle distribution and increased accumulation of AR-V7 and pSRSF1 in G1/S phase. Conversely, CLK1 overexpression rescues AR-V7 and p-SRSF1 levels in the G2/M phase, consistent with observed cell cycle alterations upon AR-V7 knockdown and overexpression in CRPC cells. Furthermore, overexpression of kinase-deficient CLK1 mutant leads to diminished AR-V7 levels during G2/M, underlining the essential contribution of CLK1's kinase activity in modulating AR-V7 expression. Collectively, our findings, for the first time, show periodic regulation of AR-V7 expression, its effect on cell cycle progression and the critical role of CLK1-pSRSF1 axis in modulating AR-V7 expression throughout the cell cycle.

Mononuclear cobalt(II) complexes with polypyridyl ligands: Synthesis, characterization, DNA interactions and in vitro cytotoxicity towards human cancer cells.

Mononuclear cobalt(II) complexes [CoII(L1)Cl2]; 1, [CoII(L1)(bpy)Cl]PF6; 2, [CoII(L1)(phen)Cl]PF6; 3 and [CoII(L2)Cl2]; 4 (where L1 = N,N-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)aniline, L2 = (2,4,6-trimethyl-N,N-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)aniline, bpy = 2,2/-bipyridine, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) were synthesized and characterized by different analytical and spectroscopic methods. All the complexes were structurally identified by single-crystal X-ray crystallography. Penta-coordinated complex 1 adopted distorted trigonal bipyramidal and hexacoordinated complexes 2 and 3 having distorted octahedral geometry whereas tetra-coordinated complex 4 has distorted tetrahedral geometry. The interactions of salmon sperm DNA (ss-DNA) with complexes (1-4) were investigated by absorbance, fluorescence spectroscopy and molecular docking studies. All the complexes are very susceptible to DNA binding and the binding affinity (Kb) follows the order 3 (2.05 × 104 M -1) > 4 (1.40 × 104 M -1) > 2 (1.36 × 104 M -1) > 1 (1.34 × 104 M -1) indicating they have superior DNA binding ability. The Stern-Volmer constant (Ksv) ranges from 1.10 × 104 M -1 to 1.95 × 104 M -1 suggesting weak or moderate binding with DNA. DNA cleavage study in plasmid DNA reveals very efficient DNA cleavage factors even in the absence of any external agents. Using multiple biochemical assays, we have demonstrated that 1-4 induces apoptosis of human cancer cells with IC50 values of 26.48 ± 1.45 µM, 10.89 ± 0.55 µM, 7.63 ± 0.4 µM and 37.67 ± 2.06 µM, respectively in A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells and 14.45 ± 0.73 µM, 1.97 ± 0.1 µM, 0.98 ± 0.05 µM and 24.43 ± 1.22 µM, respectively in MDA-MB-231 breast adenocarcinoma cells.

Mononuclear Co(II) polypyridyl complexes: synthesis, molecular structure, DNA binding/cleavage, radical scavenging, docking studies and anticancer activities.

Mononuclear Co(II) complexes [CoII(L)Cl2]; 1, [CoII(L)(bpy)Cl]PF6; 2, [CoII(L)(phen)Cl]PF6; 3 and [CoII(L)(pic)Cl]; 4, (where L = N,N-bis(pyridin-2-ylmethyl)aniline, bpy = 2,2'-bipyridine, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline, pic = picolinic acid) were systematically synthesized and characterized by different analytical and spectroscopic methods. All the complexes were structurally identified by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Penta-coordinated complex 1 adopted a distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry, whereas hexacoordinated complexes 2-4 have distorted octahedral geometry. The interactions of salmon sperm DNA (ss-DNA) with our synthesized complexes 1-4 were investigated by absorbance and fluorescence spectroscopy. All the complexes are very susceptible to DNA binding and exhibited binding affinities (Kb) in the order of ∼104 M-1, indicating their strong interaction with ss-DNA. The Stern-Volmer constant (Ksv) ranged from 0.46 ± 0.01 × 104 to 1.08 ± 0.04 × 104 M-1, suggesting weak or moderate binding with DNA. Agarose gel electrophoresis revealed the DNA cleavage activity in vitro for 2-4, which could efficiently cleave the supercoiled plasmid DNA without any external agents; however, with the addition of H2O2, the cleavage property was enhanced. Live-cell imaging and other biochemical assays demonstrated the ability of Co(II) complexes 1-4 to induce significant cytotoxicity in A549 lung cancer cells with IC50 values of 32.14 ± 1.3 µM, 3.14 ± 0.16 µM, 15.78 ± 0.72 µM and 18.45 ± 0.92 µM, and in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells with IC50 values of 20.42 ± 0.92 µM, 0.41 ± 0.02 µM, 2.31 ± 0.12 µM and 9.67 ± 0.35 µM, respectively.