Synthesis, crystal structure, DNA binding, and DNA cleavage of a zinc complex containing N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)amine

Abstract

A water-soluble zinc complex, [Zn(bpea)Cl₂] (1) (bpea = N,N-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylamine), was prepared to serve as a nuclease mimic. The complex was characterized by X-ray, infrared, and UV spectroscopy. Interactions of the complex with calf thymus-DNA (ct-DNA) have been investigated by UV absorption and fluorescence spectroscopies; the mode of ct-DNA binding for 1 has been proposed. DNA cleavage activities by 1 were performed in the absence of external agents. The influences of different complex concentrations or reaction times on DNA cleavage were studied.

Keywords:

• Zinc complex
• Artificial nuclease
• DNA binding
• DNA cleavage

Acknowledgments

Financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 21001066), the PhD Science Foundation of Tianjin Normal University (Grant No. 52LX28), and the Education Science Foundation of Tianjin City (Grant No. 20070606) are gratefully acknowledged.