Abstract
A series of adenine–copper complexes (
1–
6) with various ligands (Cl
−, SCN
−, BF
4
− and acac [acetylacetonate ion]) have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy and thermal analysis. Among the six complexes only complex (
1), Cu
2(adenine)
4Cl
4·2EtOH (abbreviated as Cu–Ad), demonstrated some toxic effect on different cell lines.
In vitro investigations of the biological effect of Cu–Ad complex have shown that it: (1) binds genomic DNA; (2) decreases significantly, the viability of cells in culture in a concentration (15–125
μM)-dependant manner; an estimated IC
50 of: 45
μM with HepG2; 73
μM with C2C12; 103
μM with NIH3T3; and 108
μM with MCF7. Cu–Ad had no effect on A549 cells; (3) inhibits Taq polymerase-catalyzed reaction; (4) inhibits the binding of the transcription factor GATA-5 to labeled DNA probes; (5) inhibits mitochondrial NADH-UQ-reductase with an estimated IC
50 of 2.8
nmol, but had no effect on succinate dehydrogenase activity; (6) increases reactive oxygen species (60%) at 45
μM Cu–Ad; and (7) decreases ATP (80%) at 50
μM Cu–Ad. The new compound Cu
2(adenine)
4Cl
4·2EtOH (Cu–Ad), belongs to a class of copper–adenylate complexes that target many biochemical sites and with potential anti-cancer activity.