Spectroscopic and Molecular Modeling Based Approaches to Study on the Binding Behavior of DNA with a Copper (II) Complex

Blocking the division of tumor cells by small-molecules is currently of great interest for the design of new antitumor drugs. The interaction of a new metal complex with DNA was investigated through several techniques. Absorption spectroscopy and gel electrophoresis studies on the interaction of the Cu-complex of (2a-4mpyH)(2) [Cu(pyzdc)(2) (H2O)(2)].6 H2O with DNA have shown that this complex can bind to CT-DNA with binding constant 3.99 x 10(5) M-1. The cyclic voltammetry (CV) responses of the metal complex in the presence of CT-DNA have shown that the metal complex can bind to CT-DNA through partial intercalation mode and this is consistent with molecular docking analysis, quenching process and thermal denaturation experiments. The cytotoxicity of this complex has been evaluated by MTT assay. The results of cell viability assay on DU145 cell line revealed that the metal complex had cytotoxic effects.