Isothiocyanate l−argininato copper(II) complexes – Solution structure, DNA interaction, anticancer and antimicrobial activity. (1st October 2021) - Wojciechowska, Agnieszka
Abstract: l −argininato copper(II) complexes have been intensively investigated in a variety of diseases due to their therapeutic potential. Here we report the results of comprehensive structural studies (ESI−MS, NIR−VIS−UV, EPR) on the complexes arising in aqueous solutions of two ternary copper(II) complexes with molecular formulas from crystal structures, [Cu(l −Arg)2 (NCS)](NCS)·H2 O (1 ) and [Cu(l −Arg)(NCS)2 ] (2 ) (l −Arg = l −arginine). Reference systems, the ternary Cu(II)/l −Arg/NCS − as well as binary Cu(II)/NCS − and Cu(II)/l −Arg, were studied in parallel in aqueous solutions by pH−potentiometric titration, EPR and VIS spectroscopy to characterize stability, structures and speciation of the formed species over the broad pH range. Comparative analysis of the obtained results showed that at a pH close to 7.0 mononuclear [Cu(l −Arg)2 (NCS)] + is the only species in water solution of 1, while equilibrium between [Cu(l −Arg)(SCN)] + and binary [Cu(l −Arg)2 ] 2+ was detected in water solution of 2 . According to DNA binding studies, the [Cu(l −Arg)2 (NCS)] +, [Cu(l −Arg)(SCN)] + and [Cu(l −Arg)2 ] 2+ species could be considered as strong minor groove binding agents causing, in the presence of H2 O2, the involvement of ROS in plasmid damage. The human carcinoma cells (A549 cell line) were generally significantly more sensitive to cytotoxic and antiproliferative effect of compounds 1 and 2 than human normal cells. The studied compounds shown antimicrobial activity against bacteria belonging to Enterobacteriaceae family. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: The solution equilibria after dissolution of crystalline [Cu(l −Arg)2 (NCS)](NCS)·H2 O (1 ) and [Cu(l −Arg)(NSC)2 ] (2 ) are identified. The Cu(II) complexes interact with CT DNA via strong groove binding that cause its conformational changes. The mechanism of plasmid degradation by ROS produced by H2 O2 in the presence of Cu(II) complexes is assessed. The complexes 1 and 2 exhibit a selective anticancer and antibacterial activity.