DNA-DNA cross-linking mediated by bifunctional [SalenAlIII]+ complex

The aluminum (III) complex [SalenAlIII]Cl (1), (Salen = (R,R)-N,N′-bis[5-methyl-3-(4-methylpiperazinyl)-salicylidene]-1,2-diphenylethanediamine) has been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR, 1H and 13C NMR measurements. The interaction of complex (1) with calf thymus (CT) DNA has been studied extensively by experimental techniques. Thermal denaturation study of DNA with (1) revealed the ΔTm of 5 ± 0.2 °C. Viscosity and steady-state fluorescence measurements showed that the complex cross-links DNA and the metal center is interacting with DNA during the cross-linking. Also, the phenyl ring in the complex may intercalate between the base pairs of the DNA during the cross-linking. Competitive binding study shows that the enhanced emission intensity of ethidium bromide (EB) in the presence of DNA was quenched by the addition of the metal complex indicating that it displaces EB from its binding site in DNA and the apparent binding constant has been estimated to be (2.8 ± 0.2) × 105 M− 1. Further, time-resolved fluorescence experiments confirm the binding of (1) with DNA and its cross-linking nature. Aluminum ions shown to precipitate DNA completely above the pH 6.0, but no such precipitation was observed with complex (1). The DNA-DNA cross-linking mediated by (1) is further confirmed by gel electrophoresis.