DNA Oxidation Photoinduced by Norharmane Rhenium(I) Polypyridyl Complexes: Effect of the Bidentate N,N′-Ligands on the Damage Profile

Abstract

ReI-polypyridyl complexes have interesting and distinctive photochemical and photosensitizing properties. This work describes the capability to induce (or photoinduce) DNA damage of three ReI-complexes with a naturally occurring alkaloid called norharmane (nHo) as ligand: [Re(CO)3(nHo)(L)]CF3SO3 where L=2,2′-bipyridine (ReBpy), phenanthroline (RePhen) or dipyrido[3,2-a:2′,3′-c]phenazine (ReDppz). The interaction of the complexes with DNA was investigated by steady-state and time-resolved spectroscopy. Data show that the mode and strength of interaction depend on the chemical structure of the bidentate ligand. The complexes show a major static contribution to the overall interaction, giving rise to the formation of noncovalent adducts with DNA, and the particular trend observed was RePhen>ReDppz>ReBpy. Photo-oxidation at the purine bases represents the major DNA damaging mechanism. RePhen also induces single-strand breaks in a yield similar to that of base damage, suggesting an additional photosensitizing pathway. We also performed the Ames test to evaluate the cytotoxic and mutagenic properties of both non-irradiated and photoexcited complexes. RePhen, but not the other complexes, turned out to be both toxic and phototoxic for the bacteria.