Unlike cisplatin, which forms bifunctional DNA adducts, monofunctional platinum(II) complexes bind only one strand of DNA and might target cancer without causing auditory side-effects associated with cisplatin treatment. We synthesized the monofunctional triamine-ligated platinum(II) complexes, Pt(diethylenetriamine)Cl, [Pt(dien)Cl]+, and Pt(N,N-diethyldiethylenetriamine)Cl, [Pt(Et2dien)Cl]+, a...

Our aim was to determine whether a single transplatin monofunctional adduct, either trans-[Pt(NH3)2(dC)Cl]+ or trans-[Pt(NH3)2(dG)Cl]+ within a homopyrimidine oligonucleotide, could further react and form an interstrand cross-link once the platinated oligonucleotide was bound to the complementary duplex. The single monofunctional adduct was located at either the 5' end or in the middle of the p...

We have previously shown that orotate phosphoribosyltransferase (OPRT) and orotidine 5'-monophosphate decarboxylase (OMPDC) in human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum form an enzyme complex, containing two subunits each of OPRT and OMPDC. To enable further characterization, we expressed and purified P. falciparum OPRT-OMPDC enzyme complex in Escherichia coli. The OPRT and OMPDC activities ...

A novel class of DNA cleavage agents are reported that derive activity from amino acids tethered to a photoactive intercalator.

The free radical scavengers, dimethyl sulfoxide (Me2SO) and thiourea, were used to assess the role of free radicals in the production of intercalator-induced DNA breaks and cytotoxicity in mouse leukemia L1210 cells. Both agents decreased X-ray break production, and this decrease was comparable in magnitude to the degree of inhibition of X-ray-induced cell killing. By contrast, Me2SO increased ...

The purpose of this work was to study the chemical reactivity of monofunctional cis-platinum-nucleic acid adducts as a function of nucleic acid sequence. The first part of the paper deals with the formation of these adducts. It is shown that the ternary nucleic acid-cis-platinum-ethidium bromide complexes in which ethidium bromide and nucleotide residues are cross-linked by cis-platinum, are re...

The synthesis and triplex stabilizing properties of oligodeoxyribonucleotides functionalized at the 5'- and/or 3'-termini with a naphthalene diimide-based (NDI) intercalator is described. The NDI intercalator was prepared in a single step from the corresponding dianhydride and was attached to the 5'-terminus of an oligodeoxyribonucleotide following a reverse coupling procedure. The DMT protecti...

DNA is a major target of anticancer drugs. The resulting adducts interfere with key cellular processes, such as transcription, to trigger downstream events responsible for drug activity. cis-Diammine(pyridine)chloroplatinum(II), cDPCP or pyriplatin, is a monofunctional platinum(II) analogue of the widely used anticancer drug cisplatin having significant anticancer properties with a different sp...

Using calmodulin antagonism as a model, it is demonstrated that, under circumstances in which binding sites are motionally independent, it is possible to create bifunctional ligands that bind with significant affinity enhancement over their monofunctional counterparts. Suitable head groups were identified by using a semiquantitative screen of monofunctional tryptophan analogs. Two bifunctional ...

Ceftizoxime (CZX), a parenteral cephalosporin, has potent and broad antibacterial activity. To improve its oral absorption, we synthesized a series of monofunctional and bifunctional prodrugs of CZX. In rabbits, urinary recovery after oral administration of CZX was improved by esterification of the carboxyl group at the C-4 position with various lipophilic moieties (monofunctional prodrugs), an...