Induction of a four-way junction structure in the DNA palindromic hexanucleotide 5 '-d(CGTACG)-3 ' by a mononuclear platinum complex

Rixel, V.H.S. van; Busemann, A.; Wissingh, M.F.; Hopkins, S.L.; Siewert, B.; Griend, C. van de; ... ; Bonnet, S.A. (2019)

Article / Letter to editor

Four-way junctions (4WJs) are supramolecular DNA assemblies comprising four interacting DNA strands that in biology are involved in DNA-damage repair. In this study, a new mononuclear platinum(II) complex 1 was prepared that is capable of driving the crystallization of the DNA oligomer 5 '-d(CGTACG)-3 ' specifically into a 4WJ-like motif. In the crystal structure of the 1-CGTACG adduct, the distorted-square-planar platinum complex binds to the core of the 4WJ-like motif through pi-pi stacking and hydrogen bonding, without forming any platinum-nitrogen coordination bonds. Our observations suggest that the specific molecular properties of the metal complex are crucially responsible for triggering the selective assembly of this peculiar DNA superstructure.

• hydrogen bonding
• metallodrugs
• nucleic acids
• platinum
• supramolecular chemistry

• All authors: Rixel, V.H.S. van; Busemann, A.; Wissingh, M.F.; Hopkins, S.L.; Siewert, B.; Griend, C. van de; Siegler, M.A.; Marzo, T.; Papi, F.; Ferraroni, M.; Gratteri, P.; Bazzicalupi, C.; Messori, L.; Bonnet, S.A.
• Date: 2019-05-02
• Journal: Angewandte Chemie International Edition
• Volume: 58
• Issue: 28
• Pages: 9378 - 9382
• DOI: doi:10.1002/anie.201814532