A 1:2 Copper(II)-Tripeptide Complex for DNA Binding and Cleavage Agent under Physiological Conditions

A 1:2 copper-tripeptide complex, [Cu-II(Boc-His-Gly-His-OMe)(2)](2+), was synthesized and structurally characterized. The absorption band at 577 nm suggests a square-planar geometry around Cu-II. The DNA-binding and DNA-cleavage properties of the Cull complex were investigated. The complex binds to calf thymus DNA (CT DNA) in an intercalative fashion and cleaves plasmid pUC-19 DNA hydrolytically at micromolar concentrations under physiological conditions. The intrinsic binding constant (K-b=1.2 X 10(2) M-1) for the binding of Cu-tripeptide complex with DNA suggests that this complex is suitable for rapid diffusion on the pharmacological time scale.