DNA Mediated Energy Transfer from 4',6-Diamidino-2-phenylindole to Ru(II)[(1,10-phenanthroline)2L]2+ : Effect of Ligand Structure

It was proposed that Ru(II)[(1,10-phenanthroline)$_2$dipyrido[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine ([Ru(phen)$_2$DPPZ]$^{2+}$)complexes and 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) simultaneously bind to poly[d(A-T)$_2$] (Biophysics. J. 2003, 85, 3865). Förster type resonance energy transfer from excited DAPI to [Ru(phen)2DPPZ]$^{2+}$ complexes was observed. In this study, we synthesized $\Delta$- and $\wedge$-[Ru(phenanthroline)$_2$dipyrido[3,2-a:2’3’c]6-azaphenazine] ([Ru(phen)$_2$DPAPZ]$^{2+}$) at which the DNA intercalating ligand DPPZ was replaced and we studied its binding properties to poly[d(A-T)$_2$] in the presence and absence of DAPI using polarized spectroscopy and fluorescence techniques. All the spectroscopic properties of the [Ru(phen)$_2$DPAPZ]$^{2+}$-poly[d(A-T)$_2$] complex were the same in the presence and absence of DAPI that blocks the minor groove of polynucleotide, suggesting both $\Delta$- and $\wedge$-[Ru(phen)$_2$DPAPZ]$^{2+}$ complexes are located at the major groove of poly[d(A-T)2]. On the other hand, in contrast with [Ru(phen)$_2$DPPZ]$^{2+}$, both $\Delta$- and $\wedge$-[Ru(phen)$_2$DPAPZ]$^{2+}$ exhibited almost twice the efficiency in the fluorescence quenching of DAPI that binds at the minor groove of poly[d(A-T)$_2$]. This observation indicates that the efficiency of the Förster type resonance energy transfer can be controlled by a small change in the chemical structure of the intercalated ligand.