dsDNA-electrochemical Biosensor Research Articles

In situ Electrochemical Evaluation of the Interaction of dsDNA with the Proteasome Inhibitor Anticancer Drug Bortezomib

Bortezomib is an inhibitor of proteasomes and an anti-cancer drug. Although bortezomib is considered a safe drug, as confirmed by cytotoxicity assays, recent reports highlighted the possibility of interaction between bortezomib and cellular components, with detrimental long-term effects. The evaluation of the interaction between bortezomib and dsDNA was investigated in bulk solution and using a dsDNA electrochemical biosensor. The binding of bortezomib to dsDNA involved its electroactive centers and led to small morphological modifications in the dsDNA double helix, which were electrochemically identified through changes in the guanine and adenine residue oxidation peaks and confirmed by electrophoretic and spectrophotometric measurements. The redox product of bortezomib amino group oxidation was electrochemically generated in situ on the surface of the dsDNA electrochemical biosensor. The redox product of bortezomib was shown to interact primarily with guanine residues, preventing their oxidation and leading to the formation of bortezomib-guanine adducts, which was confirmed by control experiments with polyhomonucleotides electrochemical biosensors and mass spectrometry. An interaction mechanism between dsDNA and bortezomib is proposed, and the formation of the bortezomib redox product-guanine adduct explained.

Electrochemical characterization of shikonin and in-situ evaluation of interaction with DNA

• Shikonin, a natural compound with pharmaceutical properties; • Shikonin reduction results in semiquinone radical and superoxide; • Shikonin induces DNA conformational modification. • In-situ shikonin reduction leads to occurrence 8-oxo-guanine. • Shikonin-DNA interaction mechanism proposed. Shikonin, a natural compound with pharmaceutical properties, has attracted interest due to its anti-oxidant properties, potential anti-cancer activity and activity over several biological pathways, such as dsDNA transcription/replication of cancer cells and inhibition of pyruvate kinase M2. The electrochemical behavior of shikonin in aqueous media was investigated at glassy carbon electrodes by cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry. The reduction involves the quinone moiety and formation of a semiquinone intermediate. In the absence of dissolved oxygen, the reduction is reversible while in normal atmosphere leads to formation of superoxide cation. The oxidation occurs at the dihydroxy moiety and reversibility was only observed in acid electrolytes. A redox mechanism was proposed. The interaction between shikonin and ds DNA was evaluated in incubated solutions and in situ with the dsDNA-electrochemical biosensor. The mechanism of interaction is time-dependent and follows an initial binding step at the grooves of the double strand leading to conformational modifications recognized through the variation of guanine and adenine oxidation peaks. The in-situ electrochemical production of the semiquinone intermediate leads to a preferential interaction with guanine residues, promoting their oxidation and consequently occurrence 8-oxo-guanine. An interaction mechanism was proposed.

An electrochemical study of 9-chloroacridine redox behavior and its interaction with double-stranded DNA

The electrochemical behavior of 9-chloroacridine (9Cl-A), a precursor molecule for synthesis of acridine derivatives with cytostatic activity, is a complex, pH-dependent, diffusion-controlled irreversible process. Oxidation of 9Cl-A initiates with the formation of a cation radical monomer, continues via the formation of a dimer subsequent oxidation to new cation radical. Reduction of 9Cl-A produces radical monomers which are stabilized by dimer formation. The investigation was performed using cyclic, differential pulse and square wave voltammetry at a glassy carbon electrode. The interaction between 9Cl-A and double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) was investigated using a multilayer dsDNA-electrochemical biosensor and 9Cl-A solutions from 1.0×10-7M (the lowest 9Cl-A concentration whose interaction with DNA was possible to detect) up to 1×10-4M. These allowed the binding constant, K=3.45×105M-1 and change in Gibbs free energy of the formed adsorbed complex to be calculated. Complex formation was a spontaneous process proceeding via 9Cl-A intercalation into dsDNA inducing structural changes. The intercalation of 9Cl-A into dsDNA was supported by molecular docking analysis.The combination of simple methodology and the use of biosensors to investigate DNA interactions is a powerful tool to offer insight into aspects of drug design during pharmaceutical development.

Electrochemical, spectroscopic and molecular docking studies on the interaction of calcium channel blockers with dsDNA

This study presents evaluation of the possible interaction mechanism between calf thymus dsDNA and three calcium antagonists; nifedipine, lercanidipine and amlodipine. The interactions between Nifedipine-dsDNA and Lercanidipine-dsDNA were investigated by differential pulse voltammetry using two different interaction methods; at the dsDNA-electrochemical biosensor surface and in bulk incubated solution. Amlodipine was used as model drug in bulk incubated solution. The decrease in the peak current of guanine and adenine were used as an indicator for confirmation of the interaction event in acetate buffer of pH 4.70. In bulk incubated solution, after interaction with Nifedipine and Amlodipine the guanine signal was almost disappeared. At the dsDNA modified glassy carbon electrode surface, the peak currents of guanine and adenine were decreased while Nifedipine and Lercanidipine interacts with DNA. The interactions between Nifedipine-dsDNA and Lercanidipine-dsDNA were further studied by UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy which indicates the intermolecular interaction between these drugs and ds-DNA can be mainly through hydrogen bonding and van der Waals forces. Molecular docking calculations shown that the AMP-1-2, NDP and LDP-1-2-ctDNA having groove binding. Beside spectral data, docking studies elicited that AMP-1-2, NDP and LDP-1-2 complexes have different interaction and conformation trends to target (ctDNA).

Electrochemistry Study of Antineoplastic Raltitrexed Oxidation Mechanism and its Interaction with DNA

AbstractRaltitrexede (RTX) is a folate analogue that belongs to the antimetabolites family and has antineoplastic activity correlated to inhibition of the thymidylate synthase (TS) enzyme. This study addresses the electrochemical characterization of RTX at a glassy carbon electrode, on a wide interval of pH, using voltammetric techniques. The interaction between RTX and double helix DNA (dsDNA) in physiological medium is also addressed, using a DNA‐electrochemical biosensor. A mechanism for the electrochemical oxidation of RTX is proposed. RTX is irreversibly electroxidized under a predominantly diffusion controlled and pH‐dependent process. The oxidation process in acid and physiological media occurs in two consecutive steps. The first oxidation step is pH‐independent and associated with the transfer of one electron of the nitro group at N10 position by releasing a methyl cation. The second oxidation step is pH‐dependent and occurs with the transfer of one electron and one proton from the carbon at C9 position, followed by a direct attack by a water molecule leading to an irreversible dissociation of an oxidation product of RTX. A strong interaction between RTX and dsDNA was revealed by using a multilayer dsDNA electrochemical biosensor. The experiments demonstrated that RTX interacts and binds to the dsDNA helix by different interaction modes, suggesting an intercalation in between the DNA base pairs leading to defects in its secondary structure.

Electrochemical oxidation of the antitumor antibiotic mitomycin C and in situ evaluation of its interaction with DNA using a DNA-electrochemical biosensor

The electrochemical behaviour of the antitumor drug mitomycin C (MMC) was investigated on carbon paste electrode over a wide pH range and using voltammetric techniques. The MMC undergoes diffusion-controlled irreversible oxidation in two different processes, one pH-independent for 2.2˂pH˂4.5 and one pH-dependent for 4.5˂pH˂12.0, and does not involve the formation of any electroactive oxidation product. Upon incubation in different pH electrolytes, chemical degradation of MMC was electrochemically detected by the appearance of a new oxidation peak at a lower potential. The chemically degraded MMC undergoes an irreversible, pH-dependent oxidation for 3.4˂pH˂5.4, and its redox products are reversibly oxidised. The spontaneous degradation of MMC in aqueous solution was confirmed by UV–Vis spectrophotometry. Moreover, a multilayer dsDNA-electrochemical biosensor was used to evaluate the interaction between MMC and DNA. The results have clearly proven that MMC interacts and binds to dsDNA strands immobilized onto a glassy carbon electrode surface and its metabolite(s) cause oxidative damage to DNA.

In situ electrochemical evaluation of dsDNA interaction with the anticancer drug danusertib nitrenium radical product using the DNA-electrochemical biosensor

Danusertib is a kinase inhibitor and anti-cancer drug. The evaluation of the interaction between danusertib and dsDNA was investigated in bulk solution and using the dsDNA-electrochemical biosensor. The dsDNA–danusertib interaction occurs in two sequential steps. First, danusertib binds electrostatically todsDNA phosphate backbone through the positively charged piperazine moiety. The second step involved the pyrrolo-pyrazolemoiety and led to small morphological modifications in the dsDNA double helix which were electrochemically characterised through the changes of guanine and adenine residue oxidation peaks and confirmed by electrophoretic and spectrophotometric measurements. The nitrenium cation radical product of danusertib amino group oxidation was electrochemically generated in situ on the dsDNA-electrochemical biosensor surface. The danusertib nitrenium cation radical redox metabolite was covalently attached to the C8 of guanine residues preventing their oxidation. An interaction mechanism of dsDNA–danusertib is proposed and the formation of the danusertib redox nitrenium radical metabolite-guanine adduct explained.

In situ dsDNA-bevacizumab anticancer monoclonal antibody interaction electrochemical evaluation

The interaction of the anticancer monoclonal antibody bevacizumab (BEVA) with double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) was studied by voltammetry and gel-electrophoresis in incubated samples and using the dsDNA-electrochemical biosensor. The voltammetric results revealed a decrease and disappearance of the dsDNA oxidation peaks with increasing incubation time, showing that BEVA binds to the dsDNA but no DNA oxidative damage was detected electrochemically. Non denaturing agarose gel-electrophoresis experiments were in agreement with the voltammetric results showing the formation of compact BEVA-dsDNA adduct. The dsDNA-electrochemical biosensor in incubated solutions showed that BEVA also undergoes structural modification upon binding dsDNA, and BEVA electroactive amino acid residues oxidation peaks were detected.

Triazole-linked phenyl derivatives: Redox mechanisms and in situ electrochemical evaluation of interaction with dsDNA

The redox mechanism of two trisubstituted triazole-linked phenyl derivatives (CL41 and CL42) and a disubstituted triazole-linked phenyl derivative (CL2r50) were studied using cyclic, differential pulse and square wave voltammetry at a glassy carbon electrode. The CL41, CL42 and CL2r50 oxidation is a complex, pH-dependent irreversible process involving the formation of electroactive products that undergo two consecutive reversible oxidation reactions. The DNA interaction with CL41, CL42 and CL2r50 was investigated by differential pulse voltammetry using the dsDNA-electrochemical biosensor and in DNA/trisubstituted triazole incubated solutions. All three trisubstituted triazole-linked phenyl derivatives interacted with dsDNA causing morphological and oxidative damage to the dsDNA structure in a time-dependent manner. The DNA-electrochemical biosensor enabled the detection of oxidative damage to DNA following the occurrence of the 8-oxoGua and/or 2,8-oxoAde oxidation peaks.

Label-free electrochemical impedance biosensor for sequence-specific recognition of double-stranded DNA

A simple and label-free DNA electrochemical impedance biosensor has been developed for the sequence-specific recognition of double-stranded DNA (ds-DNA). The probe triplex-forming oligonucleotide (TFO) is immobilized on the gold electrode through Au–S interaction. In the presence of the target ds-DNA, the probe TFO interacted with the bases in the major groove of the ds-DNA to form a rigid triplex structure via Hoogsteen hydrogen bonds, leading to an increase of the electron-transfer resistance. It is found that the change of impedance has a linear relationship with the concentration of the target in the range of 0.1–40 nmol L−1, and the detection limit is as low as 0.04 nmol L−1 (S/N = 3).

In situ electrochemical evaluation of anticancer drug temozolomide and its metabolites–DNA interaction

Temozolomide (TMZ) is an antineoplastic alkylating agent with activity against serious and aggressive types of brain tumours. It has been postulated that TMZ exerts its antitumor activity via its spontaneous degradation at physiological pH. The in vitro evaluation of the interaction of TMZ and its final metabolites, 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide (AIC) and methyldiazonium ion, with double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) was studied using differential pulse voltammetry at a glassy carbon electrode. The DNA damage was electrochemically detected following the changes in the oxidation peaks of guanosine and adenosine residues. The results obtained revealed the decrease of the dsDNA oxidation peaks with incubation time, showing that TMZ and AIC/methyldiazonium ion interact with dsDNA causing its condensation. Furthermore, the experiments of the in situ TMZ and AIC/methyldiazonium ion-dsDNA interaction using the multilayer dsDNA-electrochemical biosensor confirmed the condensation of dsDNA caused by these species and showed evidence for a specific interaction between the guanosine residues and TMZ metabolites, since free guanine oxidation peak was detected. The oxidative damage caused to DNA bases by TMZ metabolites was also detected electrochemically by monitoring the appearance of the 8-oxoguanine/2,8-dyhydroxyadenine oxidation peaks. Nondenaturing agarose gel electrophoresis of AIC/methyldiazonium ion-dsDNA samples confirmed the occurrence of dsDNA condensation and oxidative damage observed in the electrochemical results. The importance of the dsDNA-electrochemical biosensor in the in situ evaluation of TMZ-dsDNA interactions is clearly demonstrated.

In Situ DNA Oxidative Damage by Electrochemically Generated Hydroxyl Free Radicals on a Boron-Doped Diamond Electrode

In situ DNA oxidative damage by electrochemically generated hydroxyl free radicals has been directly demonstrated on a boron-doped diamond electrode. The DNA-electrochemical biosensor incorporates immobilized double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) as molecular recognition element on the electrode surface, and measures in situ specific binding processes with dsDNA, as it is a complementary tool for the study of bimolecular interaction mechanisms of compounds binding to DNA and enabling the screening and evaluation of the effect caused to DNA by radicals and health hazardous compounds. Oxidants, particularly reactive oxygen species (ROS), play an important role in dsDNA oxidative damage which is strongly related to mutagenesis, carcinogenesis, autoimmune inflammatory, and neurodegenerative diseases. The hydroxyl radical is considered the main contributing ROS to endogenous oxidation of cellular dsDNA causing double-stranded and single-stranded breaks, free bases, and 8-oxoguanine occurrence. The dsDNA-electrochemical biosensor was used to study the interaction between dsDNA immobilized on a boron-doped diamond electrode surface and in situ electrochemically generate hydroxyl radicals. Non-denaturing agarose gel-electrophoresis of the dsDNA films on the electrode surface after interaction with the electrochemically generated hydroxyl radicals clearly showed the occurrence of in situ dsDNA oxidative damage. The importance of the dsDNA-electrochemical biosensor in the evaluation of the dsDNA-hydroxyl radical interactions is clearly demonstrated.

Nucleoside analogue electrochemical behaviour and in situ evaluation of DNA–clofarabine interaction

Nucleoside analogues have had a substantial impact on the treatment of cancer, especially haematological malignancies. The electrochemical behaviour of the nucleoside analogue clofarabine (CLF) was investigated at a glassy carbon electrode using cyclic, differential pulse and square wave voltammetry in different pH supporting electrolytes. The oxidation process of CLF is irreversible and pH-dependent with transfer of two protons and two electrons, following a diffusion controlled mechanism. The oxidation mechanism of CLF involves deprotonation and leads to the formation of a hydroxylated species that undergoes reversible redox reactions. The interaction of DNA and the antileukemia drug CLF was investigated using a dsDNA–electrochemical biosensor in incubated solutions by differential pulse voltammetry. The CLF–DNA interaction leads to changes in the DNA morphological structure, confirmed using the purinic homo-polynucleotide single stranded sequences of guanosine and adenosine, poly[G] and poly[A]-electrochemical biosensors.

In situ evaluation of heavy metal–DNA interactions using an electrochemical DNA biosensor

Heavy metal ions, lead, cadmium and nickel, are well known carcinogens with natural different origins and their direct mode of action is still not fully understood. A dsDNA-electrochemical biosensor, employing differential pulse voltammetry, was used for the in situ evaluation of Pb 2+, Cd 2+ and Ni 2+ interaction with dsDNA. The results confirm that Pb 2+, Cd 2+ and Ni 2+ bind to dsDNA, and that this interaction leads to different modifications in the dsDNA structure. These modifications were electrochemically recognized as changes in the oxidation peaks of guanosine and adenosine bases. Using homopolynucleotides of guanine and adenine it has been proved that the interaction between Pb 2+ and DNA causes oxidative damage and preferentially takes place at adenine-containing segments, with the formation of 2,8-dihydroxyadenine, the oxidation product of adenine residues and a biomarker of DNA oxidative damage. The Pb 2+ bound to dsDNA can still undergo oxidation. The interaction of Cd 2+ and Ni 2+ causes conformational changes, destabilizing the double helix, which can enable the action of other oxidative agents on DNA.