Ni(II) chelated peptides of the form NH2-Xaa-Xaa-His-CONH2 (Ni(II)·Xaa-Xaa-His) mediate deoxyribose damage through C4‘−H abstraction of a targeted nucleotide when activated with KHSO5 (oxone), MMPP (magnesium monoperoxyphthalate), or H2O2. The products released and identified in comparison to the authentic C4‘−H oxidant Fe(II)·bleomycin included fragmented DNA terminating in 5‘-phosphates, 3‘-phosphates, and 3‘-phosphoglycolates; upon treatment of Ni(II)·Xaa-Xaa-His cleavage reactions with NaOH or NH2NH2, fragmented DNA 3‘-termini were released consistent with the intermediate formation of keto-aldehyde abasic (alkaline-labile) sites. In addition, nucleobases and nucleobase propenals were detected in proportions consistent with abasic site and 3‘-phosphoglycolate termini formation, respectively. These results indicate that Ni(II)·Xaa-Xaa-His metallopeptides, like Fe(II)·bleomycin, degrade DNA through two pathways resulting from an initial C4‘−H modification. Importantly, the partitioning between these two...
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