EVALUATION OF DNA CLEAVAGE AND BINDING ACTIVITIES OF A PYRIDINE-CONTAINING CYCLOPHOSPHAZENE LIGAND

Phosphazenes are a class of chemical compounds characterized by -N=PX2- repeating units, in which the phosphorus atom is covalently bonded to a nitrogen atom by a double bond and to two additional substituents by single bonds. These units can assemble into cyclic or linear chain architectures, forming one of the most distinctive classes of inorganic molecules. Compounds formed by the repetition of this group in the molecule, which can be in ring or straight chain structure, constitute one of the most remarkable classes of inorganic molecules. In this study, it was aimed to determine the DNA cleavage and binding activity of a previously synthesized and structurally elucidated cyclophosphazene compound containing pyridine. It was determined that cyclophosphazene ligand was hydrolytic and oxidative cleavage effects on pBR322 plasmid DNA. Furthermore, the changes in absorbance of the ligand upon increasing DNA concentrations were analyzed by UV-Vis spectroscopy, and it was determined that the compound binds to Calf Thymus DNA (CT-DNA) via intercalation. These findings demonstrate that the pyridine-containing cyclophosphazene ligand exhibits measurable DNA binding and DNA cleavage activity, thus providing a basis for further studies on its biological properties.