The polyamines spermidine and spermine retard the platination rate of single-stranded DNA oligomers and plasmids.

The presence of polyamines in living cells is crucial for survival. Due to their high net charge at physiological pH, polyamines effectively charge neutralize the phosphodiester backbone of DNA in an interaction that also may protect the DNA from external damage. We here present a study illustrating the influence of spermidine and spermine on the platination reactions of the model oligonucleotides d(T(6)GT(6)), d(T(12)GT(12)), and d(T(24)GT(24)), and the pUC18 DNA plasmid. The aquated forms of the anticancer active compounds cisplatin (cis-[Pt(NH(3))(2)Cl(2)]) and the major Pt(II) metabolite of JM216 (cis-[PtCl(2)(NH(3))(c-C(6)H(11)NH(2))], JM118) were used as platination reagents. The study shows that the kinetics for formation of the coordinative Pt-DNA adduct are strongly influenced by the presence of sub-millimolar polyamine concentrations. At polyamine concentrations in the muM-range, the reactions remain salt-dependent. In contrast, platination of pUC18 is effectively prevented at mM concentrations of both spermidine and spermine with the latter as the more potent inhibitor. The results suggest that variations of intracellular polyamine concentrations may have a profound influence on the efficacy by which cationically charged reagents interfere with DNA function in vivo by modulation of the preassociation conditions.

Kinetics and mechanism of acid-catalyzed oxidation of bromide ions by the aqueous chromyl(IV) ion.

The reaction between the aqueous chromyl ion, CraqO2+, and Br- is acid-catalyzed and generates Br2. Kinetic studies that utilized a superoxochromium ion, CraqOO2+, as a kinetic probe yielded a mixed third-order rate law, -d[CraqO2+]/dt=k[CraqO2+][Br-][H+], where k=608+/-11 M-2 s-1. Experimental data strongly favor a one-electron mechanism, but the reaction is much faster than predicted on the basis of the reduction potential for the Br*/Br- couple. The reduction of CraqO2+ by transition-metal complexes, on the other hand, exhibits "normal" behavior, that is, k=(1.37x10(3)+1.94x10(3) [H+]) M-1 s-1 for Os(1,10-tris-phenanthroline)(3)2+ and <10 M-1 s-1 for Ru(2,2'-bipyridine)3(2+) at 0.1 M H+. The reduction of CraqOO2+ by Br2*- takes place with a rate constant k=(1.23+/-0.20)x10(9) M-1 s-1, as determined by laser-flash photolysis.

Catalytic and direct oxidation of cysteine by octacyanomolybdate(V).

The oxidation of cysteine by [Mo(CN)(8)](3-) in deoxygenated aqueous solution at a moderate pH is strongly catalyzed by Cu(2+), to the degree that impurity levels of Cu(2+) are sufficient to dominate the reaction. Dipicolinic acid (dipic) is a very effective inhibitor of this catalysis, such that with 1 mM dipic, the direct oxidation can be studied. UV-vis spectra and electrochemistry show that [Mo(CN)(8)](4-) is the Mo-containing product. Cystine and cysteinesulfinate are the predominant cysteine oxidation products. The stoichiometric ratio (Deltan(Mo(V))/Deltan(cysteine)) of 1.4 at pH 10.8 is consistent with this product distribution. At pH 1.5, the reaction is quite slow and yields intractable kinetics. At pH 4.5, the rates are much faster and deviate only slightly from pseudo-first-order behavior. With 2 mM PBN (N-phenyl-tert-butyl nitrone) present at pH 4.5, the reaction rate is about 20% less and shows excellent pseudo-first-order behavior, but the stoichiometric ratio is not significantly changed. The rates also display a significant specific cation effect. In the presence of spin-trap PBN, the kinetics were studied over the pH range 3.48-12.28, with [Na(+)] maintained at 0.09-0.10 M. The rate law is -d[Mo(V)]/dt = k[cysteine](tot)[Mo(V)], with k = {2(k(b)K(a1)K(a2)[H(+)] + k(c)K(a1)K(a2)K(a3))}/([H(+)](3) + K(a1)[H(+)](2) + K(a1)K(a2)[H(+)] + K(a1)K(a2)K(a3)), where K(a1), K(a2), and K(a3) are the successive acid dissociation constants of HSCH(2)CH(NH(3)(+))CO(2)H. Least-squares fitting yields k(b) = (7.1 +/- 0.4) x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1) and k(c) = (2.3 +/-0.2) x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1) at mu = 0.1 M (NaCF(3)SO(3)) and 25 degrees C. A mechanism is inferred in which k(b) and k(c) correspond to electron transfer to Mo(V) from the thiolate forms of anionic and dianionic cysteine.

Oxidation of thioglycolate by [Os(phen)3]3+: an unusual example of redox-mediated aromatic substitution.

The aqueous oxidation of thioglycolic acid (TGA) by [Os(phen)(3)](3+) (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) is catalyzed by traces of ubiquitous Cu(2+) and inhibited by the product [Os(phen)(3)](2+). In the presence of dipicolinic acid (dipic), which thoroughly masks trace Cu(2+) catalysis, and spin trap PBN, the kinetics under anaerobic conditions have been studied in the pH range 1.82-7.32. The rate law is -d[Os(phen)(3)(3+)]/dt = k[TGA](tot)[Os(phen)(3)(3+)], with k = 2{(k(b)K(a1) + k(c)K(a1)K(i))[H(+)] + k(d)K(a1)K(a2)}/{[H(+)](2) + K(a1)[H(+)] + K(a1)K(a2)}; K(a1) and K(a2) are the successive acid dissociation constants of TGA, and K(i) is the tautomerization constant of two TGA monoanions. k(b) + k(c)K(i) = (5.9 +/- 0.3) x 10(3) M(-)(1) s(-)(1), k(d) = (1.6 +/- 0.1) x 10(9) M(-)(1) s(-)(1) at mu = 0.1 M (NaCF(3)SO(3)) and 25 degrees C. The major products in the absence of spin traps are dithiodiglycolic acid, [Os(phen)(3)](2+), and [Os(phen)(2)(phen-tga)](2+), where phen-tga is phenanthroline with a TGA substituent. A mechanism is proposed in which neutral TGA is unreactive, the (minor) thiolate form of the TGA monoanion undergoes one-electron oxidation by [Os(phen)(3)](3+) (k(c)), and the dianion of TGA likewise undergoes one-electron oxidation by [Os(phen)(3)](3+) (k(d)). The Marcus cross relationship provides a good account for the magnitude of k(d) in this and related reactions of TGA. [Os(phen)(2)(phen-tga)](2+) is suggested to arise from a post-rate-limiting step involving attack of the TGA(*) radical on [Os(phen)(3)](3+).

Reduction of octacyanomolybdate(V) by thioglycolic acid in aqueous media.

In aqueous media at 25 degrees C [Mo(CN)(8)](3-) is reduced by thioglycolic acid (HSCH(2)COOH, TGA), and the reaction is strongly accelerated by the presence of trace amounts of copper ions. Dipicolinic acid (dipic) is an effective inhibitor of the copper catalysis. Both with and without dipic the reaction has the stoichiometry 2[Mo(CN)(8)](3-) + 2TGA --> 2[Mo(CN)(8)](4-) + RSSR, where RSSR is the disulfide derived from formal oxidative dimerization of TGA. In the presence of dipic, PBN (N-tert-butyl-alpha-phenyl-nitrone), and with a large excess of TGA the rate law for consumption of [Mo(CN)(8)](3-) is first order in both [TGA] and [Mo(CN)(8)(3-)]. The complex pH dependence is consistent with (-)SCH(2)CO(2)(-) being highly reactive (k = 1.8 x 10(4) M(-1) s(-1)), the monoanion being less reactive, and HSCH(2)CO(2)H being unreactive. A mechanism is proposed in which the dianion undergoes electron transfer to [Mo(CN)(8)](3-), thus generating the thiyl radical. Analysis of the electron-transfer rate constant in terms of Marcus theory yields an effective self-exchange rate constant for the thiolate/thiyl redox couple that is in reasonable agreement with the value derived previously from the reaction of TGA with [IrCl(6)](2-). When copper catalysis is inhibited, the two reactions differ substantially in that the yield of (-)O(3)SCH(2)CO(2)(-) is significant for [IrCl(6)](2-) but undetectable for [Mo(CN)(8)](3-).