In vitro structure-specific Zn(II)-induced adipogenesis and structure-function bioreactivity correlations

Synthesis and Structural Characterization of (E)-4-[(2-Hydroxy-3-methoxybenzylidene)amino]butanoic Acid and Its Novel Cu(II) Complex

A novel Cu(II) complex based on the Schiff base obtained by the condensation of ortho-vanillin with gamma-aminobutyric acid was synthesized. The compounds are physico-chemically characterized by elemental analysis, HR-ESI-MS, FT-IR, and UV-Vis. The complex and the Schiff base ligand are further structurally identified by single crystal X-ray diffraction and 1H and 13C-NMR, respectively. The results suggest that the Schiff base are synthesized in excellent yield under mild reaction conditions in the presence of glacial acetic acid and the crystal structure of its Cu(II) complex reflects an one-dimensional polymeric compound. The molecular structure of the complex consists of a Cu(II) ion bound to two singly deprotonated Schiff base bridging ligands that form a CuN2O4 chelation environment, and a coordination sphere with a disordered octahedral geometry.

Biomimetic activity of soluble, well-defined, aqueous Ti(IV)-citrate species toward adipogenesis. An in vitro study

Metal-organic complexes bearing physiological substrates have been the target of several investigations, probing into the potential of well-defined atoxic metalloforms to influence fundamental cellular processes overcoming insulin resistance in Diabetes mellitus 2. Outstanding cases of such metals include zinc and vanadium, both being the target of intense synthetic and biological studies toward insulin mimesis. Owing to the close proximity in the periodic table, an early transition metal, titanium, emerges as another potential candidate of biologically relevant complexation, reflecting species capable of promoting insulin mimetic activity. Driven by the so far explored aqueous synthetic chemistry of Ti(IV)-hydroxycaboxylato systems, a well-defined Ti(IV)-citrate compound was synthesized under physiological conditions, isolated, and characterized, followed by its introduction in biological assays, targeting adipogenic events linked to glucose uptake and catabolism. The mononuclear Ti(IV)-citrate complex was introduced to 3T3-L1 cells, thereby probing into its biological activity (toxicity, morphology, migration, and adipogenic capacity). The results project an atoxic profile for the Ti(IV)-citrate species, thus justifying further incorporation in cellular differentiation processes, leading to mature adipocytes in a time- and concentration-dependent fashion. The experiments suggest that Ti(IV)-citrate is a competent agent promoting fibroblast differentiation, as evidenced by key adipogenic biomarkers, while concurrently exhibiting synergistic/enhancing action with insulin. The collective results show, for the first time, that an appropriately configured soluble-bioavailable complex Ti(IV) form exhibits a distinctly unique bioprofile, thereby lending credence to the notion that titanium metallopharmaceuticals hold merit as competent agents in adipogenesis and insulin mimesis in Diabetes mellitus.

Synthesis, crystal structure, Hirshfeld surface analysis, DNA binding, DNA cleavage activity and molecular docking of a new Schiff base nickel(II) complex

A mononuclear nickel(II) complex, [Ni(o-van-tris)₂]·2H₂O (o-van-tris = Schiff base derived from o-vanillin and tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane), has been synthesized and structurally characterized. The single crystal structure shows a distorted octahedron geometry coordinated with Ni(II) atom, and 2 D plane structure has formed by O-H···O hydrogen bond interactions. An analysis to ascertain intermolecular interactions of the complex was performed based on the Hirshfeld surfaces and their associated two-dimensional fingerprint plots. The binding properties of the nickel(II) complex with CT-DNA have been investigated by spectroscopic methods and molecular docking. Absorption and fluorescence spectral studies reveal that the complex interacts with DNA through hydrogen bond and hydrophobic interactions with the DNA base pairs. Molecular docking studies show that the complex effectively docks in the major groove of DNA. The DNA cleavage experiment was performed by gel electrophoretic assay, indicating that DNA cleavage activity of the complex is concentration dependent and much sensitive to ionic strength. The efficient cleavage mediated via hydrolytically cleaving pathway.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.