Abstract: Meredith Skiba Mentor: Dr. Burgmayer In order to stop
tumor growth, replication enzymes responsible for the increase
in cells can be inhibited. Several transition metal compounds
may inhibit these enzymes’ activity through their ability to
intercalate and photocleave. Intercalation occurs when a
molecule slides in between the base pairs of a DNA molecule
distorting DNA’s helical shape. This change in shape prevents
the replication enzyme from properly interacting with the DNA
and thus prevents cell growth. Similarly, photocleavage of DNA
further inhibits DNA replication by breaking and uncoiling DNA
after UV light exposure. The mechanism by which photocleavage
occurs is unclear. However, it is believed that reactive oxygen
species may play a role. In the Burgmayer lab, a family of
ruthenium (II) tris-chelate compounds are synthesized and
evaluated for their ability to distort DNA through intercalation
and photocleavage. These ruthenium compounds possess large
planar ligands, which tend to strongly i