Issue 12, 2015

Interaction of silver atomic quantum clusters with living organisms: bactericidal effect of Ag3 clusters mediated by disruption of topoisomerase–DNA complexes

Abstract

Essential processes for living cells such as transcription and replication depend on the formation of specific protein–DNA recognition complexes. Proper formation of such complexes requires suitable fitting between the protein surface and the DNA surface. By adopting doxorubicin (DOX) as a model probe, we report here that Ag3 atomic quantum clusters (Ag-AQCs) inhibit the intercalation of DOX into DNA and have considerable influence on the interaction of DNA-binding proteins such as topoisomerase IV, Escherichia coli DNA gyrase and the restriction enzyme HindIII. Ag-AQCs at nanomolar concentrations inhibit enzyme activity. The inhibitory effect of Ag-AQCs is dose-dependent and occurs by intercalation into DNA. All these effects, not observed in the presence of Ag+ ions, can explain the powerful bactericidal activity of Ag-AQCs, extending the knowledge of silver bactericidal properties. Lastly, we highlight the interest of the interaction of Ag clusters with living organisms, an area that should be further explored due to the potential consequences that it might have, both beneficial and harmful.

Graphical abstract: Interaction of silver atomic quantum clusters with living organisms: bactericidal effect of Ag3 clusters mediated by disruption of topoisomerase–DNA complexes

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
05 Jun 2015
Accepted
13 Jul 2015
First published
14 Jul 2015
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY-NC license

Chem. Sci., 2015,6, 6717-6724

Author version available

Interaction of silver atomic quantum clusters with living organisms: bactericidal effect of Ag3 clusters mediated by disruption of topoisomerase–DNA complexes

J. Neissa, C. Pérez-Arnaiz, V. Porto, N. Busto, E. Borrajo, J. M. Leal, M. A. López-Quintela, B. García and F. Dominguez, Chem. Sci., 2015, 6, 6717 DOI: 10.1039/C5SC02022K

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