RUI: Mechanism and Kinetics of Oxidation of Guanosine Derivatives by Pt(IV) Complexes

Middlebury College, Middlebury VT

Investigators

Abstract

Professor Sunhee Choi of the Chemistry Department at Middlebury College is supported by the Inorganic, Bioinorganic and Organometallic Chemistry program for her bioinorganic chemistry studies on the mechanism and kinetics of the oxidation of guanosine derivatives by Pt(IV) complexes, complexes related to biologically important anticancer agents. Various Pt(IV) complexes will be synthesized and characterized. UV-visible spectroscopy, 1H and 31P NMR, HPLC and mass spectroscopy will be used to determine how the reduction potentials of Pt(IV) complexes affect the redox kinetics. Results of these studies will enhance the basic understanding of transition metal/DNA chemistry. This research will focus on the bioinorganic chemistry studies on the mechanism and kinetics of the oxidation of guanosine derivatives by Pt(IV) complexes. Platinum coordination complexes are biologically important anticancer agents. These bioinorganic chemistry studies will provide molecular level understanding of the oxidation of DNA by Pt(IV) species and enhance the basic understanding of transition metal/DNA chemistry. Undergraduate students will receive multifaceted training in inorganic synthesis and characterization and the use of transition metal complexes in probing nucleic acid toxicology, and pharmacology.