Abstract

Using the single cell gel electrophoresis method, the tetraazamacrocycle Zn(II) complex (Zn(II)-L) and the tetraazamacrocycle Co(II) complex (Co(II)-L) were investigated focusing on their DNA damage toTetrahymena thermophila. When the cells were treated with the 0.05, 0.25 and 0.50 mg/ml Zn(II)-L, the tail length increased significantly, with 10.83, 11.56 and 11.87 μm, respectively. With the dose of 0.5 mg/ml Zn(II)-L treatment, 45.5% cells distributed in grade 3. After treatment with the 0.05, 0.25 and 0.50 mg/ml Co(II)-L, the tail length of the cells also increased significantly, with the length of 15.64, 17.75 and 19.21 μm, respectively. When treated with 0.5 mg/ml Co(II)-L, 98.1% cells showed tail and 75.6% cells distributed in grade 3. The results indicated that Co(II)-L induced a relatively high level of DNA damage in comparison with the level of damage induced by Zn(II)-L.

Key words: Tetraazamacrocycle Zn(II) complex, tetraazamacrocycle Co(II) complex, Tetrahymena thermophila, DNA damage, the comet assay.

Abbreviation

 L, Tetraazamacrocycle  (5,7,12,14-tetraethyl-5,12-dimethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazabutadecacyclo -7,14- diene); Zn(II)-L, tetraazamacrocycle Zn(II) complex; and Co(II)-L, tetraazamacrocycle Co(II) complex.