A ruthenium–platinum metal complex that binds to sarcin ricin loop RNA and lowers mRNA expression

IT127 is a dinuclear transition metal complex that contains a Pt(II) and a Ru(III) metal center. We have shown that IT127 is significantly more effective in binding the 29-base sarcin ricin loop (SRL) RNA in comparison to Cisplatin, a hallmark anticancer agent. Binding site analysis shows that IT127 prefers purine bases and the GAGA tetraloop region of SRL RNA. Our results with a dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) model system reveal that IT127 binding to mRNA reduces translation of DHFR enzyme and that the Ru(III) and Pt(II) centers in IT127 appear to work in a synergistic manner.