β-Carboline Ruthenium Complex

DNA-targeting antitumor

A DNA-targeting ruthenium(II) complex that induces both apoptosis and autophagy in tumor cells via ROS-mediated DNA damage and cell cycle arrest.

Li, Zhiyi · Chen, Lanmei · Wang, Yongcun · Chen, Jincan

Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry 2026

Advantages

Triggers both apoptosis and autophagy

The complex induces autophagy alongside DNA damage, preventing tumor cells from surviving through a single repair pathway.

Directly targets nuclear DNA

The complex binds to DNA within the cell nucleus, localizing damage and avoiding non-specific toxicity.

Applications

• metallodrugs for cancer therapy：As a ruthenium-based lead compound for developing DNA-targeting anticancer drugs.
• DNA damage-based therapy：Induces DNA damage via ROS, replacing conventional genotoxic agents.
• autophagy modulators：Triggers autophagy in tumor cells, useful for studying autophagy-apoptosis crosstalk.
• cell cycle analysis：Induces S-phase arrest, useful for cell cycle regulation studies.