Influence of methionine-ruthenium complex on the fibril formation of human islet amyloid polypeptide

The abnormal aggregation and deposition of human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP) are implicated in the pathogeny of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Many aromatic ring-containing Ru complexes inhibit the aggregation of hIAPP. A new Ru complex Ru(bipy)(met)(2)3H(2)O (1), where bipy is 2,2'-bipyridine and met is methionine, was synthesized and employed to resist the fibril formation of hIAPP and to promote the biocompatibility of metal complexes. Two polypyridyl Ru complexes, namely [Ru(bipy)(3)]Cl-2(2) and Ru(bipy)(2)Cl-2(3), were used for comparison. Results reveal that the three Ru complexes can inhibit hIAPP aggregation and depolymerize mature hIAPP fibrils. Interaction studies show that Ru complexes bind to hIAPP through metal coordination, hydrophobic interaction, and other intermolecular forces. The binding of the three compounds is spontaneous and exothermic. The compounds also rescue peptide-induced cytotoxicity to some extent. Similar to 3, the novel methionine-Ru complex 1 exhibits an enhanced inhibitory effect and binding affinity to hIAPP possibly because of the smaller steric hindrance and more profitable molecular configuration of 1 than those of 2. The newly designed amino acid-Ru complex may provide new insights into the treatment of T2DM and related amyloidosis diseases. Graphical abstract Methionine-Ru complex effectively impedes the fibril formation of human islet amyloid polypeptide. [GRAPHICS] .