Dinuclear platinum(II) compounds and methods of use thereof

1. A compound of formula (Ia) or (Ib):

(SEQ ID NO: 1)

GGGGTTTTGGGGGGGTTTTGGG,

(SEQ ID NO: 2)

AGGGTTAGGGTTAGGGTTAGGG,

or

(SEQ ID NO: 3)

TGAGGGTGGGTAGGGTGGGTAA.

wherein:

A, B, C, D, E, F, J and K are aryl or heteroaryl;

L, M, Q and V are selected from the group consisting of S, O, and N; provided 2 and only 2 of the 4 are nitrogen;

X, Y, W and Z are selected from the group consisting of S, O, and N; provided 2 and only 2 of the 4 are nitrogen;

wherein CWXAEQLJ is a mirror image of DZYBFVMK and CWXAE is a mirror image of DZYBF;

or a salt thereof.

2. The compound or salt of claim 1 , wherein C, D, J and K are each benzothiazolyl.

3. The compound or salt of claim 1 , wherein A, B, E and F are each pyridyl.

4. The compound or salt of claim 1 , which is a compound of formula (Ia), wherein A and B, or C and D, or E and F, or J and K, or A and D, or B and C, or J and F, or E and K are each phenyl.

5. The compound or salt of claim 2 , which is a compound of formula (Ib), wherein E and F are each phenyl, anthracenyl, pyrenyl, or naphthyl.

6. The compound or salt of claim 1 , which is a compound of formula (Ia), wherein L and M, or Q and V, or L and V, or Q and M are each carbon.

7. The compound or salt of claim 1 , which is a compound of formula (Ia), wherein L and M, or Q and V, or L and V, or Q and M are each a heteroatom.

8. The compound or salt of claim 7 , which is a compound of formula (Ia), wherein L and M, or Q and V, or L and V, or Q and M are each nitrogen.

9. The compound or salt of claim 1 , wherein X and Y, or W and Z, or X and Z, or W and Y are each nitrogen.

10. The compound or salt of claim 1 , wherein X and Y, or W and Z, or X and Z, or W and Y are each carbon.

11. A compound selected from a group consisting of:

or a salt thereof.

12. A composition comprising 1) a plurality of compounds of formula (Ia), (Ib) or salts thereof as described claim 1 ; and 2) at least one DNA oligonucleotide.

13. The composition of claim 12 , wherein the at least one DNA oligonucleotide comprises a sequence having at least 80% sequence identity to: GGGGTTTTGGGGGGGTTTTGGG (SEQ ID NO:1), AGGGTTAGGGTTAGGGTTAGGG (SEQ ID NO:2), or TGAGGGTGGGTAGGGTGGGTAA (SEQ ID NO:3).

14. The composition of claim 12 , wherein the at least one DNA oligonucleotide comprises a sequence TGAGGGTGGGTAGGGTGGGTAA (SEQ ID NO:3).

15. A method of detecting the presence of DNAse I in a test sample, the method comprising:

1) contacting a composition as described in claim 12 with the test sample to provide a first reaction mixture; and

2) measuring the NIR emission intensity of the first reaction mixture, wherein an increase in the NIR emission intensity as compared to a control correlates with the presence of DNAse I in the test sample.

16. A method of detecting the presence of DNAse I in a test sample, the method comprising:

1) measuring the NIR emission intensity of a composition as described in claim 12 ;

2) contacting the composition with the test sample to provide a first reaction mixture; and

3) measuring the NIR emission intensity of the first reaction mixture, wherein an increase in the NIR emission of the first reaction mixture as compared to the NIR emission intensity of the composition correlates with the presence of DNAse I in the test sample.

17. A method of identifying a DNAse I inhibitor, the method comprising:

1) contacting a composition as described in claim 12 , DNAse I and a test compound to provide a first reaction mixture;

2) measuring the NIR emission intensity of the first reaction mixture; and

3) identifying the test compound as a DNAse I inhibitor when a decrease in the NIR emission intensity is detected as compared to a control.

18. A method of identifying a DNAse I inhibitor, the method comprising:

1) contacting a composition as described in claim 12 and DNAse I to provide a first reaction mixture;

2) measuring the NIR emission intensity of the first reaction mixture;

3) contacting a composition as described in any one of claims 14 , DNAse I and the test compound to provide a second reaction mixture;

4) Measuring the NIR emission intensity of the second reaction mixture; and

5) identifying the test compound as a DNAse I inhibitor when the NIR emission intensity of the second reaction mixture is less than the NIR emission intensity of the first reaction mixture.

19. A kit comprising:

1) a plurality of compounds of formula (Ia), (Ib) or salts thereof as described in claim 1 ;

2) G-quadruplex DNA; and

3) instructions for detecting the presence of DNAse I in a test sample or identifying a DNAse I inhibitor, using the plurality of compounds of formula (Ia), (Ib) or salts thereof, and the G-quadruplex DNA.