ISSN:
0952-3499
Keywords:
Chemistry
;
Biochemistry and Biotechnology
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
The sequence selectivity associated with binding to DNA of three alkaloids belonging to the benzophenanthridine family has been analysed by DNase I footprinting, and the results were compared with those obtained from an analysis of the behaviour of the standard intercalator, ethidium bromide. Like the ethidium, the benzophenanthridine compunds appear to bind best to regions of mixed nucleotide sequence, especially those containing alternating purines and pyrimidines, although there are some notable differences in behaviour. There is also a marked lack of binding to sequences such as (AT)n, where n≥3. The binding to DNA of the benzophenanthridines is specifically related to the hydrogen ion concentration of the medium, in that the DNase I footprints are considerably enhanced when the reaction is performed at a pH below 7.0. We discuss these results in terms of a greater preponderance of the intercalating species being present at lower pH.
Additional Material:
8 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jmr.300030106
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