Study of interaction of a fluorescent probe with DNA

The zinc complex of 2-[2-(3, 5-bis(2-pyridylmethyl)aminomethyl-4-hydroxy-phenyl) ethylene]-5-methylpyrazine (1) could bind with the calf thymus deoxyribonucleic acid (ct-DNA). The binding behaviors between them were studied by fluorescence and absorption spectral assay. The absorption titration of 1-Zn with ct-DNA showed no bathochromic shift and hypochromic effect. No anisotropy increase was observed when ct-DNA was added to 1-Zn solution. They both proved the lack of intercalation interaction between 1-Zn and ct-DNA. The ionic strength experiment, Scatchard plot, study of interaction between 1-Zn and denatured ct-DNA all revealed that the interaction mode between 1-Zn and ct-DNA was electrostatic interaction. Binding constant was estimated to be 7.96 x 10(4) LmoL(-1). (c) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.