MOLECULAR RECOGNITION BETWEEN LIGANDS AND NUCLEIC-ACIDS - DNA-BINDING CHARACTERISTICS OF ANALOGS OF HOECHST-33258 DESIGNED TO EXHIBIT ALTERED BASE AND SEQUENCE RECOGNITION

The DNA binding characteristics of new analogues (2-8) of Hoechst 33258 (1), containing pyridine and benzoxazole units and designed for altered base specificity, were evaluated using UV, fluorescence, and circular dichroism studies. Like Hoechst 33258 the new analogues also bind through the minor groove of B-DNA in a nonintercalative fashion. The interaction of the compounds with poly(dA-dT) is salt independent. The studies with poly(dA-dT), ct DNA, and poly(dG-dC) indicated a decrease in the relative binding strength of the new analogues to DNAs compared with the parent molecule, Hoechst 33258. Compounds 5 and 7 showed acceptance of GC bases adjacent to AT base pairs. None of the compounds studied exhibited affinity for A-DNA, double-stranded RNA, or Z-DNA. Structure-DNA binding relationships of the new analogues compared with their parent molecule, Hoechst 33258, are discussed.