Modifications of natural DNA in a cell-free medium using cisplatin tethered to the AT-specific, minor groove binder distamycin, were studied using various methods of biochemical analysis or molecular biophysics. These methods include: binding studies using differential pulse polarography and flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometry, mapping DNA adducts using a transcription assay, use of ethidium bromide as a fluorescent probe for DNA adducts of platinum, measurement of DNA unwinding by gel electrophoresis, measurement of CD spectra, an interstrand cross-linking assay using gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions, measurement of melting curves with the aid of absorption spectrophotometry and the use of terbium ions as a fluorescent probe for distorted base pairs in DNA. The results indicate that attachment of distamycin to cisplatin changes several features of the DNA-binding mode of the parent platinum drug. Major differences comprise different conformational alterations in DNA and a considerably higher efficiency of the conjugated drug to form in DNA interstrand cross-links. Cisplatin tethered to distamycin, however, coordinates to DNA with similar base sequence preferences as the untargeted platinum drug. The results point to a unique profile of DNA binding for cisplatin-distamycin conjugates, suggesting that tethering cisplatin to minor groove oligopeptide binders may also lead to an altered biological activity profile.

Institute of Biophysics Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic Brno

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